Art Openings & Exhibits

“The Dog Days of Summer”

Posted on by Sandra Mucha / 2 Comments

The Dog Days of Summer are here, and it is also the theme for this month’s Plano Art Wine Walk (click for event info).

Come check out my playful perspectives, and other local artist’s works at this July 11th event from 5:15pm-9pm.

I will be featuring my cooling windy rooftop perspectives, and of course my pet portraits during this canine friendly event.

Sandra Mucha Artwork, rooftop painting
“Water Tower on Rooftop” | Acrylic | 6 x 6 x 1.5 in | by Sandra Mucha”

The night’s stroll kicks off in the Event 1013 venue at 1013 15th street, Downtown Plano where event attendees may viee art and collect thier wine glass for the evening.

This exhibit is organized by the Plano Art Associations .

See you there! 🎨🍷🐾

Pet Portraits by Sandra Mucha Artwork
Rocky enjoying my air conditioned studio while finishing “Pumkin” | 8″x8″ | Acrylic | by Sandra Mucha

Request a portrait at http://sandramucha.com/request-a-portrait/

Art Exploring Tips

How to Increase Productivity: Accountability

Posted on by Sandra Mucha / 2 Comments

How to increase productivity? Try using accountability. We all need a gym buddy or friend to push us at some point in our lives. Try setting goals for your art to keep you on track too. Enter an art contest, exhibits, submit to art galleries, take a workshop, join an art association, or an online group to relate with other artist. You will forget how all this persistence takes courage, because your small actions have turned into habits.

Don’t worry if you art is not accepted. Rejection helps you as an artist too. Your role as an artist is not to be accepted to everything. There will be resistence, and there are many different venues or places to sore. One of my favorite quotes that motivated me at university and still to this day is,

“A kite rises against the wind, not with it.” -Winston Churchill

Towers in winter

Towers in Winter by Sandra Mucha | Acrylic | 24 x 18 x 1.5

So, your role is to create. To worry about “the verb” of making art verses “the noun” Your role is to keep making better work, and to speak your truth and share it. Not everyone is going to love or even like it. As I tell myself in the gym or on a long bike ride, “it is me against me.” Do not worry about the other guy!

One trick I like for motivation when creating is to set a timer for 25 mins. This will boost your adrenaline and sense of urgency. That usually turns into an hour or more for me, and eventually no use of a timer once in my creative flow.

So, during that time keep playing, creating, sculpting, painting, acting, writing or whatever is your creative outlet. Be sure to then log your time spent creating. This helps with planning projects in the future too. You never know when you might be ask to create a commissioned piece.

Remember, your art is not complete till your audience views it. So, keep exploring your craft. Before you know it you will be ready to take flight again ..and again.

“Lark in Flight” by Sandra Mucha | Acrylic| 9″x12″x1.5″

Feeling creatively blocked?. See my previous two posts as part of this three part series: play and journaling to increase our flow of ideas and productivity.

-Happy Creating!

Sandra

www.sandramucha.com

Art Exploring Tips

How to Increase Productivity: Play

Posted on by Sandra Mucha / 1 Comment

How to Increase productivity?.. Play! Here is part two of my three part installment on how to increase production in your art studio.

Are you not feeling as creative these days?. Try increasing productivity with play. Play in a different medium, play with an unlikely subject. Play basically means try something new that allows for fresh eyes and experiences. Stuart Brown, MD defines play as a time spent without purpose.

Try a new supply or a new process. Sometimes striving for one technique may lead to another.

Stuart Brown defines play as a time spent without purpose.

Still nothing?.. My biggest tip then is watch a child create. If you forget what it takes to be an artist, listen to your own intuition, or play. Watch a child work with art supplies. There you will start to see the process of flow, let the ideas feed each other, and they naturally keep the purpose limited and freedom to express even higher.

“Taking an annual break from my art studio to help at our son’s field day.”

Years ago before I had my son, I was a visiting artist at Children’s Hospital of Dallas for my studio breaks back then. This always recharged me as an artist and it was a great reminder to see the children in thier innate creative flow and make thier original creations. Back then it was the quote ” Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” by Pablo Picasso that lead me to what if I create with kids? Years later it is still a great reminder for me whether I am teaching or making my own art.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” -Pablo Picasso.

“Playful painting on rocks and tin cans with acrylic paints.”

This week it felt amazing to volunteer again at my son’s annual field day, grab son dim sum with friends, and catch a few local art openings before heading back to my studio to continue my cityscapes and pet portraits in progress.

On the Easel: An 8″ x 8″ pet portrait in progress by Sandra Mucha.

I hope you find some play time to help increase your productivity.

Art Exploring Tips

How to Increase Productivity: Journal

Posted on by Sandra Mucha / 2 Comments

When you start to feel life is too crazy to create, here is how to increase your productivity when dealing with so many daily distractions:

My three essential tips are daily journaling, establish accountability and go play to remove the fog.

“Snow Fog” by Sandra Mucha | 10″ x 10″ x 1.5” | 25.4cm x 25.4cm x 4cm | Acrylic on Canvas

Let’s start with journaling. I am often asked how I balance creating and being a mom. My answer is always, “Journal!” Journal in the am to clear your head.. Journal to place all your worries and fears on the page. Journal whatever comes to mind.

“I write at least three pages each morning.”

Then, create an idea or a to-do list. All that journaling clears the mind and creates a clear path for the ideas to flow out of your mind. I have learned years later it is the act of expressing that allows the logic to flow basically using your whole brain..

Need help with writing prompts? I highly recommend using Julia Cameron’s Artist Way Workbook, or for a deeper dive use her Artist Way book available at all major book sellers.

I also have enjoyed her book “The Artist Way of Parenting” it is full of similar ideas but with a twist that allows for parent and child to explore thier creativity together.

Follow me each day on Instagram at SandraMucha.Artwork to see how my creatity continues to unfold after years of am journaling.

On the easel: A work in progress featuring a street level view of San Francisco | 30″ x 24″ | Acrylic on canvas | by Sandra Mucha

Next post, I’ll share more on how I use play, and lastly tips for adding accountability as an artist.

In the meantime, buy a journal, set it on your nightstand with your favorite pen or pencil and purge and organize your brain with daily journaling.

-Sandra

Available Artwork

Art Exploring Tips

How to Title Your Artwork

Posted on by Sandra Mucha / 2 Comments

I am often asked how to title your artwork. I respond, “A title ideally is a bridge between the artist and the viewer. How did it make you feel, or what memory drove you to create it? Sometimes it is as simple as labeling it with the main color, place, or its subject matter.” During my career as a textile designer, we labeled artwork prints based on themes such as U.S. states, boys, girls names and more.

Today, I enjoy adding titles based on my memories for my snowscapes. As for my cityscapes themes they are based on color subject and sometimes location. These below pieces are titled after memories of Groundhog Day, which seemed like a serious event growing up in western New York. I’m sure my parents were rooting for more winter sun, while my siblings and I cheered for six more weeks. Regardless, this charming holiday still holds a special place in my heart.

“Winter Sun” (Ellendale, Minnesotta) by Sandra Mucha | 10″ x 8″ / 25cm x 20cm | Acrylic

Also, creating new memories can help when trying to title your artwork. This Groundhog Day my son and I watched the live feed at 6:25am of the furry meteorologist on YouTube. It looks like we will see an early spring according to Punxsutawney Phil. Afterwards, my husband said, “Early spring or six more weeks really does not matter for Minnesota!” I’m glad we can relate to the same snow line of Northern America. Meanwhile, here in the south today it is foggy (next series) and our daffodils are blooming. It always seems reversed how the winter sun shinning means less winter.

“Six more weeks” (Ellendale. Minnesotta) by Sandra Mucha 8″ x 10″ / 20cm x 25cm | Acrylic

Good luck brainstorming themes and titles for your artwork.

2019 Groundhog Day: LIVE FEED

-Sandra