Being an Artist -- And the December Drawing!

[Karen Jensen]

I've been thinking a lot lately about the nature of art. Even more,
I've been thinking about what it means to think of yourself as an
artist.

I have always loved taking photographs, and every once in awhile I'd
take a photo that I really liked. I even thought that with enough time
and the right equipment and training, I might make a good
photographer. Well, in December of 2008, I called my own bluff and
bought myself a good camera. I started to take it seriously right
away, and by March of 2009, I had taken a photograph I thought was
quite fine.

I was talking with my friend Patty about this photo tonight on my way
home from the art show in Schertz. When I looked at this photo I
thought, "This is good. This is art." And from that moment on, I
thought of myself as an artist. Sometimes I could barely say the word
aloud. It's so nervy, isn't it--to call yourself an artist?

So, I got my camera in December 2008. In March 2009, I took my first
really good photograph. I continued to really work at taking as many
pictures as I could, wherever I could until I first started showing my
photographs professionally in June of 2010. In July of 2010, I joined
my first artists' association. In November of 2010, I went to my first
art show, registered a business name, opened a business checking
account, and began selling my work online.

So now I stand (sit) before you, an artist. Tonight I got home from
the show and entered some more names on my list. I was thrilled to see
that my mailing list now numbers 75 people. That's something of a
milestone, don't you think? And tonight I'm holding my December
drawing, so people may get the photograph by Christmas. "Holding a
drawing" sounds rather grand compared to the reality. Actually, I just
enter a code and "ask" my spreadsheet program to pick a random name.
Tonight's first name? Patty Cooper. My dear friend. Well, I love the
idea of giving Patty a photograph, but that is not the purpose of this
drawing. So, next?

I am pleased to announce that Rosalie Dill has won a matted copy of
Passages. Rosalie, please send me your "snail mail" address so I may
send you a copy.


And don't worry about Patty. I'm sending/handing her a copy of the
Lady of Guadalupe.

It's all good.

Love, Light, and Laughter,
Karen

ka...@kjensenart.com
please go to http://kjensenart.com for a copy of this post that
includes the photographs.