Saturday, July 30, 2016

Finally facing the truth, updates are *not* coming soon to my blog

Well, I think it's about time to admit I can't even pretend I'm still blogging. I really did enjoy writing it, when I actually did, but....you know...life. I'm not entirely ruling out that I might not pick it up again someday, so I'll keep this site and feel free to peruse my previous posts.

For up-to-date news, I invite you to sign up for my MailChimp newsletter and be the first to know about new paintings, exhibits, classes and other news, before I post on social. Of course I will never share your information and you can unsubcribe or adjust what kind of emails you receive anytime.




 * indicates required

I would like to receive


instagram.com/kathy.hodge

instagram.com/kathy.hodge.studio

facebook.com/KathyHodgeStudio

Out of sequence post about Zion, Denali posts coming soon!



 

Whew, made it.

I just got my confirmation for my application to Zion National Park for an AIR next year. (I know, being greedy).

But it wasn't looking good.

First I miscalculated the deadline, thinking I had till the end of the month. But no! I had to assemble the application (a throwback, they want a CD, paper application and printed photos by mail) and get it postmarked by the 26th.

So, I got up early on the 26th, checked the post office closing times on the web (11:30pm in the city, yay!)  worked on the application and ordered photo printing from the drugstore before my all day "mom care" shift, took her shopping, lunch, etc, picked up my photos, finished the statement, resume, application, photo labeling, CD burning and left for the post office at 9pm.

It looked quiet, too quiet, but the doors were open. Two post office employees inside told me the window had closed at 9. There was no way I could get a 26th postmark.

So I went home defeated, but re-read the application and it said postmarked by the 26th, received by the 29th. So I figured I could send it express and maybe they would excuse the postmark. But first I needed to make a correction in my statement. So of course my printer crapped out and would no longer print black.

I hope they like blue!

Off to the post office again. "I need this to get there by the 29th". "Sure, where to?". "Utah." "Hmmm...."

The soonest I could get it there was 3pm on the 29th. So off it went.

But it wasn't looking good.

That's why it was such a relief to the the confirmation email.  I'll find out in October, wish me luck!

Now, back in the studio to paint Alaska.


Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Finally, Denali! and hello 2016

Well, it's 2016, and this year I pledge to post at least weekly on my blog (ha, ha, good one!)
But seriously, I need to at least catch up on my so called life, and announce that I have finally conquered "The Great One". Yes—Denali has finally capitulated to my ten year blitz of applications to their artist-in-residence program and decided it was easier to just accept me and get it over with.

So sometime this summer I'll be heading Back to Alaska II, this time to the interior and land of big mountains, grizzlies, and wolves. I will have a cabin with no electricity, but long, long days. No running water, but braided rivers. No wifi, but, but . . . I think I can handle it, a detox will be cleansing.




It's especially exciting to be going in the National Park Service Centennial Year and the year the true name of the mountain is acknowledged. More about that when I hear more. So far, I just have this letter to assure me I'm not imagining it.

• • • 

February 1 is the first anniversary of being sprung from my day-job in the newspaper business into the wide open landscape of unemployment. One of my greatest fantasies was having one year, just one year, without the day job. So how did I spend the year of my dreams? Well, mostly trying to figure out how to make some money. To that end, I brushed up on my web design skills and started a web design business (need a website?), took an advance wordpress class, drank the social media kool-aid and set up a few workshops (more about that as I'm trolling for students). I also applied for 2 real jobs, one I wanted, one I didn't. Interesting to go on my first interviews in over 20 years. I didn't get offered either, but nice to know I'm no longer the nervous wreck I used to be when in the hot seat.

My main 2015 accomplishment was two exhibits of work from my residencies in the Tongass and Chugach National Forests. How I could have hung those shows if I was still doing the 9-5 I don't know, it was a panicky scramble at the end as it was, but I think it came out pretty well!



I exhibited in group shows at Gallery X, the Newport Art Museum, Save the Bay and am excited to be represented by a new gallery, the Charlestown Gallery in South County. I hope to deliver more work (with the perk of side trips to the beach) this summer.

So, I kind of fulfilled one New Year's resolution, which was to re-start my blog on January 1. My second resolution was to stop procrastinating. Like I said, kind of.

Hope you all have a great, happy, healthy, adventurous and peaceful 2016, and the same goes for the other 7.3 billion people in the world who don't follow this blog.

War is over. If you want it.
Peace.
Related Posts with Thumbnails