Seeking Perfection?

My artwork has generally been very precise, usually symetrical, with an emphasis on perfection. I am very picky about the quality of stitch, thread tension, color palette, bead quality, etc., and I tear out stitches any time I'm not satisfied.

So it was a big leap out of my comfort zone when I took on "free-form sculptural" beadwork. I love it, it's fascinating, it's exciting to do. But I still take a perfectionist approach, and tear out sections I'm not satisfied with. Is this an insistence on quality, or just anal-retentiveness?





How do you approach your art? Is it precise, or is it more casual? Can it be both? Talk to me!

Announcing Jewish Arts Month 2010 !

More is better.

More than a month full of exciting Jewish Arts, all over P-town! Theatre, music, dance, visual arts, storytelling, and more! Exhibits, performances, classes, discussions, and more!

It's more than March 2010. There's so much happening, it wouldn't all fit into one month! So it's February, March, and April! Keep checking back often for more details. Soon there will be a separate website with all the information.

Jewish Arts Month is a joint production of Mittleman Jewish Community Center and ORA: Northwest Jewish Artists. This project is supported in part by a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

More! More! More!

Studio Time

I just listened to a podcast about promoting your artwork. One thing discussed was dedication to consistent studio time. Are you an artists? Do you consider yourself a professional or a hobby artists? How much time do you spend in your studio creating art?

Discuss.

Channukah Card

HAPPY CHANNUKAH from Sharon Segal, and all the members of ORA!

Here's wishing you a season of light and gladness to warm the winter days and nights.

Hannukah in "the Couve"

ORA made some new friends today. Four of us participated as vendors at Vancouver Chabad's Hannukah party. We (Diane, Eddy, Esther & Rosana) brought our wares to the Hilton Hotel in downtown Vancouver, and joined the Chabad group after their menorah-lighting outside. Inside, it was warm and friendly, with lovely people, terrific live music, latkes and sufganiot.

Did we sell a lot? Nope. But did we have fun? Yup. And we all sold something, so it was okay. Meanwhile, we gained some new exposure, both for ORA and for the Vancouver Chabad group. It was one of those adventures on our journey, and we're glad for all of those!

Happy Hannukah

Happy Hannukah to one and all!

It's about freedom, but it's also about sticking to your beliefs, even when it's hard.

Wishing everyone strength to meet that challenge...

Memories Revisited in Salem

Recently some of our members parcipated in a Holiday Gift Sale at Temple Beth Sholom in Salem. This was the old stomping grounds of our painter, Sharon Segal.

Sharon writes:

Many of my old friends are still involved in the Temple. They came by to visit and it was so good to rekindle old friendships. Many people were very impressed with my art, because they didn't know that I was an artist. When I lived in Salem, I had just had a new baby and any extra time, I was working in our store.

There were 16 artists in the show. Many were craft people and a few sold Judaica. All in all, the show was not especially lucrative, but the experience, for me, was excellent.

Sharon Segal