August 2024
Monthly Newsletter: Commissions! And a reintroduction for new subscribers.
Greetings & Salutations.
Welcome new and existing subscribers this is my Monthly Newsletter. This is where I update you about what/where/when/how/why of my art. I’ll let you know about exhibits, fairs, new available works and other projects.
I want each Newsletter to have value for my Subscribers beyond updates about my work. I’ll answer art related questions and share the book recommendations I may have.
About Substack
I chose Substack to deliver this newsletter because of how well it was set up to do so. For a year I was trying to use Mailchimp and it wasn’t catching on. Substack works great for my ideas and reaching you, my favorite people.
For all the great things about Substack there’s one thing that’s come to my attention: Substack pushes the paid subscription to subscribers. My Newsletter is meant to be free. Though I have the paid subscription there for the few who want support my work monetarily. I don’t want anyone to think they have to. Please ignore Substack’s pop-ups asking you to upgrade. This is a generic prompt from Substack and not me. I’m happy you are here opening my newsletters. I encourage you to take a look around Substack, there’s many different types of content available.
And this is the most boring newsiest newsletter I’ve written. But I know there’s information quite a few people are interested in.
News
My website shop is back online! If there is something I can help you with let me know. You are welcome to email me directly at CharleyLakesStudio@gmail.com.
I have opened my commission waitlist. If you have something in mind please let me know sooner rather than later. Christmas is around the corner and I can only complete two or three beforehand. First come, first serve.
Need more information? Want to know how the process works? Send me your questions at the email above or check out this page on commissions.
About Me
There are many new people here, I feel a reintroduction is necessary:
Hi, I’m Taryn Okesson and I have a problem with art supplies. (And destroying my good clothes with paint and carpets and couches and campers… I’m still a child ok?)(My poor mother).
I am from smack in the middle of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. With the swamps and mines. As were my parents and their parents and most of their parents and most of their parents. If I can I believe the records I found it’s possible part of my family line was in Canada during the 1600’s (I have my doubts on the accuracy). I have an Okesson relative in the cemetery here, who died in the civil war. Mostly, my family’s history is the history of iron mining in Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Okesson is my family name. I kept it because I’m one of the last ones with it and my full name seems to be singular. No matter how many times I google it, no one else comes up.
My art is often described as peaceful. I think it’s because of where I am in my life. I am at peace with myself. I may go into more detail another time on how my life experiences affected me, but not at this time.
I am inspired by our human need to connect to nature, biophilia. I am also influenced by the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi. This is a nuanced concept about impermanence, imperfection and an object’s history. If you are interested in this I recommend starting with the book Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers. If Wabi-Sabi sounds familiar, it could be because many artists in the Marquette Michigan area graduated from the Art and Design program at NMU and were influenced by the curriculum. It’s also an influence in southwest art.
Art on the Rocks
This was my second year at Art on the Rocks! Thanks to everyone who told me stories about their cats. Cats named Bologna. Hairless cats named Cashmere & Fluffy. Cats brought in off the streets and adored. So many cat stories.
I was awarded best in 2D Mixed Media!
Too many good emotions to make words out of- it’s great to be recognized.
(Thank you to Art on the Rocks’ volunteers & LSAA. And congrats to all the other amazing artists. 😉)
See you here next month. Leave a comment if there’s a topic you’re interested in having me comment on. A question. It could be about art in general or my art or not about art at all▪️