Individual Artist Project Grant FY21

The benefit to the local geographic area is that I am hiring models from the community and paying them a respectable wage. I am bringing attention to the beauty of Duluth and the North Shore, adding to the quality of artistic works coming out of both the city of Duluth and the State of Minnesota, and engaging in the development of a vibrant arts environment in the Arrowhead Region. I also consider my extended family, friends, peers, and social media followers to be part of my ?community? and I know (because they've told me) that sharing the progress and results of my art career are inspiring, uplifting, good, and positive. I feel like my contribution to the world in the midst of this chaos is to redirect the attention, through my artwork, to the beauty and blessings that surround us all? and this project gives me an opportunity to do so. Additionally, I am part of a large community of individuals in recovery. My recovery journey began with getting sober three years ago, but it continues as I consciously choose to face my hurts, anxieties, and hang-ups. This project, and talking about it with that community as I work through it, shows others in recovery that we can continue to grow, learn, develop new skills, challenge ourselves, build a career, face our issues, rewrite our stories, find peace - and thrive. I am often told that I am an inspiration, and while that's not necessarily my aim, I do believe that art, and the intentional creation of art, has the power to do that. The goals and measurable outcomes I aim to accomplish with this work are: - Create 6 large representational oil paintings loosely based on the theme of Finding Peace. - Hire 4 models to pose for paintings. - Attempt specific new challenges in my painting subjects (An outdoor figurative piece, two models in one piece, an extended outdoor landscape painting, an outdoor still life, an interior with figure. I have specifically not placed parameters on the 6th painting to allow for some creative flexibility). - Increase and build upon my previous skills, knowledge, and ability in portraiture, outdoor landscape, still life, and interior paintings. - Have a complete collection of large paintings to approach exhibition venues with for future shows. I have received multiple grants from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council in the past, and have successfully executed and completed the projects for each one in alignment with what I stated I would do. In 2020, I had received a grant to take a workshop that ended up being cancelled due to the COVID shutdown, and even in that project, I was able to redirect the funding to create my own at-home workshop with DVDs from the instructor. I have a strong will to progress as an artist, and have used grants to successfully keep those goals moving forward. I currently work full-time as a Fine Artist and have a clear idea of what I am capable of, what I can complete, what that may realistically cost me financially, and how to self-direct projects in increasingly difficult and challenging subjects as I continue to gain skills. I have no doubt that I have the self-discipline, artistic ability, organizational ability, and desire to complete the clear goals I have set for myself with this project.This project will be a success if I accomplish what I set out to do, enjoy the process, learn new skills, and have a body of work to show for it. Each goal can be assessed and measured in the following ways: - At the end of the project, I will submit of a Final Report to ARAC detailing work completed, photographs of paintings, actual expenses, explanation of ideas that end up being represented in the pieces, and lessons learned/gained. This report will show that I completed 6 paintings, hired 4 models, and met each specific subject challenge. Upon completion of those objectives, I will also have met my goal of having a collection of work to present to venues for exhibition. - The increase in skill, knowledge, and ability can be honestly gauged by