Thoughts on Art: A Studio Name (finally)!

As I traveled about this past year or so attending art festivals and shows I had the opportunity to meet some wonderful folks who share the same dream as me. These artists and crafters are out just about every weekend of the year traveling far away from home and family, setting up for a 1 to 4-day show, working long hours on their feet, sometimes facing nasty weather conditions, hoping and praying for folks to appreciate their talent enough to make a purchase.

I've grown to love those people a great deal. Honestly I can say I love my job! It is hard work. If you are not doing what the above paragraph describes then you are painting, welding, carving, firing, or sewing. We "carnie folk" all have that in common and there is always the utmost respect given to your fellow artisan. In a sense we are all a part of one big family.

Given this interesting fellowship among us, I have been urged to by my closest of my art family to name my studio. Let me first say that my present space is a bonus room above my garage. Had I the ability to shut myself away from the world, perhaps add a skylight or two, and upgrade my stereo system I'd have the perfect space. For the moment that isn't the case. That room also contains both my wife and daughter's computers and a television used by Ben and Jessie during the evening hours. It honestly is our family room.

I'm not going to complain. I can say without a doubt that my family is my best critic. I really enjoy working in an environment that includes the everyday conversation of my loved ones. In fact I get some of my best ideas listening to them.

Okay, back to the topic at hand. My closest artist friend, Christy Buchannan has "All Things Painted" as the name of her studio. Conni Togel and her husband Peter call her gallery Charisma Art. Lizz Hundley, a very talented folk artist, uses her folk art name for "A Hip Gypsy's Art." Glassblowers Shannon and Erin have a cool name for their studio: Fireworx Studio.

You can now see why the encouragement for a studio name. It is another opportunity for art buyers to recognize your work through another catchphrase. Well that has been a struggle for me all year long. How does one define their art in a neat little title that folks can remember? Artwork by Bennie Waddell? Yuck.

I finally stumbled upon the name this weekend. Me and Joan have pages of notes in a file that we've jotted ideas upon. They were worthless. Currently, if you visit my website (yes, it's a mess - we are in need of help to clean thing up a bit) you'll see "Crazy Color Studio." Pretty lame in my opinion and I came up with it.

These things I wanted to incorporate into my studio name: color, movement, Impressionism, Expressionism, the love and influence of my family, my love of the South, the influence of the Southeastern coast, the influence of the Appalachian mountains, bluegrass-country-rock-funk music, a sunset, a sunrise, the thirst for spiritual insight, the leaves changing, the "green-up", snow, sun, sand, and surf.

Tough, right?

Welcome to....

Soulshine Studio

Let me give credit because credit is due.

"Soulshine" by Warren Haynes
(c) 1995 Sony Music Entertainment Co.
Transcribed by Sean Carpenter

When you can't find the light
That got you through the cloudy days
When the stars ain't shinin' bright
You feel like you've lost you're way
When those candle lights of home
Burn so very far away
Well you got to let your soul shine
Just like my daddy used to say

He used to say soulshine,
It's better than sunshine
It's better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain.
Hey now people don't mind
We all get this way sometime
Got to let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.

I grew up thinkin' that I had it made
Gonna make it on my own
Life can take the strongest man
Make him feel so alone.
Now and then I feel a cold wind
Blowin' through my achin' bones,
I think back to what my daddy said,
He said "Boy, in the darkness before the dawn:

Let your soul shine
It's better than sunshine
It's better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain.
Yeah now people don't mind
We all get this way sometimes
Gotta let your soul shine
Shine till the break of day.

Sometimes a man can feel this emptiness
Like a woman has robbed him of his very soul
A woman too, God knows, she can feel like this
And when your world seems cold
You got to let your spirit take control

Let your soul shine
It's better than sunshine
It's better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain.
Lord now people don't mind
We all get this way sometimes
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.