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LauraLG
Posts:49
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| 02/22/2007 7:35 PM |
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| My husband is constantly complaining that he hates the weather in the northeastern United States. I won't relinquish to living elsewhere having been living in NYC most of my adult life and now in NJ a stones throw away. But maybe I should be more flexable, so where can any of you suggest as an artist nurturing state( I'm the artist) that has a nice climate, and steers clear of a fast paced rat-race (my husbands requirement ) We're both mid-forties so we still have to work, no retirement in the near future. I'm willing to consider something really off-beat. Anyone have any ideas? -Laura |
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GOwenStudios
Posts:67
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| 02/22/2007 11:00 PM |
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Hi,
If I were to move to another area I would think of Raleigh, North Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, or Charleston, South Carolina. Near Raleigh, actually Boone, there is Jerrys Artarama where you could shop for supplies in the area, paint the moutainous landscapes and vistas while taking in the art world in that area. Savannah, Georgia has a neat history and beautiful old homes in the downtown area and excellent restaurants as well as Charleston. Just the area in itself would be a artist's paradise.
Gary |
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http://www.sitekreator.com/gowenstudios
http://www.zazzle.com/gowenstudios |
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LauraLG
Posts:49
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| 02/23/2007 7:20 AM |
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Okay Gary, Raleigh, North Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, or Charleston, South Carolina are down on the list.
Anyone know anything about New Mexico? -Laura |
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vikingwife
Posts:878
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| 02/23/2007 10:07 AM |
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I live in southern NH, so I completely understand how your husband feels. But I understand how you feel too. I've lived here my entire life and I'm not sure that I would ever want to move to another state. Sometimes the snow and cold seem unbearable. But.....we are fortunate to be within driving distance of so many places that offer beautiful scenery for artwork. We are about 1/2 hour or so away from the coast of Maine. We are about 45 minutes away from Boston (if you like city landscape). We are about an hour or so away from Mt. Monadnock (GORGEOUS scenery for the leaf peepers).
But anyway......if you want to get AWAY from this area and go somewhere warmer......I have heard really great things about Arizona. We know some people who spend a few months out of the year there and they rave about the weather and the scenery. Might be a great weather state for your husband and a great place to inspire you artistically. Good luck!
Jess |
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NaomiBlvs
Posts:164
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| 02/23/2007 4:55 PM |
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| My recommendation was going to be Arizona from one of the articles in the Artists Magazine. Raieigh, NC is actually closer to the ocean, no mountains that I know of (though I don't know the area well). If you want mountains, Ashville, NC would be a great place. They also have a thriving artist community there. Some day I may move out there. I live in Charlotte, NC. This is kind of a good location. You can live in the City (yuck because I am not a city girl), but it might be right up your ally. They have been doing a lot of building lately and are starting to have a pretty decent theater and arts development going on. From Charlotte, you are only a couple of hours away from the mountains to the West and about 4 hours from the ocean to the East. |
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Wishing you peace and prosperity,
Naomi
www.naomisstudio.com |
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LauraLG
Posts:49
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| 02/23/2007 7:43 PM |
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You're right Jess, not only is my family here but i love the change of seasons too. But alas, I'll look into alternatives. So now Arizona is on my list and I'll add Ashville, NC too (Thanks Naomi).
What about someplace really different? Some place unique? I can't imagine what i'm thinking of, but I've never been the traditional white picket fence type, any ideas? - Laura |
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WeeklyMuse
Posts:18
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heatherm
Posts:2120
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| 02/26/2007 11:23 PM |
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| Years ago I was in Carmel CA and fell in love with it, but my husband at the time didn't want to live in the west. Also Colorado is breathtaking in the mountains and very art friendly. I understand though, that Carmel has a limit on galleries because it was getting too "arty". But Big Sur coastline (sigh) I could live the rest of my days painting there every day and not have a long enough life to do them all. Of course I feel the same about the New Zealand coastlines in the South Island also. But I chose New England, I like the four seasons, and love the rocky coastline in Maine, and the sand dunes in Cape Cod as it reminds me of home. |
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Heather
http://www.heatherartist.com |
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vikingwife
Posts:878
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| 03/02/2007 11:11 AM |
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Heather and Laura.....
So......are we still loving New England today!!!!???? I could live without the rain/snow mix I think!!
Jess |
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heatherm
Posts:2120
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| 03/02/2007 10:55 PM |
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Yes, still loving it! Variety is the spice of life! I used to go out in rain storms to walk, just to listen to the rain and feel it, warm weather and cold. Of course people thought I was crazy, I did the same in snow storms. When my kids were little, this was this big snow storm, really a lot of inches, I woke them up at midnight, bundled them up on the sled, put blankets around them and took them around the neighborhood, they loved it kept opening their mouthes to catch snowflakes, and it was so quiet. Of course some people spotted me and said the next day "What were you thinking?"  Don't get out much anymore and I really miss it, especially on a day like today with torrential rain. Adventures are fun. |
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Heather
http://www.heatherartist.com |
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Jim
Posts:2269
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| 03/03/2007 8:40 PM |
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Here in the northwest we get four seasons. Really, I no you hear that it rains all the time in Washington, but
acutally New York gets more annual rainfall then we do. Winters are wet not freezing. Some snow, but it's rare. Springs are beautiful and Summers are generally sunny and warm. Fall is not like New England, we have mostly evergreens out here but the weather is mild and pleasant. One thing we don't have out here is the humidity of the east coast and mid west. It can get hot in the summer, but it cools down at night and we
don't need air conditioning. I grew up in Jersey and I hated the humidity. It's also affordable to live here. If anybody asks, you didn't hear it from me. Normally when people say, Seattle?! doesn't it rain all the time out there? We tell them yes it does. You would hate it.
Jim
www.paintingsbyjim.com
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All the best,
Jim
www.paintingsbyjim.com |
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Lung Tom
Posts:189
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| 03/06/2007 5:36 PM |
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Being an old man and something of a gypsy I've lived in many states on the east and west coast as well as New Mexico and Arizona. Arizona has an amazing change of scenery from north to south. Its like going from northwest cascade mountains of Oregon and Washington to the abundant cactus of the US & Mex. border.
A great place to paint. Pigments dry very fast. |
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Lung Tom |
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Lung Tom
Posts:189
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| 03/06/2007 5:42 PM |
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| There is a location in Arizona where you are at the transition zone between northern climate and scenery and the desert It is at Prescott, slightly west of central Arizona. |
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Lung Tom |
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gene
Posts:1236
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| 03/07/2007 7:16 AM |
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| If you want to be surrounded by artists and art galleries, I would suggest Santa Fe, New Mexico. I've only visited there, but was in heaven. The surrounding scenery is gorgeous (think Georgia O'Keefe). I don't know how hot it gets in the summer, though. Me, I love Michigan because I love four seasons and "not so hot" summers. It's nice that you have the option to move wherever you want. I LOVE New York City, but there are so MANY wonderful places in the world. I am an adventurer, I guess and I think I could be happy almost anywhere, except extreme hot and humid areas. It looks like you have quite a list going. Be adventurous and get your suitcases packed and JUST DO IT! Have fun................Gene |
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LauraLG
Posts:49
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| 03/14/2007 6:47 PM |
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Thank you, all of you, for your replies. As it stands, my husband and I are doing a long weekend this weekend 16th-20th to check out Santa Fe and Taos. I've never wanted to leave the NY area, but i'm actually ecited at the possibilities. I'll let you know what I'll find!
Laura |
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Kim
Posts:383
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| 03/16/2007 2:18 PM |
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| Laura, I'm glad to hear you're making a visit to New Mexico. My husband and I (both in mid-forties also) moved here seven years ago from the rat-race in Dallas and haven't looked back once. (We even had to put on the brakes! People are pleasantly layed back until you have to have some sort of service done and then it can be irritating.) Our first two years were spent in Santa Fe, but then we moved to Albuquerque to get better paying jobs. The wages in NM are quite a bit lower than what we were used to. The nice thing about living here is the dry climate, warm weather, and still having a winter. The sunsets are incredible and there are so many things to do outdoors all year long. As for art, I just read in the past couple of weeks that Santa Fe is rated 2nd of the 10 best places for artists to live in the US. There are artists and competitions state-wide so you're never lacking. If you have any questions upon your return, feel free to ask - I'd love to help. ~Kim |
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Lung Tom
Posts:189
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| 03/16/2007 7:24 PM |
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Where ever you are with a mind full of peaceful creative energy.
"Mind is the forerunner of all actions. All deeds are led by mind, created by mind ---"
The Buddha:
After the Dhammapada |
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Lung Tom |
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Kathleen
Posts:8
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| 08/18/2007 12:12 PM |
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Well, if you must be happy and at peace to create, maybe you should be looking at other criteria for your new home. Find a place you love and your work will flourish.
However, if sales are important and you paint landscapes or seascapes, I find places with natural beauty are both inspiring and draw tourists who want to bring home that beauty. My best sales were in the Alaska panhandle, on the Oregon/Washington boarder, and on the Gulf Coast. Affluant clients help, too.
If your art is all about learning and growing, then a place surrounded with other artists, galleries, and classes will fill your soul.
Is it not wonderful to live in a country so deverse you can choose between so much beauty, a country so rich you do not have to base your choice on the basic need for food and shelter, and a country so free you get to make that choice in the first place. God bless America!
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bjdavey
Posts:37
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| 08/19/2007 3:00 AM |
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Your art career will flourish any where you are happily ensconced. I would start with a search using sites such as: http://www.bestplaces.net and www.findyourspot.com. By using this sort of helpful finding service, you can dial in what's important to both of you. The sites will remind you to consider things you may not have on your radar and take for granted, but which would be important to have nearby, e.g., universities, airports, watersports, etc.
My wife and I moved from the O.C. to Sedona, which is one of the most beautiful spots in the U.S. But, as Kim points out, there are no jobs in resort towns, except low paying service jobs. If you bring your gig with you, have money in the bank, or can start and sustain a profitable business, you might like a small resort town. The views are million dollar, but the pay is minimum wage. As big city kids all our lives, we found the natives' derisive use of "Slowdona" to be an accurate descriptor.
Like Kim, we moved down the road to Scottsdale and never looked back. It was fun and restful for a while, then it became less fun and more restless. No regrets, we made some friends and have great memories. It helped launch my book writing and consulting career, so it was worth going and it was worth leaving when the time was right.
Choose wisely. You are smart to look before you leap. |
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Reality is an illusion, albeit a persistent one - Albert Einstein |
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emm
Posts:1
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| 08/28/2007 10:51 PM |
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There are many great communities for artist's to live in..I think it would depend on what your main priorities are. I currently live in Tucson and think it's a great place for the arts. And an hour away is a very small, funky yet beautiful town called Patagonia which is full of artists and artisans. It's a small town with a welcoming, friendly attitude. What do you need? What will nourish your creativity and productivity?
Santa Fe and Taos are wonderful places too... |
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