Friday

The week seems to have whizzed by. I don't have anything very interesting or new to share today. I have been working on a catalog for my cards, fairly boring task. Today I may cut loose and paint, to feed my soul. Here are a couple of pieces from awhile back.

Monday, Monday

Believe it or not, I really love Mondays. The weekend is sweet, hanging out with my girl, but by Monday morning, I am ready to be back at the studio. Today there are some sweet little sparrows in the bush outside my window, singing away. There is a distinct air of spring, which is very thrilling.

Several of the bloggers I follow regularly post images of their feet. Well, here are mine. Then it's off to the studio I go.

a little more new stuff

I have been making a few more small paintings the past few days. These seem to bridge my constant struggle to navigate my way between illustration and more "fine art" painting. I love the matter of paint, and have considered myself a "matter painter" because I love to emphasize the actual stuff of paint. Perhaps this is the sculptor in me as well. Yet I crave imagery, narrative, and symbolism, and have never felt fully engaged by strictly abstract work. I have never been able to just stick with one direction, or perhaps I have not yet found the one direction that suits me best.

These little paintings, of faces mostly, and a cup or a bowl, combine many of these loose threads for me. I love carving out the image with a big brush, and finding a form that way. They are painterly, and the single image is sculptural, but still engaging as subject. The ones shown here were done very quickly, and may not be quite finished yet.

I have written all this while my little one practices the piano. She stops every minute or so to ask me something. I hope the above makes a little sense, as my attention is scattered. Is there any evidence that motherhood causes ADD? It's a good thing she is so cute.

a few new things

I am starting a new series of portraits. Here are a couple for a start.




Also, I wanted to let folks know that my card sets are now available in the shop. Check them out. They are boxed with eight cards in each. If anyone wants singles, let me know. I didn't feel like listing those now, but I do have them.

Back in the Saddle

A friend emailed me that I have not posted here in a while. I am happy to know someone is reading this. There is a fine line between the wonderful new world of communication the internet allows us, and being so self-absorbed as to think that every little thought or action or image one conceives is worth pronouncing to the world via a blog. I am hoping to avoid that pitfall, while at the same time I am finding it refreshing to feel more connected to others by the ease of internet communication. I tend to be such a loner, and so private, I find opening up to be a good way of remembering my natural connection to others.

Anyway, here's what I have been doing: I cleaned the studio (somewhat) in preparation to paint.



I worked on these box designs to add card sets of both my botanicals and affirmations to my shop.




Then my sweet little Emma came down with strep throat AGAIN just a week after we got rid of it. I didn't think to dispose of her toothbrush, lip balm, etc, so that may be how she got it back. Needless to say, we both were a bit unhappy to be housebound again. So, we brought some paint home from the studio and worked in our sketchbooks.






Now I am off to the studio for some MUCH-NEEDED time alone to work and play with paints grown-up style.

Messy studio

Here are a few shots of my lovely studio. It is a great space, although I am a bit of a slob. It is due for a major cleaning and organizing. If this wonderful spring weather keeps up, I may be inspired to do the big spring purge. For now, here are a few scenes of the mess.