Running on Empty

One week to go. At this time next Friday I'll either be stressing out trying to finish a painting or I'll be calmly going over my list of things to do for Saturday's event. Right now, I'm burnt out. I actually don't think it's just because I've been on overdrive for so long. I think it's because of so much drama that tends to be in life. Not even my drama necessarily but people who are close to me that seem to be in constant turmoil. Why we allow this in our lives is beyond me. I'm not immune to it, sometimes I'll get wrapped up in something too. But as I approach my 40th spin around the sun I find that I'm longing for something, for a feeling that I can see images of but don't quite know how to explain. I want to just let go and be, to discover who I am, like I haven't done before. To stop constantly trying to "get there" and to finally allow myself to arrive. So for the rest of this year I'm finishing projects so that next year can be started fresh. With new goals and a more relaxed view of this precious life. And just because I love them so, here's a pic of my friends Benny and Nala, (Nala is the bench :-).

"The moment in between what you once were, and who you are now becoming , is where the dance of life really takes place." - Barbara De Angelis

10 Days, 3 Paintings

It's getting down to crunch time for the upcoming art auction. I'm feeling excited and nervous, that's the way great things go right?! Today I'm putting the last strokes on a rush birthday present for a client's husband. It's turning out really cute. Then on to painting number 10! Here are a few more paintings that will be available.

Art Auction and Pet Adoption Event

It's been a while since my last post but things have been hopping in the studio. For the last couple of months most of my time has been devoted to painting 12 - 16" x 20" portraits of dogs and cats who have been taken in by our local animal shelter, HELP the Animals. I've finished 9 of the paintings so far and have less than two weeks to do the last three. I'm starting to get a tad nervous! Partly because a customer needed a rush birthday present and I decided that I could fit it in too.... that's just how I roll. I'm sure it'll all get done, the parts that I'm most concerned about have to do with the actual auction. I'm donating 100% of the proceeds to the shelter and I truly hope that it'll be enough to make a difference. But I have concerns. Will enough people show up? Will they bid on the paintings? Will they bid reasonable amounts for the paintings? Is this whole thing even worth all the time that everyone is putting in? So many what if's, but I have to trust the Universe and just get back to the easel. We'll know on September 7th, until then we'll just keep working on it. So if you are or are going to be in the area we'd love for you to stop by and say hello! The auction is on September 7th from 4-7pm at the Warmglow Candle Co. on I-70 in Centerville, Indiana. There will also be a few dogs up for adoption at the event! You may meet a paintings namesake if they haven't already been adopted by then. Here are a few of the paintings that will be up for auction. (Upper Left: Emma, Upper Right: Willie, Lower Left: Cameo, Lower Right: Pete)

Spring Cleaning

Ahhh, my studio is clean, well clean-ish! Sometimes the clutter just gets too bad and you are ready to part with little drawings and various papers, old brushes that you really will never use. Today was that day and it's a great feeling to have it done. My studio is pretty small though so there's always need for more room especially since the paintings are piling up! But for now I'm thrilled! Oh, and Zoe thinks it's pretty great too!

I hope you are all having a fabulous week!!!

Journeys in Art

This week in art has kind of taken me by surprise. I've completed 2 mixed media paintings and started a third. When I say mixed media the only thing added aside from my normal painting is some cool scrapbooking papers. There's been a HUGELY positive response to the two paintings which makes me feel like I'm on the right track. But there is a downside to this too. Yesterday while working on the third piece I got to thinking about copyrights and scrapbooking. I'm not a scrapbooker and using the papers is brand new to me so this question was bound to come up, I'm very happy that it came up before I went any farther... So there's one particular type of paper that I'm drawn to, tons of antique style papers and such. I decided to write an e-mail to the head of the company and got a reply rather quickly. So here's the deal, if you plan to reproduce or license your art which includes scrapbooking papers, you can't. Well not using the paper I like anyway. There are companies that allow use through what is called an 'Angel Policy' but hunting them down and then finding the papers that you like just seems like too much trouble. So, the two finished paintings that I did will have to be altered in Photoshop so that I can license them. Irritating to say the least and I could go on about this but what are you going to do? So I'll just find my own gems of antique ephemera then use them how ever I like. But before I get started on that I'll show you the second painting title "Ocean Traveler". It will be traveling to it's new home in Arkansas tomorrow.

Yesterday's art project was soooooo much fun! It was nice to just do something without any definite expectations. That's why personal work is so important I think. My goal is to bring together different artistic elements including media and styles, shake them up and bring something new to the world. So the newer work will be including paint, collage and type. This new piece of an African Roller was created specifically with licensing in mind. I think it would be lovely on tapestries, bags, pillows, wall art and such. The copyright signature is not on the original painting and won't be on any prints, it's more of a watermark. This piece is 9 x 12 on canvas board. So now I'm off to work on a commissioned pet portrait of a beautiful boy named Charlie. So tell me what you've up to and what has inspired you today.

Today is going to be fun! I'll be working on a portrait of Duke for our local shelter. Help the Animals is a great organization and my good friend Jayne is the director. She's done amazing things with the place since she started a couple of years ago and the animals are lucky to have her and the other wonderful people who work and volunteer there. I had offered to do several paintings of dogs and cats who are waiting for their new families to find them. So Duke here is getting his painting done on a 16" x 20" canvas. When all of the paintings are finished we'll have calenders and possibly greeting cards made. Also there will be an auction in November with proceeds going to the shelter. So time to paint! Have a great day!!