looking out (or in?)

untitled

I've got a busy two weeks coming up, but wanted to post this latest piece before I disappeared. I haven't been able to title it just yet...I feel like there's definitely a story going on here, I just don't know what it is. Feel free to offer up your own interpretations.

If you're in my neck of the woods, you should consider checking out the upcoming show at Hawthorne Hill Farm, running May 18, 19 & 20. I'll be in their next show: June 22, 23 & 24...so by all means, put that on your calendar too!

making up for lost time

I had a bit of a kink in my neck that made pitch-forking the garden and planting potatoes yesterday not so fun. Fortunately, it didn't hinder me in the studio. So here I am- a month of blog-silence, and now two posts in as many days!

The kink is feeling better today, so back outside I go...but first I'm going to ask you all for a little constructive criticism of this piece- I'm feeling like it might need some fine-tuning, but maybe not? Obviously, I am not quite sure. Your thoughts?

April post- just in time

foundation

At last, a new painting finished. It's been a busy April, I'm glad I finally got myself into the studio to work for a while. This image may be a little brighter than the original- the real thing is quite springy, but maybe not so acid-green. (insert "I am not a photographer" disclaimer here)

I've been working hard on lots and lots of notecards and stationary products in the last few weeks...I'll get a shot of them for next week- and tell you all about the show they're being made up for. In the meantime, I'm going to go turn up the garden and get some potatoes in the ground!

new approach

capable

Here's a quick shot of a new piece. I decided this time to use a bird image of my own creation. Until now I've used images pulled from vintage birding books, in keeping with the use of vintage ephemera. I also love the very precise style of the ink drawings I've found. But using actual images from actual books means I'm limited in terms of sizing and orientation...and once they're used, they're gone until I find another book. In part, I like that limitation, but I realize I also want to be able to keep working without limitations on material.

I drew this bird on the end-leaf of an old book, and I'm quite proud of it, technically speaking. The drawing gives a very different feel here, though, compared to the my other works and I'm not sure how I feel about it.  I'd love your input- hearing other perspectives always helps.

Next week I'll post some new cards and gift tags I've been working on for a show coming up in June. Have a great weekend!

spring is visiting

It is going to be 50 degrees out today!

We have not had much of a winter here this year...at least not by typical Wisconsin standards. I've been disappointed at the lack of snow- especially with a Christmas present of new cross country skis which I've yet to be able to debut- but the weather today is making me long for spring. We'll have another go at winter next year, it's time to throw in the towel.

new sky

This is a piece I just finished in time for a 1:00 deadline at the Main Street Gallery in Cedarburg. If you're a local, Cedarburg is always nice to visit in the spring- be sure to stop by the gallery (in the Cultural Center) if you're in town.

Also, I know I said I'd post about my son's Harry Potter birthday party- I must say, it was a huge success in most respects. In others- not so much: we suffered multiple camera fails throughout the day. This, my friends, is why I don't blog events. Paintings sit still and wait while your memory card spazzes out or your other camera's batteries die. 6 and 7 year olds playing Quidditch in the basement...not so much. C'est la vie.

standing guard

sentinel

Hello! Here's a little piece I finished up this week. I found a wonderful old book about mushrooms...I always think these guys have so much personality- must be the early influence of Fantasia when I was a kid.

No real time to post, I'm afraid- I'm knee deep in clean up and final prep for a birthday weekend. I may have taken on a little much in the detail-department for the Harry Potter party. I finally admitted this to myself while whittling ten wands from sticks collected on walks. Be that as it may, I'm having fun - here's hoping the kiddos have fun too!

regularly scheduled blogging

returning

I'm feeling motivated to be more regular in my blogging. I've been working out my schedule these days- between making art, volunteering and family-life- and I realize I'm ready to let the art part take a more up-front position. 

I spent last week polishing up my photos and submitting to some art fairs and one gallery. I was supremely disappointed by a rejection last year, and realized that I really let that scare me off of making other submissions. I am a classic perfectionist- and if something doesn't go 'just right', I tend to want to just quit it all together. So in an effort to relax that part of me, I am committing to sending out submissions until I get another show, and then more after that to keep me rolling. If I suffer more rejection in the mean time- well, it's high time I learn that that doesn't define me- it just means it wasn't a good fit. (If you have any suggestions for galleries or shows that might be the right fit- let me know!)

This week I'm beginning some new pieces, using a wonderful 1940's guide to Ferns, published by the Natural History Museum in New York. I found the book in an antique shop in Madison in January...so lucky! I love, love, love ferns, and am hoping to capture a little of their quiet spring-ness in these new pieces.

I'll show you them as they progress- but will also be showing them over on Heather Kirtland's blog- as she's come up with the wonderful idea of hosting an online critique once in a while. I am so looking forward to this. The comments I received on my last post were incredibly helpful- not only with the piece, but with making me feel like this blog-world is slowly helping me build a bit of an artistic community- which was really my whole point in starting a blog. So, yay, Heather! Thank you for getting this going- I hope we have lots of participants!