Watching The Paint Dry

Proud Moments

Tuesday I had a "coffee" (meaning I scarfed down one of their delicious sandwiches at 10am and reeked of garlic all day from their meth-like addictive, feta, salad dressing) meeting at South Pine Cafe.

As I was leaving, I noticed a children's menu taped on the wall. It was Layla's drawing! I couldn't be prouder. Her first commercial illustration gig at 6! Her favorite thing about eating there? That would be "eating with Mom".

Yes, I tear up every time I look at it.

I'm also proud to say I finished this painting.

"The Box"
Acrylic Ink Pencil on Canvas 
24" x 20"
1.5" staple free painted sides 

$250 (plus $10.00 shipping)

A close up.

A side view with a little glare to show texture.

Please go to the previous entry to learn more about this piece and discuss the meaning!

What's So Bad About The Box?

Let me be clear.

I want to sell my art to you. Mostly because I love making art and I like getting attention for it. I also need to buy supplies and not feel guilty about spending my family's money.  It would be nice to be rich and famous for it but not really. I would make it anyway and what little I know of being rich and famous doesn't seem that great.

I also want people to buy art even if it isn't mine. I write about my process so people don't feel intimidated by talking to artists or asking to understand their work; my work. I hope my writing makes you think about any piece of art. Maybe the next time you are at a craft fair and something strikes you, you'll ask the artist about their work knowing you have a friend who is one. I promise, it will make their day that you are truly interested even if you can't afford it.

I have been going to some SEO/facebook marketing/social networking monetization/blog optimization meetings and I'm not sure how that fits in with what I do. I'm not moving mass inventory. I couldn't meet the demand of the optimization even if I felt like doing it. All those tricks make me feel lonely and far away from anyone who might make an investment in my work. Because my work is part of my life, I don't want to feel far away from it. 

Which brings me back to the box. Why is everyone working so hard to get away from the box, to think outside of it? We need a box to push against, to open, to protect the precious , to tell us where we have been and reveal something special to us. A trip to the circus a few times is nice but remember who you always came back to Christmas morning.

So here it is.

I am me and just me.

I make art.

I would love for you to buy my art, ask about it, share it with others or comment on it.

I'll see you on internet. I'll be the one building the cool as shit clubhouse with the Whirlpool Refrigerator logo.

You're all invited.

I think I might be done with this but I'm not quite ready to call it done.

An updated version based on Clair's inspiration in the comments below. I wanted a graphic element to pull the birds into the composition. Going to leave it here for a while and take my dog for a walk. Thank you all for your kind comments! As you can see, I really enjoy reading them.

Magic Does Happen

Yesterday's eclipse went beyond astronomy, looping back in on itself like the ring around the moon, to an ancient, spiritual alchemy. 

I heard a scientist say "ooh looks creepy." Neighbors walked across streets to share hand made observational devices. People sang and drank and celebrated our humanity, dancing for joy knowing how tiny our problems must be.

The girls felt something in the air. It changed the shadows of the tallest trees and the pace of blood through the narrowest vessel. I told Sabrina, "Wild flowers gathered by the light of an eclipse by a maiden pure of heart will bring good luck to a home." 

She loved it and returned saying she found "the three flowers of destiny!"

She also loved the perfume samples Greg poked holes in to view the eclipse.

After it was done, Layla put out a tip jar and said she was going to "do science for money."

Busking with science! Each girl did their presentation and heckled each other. 

 

 

 

 

We didn't have any money for the tip jar but we felt rich and powerful understanding what was happening but completely enchanted none the less.

  Even "Totoro" showed up.

Don't look, Sabrina.

 

As one Facebook friend noted, "I thought the shadows were the best part of the eclipse!" Me too.

 

I'm On Etsy

My hair may look like Blythe Danner on crack but I got lots of work done this week.

My Etsy shop is up and featuring 3 paintings. Did I mention that I'm launching a new site too?! Big changes and big ideas are on the way.

 I think managing my wavy bob is on the back burner until September.

"Don't Be Afraid of 4"
9" x 12"
Mixed Media on Canvas Board
$100
Available here on Etsy 

Update on Location

"You Are Here Revisited" Work in progress

Stay Golden

This one is for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider wanting in or an insider wanting out.

"It's Nice Outside"
Mixed Media on Canvas
10" x 10"

$100 

You Are Here Revisited

Time to get centered again.

I bought a new case of canvases and started without knowing where to begin. I generally don't understand artists that revisit the same content, but I was compelled to revisit  "You Are Here" on canvas and in a different medium.

In my old life it was so important to understand my audience and appeal to it. Now it is sometimes difficult to close my ears to the chatter of what success might mean and what beautiful is. I believe my best work comes from responding to what is happening instead of hoping to please someone else. In that way, my only audience is me. I  better know where I am.

Right now I'm an abstraction of what I thought I would be. I am learning to enjoy the journey and the freedom that comes from charting my own the course. The little rebellions of my 40s are pleasing to me for reasons only I need to understand.

Do something today that makes you smile and try not to explain it. 

Now I'm off to pick up paper towels at Kmart wearing Balenciaga perfume and it makes me feel like someone else.

Work in Progress.

The Truth About Us

Yesterday was Mother's Day and our 9 year Anniversary (10 year Anniversary of the day we met). These milestones are fraught with symbolic tradition that usually make me anxious with anticipation. I feel the urge to plan something fantastic so everyone feels like they gave me a satisfactory Mother's Day ©  and Anniversary ©. This year I didn't do that.  I dug deep and thought  about what  I really liked to do. 

We hung out with my sister and fed the goats she was watching.

I made scrambled eggs and the girls made fairy water there. You can see more photos at Moira's Blog.

We ate bagels on a little boat.

Later we ate really expensive cheese with champagne and sparkling cider for the girls.

I went to bed early.

The truth about us does not make sense if symbolic traditions are required to mark the moments. I have an uneasy instinct to rebel against those markers and it is Greg's innate nature. He bristles at the Hallmark sentiments but delivers every day in moments that go beyond gesture.

The truth about us is I can be everything I want to be because Greg does the dishes.

It is a simple  daily act that he does with no fanfare before or after work at a job that supports our family. My job does not. My job is frivolous in terms of my company bank account. But he still does the dishes. This annoying chore tells me and my daughters, he thinks my job is important. The currency he brings in does not create a system of barter under our roof even when I'm tempted to give up under those standards. He doesn't let me give up and only snickers when I threaten to pack up my paints and become a better housewife.

I am everything I want to be because of his support and love. 

In our house I am seen and understood every day. What a wonderful thing to celebrate.

Thank you, Layla for the wonderful poem. It means more than you'll ever know.

Thank you, Sabrina for the heart shaped jewelry box and for being the girl who wears a maxi dress to feed goats.

Thank you, Greg for the jewels in the box and the jewels in our life.

 

Lost Potential

I saw this on my walk this morning.

So pretty!

And a little sad.

 

 

Inside/Outside

I enjoyed The Outside today. It is the space where my thoughts can wander and the mile markers are unclear. I don't have to pay for validation or even ask for a free stamp to let me pass. I feel very small but limitless.

When I'm Inside, I bump into things and am easily confused by locked bathrooms and small ceilings. There are times I drool with envy at people more Outside than me. I traded that status in for a happy family and an Art and Writing degree from a well regarded but unspectacular college.

I'm usually not Outside or Inside enough but I can only build my life with the thoughts I have. I remind myself there is more dignity in the stick trying to become something than the potted plant that knows what it is forever. 

I've been Inside.

Outside is better.

But sometimes it sucks to be a stick.

"It's Nice Outside" work in progress.

If you've never read Inside Outside by Herman Wouk, stop whatever you're doing it and do it now.