Being sick is good for my painting

1. I just really like the sheep I painted yesterday. Plus, I got a lot of girl blocks started and I am happy with them as well. I truly didn’t care as much (since I felt so crappy), and the end result was better work!
2. I think this girl’s blog is very funny (warning: she cusses and stuff!). For a good sampling, see the post titled “Wine” (scroll down a little bit).
3. Last evening Steve came home just as Wes and I were going to talk “boy-girl” stuff. The subject of dancing came up, and the next thing we were all three dancing in the kitchen to some of Steve’s “spin class” music. It was truly one of those great family moments.
4. Karin’s Style Blog.
5. I realized last night I have only seven weeks to complete about 60 new works for Oklahoma City (an art festival the last week in April). Um…

It’s Monday Again… I Like Mondays!

1. This cardboard box is “sit-ready,” according to Natalie Our Cat.
2. I think this guy asks a good question with this drawing (hee).
3. “Saving money is no accident, huh Dad?”   – Wes, at age 3.
4. One of my “million-dollar ideas” is a website where one can type in an author or a book or a song they like, and the site will offer suggestions for other authors, books or songs they might also like. Somebody beat me to it! For music, try www.pandora.com. (Link from Michael.)
5. I’ve been sick the last few days. Planning to sit quietly at my painting desk today, with a fire at my back and music piped into my brain.

Illustration Friday

1. I did an Illustration Friday piece! See the full image here. (I woke up incredibly tired of my usual way of painting, so took the IF opportunity as an excuse to make these horses…)
2. I found this inspiring artist during my “coffee drinking/blog meandering” time this morning. I especially like the bottom giraffe piece (scroll down).
3. I’m feeling more chipper today, thank you!
4. Wes told me that he wants “15% of the gross” on any mini journals I sell (for background, see this post). When I told him that that would be $1.50 each, he wanted 50%. When I told him to “forget it,” he quickly went back down to the original 15 … should I?!! (LOL)
5. Steve and I share an office. He just said, “No more Mr. Nice Guy,” and turned up the music. (It’s too LOUD for me now, so I’m outta here.)

1. This is my Self-Portrait Thursday offering. Before this one, I made two horrid drawings that are now in the trash. No, I won’t show them to you.
2. I’ve been fighting depression for over a week (see above image) and have been trying to ignore it, not let it “win.” I’m losing. Still, I know that it will pass.
3. Am I boring you?
4. Steve is going to Puerto Rico for a week for a working vacation. Should I go with him? (I want to.)
5. This will cheer you up.

Today is….

1. In honor of this special day, please see the following links:
2. http://www5.flickr.com/photos/iggysparkses/388842272/in/pool-gorgeouses/
3. http://www2.flickr.com/photos/azredheadedbrat/102305955/in/pool-magicmoments/
4. http://www.826mustaches.blogspot.com/
5. http://www.handlebarclub.co.uk/

1. New journals today. (Only a couple, but they’re good ones!)
2. I’ve decided I like this five-point “post” system and will organize my posts this way until I get bored.
3. Jenny Kostecki-Shaw has a very cool “studio tour” today on her blog.
4. Other blogs I check frequently: Keri Smith (boy, is she wonderful) and Camilla Engman (Swedish artist and scavenger of cool links).
5. Did you know I lived in Sweden for 15 months when I was in my early 20s? My oldest son was born in Uppsala. (Jag kan lite svenska fortforande…) I was on a Rotary Scholarship and started a Masters in History (didn’t finish, though). History!

Self Portrait Saturday Night

1. How about all of that gray?!
2. Steve has declared Wednesday (2/21) “Wear A Mustache to Work Day.” Let’s see pictures, people!
3. We watched “Amadeus” for the first time last night. Wow.
   As part of our post-movie conversation, Steve told Wes that, at any given moment, Mozart was probably being played live around the world (between orchestra performances, students practicing, etc.). An interesting thought.
4. I must introduce you to the art of Helene Lacelle. She’s my new favorite artist! She sells originals on ebay here.
5. Sunny and warm today… I’m so happy!!

I Gave Up

I gave up on the three paintings below (for the moment) and did this one today. I was craving simplicity and so left most of the painting the natural wood. I like it! I’m not sure if it’s done yet (probably not), but am pleased with this new direction.

Yesterday I took the day off and went skiing for the first time in several years. Reminder: GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE and USING YOUR BODY PHYSICALLY are very good things.

Unruly “Teenagers”

IMPORTANT NOTE: Today’s post is a total rip-off of Jamie Johnson’s post of a few days ago, but it’s such a good metaphor it bears repeating here…

+++++

Today I am “fighting” with my unruly teenagers. These would be several “almost-grown” paintings you see above.

Jamie’s post says it best, but honestly, this can be the most frustrating part of the painting process for me.

So much has been invested by this point, and when they start to become uncooperative, I bristle. Not only have I invested quite a bit of time and care (through the messy gesso/toddler period, for example), but I’ve also had a lot of high hopes for each of them. But like children, the higher hopes I have, the more pressure I put on them to be “the best mermaid painting I’ve ever done,” the more they fight, resist and rebel against me.

Obviously I need to “let them go”… let them be who and what they are (even if they’re not good enough for that poster company).

Illustration

It’s time to admit that I’m not an “illustrator.”

Every week I anticipate receiving the Illustration Friday topic. I promise myself that THIS week, I will do it. No matter what.

I’m a smart person, I tell myself. I used to work in graphic design — I was a magazine art director, for crying out loud — so I have a “feel” for illustration…

Then comes the impossible prompt, such as “sprout” or “crash.” What the heck? How am I supposed to illustrate THOSE words? They must be getting harder, these prompts. Yes.

A few days later I might go over to the IF website to see the one or two geniuses who were able to come up with something. Invariably I am accosted by dozens and dozens of witty, smart, well-drawn, highly creative solutions to whatever word Penelope sends to us.

(sigh.)