Goodbye, Farewell

Will post again in May! Thanks to everyone…

This is how I feel today!

Having pre-show panic attack. Happens every time. Leave Sunday.

Here’s another little fairy to cheer you up!

:- )

Hippy Hoppy

Scribbler tool… try it, it’s fun!

Cutest Little Fairy on the Block!

I can’t help it. I love her. Am working on a companion piece with a rabbit … “The Tortoise and The Hare.” These are for the Oklahoma City show…

“Fairy with Turtle” prints available here.

Easter “Journaling”

I don’t often take the time to “art journal” a la Teesha Moore and others… I’m not sure why, because when I do take the time, I LOVE IT. Anyway, yesterday was Easter and I knew that I needed a break from the “girls.” Was, in fact, determined not to “work.” But by late afternoon I felt the need to create and so made myself a journal with some watercolor paper.

Above are two of the pages I painted (mostly watercolor). The pencil scribbles on the pages came at one point when I was feeling afraid to ruin the pages. I remembered Keri Smith’s new project, Wreck This Journal.

In other news, I made a phone call today that I’ve been putting off for over three weeks. And you know what? It wasn’t that bad.

More Artfest

Trees by Kim, Relief Prints

Heather by Kelly, Wrong-handed drawing

I taught a class titled “Voice Lessons” for the first time last week. I *think* it was a success — I thought so anyway! All of the women (I limited the class to just 12) were so talented and open and willing to try new things.

I start almost every class with a “wrong-handed” drawing. Each and every drawing is loose and flawed and wonderful. We then did writing and collage exercises, and then spent TIME talking about each collage, and what I saw or what the students saw in each that could tell the artist what they were most interested/passionate about.

Then came a whirlwind of activity: drawing exercises, painting with watercolors, a wire scuplture and a relief print. This was all before lunch, and I had each of them think about which media they would like to pursue further in the afternoon.

After lunch, I gave them their “assignments”. I also met with them one-on-one to discuss artwork they had brought to class, and tried to encourage them in a direction that I could see naturally emerging in the work they had completed that day, as well as in their older work.

I hope (hope, hope) that they each left that day with a clearer sense of direction and excitement about their own unique vision as artists.

Wes and Mud Go Together

Slippers

While shopping with friends in Port Townsend, WA, I was admiring the above slippers. I decided to pass on them because I knew Steve would not like them. Not that I can’t be myself, but I decided the price tag was a little high for me to go home and be snickered at.

But my friend Cindi bought them for me secretly! Now this was PERFECT… I could have the slippers, but could tell Steve my crazy friend Cindi gave them to me as a gift.

Once home, I pulled them out of my suitcase and held them up to Steve. True to the script, his eyebrows raised. He seemed visibly relieved when I told him that Cindi had given them to me, and even said “cute”.

Postscript: I had them on this morning and was getting ready to drive Wes to school. Wes said, “You’re not going to wear those ridiculous shoes, are you?”

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! His father’s son. Anyway, I love my new slippers.

Glad to be Home

I’m glad to be home, but I had a wonderful trip! The images above and below are two of the many wonderful paintings women in my “Voice Lessons” class painted Thursday morning (a Modigliani-inspired portrait). I apologize to the artists for not getting their names… I think the bottom one was by Terry…? Please speak up if it’s yours!!!

I am tired. By the third day of every Artfest I get mentally ill, and look and feel quite a lot like the above painting. I am not really kidding. On Saturday night I was so exhausted that I started to get a bit paranoid.

But after a good night’s sleep, I felt fresh and happy and creatively rejuvinated. I am grateful.

I have many more images to share but Wes is due to come home any moment, so check back tomorrow!