Two Journals

I was hoping to get five new journals up before I left (for India “spending” money), but I only finished two… (on etsy)… now I need to work on finishing the stuff I REALLY need to do before I leave… hahahahahahahahahahaha (maniacal laughter here). Getting excited, though!!!

Mystery Photo & Class Proposal

This photograph was taken without my knowledge sometime in the last few days…. I think my son Christer is the culprit, as I had left the camera on the couch where (I think) he was sitting at the time this was taken… do you see Natalie on my lap?

Well! India is just a few days away. I’m working on Artfest 2008 teaching proposals that I need to send before I leave on Wednesday. I’m trying to put together a class proposal on collaborating with children. Here is a detail of a painting I did a few years ago using one of Wes’ school papers as inspiration. He was in 2nd grade at the time.

Girls with Pets

This is a detail of a larger painting… today I am the girl smack in the middle, with my tabby kitty, Natalie.

All of my “girl” paintings are pretty much from my childhood… I have had (at one point or another) each of the pets shown above. Animals littered my childhood with drama and joy: a pony, hampsters, turtles, kittens, dogs, fish, parakeets, rabbits, and hermit crabs… I do love animals of all kinds!

How about you?

It’s Friday!

Journals today… trying to PAINT…. have a great weekend!

India Preparations

Many of you know that I’m going to India in just two weeks for the month of June with Art Seva, where we’re teaching art to orphanage children. Traveling to India has been a long-time dream, and “things” finally came together this spring. I’m very excited on many levels, but at the top of the list is interacting with the children and seeing how India will influence my artwork upon my return…

In preparation for the trip, I am reading Vikram Seth’s wonderful novel, A Suitable Boy, bits and pieces of DK Publishing’s India, and The Essential Haiku, edited by Robert Hass. (I know! I know! Haiku is not Indian! However, for some reason it just grabbed me.) A favorite so far:

A bath when you’re born,

a bath when you die,

how stupid.

______________ 🙂

This is an etsy week. I have listed some originals today, and will be listing a few more this afternoon, as well as some journals and purses by the end of the week.

I’ve also added some items to try and raise money for the flight: A card set, and a limited edition artist’s book (to be completed upon my return). If you are interested in either of these items, please either e-mail me privately (carla@carlasonheim.com) or go through etsy… in any case, thanks to everyone for encouragement and support!

Tagged!

I’ve been tagged by Judy, to tell 7 quirky things about myself!

1. I like to bathe in complete darkness.
2. I’ve been known to talk to myself (out loud, gesticulating) when walking down streets.
3. I don’t cook… at all.
4. I like novels with disturbed male protagonists (A Month of Sundays, It Happened in Boston?, The Catcher in the Rye, A Confederacy of Dunces…).
5. I’m a “Trekkie.”
6. I buy books and art supplies first, clothes last.
7. I think it’s NOT FAIR that there wasn’t “glitter paint” when I was a little girl.

Now, I tag YOU!!!!

How to Paint a Family Portrait

Painting a Family Portrait (in 10 easy steps):

1. While at OKC, optimistically promise a Mother’s Day Delivery.
2. Get photos, imagine composition, prepare wood, sketch in charcoal.
3. Let sit for a day or two before committing.
4. Render the sketch in marker.
5. Gesso. Layers and layers, until the faces are smooth and the background is textured how you like it.
6. Work on background colors, layering watercolors and rubbing back until satisfied.
7. Let painting sit for a week due to fear of ruining next step.
8. Two days before it must be in OKC, add color to faces and hair, with special attention to proper face shape. Let sit another day, due to fear of ruining next step.
9. Draw the faces in pencil.
10. In about an hour, add finishing touches; spray with nasty stuff; paint sides and back black; ask husband to wire since this part is just TOO MUCH; and overnight the painting to client to get there by Mother’s Day, thus reducing profit margin significantly.

I’m 44 Today!

And it’s a beautiful sunny day, too. Hurray!

Still 19

1. Christer (19) came home last night from college. He’ll be here a few weeks and then he’s going to southern France for the summer…
2. When I was 19 I spent six weeks in Indonesia… how I got to go on this trip is slightly embarrassing but I’ll tell you in case you get a smile out of it.
3. I was on the tennis team in college and the #2 singles player was a girl from Indonesia. Once, during practice, she generously invited all of us to come and stay with her that summer… I was so excited, but didn’t show it. Could I possibly swing it? I went home, figured out the money, and the next day, said: “Justine, I can COME!”
4. Poor Justine… she hadn’t really meant it!
5. “Uh… I need to ask my parents.” I tried to backpeddle at that point, suddenly aware of my mistake, but she graciously stood by her invitation.
6. (This story as much as anything else illustrates the kind of person I am – cheerful, impulsive, and a bit stupid…)

Booth Shot

Above: My booth at Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts 2007.

My mind is a blank. I have nothing to say this morning! Maybe coffee will help…

Here are some links to keep you occupied!