changes

For one who does not like change, I sure am making a few around here.

First of all I am trying something different on ebay. The talented and prolific Heather Galler has offered to take over selling my paintings on ebay. She has developed quite a following on ebay and is taking on a few artists to help promote their work. The painting above is called "Hopeful" and is listed HERE for a starting bid of $0.01!

Hopeful is also how I am feeling about a new gallery my art will be displayed in soon. Cranky Yellow has asked for some work so I gave them four originals and six prints. Stop in and visit them if you live in St. Louis!

I have several other things brewing, but I'll save them for another post...

ambiguity

Life is about to change again
Paul starts Kindergarten tomorrow, he only goes half day, but it is five days a week.
Lila will start Junior Preschool the next week, for three mornings a week.
My school starts the week after that, but I'm only taking one class (yay!)

My hope is that I have more time.
That I'm not always playing catch up
That I'm able to do the things that are important
That there is time everyday for smelling the roses

unknown

This painting is listed on ebay with a $0.99 starting bid price!
See here

I work in blues and orange, alot.
I thought green and red would remind me of xmas, but this doesn't at all. It actually reminds me of August.
I'm beginning to really like this complementary color scheme.

Hurry up lunch! I have a crockpot full of curry chicken. TWO jalapenos, cayenne pepper, coconut milk, ginger, garlic, onion, carrots, potatoes, I'm drooling just thinking about it :)

perseverance

buy it now here

I'm having salad bar and pizza for dinner
I like to tear up some romaine lettuce, slice hard boiled eggs, chop up some turkey, get out the olives and croutons, a couple dressings, sunflower seeds, anything else that sounds good
and arrange them all in one of my kids divided plates so my hubby and I can make our own salads, just like at a salad bar!
then I pop a cheapy supreme pizza into the oven, and we have a tasty inexpensive EASY dinner
yummy!

IF = Idle or 'she liked to sit in her chair and think'

how time flies when you're having fun,
or at least when you're really busy

I remember being a kid and dreading the end of summer and return to school
And now as a parent, I think as strongly as I was trying to hold onto the last days of summer, I bet my mom was wishing for the first day of school

For Sale HERE

IF = Tango

It takes two to 'tango'

Lame, I know :)

But I had much fun creating it.

I used modge podge instead of matte medium. Quite different. I see pro's and con's with both.

Modge podge:
Very thick (like thick school glue)
smells like glue
tacky and dries quickly
less expensive
I got fewer wrinkles and air bubbles in my collage elements (yay!)
slight sheen to surface when dry

matte medium
thinner
not tacky, you can reposition collage elements
matte finish

I will probably switch between both in the future depending on what effects I want.
It's good to have choices.

hazy

You'll have to click on the image to see it larger...
I was feeling a little constricted in the normal size which was 9" x 7.5" so I cut a really long, narrow piece of wood and created this lovely lady.
The dimensions are 17" x 6" and you can't tell in this scan, but I also added a wood box frame.
See her now on ebay

lady waiting

It is so hard for me to use a restricted palate, but when I do I am always so pleased.

It's also hard for me to know when to stop, but when I don't overdo it, i'm happy.

I love minimalist art, but can't seem to employ the same theory in my own work, but the closer I come the closer I am to my true vision

on ebay

IF: Worn (out)

on ebay

To Do

three trees

I don't really plan out paintings, theme or meaning wise, I just kind of compose the drawing, think about pallete and start painting.
Upon reflection I have seem 'life' showing up in them. Like for the last month we have had rain, and more rain. When I look at the images I created I see alot of blues, grays, and rain-like imagery.
Then I created this one today. Which so reflects the relentless heat we have experienced. Several days with temps in the 90s and heat indexes in the 100s. To me, this painting looks like a heat wave.

funny how that works

on ebay

IF = Unfold and BIG SALE

Buy here

BIG SALE!
It's my first sale, so it's gonna be a good one!

Buy any 3 prints mounted on wood and choose a 4th print for free. A $25 value.
If you would prefer 7" x 5.5" prints on paper, those are $18 each, 4th one free. Any image you see on my etsy can be a print.

ALSO

If you purchase an original painting on etsy you can get a print of your choice for free.

My etsy

two together

bid here

today was a strange day,
i've been feeling out of sorts, kind of lonely, kind of restless
i think being out of school for the last month is finally catching up with me,
I don't realize how much school is a social outlet for me.
I love learning. I love a good lecture. I absorb it all and it floats around in my head and colors my world in unexpected ways.
i expect to be a student forever in one capacity or another.

IF = Craving

I couldn't decide on just one craving...

Bid here

Today was Paul's first day of Kindergarten.
Actually it's called Jump Start to Kindergarten and it is part of his schools summer fun programs.
He was so brave, much braver than I was.
He kept saying the day before how he might cry when I had to leave, and I was cavalier about it, reassuring him that he would be fine, and many of his friends from preschool would be there.
When it was time to separate, his lower lip trembled just a bit, but he put on a very brave face.
My voice cracked, just a little, before I screamed at myself to 'get it together' and gave him a hug n' kiss.
When I picked him up, four long hours later, he chatted happily about the new friends he made, and playing on the playground. Oh and snack time was fun too.
Sounds about right for a little boy, recess and lunch are his favorite classes.

Always

Bid here

This painting reminds me of my best friend Erica, who moved to Washington (state) last summer. She signs her letters, "Always" so I thought that was an appropriate title.
I miss her, but she will be visiting in September, and we talk every week...

SO! It seems that my new pattern is listing four paintings a week, then taking Friday and Saturday off. It feels manageable, my house is clean, my children are happy and I'm cooking every meal (average 2 meal out a month!)
Of course things can't stay this way, school starts Jun 18th, so that will be an adjustment.

Another exciting development is I may be trading in my 1998 Honda CRV for a similar year/mileage Toyota Sienna. I have serious mini-van envy and so why not make a lateral move? This might take a few months as I would like to save up as much $$$$ as possible to upgrade to a slightly newer vehicle.

I don't mind driving an older car, I don't need the newest greatest shiniest thing. Since I buy Honda or Toyota, they are very reliable, and I love not having a car payment. Of course someday, my dream is to buy a BRAND NEW car, at least once in my life. We'll see...

Lady Bird

I can't even begin to describe how fun this painting was to create.

I have been painting non-stop for the last two days, just trying new things, thinking, really thinking about what I want my art to be, what it should say, and I have been rewarded.

buy here

trio

bid here

today was uneventful,
I almost got my daughters hair cut.
She has mad, mad, curly hair and I am at a loss as to what to do with it.
I want it to be long so we can do pony tails and such, but it is such a frizzy mess right now I feel I need to get it trimmed and maybe the stylists can advise me.
I'm not complaining, I love her hair, I just need to learn how to take care of it.

fish out of water

so back to my regularly scheduled life:
i made a delicious spinach lasagna
painted
played outside with the babies

now it's bath time, then bed time, then Tudors time (for me)
sometimes life is good

if = cracked

so much for my art resolution,
i spent the week cleaning and painting my great room. It needed to be done, and i feel good that it is, now maybe I can get back to some sort of normal

buy here

everything

Much larger than i'm used to working, like 12" x 10"
I would like to go larger still, I'll get there...

Much of yesterday was spent painting, my house. With the help of my brother, we got the hallway, dining room and some of the great room done. Tomorrow we will paint the two vaults in the great room, if my ladder and my roller on a stick can reach.
A newly painted room is one of favorite things. I love what we did yesterday, it's called mesa taupe, and it's, taupe, but its' a beautiful taupe i swear. it looks clean and modern and velvety. I'm doing the two vault walls with a seafoamy bluey color. It might sound strange, but I have high hopes.

I think it's a great way to start the summer.