Day 7

I had my blog post ready, but I forget to upload!
This is a photo of something a little different I'm trying. Again, it's a work in progress. I want to cut out a shadow box in the center and drop a little mini frame in it with the bird and that clock piece in it. So what you're looking at is kind of an elaborate frame for a small sculptural type work.
Confused? Me too :)
I'm winging it.
I just love dimensional art though. Not necessarily sculpture, more assemblage.
Yes. Assemblage. That's exactly the word I was searching for.
I've tried a couple things over the years, never to great success. I have envisioned in my mind's eye how fabulous this will look when complete, but so far I've never accomplished one I was proud of.
Stay tuned...

Day 6

today I got to put into practice my new years resolution of listening to myself
i'm under the weather with some sort of head cold/flu type thing.
i was s o t i r e d yesterday and instead of drinking a coffee and pushing thru,
i took a nap.
afterwards i was able to take care of the kids after school, bake some easy bake cakes,
play a little hi-ho-cheerio and cook a yummy dinner.

it was a good lesson for me

day 5

After picking lila up,

We sat at our little kitchen table and ate crackers and cheese

She told me about a disagreement she had at school

Mack told her she had brown eyes,

Lila told him that her eyes were NOT brown, but a very beautiful and unusual shade of HAZEL. (in her own way of course, she is only four)

I’m happy she likes her eyes. My whole life I have received compliments on my light, sometimes sea blue, sometimes grey eyes.

I like my eyes too.

Winter break has broken me

Tomorrow back to our routine. Our blessed routine. I love routine. Vacation with the kids has left me breathless, needing a vacation. Today we packed in as much fun as possible and I even got a painting started. I have an art fair deadline approaching so when this one is done it may become one of my entry slides.

quiet

A new year, and things abruptly go back to normal.

But I’ve forgotten what normal is.

So many weeks of anticipation and purpose kept me, my mind busy.

Now it’s all over, and the emptiness is waiting to get replaced, but by what?

drift

It's January so it means long, cold days, stuck inside, with nothing to do but paint - paint - paint
well, not really, but January is usually a very productive month for me.
To kick off the new year I want to challenge myself to create every day. I will try to post daily updates of works in progress.

Here is a dreamy painting I just listed on ebay, the title is 'drift'

Tap, tap, tap, anyone here?

When I was wrapping all those gifts, on that special night of the year, I didn't think of what it meant for the next day. I had images of the lazy days, months ahead, playing the new board games, oh so many of them. visions of performing mad science experiments with my two little chemists, from their new kits. baking miniature cakes by the warmth of a single 100 watt bulb. But i did not envision attempting to fulfill all these fantasies in the next 24 hours!

I have risen to the challenge though, and with my thumbs sore from punching out cardboard pieces, and my brain pounding from reading so many directions and instructions. we have played, read and shuffled our way through most of it.

Pure fun I tell you. I will be sad when my playmates return to school.























this painting is on ebay now

summer FUN

This year we got 6-flags season passes for me and the kids and even Dad! We probably went six or seven times over the summer, never more than four hours at a time, and it was perfect. We would arrive when it opened and stay till we got tired or too hot or hungry. We never ate there and got a refillable .99 cent soda so we tried to get by as cheaply as possible. I think this may become an every other year tradition for us. After the initial outlay of money, it became something fun we could do without thinking about cost. And since our previous plan of a trip to the Florida panhandle got postponed, it wasn't that bad of a summer vacation for staying in town.

It turns out my six year old son is a roller coaster junkie and so is his dad. Lila, little three year old Lila loved the mine train coaster and would beg to go again and again. We have started a tradition of getting our family picture on the log flume at least once a summer. This was our pic from this year. I SWEAR Lila is enjoying herself. As soon as we get off she says "Again!"

I may use this as our holiday card this year. Should I add little santa hats on us?

Queeny art fair

What a weekend! I just got home from my exhibiting in my first ever art fair! You may have wondered why things were so quiet around here... Well I've been painting, building, sewing and shopping to prepare. I have to say, though I missed my internet life, it was a brilliant experience. I felt so much support and encouragement from everyone. The other artists were so helpful and went out of their way to make me feel at home and share information. I definitely will be doing this again. It was so good to get out of the studio and get feedback.

A few of the highlights...
1. I had a number in my head for financial 'exceeds expectations' and I came very close to it.
2. I won a ribbon!!! A beautiful white ribbon with "Honorable Mention" was in my booth Sunday morning. What a great way to start the day.
3. $300 in 'Art Dollars" were given out over the weekend as raffle door prizes and $150 was spent in my booth.
4. Meeting Amy Millspaugh. She felt like a long lost sister, we immediately hit it off and I managed to trade for one of her gorgeous, whimsical bowls. Also meeting Kay Foley. I didn't have much time to talk with her but I loved her work and I know we have a lot in common.

If this is your first visit to my blog and I met you at the show, Welcome! You all really shared the love and made my weekend incredible!
Here is a link to my etsy where you can find more prints and I'll be listing originals as the week goes on.

Amazing Glaze

I have (re)discovered a dusty bottle of product sitting on my self. It's my Liquitex glazing medium. I've been using it on faces recently. I really like the control I have over color and shadow, slowing building up layers. I can add highlights easily with full strength heavy body acrylic, then knock it down again with a thin glaze. It's a slower process but the results are worth it!























on ebay now!

Happy Monday

Last week was so full, lot's of swimming, a trip to the St. Louis Zoo and tea parties. I even managed to get some painting done!

















I'm loving painting birds. It's so freeing in some way, more imaginative and spontaneous.
This one is on ebay now

I'm going to miss these guys in a few short weeks. Lila will be attending pre-school for just a few hours a week, but Paul is going to be gone for 6 1/2 hours Monday - Friday, he'll be in 1st grade!
He's never been away from me that much, and it's going to be hard to adjust not being there for a big chunk of each day. I'm not a helicopter parent I SWEAR, I'm just a stay at home mom used to having my little boy around.

art and an interview

I was featured on Chrissie Grace's blog! There is an interview and some art. Please go check it out HERE! I hope I don't sound too lame :)

Facebook anyone?

I have become on of the millions of people who have joined facebook, and I even made a little page for my art work called 'art of sarah wyman'

I'm kind of treating like a newsletter where if you join you will updated when I have new paintings for sale, art shows I'm doing or preparing for and the ups and downs I experience as I go along.

Won't you join and become my friend?

follow this link

Jezebel

Our little family was hit with some bad news last week,
our beloved kitty of nine years has cancer, a tumor in her jaw.






















When I say she is the perfect cat, I mean she is the perfect cat. I've had cats my whole life and my previous kitty who lived to 18, was wonderful, and we thought we would never have one so good, and then we met Jezebel. The minute we held her at the shelter, she curled up in the nook of my arm with her nose in my elbow and started purring. She hasn't stopped purring.
She takes meticulous care of herself. The white spots on her are so soft and brilliantly clean. Her hair looks a little unkempt in this photo taken today because she can't keep it up now.
And friendly! She doesn't know a stranger. Most cats are at least skittish of strangers but the minute you sit down in our house you have a purring calico in your lap. She sits on Mikes lap at dinner, and sleeps with Paul most nights.

She has just a little time left, and we are just loving her up.

If you have a pet or even a loved one, give them an extra hug tonight.

Back to Normal

I got all my art fair applications sent and now I wait... Well not really, now I get back to tending my ebay and etsy shops! Poor, neglected things. I think it was a good break though, I am full of excitement and energy and new ideas for work.
I listed two new original paintings on ebay last night.

My heart lies with contemporary art as well as with figurative folk art, so I decided to explore some ideas I've had with a more modern edge.
I've been a bit obsessed with birds lately. You might remember my struggle to find a squirrel proof bird feeder earlier this year. I finally found one and have been enjoying the bird show ever since. I even spotted our woodpecker. I've heard him for years and he made an appearance at our feeder last week.
I'm not interested in faithfully representing a bird, I'm interested in exploring shape, pattern and color. Here is my first offering...



















It has a bit of a mosaic feel to it too, altogether I'm happy.

Next was more of a traditional piece for me, I'm trying to push myself in loosening up, being more adventurous with the shape of the figure, and working BIG. I am meditating on the words BE BRAVE. I can create the same piece over and over, but I'm not growing, and not satisfying my creative spirit.























On ebay here

Almost there

My Sunday deadline came and went for my big art fair photo shoot, but I am still trudging along, trying to meet my 'real' arbitrary deadline of tonight.
The actual deadline is June 25, and if you want to pay double the application fee, it's July 5.
Here is where everything is at...

Three panels are built. Not perfectly and may still go through revisions, but good enough for now. I have three.























I am covering them with a black burlap pillowcase which allows me to poke things in to hang my paintings.























And here is Lila demonstrating her new skill she learned while I was distracted with this project.

Growing

Every year we plant a couple tomatoes. This year they are coming up so nicely. On our three plants I counted eight baby tomatoes, I'm even thinking we might get to enjoy one on the 4th of July.

















We also added a pumpkin plant this year. I think it would be so cool to let the kids carve Jack O' Lanterns out of pumpkins they grew. Also I would like to try to make a homemade pumpkin pie.






















This plant is growing like gangbusters. The leaves are huge and it has lovely yellow flowers.
I know it's not quite a victory garden, but I wanted to start small, and to make sure I can manage the care for these plants all summer. Growing vegetables takes a lot of tending for months before you reap the rewards in late summer and early fall. It's hard for me to keep interest in things with such delayed gratification. But this project is going well. I'm loving how beautiful the plants are by themselves and taking a lot of enjoyment from watching them grow. I also have a basil, a jalapeno and a raspberry bush, which won't fruit for at least one year.

This process kind of reminds me where I am artistically. I haven't been listing new paintings on ebay or etsy (though lots of prints are up) because I've been preparing to enter my first true juried art fair. I've been busy creating new pieces, larger pieces and attempting to construct a booth. This weekend is kind of the deadline I set for myself, so hope to photograph everything and email my slides tomorrow. Lot's of preparation for one big payoff, emotionally. I'm very excited about the prospect of crossing this off my to-do list and getting back to 'normal'. Look for new work listed on ebay and etsy soon...

Spoiler Alert!!! Work of Art: The Next Great Artist

I discuss the ending of Bravo's Work of Art from Wednesday night. Stop reading if you haven''t watched it yet!!!

........


I will never claim to be a reviewer of any sort, but I do have a few comments to make after watching the last “Work of Art” on Bravo.

I thought about the upcoming episode more times than I care to admit during the week.

I am anxiously awaiting the next episode.

I’m not sure if I like the show all that much or I am determined to like it NO MATTER WHAT

Trong was annoying and pretentious for two weeks.

Miles was very likeable in the first week and is slowly becoming annoying and pretentious. Ummm, no one asked you what you thought of Trongs piece, though to Trongs credit he took it very well. Also, all the giant yawns and eye rubbing was a bit over the top. We get it. You have OCD and you are very tired. Perhaps there are other contestants with issues as well but you don’t see them talking about it, much less in every interview.

Yes I am compassionate to those with OCD, just as I am compassionate to those with depression, addictions, brain damage, diabetes, etc. of which we know AT LEAST one other contestant suffers from. (Eric Johnson disclosed his motorcycle induced brain damage this week)

Oh yeah, I guess there was art too… I loved the theme for the week, but was a bit disappointed with most of the projects. Too many tv’s were used in the same way (the demise of American culture). Yes tv is bad. But if you didn’t notice, you are on a TV SHOW, and millions other are at home watching you on tv, don’t be so quick to bite the hand that feeds you.

I think Trongs elimination was appropriate. I mean painting “I hate reality tv” “It’s so fake” was less a stroke of genius and more a swift hara-kiri.

I did like Peregrine’s quiet, unassuming piece. Two small tv’s facing each other, turned on to static, with a black tube netting connecting them. It may have accomplished more simply Trong’s desire to have tv’s talking to each other.

After the show was over I did feel a let down. I still have high hopes, and think the show may still be working out the kinks so I will be watching, till the very end.

Vietnamese Iced Coffee

Ever had a Vietnamese iced coffee?
I've been racking my brain, trying to remember the first time I tasted this tasty concoction. I think my friend Erica was involved somehow and it was around 15 years ago. I worked in many coffee shops and remember making them as well, though we used these cool little coffee brew/drip things that would sit on top of your glass. I was craving one lately so decided to make my own. All you need is some sweetened condensed milk (yummmm) a shot of espresso and ice.






















That's the sweetened condensed milk on the bottom, espresso in the middle and foam on the top. Stir it all together... add ice... and enjoy!

Remember Me?...

I've missed you little blog and I hope I haven't lost all my readers! This has been a busy, beautiful summer.
I finished up my course in May
Lila finished her semester at Little Gym












































Paul played on a T-Ball team and did great (even though he was less than enthusiastic about it)
Lots of water and mud play






















Season tickets to 6-flags
and it's just the beginning!
I plan on cherishing every minute left