Pssst...(giveaway time)

Oh 2009, 

I can't say I'm sorry to see you go....you were a pip of a year and the only constant you brought was change.  But mixed in with all of that change was laughter, tears, heartbreak, growth, love and togetherness and I wouldn't trade a minute of it.  As a way to say thanks to all of you who have visited me here  I am excited to announce my 2nd annual New Year's Eve Giveaway!  Anyone who leaves a comment, hope, dream or resolution between now and midnight PST will be entered in a drawing for my new little block painting "Full House".  I will announce the winner tomorrow at noon PST and and share some of my own hopes, dreams and resolutions for 2010.  Thanks so much for reading.....

Warm Wishes....

I'm afraid this will have to be my last post until New Year's Eve.  I've kind of been putting off the massive task of  packing for our holiday travels and I'm starting to get a bit freaked out about the fact that the coat I ordered for Phoebe hasn't arrived yet (day 7) and we have been unable to find her any boots so she may end up sporting a sweat jacket and Converse tennis shoes in the snowy midwest.  I also have lots of goodies to fit into just a few suitcases and looking at it all it doesn't really make sense yet.  Usually I can look at a situation, size it up and tackle the task at hand but this time I'm just not feeling it (Perhaps it is the fact that it is 65 degrees and sunny and my little one just put on shorts?).  Anyways, my shop will be open for orders until noon tomorrow (PST) and I will be back on New Year's Eve with a special Give Away.  It's been a very big year (we've laughed, we've cried, we've moved, we've changed) and I want to show my thanks to all of you who have supported and encouraged me over the past 12 months.  Honestly, I couldn't have done it without you....thanks for reading.

 

Thoughts of love...

                              brown paper packages tied up with string

                                                          3.5" x 4"

                                                   one by one x five 

                                                           3.5" x 10

have been filling my head.  Love in all it's forms is such a mysteriously fickle thing. These two paintings  are expressions of what we hope for (for love to surprise us and show up at the right moment, neatly packaged ) and what we get ( a collection of lost loves that form who we become).  Lots to think about (and keep one up at night).

a little bit of everything good...

Last night Sage drew the picture shown above for me and as he handed it over I couldn't help but notice how chock full of goodness it is and I really wanted to share it.  First, there is the warm and cozy house, a chimney with smoke, the  sun, a cloud and a bit of rain, the moon, a flower, a tree, a bird (with a house and a nest who appears to be dancing...)....I love it!  It is night and day, cold and warmth, hibernation and celebration all at the same time (what a fabulous way to see the world).  The second photo is of the two pieces I worked on today and plan to finish up tomorrow morning.  I'm not sure if the hearts will stay (that's why i needed to stop).  Sometimes as I'm laying out pieces something wants to be there but it doesn't quite make sense, you know?  It's like I have to step back and give my head a little time to make sense of what my heart wants to put out there.  Well I better get working on the homemade pizzas we are supposed to be having for dinner tonight.  They are of the "everything but the kitchen sink" variety which is a result of me trying to make use of any bits and pieces still in the fridge before I clear it out on Friday.

  As the Holiday madness gets into full swing what are you cooking up? 

A gift of sorts (food love)...

The spaghetti squash pictured above has been on my mind for the past two days (I intended to write about it yesterday but needed time to get over the idea of doing an entry on squash.)  Two days ago my eleven year old son came into the kitchen (where I was in the process of making a big pot of vegetable beef soup) and said "Is that a spaghetti squash?"  I said yes to which he replied "Awesome!  Can we have it tonight?".   Now this may not seem like a really big deal but I've been thinking about how things got from point A (3 years ago when we first tried the squash) to Point B (two days ago when the squash became "awesome"). 

 If you've never tried this mild-flavored squash you should.  It gets it's name from the fact that after it cooks, the interior separates into a glorious golden tangle of long spaghetti-like strands.  There are two simple ways it can be prepared:  after piercing the skin 10-12 times with a knife tip (to prevent it exploding) you can roast it in a 350 degree oven for and hour and 15 minutes or cook it  in a microwave on high for 8 minutes, turn over and cook for an additional 8 minutes and then allow to sit for 5 minutes. Then you slice it in half, remove the seeds, and then shred the interior with a fork.  I toss the "spaghetti" with a bit of butter (or olive oil), parmigiano-reggiano, salt and pepper (of course the possibilities are endless but it's mild nutty flavor shines through with this simple mix). 

 So anyways, I first served this squash to the my children about 3 years ago and the response was "it's ok...not good but not terrible" (ok, that's a start..."not terrible" means the door is open).  So every two months or so I bring home a squash, make it, get the same reaction but tell the kids they have to eat the small portion they have been given while C and I eat up our larger portions.  It's not that I really care if they end up loving spaghetti squash (or anything else I introduce them to) but I think it's important that they are exposed to things and that they give foods second and third chances.  So two weeks ago I served this same recipe I had been serving for the past three years and during dinner Phoebe said "Mom, this is so good...I love it" and went on to have seconds as did Theo.  And then the other day I picked up another one and got the "awesome" comment.  So I guess the reason this has been floating around in my head is that I learned such a valuable parenting/life lesson about letting people come to things in their own time and what a gift that is.  There are so many other foods that this has happened with over the years but for some reason this one seems special because I realized that now this is in their catogory of "food likes" it will probably be there forever.  And so concludes my post on the humble yet delicious spaghetti squash.  

Thanks for reading...

I've been a bit distracted.....

                                                          this is how I knew.....

                                                                      8x8

                                                    the past is never far behind

                                                                       4x8

by a decision that needed to be made about our house in Evanston.  We were planning to put it back on the market at the end of January and get it sold quickly but a few things happened between point A and point B.  C's job out here is not all it was supposed to be and he is traveling to the midwest often.  Old friends came to visit, followed by my parents, followed by my in-laws (it is a big trip which none us will be able to make very often).  Then Sage and I went back and spent some time with our neighbors and bff's in Evanston.  All of these things really got us thinking, and talking (and talking, and talking) about what is important and what is smart and what just is.  We all truly love our new town.  We love the schools, the weather, the produce, the redwoods, and the community that we have dipped our toe into but at the end of the day our home is in Evanston.  We know that.  And despite all of the drama we endured last summer that door is still open and I truly believe that there is a reason for that.  So we have decided that we will be moving back across the country to our lovely old house by the lake once school is out. Hashing all of this stuff out and talking to the kids and letting people know has taken all of my energy over the past few weeks (thank you for being patient).  But now it's like a weight has been lifted and I am ready to get back to work.  Of course the wheels are already turning about what is will take to move again but for the next few months my plan is to enjoy where I'm at (although i have already started obsessing over what color to paint the living and dining room when we get back home....).  

Thanks for listening.

                                           

what's for dinner?

Have I mentioned how much I love Mark Bittman?  Seriously, the man is a genius (even the title of his weekly column in the NY Times food section has me smitten).  I clipped this recipe Wednesday and put it together tonight with a half a bag of pasta in my cupboard and a bit of chicken left from last night.  I used brown button mushrooms and varied from the recipe a bit by using  cooked chicken from last night's roast and adding 1/3 of a cup of grated Parmigiano Reggiano at the same time.  To say that it was fabulous would be an understatement....the umami level of this dish is sure to make it a staple in our household.

ps:    still to chilly to paint and I have lots to update you on monday...

pps:  you can find the Martelli Pasta for less at a local market but i love Zingerman's  descriptions (have i never mentioned them before...how is that possible?) and look forward to visiting everytime we are in Michigan to stock up on a few key ingredients, fresh bagels and cheese (ahem...i've been known to spend 40 minutes at the cheese counter).

Brrrr.....

Ok, truth be told it is 50 degrees here today but there is a damp chill hanging around.  So here I sit in my fleece jacket sharing a few pieces I'll have to get back to tomorrow (the wax is cooling too quickly with the garage door rolled up at this temp....sigh).  I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do with these small boards I prepped yesterday but as usual life unfolds and inspires once again (more on that tomorrow....).  My studio is a mess after two weeks of piling bits of paper, text and ribbon like a bird feathering her nest.  It made it a little tricky to work  but I just started cutting , dipping and painting while the Crows and Ravens cawed loudly outside my door and Andrew Bird filled my studio with melancholy and poetry.  Loving life today, how about you?

a long, long weekend....

Wow, it seems much harder getting back to things this Monday (after so many days with everyone together it also seems a bit too quiet around here). Thanksgiving day was absolutely gorgeous here and we had our meal outside under the maple trees.  It seemed strange yet lovely to be sitting outside in November but sometimes you've just got to roll with it, right?  Today I need to clean up and organize my studio so I can get back to painting tomorrow (really, it's been too long!). 

PS:  If you're over the leftover turkey I would highly recommend trying the recipe for Pizza Patate (potato and rosemary pizza) from the November issue of Gourmet....sooo tasty and simple!

visual poetry....

The markets are filled with an abundance of fresh produce in all it's staggering beauty. Yesterday,  I was literally stopped in my tracks (as were many other customers at the local market) when I came upon a basket of 30" long stalks of celery ( I'm a sucker for celery as just the smell of it makes my mouth water).  It was locally grown and too lovely to pass up and so it will become part of tonight's chicken curry, tomorrow's celery and peanut butter snack ,Thursday's stuffing and then of course a big pot of soup over the weekend (the celery leaves are excellent for stock).  Needless to say, I am thinking about food 24/7 with a Holiday meal to prepare and a long weekend ahead.  I know there won't be much painting going on around here but  there will be chopping, measuring, baking, roasting and laughing. So I'm signing off for the week to fill my new home with the  comfort, joy and yuminess of the season.  I still haven't decided what type of dinner rolls to make....any suggestions?

 I hope that this Thanksgiving finds your home filled with love and good food.  

bad photos of a good night...

What a great trip to back Chicago my little one and I enjoyed this past weekend.  He was able to spend lots of quality time running, playing and fooling around with his best friend while I did the same.  Friday night my friend and I headed to the opening of the Woman Made Gallery Show "Cross Pollination" which was super exciting and inspiring.  One of my favorite Encaustic Artists (Kathleen Waterloo) had a piece in the show and her work was even more beautiful in person than I could have imagined.  The Gallery had two shows opening on the same night and the weather was mild for November in Chicago so there was a great turn out and a really good vibe filled the entire space.  If you're ever in Chicago I would highly recommend you check out this amazing little gallery and if you are an artist (and a woman) I would encourage you to apply to one of their shows.

I want to thank all of you who took the time to check out my new website.  I have already made a few changes based on your comments and truly do welcome any feedback. 

 

A small step...

in the right direction.  I know for the past few entries I've been all "website this, website that"  and "it's so hard, my head hurts"  but without further delay here is my work in progress:  http://bbillu.otherpeoplespixels.com/home.html   .  If you have time I would love to hear what you think about the images, the writing bits and the overall look of the site (should there be more or less writing, info, images etc....)  I like the simple aesthetic of the template I chose and think that overall I'm off to a good start.  What do you think?

ps:  i'm off to chicago (right now) for the woman made show so i'll see you all next week!

Is there a wrong way to go in Napa?

I think not.  

We spent a lovely afternoon in Napa on Saturday (the kids decided that living on a winery would be awesome...don't they know they shouldn't put ideas in my head?).  Sunday we packed a picnic lunch and headed to the beach.  Although most of us felt the need to keep fleeces on, our water baby (who's now 13) had to get in for a swim.  After a fabulous weekend it was back to work on the website which should be live tomorrow.  I still need to add a few older pieces and tweak a few things but I'm hoping to share the site tomorrow and get some feedback on the paintings I included, the written bits and layout (i've come to the conclusion that it will continue to be a work in progress).  It is a very basic site which will just serve as a place to showcase some of my favorite pieces from the past and present as well as places to find my work in print and in person.  So please check in tomorrow and let me know what you think, OK?

Friday?

                                         I Set Her Free (but she will not go)

                                                                   10x20

It's here, already?  Between house guests and conferences at school I seem to have lost track of the days this week.  That,  and I am in a cyber induced trance after spending way too many hours this week building my website (feel free to lol if you know me...) and then deciding that while I was at it I should get back to work on my Flickr page (after 9 months of slacking off...and it was never really organized to begin with...and it's still not quite there but...baby steps).  Anyways, between the hours spent on the computer I was able to finish up the 10x20 inch  painting pictured above....Happy Friday.

Their Fates Were Sealed (that day at the beach)...

The power of attraction, the whispered message and the autumn surf brought these two together...right where they belong. 

 I spent last Sunday at the beach and I truly can't wait to go back (this weekend perhaps?).  Since our move west I have been missing Lake Michigan ( it's sugar sand beaches, clear shark free water, non life threatening waves and proximity to my old house ( one block).  But the Autumn Ocean is an amazing thing.  It is full of life and movement and reflects light and shadow in a way that affects the core of your being.  The enormity of the water gives perspective and the sound of the waves brings rhythm which is so often lacking in daily life.  It is a good place to go to think, to draw, and to be with family open to possibility, free of distraction and full of hope for whatever the future has to offer. 

 Do you have a place that fills you up?

These two 3x5" paintings will be in my shop later today (as a pair of course...). 

Seriously....

...how could this not be amazing?  Mellow roasted garlic, smoky roasted tomatoes and hand made croutons bound together in a cheesy, creamy custard and baked until golden and bubbly.  If you're looking for a great vegetarian dish to serve along side a lovely salad or a new side dish for Thanksgiving I would highly recommend giving this delicious smelling comfort food a whirl. Next time, I think I'll use 1/2 gruyere and 1/2 fontina to add a little more depth to the custard (and I'm going to try and do individual ramekins instead of a large baking dish just for fun).  Well, the last of our house guests headed to the airport this morning which always leaves me feeling a bit melancholic and I intend to remedy that by getting into my studio as much as possible over the next few days.  I have 2 or 3 small blocks started and plan on re-working  a 10x20 inch board which has been in limbo for the past couple of months.  So I'm off to walk the dog, breath some fresh air and then turn up the tunes and get to work.  What are you up to today?

now playing :

We Can Be Timeless            (The Henry Clay People)

I've Got It All(most)            ( Modest Mouse)

Beautiful and Very Smart   (Harlem)

Lost in a Dream (my soul stands ajar)

I finished up this painting today and am really happy with the dreamlike quality I was able to achieve (have i mentioned how much i love encaustics?).  Deanna Wood did a series of bird paintings in which she talked about birds hearing our secrets and flying away with them.  Now, whenever I see (or hear) one of the hundreds of crows or ravens in my new city I think of that (and wonder).   The wheel, the woman, the numbers and the blackbird stringing random objects together to create meaning of chaos....lost in a dream.  

Last night....

...this painting started coming together. 

 More about her tomorrow...

now that was fun.....

Here is  photo of me and world renowned Parrotologist Dr. Juan A. Cracker (and of course the taco truck)...see you tomorrow with some new work.

Happy Halloween!

Hope you enjoy many tricks and treats!

catch up and dress up...

This morning was bittersweet as I said good bye to my parents after a wonderful week together and then helped the kids into their costumes for the local Halloween parade.  The kids' energy and excitement rubbed off on me until I opened the door to my studio and realized what a mess I had made over the past week.  Since I haven't painted in days,  my table has become a catch all for shipping supplies, collage elements and orders.  The half done painting above is a sweet little 3x4 that I thought I would finish up and share today but there is no where to work so a bit of clean up and organization is in order...

Tonight we are carving pumkins and ordering pizza while C and I put the finishing touches on our costumes (after trick or treating we are invited to a party where there will be a taco truck and margarita bar and costumes are a must...)  Under our roof we have a gypsy, a private eye, a mad scientist, a witch and Anakin Skywalker....how about you?

In the blink of an eye....

They grow.  And you grow.   You both change and you learn and you open your heart to possibility every morning.  Whether you become a parent in your 20's or in your 40's you learn to adapt and grow from the inside out until you find that time has gone by...and here she is at 2 and then 13 in the blink of an eye.

I've been unexpectedly away from blogging (and painting) with my parents' visit and my first born's big birthday.  We've had a few really great days and I'm going to keep it going for a few more.  I'll be back to writing, answering emails and convos and catching up on lots of great blog posts by some of you by the week's end.  See you soon....

House of cards

Yes, they arrived! I am absolutely ga-ga over these little sweeties.  Much to my surprise (and delight) the finish on these cards is the same as the mini-moo cards which I fell equally in love with last year.  For some reason, I was expecting the finish to be glossy and that was my one hesitations in placing the order but no...they have a gloriously buttery matte finish which plays perfectly to the encaustic paintings. Each card is 4x6 inches and is blank on the inside and right now there are seven different designs.  Based on how well they turned out I think I'm going to place an order for a few of my favorite "Party Girls" and "Glamour Girls" as well.  After being somewhat disappointed with prints I have had made in the past I'm really excited about the cards which can be used as notecards between friends , invitations, just moved cards or twine wrapped in sets of three as a hostess gift....my mind is spinning.  There's also the fact that when I opened the box it was as if old friends had come back to visit as most of these paintings don't live with me anymore!  I'll be adding the cards to the shop by end of day individually and in sets of three (your choice).  

Hello autumn...

I'm so happy you finally arrived!  Now that a few major rains have passed Autumn is in full swing here which meant a trip to a pumpkin farm in a beautifully bucolic setting just north of us over the weekend. I realize that I'm a little late in sharing these photos but I have been scrambling to meet some entry deadlines for upcoming shows.  I worked on finishing up the paintings from the last post and then realized I would need to photograph them (as they were too large for the scanner which usually gives the best quality reproduction of an encaustic piece).  So I photographed them (over and over) did a bit of on line editing and then had to decide on pricing, rework my Artist Statement and to be more in tune with my recent work blah, blah, blah....so here it is Wednesday and I have no new work to share and my parents arrive on Friday for a week long visit (followed shortly thereafter by my in-laws' week long visit).  I find that doing all of the stuff that goes along with making art can make me a wee bit cranky (sorry kids!) especially when working against a deadline but it all got done and I have a bit of time to paint today so hopefully I'll be sharing one or two small new pieces tomorrow. 

 Here is my new Artist Statement:

Our personal landscape is a composite of human experience and perception.  Our public identities are often juxtaposed against our true selves.  Using a personal language of symbols and objects including houses, clouds, boxes and puppets I build layers of meaning and explore the correlation between the happenstance of our daily lives which publicly define us and the complex personal relationships we have to our surroundings.

What do you think?

Public Bookstore (party!)

I am thrilled to be a part of Eyebuzz Gallery's first collective book (see "houses hemmed into homes" in the center there?) and would love to see all this amazing work in person (sigh) but that is not to be. Tonight Tim and Tara are hosting an opening reception with some of the work featured in the first issue.

 

I have one original encaustic painting for sale at the gallery (if  it interests you you can contact them directly)

The Awakening ( 9x12 framed in black)

measured patience...

After looking at this half finished painting for far too long in two different states the finishing touch appeared.  I'm at a loss to figure out where the idea came from (there have been at least 12 failed ideas in the transitional area of this painting)  but it's perfect and after a bit of work with some oil sticks and a heat gun this 24" monster will be complete.  I'm contemplating some type of custom built float frame since it is only on 1/2" plywood...hmmm. 

 The blank cards were supposed to arrive today but there was some type of delay in the printing process so now they won't arrive until next week sometime (this is really unfortunate because patience is a virtue I do not possess).  Impatience often leads to procrastination around here and as I've been blog hopping this week I was struck (like a bolt of lightening) by this image.  It speaks to me in such a profound way and reminds me that my women with houses and boxes on their heads have bigger stories too....(i love that moment of connection when something speaks to you, don't you?)

I'm still here....

After a great weekend spent with old friends (and no studio time) the remnants of a typhoon swept into town yesterday making it impossible to work (you can't really roll up the door when the rain is blowing at 60 miles an hour now can you?).  I did do a post on Monday over at the Beeteam Blog which deals with ironing wax (curious?).  Do you ever find that once you set something aside you kind of get stuck?  Well I'm having a bit of that right now as I figure out where exactly these paintings want to be.....stay tuned. 

ps:  i did manage to order cards using quite a few of my recent paintings (it was so hard to choose!) which should arrive by early next week.  They will all be blank inside and I think I will sell them in sets of 3 or 5....

Friday

                                              "She Was Full Of Surprises"

                                                                    5x7

                                                   "Where Does The Time Go?"

                                                                        8x8

                                                            "Knock, knock..."

                                                                        5x7     

Wrapping up the week with a three new paintings to share.  We've got friends coming in from out of town and I'm really looking forward to catching up and sharing some great food and conversation, a hike in the woods and maybe a picnic at the beach.  What are you up to this weekend?

Psst....I'm thinking of having some blank cards printed up with these images...what do you think?

Stuck inside my head....

As promised, here are two new pieces I'm working on simultaneously.  They still have quite a way to go but I wanted to share their mossy swirly darkness with you.  The thinned layers of black and mossy green are really beautiful but they needed to be contrasted with something. They were calling for color and so each piece got a wee bit of rainbow added.  Originally these paintings were to feature fish but alas I'm stuck inside my head where images of women run rampant these days.  The more I tried to make the painting into what I thought it should be the less I liked it so today I gave in and started to give these two sketches from my notebook a more public stage.  So I guess images of women will continue to appear in my work until they don't....does that ever happen to you? 

Did you know....

...that I am the guest blogger over at the beeswaxteam blog for the next four Mondays? 

If you get a chance to stop by you will learn the results of "the freezer experiment", see an amazingly sculptural use of beeswax and get a sneak peek at a really cool new documentary that is on my must see list for 2009.  While your there please take a minute (or an hour) to check out what the other beeteam members are up to.  By clicking on the "bees" link you can visit many other encaustic artists and see just how varied this medium truly is....have fun and I'll be back tomorrow with a peek at a new series I started over the weekend.

good timing and good news....

The other day when I mentioned needing to add a few "Party Girls" to my shop little did I know four would arrive on my doorstep an hour later!  The four blocks I had sent to Somerset Studio for the photo shoot were all partially done and I must say it was very strange completing these pieces started so long ago.  I changed two dresses and a hat so that they are each unique.  Tomorrow I will add silver leaf at the top, take photos and add them to my shop.  I should finish them today but it is too windy to roll up the door in the studio and work with silver leaf and it's just too darn dark in there with the door closed.  When these little ladies arrived I truly laughed out loud about the whole "ask and you shall receive" thing.  Anyways, I also have some super exciting news to share today:  My Painting "The Social Workers" was accepted into the juried show "Cross Pollination" at the Womanmade Gallery in Chicago!  I am so very happy to be a part of something at this amazing gallery and hope to find a way to attend the show's opening in November.  Speaking of hope....C and I are are having dinner in the city tonight with some old friends at a place called Anchor and Hope.  I am fascinated by this name and the image of the things that weigh us down and the things that lift us up....it's a great name for a painting, don't you think?  I know the anchor in the title has to do with the fact that is a seafood joint but what can I say...

Have a great day!

Sustainable Love

                                                              Sustainable Love

                                                                         9x12

Who knows why we are drawn to certain people or places?  In some cases opposites attract and in other cases similarities strengthen our bonds.  This smarmy couple shares a love of good books and local foods...

make it or break it....

...that is the question.  I was contacted recently by the woman who purchased "First Moon" with a question about encaustics and extreme temperature.  "First Moon" is now residing in Alaska (it seems a very fitting place for her) with Jen who wanted to know if the painting would be ok hanging on the wall untouched if she were to leave for a week or two with the heat turned off (the temperature would drop below zero in the house).  My first thought was that the small painting should be taken down, wrapped in parchment (to protect the surface), wrapped in newspaper as an insulator and tucked under the pillows or a down comforter.  But that's pretty high maintenance so I told Jen I would conduct an experiment on a small painting here to see what happens.  So  above you have a photo of "First Moon" hanging out in her new surroundings (thanks for the beautiful photo Jen!) and a photo of an old "Talking Block" sitting in my freezer (where it will remain for the next seven days).  I'll let you know what (if anything) happens... 

* This post has reminded me that i now have no party or glamour girls in my shop....time to get busy!

Homebody

I love being at home: cooking, reading the paper, knitting, painting, maybe a board game (although truth be told i don't really have the patience for board games so I usually chop and cook while C plays with the kids).   But this autumn weekend we have lots of plans and being at home isn't on the list.  We have "Outdoor Movie Night" at the boy's school tonight, a couple of soccer games tomorrow and dinner with friends and then Sunday we head into the city for a ballgame (Cubs vs. Giants....GO CUBBIES!).  What are you up to this weekend?

Oh-and a special to thanks for all your kind words and inquiries on my last post..."Mistaken Identity" and "She Gets Me" have both found new homes which makes me happy and a bit sad at the same time.  Do you ever feel that way as you sell your work?  On that note I'll leave you with this tune....

A subtle shift...

                       "Mistaken Identity"                         "She Gets Me"

                                   9x12                                                   9x12

                                                               

Have you noticed a subtle shift in my work lately?  I spent a couple of hours painting yesterday with some great loud and quiet tunes playing in my studio and when it was time to stop painting,  I stood back and looked at these and thought....hmmm.  If you remember in my last post I showed the backgrounds for these and they appeared  light and sunny and now they feel a bit more earthy and somber.  I really like these two pieces but it's almost as if they painted themselves in a way (does that ever happen to you?).  They needed slightly deeper tones and textures than I normally use and although the two women I painted last week had a similar feel,  I definitely took these two pieces a bit farther...what do you think?  I have a third 9x12 piece in the works and two similar 3x5 blocks to share tomorrow.   

I am thankful for....

....this amazing little box of treasures which arrived on my doorstep Friday afternoon from Dana!  My dear blogging friend from across the ocean once again warmed my heart with these lovely housewarming surprises. The lavender filled sachets are part of her new fall line and can tell you that they are a perfect gift!  The sweet little aceo's and postcard were like icing on the cake and I highly recommend stopping into her etsy shop and having a look around at all her stitched, stamped and painted lovelies!

  

P.S.:   I prepped three 9x12 panels for a group of "Identity" paintings and I'm hoping to work on them a bit more and share them tomorrow (off to lunch duty now...see ya!)

(the mini-inspiration)

oops...it's a tomato not an apple.  Still aren't they awesome???

P.S. :  this is the cover of edible Marin & Wine Country  Summer 2009

tsk..tsk...

These boards aren't going to paint themselves now are they?  I know, I know I was supposed to prep them yesterday but then I got caught up in sharing my collaboration project, the farmer's market, soccer practice, and an unexpected visit from an out of town friend.  So my little studio friend here climbed up on this tower of maple panels to remind me that it's time to get busy!  I'm not sure how this model train figure made his way into the studio but I love him. I was smitten with  the new "Slow Food" poster I saw at the Gravenstein Apple festival a couple weeks ago  and so when I came upon this guy on the floor of the studio I decided to play finders keepers.  ( I can't find the link to the poster but it was two of these mini figures on top of a cut apple....i'll have to show you later).

Noticed: 

Public Bookstore (all nine kinds of pie) is a printed collection of art and verse being published by Eyebuzz Gallery in Tarrytown, NY.  I'm  thrilled to be a part of this first book and gallery show!  And today I was introduced on their eyeblog....thanks for your kind words Tara!!!!

Collaboration

I am so excited to share the results of my first ever collaboration!  The jaw-droppingly talented Cathy Cullis and I put our heads together (via snail mail) and agreed to a basic concept.  After that I created two similar encaustic pieces based on what we had sketched out.  I used newsprint under the tree trunks and in the clouds (which say creative objects and garden of earthly delights).  I used many layers of oil, beeswax and a bit of ground pigment and small steel tacks to get a layered look that would complement Cathy's work.  I then sent the paintings across the pond where Cathy worked some magic and voila!  I love Cathy's spoons and am amazed by variety of materials and textures she incorporates into her work (they are a treasure trove of beauty and detail).  The text on the spoons is from "Wuthereing Heights" and the sticks were all locally collected. Just fabulous...Cathy thank you so much for this great opportunity to work together.  

What do you think of this mixed media magic?