Feature Art Friday: Nursery Birds in progress

 I was recently commissioned to make some art for a nursery. 

I was given a few colors to be sure to include, the canvas size & asked to make something including birds. The couple gave me some other ideas of what type of accessories they planned to purchase for the room so I could look at the websites & see the style of the nursery they wanted to create for the new baby.

It wasn't stressful at all- even though it is not my usual style, colors or medium. It was actually quite fun... probably because I had an assistant.

Photos of the finished pieces will be up next Friday.

Best of September

1. Weather change
2. Watching my nephews play football
3. Art class begins
4. Pumpkin spice latte
5. Dinner at Sushi Cafe
6. Fall T.V. shows
7. Tomato basil soup from Le Madeleine
8. Lots of new commissions
9. Being driven around Little Rock to take photos for new art
10. Daydreaming with a friend about her creative life

I don't know what it it about the weather change- each autumn as the temperature becomes manageable & the leaves start to turn & each spring as the sun starts to peek out & flowers start to bloom, it inspires me. I often face fall with a little dread because I know winter is around the corner. I'm not a fan of the cold... but this year I am welcoming it- all of it. Someone remind me of that when I'm whining in February.

There appears to be a running theme in this list... food. Sushi Cafe is a favorite all year, & they recently expanded so the wait for a table isn't as long- although it is certainly worth the wait. Soup from Le Madeleine is perfect when there is a little chill in the air- it might have been even better if I waited until October to have it. And what about pumpkin spice latte? It's basically a seasonal caffeinated dessert in drink form. My mouth is watering right this second even thinking about it. I had one a few days ago, for the first time since last year & I actually pulled out of the drive thru grinning from ear to ear.

My nephews play football, & although I don't really know all of the rules of the sport I scream like an idiot when they are on the field. I would prefer that they play something less dangerous, but that just makes me scream even louder when they are outrunning someone on the other team.

Art class... it is so inspiring to be surrounded by people who get as excited as you do about a new paint color or brush. I'm going to be looking forward to it every week.

There are all sorts of new shows on this time of year- I try not to sit in front of the TV unless there is actually something on that I know I want to see & this time of year there are plenty of those.

I'm not sure what happened, but I have had so many commissions for original art recently. I have  so much gratitude that I can't even tell you... I remember the first time a "stranger" contacted me about doing a commission. I was calm until hanging up the phone, at which point I almost injured myself hopping around in excitement & crashing into things in my office. It wasn't pretty. Now most of the commissions I get are from people I don't know- friends of friends, people who have seen my website,etsy or art, or have picked up a business card along the way... & I could just pinch myself sometimes to be sure it is real. I have so much gratitude.

You will be seeing some of the photos I took around town- bits of Little Rock are going to start showing up in my art over the next few weeks & I am really excited to see how they turn out.

This month has also afforded me the opportunity to daydream & brainstorm with a good friend about a creative venture in her future- an effort to follow her dreams. 

What a great month- I can't wait to see what October brings.

Art Class 2012 Week 1

The top canvas is 2' x 3' & the bottom one is 20" x 20". I started using a new color- Vivid Red Orange... and I have a huge crush on it. Prepare yourself for a lot of bright orange in the near future. Please check back next Monday to see how the paintings progress.

Feature Art Friday: Tangerine Lotus

I started painting this at a friend's house- I was meeting a group of fantastically creative people so we could hang out & paint together. My friend Eric prepared such a wonderful lunch that seeing this painting makes my mouth water because it reminds me so much of that day. I need more days like that- good food AND a room brimming with creative people? Yes please, sign me up. Prints will be available on etsy soon.

When they grow up

Yesterday, on what seemed like the perfect sunny autumn afternoon, I put the beginning washes on some canvas to take to art class. Yes, I realize I was just talking about art class two days ago. No, I'm not going to shut up about it any time soon. Now if I could just decide which ones to start with... maybe the big blue & violet one in the back on the right & the green and aqua one in the front on the left? I love seeing a pile of them in the beginning stages like this- just makes me wonder what they will be when they grow up.

Art Anticipation

It feels a bit like Christmas Eve circa 1980 over here. That sort of childish, magical anticipation- not knowing exactly what to expect but knowing it will be wonderful. I'm taking a painting class for the first time in four years & it starts this week. Who needs the smell of warm gingerbread cookies when you can have the smell of a paint-filled art studio?

I'll be posting photos on Mondays of what I worked on in class, if you are curious.

Feature Art Friday: Asti the Rescue Cat

Christmas in September

Yes, I KNOW it is not Christmas. It is still hovering around 90 degrees here during the day so I still haven't even had the first pumpkin spice latte of autumn yet... but you are looking at some half-finished holiday art. every year I plan to make some & then get busy with commissions & holiday events & before you know it Christmas is history. Maybe starting some in September will ensure they actually get finished before the end of December.

In other (awesome) art-related news, I have signed up to take an art class at the Arkansas Arts Center. This will be the first class I have taken since 2008, when I first started painting again. Yay art class!! Now THAT makes it feel a little like Christmas in September.

Finished birdies, or "how I had my morning coffee"

Here they are... the birdies are finally finished. They have hangers on the back & tiny little homemade tags on the front. I attached the hangers & the tags early in the morning before getting ready to go to my "big girl' job... this is how I "relax" with my morning coffee occasionally- can you see it in the middle of the table? I was in my jammies, without so much as having brushed my hair- but I knew there was a very limited amount of time to finish it before going to work so I finished it up while half-asleep. Someday I will look back & laugh about having days this busy... between trying to get my art to take flight & going to my full-time job, but for now I'll just be thankful that there are people interested in things I make, I have a very stable day job with a reasonable amount of flexibility, & I didn't spill any coffee. This time.

Feature Art Friday: Katie

While driving down the road...

 This self-proclaimed junk store looked so interesting, after seeing it out of the corner of my eye while passing it on the highway, I actually turned the car around & came back. 

 Honestly you never really know how something like this will turn out... it may be full of treasures or it may be what it claims to be... a junk store.

 Look what I found- these really cool spools! I love all of the layers of colors on the ends. The guy that owns the place told me they came from a textile factory that was shutting down. The color was painted on the end based on what sort of fabric it held.

 Yes, I bought the whole box & yes, I plan on turning them into something else.

But no... I don't know yet what that will be. 

Very close to being birdies

They look a little better this Monday... they may still be missing their wee little faces but at least they have a little color & wings, even if they aren't attached yet. They will be ready to fly the coop next week.