New stuff!

I've got some new goodies up in the shop. Come check it out HERE.. <3

New work.

Some new goodies up in the shop (link in sidebar). I had so much fun making these. :)

The Hooded Woman.

Getting back to mixed media. I've had this woman in my head for quite some time, but couldn't succeed in capturing her how I wanted until recently. The muse is a fickle being, isn't she? It's hard to see here, but I used some of my great-grandfather's school papers in the background, some dating back to 1932. I don't use them often, as they're limited and precious, but I feel so proud to have them peeking through some of my art pieces. I think he'd like that.

Petals.

"Petals"-- acrylic & mixed media on canvas. 10"x10"

new painting.

I haven't been "arting" as much as I usually do, thanks to the beautiful weather we've been having. I painted this a few night ago, working side by side with my little boy. He painted minecraft creepers.

a few things.

flower studies: watercolor and pencil on paper.

1. We will be moving into a new house, starting April 1. I kind of--okay, really--don't want to move, but the home we've been caretakers of for four years is being sold, so we don't have a choice. After scrambling around for a while, and viewing several hell-holes, we found a little yellow gem, just steps from the boy's school, and directly across the street from a church I've been interested in attending. If anyone on Facebook prayed for us, thank you--your prayers worked.

2. I have about a zillion small things in the works at the moment, making this upcoming move untimely. But when isn't a move untimely? I'm stocking up on my paintings, and hopefully, soon, prints. My aim is to open up my online shop, next year at the latest. I'm thinking of prints, a few originals, maybe some of my poetry art. We'll see. I also have plans to (finally) attend college, so the question will most likely be how much can I handle at once? Oh, and I'm also aiming for a few new poems a week, so far, so good. And I'm chest-deep in revisions on my older work. Writing query letters. And now, packing! (whew)

3. The husband turned 40. As corny as it may sound, he truly gets better with age.

4. It is said that we will get another snow storm tonight. I don't think I need to tell you how I feel about this.


What's new in your life? Any big changes in store?

petals.

We've reached that point in winter that we inevitably reach, when sheer boredom sets in, when my mommy-mind is exhausted and won't turn over any new, fun ideas. Painting is one thing that always brings the spark back, especially when it is full of color and mess and absolutely no boundaries.

I'm curious, what do you do to fill yourself back up?

for my mother.

Made my mother a tiny fold-out book for her birthday.

painting flowers again.

Why do I procrastinate so much? I should be making Christmas cards.

The Four Elements.

I woke this morning feeling intolerant of everything, and I knew the reason was that I haven't created anything spontaneous in quite a while. I had found this wonderful board out for the trash, and knew I wanted to do something especially eye-catching with it. So here it is, "The Four Elements". My only struggle is how to finished it--clear lacquer maybe? Have any thoughts my friends?

big.

pair of flowers.

wild tulip and sun rose; pencil and watercolor on cold-pressed paper

I've abandoned the typical chores today, favoring instead pulling weeds and painting. My mind is full of frustration and questions that can't be answered due to the events in Boston. When everything else is a terrible mess, we can choose to create something beautiful. We're given that much power.

light on the water.

Love how this turned out. I think I'll be painting some butterflies and flowers over the next few days. Don't want to beat the landscapes to death. :)

I'll try to do an update on life-stuff soon.

lake landscape.

I just want to live near water.

mountain-obsessed.

done and done.

last night.

--abstract mountains, unfinished--

The watercolors and I, we're going steady.

a little extra snazz...

A little line painting I did on the doorway leading into my kitchen. I love ultramarine blue.

it's not enough.

moon and feathers

The paint, the canvas: it's not enough. I want to dip my hands into fibers and fur, feathers and glue. I want to make ridiculously frivolous and useless sculptures and found feathers and bits of trash of sea glass. It's really insane...I can actually move myself to tears thinking of how much I want, how much I need. Art tortures me with its unfulfilled inspirations and also keeps me in some kind of arousal for this silly life.

i am painting...

Flowers. Because spring is here and all I can think about is gathering bouquets to bring indoors.

finished; the dress series

I've been in the studio. Painting, and I'll confess, crying here and there, for about 3 weeks. Because I've working on something I've been putting off for a long time: the dress series.

the dress series

 These paintings have been nesting in the back of my mind for a long time now...I'd say for about 6 years. So why did it take me so long to paint them? It's simple.

Because I don't want to go there.

the dress series - "Invisible"

I don't want to go back to that time. But I have to if I want to paint it.

I was sick for a long time. From age 14 to about 20. And I still am sometimes. I know what it's like to be rushed to the hospital again and again--because you are going to die if they don't get you there. Literally.

the dress series - "Invisible" detail

For me, the balloon has always been a metaphor. I don't assume I'm the first person to come up with that. But like the balloon, there have been times in my life when it's been THERE. It's been all there is, and I'm just this insignificant girl in its background. I am just the vessel that carries the pain.

Then there are the times in-between.

the dress series - "Backburner"

These are the times when I'm better, but the pain and sickness are always there. They're waiting to sneak up on me when I forget to look, and mess up my entire life all over again.

the dress series - "Backburner" detail

And every once in a while, I'd say for a week or two at a time, I triumph.

the dress series - "Triumph"

I am invincible. I am the mother, the wife, the daughter, the friend, the artist that I've always wanted to be because my body will let me do what I need to do. My body will let me live. The devil lets go.

the dress series - "Triumph" detail

Those are the best moments of my life.

But by far the saddest story, at least for myself, is this one:

the dress series - "Prom Night"

I was well. I really was. And then I wasn't, that quick. Prom never happened for me. I suppose a lot of things never happened for me.

the dress series - "Prom Night" detail

So yes, I painted these paintings and I cried my tears. I know the story is sad...a lot of people have at least one sad story to tell. But you know what? This was positively cathartic for me. This is the first time I've allowed myself to paint something that was about my adolescence/teen years. This is a triumph of its own kind. I'm not the worlds greatest painter, not the most talented, but what I always am is honest.

And honestly, I feel a hell of a lot better.

<3 Brit