Idea Swap

  My sweet friend Esther is here! Besides being just a lovely person in general, she is an incredible artist, and tossing ideas around in the art room with her has been so much fun. Together we are working on a bigger piece (look for the 'unveiling' in a later post!). Her works are much more abstract, and she inspired me to do something I've been thinking about for a while. Still keeping with a natural  theme, I collaged pieces of paper from a beautiful journal, a world map I've been hanging on to since college, and old sheet music, and just let the flowers appear where they wanted to.

Her next challenge to me was to try it again, but with a completely new color scheme (possibly purples? Or reds?). Hmmm...

Favorite Things

Randomly, I will think: I LOVE this. Or that.  Or this and that. So here's to recording them!

Downside to acrylics; they dry at the speed of light, and saran wrap will only buy you, say fifteen minutes, on their short life. Especially while trying to balance baby time with painting, this thing is the BEST. There is apparently a special sponge you can get to go with it, but I just get a regular one wet and leave it in there. I do use the sta-wet sheets though; acrylic paints, now lasting for days. Who knew? What other acrylic wonders are out there that I don't know about?

Woodland Wood Blocks

The other day Rowan and I went for a nature walk ( basically a walk were I pick up anything that looks pretty:) While he was taking a monster nap later that afternoon, I sketched the leaves I'd found out on watercolor paper, went over the lines with a sharpie, and colored with color pencil. I stained the woodblocks with a mix of Liquitex matte medium and burnt umber acrylic. Then I layered the leaves, using the matt medium as collage glue, added layers of highlights with acrylic paint, and sealed them with a gloss finish. And then Rowan woke up:) 

I had so much fun making these. I didn't know where I was headed when I started, but I liked the way they turned out. Other than the fern, I'm not sure what the other leaves are. Any more tree knowledgeable folks know? 

Sittin' Pretty (or handsome, in this case:)

Look mom, no hands!

 Although he still has the occasional top-heavy topple over, little man is sitting up. This picture was taken after a nap; I had sat him up and ran out of the room to get something. When I came back, he had his hands out like this, and that precious grin of satisfaction like he couldn't believe he was still upright! 

Practicing with Grandma during her visit.  We miss you. Can you make Canada be closer to Florida, please? xo

New Paintings

While we were in Canada, everywhere I looked there was something beautiful going on. Hundreds of poppies in full bloom! Iris's in Grandma's yard! Wild flowers flowers covering the hillside! 

While on a hike with my mom and several of her friends, she said' Oh Leah, LOOK!'. I thought for sure we were about to be eaten by bears (it could happen. It's Canada!). But when I looked, it was poppies, hundreds of them. Ok, have I never seen a real poppy before?!? They are HUGE! And so beautiful! I was completely in awe. 

   

Grandma's Iris

Playing with ideas for eclectic groupings of wood blocks; could go together, or separate.

Inspired by a beautiful moth my sister found 

Mock Orange blossoms in the Grans backyard

Inspiration Squares

I am learning that being a mom means most projects stay about half done. Like laundry. Or dusting. Starting too many big paintings ( though I love the big ones) means I have a lot more half done projects. Out of this came my most recent bite-sized idea; inspiration squares! 6x6 and 8x8 wood squares that can (most often, depending on Rowan's day) be completed during his nap. I have hundreds of pictures of small things that draw me in; the light on leaves, a dandelion, a strangely pretty pine cone. In my out of control mind, I see hundreds of squares, each with a little bit of outdoor inspiration. They can be hung alone! Or in a grouping of three; or five, or ten! Can you tell that I get unreasonably excited about new ideas?!?

Wood squares prepared by Ro, the operator of the saw-that-scares-me-to-death!

 

Leaves from Linden Gardens in Penticton, B.C. 

Series of three!

My Art Studio

I've never had any space wholly devoted to painting ( unless you count the entry at our last house); this magical room is the beginning of something, I can feel it. A place to let my creative self roam free ( during Rowan's nap time, at least). A place to forget to put my apron on and happily ruin all my clothes with paint splatters (two shirts down, several more to go).  A place to explore, were I can interpret my ridiculous love of nature with paint and wood.

Inspiration from everywhere

Sneak preview of new wood blocks I'm working on...more to come!

Canadian Inspiration

Spending time with loving family is refreshing to the SOUL. It's been so good to be here. If we do nothing but walk around in the orchard all day, I'm content. 

No painting, but lots of sketching. 

    Dandelion stem with one little guy hanging on

    In love with all the poppies!

    Weeping birch we found down by the lake

    Parsnip flower from the garden

    Saskatoon berries, YUM.

    Rowan meets my sweet sister Lauren!

    Walk in the apple trees

    Suppertime on the porch

    What a sweet great grandma...this boy is getting stocked up on cuddles.

    So many wineries to visit here. Ro and I went to Mission Hill  on his last day here, and had a great  

    time taking their tour and sampling away. If you haven't visited the Okanagan, or just British  

    Columbia in general, come to think of it, put it on your travel list!

    View from Munson Mountain, just a short walk from my grans house.

    Picturesque barn on the walk to Munson...possibly to paint? Loving the yellow flowers with the red  

    barn!

Best Place on Earth

 To me, the combination of my wonderful grans, my incredible mom, my gorgeous sister, crisp fresh air, a walnut tree to climb, and panoramic views of the lake and mountains makes Penticton, B.C. PERFECT.

    

Setting Goals

I'm recording my art goals here, so I can't pretend like I didn't make them later! I wrote these down a few weeks ago, setting the due date at this time next year. Some sound silly, but since everyone has to start somewhere, this is where I start.

1. Put time to paint in on the calendar each week. Do it. Continue to complete at least one painting a week. 
2. Look for practical ways to grow as an artist; read art blogs, attend workshops and taking classes when possible (aka nights and weekends. Make it happen).
3. Plan to have website completed (Ro being heavily involved in this goal). 
4. Figure out how to use this blog.  Bar for slideshow of artwork, links to other sites, etc. Play with it til you're comfortable, and not wishing you were born when there weren't computers. 
5. (Gulp...this one scares me.) Utilize Etsy shop and post at least 20 items by May 2012.
6. Display works at Lillie's in October. Contact Burrito Gallery art curator after website is up. Fill out application for Players by the Sea Gallery (thanks Sarah!). Enter work in jury selection process for beaches art walk.  
7. Ultimate goal; enter work in jury selection process for Art in the Park next Spring.  Now get painting!  

Painting Little Houses

One of the things I love most about Atlantic Beach is the variety of  houses there are. Each one a different color than the next! If you've ever been on a walk around here with me, I'm sure you know how much I loooove to comment on this porch, or those shingles, etc. etc. Surely a product of being an architects kid (how many kids can say they knew what a retaining wall was at eight?) I'm fascinated by each and every little house around here.

As I'm trying to find my style painting wise, I thought I would give a few of their rooftops a try; ultimately I've decided it was just that, a try. I'm much more in love with painting things in nature that haven't been cut, sanded and nailed together, but see what you think!

Monkey news: he's eating real food! He pulled my leg there for a couple of days (as in, he'd pretend to eat, but it was really just all on his shirt), but today he downed some sweet potatoes like a man. So proud!

I like to call that his sweet potato goatee.