Archive for the ‘The Haps’ Category

Check out the awesome article about yours truly written by the talented Tim Jackson in The Asheville Post here. Woo hoo! <3

Ok, ok. So, I know I have been absent as of late, but it has been a hectic couple of months! On top of doing several shows this past holiday season, we moved down the highway and over a mountain to Waynesville (where we seem to have a giant snow magnet on top of our house…brrr!), and I am gearing up for a couple of upcoming shows.

But before I elaborate on that, I have some very fun and exciting news to share with you! I am honored to announce that I am the current Featured Artist over at ZaPOW! Gallery’s website. I am so excited about this!Woot! Woot! Insert little happy dance here.  You can check out the little feature on my here.  And if you are in the Asheville area, get your bumpers (I learned this word at my daughter’s preschool) over to ZaPOW! and check out all the awesome art!

Oh, yeah. I mentioned getting ready for  upcoming shows.  On February 7th from 7-10PM, there will be an opening reception for my new circus themed series, SideShow, at Desoto Lounge in West Asheville. This series has been so much fun to work on. I’m actually still working on more pieces, so send your art vibes this a way because I’d love to include The Tattooed Lady and The Horned Man in this show!

And while we are on the subject of shows and circuses, I am also participating in the ZaPOW Group Show: Steampunk Carnival next month. The show opens on February 9th, and you surely don’t want to miss this themed show that coincides with the Asheville’s Mardi Gras! Hope to see you out and about!

 

So, for a couple of years now, I’ve been meaning to participate in Illustration Friday‘s weekly artistic challenge.  And finally…FINALLY… I did it!!! Yay, and all before I have to take my four year old to her ballet class! I am so patting myself on the back right now!

I am thrilled to announce that as of today, I am now an artist at ZaPow Gallery.  I am super excited about this.  ZaPow is definitely one of the coolest and most artist-friendly and artist-minded galleries I’ve ever had the pleasure to step foot in.  Thank you, Lauren Johnson (and husband Matt that I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet), for your creative genius in opening such a fun and welcoming place!

I was so excited in bringing my offerings in today… and not just fine art, but wearable art in the form of pendants and earrings and functional art in the form of cosmetic bags… that I totally forgot to take pictures to share.  And London, who will be a whopping four in a little over a month, was having way too much fun discovering all the treasures that ZaPow has to offer.  Thank goodness hubby was on hand to help me set up my space and wrangle London!

But not to worry, because I will have a chance on May 4th to snap some photos at ZaPow’s May the Fourth Be With You Star Wars Party! Is that a great name for a Star Wars party or what?!?! May 4th…May the force…Love it!

There are actually two parties, one for the kiddos from 3-5 complete with a costume contest, crafts, and hello…CUPCAKES!  London and I will be there with our dear friend, Shannon, for this par-tay!  Then, at 7, is the Big Kid (ahem…FREE beer, wine, costume contest with awesome prizes like tattoos and tickets to LaZoom Comedy Tours!!!) Party! Hello, funness! I hope we can make it to the big kid party, too!

Ahhh…

All I can say, is I really do like these ch-ch-changes (yeah, you know you’re singing it with me)!

What’s the difference? In the winter that seat is close enough to the radiator to remain warm, and yet not so close as to cause perspiration. In the summer, it’s directly in the path of a cross-breeze created by opening windows there and there. It faces the television at an angle that is neither direct, thus discouraging conversation, nor so far wide as to create a parallax distortion. I could go on, but I think I’ve made my point. -Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory

It’s that time again! Another exhibition opening is just around the corner!

On Saturday, April 7th, my work (including a ton of never before seen pieces) will debut alongside several uber talented artists at Wicked Gallery  in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina.  I just dropped off the work yesterday, and got a sneak peek at some of the other insanely wonderful and whimsical works that will also be debuting to art lover’s eyes this Saturday, and I must say, if you happen to be in the Eastern North Carolina area this Saturday, do yourself a favor, drop what you are doing and come check out this show!

Want a little preview of the styles you’ll be seeing this weekend? Just click on the artist’s highlighted name and be instantly swept away to their wonderful, artsy interweb worlds: Brittny Roller, Gabriel Lehman (with a super, secret guest collaborator!), Wendy L. Barber and Shannon Stamey.

Oh, and looky here, even Wilmington’s Star News has a little blurb on the show! I’m getting excited…can’t wait…only two more days…deep breaths…deep breaths….

And if you should sadly miss this Saturday’s opening, you are in luck! The show is now running through late June!

 

 

Tis’ the season for…. free stuff!

I’m hosting a giveaway on my Facebook page from now until December 21st where a lucky winner will receive five of my mini art prints…winner’s choice! And as an added bonus, if you share the giveaway, and the winner happens to be someone which followed your share link to enter, you’ll win 5 mini art prints, too!  So be sure to enter here!

And, while we’re talking about FREE STUFF, there is another AWESOME giveaway you need to check out.  This one is being hosted by Brienna Pruce over at the Art School Grad Blog.  By following the ASG Blog and commenting, you are entered for a chance to win The Creature!

A little background on The Creature…

Brienna and I brainstormed together a trans-Atlantic collaboration project that involved four additional artists from Europe and the US.  Be sure to check out these fabulous artists that made the Creature the fun creative process that it was!

Brienna Pruce

Cindy Martin

 Louise van Terheijden

Suzy Brown

Yvonne Stewart

And here is my contribution to the Creature…

 

 

Let’s catch up!  Grab your coffee/tea/beverage of choice, and curl up around the old computer screen.

Seen the Gallery page lately? It’s changed a bit. You can now order prints (paper and canvas…metal and other options coming soon), greeting cards, and e-cards right from my website from Fotomoto.  You need another reason why this will rock your socks off?  Previously unavailable illustrations and paintings are now available in print!  Of course, there is and will continue to be a great selection that you won’t find elsewhere, in my Etsy shop.

Speaking of greeting cards, I have some that will soon be offered solely in my Etsy shop next week.  Here’s a sneak peek…

I’m also working on some new holiday designs that will hopefully be available in the coming weeks!  The greeting cards (including envelopes) will retail at $3.50/ each.

Also in the works… more Lolee Bird Ornaments and some other little special woodland friends!  Last night, as I finished up another bird ornament, I couldn’t get this cute little fox sculpture I had in mind out of my head.  So, instead of making a dozen birds last night, I ventured deeper into the forest.  I must say that I am pleasantly pleased with the outcome of my little foxy friend, a scarf sporting owl, a whimsical holiday tree, and even another style of bird.  Here’s  a peek at the sculptures as I wait patiently for them to dry before I get to slather on the paint!

And creatures!  I did mention something about creatures. Well, creature, singular rather.  I don’t know if you recall the art creature creation, as it has been eons since I posted about it, but over the summer, me and some fellow artist friends started a trans-continental collaboration that began in England, ventured to Scotland, made it’s way around the Netherlands, journeyed to Oregon, then land at my doorstep in Savannah.  Well, due to our impromptu move and the craziness that pursued, the creature finally was unpacked and finished in my new studio in Asheville.

Though I REALLY am dying to share my contribution to the project, and especially the entire project as whole, since it looks so neat, I am not at liberty at this time to do so.  But in the meantime, do check out the Art School Grad Blog, where you can see the talented artists’ contributions and read their bios.  I’m hoping to do a little Meet the Creature Artists Artist du Jour interview style in the next few weeks.

But in the meantime, be sure to check out: Brienna Pruce, Yvonne Stewart, Louise van Terheijden, Suzy Brown, and Cindy Martin!

Ok, since I teased you with the creature, I’ll share with you my studio!  Mind, it is still in progress, but at least it is a workable space no longer piled high with boxes of random stuff!  And actually, it is a bit more together since these photos, I’m just being lazy and haven’t taken any new shots, but you get the gist!

 

 

And the hubs was nice enough to locate this bookshelf at a yard sale, slap on a few coats of spray paint, and then some lovely little stencils.  It’s now in my studio, but like I said, lazy today.

 

Oh, and another exciting tidbit!  Just had the Young Maya illustration printed on canvas, which you can find here.  It’s pretty neat to see my illustration on canvas!  Also, I have some new prints of the illustration on Somerset Velvet paper, which will be available soon in my Etsy shop.

Well, folks, that’s all I have to share for them moment.  And I’m feeling it’s time to break fast, as my tummy is a rumbling.  But now worries, I’ll be posting again a lot sooner then later.   I can’t wait to share with you the new woodland friends sculptures once completed!

Wow, in less then two hours, it will already be July! I’m about to head out on a semi-mini holiday to the great state of North Cackalack, but I wanted to post a little something-something, as I have been absent from my musings and interviews for a bit now.

So, I’ve been truly slack with my art over the past month. Though, I’m happy that I can now share with you the painting I created for my mom’s birthday!

She has my mama’s red hair. Oh, and notice the little red cardinal in the upper right…… that’s my ode to Grandma Jeanne, my mom’s mother, who was quite fond of the lovely little red feathered creatures.

Quick story for ya: Cardinals, as I’ve mentioned, tickled Grandma Jeanne’s fancy. I had a dream about a year after her death that she called me on a cell phone -early 2000s and the lovely green-screened Nokias were all the rage- to tell me to let my mom know that she was OK just as a cardinal flew in front of me. So, after sharing this dream with my mom, we always felt a sense of comfort and nostalgia when we saw a beautiful red cardinal nearby.

Upon moving to Savannah in 2006, a male and a female cardinal took up residence in our back yard, and have been there since. We like to think of them as Grandma Jeanne and Grandpa Ira, and that they’ve come back to watch over us.

Well, you can wipe that tear away now. We’ll have no caterwaulin’ on my watch. Besides, I have good news! The talented Mr. Michael Shewmaker has given me permission to share with you the poem which inspired a piece of art work that I shared with you here! I’ll be posting that for your reading enjoyment as soon as I get back into town, being that it is 11:01, and I have not yet packed my bags for our Northern journey.

On another note, the Art School Grad team that I’ve been working with over the past few months has a new featured artist up.  Check out the interview that I did with thelovely, palette-painting, Davs here.  Davs is the winner of the team’s second Line and Lyric competition.  She painted this piece, which was inspired by the poem Hellgirl by the talented Miss Anastasia Brown, who will have a featured spot on the ASG blog in the coming days, with an interview by your’s truly.  So stay tuned!

You can find Davs on Facebook and on Etsy.

 

Well, it is LATE!  And I’ve a very important date with my pillow…right after I shove some clothes in a suitcase and come up with a vegetarian dish for Second Line, the new New Orleans style bar and restaurant in downtown Savannah. I hear their po’boys are well worth the visit, and for you fellow veggies, hopefully my dish will satisfy your bellies!

If your in the Savannah area, head on down to Factor’s Walk and check them out… the hubs will most likely be bartending Thursday through Saturday night, so tip him well! And they have some interesting New Orleans inspired art on the walls!

Until next time….

School’s out, y’all! Time to head down to the pool, the beach, and the farmer’s market…  and what better way to make a splash beach-side (or pick up a bushel of those fabulously fresh Georgia Peaches if you’re in the south) then with the super chic Little Mermaid Eco-Tote designed by Artist Andrea?

You may recall another one of Andrea’s awesome totes featured a while back, Ooh La La (find the fashion print here).  And at the fab price of only $TEN BUCKS$ a bag, why not get two…or three!  And what was that???… oh, yeah!!!  YOU can enter  this super FABULOUS GIVEAWAY hosted by the Art School Grad Blogspot to win your own FREE Little Mermaid Eco-Tote!  Who doesn’t like FREE STUFF???

Andrea also recently released another fab design in her eco-tote line that will have even the landiest of landlubbers a droolin’.  Ahoy! Check out this here booty!   Ok, going a bit ‘overboard’ with all the pirate talk.  I’ll go walk the plank now.

And hey, c’mon, that hot pirate chick needs somewhere to stash her booty…ahem…makeup.  Artist Andrea is hitting the nail on the head with her line of bags.  Check out the lovely new line of cosmetic bags… the perfect size to fit in your overnight bag or even a large handbag!  And the interior is a cushion-lined polyester which equals super easy cleaning in case of a little shadow spillage.  Not to mention a great little zippered interior storage pocket!  And did I mention that she has two super adorable designs?  I have the Juliet style… GORGEOUS!

Disclaimer!!! I feel as though I should mention my recent obsession with turning photographs into vintage, digital Polaroids… check out this site to turn your fave snapshots into classic looking Polaroids by Polardroid.

 

Let’s get back to fun in the sun…

Days beach-side, pool-side, park-side, what have you;  if you have kids (and even if you don’t and you’ve been enjoying that pre-mommy bikini bod and a Pina Coloda in Cabo), then you know summer time not only equals squeals of delight, fun in the sun, and hours of splashing in the waves (followed  by others’ squeals of delight if you’re single.. in Cabo… and just lost your top); you’re also familiar with sand in the most unimaginable cracks and crevices; sunburn, sunburn, evil, awful sunburn; and cranky, cranky, sun-drained tiredness.  Oh, the joys of parenthood…and singledomhood…or whatever. Ha!

Really, I’m going somewhere with this…

What better way to wind down that cranky, tired, over-sunned beach bunny? LAVENDER! From the Greek word, ‘lavare’, which means to wash, lavender is known for it’s reputable relaxation qualities.  Heck, apparently, in the Middle Ages, Queen Elizabeth used it to treat frequent migraines!  If that’s not relaxing, I don’t know what is!

I recently started bathing my three year old wild, sun child, London, in Baby Swank Naturals: Lavender Chamomile after our nearly-daily pool trips. After a few hours at the pool, becoming over-tired and over-saturated in chlorine, a dunk in this lovely baby wash has become my saving grace.  I think London likes it, too.

The light, floral scent of lavender, which is not as overwhelming as similar products I’ve used, is so relaxing  for nerves frazzled by a three-year old’s poolside temper tantrum… and it’s relaxing for the child, too!  I have to admit, one thing that I was concerned about with using this product, was the effects it would have on London’s skin.

See, London has uber sensitive skin.  Right before her second birthday, she developed a rash.  I thought it was a heat rash for the first two weeks.  But then it began to spread, and it was a horrible, horrible sight.  We were out of town, visiting my parents, at the time.  And it just kept getting worse.  So, I finally took her to my childhood pediatrician, who then referred us to a dermatologist that confirmed our lingering suspicions… the dreaded eczema!

Eczema, eczema, eczema!  So many potential causes, so hard to determine…and after of over a year of trying to figure out if it was laundry detergent or the world’s most navigationaly-capable cat (oh, that is a story all in itself…remind me, and I’ll tell you some other time) or just life in general… nothing.  So, back to the Baby Swank Naturals Baby Wash… I was nervous.

At first, I dabbed just a bit on a washcloth, and washed my daughter gingerly, nervously.  Everything seemed fine, no rashes out of the ordinary.  So, the next day, I added a bit more (though a little of this product goes a long way), and scrubbed her down… her steroid creams and lotions by my side (yeah, sadly, it’s that bad).  Nothing.  Nothing at all.  Just a clean, less-cranky, and smelly-good baby girl.  Ok, toddler girl, but she’ll always be my baby!

With that said, definitely check out Meagan’s  new line of baby washes, especially if you’re like me and prefer natural products free of junk like parabens and preservatives, and all those crazy long names that take you an hour of tongue twisting to pronounce.

 

I thought I’d take the opportunity to share with you guys this week the creation of a painting from (almost) the beginning to completion. This mixed media piece, completed in acrylics, old wallpaper, and inks, was created for the upcoming Vision/Verse Art and Poetry Exhibition in Lake Charles, Louisiana using the poem written by Michael Shewmaker, The Choice, as inspiration.  By the way, if you’re lucky enough to be in Lake Charles, LA on June  4th, check it out!

I wish that I could share the fantastic poem in which this piece was inspired by.  After the opening reception of the exhibition, I’ll have to see if Mr. Shewmaker would be willing to let me post his poem alongside the painting.

I am so in love with this wall paper.  Did I ever mention that I have a slight obsession with wall paper?  Not on walls…never on walls…but art? Heck yeah!

Layers upon layers upon layers! Starting to focus here on the mockingbird and his reflection (the cardinal) in the window pane, as well as some skin tones for the lovely lady.

 

Some vines and details added…

 

And finally….

And that’s all she wrote, folks!  Well, except for the fact that I have had such a hard time titling this piece.  Would love to hear your suggestions But as for now, this piece will be known as …no, not the Painting Formerly Known as Prince or some interesting symbol… Inspired by The Choice by Michael Shewmaker. Ehhh…your thoughtful title considerations are greatly appreciated.  xo