Bonnie Weekend

The Moore Theater, Seattle - twilight prior to Bonnie 'Prince' Billy show

I'm posting less and less during the week these days. Partly it's because things are just so much more interesting during the weekends... this past one for instance found me at a Bonnie 'Prince' Billy show in Seattle with my best friend Katie (which was undoubtedly awesome!) before heading south to Portland with Andy to visit with my folks. My Mom is recovering from a minor surgery and we went down to visit and help out around the house. There was much cooking and lounging to be sure - it was quite nice!

During our Portland "must-have" trip to Powell's and the mecca of Stumptown I came across these stop-you-in-your-tracks-jaw-drop-wowza yarn paintings. Yes, that is right. YARN PAINTINGS. I immediately had to geek out and take a gazillion pictures because I just knew that I'd want to share these with Betsy. Whoa.

They are by an artist named Jo Hamilton. Check out the site for more incredible fiber art: http://johamiltonart.com/

The dude on the right kinda sorta looks like Betsy's boyfriend even... sometimes the parallels of the universe are just too much for me to handle...

Art Filled Days

My days & nights have been pretty filled lately. Which is why getting to spend this past weekend down in Olympia with Andy was such a treat. Even while being away for the weekend I still managed to get some painting time in thanks to my trusty French easel and the use of a lovely temporary second studio. (aka empty corner of Andy's studio)

I returned on Sunday night with enough time to join in on an open studio Encaustics play-session over at Mikal Whoberry's. We spent most of the evening just getting set up with our hotplates, wax & colors so I don't have much to show for it yet but another session will be happening soon. Sincere thanks to Mikal for hosting and showing no fear for a bunch of artists with free reign of his space with hot wax ... SO much fun!
Don't you just love those colors? I really could be falling for this stuff... I'm in so much trouble!

Sometimes

Sometimes I love painting SO much that I cry.

Today, with blue stained fingers I am happy.

Twelve days eh?

So it's been twelve full days since I've last stopped in to say hello. Why is that? Well because I've been happily busy of course!

There are many things in the works over here in the studio including lots of new oil paintings for the upcoming show at La Familia - one of which being 4 feet tall! I can't wait to share them with you. Go creative energy go!

Things have also been ramping up on a couple of side projects. Earlier this year I began an internship with another more established artist who just returned from an installation at SCOPE in NY. I helped out with some of the prep work which involved 300 dried Chinese Elm leaves and a whole lot of acrylic gel. The end result was another iteration of this piece called Branching Systems:

Ryan Wolfe is a kinetic sculpturist -- so all those leaves you see? Yeah, well, they move when you get close to them. Technology and art can make some gorgeous statements in the right hands.

Next step will be helping to get this guy organized so he can be as successful as he should be. No small task when you have a plethora of pictures from multiple versions to sort through, but video as well. Whew!

Got to go get busy again. Happy weekend all!

Note Cards

*New!*
Calendarling Drawing Cards $3
In the shop!

Finally - quality prints I'm happy with. Which means I'll have some more in the works soon. I really want to be able to offer quality prints of my paintings soon but I'm still in the testing phase. Anyone have any recommendations for affordable high quality color prints?

View Across the Desert

Alcoholic Pass across the desert
Originally uploaded by Rekoj Design

I'm back from the desert and it's all so bittersweet. I just uploaded my favorite pictures from the trip to Flickr which made me sad to be back to the good ol Seattle slog. Away from the sweet soaking sunshine, the blooming Ocotillo and creosote on the breeze and the seemingly never ending company of Andy & family. Nine days of bliss is hard to adjust out of - yet all in all I must admit the deep breath of "home" when I sat my bags down back here in the studio.

It was good to be away and it's good to be back in equal measure. Between breathtakingly beautiful hikes and incredible food I finally got around to reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and have to admit it IS all everyone has cracked it up to be. Within the first chapter she had me scribbling in my journal and up with the sun to paint the sunrise. My week was filled with long walks, deep contemplations, adventurous dreams and stacks of desert watercolors. Sweet sweet wonderfulness that is =)

And now I'm barely home and already watering the seedlings of my next journey...

Candy Stuffed Valentine Tutorial

Hello there! As I was playing around with Valentines for my Valentines this afternoon I thought I would gift one to you as well - a quick & fun tutorial!

Here is precisely how I made myself some Candy Stuffed Valentines:

Supplies
Parchment paper
sewing machine
scissors
scrap paper
Valentines Candy

Step One
Cut one 5 inch piece of parchment paper off the roll. Fold in half and cut into a full heart shape leaving the fold of the paper at the bottom.

Step Two
Cut smaller hearts out of your scrap paper. I used mine to spell out the word "Valentine". Cut as many little hearts as you need for your Valentine message.
Step Three
Start at the base of the heart near the fold and sew up the sides. Stop halfway down the 2nd side. Leave the needle in the paper.

Step Four
Carefully insert your scrap paper hearts & candy into your half-sewn Valentine. (Yes it is possible to do this without getting chocolate all over your sewing machine - even if your using giant XO candy made by Moonstruck Chocolates like me!)

Step Five
Finish sewing up the side of your Valentine securing your secret message and treats inside.

Step Six
Give to adoring Valentine with pride!