creativity...

 

must begin somewhere

vanessa, really!?

So about 10 years ago I was a huge Vanessa Carlton fan....playing her Be Not Nobody cd over and over again during my long commute.  Pretty Baby was one of my favorites...(I'm just seeing the video for the first time...yikes!...not quite what I would have imagined for this lovely little song. Quite a younger, made up version of Vanessa.)

A few days ago my husband and I were watching Talk Stoop...and who else was on but Vanessa Carlton....yay!  I listened to her talk about her latest, Rabbits on the Run, cd and loved hearing about her life and what she has been up to.  Haven't listened to her in years now.

Yesterday my husband brought the mail in and brought her cd to me...asking if I knew of her.  I reminded him that she is the artist we saw on TV the other day.  Had I ordered her cd and forgot?!?

Nope...check it out:

I love my husband's company to begin with but this is just straight up fabulous.  This year's company holiday party just got a little more enticing...talk about Vanessa Carlton being a non-conformist!  Can't wait:

amber rose

Just finished amber....I think I am going to have a hard time parting with this one if someone wants to purchase.  The paint is built up with many layers and it's just a happy piece...very rich and full of color.

20" x 20" acrylic on cotton.  Edges painted all around....ready to hang OR it would look sharp with a simple but bold gold frame...this won't be up on etsy but is available for purchase if interested.  Please contact me. 

chartreuse II and more

today "amber" took on a life of her own and my original vision is way skewed.  But, that's the surprise in painting....you never know what will happen.  Almost done.

13 months

got away for a bit this afternoon to get my

newfound Chartreuse fix:

Walked away with a $3 frame that needs some love, but will be fabulous when done!  Will create an oil painting on wood for this....

today

at work on "amber" and doing laundry on this cozy fall day

degas in dc

Must get to The Phillips Collection before the Degas show ends in early January.  One of my all time favorite artists, I love his color combinations, ability to capture light and expression.  Can't wait! 

boo!

First, a little pumpkin fairy would like to wish everyone a Happy Halloween!  She has found mommy's wallet, I think she is trying to tell me we need to go to the store and buy candy...

Working on a big custom framing project at the moment and will post photos in a few weeks of the finished product.  In the meantime, I adore these old photos of my husband's grandmother on his mom's side. They are absolutely precious and I had some frames stored away in our basement and found them to be perfect matches for the old, vintage style.  I have the perfect spot in mind for them...in our room which is painted a rust, orangeish, redish tone.  (ps...don't you just love the porcelain doll?)



history in the house

Maybe it is because my husband is reading The True Life of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots and I am almost done with the 800 page 17th century romance novel, Forever Amber, that has inspired me to recently feel the urge to:

A) Shine my silver (who voluntarily does this today? Ugh...not sure what is wrong with me):

And B):

Begin painting a piece depicting what I think the rebellious and daring Amber St. Clare may have looked like after she recovered from the plague.  I am a firm believer that artists are inspired by their subconscious and I often times will be mid-way through a painting and figure out where it came from.

Lately I have had an obsession with combining funky shapes, colors, patterns and modern elements with traditional subjects. 

Amber enjoying the sweet scent of roses in contrast to what will be a modern, graphic backdrop of colors and forms.  When I took a Summer en plein air painting course at The Torpedo Factory years ago my instructor emphasized just throwing color on the canvas and going from there.  So, I'm just throwing color on right now...we'll see what happens to Amber as I work.

20" x 20"...acrylic on cotton and I am sure I will use pencil, crayon and a hodge podge of other things

remember these?

found them nestled away in the children's section at the library.  Had to get them!

dansez...riez...buvez...chantez...aimez

12" x 16" acrylic, gold drawing ink and pencil on canvas with polycrylic finish.  Edges painted rose.

Dance, laugh, drink, sing, love

chartreuse & co

 

2 huge barns, many vendors, to die for prices and a gazillion things that will make your heart go pitter patter.  Just go....there is a holiday tag sale Nov 4-6.  I'm sure Jenny and I will be there. 

Got this darling little table today...$49 at that: