LOVE

I mentioned I was starting a piece using a whole bunch of odds and ends.  I love layers, texture, pattern and whimsy.  This piece is completely free-spirited with multiple layers of paint and eye candy.  One of the "newspaper" clippings actually came from an issue from the Art Foundation book published in the 1940's.  The receipt on the side is from 1983 that my husband found when going through his "box" of stuff.  I love old logos and advertising. 

 Anyway...........I am not done with this quite yet.  Tomorrow though.  In process:

Starting a new piece today which will also incorporate layers upon layers of "stuff." Here is the frame which I have already doused with paint and stretched it with that same shower curtain I used for this painting.  Love useful materials.....

black chalk

I do love it....however I haven't used it in a long time.  I have a ton of it stowed away with my supplies, all kinds of different densities and variations so I think I might put it to use again.  It's a bit of an intimidating medium because of how bold it is.  In black, you see:

elms

elms

elms

elms

elms

elms

elms

elms

portfolio & pinterest marry

I love getting feedback on my blog....the more the better!  Everything takes time and I am learning as I go but ultimately I blog to track my love for painting and art and the craziness of motherhood.  All I really want is for my work to speak to people and hopefully they will get something out of it.  It's hard with just a blog alone to showcase all of your work as a painter and a few people have told me it is difficult to see my samples.  I couldn't agree more!  Aha......pinterest.  How I do love you.  If you haven't discovered this wonderful obsession you must.  Right now. 

I will be adding pieces of my art to my board which is devoted to my original work on pinterest over the next few weeks.  In the end, my entire portfolio can be viewed at once going as far back as my days as a student.  Each piece will be linked back to the blog so they will be posted here first.

 Here goes:

Old Town Alexandria

oil pastel 19" x 24.5"

Model Italy

watercolor 13.5" x 18"

Street Band:  New Orleans

acrylic on paper 17.5" x 30"

Venice

watercolor 30" x 22"

chopped

I have been so tired of my long, thick mess of hair and the amount of time it takes to dry it just for it to look like this:

a little scarrrred.....BEFORE

and I've been a little in love with the Michelle Williams haircut (when she had it longer on top, not quite so pixie)...sooo, once my mind is set, it's set.

snip

snip (love the lady's face in the background!)

Thanks to Jessie at A Do or Dye Salon for giving me a little flare:

Here's my Michelle Williamsish cut.  Refreshing?  Check!

I made it clear I did not want a soccer mom short cut....but an edgy, modern style.  Nothing a little product can't help with....

Leila actually loves it....I thought she would cry, but she giggles when she looks at me and touches my hair.  Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.  Hmmmm.  As long as she can still tug at it a little I think it's good in her book.

Happy Friday, everyone!  Have a great weekend....here's to a new do!

a week of firsts

It has been a fun week of firsts......a trip to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore for Leila to discover that fish really do swim in water......

and ships float

She kissed the tanks and squeeled "FEEESSHHH"

and the independence of being able to climb up on the sofa and "read" all on her own....

and the beauty of snow.....

and juggling really is not that easy (especially with balls that are half her size!)

Meanwhile, I am about to embark on a new painting which will incorporate the following:

 can you tell what's what?

a book nook complete

So we've been hard at work plugging away at our basement/playroom/guest room.  One major part is finally complete (thank goodness)!  What was once a boring closet under our stairs which we used to store paint and other household odds and ends.....

has become a charming, cozy getaway for our little girl who loves to read.  She will spend loads of time in here....I can hear her saying "whoaa" as she flips through her books looking at all the pictures.

We pretty much already had everything in here....the only things purchased was the wood for my husband to build it and of course he had to also buy a super duper special saw to make it all happen :) he did a pretty darn good job, don'tchya think? Also the cost of the lighting and the electrician to install everything in our basement. 

I found some quotes that I liked and distressed some scrap wood and painted them on the wood.

a black and white photo of my dad and grandmother hangs above the book shelf.  I lined the photo with chocolate velvet ribbon to give it a rich look and painted an old frame white.

Got this book shelf years ago at Goodwill for $10....it must have also been a little girl's once because it was light pink when I got it......

really looking forward to both of us having reading time together in her new book nook...so fun!

For more inspiration on how to make use of small spaces go here....

the winning piece complete!

I finished the painting for Meghan, the winner of the drawing held in December!  She gave me a few clues to inspire me.  She wanted the piece for her bedroom which she just finished re-decorating in a romantic theme with red, purple, smoky topaz and chocolate throughout.  I asked her if she could travel anywhere where would it be: Paris.

Eiffel Tower at night

12" x 12" acrylic, gold & silver ink on canvas with polycrylic finish

congrats on winning the painting, Meghan and thanks for being a good sport about having your picture taken ; )....I hope you enjoy it!