My Purple Princess

Painted this today. I’m liking the technique of working from a dark background. Will be doing more with this technique.

4:30

I am almost done chapter one of Parenting for Creative Types. Another week of tweaking and it will be done.

I need sleep. I was up at 4:30 a.m, thanks to Little E. No wonder my painting didn’t turn out today. It’s in the garbage. I hate when that happens.

Winter Walk

I finally finished this one today. I glazed the hell out of it. The flash caught the glaze, blowing out parts of it in the photo. That’s okay. I am not selling this one.

Did these during my baby’s nap.

 I interviewed author Joshilyn Jackson today for my book. I am going to profile her as one of the ‘creative types’. She said ‘creative input’ (i.e. reading, enjoying artwork etc.) is just as important as ‘creative output.’ It made me think: How much reading have I done lately? I am going to set aside a few hours a week for some ‘creative input.’ I think she is right.

A room of one’s own

I made another bowl tonight, but it’s not quite finished so I didn’t take a picture of it. What I should take a picture of is our bedroom. I currently have no studio or office. I do my art in our bedroom and my writing on a laptop in the living room. I’m quite positive my set up is not ergonomic, given the fact that my back aches after working in either workspace. Our house is quite small, and our baby took over the office/studio a few months ago. I look forward to having my own space. Until then, I will take comfort in knowing that I am not alone. My dad told me the other day that for many years my grandfather, who was a Lutheran minister, did not have his own space at home to work. He wrote all of his sermons on a desk in the corner of the living room. From what I know, it did not affect the quality of his work. But I am sure there were days when he wished he could have just closed the door.

I won a really fun aceo last night on eBay by an artist named Mick Reasor.

If you look at his blog, it’s the painting of the Barber. I can’t wait to receive it and see it in person.

Village in a Bowl

Created this today while my parents were over babysitting. I used a wooden bowl I bought at Value Village ages ago. My mom thinks the cow looks like a bug. Does it? I still like this piece. This is the beginning of something really fun. I’m going to keep doing these folksy, primitive collages on wooden bowls, plates, platters etc.

Two hours, two paintings

I had about two hours of free time this weekend. This is what I did. I’m having fun with these little collage landscapes. Collage/Mixed Media is my big love. I’m crazy about texture. Not sure what I am going to do with these. Might swap. Might sell. Might keep.

I bought a painting last night on Etsy.com from an artist named Debra Greenleaf Campbell. Love her stuff. Especially the bright paintings.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=11249

Do you know these women?

I do not know these women. They just showed up tonight when I was painting.

Blog Envy

How in the hell do they do it? Everywhere I turn, there’s a blog with more writing in it than the Saturday edition of the Globe and Mail. And there are women writing these things.  Women with kids as young as mine. I don’t know how they find the time. Maybe if I painted less? But that would just be silly. So here’s to my teeny tiny blog and to fresh paint.

Here is the Royal Family. She does not have time to keep a royal blog.

Just Create

I just finished reading What We Ache For: Creativity and the Unfolding of Your Soul by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. I really enjoyed it. It reminded me to simply have faith in the process of creating and not to get focused on the result. Just write. Just paint. Just enjoy.

Latest painting. Sailboat.