thingsofthisnature

Toasty

2012-03-05T21:37:00.000-06:00

That coat right there? Up above? The one that is mine? The one that I am pictured wearing? That belted blanket thing?

Anthropologie. Pendleton. $32.

5x7 show time

2012-02-26T15:33:00.000-06:00

Cutting it a little close..... but churning away on my painting for the upcoming 5 x 7 show at the Arthouse. This is my 3rd start, but I 'm feeling like it's the one. The show opens April 4th.

Land of the rising sun

2012-02-22T21:13:00.002-06:00

Despite how long we have waited, hoped and dreamed, Japan is not getting any closer. Nope. I keep checking.

There's nothing to be done about it, but hop a long wonderful flight and get it done! And 2012 is as good a year as any.

The calendar is marked for May and there's been furious google mapping, flickering, and pinteresting since we declared this trip a go. Because there's so darn much to see, my husband and I decided to make a list of our goals for this trip. That way, when we return, we can say, Yes... we did that!

My list:

-Visit the Moss Temple. (You have to write the monks a letter, using paper and pen and handwriting, and put it in the mail, with a stamp, to get an invitation to attend! How exciting! Paper!)

-Walk down a crooked narrow street with hanging lanterns and little antique shops.

-Spend some hours in a stationary store squealing and drooling over tiny papers and packaging.

-Miss breakfast tacos.

-Browse some high-end ceramics shops like this one.

-See Lady GAGA concert in Tokyo.... (bonus points)

Danger!

2012-02-20T21:28:00.002-06:00

Normally you might think that lobster is for rich people but at $30 all up, you can't afford to skip it, when you compare it to eating out.

Boiling them alive wasn't as traumatic (......for us) as I thought, and the easiest part is that there's not much of a recipe to follow..... boil, cut up, grill, brush with butter and eat. And more butter.

Plus, it's always fun to combine eating and manual labor.

Dallas

2012-02-12T21:51:00.000-06:00

The Jean Paul Gaultier show at the Dallas Museum of Art was well worth the trip last weekend. It's a treat to see such fine craftsmanship and design that close up. It was a bit too bad that it was so crowded. Still though, super glad we got to see it. If it comes to a city near you, be sure to check it out.

The surprise element of the show, were those videos projected onto the faces of all of the mannequins. You can kinda make it out in that shot. A great effect and perfectly executed -- a rare thing, indeed.

Along with some goodies at the Crow Collection (pictured), and a great show at the Nasher Sculpture Center of Elliott Hundley work, it was an art-tastic day!

A perfect reminder to get out and see the world.....when you're not too busy painting.

Three Graces Gallery

2012-02-06T18:34:00.000-06:00

I have 6 new watercolors up at the Three Graces Gallery, "Teeny Tiny Art Show #9." At last, my little paintings united with other little works of art.

If you're in the New Hampshire area, stop by. If not, stop by the online store and see my latest work.

Set-up + process

2012-01-16T20:47:00.002-06:00

After looking at this site, The Setup, I started thinking about how interesting it is to see how other people work. In light of that, I would like to share my painting set up. It seems simple enough, but it's some 15 years in the making.

On top of what's pictured above, I also can't live without:
- 2 of these floor lights. (very important)
- Lots of reference books
- My flickr favorites (in slide show mode)
- American Painter Brushes. They make the best small brushes in my opinion. I have a whole stash... the tips get bent quickly and must be tossed. Luckily they are pretty cheap.
- A .3mm mechanical pencil
- A 4H and 9H pencil
- A kneaded eraser
- A white retractable eraser
- Lots of Canson tracing paper (found to be the most translucent)
- White artist tape
- A scanner and photoshop

Ok that's all wonderful stuff. So that brings us to the process itself.

I took a few pictures of the steps and listed them out below. Every painting is different of course. Some have a detailed sketch without a lot of in-between. Some have a rough with more steps -- such is the case with this one, which was really more about structure. We'll start with the final, so you know what we're working toward.

Now, here's the sad little sketch that I started with:

I don't really enjoy sketching in and of itself. I never like my sketches. Sometimes I like them later.... But, drawing is a necessary part of it. I can admit that.

I only have the left side drawn so that I can scan and flip in Photoshop. This particular painting, is more about structure, as I already knew the quadrants would be filled with neat little nature-filled cameos.

Hi Photoshop!

I have only started using Photoshop in the last few years. What Photoshop brings to the table is SCALE. And scale, layout and design are really important in my paintings. In part because of the symmetry. In part because of all of the individual elements. Photoshop lets me easily change sizes, and colors (which is more about mass/value, than anything).

I don't draw in Photoshop. I DO have a small library of old sketches, and bits I pulled from Flickr. Floral clip art type of stuff. Sometimes if I know I need a certain shape, I can drag something in as a placeholder (like with that red flower at the top/center.)

During this stage, I will print, erase.. draw over my prints, etc for a few rounds.

Once I'm happy, or happy enough to wing the details... I lay on a grid (again, in Photoshop) and print out my final draft. This is where I get serious with measuring and mapping out the placements and structure.

That grid you see off to the left, helps as well.

Tedious, boring and critical.

This is what allows me to put painting to watercolor paper! I do a little bit of pencil tracing. With this, I can do some light graphite transfer, and it's a good overlay while I'm painting to make sure I am holding true to my original grid.

Last thing I want, is for things to start going crooked. No, no.

Moving right along... Pictured above is a color study or practice run. I can try this painting out, fill in some ideas that I left off with the mock-up and frankly, it's a great warm up to paint. You wouldn't think it, but if I haven't painted for a week or so, I am not very good. After I finish something like this, I am all ready to go.

This is a pretty newish step to my process. It's a way to test out my idea and go, "Am I really doing this? Do I like it?"

Because, at the end of the day, I need to love it. Otherwise, I could be having ceviche on a patio somewhere....

Are you still reading this? Ok, next.

And, done.

I think the beauty of the final work, for me, is those fun little elements that I don't figure out ahead of time. If I had every single little bit predetermined, I would get bored.

I hope you got something out of that. I know there's benefit to me in documenting and looking over these steps.

You can read all day long about how other people do what they do. At the end of the day, your process is distinctly yours. I feel very much that way about what I have developed over the years. And once you get there and work through the kinks... it just gets better and better and better.

Treasure-ish

2012-01-01T21:19:00.001-06:00

Just stumbled into the Flickr bounty of the Smithsonian Institution where I found this stunner. A chandelier by E. F. Caldwell & Company. Best known for their electrical lighting and metal work.

Also, there's just a lot of old photos. And pictures of people you don't know.

Wrap-up

2011-12-29T16:09:00.000-06:00

Christmas decorations are going back in their boxes, but before it's all gone..... Let's do a small review.

Miserably pictured (above), and no less darling, is the nativity shrinky dink ornament in action on my stepmother's miniature tree!

I made this little snow scene a few years ago. I'm reluctant to share because obviously his hat is weird and his arms are dumb. But ...don't give up on me! ... check back next year, when I have it all dialed in!

This is my new tree topper, made last January, for my miniature tree. I love how it came out but I admit that, at night, I wish it was all lit up. But, it's cute.... I'm forgiven.

Don't forget, January is really the best month to get on those Christmas crafts that you didn't get to this year. The sooner you admit this to yourself, the happier you'll be!

Shrunk

2011-12-19T20:45:00.001-06:00

Christmas Craft 2011: Shrinky Dinks!

Every year, I find a new way to do a homemade ornament. How did I land upon Shrinky Dinks this year? ... I guess it was the little one in my desk drawer that I did years ago. I am here to remind you how fun they are. These were done with colored pencil. The top snowman circles are about 2.25 inches and the final ones shrink down to a delightful 1 inch. So tiny and so cute.

I decided to add a hole in the top, afterwards, with a wire from one of those office binder clips. A needle was too thin -- the office clip was perfect. Using the open flame from the gas stove, I heated it right up and easily pushed a hole into the tops of these. Make sure you have some ventilation going, as it gets noxious quick. Add some thread and you have a cute little ornament for your tiny tree or just a small momento for a friend.

The possibilities with shrinky dinks are pretty endless. Enjoy!

FLOCK gift shop

2011-12-03T15:19:00.001-06:00

As you drive around Austin searching for Christmas gifts, make sure you stop in FLOCK off south Lamar. There's a collection of wonderful handmade goods, like jewelry, candles, scarves ... and my paintings! They really look at home there.
Address: 2120 Oxford Ave Austin, TX 78704
[tip: you know BYRD's right nearish oltorf? it's right behind their parking lot]

thankful

2011-11-28T14:35:00.000-06:00

After an unforgivably brutal summer in central Texas, it felt like some sort of payback to bust out the folding tables and set up Thanksgiving dinner outside. With all of the usual side-dishes and the traditional (2nd annual) tangerine mimosas... the day could not have been better.

Done.

2011-11-23T17:36:00.001-06:00

After years of fall homesickness, I finally declared that this is the year we visit Virginia during the most perfect time of year. Sometimes, you just have to do things instead of continuing to think about it. Through the magic of the universe, we timed it just perfect. The air was crisp but not too cool. The colors were dynamite!

The beginning...

2011-10-23T17:26:00.000-05:00

This is the very first painting I did that was nature-related. 2003, I think. I still have the original somewhere - funny to look back on. I have been going through old files today and organizing....it's really only something you can do when you're in the mood. Can't force such tedious work as this.

New work, in progress

2011-10-22T21:25:00.000-05:00

Frames of the plains

2011-10-12T21:02:00.000-05:00

On the plains of Wyoming, these structures are striking and yet, somehow almost invisible. It was about half way into our trip that I felt idiotic for not stopping for pictures of them all.

That first one, FISH ON RANCH, was on a back road but can you just imagine picking out your land and going, "Yeah, right there." Too perfect.

Never ends

2011-10-08T20:57:00.000-05:00

So many cute things on etsy.... so few places to put them. Bad hair day print by i love doodle.

Sketches

2011-09-30T22:14:00.000-05:00

Possible rubber stamp idea.

Spoonful of hummingbirds

2011-09-28T20:57:00.000-05:00

Last week, I finished this 5" x 7" painting for Spoonful zine. The theme for the upcoming issue is hummingbirds. I'll let you know when the new issue is out!

Outdoor painting

2011-09-21T20:47:00.001-05:00

Anytime we take a trip, we pack a cheap set of paints. It's a frustrating task to capture something so vivid and of-the-moment, but it's a fantastic practice and a great way to remember the day. Here's my attempts and a photo of what I was trying to recreate, from our trip to Wyoming.

Cute overseas

2011-09-13T22:43:00.002-05:00

Nice looking dish towels from: UGUiSU. Maybe if I order some of these, then I can go ahead and order some washi tape and not be the last girl over 30 who doesn't own any.

Twinrocker

2011-08-31T19:54:00.000-05:00

This is the handmade paper sampler from Twinrocker. Fresh from my mailbox today. Soooo excited to discover what painting on some quality papers will be like. And, nevermind the stupid paper because I love that label!

Funny later

2011-08-15T21:24:00.000-05:00

Ha - that's funny.

When I took this photo, I didn't really know it was funny because I hadn't read very many books. But, now. Now, it's funny.

Beach Art

2011-08-11T19:33:00.000-05:00

When I met my family in Myrtle Beach for vacation, I had 2 things on my mind -- swimming in the ocean and getting an airbrushed-tshirt for a souvenir.

As luck would have it, there was a carnival 2 blocks from our condo, right on the water. A ferris wheel ride, with salt in the air and promises of ice cream to come... there's few things better. And yes, there was an airbrush artist there cranking out shirts, right out of my dreams.

My eye immediately went to the dolphin design. It's too perfect with the "together forever." I only wish I had brought my own t-shirt because they had no girl-friendly shirts. I swear next year I will bring my own shirt!

I was told the "best friends" design was one of their best sellers! But, of course!!

Albrecht Dürer

2011-08-03T21:51:00.000-05:00

Whenever I'm at the Blanton Museum of Art, looking at their fantastic print collection, I inevitably come across an Albrecht Durer. His work is always worth looking at longer than some of the other stuff and there's always that signature mark of his. It's just so perfect and distinct. And, soooo ahead of it's time for something that's sooo arts & crafts looking.

Walter Bosse

2011-07-30T17:15:00.000-05:00

My husband got me a Walter Bosse donkey figurine for my birthday. If you haven't seen his little figures before, check them out on Austria Brass or his site. They are delightful.

Micro Mosaic, oh my.

2011-07-16T20:22:00.000-05:00

Many a micro mosaic brooch have I admired but never did I know there was such a thing as a micro mosaic 'painting' until recently on the Antique's Roadshow. It's completely unbelievable that this could be made of little pieces of glass. I must see one in person one day. This one belongs to the Gilbert Collection.

Triian

2011-07-08T21:40:00.000-05:00

I found Triian on Etsy one day and I think their work is simply amazing. They contacted me to do a trade with them to which I readily agreed. I have one of their little necklaces, which is delightfully dainty and lightweight but these big rings are real stunners.

Waylande Gregory

2011-07-07T21:03:00.000-05:00

Just discovered the work of Waylande Gregory - an American potter born in 1905. Fantastic graphics - great colors.

Card Project

2011-07-04T17:33:00.002-05:00

I've been working on a set of drawings that could make some nice cards. Or tshirts (maybe) or dishtowels or wall prints. No, really - just thinking some blank greeting cards for now. Trying to decide on colors, what kind of paper to use, what color paper to use, etc. Lots of decisions to make.

Honestly, I would like to screen print them -- it would give so much more interest to the flat color. We will see.