February: More art in progress!
Hello, February!
This is the hardest time of year for me (I much prefer warmer weather), and sketching and painting have been such a welcome respite from the cold. When I last wrote I’d been working on a book cover for kids. The assignment: what’s in JK Rowling’s bag?
The cover is now finished! I’d already do so many things differently, but that’s the fun and useful thing about learning, isn’t it?
Here’s where the cover ended up:
Try something new today (plus: art in progress!)
“All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today” Indian Proverb
I love the idea that each little seed we plant, whether that be an action, conversation, idea, or intention, creates space for something new and beautiful to bloom in future days.
I see this art class I’m taking (Lilla Rogers’ portfolio bootcamp) as a large number of those little seeds.
If you remember from my last post, I’d done a mini assignment of things I carry around with me in my bag.
I'd like to read more, please»
Happy new year (plus: I’m creating art again!)
“Creativity takes courage” Henri Matisse
Happy new year, friends!
I hope you’re having a wonderful start to 2018.
The past few weeks have been so crazy over here (shipping out lots of art before the holidays, celebrating the holidays, moving to a new house, lots of sickness) and so I didn’t carve out any time to reflect on the past year and create goals for the new year like I usually do.
To be honest, the complete blank slate I have right now has been refreshing. I don’t have a long list of goals or resolutions, I didn’t brainstorm a million things I want to change about myself or my life. Instead I’m sitting here in my new studio, which is still only half set up, and I’ve allowed myself to prioritize creating art again.
Happy holidays from me to you!
“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been” Rainer Maria Rilke
Hello holidays, hello new year, and hello friends. I hope you’ve had a wonderful season so far.
If the holidays are hard for you, I’m sending you my love. If the holidays are joyful, I’m sending you my love. If you’re like me, and the holidays are a mixed bag of good and hard, I’m sending you my love.
Pre-winter magic (plus: new cards in the shop!)
“And since we’ve got no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” Sammy Cahn
We had our first snow! It’s not quite winter still but there’s now a chill in the air that always makes me breathe in more deeply. I have a love / hate relationship with cold weather, but I do love the snow. Look how magical:
My holiday sale ends Friday!
“Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it” Mary Oliver
Short but sweet post today, as I’m spending all of my toddler-free time getting orders shipped out as quickly as I can. I’ve been watching endless bad Christmas movies while I put packages together, drinking endless cups of tea, and thanking my lucky stars that art can make the holidays brighter for so many people.
I recently sent out another original to its new home. This little painting is so special to me (it’s one of the very first I painted back in 2014), and I love the reminder to remember and honor our dreams. The print is available here.
Happiness is always near (plus: my 2017 holiday sale!)
“With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?” Oscar Wilde
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my life is that we create our own happiness. Another big lesson: we get to choose each day whether or not to experience that happiness.
So today I’ll share what’s making me happy, and I’d love to hear the same from you!
We go to the woods (life around here lately)
“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery – air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, ‘this is what it is to be happy'” Sylvia Plath
I grew up going into the woods nearly every day.
I’ve always been in love with trees. I love the hushed air and the changing leaves. I love feeling so small yet so connected. Being so immersed in the natural world as a kid influenced everything, from how I find happiness to what I like to paint. I might not get out into the woods as regularly these days, but there’s still so much texture, color, and shape to be discovered out there in our daily lives:
Light the whole sky (plus: what I’m working on now!)
“Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth ‘you owe me.’ Look what happens with a love like that, it lights the whole sky” Hafiz
Feeling gratitude for a beautiful sky peeking through the trees. Inspiration for a new painting is always just outside the front door. Let’s all look up today.
I'd like to read more, please»We all need a little color (plus: another new painting!)
“Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing?” Picasso
Holding all of us in my heart this morning in the wake of more tragedy. I took this photo the other day of Isaac and a friend hugging and it’s been the reminder I’ve needed that love is still a strong force that all of us can hold on to no matter what.
And in my art world lately: one of my favorite parts of painting is layering different colors near one another and feeling that little jolt of joy when they make each other brighter and more vibrant. Certain colors combinations do this naturally (like orange and blue, green and red, yellow and purple), but there are so many variations to try.
When I set out to create this new piece, my goal was a simple layout, a simple background, and a vibrant little character full of color.
Here’s where the painting started:
