something new

You know when you have a bazillion things to do, but instead of doing them you do something that is totally not important. That's what I did today during Noah's nap. I made a banner for my blog. See above. Not sure if I'm going to keep it or not. I kind of liked the boring white box that came with the blogger template. hmmm.

Tomorrow I will be heading over to Irwin's to take down my paintings and hand over purchased paintings to their new owners. I am looking forward to meeting them. That's the nice thing about hanging work in a place other than a gallery, I think. Although it's nice to have the gallery take care of all the transactions and not have to bother with all the details. But meeting the people who connected so much with my work that they purchased it, is a detail that I look forward to.

Speaking of new~ I always like being introduced to new art blogs and am one to always click away when people post lists of links on their blogs. Not that I ever need to add another one to my huge bloglines subscription list. But here are a few that I really enjoy and that I have not listed before. There are always a few blogs that I always list when I am asked to, but for newness sake, here are, well, some new ones:

1. november moon
2. vivien b
3. joanie san chirico
4. manipelt
5. the altered page
6. alicia bock
7. blue tree art gallery
8. kj
9. blank canvas
10. sculptress studio

...enjoy!

Open Studio Art Sale

DATE: Saturday, December 1st
TIME: 2:00 - 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
6211 NE 182nd Street
Kenmore, WA

Angela Wales Rockett, artist-in-residence at Church of the Redeemer, is opening her studio to the public and displaying her art on Saturday, December 1st in the church undercroft. She will be joined by other local artists, Renee Cooke, Matt Whitney, and myself- Bridgette Guerzon Mills. There will be plenty of beautiful artwork to see and buy.

I will be participating and selling works in mixed media and encaustics, as well as my handbound journals, prints, and cards.

Please join us for art and refreshments!

The image above is of a mixed media blank handbound journal.

unspoken truths

unspoken truths, encaustic and mixed media, 10x8 inches

One of the characteristics of encaustics that I love is the texture. Whether it is lumpy and bumpy or smooth as glass. I have a hard time with getting the wax to be smooth and flat, but that's ok as I am a lumpy, bumpy kind of person.

What's even better than just the inherent texture of the medium, is when I am able to add even more texture by adding piece of this and that to the surface. In this painting, I incised into the wax to create more texture. But I also added a piece of gridded fabric. The wax acts as an adhesive in this case. Once I added the fabric though, the mood of the piece totally changed. Much darker and moodier. I felt that it was a nice balance though with the transfer I had created of the plant on the right side.

quiet

when things are quiet, encaustic and mixed media, 6x6 inches

I used to get nervous when things got quiet and calm. I had gotten used to chaos and craziness and rush, rush, rush. So when things got quiet, I would get a sinking feeling in my stomach with the thought of oh boy, what's coming now? Or I would find ways to make things not calm and not quiet just because that was what I was used to.

But now...I welcome the calm and quiet. Sometimes old patterns of behavior can rear its ugly head, but for the most part I am content with peace. Or at least I try to be. When I think back to how I came upon this path of creativity that I am on now, I see how certain life changes and decisions forced me to be still...or rather, less involved with running around doing all the things that I had been involved in. Less distraction led me to get back to my creativity. Otherwise there were so many other things I could have been doing at the time. I am so grateful, now, that I had been forced to be alone with myself and my thoughts. I wasn't grateful then. But what a gift it has been and still is.

In terms of quiet and creativity- I think that for me, I need that moment of stillness in order to create. To hear what is stirring within me. It is so very important to be active and engage with the outside world, but I also need for things to be quiet. To listen. To hear.

"I learned... that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic, striving, but it comes to us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness." ~ Brenda Ueland

continue

I haven't been able to get much work done this week what with cooking, festivities, plus just feeling exhausted. A few weeks ago I was looking at my stats-where people come from, how they find me on the web, etc. and I saw the funniest search phrase. Someone typed in : tired mom artist. Yep, that's me. I resolved not to mention how tired I am on my blog anymore, but this week I've been especially dragging. I feel better right now as I've been able to work some this morning. I really get re-energized when I get my hands on some brushes and paint.


continue, mixed media on canvas panel, 5x7 inches

This is a panel that will be bound as a cover for a blank journal later. I am trying to finish up a bunch of panels that I've been working on these past several weeks for the Open Studio Show that Angela Rockett invited me to join. That will be happening this coming up Saturday and I want to have several of my journals with me along with my paintings.

This panel is a testament as to why I have so much Stuff in my studio. It's comprised of bits and pieces of things that I keep for that "just in case I need it down the road" scenario. I made the polaroid transfer probably four years ago. It's of a tree overlooking a valley. The brown aged paper on the bottom is from a workshop I took with L.K. Ludwig back in March 2006. We bleached black paper and made nature prints. These are the last remnants of the sheets I had made. I was going to type up some words on the computer and print them out to add at the bottom. But I have a little drawer filled with torn dictionary pages and so I made myself look through the pile to see if anything jumped out at me. And I found it right away.

continue: 1. to keep up; keep on; go on; go on with. 2. go on or go on with after stopping; begin again. 3. last; endure ....

The string are from left over waxed linen thread from when I bind up journals. See, I don't throw anything away! I have resolved to use up all my Stuff. Should last me a while.

Thanksgiving

I started a tradition a few years ago that I go shopping for my Thanksgiving list at the Pike Place market. Except for the turkey. I get that at my regular grocery store. I was excited to bring Noah into my yearly tradition yesterday. He enjoyed all the colors and sounds and activities. I want to teach him that food is also about experience and that it comes from actual people and farms, not just cans or plastic wrapped containers.



One of the reasons why I started this tradition was because I make a Quince bread pudding for dessert and there is only one place that I know that always has quince at this time of year. And that is one of the vendors at the market. The recipe for this dessert is from Pastry Chef Mei-I Funtanilla. I took a dessert class from her a few years ago.

Chef Mei-I works at Serafina, which I've never been to but looking forward to going there now. She told us how she had gone to the UW then did the corporate thing. She just wasn't happy, so she quit and enrolled in the culinary program at the AIS here and the rest is obvious. She loves what she does and you can tell. I love stories like that.


Quince and Cranberry Bread Pudding with Toffee-Rum Sauce

Poached Quince:
4 medium quince
4 c water
1 c sugar
Peel, core and quarter the quince. Place in a saucepan with the water and sugar and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer until quince have softened, abot 30 minutes. Cook before cutting into small cubes. Reserve 1/2 c of the poaching lliquid

Bread Pudding:
3 c milk
1 c heavy cream
1/2 c reserved quince poaching liquid
4 eggs
4 yolks
3/4 sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 c brioche or other egg based bread, cut into cubes
1 1/2 c cranberries
Poached quince
additional sugar for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter a 9" square baking pan(or use a pretty ceramic baking pan if serving to guests). In a large bowl, whisk the milk, heavy ceam, eggs, yolks, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract together. In another bowl, toss the bread cubes, cranberries, and poached quince together and transfer to the prepared baking pan. Pour the custard over the bread mixture, pressing down to make sure everything is coated. Sprinkle a little sugar over the top and bake for 45-60 min until the top is golden brown and the pudding is firm to the touch. Cool slightly. Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature. Spoon a little toffee-rum sauce over and around the pudding. Top with a little whipped cream.

Toffee-Rum Sauce:
2 c brown sugar
1/2 c heavy cream
8 ounces butter
1/4 c dark rum, such as Meyer's

Bring all ingredients to a simmer and cook for a few minutes until slightly thickened, Serve warm. The sauce may be refrigerated and warmed again before using.
Yield 9 servings.

I have never made the Rum Sauce to go along with the pudding, although I remember it being really good at the class.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

remembering

remembering, encaustic and mixed media, 8x8 inches

I'm feeling a little blue today. Thought this image would be appropriate. I made this encaustic piece last week.

Although I did have a nice package arrive today that I had been looking forward to receiving. I had ordered this self-published book by Roben Marie Smith. She is the nicest person. I met her in Florida at the opening of my show. She drove over an hour to come by! She also ended up purchasing one of my paintings. I feel happy knowing that one of my paintings is with her. From her blog and her artwork, I thought that she would just be a sincere and genuine person. And it turned out that she was.

Anyway, the book is really beautiful. I was impressed with the quality of the printing. I think I'll go plop myself on the couch and flip through her visual journal entries. That'll be a nice ending to a long day.

I also had ordered Linda Womack's book as well. This is a nice introduction to encaustics. There are step-by-step photos as well as some technique notes. If you are looking for a basic, straight forward intro, I recommend this little book.

where I paint

Now here is my official studio. It's a very small room, but just perfect for my needs. I needed a space to paint in oils and in encaustics. I don't keep my finished paintings here. As soon as they are done or dry I bring them home to store. I like to keep this area very clean with just what I need on hand. Paint and easel and boards.



I keep a table by the window so that I can turn on the exhaust to pull smelly air out. I also have an air filter in here too. It's as much for me as well as out of courtesy to my neighbors. The guy next to me is an architect. And on the other side, there is a writer. Further down the hallway is a jeweler whose work is so funky and gorgeous. There is also a massage therapist on the floor who also makes flower essences. There are some more people, but I haven't met them all.



I don't even have anything up on the walls. This is very unlike me. Whenever I have moved into a new place, the first thing I do is put something on the walls to claim the place as mine. Here, I just haven't. Has something to do with not wanting any extraneous distractions when I come here.



Stacks of started paintings and blank canvases. And below, just a shot of my cooled off encaustic palette.



The building is old and used to be a hotel for "crusty fishermen just off the boats needing a place to sleep for the night". That's what the manager of the building told me. Her family has owned the building since the 50's. I try not to think about what went on in my room throughout the years. I am sure the walls have some interesting stories to tell.

meaning of time

I found some time to bind up some mixed media panels into covers for blank journals the other night while watching episodes of the first season of 30 Rock. I love that show. I have never laughed so hard at a show before. Even more so than The Office, which is my other favorite.


meaning of time, 5x7 mixed media panel bound into a blank journal

I am cutting back on creating journals full time because a)I don't have the time b)the time I do have that is slotted for work is dedicated to painting and c) I have developed arthritis in my hands and I'm only 31. When I get my flare-ups I get anxious about how it will be when I am older.

Usually at this time of the year, the height of online purchases of journals from amanobooks.com, my hands would be like claws from binding journal after journal after journal. I actually really enjoy binding...but my hands did not. This year, my hands are not in pain and I am not stressing out from the holiday shopping.

But, I still want to make journals, especially my mixed media journals. I made the one above a while ago, but only found time to bind it this week. I am still trying to decide whether or not to put them up on amanobooks.com for sale or to keep them for the Open Studio show coming up. This is why I have never signed up for all the holiday craft shows that pop up all around the city at this time of year. How do I manage my online shop while selling at a show when each of my mixed media journals are one of a kind? hmmmm. I'll have to think on that and decide what to do soon.

a space for me!

As I've mentioned before, we transformed my studio at home into a carpeted playroom for Noah so that he can zip around safely without having me chase after him constantly. That kid is fast! I moved my easle to my studio in Ballard so that I can paint there. We set up a work table at the studio so that I could work in encaustics as well.

But...

At home I didn't have any place for the rest of my crap materials. It was driving me nuts. Sometimes I would find myself digging through my crates and boxes that were strewn about the garage looking for that one piece of paper that I just had to have for a mixed media collage. Not being able to find my waxed linen thread readily was becoming a problem. I realized that my studio at home had been an extension of Me. And Me was missing, or at least lost in the piles of crates.

And so, we trekked out to Ikea and came up with a solution. It took us over a month to finish it, but it finally got done this weekend. We transformed our dingy, dark, dusty, cobwebby, ugly furnace room that used to be the corner where we threw things we didn't know what to do with, into my brand new workspace at home. I am amazed by the transformation. I can't believe we did it. Or rather, my husband did it.



In exchange I promised him that I would follow the policy of containment. As a mixed media/collage artist, I have a lot of Stuff. A lot. It's ridiculous. Papers, string, thread, wire, glues, copper tape, aluminum tape, acrylics, inks, markers, metal, sticks, stones, feathers, tape, dictionaries, maps, prints, xeroxes, photos, transfers, solutions, fabric, gauze, cheesecloth, etc., etc., etc. When I had a huge room to myself, I would kind of get a little lax on putting everything away until it got too overwhelming. I cannot work in a chaos. I just can't. It muddles my mind.



So now I have to keep everything in its place because it is in a "shared" space. Plus there's a furnace lurking around, so it's best to be careful anyway. The cabinets house my acrylic gels and mediums, as well as my glues, shipping materials, ribbons, beads, wire, buttons, stones, seaglass, sticks, etc. We got small file drawers that fit under the table for more supplies as well as office supplies. Not shown is a closet that I cleared out and that we placed shelves in. I can store my paintings in there safely on the shelves. The closet is very deep and tall, so it works perfectly. I have bins stacked all the way to the ceiling with my handbound journals as well as fine art papers used for the journals.

My husband installed lights under the cabinets so that I have direct light on my workspace! Everything is just so. Now I just need to contain.

So, at home I can work on my acrylic mixed media panels and my journals. My studio in Ballard is where I paint with the smelly and hot stuff. I will have to post pictures of my studio over there. It's not very exciting. It's just a table and an easel. But this post is really not very exciting either- some tables and cabinets. But I am excited! I love it. I just feel productive coming down here and seeing everything in its place.

The best part is that the playroom is right there too, just a few feet away. He can see me while I work. So that while my little one plays, I can play and get work done too.

rain and artwork and sunshine

This morning I braved a downpour to drop off my oil painting Detachment off to Angela Rockett for the "Silence" show that will take place at the CR Gallery at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Kenmore. I stayed for a while to talk to Angela and some of the other artists who were dropping work off. By the time I drove back into the city, the clouds had parted and the sun was shining. The weather here is so fickle.

First of all, it was so wonderful to meet Angela in person finally. I have been reading her blog for a while now and so when you meet someone that you have gotten to know through their art and their blog, it can just feel so comfortable. Sometimes it doesn't, but when it does, it is just nice. I feel so blessed this year that I have been able to meet so many generous and wonderful artists. I feel like I've been working alone for so long, not reaching out, that it feels like I've woken up out of a daze. And I'm blinking my eyes and thinking "where am I?". It's a good confusion.


Detachment, oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 48 x 36 inches

I am really excited to see the show hang as I got to see the space in person today. The paintings actually hang in the area where the services are at the church. And this church is beautiful. High, high ceilings held up with huge natural pillars that look like timber. The design is sparse, but just beautiful.

It may seem strange to have a gallery space in a house of worship, but if you think about it, it makes sense. After all, man has always linked together his spiritual quest with creativity within himself. Expression, devotion, worship, creation, prayer.

For myself, when I paint, it sometimes feels like that is when I am most connected to God. Sometimes. Not all the time. Maybe it's because that is when I am most present and open.

I will post about the show as it approaches. The opening is December 6th out in Kenmore, Washington.

Angela also invited me to take part in her Open Studio Show which will take place December 1st at the church. I am planning on bringing my paintings as well as some of my journals, prints and cards. I need to figure out the details and will post about that soon too. I've never done a show like this, so I am sure I will be scrambling to figure out how I'm going to do my table and other extraneous details.

Irwin's visit

Earlier this week Noah and I visited Irwin's over on 40th and Bagley in the Wallingford neighborhood to mark a few paintings with a little red dot. The owner was very excited for me and said that my work has been getting so many positive comments from the people coming in. Two customers who were there while Linda and I were talking said that my paintings were the best that have been in there! And then they told me that Noah was the happiest and cutest baby they had ever seen, so all in all it was a very nice visit.

I told my husband all their nice comments and he said that I have no excuses for being grumpy for the rest of the year.

I tried to take pictures of the pieces hanging, but it was next to impossible since I had Noah in the Baby Bjorn. The one above is blurry, but it was one of the best ones I took.

When I was hanging the paintings, I over heard two women looking at one of my tree paintings. One of them said, "It's like a portrait of solitude".

Yep.

mad knife skills

Anyone who knows me even a little bit knows that a) I paint and make things b) I love to read c) I love food and everything that goes with it. Ever since I was a little girl I always enjoyed being in the kitchen. It could have been the warmth and the aromas or just the fact that making food is just another form of creating and creation. Chopping, mincing, stirring-all these things can be meditative rather than a chore. I like that when I am chopping, I am just chopping. If that makes any sense.

In my teen years I taught myself how to bake and how to make certain foods for my sick sister who had difficulty eating at the time. She loved my creations and began to eat more. So food in that sense really made me aware of it's ability to show love. And how what we feed to our loved ones is more than just nourishment for the body.

When I had my mid-twenties life crisis and wondered what in the world I had been thinking getting the degree that I had gotten, I thought about either going back to art school or culinary school. I decided to take some courses in graphic design, which I ended up dropping out after 2 semesters as my amanobooks.com business started taking off which led to me to painting, which has led to where I am now.

But at that point I decided to keep my passion for food and cooking, just that. What I do for leisure. So, this past Tuesday evening I treated myself to a class at Dish-It-Up! to take a knife skills class from personal chef Karen Binkhorst. There were about 12 of us in the class and it was crazy! We all had a set of sharp knives + wine. Normally not a good combination. Luckily no one got hurt!

This was our menu:

Rainbow Trout Stuffed with Swiss Chard and Frissled Shallots
Boneless Game Hens with Molasses and Thyme
Frnech Cut Lamb Racks with Hazelnut Crust
Dauphine Potatoes
Rice Pilaf

The Wines served were
Falling Star-Sauvignon Blanc-Argentina-2006
Conde de Valdemar-Rioja-Spain-2001

I learned how to debone a trout! Debone a game hen! And fench cut a lamb rack! I had tried so many times to teach myself how to cut a whole chicken into parts and it was always so difficult. There would be chicken juice everywhere, I'd be sweating, hacking through bones, ruining my knives. And now, it's so easy! I guess I just need someone to show me and then for me to do it while they are watching. Karen was a wonderful instructor. And oh my god, the food was so so good.

We weren't able to cook the game hens or the lamb because we ran out of time. But I brought them home already prepared and cooked them last night for dinner for my husband and I. We couldn't believe how good the lamb was.

I have so many thoughts about food and the preparation of food that I may write a few blog entries about it. I know this is an art journal, but a few entries won't do any harm.

sunday, sunday

I went to the studio today for my full Sunday of studio time. It had been a while. Last Sunday I was working on art related things, but not actual creating. I have been feeling a bit hestitant about going into work. Not sure what it is. Feeling lethargic? Feeling aimless? Don't really know. So, I decided that the first thing I was going to work on was a spread in Karon Leigh's altered book. I snatched up her huge book before I left Patricia's last Tuesday. I've never worked in a book that big, but it was freeing. I loved it. Maybe I should get my own book and work on a spread at the beginning of each session when I arrive in my studio. Loosen up, let it all just unfold. No pressure or stress. Hmmm.

Today I worked on an encaustic piece that I had started on Tuesday. So far, so good. I had bought a bar of celadon green at Daniel Smith's and mmmmm, I love it. It's so calming.

For lunch I stepped out onto the street and perused the Ballard Farmer's Market. I could have gotten fresh soup made by farmers from Woodinville, or a crepe filled with cheese and spinach or a quesadilla filled with greens, or even smoked salmon. But of course I went straight for the hotdog stand. Next week I will be more healthy. I took some pictures of the beautiful squashes on sale.





When I returned to my studio I put away my encaustics and pulled out my oils and brushes. I had several canvases that I had started this past year that were intended for the Expecting series, but never made it to completion or if it did, I just didn't think they were good enough. I took these canvases and painted variations of white over the colors and images already on the surface. I really like how they look- just whites on whites. If I were the type of artist who just worked in shape and color, I think I would be tempted to just leave them like that...but I'm not. So when I return to work, I will keep developing those canvases. I'm feeling something churning...

a painting gathering

This past Tuesday, we finally worked out our schedules so that I could trek on up to Trish Seggebruch's studio out in Snohomish to paint. I wish I lived closer so that I could come and hang out with these wonderful women more often. It's good for my spirits to be around these vibrant, creative women and to meet new people as well.

I didn't get much painting down myself. I wanted to work on transfers, but for some reason my transfers weren't behaving as they should. Oh well. It was great to just be there and see and hear what everyone has been up to. I hadn't been able to attend one of these gatherings for a few months.

Trish is always up to something new which I'm always excited to hear about. She is opening up her studio to other artists to come in and teach workshops. Check out her web site to see all the offerings. I have my eye on one in particular already.

Trish had a friend visiting from Victoria, B.C., Chin Yuen who had come to work specifically in encaustics during her stay. She works in acrylics mainly and comes to WA once a year to immerse herself in wax. It was so nice to meet her.

Sue Roberston was there working in acrylics. I got one of her moo cards, which I love. I need to get some of those. I actually own one of Sue's figurative paintings. I bought it before I ever met her, which is kind of cool now that I know her.

Wendy Lee Lynds arrived and worked on some encaustic paintings. She is going to be teaching a collage workshop this weekend over on Whidbey Island. I love being around Wendy's energy-she just sweeps you in!

I didn't get to talk to Binky Bergsman too much as she arrived later in the day and then left and then when she came back it was time for me to leave. But I was glad to see her again and talk for a bit before I headed back to the city.

I was so happy to see Karon Leigh again. She was working on her pieces for a show called "Breast of the Northwest" that will be exhibiting later this month. The prints turned out beautifully, although I'm not going to go into the details of her process for these right now...but you can read all about it at her blog. It's always a treat to see Karon. She gave me a hug when she came in and I just felt enveloped by her spirit.

Sue Carter joined us too in the studio. She is new to painting in wax and used the day to explore the medium some more. It was nice to meet another ex-Chicagoan who has also been known to have a Chicago pizza shipped all the way out to WA! She used to live on the same street that I worked when I lived in Chicago. What a small world.

What I said about what I felt when I was embraced by Karon, is really how I feel the whole time I am at Trish's studio day. It is just such a great atmosphere. Women artists supporting other women artists. Doesn't matter what level you are or what you do, it's just about being there and creating and having fun and brain storming and rah-rah-rahing each other along.

longing

bird of melancholy:longing
encaustic and mixed media, 6x6 inches

This piece was actually created in early 2006 for when I went to artfest and the theme was fanciful creatures or something like that. Totally not what I do, but I had fun creating something that wasn't my norm. I sold the companion piece to this one at that artfest which was the first time I sold a painting off a public wall! I had been selling my journals online for a long time before that. But that artfest wall was the first time I put a painting up in a public space and the first time I saw that little red dot next to my painting. I can't believe that was only last year. Seems like eons ago.

Why am I posting an older piece? Well, I think it's because I've been thinking of longing and desire. Thinking about what is it that I want from life right now. Desire is what propels us forward. Without desire, I am complacency- standing in lines, moving along those crowded airport ramps...

For so long my goal, my intention, was to paint. And then get those paintings out into the world. Slowly, baby step by baby step that is what I've been doing. I had been afraid for so long. But afraid of what? After the complications during my pregnancy and after Noah was born, I realized that there are definite things in life that I can be fearful of. Approaching people about my artwork is not one of them! Who cares if they say no or don't like it. Big deal. It's not going to kill me or harm me or harm someone I love. Becoming a mother has made me brave.

But now...what do I want? Where do I go from here? Where do I want to go?

All I know for sure is that I want and need balance. I need to create. That is who I am. But I also find my joy in my new role as mother. Which as all mothers can vouch for, is one of the most demanding roles out there. It's all about balance.

Speaking of my little joy, I need to get him up and ready for our music class.

About this piece: This is an example of lots of layering. I had an ampersand board that was not clayboarded or gessoed or anything like that. To prepare it for wax, I glued down a piece of torn watercolor paper. You can see at the top how the wax just loved to grab onto the torn edges. On top of the watercolor paper, I added a piece of torn paper from a book on French gothic architecture (I think, I don't speak French). And then I added a pencil drawing I did of my bird girl. On top of all of these layerings, are more layers of wax and pigment and oil sticks and incisions.

art on consignment

bearer of gifts, mixed media, 18x14 inches

In getting ready to hang at Irwin's I forgot to mention that I just signed on a few of my paintings for consignment at a little gallery in Melbourne, Florida called Art Expressions. The painting above is one of the pieces there.

Art Expressions
1404 Highland Avenue
Melbourne, FL

I felt such a sense of relief Friday evening after I had hung the paintings at Irwin's. I don't have anything huge planned now. Hurrah! I have a couple of things lined up that will be happening shortly, but nothing major that I have to get ready for. It feels good to have nothing hanging over my head.

Now I can just kick back and relax...no, not really. My little one and I both caught a cold from a little girl in his music class last week. Today could be a very rough Monday. Actually it already has been, but I have a hot cup of tea waiting for me to finish typing this up.

of the earth and sky

Yesterday evening I hung 19 paintings up at Irwin's in Wallingford on 40th Street. I titled my exhibit "Of the Earth and Sky" and it showcases many of my tree paintings. I received "Memory" back in just enough time to include it in with the other tree paintings. That turned out to be great because there was one big wall that needed a big painting. My camera died just when I started to take photos and so I only have this one corner shot, which isn't even a very good picture to share. I will have to go back and take some more.

While I was hanging the work, a man who had stopped in to get a hot drink took a look as he stirred his drink. I smiled at him as I had a pencil sticking above one ear, a hammer and nail in one hand, and a painting in another.

He looked at me and said, "You like trees, huh?"

I laughed and said, "Yeah, how'd you know?"

We talked for a bit and it turns out he is an arborist and was at a house close by taking a look at one of the trees. He told me that a lot of people have emotional attachment to the trees on their property. He asked me if I would be interested in doing commissions and if so he might send people my way who want to commemmorate their trees. I gave him one of my cards as we shook hands and he said, "this could be a very fortuitous meeting."

I don't know if anything will come of it, but it just goes to show me that I never know what will come out of putting my work out there in seemingly random places. If anything, I really need an arborist to come look at three of our trees in our backyard and I didn't know who to call! Now I have someone to call to tell me what to do with my towering trees that sway very scarily ever since the recent wind storms.