“flock” (name idea from ky)

wow, I made it to twenty.

I have been painting with clear gesso. I love it. I love the tooth it gives, but then it has this great effect.

Light from behind.

Another shot from behind. (too bad the stretcher bars aren’t transparent)
Kind of fun.

Does anyone else do an even or odd number thing when they create?
I have to do odd…there are nine birds for #20.
Five last week for #19.
Three blue & one yellow for #18….it continues, it is a bit of a compulsion. But I like it!

And for a little fun on your friday!

Sending a HUGE birthday wish to the writing half of the la power couple! Have an amazing day. Wish we could be there!

Olive is really unsure about living in the city. She tried to find a high roost in the studio. But it is just not the same as living with Alicia. I hope once I get her home she’ll start to relax and enjoy the change of living in the city.

And sorry to all you whip up people coming to see my robots. I have quite a few in different states of creation! You can see finished pieces here and here.

One summer during college I drove across the country and photographed my journey. I would constantly be spying something from the car, and then turn around the next exit to go back and photograph it. I was especially attracted to the forgotten things and I was driving through the south so there was a plethora. I saw those tracks from the car but I didn’t decide soon enough to pull over the car, so I came up to the next intersection and turned back around. Then turned back around to catch up with the tracks again.

I slipped into a totally focused moment, so when I heard “excuse me miss”. I almost jumped out of my skin. I slowly turned around because I was not on super public roads and looked over my shoulder. And to my delight it was an officer of the law. It seems as if during my space out a sheriff’s car had pulled up behind me and then the officer walked over to my car. As my stomach was doing summersaults and pretty much wigging out. I tried to form words. I brought up the camera and then pointed to the gorgeous train tracks over this small little river.
Shakily I said, “I was just taking pictures”.
The officer just smiled at me and said he just wanted to make sure everything was all right. Then he walked back to his car and waited for me to pull back onto the road. I think my body buzzed for the next hour, but I got some really amazing shots of the train tracks.

My reason for making the trip was an internship in Nashville, working with a photographer. (I was blessed to meet them Dean and his wife, two of the best people I know). It was a great learning experience and my ability to make that trip gave me the confidence to try my hand at New York City. (I am so glad I was naive enough not to know how different those events would be!)

I have a little problem.
I just realized that the last six paintings (including this one are nameless).
When I try, I completely draw a blank. It happens with the softies too. There is a whole lotta white there. That is all I see white, when I search for the name.

The Boy is amazing, he looks at something and the name just leaps from his mouth.
I am constantly in awe.

My other problem is that I love things with titles and names.
I like to figure out how the title of a painting goes with the painting - if it means something or not.
If it means something to me or not.
The Boy is going to have to stop by and see what can be done about all my little nameless paintings. (pretty please)

Unless anyone wants to throw some names out and take a little heat off him…

Here is a close up of the girl.

The sketches for the next couple of paintings are pretty much the same girl with birds…on a bit of a series now…we’ll see what happens.

I made a girl. Well she has hair…sort of mermaid crossed with a sea creature.

They came from a piece of this backdrop that we painted several years ago. The colors were just so beautiful I couldn’t bear to throw it away. It was ungessoed so I threw it in the wash and the paint stayed.

Here are my first three creations, names from left to right :
Irma (the middle sister) Matildia (the youngest sister) and Azriel (the oldest sister).

Would love to know what you think….

I have been ordering amazing ness around the internet lately and I got some packages last week. Firstly I ordered an amazing mod bird from lisa. Oh so lovely. It is smaller than I pictured in my mind and that makes it that much more enchanting and amazing.

The Boy is getting jealous, but actually I got something for him. This gorgeous casting of a headstone from magpie molly. He has a thing for skulls that I am just coming around to honoring. Before it freaked my out a bit, now they intrigue me.

After some mail angst I received my trade with Amanda and snatched up a pair of those fantastic earrings she was knitting with wire. They are like wearing air - soft air. I am not quite sure if I am supposed to post a photo, which is good since my photo is crazy blurry.
Instead I have this photo of Trixie claiming the tissue paper. She is in love with it. Any chance she gets she’ll roll around on the paper - demanding rubs on the paper, all around relaxing on the paper. She is particular that one.

This man, I don’t even remember. Most of the players, I see repeatedly. I have never seen him again and I don’t recall how he played or where I captured this image.

I adore his face - the slight smile. But I knew, when I saw the print, that I never saw the exit sign prominently above his head. I love those moments. When you get your film back and are pleasantly surprised by what you see.

(and thanks for all the comments on my latest painting - really need to paint it, but kind of unsure at the same time…thank you for the support)

Why do I always wait until friday to get my painting done.
After a long day I thought the last thing I would want to do was work on this, but as soon as I started my blood pressure lowered, my anger ebbed and I just sunk into a calm little state.

Here is a close-up of the girl.
As always would love to know what you think.

cornelius is a grease monkey and he loves to work on the custom cars!

This little (well not so little) guy is for a benefit (in april).
A new friend is trying to raise money for their documentary on a female racecar driver.
Seems like it is going to be a really interesting story,
so I am helping
with Softies!

I finished my painting for friday yesterday and I wanted to post it because I am pretty happy with it. I am doing a more graphic version and submiting it to threadless. (I can win prizes and everything - more on that later)

I have been ordering amazing little things from around the internet:

these amazing felted acorns from jenn (her new site is up and running!)

and this sweet and tiny little charm from another jenny

this is making its way as a birthday present, and I have already ordered another piece!

Oh and my little blog is one years old today.

Some more music underground.

I am usually not so close to the musician. I ‘thief’ my photos, but this guy knew I was taking his photo. I always put money into their containers even if they don’t know I have taken their photo.

Also has anyone heard Jenny Lewis’s new solo album from Rilo Kiley? (music playing on both sites)

Not quite done with the painting, still have to paint in the robot with wings, you might be able to see the sketch. We are doing a major cleaning at the studio. I am dusting areas that I don’t think have ever seen a dust rag. So nasty. Here is a little dust monster that I created.

Also is a new creation.
a girl that turned into a sea creature.
the Boy has named her Azriel.

She is made from recycled painted fabric. (I wash the fabric tons - to make it soft, and then I know that paint isn’t going anywhere.) We cut down larger backdrops to fit in our space better and sometimes we are left with these amazing pieces. I’ll make as many creatures as possible and then once the fabric is gone…well then I’ll try and scavange more from the next beautiful backdrop we make.