she doesn't have a name yet
18" x 18"

This one is going to be at cannibal flower {with me} tomorrow night. The party starts at 9:30pm…$8 at the door. 

I also have five pieces up in Brooklyn at Flying Saucer. 

I am aiming for a weekend full of paint, what do you have planned? 

book {3.5" x 5"}
acrylic on board

Originally I thought that I would do books for monica's word {she did a great boat quilt recently}, but then I thought about what books did for me. A good one can transport me to a world unlike my own and so was born the idea of a boat in the hair. I was letting it sort of float around in my brain, how to have a boat in her hair, but still let you know it is hair and then I saw her.

Here is a little glimpse of me painting the final touches.

rocketry (approx
acrylic on board

louise's word. {she has a new etsy store that just opened}

I kept on seeing 'rocket try' instead of rocketry…so I thought of a robot that didn't quite have a handle on flying yet! 

I came across this website, when I was looking for circus fonts…there is something really beautiful in the messiness here.

garumph {8.25" x 5.25"}
acrylic on board

when I sent hanttula a request for words, he sent me this odd list that I wasn't sure what I was going to be able to make out it, but it turns out to be one of my favorite pieces. I love the idea of a sad carnival dog…{who knew a borrowed book {I finally got my own copy} would lead me down this path. that the circus and carnival theme would be one that I am not only attracted to as a painting series, but also in my photography.}

I am going to explore this image & idea a bit more. 

I have always loved the whole size relationship, as an element. I think Johanna does it wonderfully…but I hadn't really found the thing that clicked, the idea that sang, a moment that didn't feel forced…and these last two words totally broke through that block for me. I test the 'waters' in the next word as well…
 
I am so excited I made it half-way…for awhile there I was afraid that I wasn't going to & now I have a slew of words that are going to force me to push my envelope. Finding a schedule has definitely helped. Painting during the day…coming inside to sketch at night when the light begins to go.

Headed south tomorrow for a little friend & beach time.
Have a great weekend.

kooky {approx 5"x 4"}
acrylic on board

kylie gave me kooky and it dawned on me that I don't necessarily have to take the word at face value. I am coming close to halfway and I realize that there are a lot of hard words left. Words that I can use to push the envelope. I am going to see this image again. Probably in a full sized painting, maybe some ink sketches on vellum {for lisa}…

I stumbled across this costume designer the other day…{I especially love this & this}

actually {approx 5" x 4"}
acrylic on board

abby gave me actually.
abby's art pieces are so fantastic, all of her creatures have so much personality. I love not only how much she has been growing, but also the amount of work she accomplishes. Fantastic.

I had a productive weekend. A couple more words, a party, lots of sketching, and the beginnings of a piece that is a trade for a friend.
I also realized that I need to give myself the filling up the well time. I keep trying to move that along, but then I stall out. My process is in my head in the beginning. I realized it the other day as I was falling asleep. I was behind a camera on a crane, just swinging around waiting. Changing the angles on a piece I was considering, choosing the right moment to snap the shutter and then I feel asleep.

have a good monday all! 

the work to try & catch my groove back…forcing myself to use colors I don't use, remind myself that the base is just the beginning and nothing can stop me from painting over {which I do all the time…even if it was a finished piece…I feel so sorry for older paintings that just don't work for me any longer…but then they give new life to something I love again}

what my hands looked like after putting down the base for about 15 of the word paintings…progress.

have a good weekend, you'll be able to find me in the studio.
tap me on the shoulder, because I probably have my headphones on.

there is something about the bed at night that feels really special, maybe because that is when we sleep…but I think it is more the glowy light that gets me.

I just couldn't help myself…an out take of 'a year of beds' since no people are allowed. {my rules}

thank you all for coming to the sweets party {and for the birthday wishes}.
it was all I hoped it would be!

come in come in,
so excited you could come.
I made up some strawberry cupcakes in ice cream cones…no paper to figure out, but your fingers may get sticky. So stay awhile try all the sweet treats and make sure to tell me what you brought! I can't wait to be sitting on the couch later with the sugar hangover. But before the hangover comes a sugar rush and that is what is happening right now….

(you can even lick the spoon)

I am pretty sure at this point I filled them up too much….but I really couldn't help myself.

a little with the overflow…but not too bad. I think next time I want to try this with angel food cake, to see how high it can crawl up.

I have a bunch with lemon frosting too…but those are in the back, so you just have to ask.

Thank you again for coming. Don't forget to tell me what you have brought.
(and yes for those friends who have told my secret, it is my birthday today.)
Now for all the other treats you may try!

lisa s came really early with some cupcakes because right now she is in (on her way) to japan

gracia brought 13 lucky sweets, there are also some squirrels you may have to wrestle down, but I think it is totally worth it.

louise a girl after my own heart…she brought puddings and cake and pie and and and and and…

shari brought a cupcake before she left, she has an interview, so lets wish her good luck.
{plus her birthday was two days ago}

b**ana brought a beautiful plum cake, but has my favorite cookies in the back…gosh I love that girl! 

jen brought chocolate and some naturally sweet blueberries. 

mav ate her treats, but the remnants look lovely. 

such cool cow chocolate from julie! 

for a cool treat head over to amsterdam and get some ice cream from sia. 

risa is still cooking, but she put on a movie for us.
{I can't think of a better film to watch today than marie antoinette.}

johanna had time to get some cupcakes in between working on her new paintings.
{plus she is a june baby too…the 9th! - happy birthday to you}

cruststation took some time out of her inspiration gathering to bring along some eye candy!

diana just happened to make some apricot cake today…so it was perfect timing. 

molly had ice cream, but I am not sure she wants to share since she is already jones-in for more.

tiffany brought some brownies, even though she cracked some ribs last week {ouch!}

camilla is working hard, but she said she would have made all of these for us.

shanna made some delicious peanut butter cookies 

di has some wonderful candies to share {her blog elves finally let her back in - i think they crashed from all the sugar}. 

ky brought cookies {even after an afternoon at urgent care!} 

fanny is dreaming about baking…that is so fabulous. {can't wait until she gets back to france when her dreams will become reality.} 

leSophie brought some really fabulous gelato…that afternoon light is beautiful.

hannah brought a late night lemon treat {love the tart sweet}

hanttula brought some cinnamon rolls for us on tuesday morning! 

christine, it is never too late for more treats especially when they look like that
{have a blast in the philippines}

andrea brought some amazing & quirky cupcakes {plus how lucky is it that little ezra and I have the same birthday!} 

{i'll be updating throughout the day!} 

***the sweets party….monday june 11th!***

if you haven't already, you have to check out shanna's new line of goodness and her creation of second storie.
that girl makes beautiful things!
{I hooked myself up with one of her apron pinafores as a birthday present to myself. Along with a sweet membership to mav's card society.}

Over the weekend I went with my friend hanttula to the culver city artwalk. And I feel in love with an artists work at blk/mrkt.

mike stilkey.
his paintings are fabulous everyone has such interesting faces {even the horses}, but I am especially enamored with his book paintings. judge for yourself.

I love the shadows on the wall too.

his roundy horsies rolling around the walls.

side view of the group above.

I'll see you on Monday with some treats! I am going to spend some quality time with paints and words.