Something Unconventional II

Here to find out what undergarments have to do with art? Well, a friend asked me to participate in The Painted Bra Art Project to help raise awareness for breast cancer, and funds for a local lady battling cancer.

I wanted to focus on the hope of overcoming, but also recognize the seriousness of breast cancer. I kept thinking of Gustav Klimt's Death And Life, but didn't want to go so dark as to focus on human mortality. Then I remembered Emily Dickinson's poem entitled "Hope." 

Hope is the thing with feathers 

That perches in the soul, 

And sings the tune--without the words, 

And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard; 

And sore must be the storm 

That could abash the little bird 

That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land, 

And on the strangest sea; 

Yet, never, in extremity, 

It asked a crumb of me.

Perfect, right?! I mean, I have a thing for birds - owls specifically. They've always been a symbol of hope for me - hope through dark times of confusion or helplessness. Hearing them in the night was such a comfort to me as a child, and even still today. Then there's the whole "hooters" thing, and this Dickinson poem giving Hope feathers! 

So I decided to have an owl representing life and hope, and an owl skull to signify the threat of mortality. Since I wanted the positive to be most prevalent, I covered the rest with different symbols of life - flowers, etc. I hope it makes sense to people. Heck, they may not even put that much thought into it. I'm an obsesser, though. Why else would I put so much into a cartoony bra painting!

Here's a couple shots of my submission.

I was more than happy to take some time to do it, and it was pretty fun. There's going to be a big event the end of October where all the bras people painted/donated will be on display, and there's a silent auction to sell the painted braziers. You should check it out, if you haven't already. Just click the links below!

The Painted Bra Art Project

Online Auction

Something Unconventional I

I've painted on some of the strangest vehicles lately. A while back I agreed to donate some time working on a collaboration piece for a fundraiser. I ended up having to paint two areas on a life preserver. It was a little weird at first, and definitely challenging to work the acrylic paint into the texture of the float, but it was nice to paint on something unconventional. I decided to go with an octopus, and some fishies with an anchor.

The most recent art donation might top that, though. Check out the next post to find out what it is! I'll be posting it Saturday at 10:30am.

 I'll give you a hint. Undergarment.

Commission!

Have I mentioned how much I love commissions? Not just because they mean I'm getting paid to do what I love, but because they're like getting assignments. I never thought I'd say I miss getting a lesson plan, but things can get a little stagnant if you're the only one dictating what you do. Maybe it's just me. 

Even if I'm working with the same medium a lot, it's nice to get photos of a subject that I haven't spent much time looking at before. Without the help of commissions, I'd be painting my animals all the time. I love them and all, but I've already painted them. Not that I couldn't make a challenge out of that, but whatever; I'm rambling.

These are a couple of sweethearts that I painted for a mother to give her two daughters for Christmas. Her grand-cat and grand-dog, Murphy and Hugo. 

I'm not sure if I've blogged about my reaction to getting a commission before. It's very Fiddler on the Roof. If you haven't seen that gloriousness, you simply must. It's only the most wonderful musical of all time. Anyhow, I break into my own little version of "Tradition." Commissiooooooon! Commissioooon! Commission!

I'll stop being weird via blog now.

Alive & Painting

Well, hello there! It's been a while, and I feel the shame of neglecting my blog once again. Vicious cycle. Bad habit. I'm not sure what to call it, but I've definitely been productive in the time I've spent offline. That's always good, right?

In an effort to get back into blogging again, I've decided to try to keep up with sharing my newest creations. I've been doing a lot of painting, drawing, sewing and sculpting, so that ought to keep me posting for a while. 

Woodland Tea Party!

These three pieces were a commission from Cody, whom I am ever so happy to have discovered here on the interwebs. She's a pastry-makin', Harry Potter lovin', breakfast food enthusiast with two kitties. What's not to love, right? Well, she requested three 5x5 woodland tea party illustrations for her kitchen, and this is what she got.

As soon as the sun shows it's face around these parts again, I plan on taking photos, so I can list prints of these on my etsy shop.

So...uh...I'll see you around.

I'm Only Sleeping

Sloth- original watercolor illustration available at Mad Shiny Shoppe!

Understandably so, I think I've lost my faithful few. You guys, I promise I'm going to keep the posts coming this time. I quit my depressing job, and am making art every single day. I'm over my poison ivy plague, as well as the horrid steroid psychosis. I think it's safe to say that I'm stable...as I ever was.

This is a new beginning for me. I know I've mentioned that a lot lately, and it sounds all hokey, but it's true, I tell you! Art commissions are rolling in, thanks be to God, and I'm working on establishing actual work hours. I have a tendency to sleep in, as I can be eerily similar to a sloth. Then I'm up until 3AM sewing, painting or writing. Not the best sleeping pattern, I know, so I'm trying to change that.

With all this work to do, and the support of my magnificent, marvelous Mr. T., I'm pretty darn content. I just hope art commissions keep a'coming, and my procrastination remains manageable. I'm participating in a craft show next month, and I've got to get to making some more wee wonderful things!

Just in case you're new here, and even if you're not, please feel free to check out my etsy shop! I create all manner of funky cuddly things, personalized cake toppers/keepsakes, pin back buttons, greeting cards, watercolor portraits, and YOU. JUST. NAME. IT.

Project Update!

A friend of mine is doing a safari theme in her grandson's room, and wanted me to come up with a waterdoodle for him. I was thrilled to find that the little man has taken a recent liking to Maurice Sendak's work, so I got to come up with a Wild Things inspired camera safari illustration. Squee!

I'm still in shock that I'm working on art full time. Maybe someday I'll find a stopping point on my to do list, so I can clean out my studio. It needs a major overhaul. One thing at a time...

Bodacious Bloggers

It's about time for another one of those bloggy hiatus posts,  wouldn't you say? Poor little Mimsy patiently waits to hear from me, but I'm too busy painting and neglecting her to notice. You all know the story, right?

I've been working on painting three puppy portraits for a couple weeks now. I'd have had them finished a long time ago, were I not employed full time. Le sigh. I'm also plotting/sketching characters for the children's book I've been asked to illustrate, about which I'm still totally stoked and already mentioned here. Then there's The Sketchbook Project I mentioned a while back. Haven't touched that yet. Oh! And the lovely Ari and I are planning on entering a sidewalk art stroll next month, so I've got to be getting work together for that as well. I need more time. So much to do, so many places to be.

What about all you bodacious bloggers?* Have y'all been so busy with summer shenanigans that you didn't mind a few less posts to read? I hope so. I know you hang on every sarcastic word around here...

Speaking of around here...my house looks like it was ransacked. Mr. T (That's the husband person, for any new readers out there.) (HI, NEW READERS! <3) and I just got home from a camping/rafting trip in North Carolina, and are beyond beat. My face and shoulders are ever so slightly crisped, and, now that I've showered, I'm ready to sleep 'til Tuesday.

I miss your blogs, people. I'm sure I'll be catching up soon, as well as posting pics of paintings, doodles and camping trips. *mwah*

* Yeah, I said "bodacious bloggers". What of it? I like alliteration, and I'm too sleepy to be cool. Just go with it

To The Moon

I have been all kinds of busy lately, and haven't been doodling or painting much. Which is why this little number has remained unfinished for quite sometime.

Well, I'm setting a very attainable goal for myself. I will finish this water doodle this week. You can hold me to that. I should be posting the finished product by midnight on Sunday.

Etsy Schmetsy

I listed a new item on my Etsy last night. Perhaps my luck will continue with the water doodles, and I'll sell some more!

Here's the latest.

Keep the critter suggestions coming, and I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. I've got a list going. ^_^ I think this one was for Ari over at Curious Illusion, LiLu at Livit, Luvit and Shannon from Inner Child. And there are more where he came from, girls.

You guys are great for inspiration and encouragement. Mwah!

MadShiny Goodness

It's well beyond my bed time (who am I kidding? I'm never in bed at a decent hour, but I'd like to be.), but I really wanted to share my newest water doodle with you lovely people.

It's a doodle. I watercolored it. That makes it a waterdoodle, right? Right.

Aaaand what could it be, other than a chinchilla? Humperdink is my muse. :P

I just listed said waterdoodle on my Etsy Shop, and I've got high hopes. I've yet to sell any MadShiny goodness, but I'm keeping my chin up.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Let me introduce you to Julien. Well, a watercolor of him anyway. He's is one of my best friend's munchkins, and a favorite little person of mine. I like to hang out with him, talk to him and paint him. His little sister's not too shabby, either.

Anyhow, this has always been my favorite painting-of all the paintings I've done. It's called "Any Face You Want", and I just love it. I paint kids and animals a lot, but for some reason this one just stands out.

Wait. Have I mentioned why I paint what I paint in another post? I don't remember, so maybe you don't either.

I usually paint portraits of Respect, Resilience and Strength. So, it's not necessarily a painting of a kid, or critter. It's more an abstracted documentation of the respect that life has for life, and the resilience and strength that I believe all creatures possess to overcome the various forms of disrespect that they have or will most likely be subjected to. Just so happens I see these things in young children and animals.

Okay. Back to Ju-Ju. He has the most interesting ideas, and a very different way of thinking than most little guys. He's been through a lot of change that, like most children, was beyond his control, but he just keeps on truckin'. Quirky and awesome as usual. Personally, I think he's a genius. Though, maybe I'm partial because I've known him since he was born.

Normally, I don't know the kids or animals I paint quite as well as I know him. Maybe that's why it's my favorite?

So Much

I have been up to so much lately, it's ridiculous. And since So Much is the reason I've been neglecting my blog, I thought it only fitting that I dedicate a post to it.

First up were the Where The Wild Things Are birthday posters:

I promised some friends of mine that I'd do posters for their munchkin's third birthday. So, I whipped out my copy of Where The Wild Things Are, my watercolors, and voila! Said munchkin dressed up as Max for his party and everything. SO adorable.

And what better gift can you give for a Wild Rumpus party...than a monster?! It took me a few more non-blogging hours to hand-sew this little guy, but I think it was worth it. He turned out pretty fun.

And then there's the cake decorating class that my friend, Annie, and I have undertaken. This coming Wednesday is our last class. We've learned a lot, but we're pretty transport-a-gazillion-things-and-bake-cakes-for-no-apparent-reasoned out right about now.

These guys are the little cupcake toppers I made us as an alternative to the dreaded CLOWN HEADS everyone else gave in to. NO CLOWN HEADS FOR ME, THANKS.

We had to ice little bodies for them. My vampire was a little funky with a ruffly iced bod, but Annie's chicken turned out pretty darn cute. He kind of looked drunk after a while, cause our icing wasn't quite stiff enough to hold up. It was quite entertaining.

And these are the roses (on a lovely beach towel that I brought to cover that germ ridden cake class table) that made it quite obvious that I didn't make my icing the right consistency. They kept sort of morphing into little wilted blobs. :( Practice makes perfect, right?

I've also got a photo of my first cake, but blogger doesn't seem to want me to upload it. Huff. Anyhow, I put a green and orange owlie on it. ^_^

Aaaaaand I made three separate Homecoming shirts for a few of my favorite teenagers. We tie-dyed them, and then I used a textile marker to draw an image on them, and fabric paints to color them in. It was fun, but time consuming. I also have pics of those that this flippin' Mac won't let me upload right now.

So, there you have it-my legitimate excuse for neglecting my blog...this time. Hopefully I'll manage to get those other photos uploaded someday, for your viewing pleasure.

That is all. I've got brownies cooling in the kitchen. They're begging to be decorated.

Painting Shenanigans

I have been working on this painting for so long now that I'm not sure if I can ever let it go. It's become a permanent fixture to my home and vehicle! I carry it around with me...always thinking, "I'll finish it tonight/in the morning/during lunch", or "All I need is one more 2-3 hour session".

While watercolor is one of my favorite mediums, there are moments when I just know I'm going to lose it. Like massive coronary lose it. If I have to do ONE MORE COAT of that dark purply* brown, that I'm not quite sure which blue I used to concoct, it won't be good!!

Well, this was in the beginning. I refer to this stage as Matthyclops.


And this is now. More of a Cerberus/dog of the underworld type look, right? Yeah. That'll go away when I finish filling in that right side, and darken that eye there. He's definitely not a puppy with much of a dark side. ^_^

So...it may not look like I've done a whole heck of a lot, but believe me you, I have! Bit by bit, he is coming along. I've given myself a solid deadline now, and Ari will have her painting when she gets back from vacation.

I'll keep you posted!

*I know "purply" isn't really a word, but you know what I mean.

Handy Dandy Notebook

This chaos of mine comes in waves, and it is almost entirely self inflicted. Who's got the time?! I feel like a Lewis Carol character.

The White Rabbit, desperately scrambling to keep his head.


Alice, stretched too thin, reminding herself that her very good advice is useless when ignored.


There are simply not enough hours in the day to accomplish all this stuff I get myself into. I just find it hard to tell nice people no. Even if they request something completely ridiculous, I acquiesce. Strolling casually into overwhelming situations has become a favorite past time of mine. I feel like my head is hanging by a thread.


This little guy, both adorable and juvenile, is my newest attempt to remain sane and semi-organized. Yes. I have a little notebook addiction. Although, they each serve very separate functions. The moleskin is for brainstorming and sketching. I have another for writing. This one shall be an external hard drive of sorts. So I don't crash and lose it all.

So far my list consists of:
1. fishy post card swap (cause I love me some swap-bot)
2. Halloween sculpey creations
3. a new painting to replace one I sold(bittersweet)
4. three owlies
5. four watercolors of cats
6. one watercolor of a dog
7. a watercolor of my supervisor's baby
8. a commission I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT!
9. a watercolor of some munchkin I've painted before

Not to mention cleaning my house and getting Kitty's radiator replaced. Yes, I name my vehicles. Laugh if you want. I love her.

Self Inflicted Torture

As an artist, I'm constantly questioning myself. Normally my queries pertain to subject matter and artsy fartsy things. Prussian or cobalt? Panel or canvas? Lately I've been asking, "Why do I do this to myself?!".

Commissions are good. Don't get me wrong. I love to get my art out there. It thrills me to the core when something I've made makes someone else happy. Thrills me! What doesn't thrill me is when someone flatters me, gets me to agree to paint something sometime and then lets me in on the insanely boring, faux finishing idea they have. Then it's too late. I'm obligated. I'd be a mean person if I told them their idea sucked like a hoover, and I'd rather eat a live crustacean than paint it for them.

I am too nice. I really need some classes in saying no. If I would think for a second that this person doesn't truly understand art, that they might think I paint flowers(gag/puke) or landscapes(hack), I might not get into these situations. I agree to things and then find out how deep a hole I've dug.

As Ari so delicately put it. I'm an artist! Not Martha Stewart!!!

I Pity The Fool

I've been painting like a fool for the past few days. I decided to give the owlies a rest and work on finishing a few peices I'd been neglecting. Thought I'd share. Neither of them are complete. I keep changing things.

Klimt

This is my favorite Klimt painting. I am undone and inspired by it, for all the reasons you will read below(if you have the patience) and because it's about my second love. Music.


Klimt might be my favorite painter. I use the word "might," because I'm not sure if I can have a favorite. Everything he's ever done has something to do with relationships. At least in my mind it does. So, perhaps it's that common ground I've declared that ties me to this warm, ornate, meandering and glorious world that he's created. It reminds me of all the things of which relationships are made, and this inspires me.

His overly erotic self has always managed to simultaneously inspire and inhibit. Every time I look at a painting or drawing created by this man I am completely overtaken and defeated. Overtaken with the need to create something, and defeated before I get started. I feel like I'm aspiring to be something I'm not.

When my happy little self attempts to create a painting with such oddly balanced composition, vibrant/earthy color, and a rich epic storyline, it ends up being way too busy. I can't find my happy medium. I then forfeit. I'm obviously trying too hard, which means it's not honest. It's false because I'm "trying" at all! So, I'm lying now?! Art. Artifice. I just want to paint!!!

Art school really just screwed me up. I'm sure of it. It's all this "education" that keeps me from just painting. Instead I have to drill myself on anything and everything anyone might see in what I'm creating, and become a neurotic mess that can't finish a painting.

I could've happily painted my way through life without knowing the attempts, failures and harsh criticisms of every artist worth mentioning since the dawn of man! Who deemed who worthy of deciding whose "worth mentioning" or not?

Yes, I have a bachelors degree in art and art history and I know a whole lot of crap not a lot of people care to discuss, and I'm bitter.

White Girl Rhythm?

Well, the wedding is officially over. All in all, it was a hit.

The flower girl dumped her little basket of flowers in the isle and went on about her business. The bible boy managed to fulfill his duties, stopping now and again for a stray petal, without throwing the bible in the floor. The handsome British groom's adorable British cousin sang a lovely little ditty, and I didn't bust it in those (bride chosen) 6 inch heels.

In the past, I've prided myself for managing to have a little white-girl rhythm. However, when partnered with a lovely British/Barbadian dude with rhythm to spare, I look like a sad little white girl, desperately trying to regain control of her hips(in those heels, I was). Thankfully, he had pity on me, and (unlike at the rehearsal)moderated his pep-stepping upon our exit. We were glorious. I just wish I had him to hang onto upon entrance. The bride seemed to think that the maid of honor should be distinctive.

Oh, and here's the painting I FINALLY finished the morning of the wedding.

It's a little dark, but you get the picture.

The bride and groom were beautiful. They both said, "I do" and we were on our way. It was altogether a lovely event.

Hello nice people who care to read my rantings. I am a self-proclaimed procrastinator monster and I need help!

My current situation isn't a pretty one. I have approximately no time to complete afore mentioned painting and/or guest book. I don't want to sacrifice quality time with Jodi to do things I should've had finished by now. Too, I don't want to sacrifice the quality of the artwork.

I foresee being awake for the next two days straight, but I will TRIUMPH.

Yell at me. Support me. Feel my pain.

Time. Oh dear.

My best friend is getting married this Sunday. I would call her "soul mate" if she and I hadn't received so many awkward stares when using this terminology. Mind you, we're both completely heterosexual/non homophobic gals. We love our significant others. I my husband, and she her fiance. She and I are just soul mates. Plain and simple. God lead our two completely opposite lives together. We were predestined to meet and help one another become the people we are today. *dismount soap box*

Ahem. My soul mate is getting married this Sunday. Needless to say, there is much to be done. As the artist friend I have been given the fun tasks like making a personalized cake topper and guest book. Only two things, right? Yeah, right. Two things that take an ample amount of time to complete for a non-procrastinator. Who do you think we're dealing with here? I'm an artist!

I've got the cake topper finished, and it turned out pretty well.


The guest book won't take long. I just have to sit down and do it. Some nice textured water color paper, fabric and rubber cement and we're good.

Now, their wedding present is another story. Their gift will be a rather large painting. I have the semi-ginormous canvas. I have paint and all the necessary supplies. I've even got the whole conceptual/sketched part pretty much done. Now comes the fun part. Finishing said painting in less than 48 hours. I'm very excited about the whole thing, but afraid I won't get it done. In theory, it should be awesome. Wish me luck.

I'll post pics of it all when I finish. Note the positive thinking. ^__^