creative every day: body

My precious little one
I love you all the way to the moon and back

I finished this painting just moments ago! I already hung it on the wall even though it is still drying, my extreme impatience kicked in and I just couldn't wait. I am so happy with it. Crazy all the stages a painting goes through in my mind and on canvas before it feels done. In the end it is exactly what I wanted it to be. I added some words to connect the picture of my son in my womb (the moon) with my son today. The quote is based on a line in a children's book we love "Guess How Much I Love You" by Sam McBratney (Author) and Anita Jeram (Illustrator).

While reading some poems on www.scrapbook.com I found the one below. I thought it was particularly sweet and expressed the mother/child connection beautifully.

"Nine Months"

Author: Unknown

My precious little baby,
I have loved you from the start.
You are a tiny miracle
Laying closely to my heart.
Each day I feel your presence,
Each day you quickly grow,
Each day your heart beats softly,
As only I could know.
So, I'll keep this in a special place
And remember each year through,
Of this special time in my life
In the months I carried you.

Now that I'm done with the body theme I need to get cracking on the home theme! To see what others have been working on for the home theme, just click here.

dandelion

Painting in progress montage

Dandelion painting completed, 7-26-09

fireflies

Painting in progress montage

Before the East Valley Art Guild Critique, 7-16-09

Fireflies painting completed, 7.19.09

childhood nature

Way back in August '08 ... I thought about how I wanted to do a 3 part painting series ... my first 3 part series. I bought the canvas, brainstormed about the theme, childhood nature, and then I waited. I needed the right time to begin. Amidst all the drama of this week apparently it was the right time. I still have some ways to go but, here is the beginning. This series depicts 3 fond memories of the nature of my childhood: fireflies, a weeping willow and a dandelion.

new painting: paisely

A plain wooden lazy susan got a punch of personality! This paisley inspired painting was created with acrylic paints and finished with a clear acrylic coating. I made this lazy susan to match my sunny yellow kitchen. I have been keeping it on our kitchen island with a beautiful plant I received from my good friend Sara (that I can't believe is still alive and thriving) sitting on top.

Here are some other lazy susans I've painted.

ode de phish

"ode de phish"

acrylic on wood

With all the hoopla around Phish's reunion shows this weekend and the fact that we are not there I needed to channel my desire to be there with a painting inspired by my favorite band.

It’s been 5 years since Phish's breakup. That was in 2004, when the jam band played one last summer tour. They returned Friday for a reunion long awaited by me, Bert, our phriends and many other loyal phans. Now, with three shows this weekend at Hampton Coliseum in Virginia and a summer tour; I could not be happier (well being able to actually see one of the shows would make me happier)! I love going to a show, seeing my friends and cutting loose with Phish's exploratory free-form music. So far the closest the shows are to our home is Wisconsin - a 25 hour drive. Rumor has it they will be out west after June but, they have yet to announce that. I sure hope they get closer to us and we can score tickets for a show before the end of the year!

my phish stats

5 songs I've seen the most:

• Chalk Dust Torture
• Character Zero
• David Bowie
• Reba
• Simple

Commonly played songs I've never seen:

• The Landlady
• The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony
• Buried Alive
• Fire
• Glide
• My Friend My Friend
• Big Ball Jam
• Take the A-Train
• Mound
• Alumni Blues

Shows I've seen:

1. * 6/23/95 Waterloo Village, Stanhope, NJ
2. * 6/28/95 Jones Beach Amphitheater, Wantagh, NY
3. * 6/29/95 Jones Beach Amphitheater, Wantagh, NY
4. * 12/30/95 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
5. * 12/31/95 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
6. * 8/16/96 The Clifford Ball, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, Plattsburgh, NY
7. * 8/17/96 The Clifford Ball, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, Plattsburgh, NY
8. * 10/21/96 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
9. * 10/22/96 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
10. * 12/29/96 Corestates Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
11. * 12/30/96 The Fleet Center, Boston, MA
12. * 12/31/96 The Fleet Center, Boston, MA
13. * 8/8/97 World Music Theater, Tinley Park, IL
14. * 8/9/97 Alpine Valley, East Troy, WI
15. * 8/10/97 Deer Creek Amphitheater, Noblesville, IN
16. * 8/11/97 Deer Creek Amphitheater, Noblesville, IN
17. * 8/13/97 Star Lake Amphitheater, Burgettstown, PA
18. * 8/16/97 The Great Went, Limestone, ME
19. * 8/17/97 The Great Went, Limestone, ME
20. * 11/26/97 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
21. * 4/2/98 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
22. * 4/3/98 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
23. * 10/30/98 The Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
24. * 10/31/98 The Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
25. * 12/28/98 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
26. * 12/29/98 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
27. * 12/30/98 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
28. * 12/31/98 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
29. * 9/18/99 Coors Amphitheatre, Chula Vista, CA
30. * 9/19/99 Irvine Meadows, Irvine, CA
31. * 12/30/99 Big Cypress Campground, Big Cypress, FL
32. * 12/31/99 Big Cypress Campground, Big Cypress, FL
33. * 9/29/00 Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
34. * 9/30/00 Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
35. * 10/1/00 Desert Sky Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ
36. * 2/15/03 Thomas and Mack Center - Las Vegas, NV
37. * 2/16/03 Thomas and Mack Center - Las Vegas, NV
38. * 7/7/03 The Cricket Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ
39. * 7/8/03 Coors Amphitheatre, Chula Vista, CA
40. * 7/9/03 Shoreline Amphitheater - Mountain View, CA
41. * 7/10/03 Shoreline Amphitheater - Mountain View, CA
42. * 7/12/03 The Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA
43. * 7/13/03 The Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA
44. * 8/2/03 IT, Loring Air Force Base, Limestone, ME
45. * 8/3/03 IT, Loring Air Force Base, Limestone, ME
46. * 8/9/04 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA

Shows by year:

• 1995- 5
• 1996- 7
• 1997- 8
• 1998- 8
• 1999- 4
• 2000- 3
• 2001- 0
• 2002- 0
• 2003- 10
• 2004- 1

Shows by State:

• NY - 14 (30%)
• NV - 6 (13%)
• CA - 5 (11%)
• ME - 4 (9%)
• IN - 2 (4%)
• WA - 2 (4%)
• AZ - 2 (4%)
• MA - 2 (4%)
• PA - 2 (4%)
• FL - 2 (4%)
• WI - 1 (2%)
• NJ - 1 (2%)
• CT - 1 (2%)
• VA - 1 (2%)
• IL - 1 (2%)

A dream it's true
But I'd see it through
If I could be
Wasting my time with you

new painting: autumn leaves

I finished it! My autumn leaves painting is done. This painting spanned one of the longest time periods to date. I started it back in May and finally finished it this week - that's 6 months! Now, I haven't really been "working" on it for all that time. My studio is setup in my garage and being that I live in Arizona, come summer the conditions in my studio make it not very workable (aka it's HOT) . I started the sketch back in May and really waited June-October to begin working on it again. But, boy it seems like I have been "working" on this piece forever.

I created this piece for my aunt, she is also my godmother and very special to me. My relationship with her is one of my most cherished as a child and still today. My aunt requested a painting of any subject matter - her only request was that is used oranges and reds. I just love autumn and so I wanted to used those colors as autumn leaves. My fabulous husband says this is my best one yet (bless his heart - he says that after every painting I finish, thank you honey!). I am really happy with it - I hope my aunt and her family love it too!

why i love to paint

Hudson painting at the Children's Museum of Phoenix

i love to paint because ...

• it makes me smile from the inside out
• i am at peace during and after creative expression
  
• i am able to create freely without the notion of "am i doing it right" that i feel in other mediums
  
• brush strokes, layering and color mixing are meditative and relive stress for me
  
• a finished piece evokes fond memories of the creative process, accomplishment and joy

childhood nature

I'm feeling a little creatively under the weather. I have a desire to work on some paintings but the arizona heat is creating havoc on my plans. My "studio" of sorts is setup in our garage and it is crazy hot out there right now. I usually to wait until the evening to paint when the kids are asleep and the garage is a bit kinder temperature wise but, in the midst of summer even the evening doesn't offer a break from the heat. I have one painting left mid-way that I need to finish and a few ideas that I can't wait to get started on.

For my birthday I received the very thoughtful gift of a michaels gift card. What better way to celebrate then with new art supplies! I purchased 3 large canvas' to create a series for myself. This weekend was first friday's art walk in downtown phoenix and I went with a few friends. It is always a joy to see and feel what artist's have to say. I took that inspiration along with some insight from a book I'm reading and came up with what I think is a great idea for my series: the nature of my childhood. I have yet to decide what elements of memories I will use as my muse but, I compiled the word montage above to get myself thinking. I will for sure incorporate my grandparents weeping willow tree. I had wonderfully magical feelings arise when that tree was recalled in my memory this weekend. I can't wait to be able to express those feelings!

new painting: beach

New painting! I created this as a gift for my uncle's 50th birthday. He is a big fan of the ocean, boats and tropical paradise. This took way longer to finish then I originally expected. Making sure the sky and ocean had different tones of blue and getting the sand color just right proved to be a challenge. I'm happy with the outcome and really like the "flow" of the design. This has a of brush strokes at play which represents my signature style. It should be arriving to him this week and I hope he really enjoys it.

painting: lazy susans

Falling Leaves 11-2007


Grapevine 12-2007

White Flowers Jan -2008

The lazy susans all started with the leaves image up top. I was given a plain wooden lazy susan by my mother in law, Cindy. I kept it in my studio (aka garage) for awhile not sure what to do with it yet. Then, my sister got engaged in September and I was going back to NY to celebrate with them. I wanted to bring something nice, was thinking of doing a regular painting but remembered the lazy susan. They had just move into an apt so, I thought that would be a perfefct use for it. I hadn't painted in almost a year (very busy after my second son, Hudson was born). I had an idea in my head for falling leave probably the entire year so, when I started to paint it came together in a matter of hours. My fastest painting to date! I think it was bottled up for so long it just came pouring out once i started. That piece lead to my second & third lazy susans. The grapevine was for my parents (who have a wine theme throughout the home) and the white flowers was for Cindy. I haven't done any other since January but, I'm sure I will again soon.