Do I dare?????............believe??

My Delight

Journaling through sadness

I worked on several journal pages tonight getting them finished up for a class I am taking. While I was working through them, I got news that a friend of mine passed away on Tuesday. So, to have something to take my mind off the sadness and focus on creativity was great. But it was hard to journal happy events while feeling the sadness for his friends and family. My brother was also close to him, and Bro's not taking it too well. So sad is the disease of addiction. So I spend a moment praying for the addict that still suffers.

First Friday in Phoenix

So Phoenix was amazing. I got to see my artwork hung on walls that did not belong to myself or family!! The amount of people that went through the gallery was amazing. The weather was beautiful Friday night, and people made the most of it. The streets were absolutely packed. I got some great feedback, sold eight pieces, got to spend time with family and friends and really had a great time!! These are some pictures of the gallery. I didn't get any pictures during the artwalk because the place was literally packed from 5:30 until 11:30 pm. What a blast. I sold (3) of the Cosmic Gelly pieces that I wrote about in some earlier posts. People really seemed to like them. It was so awesome to see people getting right up close and really checking them out. And I got a chance to talk to people about what it was that they liked about the different pieces. I met some GREAT people, and got to hang out for a bit. Waldo, the owner of the gallery was so cool. He is an amazing artist himself with some really incredible metal pieces showing in the gallery as well. And he really made me feel welcome and was just alot of fun. The whole First Friday vibe was great. There was a D.J. two doors down, bands playing at a few of the local hangouts and a ton of really amazing artists showing their work.

Practically my entire family came out to support me, which was so awesome. A few of them had almost an hour drive to get there, not to mention trying to find a place to park, and they still came!! At one point there was 18 family members there!! Unbelievable! I felt so loved!!

Cries of an angel

"Lord, Why do they grieve you so?"

work in progress

16"x20"

Time Flies

Well I gotta tell you, January is gone and I don't remember most of it. What have I been doing? Sometimes I get through the week, and the last time I checked it was Tuesday. Anyway, I have been getting ready to pack up 18 works of art and head to Phoenix for First Friday Art Walk @ Waldoism gallery. I have never had a solo show before, but I have been to several. After seeing how things were done, extras they had, and running a few of my own ideas through my head, I think I am ready. I have my work all framed, wall info tags done, business cards made, a portfolio of works to show other galleries while I am there, and a pretty good idea of how things will be set up. So I guess that is where January went. But I am excited to see family, and I am driving out with two of my aunts, whose children live in Phoenix, so ROAD TRIP!!!! I have assembled a playlist on my IPod that I am pretty sure won't scare either one of them, (think Paul Simon, MercyMe, Taylor Hicks and Elton John), and I will wash my car!! Yep, ready! I am bummed to be missing my son's open house at school, and a fundraiser that my husband is involved in for a men's recovery ranch, but excited too. I have found a bit of time to do some journal pages for an online class I am taking with Pam Carriker. These are those.

The Direction I go

This is a 24" x 24", acrylic and ink on panel board. I am really happy with the background colors, I think they came out really cool. The oak tree literally took 4 hours to draw with a micron pen, and then again over it with a sharpie paint pen. The compass is a combination, compass rose and a sun. I couldn't find a stamp I liked that was big enough, so I carved my own, and then added the smaller compass stamp right in the center.

So all of these things point to the direction that I go. The heart, the Jesus fish, the oak tree, the words on the house and the compass/sun. Or Son, if you will. I will be showing this piece next month, and several times during the process, I had thoughts of "don't make it all religious, people might not like/buy it" More than once I had to quiet the enemy as he tried to get me to conform to this world. And, honestly I wasn't even going in that direction at the time. But as it progressed, I knew where it was going, and I am really happy with how it turned out.

Gallery Showing Feb. 6

I am excited to announce I will be a part of Waldoism's First Friday Art Walk, February 6, 2009. The gallery is located in Phoenix at 720 N. 4th St #3 Phoenix, Az. (602) 714-0166. From what I hear, the atmosphere is great. Artists, vendors, live music, all around. Come join me!

My latest Purchase

I am super excited about this. My friend Suzan over at ThriftycollageArtist put together this amazing art doll. It reminds me of the toys over at Sid's house on Toy Story. I don't know how long she had it up on her blog, but as soon as I saw it, I wanted it to be mine all mine!! And so it shall be!! I will be taking a class with Michael DeMeng in May at Art and Soul Asilomar, called "The Isle of Demented Toys", and if I am lucky, my piece will look half this great. It's like 15 inches tall, and uses parts of an old desk lamp, and is decorated all the way around. i love the head, and what looks to be the spine! OMGosh, I can't wait.

Cage Me

This is a mixed media collage, work in progress. I have not done much over the last couple of weeks, I think my muse was pouting about the whole published/not published issue. And I don't blame her, but I had to post something new because I get mad everytime I see the last post. So we have to get some creativity so I can push all that negativity out!! So this one is 12" x 24" on wood panel, and I am liking how it is turning out. Happy New Year everyone!!