Winging towards Whimsey

Spring is....springing. The last of winter still hangs in the air, but I have daffodils coming up...so there. I think that rhymes. My artistic mind has been focusing on an upcoming show in May at Whimsey, a wonderful little shop in the Fairhaven District. I'm aiming for 7 or 8 bird-inspired "dwelling" paintings, each sporting their little "roof" of picture frame molding. I actually hope I get to keep a couple of these paintings. The others have been whisked away to new homes almost before the paint was dry.

This painting is sold.

Workshop in my living room

Of all the wonderful artists I have had the opportunity to learn from, I think Carla O'Connor has had the biggest impact on my artistic development. She is a wonderful woman from Gig Harbor who has shared her incredible approach to truly creative painting for many years. I've taken 3 workshops from her and would love to share in the experience again and again. I own one of her little originals.... just HAD to have it! That is why I got so excited when Creative Catalyst developed a teaching DVD on Carla! If you can't get to a workshop, Creative Catalyst is a fabulous way to bring these brilliant artists right into your living room. Check out the link I've posted below in the right hand margin for their web site. I believe they have a blog as well.

I love Etsy!

I have finally developed my Etsy store. I know, I know. Where have I been. Etsy has been all the rage for several years now and I'm just getting there now... but better late than never. There are soooo many wonderfully talented people using Etsy, it's more than just a little bit intimidating, but what the hey. Scroll down to find my Etsy link in the right-hand margin. Hey, look at me... I just managed to post the Etsy widget to this blog. Mom would be so proud.

Exploring

Once again I find myself awash in a sea of artistic stimuli. With a few weeks to spare before I need to focus on inventory for the Farmers Market in May, I have been indulging in different means of arriving at my "happy place"... you know, that place where time disappears and all is right with the world... like a kid with a new box of crayons. Pouncing Rain is a wonderful little happy place for me; a small jewelry studio where one can learn from some very accomplished teachers the art of jewelry making, from PMC to enameling to metal etching and beyond. The above photo is a piece of copper I etched using a ferric chloride etch. I was very pleased with the outcome. The words sum things up for me, inspired by the poem from Lord of the Rings... Not all who wonder are lost.

"Goodbye Ruby Tuesday"

"...You never did say where you came from." Rolling Stones

Nearly six years ago, you appeared out of nowhere, seemingly abandoned in an old junk car that showed up the same night. You howled like a coyote ... a cry I never heard you utter after that first lonely night. You scared me! I thought you were a coyote in the dark outside my French doors, but then I saw you wagging your short little tail and I knew a coyote wouldn't do that. I gave you food and left you outside to "stray" somewhere else. But you were no stray. You were somebody's good dog. You just needed a new family to love you....and so we did.

Redwing with Cattails

Of all the wonderful birds this corner of the world has to offer, I think my favorite song comes from the red winged blackbird. There is something about its song that is the essence of summer. I, unfortunately, do not have them on my property, but there are several places I know I can find them on a quiet summer's day. This painting was begun in transparent watercolor on 140# hot press paper and enhanced with acrylic.

Creative Energy

A New Year! Like the beginning of a new paragraph, I look forward to January as a place to begin new artistic projects. The horrific weather we've had here in Washington has kept me close to home dreaming of spring. A new series of bird paintings is in the works. My goal is to paint for the sheer fun of it. I hope the fun I'm having shows.