Artist Journal

I've Moved!

2008-05-23T08:34:00.002-05:00

Check out my new blog at http://www.chankinspaint.typepad.com/. You can also get there via my web site www.chankinspaint.com -just click artist journal and you're there!

The Swan and the Blackbird

2008-04-27T13:39:00.015-05:00

The Swan and the Blakbird
Originally uploaded by chankins

Like all moms I was looking at my four lovely rugrats and I thought- wow, where did the time go? They are no longer lap children...in fact they hardly fit on my lap. Even my youngest- my mommy magnet, no longer sticks to me like glue. So I had this moment of sadness because those baby days are gone...not that I miss the diapers, lack of sleep, and 3 a.m. feedings, but because It went by in a blink. I drew this picture about bed time and when my kids used to fall asleep in my arms. When you are in the middle of it- taking care of babies ,you just want to get through the day. I say this because I had 4 children under 5 years of age and was constantly moving...no time to smell the roses or even consider how lovely they all were. This piece is about all the good and the hardship that we endure while raising little ones. The swan represents the beauty and the blackbird the hardships.

The Big Easy

2008-04-14T15:01:00.010-05:00

Bourbon Street
Originally uploaded by ch ankins

I just returned from my first visit to New Orleans. I went to see the Vagina Monologues tenth anniversary show with a few family members. The show also happened to be on the same weeked as the French Quarter festival...so let's just say there was a party atmosphere. But in New Orleans the party never really stops. I almost didn't make it at all...I was one of those American Airlines tragedies-mine not so bad as many others. I ended up getting new and expensive tickets on another airline thanks to my very generous husband, who I think was determined to have me out of the house.

I arrived before the rest of my family-we were flying in from all parts of the country to meet. My room at the hotel wasn't ready, so I stored my bags and walked down to Bourbon Street. It was only a few minutes from my hotel. Bourbon Street definitely lived up to it's reputation. It was bar after bar with strip clubs in between. Everyone was walking around the street with drink in hand and having a ball...and this was at about 11 a.m.- I can only imagine what Mardi Gras must look like!

I took a ton of photos... lord knows I needed some inspiration and a break from Minnesota grey. I love the color of the old buildings , the shutters and the hidden courtyards. The balconies were beautiful and well utilized on Bourbon Street. I walked until I had blisters on every inch of my feet. For some reason cute shoes were just not meant for long walks...go figure!

We went to a flea market near the french Market where I took a picture of these masks. Later while having lunch, I spied this hearse decorated with all kinds of crazy things. I thought that the flamingos were an especially nice touch. I think that I will have to add a couple to my next painting.

I also took many pictures of balconies and anything with greenery on it. I think that I really need spring to come... and soon!

Falling Slowly

2008-04-10T07:21:00.002-05:00

I was craving romance like I crave chocolate with this piece. I tried to think of a romantic scene involving a couple that maybe just met or possibly have known each other for a long time. It could be anyones story really. I have been married for 15 years and have a handful of kids so those romantic moments can be fleeting. But I have to say that when they happen they are highly appreciated!

Waiting Line

2008-04-05T13:57:00.003-05:00

Waiting Line
Originally uploaded by chankins

I think that I am on a roll. I worked on this piece for most of the week. It is kind of frivolous. I wanted to add elements that are around me all of the time. I also collect Chinese lanterns and wanted to include them. They are fun to hang and are so colorful. They also make me think of summer and sitting out on my porch before the mosquitos come around for dinner. My pets have been included as well. Sam, my English pointer, spends the better part of the day following me around waiting for food or just trying to figure out where to plant himself to be in close proximity. I also added my cat...she spends most of the day sleeping or trying o attack my feet. The coffee is a staple because I am not actually human until I have my first cup...just ask my kids.

Summer Dream

2008-04-03T09:46:00.002-05:00

Summer Dream
Originally uploaded by chankins

I am waiting with baited breath for spring to come. We had another snow storm at the beginning of the week and all I could think about was how wrong snow in April is. Fortunately, I can imagine what it would feel like to sip wine and dip my feet in a lake with the sun shining overhead. This piece is about warmer fronts, cute red dresses, and taking a moment to relax.

Here Comes the Sun...

2008-03-26T14:26:00.000-05:00

Inspiration can come from almost anywhere but it can be hard to come by when you are cooped up for many long months. Just when I am at the end of my frozen rope we take a trip to warmer weather. My family and I are spending spring break in sunny southern California with my parents. When we stepped off the plane it was a staggering 50 degree difference in temperature. Eighty felt so hot! But who am I to complain? We have been enjoying the luxury of warm weather ever since!

I have been missing all things green and am so ready to throw some plants into the ground and say helloooo color! But since the ground is still frozen I guess my quest will have to wait. Until then, I have been taking some pics of my moms garden digs this week to get me into gear for spring.

There are so many little treasures to be found hidden around here. I love this birdhouse shaped like a church and hidden in the palms. It makes me think of unknown tropical places. maybe some of these shapes will start to crop up in my spring paintings.

Trouble Me

2008-03-10T14:32:00.000-05:00

I have been working on a piece about a couple. I was thinking about how hard communication can be no matter how many years you have been together. While I was working I was listening to 10,000 Maniacs unplugged and the song Trouble Me came on. It seemed to suit the couple in the work and thus the title was born. It has been my experience that we do not always share and need to trouble one another with our problems.

Some of the elements in the painting were derived from pictures of a street bazaar in Marakesh...like the picture of the chicken. I began to think about a back alley, maybe behind a club where the couple performed. I added some elements that I thought worked as metaphor- like the instruments. When they are played well and in sync how beautiful they are or how on the other hand, if out of tune, what complete mess they are.

Roll On...

2008-02-29T15:08:00.001-06:00

Now that my 15 minutes are up I thought I'd get back to work. I just finished this piece and am trying to come up with a suitable title. My life has been a wee bit stressful lately...I think the birds represent my children, lovely hungry little things who like lots of attention and to be driven to many places. I drew them as birds so they could fly themselves to their various activities and leave me to my latte!

15 Minutes of Fame

2008-02-29T14:42:00.000-06:00

Andy Warhol once said that everyone is entitled to 15 minutes of fame- or something to that effect. I did an interview and a photo shoot a few months ago for a local magazine- Maple Grove Magazine. It was a lot of fun. We discussed my work, my inspiration and the balancing act that is motherhood. About a month after the interview a photographer came and took pictures of me in my natural habitat- a.k.a. my home studio. It was more work to pose for a good shot than I would have expected- you definitely won't be seeing me on America's Next Top Model anytime soon. We ended up with a few good shots including one with me wearing my filthy apron and my hands covered in pastel chalk. As it turns out that particular shot made the cover of the magazine. My only request to the photographer was that he was generous with the airbrush tool in photoshop. I was hoping for fewer crows feet.

I had no idea the issue was out until I walked into my hair salon and everybody knew me...wierd! Anyway, my kids have decided that I'm famous-maybe they will listen to me now. I decided that I will enjoy my fifteen minutes until times up!

Little Pockets of Happiness

2008-02-25T15:44:00.000-06:00

I just finished a book called Water for Elephants.It was a great story about an old man remembering his life working on the circus trains. I'm not necessarily a circus person,but when I opened the book I was immediately sucked in. There is a line in the story that struck a chord in me,it referred to the old man's moments of clarity in remembering his past as little pockets of happiness. It made me think about my own pockets of happiness like eating icecream,a good latte or enjoyng the fleeting calm moments with my children. I just finished this pastel and it reflects on just those things.

Momentary Pause

2008-02-15T12:25:00.000-06:00

I thought that I would post a piece that I just completed. It is about being still and taking a pause from the hectic flow of life. Hmmm....That almost sounds spiritual. I like the idea of just being. I know that my life is filled with children and the activities that come with them, but lately I have felt the need to slow down the pace and take things one step at a time. The image itself is full of pattern and color, but the figure is taking a pause from the insanity of life.

Two Ladies and A Dog

2008-02-08T14:31:00.000-06:00

I have been slaving away in the warmth of my studio avoiding the bitter cold of another lovely Minnesota winter. I just completed this as yet untitled pastel on paper. I am calling it Two Ladies and a Dog until I can think of a better title. The image reminds me of when I used to have play dates with my kids. The poses of the figures look to me like they are straining to hear if their kids are crying in another room. I switched my usual wine bottle for an Italian Soda...I found a new love. But the standard coffee cup is still floating on my usual mess of things. The color combination is a bit seventies to me, but I like it.

Manly Man

2008-02-08T14:18:00.000-06:00

I am continuing my work on my current comission project. The first version of my loving couple needed some tweaking. I knew I was in trouble when my ten year old daughter came into my studio and commented, "Why is the lady sitting on another ladies' lap?

She spoke what I was thinking and my client noticed the lack of manliness too. I should definitely start drawing more men in my images. So I went into another round of sketches and also looked closely at images of men. When I finished I asked the advice of my toughest critics...my kids. I got a thumbs up from the ten year old. She thought the man looked muscular and she liked his hair. I thought he turned out pretty darn cute too. Below is the final version.

January Work

2008-01-23T07:27:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I have posted, but believe it or not I am actually working. I have been toiling over a commission for a while and have finally completed it. There are a total of four pieces, with three being custom and one that had been completed previously.

This one is titled Lola's Beginning and is the main piece of the commission because it is the most personal image to the buyer. She is currently awaiting the birth of her first child, while at the same time renovating her Skin Care Clinic with her husband. She wanted the piece to have elements relating to what was happening in their lives around the time of her pregnancy.

The baby is represented as the little bean form held in her hand. The sort of heart shaped chair represents their union and love. Her husband has a son from a previous marriage- he is the one snowboarding off of to the right. Their dog is on the left looking for some attention and trying to get in on the action. My client owns land in a tropical area and wanted that represented as well-hence the palms and the tropical bird. There are also a few hidden symbols in the picture that represent unity( look for the infinity signs hidden in the flooring).

The next two images are smaller and are more representative of the clientele at the clinic. Many are independent women taking some time to care for themselves. I wanted the images to reflect that kind of confidence.

The final image that I am posting was not commissioned but purchased directly from the studio to be the main piece one would see as you enter the office. This piece is titled The Secret. I personally love the composition of this and I love how the colors are so bright considering how dull the landscape looks around this time of year in Minnesota. I have all of my favorite elements in this piece...my dog Sam,my Chinese lantern and of course my caffeinated beverage. I've also started adding this tea pot form that I like for whatever reason.

A Cure for November Grey

2007-11-10T10:03:00.000-06:00

Is it already November? It has been so grey here in the great white north.
November is always the greyest month of the year. After a while it can be rather depressing . In my attempt to keep myself from getting seasonal affective disorder I paint. I try to keep the grey away but it seems that the longer that I live in Minnesota the more the color of the landscape seeps into my paintings. Don't get me wrong, I like the changing seasons and the color it brings, but come winter time I really have to think about what hot pink looks like. I am posting a few new paintings that are on display at my studio right now that I completed recently.

Two of my paintings actually have men in them! Oh my!They just keep popping up. Maybe it is my innate need for romance that I am fulfilling. The one with all of the red is called Spell on You. I was trying to think of a title that would fit and was listening to Aqualung at the time when a portion of one of the lyrics caught my ear and seemed to fit. I like the idea of being catered to...or serenaded. It's a hopeful fantasy.
The other couple painting is titled Over the Moon. I wanted to create an image of a loving couple enjoying some time together. My husband and I are finally getting more "alone" time, mainly because our kids are older and we are now able to get out more.
The last picture-the one with the swan and the woman is tentatively titled Life in Slow Motion, after a song by David Gray. My life is really just the opposite as I am always running around with the kids or schlepping my artwork from one venue to the next. But when I have a moment I do like to just sit and chat with my kids and slow life down a bit.

New Work

2007-10-13T12:05:00.000-05:00

I have been painting like crazy for a few upcoming shows and I thought that I would post a couple of the paintings that I have going in my studio. The first one is called the Lady and the Peacock...until I come up with something different.

The next is a picture about a boy and his guitar. My son Ryan started taking guitar lessons a month ago and I needed some subject matter. His first lesson consited of learning the letter names for the strings. His teacher told him to remeber it as Everybody Gets Drunk At Eleven. Ryan is 8...suffice to say he did not forget the letter names for the strings on his guitar.

Glass Slipper

2007-09-11T13:35:00.000-05:00

I am what you call a shoe hound. I have more than I need, but I can always find reasons to purchase another pair....does anyone else have this problem? This painting started out with two women in it but I ended up editing out the extra figure. I liked the idea that the lady in the composition might be trying on different shoes but having a hard time making a decision. It made me think of a particular friend that I have who has been dating a lot recently...trying to find someone who "fits". The thing that I have always loved about shoes is that they were always the only thing left that would fit after I had my kids. I could never be too fat for them. When I needed a little retail therapy shoes always seemed to hit the spot. There is nothing like a hot little pair of red heels to make you feel good!They are the proverbial glass slippers.

In a New York Minute...

2007-07-27T17:47:00.001-05:00

What can I say about New York...there is so much to do and see, this truly is a city that never sleeps. I just returned from a trip to Manhatten, my husband and I stayed for 6 nights. Little did I know how much walking I would be in for. I of course brought cute shoes...not necessarily the best for touring the city on foot. I think it is virtually impossible for any one who lives in that city to be over weight considering the amount of pedestrian excersize one gets in a day. I for one was happy to eat my way through the city knowing that I would be walking for miles after each meal. Calories...what calories!

I think that we crammed in just about everything a tourist could possibly want to see. We toured the statue of Liberty, researched my immigrant ancestors on Ellis Island, saw three Broadway shows and managed to get tickets to the David Letterman Show! Did I mention that this whole trip was part of an award my husband earned through his company?

The cherry on top of the cake that was New York was a dinner at the Stock Exchange. We had appetizers on the trading floor along with some awesome mixed drinks( I had a martini that matched my orange dress). Dinner followed in an upstairs board room. The table was set for fifty and looked like something out of a magazine. The most amazing part, aside from the unbelievable food, were the Broadway singers who sang for us during dinner...(is this what it is like to be rich)?

It was an amazing trip, exhausting, but amazing.

Hot Mama Profile

2007-07-17T09:52:00.000-05:00

Life in Wonderland

pastel on paper

Last month the owner of the Hot Mama stores asked me to do an interview and photo shoot with my kids at my studio to be included in a portion of their web site titled Hot Moms that do Cool Things. My kids, particularly my eldest daughter, were excited to be a part of this. My work is displayed in 4 stores...in the dressing rooms as a part of the decor. I like to think of it as having a captive audience!

I have also been traveling like a crazy person this summer for shows and have not had a ton of time to post new work. So check out these two new pastels...I actually created a piece which includes a male figure.

Made For You

pastel on paper

The Story

2007-06-19T15:44:00.001-05:00

We all have a story to tell...my story is a bit fantasy and a bit reality. This particular image is about a mother telling a story to her child. I set the story in a place that could be a small Italian village. The figures are surrounded by good food and a cafe latte of course! It feels like sunset on a patio which is a good time to relax and reflect on the day.

All Her Ducks in a Row

2007-05-14T16:30:00.000-05:00

The busy season has arrived and I am hurrying to complete projects before time runs out. I am getting all of my ducks in a row...so I though I would post a picture titled just that!

An Update from Studio Land

2007-05-01T17:46:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted any new work in a while but I have been working on a new set of drawings. These latest have a figure, but the figure is not the main element. If I had to psycho- analyze these pictures I would have to say that the figure is being overwhelmed by her life. She seems to have no space in the picture...I can definitely relate. My work generally is a reflection of my life and state of mind. But don't get me wrong..I am not unhappy, I am just too over booked at times to sit back relax and enjoy.

Swan Song

2007-03-28T16:15:00.000-05:00

I just completed this piece frame and all. Yeah me! I feel like this has been a tough year for new work. Usually I am much more prolific. But, I have to say that I have been happy with my new work. I am trying to walk the line between abstract art and representational art. I love narratives that involve the figure, but I also love just playing with color and texture. This piece is definitely more toward the narrative. For me the girl in this painting is waiting to see what will come next in her life, as there are always some curves thrown in her direction.

My life is, as always, busy. I was thinking of starting a series called the soccer mom monologues or the mini van diaries...to celebrate my suburban roots and to pay homage to my evening job moonlighting as an underpaid chauffeur. I was reading about an artist who is making suburbia look hip through his edgy artwork. I was wondering if I could do the same for stretch marks(ew!). I don't know that suburbia will ever be hip but it is a necessary evil when raising kids so I guess I'm stuck here too.

An offbeat family portrait

2007-03-12T17:09:00.000-05:00

I have never been one to have my family sit for a picture. I don't really think that it captures what we are about. I decided to draw a picture that is more symbolic of who we are rather than a depiction of what we look like. I also added in our menagerie of pets to round off the composition.

I am of course in the center, because I am the queen- if only in my mind. My husband is standing behind me and is my support- he is really the king but I choose not to let him know that, I like to think that I have some control! My eldest son ,Nick, is standing near by looking cool- he is rolling into his teen years. My other son, Ryan, can be identified by his extra long eyelashes. Unfortunately god gave them to him and not me. My daughter Maddie is merrily dancing with Ryan and working on being the center of attention . She plans to either be the president of the United States or the winner of American Idol. Emilie, the youngest, is doing one of her silly dances near me and showing off her ever flamboyant personality.

I added my dog Sam standing near Emily-they are a pair. My crazy cat Noelle is floating near the top of the picture ready to pounce when we are unaware. At the bottom of the picture is Speedy the mutant fish that my scientist dad gave me. He has been cloned with an added jellyfish protien and glows in the dark.

I think this picture is more telling than any photograph!

Studio Stuff

2007-02-15T17:31:00.000-06:00

It has been rather cold here in the great white north with daily highs not topping 15 degrees. When the weather gets like this I begin to fantasize about being elsewhere. Lately my thoughts have wandered toward cityscapes with high rise buildings. I imagined a lady sitting in her ecclectic apartment on a spring evening gazing out her window toward the buildings in the distance. She has her huge latte and a few donut holes sitting on top of her pile of trashy magazines...there is nothing like a few guilty pleasures.

CONTACT INFO

2007-02-02T19:57:00.000-06:00

chankins2@aol.com

My website is being updated and a new body of work will be posted soon. I am also adding a shop page and a page regarding information on commissions. Please check back often or feel free to contact me with any inquiries at the e-mail address posted above.
Thanks,
Christina

Opening Night

2007-02-02T19:24:00.000-06:00

I had an opening at the Buffalo Fish Gallery out in Willmar, Minnesota last night. Willmar is about 90 miles outside the Twin Cities and the gallery is the only one in town. I was surprised by the turn out on an extremely frigid night. As they say here, the weather was definitely character building(the temp was -4 and dropping rapidly) but the crowd turned out ready for good wine, good conversation, and might I add, great art! I took some pictures before most of the guests arrived at the show. The gallery is only three years old and the space is beautiful...definitely worth the drive.

Bling Bling Fairies

2007-01-19T18:20:00.000-06:00

Lately I have been fielding a lot of questions about the paper mache dolls that I sometimes create- they are currently posted on my website www.chankinspaint.com . All of the dolls on the site have been sold but I still have a few homeless dolls living in my studio- mostly because I took a break from showing them. My mother uses her dolls as a way to display her jewlrey...So I thought that I would take a couple of pictures of the dolls that I have hanging around my studio dressed in necklaces that my sister made( check her stuff out at www.liquidskyarts.com ). I renamed the dolls the Bling Bling Fairies .

I am also updating my site and will soon have an online shopping page where I will be selling prints and cards of my artwork. I can thank my very talented sister for the help...She is an amazing designer!

I am also postng a picture of a pendant made with one of my images. I made it while visiting my sis in Astoria, Oregon. The idea is actually based on her Par Avion pendants that she sells on her site-go check them out they are wonderful and all one of a kind.

Studio Stuff

2006-12-19T20:14:00.000-06:00

I have been trying to work on some new paintings but life, as usual, seems to take over. Christmas is looming and I have yet to finish wrapping my gifts, which means that I will be up past midnight on Christmas eve playing santa mom. I have been enjoying a mix that my sister made of ecclectic holiday songs a few years back. It has been keeping me from turning into a total grinch. So in my spare time between making cookies, running kids around to various activities, and my afternoon teaching job I have semi completed two paintings. They are still in progress, but I thought that I would post them...a friend brought to my attention that it had been quite a while since my last post. So check out these pics straight from my studio, still wet with paint...

Let the music play...

2006-11-13T20:02:00.000-06:00

I am a sucker for any kind of movie involving music or dancing. Recently, I watched the movie Take the Lead with Antonio Banderas...And I have to say it was pretty good. Music and dancing definitely are uplifting and were in part the inspiration for the piece that I am posting. Originally this was going to be a painting about dancing, but as usual it took on a life of its own and morphed into something different. Over time my mood changed and so did this piece. It is more a metaphor for life...You can sit back and listen to the music or you can join in. I think sometimes it is hard to decide what to do if there are risks involved, but ultimately I would rather take the leap and join the band rather than just sit back and watch.

Going Green

2006-10-23T12:03:00.000-05:00

I recently completed this pastel drawing...of a woman, of course(so what's new). I seem to be drawn to images of ladies sitting leisurely drinking wine- one of my many ways to decompress. Maybe it has something to do with a busy life revolving around my four kids...hmmm. I seem to paint a lot of pictures of women sitting alone.My self diagnosis would be that I need more time to sit alone and drink wine. Who needs a therapist? I also added a lot of green to this one, it is a very serene color. To me it even seems less busy than my usual fare. But then again...I could be wrong.
I like the wine and the apples( they seem to crop up now and again). The apples represent my occasion to be sinful...a lovely Catholic reference to Eve getting Adam to be bad( who knew what an apple could do?). The wine and coffee are my escapes .The bird reference...a longing to be free( from afterschool activities...) and follow my bliss.

Cherries and Cherry Pits

2006-10-12T17:31:00.000-05:00

I am nearing completion on a painting which is exciting considering I have barely had any time to work in my studio lately. I posted a picture a few weeks back of a lady with a green leg...the painting was in its "ugly stage". It has been evolving over the past few weeks into a painting of a woman contemplating her life while painting her nails, reading the newspaper headlines, and later her horoscope( she likes to see if it relates at all to her life at that moment). She is surrounded by her stuff...magazines, coffee, her favorite blanket.

I kept thinking that no matter how crazy life gets I still go through basic daily rituals. As I was painting different images began to crop up...like cherries, a bird and her sweater morphed into a patchwork quilt. It made me think of things that comfort me. I am still trying to figure out what the newspaper headline will say. So far it reads...Girl in trouble is a temporary thing. It's a line from a song that I was listening to. I liked the idea of her reading about something that she could relate to. I am still unsure...I might go in another direction if I can figure out what that is. I like the cherries because they taste great when they are ripe, but they can be "the pits" too when they are sour or if you drop a pit onto your shirt and it stains ( just a wierd random thought). They are a metaphor...life is messy but yet is still enjoyable. I may be reaching there....

It is still a work in progress, but I thought I would post it anyway.

Black Sheep

2006-10-06T20:15:00.000-05:00

I have been showing some of my pastel drawings at an indepently owned coffee shop in South Saint Paul during the month of September and through the rest of this week. I actually sold two paintings...maybe the caffine had something to do with it. This painting was sold to a couple and it is titled "Save the Last Dance." I remembered to bring my camera during one of my visits and took a few snap shots of the shop. As always my little apprentice Emilie was along for the ride. She made me listen to the soundtrack of Disney's Highschool Musical all the way there and all the way back...that's 90 minutes to you and me! The scary part is that I actually started to sing along. At the end of our visit we came away with a check for my sold painting , some hot cocoa, and a latte for moi. Just my type of business meeting.

The Ugly Phase

2006-09-28T17:01:00.000-05:00

Ahh yes, another year come and gone. I am officially rounding the bend to fourty...Where, by the way ,I hear is a great place to be. I decided that this year I would throw myself a little wine tasting party to celebrate my inner wino. I invited all of my favorite people, so it should be a good time.

I also started a new painting on my b-day. My son asked me why I was working on my birthday, I said painting is not work when you are doing something you love. I have barely had any time to get into the studio lately,and it made me happy just to be creative if only for a short period of time. My other son was trying to make sense of this new piece-it had some wierd colors going on for a figurative painting. I said that the painting was in its ugly stage, a.k.a. the underpainting. This piece will be part of my figurative series that in my head I call the "girl in trouble" paintings. I stole that line from a song, but it seemed to fit. This piece will depict a woman painting her nails as she is staring at a newspaper headline and trying to make some sense of the world. I haven't quite decided what the headline will be, but I am tempted to use one from the Daily Astorian- a paper that my sister subscribes to in Astoria, Oregon. It has a small town quirkiness that is very amusing, and fits with my sense of humor.

Hot Mama

2006-09-04T09:43:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to have some of my art work hanging at Hot Mama. If you haven't heard of this store it is probrably because they are a small independently owned shop located in three locations around the twin cities and in one location near Chicago. They cater to pregnant woman as well as women with children or no children at all who are complete clothes hounds and love style. The owners chose four images of mine that are about women to adorn their dressing rooms...I like a captive audience! I dragged my best girl friend and our daughters into the store the other day to check out how everything looked. The cool thing was that our daughters were entertained, not by the art work, but by the fun things they had in the store for kids while the moms shopped. I actually had to convince my girls it was time to go...that is a first! Their website is www.hotmamaonline.com

The Big New Tent

2006-08-14T15:08:00.000-05:00

I am entering this summers home stretch for art fairs. I just completed the Powderhorn art fair where I got to show off my new trimline tent...I feel an advertisement coming on. I recently upgraded from the ever lovely e-z up ( easy for who?) , which broke at an earlier art fair. I decided to bite the bullet and spend the big bucks on a sturdier tent meant for art fair lifers...one that doesn't leak or take off like a kite when the wind kicks up. It also is a lot bigger height wise, and is able to display my ever growing canvases to their best advantage. My largest painting is just under 6 feet tall...let's just say it doesn't take much to fill my booth. The only problem with the new booth is that it is quite labor intensive...meaning it has a lot of parts, unlike the other thing that just popped up. It took me 5 hours to set it up in my front yard the first time, three hours the second time and about 2 and a half hours at my last fair. My neigbors asked me if I was going to put a keg in it and have a party. Maybe next time. The tent may take forever and a day to set up, but it looks great , so no complaints here.

Even cowgirls get the blues...

2006-08-09T16:28:00.000-05:00

My sister sent me a picture of her friends five year old daughter all dressed up for a visit. What I loved was the total pride that this little girl took in her miss matched sequin tank top and pink flowery skirt. But, what I truly loved, were the red cowgirl boots and the diva pose she had in the picture. I have two daughters, and this picture drew me in on so many levels. My girls love to dress up, and by the way, so does their mother. I think we all need a pair of red cowgirl boots, if not for any reason, just to remember our inner diva. I created a painting based on the picture that my sister sent me. I love nostalgia, and this may be the closest that I will ever get to a nostalgic type of painting.

Beyond the Looking Glass

2006-07-31T13:14:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, another new painting. I have to say that I am having fun figuring out these figures. My sister posted my previous painting on her site liquidskyarts.com , which was really nice of her. This painting actually was completed before the one of the lady drinking coffee. She is another day dreamer taking a mental break from her life.

A work in progress...

2006-07-23T09:06:00.000-05:00

I have been working on a series of figurative paintings for a few months now. I have been using myself as a model, and having my kids help me with the photographs that I have been using as a jumping off point for the paintings. The kids are enjoying their new level of involvement in the creative process...it used to be just do you like it or not.

I am trying to keep these very loose and painterly. The images move from realistic to somewhat absract with some loosly drawn cartoony elements. This painting is #4 in the series and is untitled. I am currently debating whether or not to add a box of Krispy Kremes into the picture...the jury is still out.

New Work...Yeah!!!

2006-07-11T21:15:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not, somewhere between art fairs, soccer, and an extremely long car trip out to Montana, I have gotten a few new pieces completed. Just in time for my next few art fairs.

I have dubbed this the Hot Mama collection

Oy! Art Fairs

2006-05-22T09:23:00.000-05:00

I just completed the kick off fair of the season. I have to say it was not that great...hopefully things will pick up at the next one. On a positive note I had a lot of great feed back from fair goers on my new paintings. I didn't see any disgusted looks, and most people saw the humor in my painting titled Beautiful Disaster, which I had as the focal point in my booth. By the way...I have officially dubbed it the Cheez-it painting. More people commented on the Cheez-it and Merlot combo then I ever would have expected. Anyway, my next fair is in two weeks and it is one of the bigger fairs with over 400 artists...yikes! So hopefully some of my original art will sell...if not, that's just more art for my walls!

studio friday- contrast

2006-05-19T20:09:00.000-05:00

My studio goes through many changes over the course of the year. Sometimes it is clean and it feels just right to start a new painting. Then comes summer with all of the art fairs and in contrast to the lovely clean workable space I love, comes the disaster strewn studio. It looks like a tornado hit it...and hard. There is canvas and packaging in every corner and barely room to set foot, let alone work.

I just finished loading up my van for a show tomorrow and my studio is once again a clean space to work.

Art Fair Mania/ cd swap

2006-05-18T09:38:00.000-05:00

It is that time of year again and art fair mania has arrived at my house. This basically means that my studio is a total disaster, and I have become a total nut job. I have spent the last two weeks trying to get organized, while at the same time trying to be the good soccer mom, personal chef, launderer of all things grimey, dog pooper scooper and so on. I haven't actually painted anything in a couple of weeks, which is also making me crazy...because painting actually calms me down. The one thing that I have enjoyed lately is this cd swap that I did with my sister at www.liquidskyarts.com. I have received some amazing cds with such creative artwork. It was all very inspiring. When I received my sisters cd, all I could think was wow that's amazing...she set the bar high, which meant I needed to redo the crap I was going to send out. I loved the songs I chose, but I didn't think that my packaging was up to par. I am not the most computer saavy gal, so I actually was forced to learn something while creating my covers. I thought that I would post a picture of the cds I have received thus far.

Studio Sounds-Studio Friday

2006-05-05T09:53:00.000-05:00

There are a lot of sounds that I can hear from my studio. The construction sounds coming from down the road, my children playing or fighting in the family room, but mainly I hear music. I like to listen to music while I paint. It helps to take me away and focus on the canvas in front of me. I generally like to create mixes of music that I have down loaded and the play list depends on my mood. Last week it was an 80's revival mix of old Morrisey, Chili Peppers, and a few other artists that I had grown up listening to. My sister also sends me music mixes that I listen to while in the throws of creative outbursts. Some of my favorites are Aqualung,Sia, Imogene Heap, Frou Frou,Cold Play, Dido, Jem....And the list goes on.

Fun with Paint- Studio Friday

2006-04-29T09:32:00.000-05:00

This is me trying to have some fun in the studio for this weeks studio friday. I have to say that I did try to paint using my mouth- brushes are heavier then one would think. I cheated a bit and steadied the mouth held brush with my hand. I used well diluted oil paint...I like to live on the edge, and just goofed around with it. So here it is...Picasso watch out!

Thoughts on Pots

2006-04-26T12:37:00.000-05:00

It's spring, and as usual I always find new house plants to try not to kill over the course of the year. This year I found a plant called string of pearls and I got a beautiful rustic pot to put it in. It is a low light plant so it just might survive my house. I'm crossing my fingers.

I am also posting a picture of a painting that I have been working on. It has gone through a few changes, but I think it is finally close to completion. I am almost afraid to touch it, because I don't want to overwork it which I have a tendancy to do at times.

Studio Friday-shine and shimmer

2006-04-20T09:36:00.000-05:00

Shiny paint pots are the first things that came to mind when I saw this weeks studio Friday. I use these disposable muffin tins to mix paint in and thin it out. The paint shimmers when I add different mediums to it. I also like these colors together.

Spotted-illustration Friday

2006-04-19T16:26:00.000-05:00

When I think of spotted, I think of my dog Sam. This is a detail from a painting that I am working on, and Sam just happens to be a part of the composition. I thought I'd add a picture of Sam as well. He is an English Pointer...Not a Dalmation and he loves the camera!

A Work in Progress

2006-04-18T17:58:00.000-05:00

I just thought I would post this piece that I have been working on. It is still very much in progress. I added my dog into the picture yesterday after he got home from the vet. He had to have fluid drained from his ear and will probrably need an operation. He just looked so sad and in need of extra love yesterday, so I immortalized him in paint, and gave him extra hugs.

Meringues Geantes

2006-04-15T17:46:00.000-05:00

Call me crazy but I am an extreme bake-a-holic. I recently made some giant meringues from a recipe that I found in a French cook book. The first batch bombed, I basically made liquid egg. But I forged on and managed to figure out my mistake about a dozen and a half eggs later. They actually turned out and were quite pretty. And, they passed the true test of the picky eaters...My kids, they loved them. So I thought that I would post a picture of these beautiful things. They definitely are a good way to get rid of all of the extra eggs in ones fridge!

Tag...I'm It!

2006-04-13T16:57:00.000-05:00

This is a first, I'm 35 and I am playing tag. Here are my answers to those questions.

1. Five minutes to yourself:How would you spend them? Drinking a cup of coffee and reading the paper without interruption. Those are my favorite cups by the way.

2. Five bucks to spend right now: How would you spend it? I would go directly to I tunes and download some new music to listen to while I paint.

3. Five items in your house you could part with right now, that you hadn't thought of already. Three old bookcases and two bags of well loved but out grown toys.

4. Five items you could absolutely never part with in your house. The red hutch that my mom painted( my dad hated it but I love it), my computer( it has all of our family photos stored in it, as well as pics of my artwork), my Chinese lantern that my father in law carried across San Francisco for me, my children's' birth pictures( I'm counting those as one thing), and my orange kitchen aid mixer( I love that thing).

5. Five words you love. cheers, whimsy, lyrical, icecream, and my most favorite...bedtime!

Now I tag anyone who happens to come across this post and wishes to play.

Studio Hands

2006-04-11T09:31:00.000-05:00

Studio Friday

This is a pastel covered hand-a.k.a. my drawing hand. My fingernails are usually dirty. I do try to clean them, but there always seems to be some residual grit that I just cant seem to get out. Ah the life of an artist...Always creating but never clean!

Madonna Mama

2006-04-10T19:42:00.000-05:00

This is another finished piece. Let's just say I have been in the creative zone lately. This drawing is pastel. I just got these awesome new pastels called terrage sticks made by Diane Townsend and sold through www.dickblick.com . I love, love, love them! I had just started sketching out this piece when they arrived. I titled this pastel Madonna Mama because it is about trying to be a good mother. I stay at home with my four kids. Sometimes they drive me insane and let's just say that there is nothing like a good glass of wine to help self medicate at the end of the day. However, I do enjoy their company when they are not screaming at each other. The apples represent temptations like going back to work full time. The birds represent those little voices inside my head saying this thing and that thing. I was inspired by Frida Kahlo and the way that she would paint what she was thinking on her forehead. I just painted what I was thinking about around the female figure who represents me.

Finished Work

2006-04-10T19:36:00.000-05:00

Tra la laaaa! I finally finished my lunatic cat painting. It is quite large-5 feet across. I made the cat a bit larger and layered the colors. It makes me think of summer-I am so ready for some warm weather. Here is the finished picture.

Studio Friday-A view out my window

2006-04-06T18:26:00.000-05:00

Here are two views from my studio. One real and one imagined. The real one looks a little gloomy because it has been raining and thundering all evening. The imagined view is one of Tuscany- how cool would it be to have a beautiful view like that? Unfortunately this is only a mural that is hanging in my studio. I love it. A muralist friend of mine and I made a trade a few years ago. I gave her a pastel painting and she gave me this. It makes me feel like I am some place else.

Spring-Illustration Friday

2006-04-06T14:50:00.000-05:00

I just finished this new pastel that I have been working on for quite a while. I have been all over the place lately trying this thing and that thing. Now I have this collection of artwork that runs the spectrum from very absract to loose and whimsical. I was reading a french cook book and it had all of these pictures of cafes, pastry shops and bakeries. The book put me in the mood for food and it made me think of sharing it with a friend. This picture also looked like a scene from spring when everything is in bloom. Unfortunately, I live in Minnesota, and the only things in bloom are the things that live in my imagination.

The Lunatic Cat Series

2006-03-31T10:53:00.000-06:00

This is the newest pastel from my Lunatic Cat series. My cat and I have this love-hate relationship. One day while I was shopping I came across a small oval plaque with the words chat lunatique. I immediately thought, oh my god, that's my cat and she is a total lunatic!

I saw that plaque a long time ago, but it wasn't until just recently that I started thinking about it again. I have been in a funk lately and some of my paintings were showing it- they were going nowhere and I wasn't happy with them. The news and the weather in Minnesota were depressing and I just decided one day to do a series of paintings based on an arbitrary subject-my cat- that was amusing and colorful. So far I like them. I think I might title the above picture Got Milk? but I haven't decided yet.

My Crazy Cat Painting

2006-03-24T15:28:00.000-06:00

I decided that I needed to do a painting about something that makes me laugh and makes me crazy at the same time. My cat has been a constant source of the crazies for me for the past 13 years. We have an agreement- I won't have any more children and she will stop scratching up my furniture and attacking my feet as I get into bed at night. I also needed some bright color, some flowers and did I mention we need spring to come to Minnesota, I'm a woman on the edge. This painting is in progress. I like that it is sketchy and has the potential for lots of layers. I am also posting a picture of my cat that I took today as she was lounging on her favorite furry blanket.

New Stuff

2006-03-07T09:22:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to post a few new pictures. I know it has been quite a while since my last post, but at least my excuse is that I was working hard in the studio. I have done mostly oil paintings this year. They are abstract with lots of texture. I have spent a lot of time working and re-working these things to get them right. So here they are feel free to let me know what you think.

Illustration Friday- Cold

2005-10-19T13:19:00.000-05:00

I live in Minnesota, so I think I know a little something about what it is to be cold. The main thing that happens is that I think of ways to feel warm. I just completed this painting and this might be a stretch on the theme. It is a bit abstract, but here is what I see; a mother holding a child wrapped in a quilt, keeping her from being cold.

New paintings

2005-10-19T12:35:00.000-05:00

I just thought I would post some new paintings that I have finally completed. So far they don't have titles, but the running themes are end of summer, a night on the town, children, and solitude.

It's definitely fall in Minnesota, and there are a million amazing colors. We had this 78 degree day yesterday which is odd for mid October. The second picture reminds me of the colors all around, the way my kids have been raking the leaves into a big pile to jump in everyday after school. The first picture is about going to Dinky Town for dinner with my husband. It was so fun to drink wine and people watch with him. That was definitely on my mind when I was working on this piece.

I have been trying not to think about the final outcome of these paintings. I have just started with a palate of color, turned on some music and I am seeing where the shape and color leads me.

Illustration Friday- Fresh

2005-09-26T14:59:00.000-05:00

Every year my family goes apple picking around the end of September, which is coincidentally, right around my birthday. I always end up making myself a birthday apple pie. Anyway, as I was painting this piece an apple cropped up- gee I wonder what I was thinking about? Fresh apples that's what! Oh yeah, and birds too.

Illustration Friday- Escape

2005-09-22T16:48:00.000-05:00

This is my submission for escape. This is basically about my escape into my mind- it looks like a pretty cluttered place. I escape into music, books, and generally my own daydreams.

Illustration Friday-tranquility

2005-07-23T16:45:00.000-05:00

My ideaof tranquil is being in a state of total relaxation. This is called " The Lady of the Hour."

The Secret Lives of Suburban Housewives

2005-07-23T10:50:00.000-05:00

Here are two new pics from my suburban housewife series. One will be at the Buffalofish Gallery in August and the other will be submitted as an entry to the minnesota state fair.

Art Fairs

2005-06-21T13:38:00.000-05:00

So far this summer I have survived 5 art fairs. Three of which have been rained out on at least one day during the weekend. I discovered that my new tent had a leak at fair #3 and spent a good portion of my day covering my work with plastic bags. It was a kind of peek- a- boo display. I also had three frames break on me! But I have discovered a few interesting things about how people shop at art fairs, which I find to be quite entertaining to watch. For example, I had a framed picture wrapped in bubble wrap hidden in the back of my booth and for some reason many shoppers were more interested in that piece then in any of the pieces on display. One shopper even crawled back into the space to get a look at this hidden treasure. So I thought that it might be a great sales technique to cover all of my art to peak the curiosity of the shopper, and create a sort of hide and seek display-just kidding. I also found the fear of commitment shopper to be very funny to watch. This is the person that teeters on the edge of my booth leaning in to see the work while keeping their feet firmly planted on the outside of the booth. My feeling is that if they step in they might be attacked, or worse spoken to by the artist. Some artists have been known to eat art fair goers who step into their booth-we are starving after all! I still have quite a few more fairs to go, with the mother of all fairs coming up in July- Art Fair on the Square in Madison Wisconsin. There are 500 artists at this fair! I thought I would share a picture of my booth that I took on a sunny day last weekend. I also got a killer farmer tan at this fair- very attractive!

Illustration Friday- mischief

2005-05-11T09:20:00.000-05:00

This weeks theme took me some time to think about. What came to mind is what happens after my children get home from school and all hell breaks loose in the house. They are everywhere, getting into everything. It makes me crazy. This is a picture of them dancing through, creating havoc and much mischief.

Illustration Friday-Daring

2005-04-25T21:47:00.000-05:00

I think that to be daring one needs to think outside the box, draw outside the lines and have no fear of the edge. This piece is called Burst .

Illustration Friday- alone

2005-04-11T16:09:00.000-05:00

I don't get the opportunity to be alone much, having young children, so all I can do is fantasize about what it might be like to have time to myself. This is my self portrait called, Slinky Cat and Her girl Living in a Dream World. I thought it might be nice to just sit quietly with a bottle of wine and my various pets and listen to music or watch Sex in the City on HBO.

illustration friday-crowded

2005-03-28T17:36:00.000-06:00

This chaotic picture is what it looks like when all of my kids and all of their friends are over at my house playing. Did I mention that I have four kids?

Illustration Friday-Bloom

2005-03-23T09:32:00.000-06:00

Spring is here for a few minutes at least in Minnesota, so this weeks theme is definitely perfect. I drew this picture a while back of a miniature willow tree, it was starting to bloom and I thought it to be a little piece of spring in the land of the frozen tundra . I don't generally draw landscapes or things from nature, so this was a departure from my normal routine, but at the time I felt like I needed to capture the moment.

Illustration Friday-fragile

2005-03-16T12:46:00.000-06:00

I tried to think of fragile things like babies, glass lanterns, vases , my self esteem at times and this is what I came up with for this weeks illustration. My drawings tend to be over stuffed and frantic which basically is a metaphor for my life and frame of mind as it is presently.

I also experimented a bit with layering papers and painting more with my pastels by mixing them with an acrylic medium and layering pastel ground over the collaged papers so that they could be drawn on more effectively.

All Things Fragile

Illustration Friday- Ancient

2005-03-09T18:57:00.000-06:00

This weeks subject was a bit tough for me. I didn't want to just draw a picture of something old, so I got a bit conceptual. This morning I read an article in the paper about how women are more able to make a come back in their careers after a major setback. Take for example, the Martha Stewart stock scandal( which after serving time she is coming out better than when she went in), the Paris Hilton internet sex video( which brought her modeling and book deals), and Kirstie Alley's big fat come back( capitalize on the fat and laugh all the way to the bank Kirstie). These women have been able to redefine the scarlet letter as ancient. Men seem to be able to ride out their scandals and come through in good repair,many times better than before the scandal. There are plenty of examples of the public saying bad boys will be boys, but nobody said girls would be girls, until now. Times are definitely changing.

This illustration is a reaction to the now ancient and albeit obsolete scarlet letter.

Illustration Friday Jazz post

2005-03-02T14:45:00.000-06:00

Let it snow

2005-03-01T14:07:00.000-06:00

Minnesota is definitely known for its cold weather, but one would think that we would get a lot more snow. Well, as the saying goes, don't wish too hard you might get what you ask for. A few weeks ago we had a really wet snowfall( yes, this California gal has learned that there are many different types of snowfall). It looked so beautiful that morning,completely new and untouched,so my husband took a few pictures of our backyard.

This was taken from our back porch.

This is my four year old daughter Emilie posing in front of her snowman that she built with her dad. Wet snow is definitely the best kind to build a snowman( just a little factoid).

As for me, I like to enjoy the snow from my studio, it's a lot warmer . It's hard to think of color when all you see outside is white and grey. I had to open a few art books,mostly books on Matisse, to get some color inspiration. When I paint all winter for my summer shows my palate tends to get a little bit subdued and it needs a little boost. I have been working on another in my series of pink ladies. This piece is still in progress, but I thought that I would share a portion of it with you( all 5 of you that read my journal that is). It is still far from complete in my mind. I still need to make a few adjustments and layer some more color, but it is bright enough to make me happy for he time being and help me forget about winter for a while.

Self Portrait

2005-02-21T09:15:00.000-06:00

Do you ever feel like you are coming apart at the seams? Motherhood will definitely do that to you. This morning I am hiding from my four year old who is currently throwing a fit for no particular reason other than she feels as though she has been wronged in some way that the rest of us don't quite understand. She is,at this very moment, hurling toys at her bedroom door trying to create as loud a thunk as possible. Unfortunately I have only had one cup of coffee today and am not ready to face the world of children head on quite yet. I'll get there eventually.

This is my self portrait, in it I am coming apart at the seams and chaos reigns all around. At least I had a good weekend. My husband, good guy that he is, watched the kids for more than a few hours while I visited an artist friend. I have to say that it was good to get out of the house for a while. My friend has been working on frames for me( we do tend to clash form time to time on the framing), but we are working out the kinks. I posted a picture of the funky frame he helped create from an idea that I had, can I say it again, I love that frame. I think that I am going to have him create a few more for me. So far, all that have seen the painting have loved it. It is always nice to get positive feedback from time to time-or any feedback at all for that matter. I do know that framing is the most tedious and frustrating part of the art business(besides slow sales), because as soon as you think it is perfect you find something wrong like a smudge inside the glass or dust you missed. It sucks. Joel(a.k.a. my framer) is discovering this the hard way. It becomes even tougher when you are already in a dusty environment like a wood shop. Anyway thanks to Joel for his patience and thanks to my awesome husband Bob for letting me spend time away from my kids for the sake of my sanity. I may actually be able to survive the week cooped up in the house.

Another Pink Lady

2005-02-20T14:03:00.000-06:00

I must be thinking pink lately because I can't seem to paint or draw anything but these pink figures lately. I am on my way to creating a whole series of these pensive naked ladies.

So far I have created two pastels and am working toward completion of a large oil painting. I'm hoping to show them at some of the art fairs that I will be participating in as well as a couple of gallery shows.

The Funky Frame

2005-02-20T13:52:00.000-06:00

I wanted a frame that captured the motion of the lines in this painting and I think the idea was realized wonderfully. I collaborated with a sculptural wood worker/artist friend and this is what was born. I might not be able to part with it any time soon!

I dub thee, The Funky Frame .

The Good Enough Mother

2005-02-16T11:49:00.000-06:00

I recently read an article in this weeks Newsweek Magazine titled The Good Enough Motherhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6960127/site/Newsweek/ by Anna Quindlen. It really spoke to the craziness surrounding motherhood today. I can definitely relate considering that I have four children of my own under the age of ten and I have tried to be the super human parent juggling children, a job and attempting to run a household and do it all well(like that was ever a possibility). After I had my third child I quit my job and tried to redefine myself in the role of just" mother". Which generally meant losing my self defined identity as a teacher(which was my former profession) and put me on this completely untravelled road as a stay at home mom. I spent the first year trying to figure out what do do with myself and my children. Motherhood can be a very lonely job, thankfully I made some great friends-also mothers, who could "feel my pain." Five years ago I decided to take some of my life back and began painting and drawing to fill a creative void. I was sick of my only feeling of accomplishment coming from how clean my house was or weather or not I had dinner on the table, clean kids, and a tidy house before my husband got home. June Cleaver I was not and I hated playing the role, so I gave up the part. I am still juggling, but now I am showing some of my work, which not surprisingly, revolves around motherhood and my ever changing thoughts and views about surviving this life as a woman. So for all of you crazed moms out there( you know who you are) take a load off. Let the kids run wild, don't vaccuum, screw the dishes, and for god sakes order some pizza it will save your sanity!

This is one of my very first paintings titled The Good Mother. It is about the down time in motherhood when you get to actually enjoy the whole experience without judgement.

Buffalo Fish Fine Arts

2005-02-05T13:25:00.000-06:00

It's official, there is a new gallery in town-sort of. Okay, so they are a bit off the beaten track from the twin cities scene, about 90 miles west to be exact, but it was worth the very long drive to visit. Last night was Buffalo Fish Fine Arts grand opening,which I was lucky enough to be a part of. All I can say is you know that you are not in or anywhere near the cities when you can see every star out in the universe while driving to the gallery. I have a few pieces in the show and will have a featured artist month this august-yeah me! I thought it would be fun to take a few pictures to share with all 5 of you who actually read these posts .

This is the artist who will be featured in March -he resides in Minneapolis

The pieces on the left are two of my pastels

This is my oil painting called Behind the Couch

The stairs leading to the gallery loft

In Minnesota one always needs a deer head for decoration

View from the gallery loft

A painting in the gallery loft

Another view from the loft

Here I am trying not to look dorky in front of my painting

Still trying not to look like a dork...

So there you have it,Willmar Minnesota's newest gallery, or should I say only gallery. I do have to say, it is a really nice space to show work, and the owners are great.

Morph Link

2005-02-03T18:32:00.000-06:00

http://www.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~morph/

This is the link for all of you who would like to see your lovely selves transformed into a fabulous work of art. Here are a few more pictures. The first one is me as a baby-yikes! The next is me as an Alons Mucha, and the last one is me as a Manga character. My sister thought that the Manga character was hilarious. She also posted a few pictures on her journal. The one of Hugh Grant looks a lot like Christopher Walken to me. You can check it out at www.liquidskyarts.com .

Look I've been transformed

2005-02-02T18:18:00.000-06:00

This is me morphed into a Modigiliani and a Botticelli. My sister was kind enough to send me these pictures she created. I thought that they were funny. Maybe I should create a self portrait to post along side these.

Why Woman are Crabby

2005-02-01T16:58:00.000-06:00

I just got this hilarious albeit truthful e-mail about why woman are so crabby ( my husband is still trying to figure it out) ,so I thought that I would share it.

WHY WOMEN ARE CRABBY We started to "bud" in our blouses at 9 or 10 years old only to find that anything that came in contact with those tender, blooming buds hurt so bad it brought us to tears. So came the ridiculously uncomfortable training bra contraption that the boys in school would snap until we had calluses on our backs.Next, we get our periods in our early to mid-teens (or sooner). Alongwith those budding boobs, we bloated, we cramped, we got the hormone crankies, had to wear little mattresses between our legs or insert tubular, packed cotton rods in places we didn't even know we had. Our next little rite of passage (premarital or not) was having sex for the first time which was about as much fun as having a ramrod push your uterus through your nostrils (IF he did it right and didn't end up with his little cart before his horse), leaving us to wonder what all the fuss was about.Then it was off to Motherhood where we learned to live on dry crackers and water for a few months so we didn't spend the entire day leaning over Brother John. Of course, amazing creatures that we are (and we are), we learned to live with the growing little angels inside ussteadily kicking our innards night and day making us wonder if we were preparing to have Rosemary's Baby.Our once-flat bellies looked like we swallowed a watermelon whole and we pee'd our pants every time we sneezed. When the big moment arrived, the dam in our blessed Nether Regions invariably burst right in the middleof the mall and we had to waddle, with our big cartoon feet, moaning inpain all the way to the ER.Then it was huff and puff and beg to die while the OB says, "Please stop screaming, Mrs. HearMeRoar. Calm down and push. Just one more good push(more like 10)," warranting a strong, well-deserved impulse to punch the***** (and hubby) square in the nose for making us cram a wiggling,mushroom-headed 10-pound bowling ball through a keyhole.After that, it was time to raise those angels only to find that when all that "cute" wears off, the beautiful little darlings morphed into walking, jabbering, wet, gooey, snot-blowing, life-sucking little poop machines.Then come their teen years. Need I say more?When the kids are almost grown, we women hit our voracious sexual prime in our early 40's - while hubby had his somewhere around his 18th birthday.So we progress into the grand finale: "The Menopause," the Grandmotherof all womanhood. It's either take HRT and chance cancer in those now seasoned "buds" or the afore mentioned Nether Regions, or, sweat like a hog in July, wash your sheets and pillowcases daily and bite the head off anything that moves.Now, you ask WHY women seem to be more spiteful than men when men get off so easy INCLUDING the icing on life's cake: Being able to pee in the woods without soaking their socks...So, while I love being a woman, "Womanhood" would make the Great Gandhi a tad crabby. Women are the "weaker sex"? Yeah right.! Bite me. Pink Lady

Music tag

2005-01-31T09:07:00.000-06:00

My sister Kathy just tagged me with a few questions regarding music. It seems as though she was tagged by a fellow blogger with a few of the following questions and wanted to see what my answers might be. So here it goes,question one, What are the total music files on your computer? I have no idea. I have a ton of music on my Napster playlist, but I usually end up burning it onto a CD to play while I paint in my studio. Question #2- What is the last CD purchased. I just purchased Frou Frou's latest CD a few weeks ago and I love it. I also purchased one by Seether, because of the duet with Amy Lee from evanescense(don't know if I spelled that correctly). The rest of the CD is hard core, but I like it when I am full of angst. Question#3- What is the last song I listened to before I received these questions? Hmmm, I think it was Let Go by Frou Frou. That has become one of my favorite songs to paint by lately. Last question- Name 5 songs that mean something to you and why. This is a hard one for me. I would have to say Everybody Knows by Leonard Cohen is at the top of my list because it always brings to mind all of the double talk that goes on in politics in our society. Let Go by Frou Frou is one I have listened to a lot lately. The lyrics,

"there's beauty in the break down,"

became the title of one of my more recent paintings,because it made me think about the way events or moments in time can be perceived. There is beauty in the good and the bad because there is always something to be learned from either. I love any song that Amy Lee from evanescense( again, I have no idea if I spelled that correctly) sings. Her voice is so amazing that I get very absorbed in the music-especially if I am painting or letting out my inner diva in the car and attempting to belt out a tune along with her. The band Cake is at the top of my list. I love their rendition of I Will Survive. Their music is humorous and edgy, but I usually have to play most of their unedited music after the kids go to bed. My last song is Somebody Told Me by the Killers. It makes think of the club scene and dancing. It is also fun to rock out to in the car. I am definitely one of those scary people that sings along without abandon while driving along in my car. My kids have been known to ask me to tone it done a bit. Oh well, score one for the embarrassing mom bit.

This is a picture created while listening to Frou Frou and is about my children. The working title is Welcome to My World.

Shindig

2005-01-28T12:12:00.000-06:00

It's official, I'm so tired of winter! This is the time of the year to apply to all the art fairs one can possibly find to sell work and get a thick skin to deal with the inevitable rejection letters. Next month I will be showing in a new gallery out in Wilmar, Minnesota called Buffalo Fish Fine Art. This is a brand spanking new place, just built by two young entrepreneurs, who are hoping to bring a little culture to their small town. The opening night party is on Friday, February 4. It sounds like they are really doing this up right. They even hired a well known area musician to play for their guests. I'm excited to go-I really need to get out. I am also excited that I will be able to exhibit my new work there in August of this year for a one month solo show. My pieces have gotten quite large lately, I'm worried that they won't fit into my tent this summer for the outdoor fairs. I need to down size my art! Since it has been cold and snowy here, all I can think about is my escape to a tropical island. These thoughts are now permeating my work . I haven't come up with a title for this piece so if anyone has any thoughts please feel free to post one.

California Dreaming

2005-01-20T19:17:00.000-06:00

I'm off to California tomorrow to visit my family. Yeah! I am so ready for a blast of sunshine and some warmer weather. We did heat up here a bit in the arctic to a balmy 18 above-that's sweater weather here in Minnesota. Thanks to Stephanie and of course my sis for your comments, it's fun to hear what people are thinking about. The new Apprentice is on tonight, I love that show! But, my new favorite reality show is Project Runway on Bravo. It reminds me of art school and it is fun to think about what I would do for the fashion challenges that are presented, not to mention it is just so fun to watch. It's official, I am hooked on reality shows, I sooo need to get a life! Well I'm just in a giddy state of mind thinking about my trip tomorrow-did I mention that my kids are staying home? I don't know what I will do with two whole days of free time. Hmmmm, I'm sure I'll think of something.

Dare to dream?

2005-01-19T09:08:00.000-06:00

I just love hearing about people who have a dream or some sort of wonderfully creative idea and decide to take a risk and make that idea come to reality. There are two such people in my life who have taken the plunge and dared to dream. My sister, Kathy, for one has finally gotten her online shop up at www.liquidskyarts.com . It is so cool. She has made these beautifully hand crafted necklaces and pins that are truly one of a kind. I just know her shop will be a success! The other person that I am so proud of ( I am officially in cheerleader mode now) is my good friend Nicky. She has just decided to fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher, but for her that dream comes with many obstacles. Nicky not only has three children but a full time job as well, and she is going to college for the first time. It has definitely been a while since she has been in school. She was a little worried about being the only thirty something in a sea of teenagers, but as she put it, she is getting her shit together. I think that she already has it together. As for me, I just canceled a show, due in part to the amazing amount of stress I was beginning to feel over it. This particular venue was requiring me to create an ungodly amount of drawings and paintings, and having them framed in such a way that was completely against my aesthetic which made my stomach turn every time I thought about it. So I decided that if it feels that wrong, it probably is. I am still working on some new pictures and I think it is about time for that wishful picture that I seem to paint every year about getting out of the arctic zone to a warmer climate. Here is one such picture titled Cheap Wine and Sunshine. What girl doesn't need a banana yellow jumpsuit and a pair of hot pink go go boots?

Cold Front

2005-01-13T17:36:00.000-06:00

It's officially winter and I live on an icegerg. Tomorrow it is supposed to hit 28 below zero which will mean the schools will close and my kids will all be home with me. Booooo. But on a happier note I have a new piece to post called It's not all Rainbows and Butterflies. This piece is mainly about survivng in a relationship and the ups and downs that are faced.
It is kind of a crazy image, but it feels like my life when I look at it, just full of things happening.

another new piece

2005-01-06T09:50:00.000-06:00

I'ts official, I'm on a roll. I thought that I would post one more new picture before I run out to this new pilates-yoga fusion class I'm going to try today. I guess I'm needing some spiritual bliss to get me through another cold Minnesota day. At least it is sunny out with a bone chilling high of 5 degrees! This new piece is titled Pay No Attention to the Woman Behind the Curtain. It is basically about being exposed. I like using references to the Wizard of OZ. I feel like I live in my own fantasy world a lot of the time. I will write more about this picture later, but for now I will upload the image.

new work

2005-01-06T09:38:00.000-06:00

Well it looks like I am in superwoman mode because I actually found time to finish two new pieces, take pictures of them, and find time to make a post ( I also baked cookies for my kids). Both of these new pictures ar rather introspective, I guess all of my work is in a way. The first picture is titled Beauty Before the Breakdown. I really love the way that this turned out. I have been struggling with my oil paintings as of late. I haven't been happy with how tight they have seemed as compared with my pastels, but this one turned out or at least I feel satisfied with the outcome. The title came from a song that I was listening to from a mix that my sister Kathy sent to me. That line beauty before the breakdown really stuck with me. It made me think of my mommy meltdown moments that I have with my kids sometimes. In one moment everything is lovely and blissfull and in the next we are all becoming lunatics. It must be winter!
I

thanks for looking

2005-01-05T18:37:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who checked out my blog/site. I do plan on updating my site, but at the same time I am trying to complete new work so that there is something to post, so thanks for your patience in advance.

Galleries to check out

2004-12-30T17:53:00.000-06:00

Hello to the two people that actually read this calendar. I'm finally adding a new posting( it's a miracle)! I have work in a few galleries on the outskirts of the Twin Cities- for all two of you , that's in Minnesota- don't you know! So, if you are ever in or around the Cities go check the following galleries:Tamarack Gallery in downtown Stillwater, 112 South Main Street, Threshhold Gallery in Mound, 2339 Commerce Blvd, Buffalo Fish Gallery in Willmar, and Everything Earth Gallery in Shakopee, 135 s. Scott street. I am also adding a few new pictures, feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

Life after medication

Beauty Queen

This is our last dance

Fall Shows

2004-08-25T19:46:00.000-05:00

My next couple of events are coming up at the end of October and on the first weekend in November. I will be showing my paper mache/ mixed media dolls at Shultz is in Stitches which will be held at the John Rose Oval Banquet Center located at 2661 Civic Center Dr., Roseville ,MN. The show runs for a week, begininning on October 30 and ending November 7. Hours are from 9:30-8:00pm daily. My November show ( Art for the Parks) will be held at Minnetonka Highschool on Saturday November 6th from 9am-5pm. I will be showing my pastel drawings along with prints and cards in the gym. This looks to be an interesting mix of fine art and craft. Minnetonka Highschool is located at 18301 Highway 7, Minnetonka, MN.

Chanhassen Library Exhibit

2004-07-26T19:19:00.000-05:00

I am currently exhibiting at the Chanhassen Library through the month of October.
The library is located at 7711 Kerber Blvd on the corner of W.78th street and Kerber Blvd. Pieces are hanging all over the library, but if you are interested in seeing my newest work head to the magazine room. My new pieces are hanging there. One of my personal favorites is a piece titled The Secret Lives of Suburban Housewives. Go check it out-no pun intended.