Originals only

Vince and I in my tent.

Last weekend I had the amazing opportunity to be an exhibiting artist at Panoply in downtown Huntsville. It was a thrill for me to be included and my favorite part by far was watching so many from our local community interact with my work. So many of you came out to support me and I want to thank you for that. While I was sitting under my canopy, I also got to do some people watching on the sidewalk outside. I had the loveliest neighbors on either side of me- one a stained glass artist, and the other was an amazing draftsman. There were multiple times where people would come around the sidewalk and gasp and point at either one. And there were so many who said my tent was their favorite too. I love that! I think it would be such a shame if I saw how popular the stained glass artist was and tried to do what she does or changed my medium because I thought I might tap into a different group of people. Where would the collectors go who are looking for colorful cityscapes? We are all needed- artists and patrons, collectors and creators- of all types. I’m just so in awe of the many different ways that visual media can be expressed. I hope that is what you take away from seeing my work- that art can be a tool for connection, a perspective that your view of the world is needed too.

I’m a tap dancer in a world of ballerinas.

Growing up I was always encouraged to explore my interests. One of them was tap dancing. Did you know this about me? Maybe you’re a tap dancer too- maybe you watched the same old movies that I did and marveled at how much personality could be conveyed from the ankles down. I share this little fact with you because maybe it explains a little bit about why I paint what I do. If others are painting pastoral landscapes, I’m going to go a different direction, for better or worse.

I find inspiration everywhere- but most of all I’m inspired by individuals- the quirky, the passionate, the original. Funny that we call our art “original” isn’t it? That’s what I want for my work- that you would see it and know me better and hopefully see something of yourself in it. Because painting is more than ankles down- it’s a physical act but it’s also brain and heart and quirk.

Eating my vegetables

Well, all the painting I did this summer has finally caught up to me. I had not been doing a good job of adding new work to my website. Painting is so fun and I could do it all day everyday, but the admin tasks are just as important. So- I spent many hours over fall break having a photographer come and take pictures of my work, and then I started the process of taking those pics and uploading, cataloging, adding hanging hardware and all the bits that go with finishing getting each canvas ready to sell. I have another day’s worth of work to do with cataloging the still life’s and smaller works, but I am thrilled to have made so much progress.

Never empty the well

As some of you may know, I read Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast this summer. It is dog-eared and underlined and I thoroughly read it to pieces. One of my underlined portions was his tip for writer’s block.

“I had learned already never to empty the well of my writing; but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that fed it.”

I am using this in my work- to leave something for the next day. I love how it allows me to start work right away- to walk down the stairs and pick up my brush to finish what was begun the day before. I share this quote with you in case you’re feeling that it takes a bit to get going in your work- leave a little in the well at the end of each day.

A New Venture

I am not a woman of many words. But have you noticed that the social media platforms are favoring the use of fewer and fewer words these days? I love being spare and cutting to the chase as much as the next person, but in a world where I need to promote my work but also share the inspiration behind it, I’m at a bit of a loss. With this in mind, I am going to be using this blog for that purpose. To share a more behind the scenes look at what is happening in my business and with my art practice will be my aim.

When I was a young mom and staying at home with my boys, I read a LOT of blogs. I loved the little peeks into someone’s world and looked at the writers of said blogs as friends. I didn’t often comment on their posts, the dialog was pretty one-sided, but I felt a connection in a way to them. I hope as I share about my world that you will feel permission to share in kind. It is, after all, what we artists crave- connection with the people with whom we share our work.

Until next time-

My messy palette