It's New Year's Eve EVE!

Still in complete shock that this year is almost over. I have about a day and a half to finish up this insane project of mine.  I'll have more to say about it once it is DONE.  Luckily I get off work today at noon and tomorrow at 1pm, which will help alot with freeing up some time to complete some of the paintings. I decided that as long as i finish the detail of the girls in the paintings then that is good enough.  there is alot of detail that i want to add to some of the backgrounds of the acrylic paintings that i'm working on, but there is just no way that i'll finish that part of it. especially since several of these paintings are commissioned...they need to be perfect!  I recently discovered a new way of incorporating old scraps of watercolor borders that i had lying around for months.  they always looked cool to me and i thought they might serve some purpose someday...and then it just hit me. *DUH* add them to some new pieces in a collage sort of way.  Here are two new pieces below that i did this with....

"The Seeker" 8x10inches
watercolor, ink pen, acrylic on tea-stained watercolor paper w/ cut-outs of previous watercolor paintings.
This painting will be on display in June 2011 at Studio 74 in Fresno.

"Melody" 8x10 inches
watercolor, ink pen, acrylic on tea-stained watercolor paper w/ cut-outs of previous watercolor paintings.
This painting will be on display in June 2011 at Studio 74 in Fresno.

  Also wanted to include some of my favorite Art Toys of the year! I'm pretty sure that all of these can be purchased from Kid Robot or maybe even SOMOS.  I just love how creative artists are getting with these new toys. Each year i am more and more amazed.  I still have yet to complete my first my dunny or munny. i screwed up at my first attempt, hopefully next year i'll get some done :o)

Tara Mcpherson's take on Hello Kitty...  own this one!

Wyger by: Sam Flores

Sweety by: Stephanie Levallois

Cobbler Dunny by: KADO

ACEO Originals

As the end of the year and the end of the 100 girls in 2010 project approaches i feel many things.  I'm overwhelmed with happiness, anxiety, and determination.  There is just over a week to finish the remaining 15, and at this point the thought keeps popping in my mind...can i really do it?? I definately do not want to half-ass the remaining pieces. The whole point of this project was to improve my abilities throughout the year and develop a style which is recognizable as my own.  I feel like I have accomplished these things but half-assing the rest of the girls would mean that I didn't learn anything right?  In an effort to maintain my sanity  as well as provide several paintings which could be extremely affordable to those who will be attending my 100 girls in 2010 artshow at Studio 74 next June 2011,  I created these 2.5x3.5 (ACEO size) girls.

first sketching, then line work on tea-stained paper

 I love all of them and loved working on them also. Each one is very detailed for being so small, and I think they will be a great item at the show and will probably be around $35 each.  The ideas for all 10 of these came fairly easily to me, and I was able to finish them all in a few days.  I (kind of) wish that I could make the rest of the 15 be this size as well, because that way I know for sure that I could finish the project before my deadline, but that would also be cheating.

The 10 ACEO's

 Above are all 10 of them, and now I need to find some really cute frames that will complement each one. 
The search is on! 

watercolor, ink pen and acrylic on tea-stained paper

watercolor, ink pen and acrylic on tea-stained paper

watercolor, ink pen and acrylic on tea-stained paper

Soooo it's onwards and upwards now...heading to the finish line.  It's so close I can taste it...

My latest acrylic painting

"Kindred" acrylic on canvas 12.2.2010

I realize that I take more time on my acrylic paintings.  I like the larger scale also because i can put more detail into it.  I worked on this painting off and on for about a month but started drawing it months and months ago.  I was unsure what to do with it after drawing most of the girl. but i did know that I wanted her to be sitting on a rock :o)

As I started to fill in the painting with color at The Treasury's Nov. ArtHop...it hit me which direction to take the painting in.  I decided that she and the owl would be kindred spirits to one another. So, the title became "Kindred".  I sometimes wonder if each person has a connection to a type of animal.  I used to think that my 5th grade math teacher was a mole in another life, but this was just because she resembled one.  (she was not a very nice lady).  I wanted to keep the color palette fairly simple in this painting, and I turned to ruby red, golden yellow, greys, blacks and silvers.  I really like how it came out, and i need to remember to let myself be free when painting...as free as a bird...

Working on the painting at The Treasury

Working on the painting at The Treasury (ArtHop)

And now back to 100 girls in 2010.  Just a little over 20 days to complete about 27 paintings of girls. yes the number scares me...but it's just a number and I know i can do it.  SOMEHOW! Thank you so much to all who have been following my progress throughout the year.  Your support is what keeps me motiviated to complete this, and I really look forward to showing them at Art Hop @ Studio 74 June 2011! 

the crazy week of art shows!

I need to catch up on my blogging, alot has been going on. so here goes...

the week of november 1st-5th was quite a busy one. i felt like i was running around like a crazy person all week, but it was so much fun!  tuesday was the day of the dead celebration & art show at City Arts Gallery. besides the amazing artwork, there was face painting going on, a fire eater, a magician and some awesome dia de los muertos costumes. 

"Day of the Dead" acrylic on canvas 2010 (i might add more detail when i get this back from the gallery)



collage of some pics from the show

the next shows were on thursday (ArtHop).  at Gorgon Isle Gallery, i had a few pieces in the group show, "breaking traditions". there was a really great mix of art from artists who work with all types of mediums. 

      

that same night was ArtHop @ The Treasury with artists, Linda Lloyd Pits, Josh Freeman and myself.  the show was great fun, i worked on a painting while i was there and actually several people were using their creativity that night...drawing and painting, etc... it was good times!  ReHop was the next night at The Treasury and it was more live painting and fun! 



collage of arthop & rehop @ The Treasury


Also on Nov. 4th was ArtHop @ City Arts Gallery where I had the 2 paintings that i had at the day of the dead celebration show, i didn't make it over there for that ArtHop though! 

*Halloween 2010*

this year, halloween was kicked off with an art show @ The Treasury Downtown gallery in Fresno.  Josh Freeman and I had our art on display last Thursday & Friday, it was good times!

Thank you to everyone who came by and make sure and stop by again this Thurday & Friday for ArtHop & Rehop featuring the art of Josh Freeman, Linda Loyd Pitts and myself!



photo collage from the halloween art show @ the treasury

so, i've realized that i like to paint and create art that is a little more on the dark side..and by like i mean love.  don't get me wrong, i still have a passion for the sweet and girly.  i think that my actual personality is stuck somewhere in between.  growing up, i enjoyed my frilly fluffy dresses, putting make up on my dolls and doing my mom's hair.  however i also loved to climb trees, play capture the flag and build forts. in high school i decided i hated pink, but it has become my 2nd favorite color (next to purple). now that i'm somewhat an adult, i've settled into my zombie & fairytale movies obsession.  a little bit spooky & a little bit sweet....yep...i'm happy with this...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2010!!

The Pink Show 2010

October has been a busy month, and it's not over yet!!  Full of cupcakes, the color pink and amazing artwork.  There have been so many wonderful events that have benefited The Pink Show, which this year raised funds for the ME-One Foundation.

I was honoured to have been asked early in the year to create a painting for The Pink Show benefit concert which would be auctioned off as well as used for promotional purposes.  I knew the painting would be a challenge for me from the very beginning.  I was incorporating buildings (yikes, i never paint them) not to mention an extremely awesome historical building (double yikes) The Tower Theatre .  I also wanted to paint 5 different types of women in the painting. some who have been through cancer, some who may have fought and won. some who have been affected by knowing someone with cancer. Each women represents one of us.  I worked on the painting every chance i got, re-doing the Tower Theatre's logo until it was just right.  3 weeks later i finished it, just in time for my trip to Australia.  I was so relieved to hear that Cynthia liked it after shooting her an email of the painting! 

                                         (Cynthia and I at The Grizzlies Game)

Then the events began! First, went to a Grizzlies game to promote The Pink Show and I brought the painting to be on display.  It was a hot day at the ballpark, but it was definately good to hang out with Cynthia and get to know her better. She is the co-founder of The Pink Show along with Mary Lozano who sadly passed away from breast cancer a few weeks ago.  The Pink Show began in honour of her and all people who battle breast cancer, and 5 years later has evolved into much more. I think that Mary would be so proud of all of the hard work that Cynthia has put into The Pink Show. 

                                                    

 (<-- me with artist Christina Martinez who created the art for the postcard)

Next was The Pink Show Art Exhibit @ Chris Sorensen's Studio & Gallery on Van Ness. It was fun to meet some of the artists and be among all the pink!  My painting  for the art exhibit is a portrait of my cousin Amanda who is currently battling breast cancer. She is a strong women and I know she will overcome it! 

Then came The Pink Show Parking Lot Sale in
the BeBeO's parking lot on N. Fulton. 
It was a great experience, first time setting
up an outdoor booth for my art.  A big thank you to Marty & Lupe Oftedal who organized this event, which benefited The Pink Show.  You guys are awesome!!! 

Last was The Pink Show Benefit Concert @ The Tower Theatre with musical performances by local musicians Steve Ono, Lance Canales and Patrick Contreras.  My Mom, Aunt Laurie, Aunt Dana and Jody came from out of town to support me and support the cause.  I'm very thankful they were there, I was kind of scatterbrained with all the people I tend go get overwhelmed easily. Thank you also to my boyfriend mom, Chris and her friend Gail who came out. Gail is the one who ended up getting the painting at the end of the show.  Glad it went to someone I know! 

So, now that events of The Pink Show are over...It's time for Halloween :-} I have a Halloween group art show tomorrow and friday @  The Treasury.  Then next week, Nov 2nd. the Day of the Dead Celebration (art exhibit) @ The City Arts Gallery. Both of these locations are new galleries in Fresno, and i'm very excited to be a part of these exhibitions.  I love that Fresno is welcoming new galleries and that people get out and go to Art Hop.  It's just really awesome. Ok, enough from me!!  peace, i'm out!

 Pics of The Pink Show events 2010

halloween print give-a-way

congrats to Shana Skiba Fugata and Anita Inverarity for winning the halloween print give-a-way on my Facebook Page!

I really appreciate every single one of you who follows my art on facebook...thank you so much :-)

The next give-a-way will be when 600 "likes" are reached!