First Give Away Of 2011- Marvel, Dream
I like the question idea from the last give away. We all have a lot to be grateful for, that is clear.
I’ve been thinking about what my January topic should be. I was going to ask what your resolutions for the new year are or what you want from this upcoming year but instead, I am going to ask for a name of a book or movie that has inspired or effected you in some way.( Or Perhaps, it just made you feel warm inside. ) I have been watching the TV lately and everything seems so glum and dismal and I don’t don’t want to start the year off like that. Let’s exchange inspiring and uplifting books/movies to one another. Wouldn’t that be fun?
My first offer is non fiction:
“The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. Read it, do it and change your life.
My second offer is fiction:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Just such a great story. I could read it again and again.
My Movie recommendations is:
Alice by Woody Allen. This movie is such a wonderful fairy tale and a real reminder that living authentically is the only way.
I will offer up some more as the month goes on.
I’d love to hear from you and if I do, your name could be drawn at the end of the month to win a 5″x6″ OOAK reproduction on canvas of the below painting.
Write your suggestion(s) in the comment section of this post. I am really looking forward this!
‘Marvel, Dream’
Deep In The Night Garden
This is a 10″x10″ mixed media painting in wood. The sides are 1″ and are painted red.
This painting is $110 and SOLD
The day before yesterday, Turner Classic Movies played ‘Pride And Prejudice’ starring Greer Garson. I couldn’t take my eyes of the HATS! They were all so elaborate but what really struck me was the amazing black and white Tim Burton stripes! They were a delight to my senses and I just had to paint one of these divinely beautiful ‘stripey’ hats!
This is what I was thinking as I did this painting:
Deep In The Night Garden
She thinks so deeply for someone so young
The world’s troubles painfully worn behind her eyes
She would rather walk in the air of the night garden, her eyes wide open
Than be tucked in bed, her eyes shut tight
Asleep, she can no longer control where her mind wanders
Asleep, she must go where her dreams take her
Not where she dreams to be taken
She would prefer to walk deep into the night garden
Eyes wide open
She’s Just A Little Girl
This is a 6″x12″ mixed media painting on clayboard. The sides are painted red with newsprint butterflies and are 2″ deep.
This painting is SOLD
This is something that I have to remind myself often. Especially when it comes to my seven-year old, I find it much easier to remember when it comes to my four-year old. I always have. I have always expected more from Imogen. When I look back on what I expected from her when she was four I kind of cringe. I guess this the curse of being the oldest and born to an older mother who was set in her ways perhaps, and had way to long to build those expectations. You know what I mean. The times when we would see children in public and think, “if they were my kids ….” (fill in the black with all of your ‘non parent’ wisdom HERE). Or, on the other side of that, when I was trying to have a child unsuccessfully for five LONG years and I would see a mother or father completely ignoring their kid begging for gum as they were standing in the line to buy groceries and I would think “NEVER! I will NEVER ignore my children, I will talk to them, I always engage them in stimulating and meaningful conversation”. I didn’t realize that they weren’t ignoring their kids they were simply WORN OUT. They can do that, you know, after the 100th time or begging for something in the grocery store, that DOES tend to happen.
This all being said, I must remember she is just a little girl more often. I know that I am a good mother, but I could be better. Couldn’t we all? I was watching TV making dinner the other day (yes, I have a TV in my kitchen! I know, I know) and I saw the worst thing I have ever seen on TV. I am not going to mention the show but it was basically about a mother abusing her child in the most horrific and twisted unimaginable way, and this is the stuff we were privy to. And the first thing I thought of was ‘ he is just a little boy’ and then I had to turn it off because it made me ache so bad that a child would have to endure anything like this from his own mother. What hope does a child in this situation have?
And as bad as this was, I have to tell you, it doesn’t have to be THAT abusive to have long-term scaring effects on a child. How about a teacher that tells a child in front of their peers that they will be getting a bad report card if they don’t start behaving? Don’t think that kind of shaming isn’t going to have a negative effect on a child. Unfortunately for the child and teacher, probably an immediate effect.
Anyway, I was just thinking about all of this when I was painting this one and I know what I have wrote it is a bit rambling but really what I am trying to say is those words ‘shes just a little girl’ were circling around my head but what I was thinking about was ‘they are just children’ and they are really delicate and we have so much power over them. We all just really need to remember to be kind.
Aspirations
This is a mixed media diptych on wood.
The sides are 1″ deep and are turquoise.
SOLD
Painting, painting, painting….eating it, breathing it, living it …. these are my aspirations…but they are tiring.
In Earnest …
12″x6″ mixed media painting on clyaboard
$200 US + $5 shipping
‘Dew’ (my three year old named her).
‘She wasn’t use to be being told no. Not ever and certainly not now.
How dare he! Well, he would be sorry. He was not match for her big liquid eyes, parted lips, porcelain skin and soft curls.
Watch out! Stand Back! She was just about to get her own way.’
The above is describing my painting but could easily be describing my three year old as well. Go figure!
Thomas –
This is a 11.5″x15.5″ mixed media portrait on 100% rag paper.
Today when I was going to pick up my oldest daughter from the School bus, my three year old was wearing the most interesting ensemble. Tan cords, brown leather knee high boots, a pink tee and a tan faux lambswool coat. Sounds fine except I have neglected to mention the pink princess dress and a pointy princess hat (pink of course) with flowing veil.
KIDS DO LOVE TO DRESS UP!
Here is Thomas. He also loves to dress up. Over half of the reference photos I was sent to paint his portrait were of him dressed either as Batman or Superman. It was his mother’s idea to have him wearing a cape and I instantly thought it would be great.
I chose Superman strictly because of colour. ( I do like red.) Personally, when it comes to superheros no one can hold a candle to Aquaman. Perhaps because he is mainly under water. ( Get it? hold a candle? … under water? … ha, ha … geesh … tough crowd).
However, I am not sure if Thomas even knows who Aquaman is. Is he still around, I don’t have boys so I don’t know. I am fairly certain that he never wore a cape, it just wouldn’t have been practical. I do know but I have always been partial to the fair haired male (except you Mr. Depp, you are fine as you are) and perhaps this is where me liking Aquaman stemmed from, OR PERHAPS, (OMG) me liking fair haired men stemmed from Aquaman!
Now that I think of it, I do remember when I was five, watching Super Friends while my Mum made dinner, standing in front of the TV, eating a raw carrot and crushing on Aquaman. It is one of those weird vivid memories that up until now seemed so insignificant. Perhaps, he was my first crush! WOW.
Hey,come to think of it, do you think Aquaman looks like Chris?
Girl On A Train
This is a 5″x7″ mixed media painting on paper.
This morning as Imogen ate her hot cereal I realized that appearances are starting to matter. Scarlett requested the curtain closed because the sun was in her eyes. I closed half of the curtain and left the other half opened. Scarlett asked me why I did not just close both curtains and I said it was nice to still be able to see outside. Disgruntled, Imogen stated that I should just close both curtains as a passerby might not only see her wearing the bib I made her put on so she didn’t drip on her clean clothes but also that Mickey Mouse Club House was on the TV. I hadn’t even realized. To be fair, I think she even found this humorous but I bet that would be different in a few years.
(OK, OK, I promise right here right now to never make her wear a bib again. A tea towel or a napkin would have been more appropriate for a six year old).
This painting makes me think about being clueless to her growing up. Sometimes I think I only really see my kids in photos. Look how old she is getting. She looks so young when she is sleeping or standing next to her 6′ 2 daddy. But in this picture she has some sort of wisdom I guess I miss when I am dealing with her on a day to day basis.
This Big
This is a 9″x12″ (2″ deep) mixed media painting on wood.
I painted this same image last year, an ACEO. It may have been the first ACEO I did. A couple of weeks ago I was going through my images, looking for inspiration, and I came across this photo again. It was taken when Imogen was almost three, I was pregnant for Scarlett. I think I asked her how big she was and she stood as tall as she could and stretched out her little neck. At three, it was really important to be ‘this big’. Come to think about it, I guess it is still important at six. Imogen had a big cry the other day because I made her get the size 13 shoes instead of the (big girl) size ones. Let me tell you, the 13s were even a little on the big side but she cried and cried and said ‘I am just a baby!’. It was hard not to laugh, if she could only realized that in a few years she will be wishing her feet were smaller so she could fit in all those fabulous size six shoes on the sales rack!
Give Us A Kiss
Here is a new Circus Girl painting …
5″x7″ mixed media painting on paper.
Kite Flyer SOLD
5″x7″ mixed media on paper.
We are at the lake. It is cold and windy … good thing Chris brought the kite. He took this terrific photo of Imogen flying the kite and I just had to have a go at painting it. I didn’t bring all my art supplies though and so I was forced to create with a few stray pastels and a bit of ink.
The Balance Beam
7″x5″ Mixed media painting on paper.
I am thinking that I would like to have some two colour black and white drawings to accompany the full colour images. This is me playing with that idea.
Six- SOLD
Imogen is six.
Six is kind of goofy but sometime very mature (actually).
Six is exasperating but there is something about six. I remember being six and I was ME. I was who I am today. I haven’t really changed the way I think or the way I approach a problem.
Take it as you like, it can be both good and bad …
This is a new 24″x24″ mixed media painting on wood. It is $500 + Shipping.
Innocence – SOLD
This is a 4″x8″x3″ mixed media painting on canvas.
My first baby girl turns 6 tomorrow. How did that happen?
Wow. She is amazing to me.
A Commission And Then Off Again!
This is a new portrait I just finished. It is mixed media, 11.5″x15.5″ on rag paper.
I have been so crazy busy, unpacking only to repack again. We were in Grande Prairie for my art show ‘Moving Life’ ( I sold 11 paintings!) and now I am trying to get ready to go to Victoria. Poor Imogen is missing a lot of kindergarten but she had a wonderful time in GP and always loves her trips to Victoria so…..it is worth it to me. I guess that this will have to change next year, we can’t be missing too much of grade one.
Anyway, this portrait is what I have been up to painting wise. I am also working on another doggy portrait. (Another cutie … but you’ll just have to wait to see that one.)
Cat Dancing
This is a new 8.5″x11′ mixed media painting on rag paper.
I once had a book on cats that paint. It was pretty hilarious. So, if cats paint, surely it is not that much of a stretch to think that they could dance as well. If Beijing did dance, Imogen would definitely be his partner.
Concentration
This is a new 8.5″x10.5″ mixed media painting on paper. I was going to name it ‘Girl With A $500 Cat’ (grrrrrrrr …)
But
‘Concentration’ really seems to sum it up.
SOLD
8.5″x10.5″ mixed media painting on paper.Heidi Hair and Polka Dots- SOLD
16″x20″ mixed media painting on canvas.
When I was a little girl my favorite hairstyle was ‘Heidi hair’. I remember a book I had by Judy Blume (I think?) with a girl on the front, who had dark hair (like me) donned in a ‘Heidi doo’ with a big red gladiola on the side. I loved this paining, I think because I thought it looked like me. I remember I loved the book too but I just can’t remember the title … ???*** Boy haven’t thought about that in awhile.
Well here I go again, living vicarioulsy through my kids. I love putting Imogen’s hair up this way. She thinks she looks like a princess but hates all the pins it requires. It does takes a lot of pins! Boy does that kid have thick hair!
**** It was “Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself”
Friends
This is a new mixed media painting I did on paper. It is 11.5″x15.5″.
Funny enough, well, not funny at all, Beijing tried to jump on top of the fridge today and fell and hurt his leg. He is at the vet right now, under observation. Ching, ching (that is the sound of money …booooooo hooooo).
SOLD
Striped Socks, Yellow Hat and An Orange Cat …Finished
This is a 3’x5′ mixed media painting on canvas.
SOLD
The Accomplishment
Remember when you learnt how to tie your own shoes? It was quite the feeling of accomplishment.
I did this 9″x12″ mixed media painting today and guess what? Imogen tied a bow! WOW! She was so excited. There were high fives all around, even Scarlett was in on it.
The only thing that you don’t need when you are trying to tie your shoe is a cat. Ever noticed how they like long stringy things?
SOLD
Girl With Argyle Socks
Finally! A new painting! Get ready ’cause I will be working like a fiend for the next little while and you will be bombarded with new images.(Fingers crossed). I am having a show in Grande Prairie on May 9th and I need to work my butt off to make sure I have enough pieces. Yeah!
SOLD
