Flourish and Fetter Show

I just returned from my annual pilgrimage east.  Cass and I had some hilarious, some odiferous, and some treacherous adventures in Brooklyn.  (Thanks Russ and Robin for letting us crash at your place.) 

 We sucked up creative energy at the Brooklyn Art Museum.  And, yes, made a film.  Party Hat Dance Troop takes Brooklyn. 

Then, on a train to Connecticut where we discussed business at the Greenwich Workshop headquarters.  Twenty-eleven is going to be a great year. 

I got my autumn fix.  Here is the dorky line I used at least twice, which is two times too many: "Cause, you know, the cactus don't change color..."  It was beautiful, and crunchy, and cold.  I love bundling up.

Were you wondering about the fabulous hats?  Why, it's the Connecticut chapter!  PHDT is going to take the planet one city at a time.

And, of course, Cass, dad, and I had a great show at the Greenwich Workshop Gallery.  Thank you Scott and Chris.  I saw old friends and made lots of new friends.  

Wild Hearts can't be Broken

My film-making debut!  I just found a new hobby (cause that's what I needed).  This weekend, Cass and I made a sequel to our movie, Tell me about Dancing, from last February in chilly Utah.  PHDT (said ffff-dot, standing for party-hat dance troupe), episode 2, the Arizona chapter.  I got to edit this one and learned how to use imovie.  Way too much fun.  Way too many ideas.

We had so much whirl-wind fun this weekend.  Hun taught me how she makes skirts, we made little dolls,  party-hat props for our movie, went to a punkin' patch and saw pigs race, got chills in the hobby lobby, hardly slept, and squeezed in some shopping.  I always get the coolest stuff when I shop with my sisters.  I really needed some concentrated, spontaneous creativity, of which Cass is the queen, and my girls needed cousin time.  And, now I need a nap.  I'm so glad they came, thanks for coming over, sister!

It's getting very spooky...

Happy Halloween, cackle cackle.

Sunday Drawing

The flag I Bear

My dad is doing a large painting with young warrior women boldly bearing standards (huge flags with the colors of the values) looking mighty as worthy participants in the battle in heaven.  It's really powerful and beautiful.  I think a reaction to this representation is where my painting My flag is small I know, but it's not yours it is my own came from.  Maybe I was a standard bearer and carried a banner then, but now, I feel small.  Solid in my declaration, but not very loud.  A red flag, because it's the strongest color I know.  Small because I don't think very many people can hear me.  It may not be large, but it is mine, and it is pure and true.

My Flag is small I know,

but it's not yours it is my own.

This is another painting for my show with my dad and sister in Connecticut in  a few weeks.  But who cares!  (I really do)  My sisters are coming to town!!  First Hun (aka Cass) comes with her girls next weekend, then Sari is coming down to ride El Tour de Tucson bike race with me, and my mom and dad are coming with her for Thanksgiving!  I'm working on a list of projects, here is what I have so far:

• sew pillows
• or dolls
• make fleecy hats
• work on Halloween costumes
• a Halloween decoration or banner 
• Halloween dolls! monsters or witches
• paint the chicken coop (after we take a chisel to the poop, maybe not)
• Hun has been itchin to make something out of our chicken eggs...
• make a story book with pictures of our girls (or us, he he)
• or a spooky movie
• we can always make cards

Sunday Drawings

Enjoy God's Creations

 I love General Conference weekend.  We spent sweet time together as a family, I made spelt-kamut bread from whole grains, we got a 100-gallon water barrel (bring on the disaster, we're good for at least two, maybe three weeks), I had lots of time to draw, and was spiritually fed.  A wonderful weekend... that isn't going to end because my kids are out of school for fall break!  Woot woot, party time.  First, Halloween decorations.  Second, camping trip.  Third, get ready for sister and nieces to come.  

Oh, that I were an angel

My favorite talk was by President Uchtdorf.  He talked about finding our "optimum speed," which probably means slowing down.  There is so much I want to do, accomplish, and be good at.  I just can't fit it all in.  He quoted Da Vinci, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."  Sometimes we have to forgo good things in order to obtain better things.  Our self-worth ought not equal the length of our to-do list.  I needed to hear all of that, to better place everything in my life into proper perspective.  Love equals time spent with family, which is my highest priority and the key to harmony in the home.  President Monson shared a wonderful message about being grateful.  I have so much to be grateful for, I can hardly stand it.  So, I will try to "walk with gratitude."  

On Symbolism

Ursus

A visual artist speaks her own language.  This language is read in symbols.  There are a few that are common, even universal, but an artist's alphabet is crafted out of experience and imagination and is identifiably unique.  Everyone uses symbols, think bumper stickers and jewelry.  The flip flop, for example.  Put it on a tote and I will read you as one who loves vacation, sea breezes, and wearing pastels.  

One of the main purposes of my blog is to teach you my language.  Not an easy task, putting visual symbols into words.  I'll be honest, I don't even know what my symbols mean sometimes.  I paint them and know they mean something.  Of course, writing about my paintings helps me define and decipher the meanings.  

Take these "totems" I have been using lately.  A totem is an animal, plant, or other object in nature that has a special relationship to a person, family, or clan that serves as a sign for that group.  I know that these paintings are about identity.  I think my women want to take on or emphasize the qualities and traits of their animal totems.  Ursus is a mother bear who fiercely defends her cubs, is soft and strong at the same time.  

Also in this piece, she displays a colorful and happy house.  It is inviting and somewhere you would want to be.  I'm not sure why it is one-dimensional, maybe a representation of an environment she is trying to create.  A symbol of a symbol.  The moon?  It makes me feel like she is the protector, when all is quiet and vulnerable, she holds her cubs safe.  

Sunday Drawing

Camouflage

Camouflage is one of a few of my recent paintings that are about identity - perception of self and how one is perceived and such things.  I am just starting to put this theme to words.  I'll have to explain my use of totems and getting tangled in patterns when I get to where I can wrap my brain around it and wax poetic.

Here is what I love about going to art shows: talking art smack.  With artists and art appreciators (love those).  When I am showing my own work I enjoy hearing what people think about my art and what it says to them, I also enjoy "educating" people on the meanings and thinkings behind my paintings.  Even better, I love getting to talk to other artists about their art.  I was in good company in Park City last weekend as part of a group show at the Meyer Gallery.  I had wonderful conversations with Ray Bonilla, Justin and Sunny Taylor, Brian Kershisnik, and others.  If you happen to be in Park City, stop in Meyer Gallery for a look-see.  It is a brilliant show and a wonderful gallery.  Lots of good art.  I'm trying to underplay my excitement by avoiding exclamations. !!!

I also had loads of fun on my trip to Utah canning all week-end long with my sisters!!  Oh there I go with the exclamations.  We just have so much fun!  And we turned bushels of produce from their gardens into delectable jars of winter blessings.  An old friend crossed our path in the kitchen and said, "What good little Mormon girls you are."  Yes, we most certainly are.

From Rhubarb to Tomatillos

Sunday Drawing

Oh ya, I have a blog...  I'm so easily distracted.

My first drawing in my super cool new sketchbook that Nina gave me on my Utah trip.  Thanks Nina.  She made this from an old reader's digest book.  Some people are so cool. 

Of Two Minds

Then, window, let day in, and let life out.

A new day, what will you make of it?

I am of two minds.

Adventure beckons, but duty is impatient.

I long for Branwyn's salty breath on my skin,

and I hesitate to serve my ungrateful stewardship.

Alas, adventure beckons and duty is impatient.

I have had some interesting responses to this paintings.  By interesting I mostly mean not super positive (but, I have to say this is one of my all time favorites).  My publisher said, "It looks, it's kind of like.. um, it looks like she's... tweakin'".  Oh man, that's funny.  I had to tell him that it wasn't an accident.

The composition for this painting might look familiar.  There is a painting called Gabrielle d'Estrées et une de ses soeurs at the Louvre.  Gabrielle d'Estrees was King Henry IV of France's mistress and the tweakin' is symbolic of her fertility as she is with child.  In my painting the tweaking is actually a pea plucked from the plant growing behind her.  Her children are waiting (unenthusiastically) for their meal, and though she would love to sail away on a pirate adventure, she has to remind herself of her duties.

Meyer Gallery - Park City

This summer I took a couple paintings to my NEW gallery on Main Street in Park City, Meyer Gallery!!  On Saturday, 4 September I will be there for the opening of a group show called "The Modern Figure" with Fidalis Buehler, Fatima Ronquillo, Chris Miles, Brian Kershisnik, and Yours Truely.  I have five new and great paintings to show.  I am so excited!  You can come, if you want to.  I hope you do.

Come Sail Away with Me

Sunday Drawing

T.L.F.

A dozen years of bliss.
Happy Anniversary and lots of love to my Gavin.

Cheechako

I saw a hundred ordinary faces, and felt the only cheechako.

Cheechako: a tenderfoot, greenhorn, newcomer 

Sunday Drawing

Shot through the heart and you're to blame.

Naiveté

Only wanting to hang on to naiveté

A boon to those who don't excogitate

This is a 4"x4" little painting for my show in Connecticut this October with my dad and sister.  I still trip out that I am a "grown up" and every once in a while I don't like it.  But, it can't be helped, so I should try not to think about it too much and keep doing what I've got to do.

Flash Barroom begock Plop

The First Egg

A couple days ago we had a full on monsoon.  It had been threatening for a while, 65% humidity with the temperature going over 100 every day (pretty sticky and miserable).  So, we welcomed the crazy wind, flashes of lightning, and wild downpour that made lakes of our overflows.  At one point in the afternoon there was a clap of thunder that literally shook the house... and out popped Crystal's first egg!  The thunder scared an egg right out of her.  Just like on Goonies when the balloon pops and the chicken lays an egg to tip the scale and make the bowling ball roll and crank the gate open.  It's little and blue and so precious that we haven't cracked it yet.  We need more barometric pressure so they'll do it again, we haven't had one since (though, we look five times a day)!  I've been giving them extra treats like flax seeds, they need nourishment and omega 3s!  Love our chickens.

Sunday Drawing

Sunday Drawing

Titled

Poise amid the Hoopla

I've got a lot of hoopla.  It's like I'm living in a circus.  With all that is going on, I will keep my head up, and maintain my poise.  Even my little ids have managed to tame the wild beast and maintain balance.

...untitled

Alcatraz

Well, I can't say that I did "it," but I did something.  Our escape from Alcatraz was canceled due to San Francisco fog.  We did an alternate swim, which took us plenty into the ocean.  It was exciting and wonderful to swim with the water tossing me about.  I came a long way for this race.  I learned how to swim for one thing.  And, I conquered a colossal fear of the open water.  There was a lot of time spent thinking about how I could get out of this, but I am so glad I stuck with it.  Now, I have to do it again next year!  After talking about it for a whole year, it is pretty unsatisfying not to be able to say I did the real thing.  So, I have one year to get fast enough to out swim the sharks.

P.S. Thanks brother and sister for being so great!  Sari stuck with me the whole swim, even though she is way so much faster than me.  After the race, we biked across the Golden Gate and then some, and ended the long day with a short run so we could call it a tri.  We had a lot of fun.

Lions Roar

"Have I not in my time heard lions roar?"

She said in her best Shakespearian. 

She was staring into the lion’s mouth,

Stale meat breath and sharp yellow teeth. 

She was afraid, but in her heart she knew:

There is safety in valor.

She held on tight and moved in closer.

 Open eyed, the vapor hit her face.

She was staring into the lion's mouth.

After, she will say in her best, 

"Have I not in my time heard lions roar?"

Here is What I've Done.

I've painted a few new paintings and reworked some older ones.  I put a couple boxes in the mail today. Destinations:  Atlanta, Georgia and Park City, Utah.

Constantine reworked

I've swam long and hard, even done three open water practice races.  I think I am ready to escape from Alcatraz.  I'm off to San Francisco in a couple days.

Lake Pleasant 2k

Me and Kristin, my race-buddy

I've made 25 fleece hats, wood-burned the handles of 17 marshmallow roasters, made a dozen corn-filled sleeping bag warmers, and done every needful thing (I hope) that a young women camp director does to be prepared to camp and make sweet memories with lots of fun girls.

Up to Long Valley I go as soon as I get back from frolicking with the sharks.

Plus, I made 26 paper flowers to make our campsite beautiful.  

I can't believe June actually came and is here already.  A day or two after I get back from camp we make our annual pilgrimage up to Utah.  Once there, we will run Ragnar Wasatch Back, then relax by the pool, cook up some crazy Cul-de-sac of Fire extravaganzi, and ride our bikes off into the sunset.  I have somehow managed to keep my head on straight, and crossed everything off my list up to this point.  Even granola and trail mix for my travels.  So, here we go.

Found my Camera... few.

Sunday Drawing

Courage.

4

My baby turned four!

H.B. Ezra Petunia.

Country Road

Did a ten mile run this morning.  Threw some John Denver on my ipod before I left and it shuffled into place (right between Jack's Mannequin and Relient K) with the sunshine literally on my shoulders.  I had a moment, luckily I had phone with me to capture it.

Did You?

What I really do with my time:

Lest you think I'm in my studio painting all day.

On Mothers

The fierceness that comes with the role of mother is all consuming.  We love our children with such tenderness and vigor, and we toil constantly for their well being.  The realization that I am the mother-figure in these little people's  lives inspires me to work hard, aim high, and accomplish great things.  It is my greatest honor to be called mama.

Saturday

Seconds away from the finish line of my first triathlon. 

SheROX Tempe triathlon sprint.

I crazy love my new bike. 

For my New Gallery

I'm really excited about the new paintings I'm working on.  My deadlines are coming up, I'm working so hard!!  I love the energy summer brings. 

2000 meters

Pardon me while I conquer the world.