Tooth Fairy

Oiseau

I feel like such a let down when I don't have anything to say about a painting. Nothing poignant or profound, no deep meaning. Isn't it OK if I paint a painting just because it's pretty? That is all this one is, just pretty. Feel absolutely free to make it your own and let it express your innermost something. As for me, pretty will have to do. That is, along with a french title, c'est belle, non?

Desiree

I had a completely different vision for this painting before I started it. It took me on a wild and very long ride. I think I started it last summer. The last thing I did was lay in the red ribbon. It was an absolute delight, there is nothing I love to paint more than ribbons. For an explanation of the ribbon I would refer you to a couple posts ago where I went into detail of this ribbon as a symbol. Simply put, she is delicately bound by her passions, and quite enjoying the idea of it.

That said, let's name the fruits in this painting. Ahem... Mango, lime, kiwi, tangerine, orange, cherry, pomegranate, lemon, and pear. Spring is in the air!

Tangerine Dreams

This piece is ode to Lisa-Marie-Presley-Walker-Harris. It is named after one of the colorful pairs of overalls we found in the ceramic room at Waterford. She named them all: tangerine dream, club soda with a twist, something about lavender and orange crush. Though that really has nothing to do with the subject of this painting, it is a fun memory and a lovely title.

I let my little girls take colored pencils to this painting. They drew little figures on her skirt. Sometimes I feel like I practically wear my children like I wear clothing. Even more, sometimes I feel like they have been woven into the fabric of my very being. The rest of the painting followed the little girl's style, with lollipop clouds on a warm and wacky summer day.

Four

I called this painting "Four". I probably could have got a little more creative with the title. (Titles are not my forte.) I suppose I could say that about the meaning of the painting as well. I often express the things that are foremost on my mind, of which there are now three, by putting representations of them on a woman's head. Sometimes they are birds, or birds with baby heads, or sheep. In this case they are bird houses, dwellings. I used this symbol because the frame of mind she is in. She is feeling like a vessel, she is the keeper of the dwellings of her little birdies. So, here is the simple part: She is thinking about taking on a fourth dwelling, becoming a vessel a fourth time. But does she have room? Can she do it? Should she do it?

The buildings are the world. The other people, grown ups probably. She sees hers as a little more dainty, precious and beautiful.

I love the ribbon across the bottom of the painting, winding its way delicately through her fingers. I have found myself adding this element to a lot of paintings. I think it represents her passions, her voice and creative expression. It is grounding, it is truth, it is honest and essential to her happiness.

Poor Job

I had way too much fun putting this lesson together for the kids in church today (sharing time). These are people from the scriptures who testified of Christ. Job is my favorite, up front. He is ever so sad. And, according to my girls, he looks a lot like my brother, Pete. So, they made the lovely Mary Magdalene Jennie and played for a while. The lesson was a hit - definitely worth staying up till one last night.

Apis mellifera

Last night a bee crossed my path
across the dimly lit kitchen floor.
In a heightened state of emotion
I had just exclaimed loudly in my mind,
"This is hard! Being a parent, being
a wife, it's so hard!"
And there it was,
ominously under my foot.

The bees in my paintings
represent a dichotomy -
they sting and they make sweet honey.
My friend had come to remind me
this dichotomy exists in all things.
Sweetness and sorrow,
pleasure and pain,
courage and fear.

Then I squashed it.

Survivor Art Girls

OK, here it is. Survivor Art Girls take on Youngstown, Ohio. Enjoy.

Buckeye, the Nut

Boy did we have fun in Ohio. My sister, Cass, and I went there this weekend to do a show in Youngstown. I met lovely gallery people, made some fans and discovered buckeye cookies - yum. If you judge a show by the the gift basket waiting in the hotel room, this one wins! We like Ohio.

Cass and I made what we think is a very funny movie. Stay tuned, we'll post it soon.

Aesthetic Statement

On her Mind II

To strike a universal chord is a sound so sweet and clear and decidedly satisfying. You can rarely predict what will bring this outcome. There certainly is no magic formula for idea and image perfectly harmonizing to be received with comprehension, enlightenment, and/or edification. But, you can create from your heart, infuse your work with honesty and integrity. At some point one of your conceptualizations will ring true with one person or with many. And when it does, it's a beautiful thing.

The Anti-Liquinite

When I got accepted into the BFA program at BYU, that meant that I got a super cool studio space in an old house at the north end of campus. It was the first time I sat down to paint what was in my head and heart - not an assignment. What a great feeling, I was an artist. The painting I showed two posts ago was from this era. While working on that huge painting I got super sick. I have always had allergies, hay-fever and what not. But that spring I was in a sorry state. I realized that the solvents and mostly the Liquin I was using, closed up in that little room, were causing major chemical allergies. I later found out that these chemicals are bad for you, even if you don't show immediate allergic reactions. There are a lot of ailments that can result from the chemicals involved with painting - lead poisoning and bladder cancer to name a couple. Well, I found an alternative that rocks. I use walnut oil, a product by M. Graham and Co. I swoosh my brushes in it to clean them and leave them soaking indefinatly. It doesn't evaporate and it doesn't get a film or an gooeyness. I also use a walnut oil alkyd medium that makes the paint dry faster. Love it! If you paint you ought to give it a try. There are a few times when I can't avoid using some chemicals, that is when I wear this lovely mask.

Bonjour a la Trentaine

What is that over there? Oh, it's my youth.
Well, I'm thirty. And I like it. I had a wonderful birthday, thank you for asking. My sister, Sari, made me this ceramic pot "adieu a la vingtaine." Farewell to my twenties indeed. We had the best birthday weekend. My parents, my sister Cass, and my nieces were here to make it a grand celebration. We had so much fun, it was sad to let them go. Talking art talk into the night, making big plans, rockin' out, cooking, laughing and enjoying each other's company. I love my family! Thank you for the gifts and the well wishes. Here's to another fruitful decade!

For my Local Fans

My dad, my sister and I have a print signing at a gallery here in Arizona. The show is Saturday (tomorrow) at Decor Unique in Gilbert. We will be there from 11 to 4 with a slide presentation at one. Should be loads of fun!!

Self Portrait II

Well, you asked for it, so I dug it out for you to see. I painted this self-portrait a decade ago, when I was twenty or twenty-one. It was just after we got married and I was thinking about marriage, covenants, time, and offspring. It was a contemplation on time versus eternity that could make your head spin. It's a huge painting, almost four feet tall. It's good to look back from time to time and see how far you've come. It's also good to realize that though you have come a long way, you are still you and have maintained your you-ness through a decade of influences, opinions, outside ideas and expectations.

Self Portrait

She's finished, ...er I'm finished. Well, the painting is finished. My decennial self portrait (that means every ten years). With a crown atop her head she is imbuing the goddess within. The jewels represent her three daughters who gave her claim to the position. Perched on her head as they are continually on her mind. She gazes heavenward - giving thanks, seeking guidance, remembering to have perspective and balance. In one hand she holds paint brushes. In the other she lovingly touches her heart necklace with a "G" for Gavin. Her bracelet is skulls carved out of whale bone. It is a reminder of mortality. She wears an apron to represent chores and duties and the joy to be found in a job well done. And, it has a pocket to hold anything that might have been forgotten.

What I have been doing instead of Painting!

I have been completely and totally engrossed with this book. I couldn't stop reading! Much to the detriment of home, career and children. What can you do? My book club is reading it and it is all the buzz with us. I thought I would have to cram the 661 pages before our meeting next week, oh no, I finished last night. The Other Boleyn Girl, it's a good read.


Just as I finally finish the book, Gavin sets up Rock Band. He got a Playstation 3 with Rock Band for his Birthday. We started a rad family band yesterday - Phie Phi Pho. Miss Lavender rocks the vocals, Clo Clo rails on the drums, Clutch and Hartsy are on guitars. It's very addicting once you get the hang of it. Schools out for spring break, who cares about bed times! We were rockin' and rollin' till ten o'clock last night.


Check out these carrots. Gorgeous and tasty. We got them at Whole Foods Market (which I affectionately call Heaven Foods Market) last week. Between that shopping trip and all the delectable fruits and veggies I got at my co-op this week, I have been doing some fancy cooking. Last night we had lentil and barley soup with tri-colore carrots and plums. It was delicious!

Glitz

Just as I was using my Marie Osmond glitzer to bejewel my painting, (yes, I glitzed my painting, and I say why not!) what should come on PBS, but the Osmond's 50th Anniversary show! I glitzed away, while I be-bopped to Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. This made it rather hard to center, but what a moment! Thanks Marie. And thanks Kristin for betting me one Marie Osmond Glitzer ordered off QVC for nailing the last clay thingy at the shooting range. It was a sweet shot.

That's beside the point. This post it about the painting. I love it, she has a haunting look. But I'm not sure what it is about. At some point I will have to give an explanation, always do. So, what is her story?

What I'm Excited About:

My Crown. If you were painting a self portrait, wouldn't you have a crown? Be honest, now. I am the queen of my castle after all. With my three little princess in tow. An emerald for May, a topaz for November, and a peridot for August.


Bill Carman. He is a former student of my dad's and I love his art. Check out his website. He has done some fantastic children's books, and some day I will pick his brain about it. Have I mentioned I'm working on a book? Another post. Mr. Carman is a professor at Boise State. He has a crazy intriging imagination and does beautiful things with paint.


Granola. I love granola. I'm obsessed with making granola. I have made (and eaten, mmm) granola more times recently than I care to admit. One or two more times and I think I will come near to perfection. With a few small adjustments and additions, it's my mom's recipe that wins. I love that, "It's a family recipe. Sure, I'll give it to you. But, I'll have to leave out a key ingredient. I'm sorry, your granola will never be quite as good as mine, but I've sworn not to divulge the family secret."

Be Mine

Happy Valentine's Day!! I love this holiday. I wish I could decorate for Valentine's day year round. (Hmm.. red is my least favorite color, gives me anxiety. Small doses in the shape of hearts, accompanied with pink - that seems to make it better than OK for me.) I did not get to enjoy my decorations long enough this year - got them up late. Delia suggested we leave them for a while. Right on. We could count them as Easter decor, or better yet, Birthday pizzazz (|pəˈzaz| (also pizazz) noun informal: an attractive combination of vitality and glamour). I can if I want to, it's my Birthday... OK, it's Gavin's too, but do you think he'll notice?

Speaking of decorations, these paper balls were my Valentine project. I got the pattern off a friend of a friend's blog. She does some neat stuff and has a few patterns you can download. They were a little time consuming, and I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet. I'm sure I'll figure something out. Perhaps I'll give them away to some deserving friends who will wonder the same thing but will have to figure something out because you can't just throw a handmade gift away, at least not for a couple months to a year.

We have a super romantic Valentine's tradition. We (kids included) go to Village Inn for a delicious breakfast-dinner and pie. It started when I was big pregnant and was craving skillet sensations, catsup free-for-all, french toast, extra hash browns, and chocolate cream pie big time. It's such a randomly delicious idea that we stuck with it. So raise your glass of fresh squeezed orange juice to romance and gluttony. I hope you enjoy this Valentine's day!

My name is Simon

You will never hear me boast of my drawing skills. (I wear down erasers faster than... ezra can throw her bowl of oatmeal on the floor... again.) But, I do love to draw. I made a New Year's Resolution to find a figure drawing session where I can draw figures for an hour or two once a week. I'm still working on that - hey, it's only February. My yoga teacher always says, "Practice doesn't make perfect, but it does make us better." No idea what she's talking about, but what is perfection anyway? I would like to be better at drawing. I think my paintings would improve as well as my confidence in putting out ideas.

This drawing is done on a recycled litho plate. It is for a show at Art Access Gallery in Salt Lake City this May. I am doing four of them and they are all about what is on their minds. Dinner: important for little bodies who shun veggies, process can be enjoyed but often feels like a chore, usually interrupts quality work time, requires creativity and mental effort, efforts rewarded with deliciousness and satisfaction at fulfilling one's responsibility, tends to come around again every single night.

More to come.