Tree of Life Show

Tomorrow I am off to Connecticut.  I managed to put together a show of nine paintings to add to my dad and my sister's pieces.  You can get the low down on the show by visiting our Tree of Life blog.

Outside the Garden

Like the Cheribim with flaming sword set to guard the tree, 

I have built a wall of brick to keep them from plucking at me.

On the other side of my father’s garden’s wall

I’ll ponder alone the world it’s inhabitants and all.

It will be learned with clarity and grace

The garden is more than merely a place.

The cherished fruit is sweet with pure love

Grown and shared by my family below and above.

Fire

So, my sister just posted about my dad telling her that, "It's time to put the sign on the door." He told me the same thing. He's talking about the sign on the closed studio door that says unless you are on fire, don't open this door. Our Tree of Life Show is in a couple weeks and we are trying to bust out some paintings.The thought of closing my door and making myself delightfully oblivious to my 3 small children makes me smile.  School is out, so in addition to the running bathroom sink waiting for discovery, soggy toilet paper and doll on the wet bathroom floor, little piles of chips on the couch and vicks vapor rub on every surface of their room, I get to hear, "she smacked my head... well she kicked me in the face... she took my polly pocket... she told me I'm out of her favorites..."  All this before noon.  As appealing as it might be to put a dead bolt on my door and play music really loud, I just don't think I could away with it.  

These innocent little angels?  Looks can be deceiving, 

suspect #1 on the far right.

Tomorrow we are off to a print signing in Boise.  A much needed respite before the final crunch.   

New Stuff

A new painting.

A newly finished painting.

A new start to a string of paper dolls.

Satchel

I'm loving this painting.  And my stripped pjs.  It is for our Tree of Life show (the painting, I'm not wearing my stripped pjs to the gallery).  I think my very busy life is suppressing the poet in me.  Hmmm... Satchel Tree, Satchel Tree.  Open the flap and you will see, my Satchel carries the fruit from my Tree.  Tree Satchel, Tree Satchel.  Close the bag, can you tell? The fruit is fragile in my canvas Satchel.

Did Satchel just become a weird word for you too?  I had to look it up to make sure I was still spelling it right.  I assure you, it is correct.  Unfortunately, I am going to work on the painting, not my poetry just now.  Sorry, I'll make it up to you soon.  

Alma y Corazon

My second finished piece for our Tree of Life show: Alma y Corazon

The spanish translation is "Heart and Soul." It is a bit of a play on words as the idea comes from a Book of Mormon prophet named Alma. He spoke of faith being like a seed, planted in your heart. If you give it continual nourishment, it will sprout and grow into a tree with roots and branches that will bring forth fruit. Then, Alma wrote, "by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure." As a reward for your patience, diligence, and long-suffering, it is yours to feast on and yours to share.

(Alma chapter 32)

Painting (Summer Part Final)

I've met my deadline for my first Tree of Life painting. I cranked this out in my dad's studio in Utah. He pushed me to soften edges and refine bits. As I always do, I learned a lot from his and Cass' input.  I love watching my dad and my sister paint.  I'm sure we have more similarities than we realize, but we do things so differently.  

From her faith and desire for goodness,

A tree with fruit of the purest love sprouted atop her head.

She willed them to partake.

If she could squeeze every drop of love from her soul,

Could it be untainted, so clean and white?

They will partake, they will be safe, good and eternally hers.

Tree

My plan was going great, I even managed to finish one miniature. It's a little version of "Big Apron, Little Girl." I plan to do a big version for my show when I get home.

It was going great, my painting plan, till my dad, my sister, and I were told that we need a finished painting advertising for our "Tree of Life" show by the third week of July. The show is in October, so this is unexpected. I have a couple half-finished... at home. I decided, rather than having Gavin send me the paintings to finish, I would start something new. Here is the drawing for the painting I will start tomorrow. I'm really excited about it. And, I am geared up and ready to paint like the wind.

Tree of Life, it gives us shade
Tree of Life, we've got it made
Tree of Life, I better run fast
Tree of Life, I'm late for class

Chump, Muthahardinyourfacejack, 1996