The Story Behind the Illustration

Remember this piece from a couple of posts ago?

Well the class I am taking (see last post)

suggested we document our work.  

So here is my attempt to explain this piece.

As an artist it can be such a process to figure out why 

I do what I do.

Sometimes there are so many conflicting thoughts dancing in my head,

and sometime I just let the dream become real without much thought,

and sometimes it is more of a technical exercise than a visceral one.

I wasn't really sure why I was so attracted to bell jars or "cloches"

and this exercise made me pull that deep rooted want to draw them

and attach a "why" to it.

Now to get this piece filmed and posted on Etsy

as well as printed large and framed for the gallery

and finish another painting for the gallery.

And off to teach iPads to little fingers later too;

just love their giggles.

I need a 48 hour day!  :)

some iPad illustration documentation

Happy almost autumn!

I just started Cory Huff's 8 week

Authentic Online Marketing for Artists.

The first step I am working on is to document how and why I do what I do.

Easier said than done.

So I finished this piece yesterday

and then took snapshots of it along the way,

put them into a collage on pic monkey

and voila...

it's a start.

Tomorrow I will show you more photos made into a collage 

with a written documentation of why I do what I do

and I will even be included -ha.

And now I will go back to making soup 

on the first of many grey days to come :(((

And yes she will guard all day.

My Autumn Reading List

So many art books,

so many wonderful ideas to spur us on.

Steven Pressfield says in

the War of Art,

"Are you a born writer?  Were you put on earth to be a painter, a scientist, an apostle of peace?  In the end the question can only be answered by action.

Do it or don't do it.

It may help to think of it this way.  If you were meant to cure cancer or write a symphony or crack cold fusion and you don't do it, you not only hurt yourself, even destroy yourself.  You hurt your children.  You hurt me.  You hurt the planet.

You shame the angels who watch over you and you spite the Almighty, who created you and only you with your unique gifts, for the sole purpose of nudging the human race one millimeter farther along its path back to God.

Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor.  It's a gift to the world and every being in it.  Don't cheat us of your contribution.  Give us what you've got."

There are so many snippets of wisdom in these books.  

I will share some over the next few months OK?

summer snippets in instagram

It's back to work for me next week.

And actually I can't wait to teach a new round of kiddos 

how to paint with their fingers on the iPad,

and how to make messes while creating mixed media,

and how to make beautiful oops (my favorite kiddo book),

and how to love what you create and not stop loving your God-given talent

that is right there in those amazing finger tips.

So looking back over the summer-

what can I say other than it has been great.

So here is a brief review with instagram.

Follow me with that little button over on the right if you want.

 Ahh Carmel California...sigh.

We flew into San Jose and then 

drove down the coast to visit my dad in So Cal.

 I finally found my own heart rock!!!

 Grapes toasting in the sun at the San Louis Obispo mission.

 I still think palm trees are rather funny looking.

 Pomegranates!

 A painting at the Huntington Library in Pasadena-

a gem of a place with art museums and botanical gardens.

 This friendly fellow at Sherman Gardens in Corona Del Mar - 

another hidden gem of a botanical garden.

 Beets from our wonderful farmer's market.

 An amazing looking plant from So Cal.

Bougainvillea from So Cal.

 As much as I love traveling to new places,

it's always good to come back home

and just sit on those warm evenings and cherish family.

Notice the black cat looking out the screen door 

and a very old corgi asleep on the stoop.

 We had a very special visit from our Pennsylvania son, 

our daughter-in-law and sweet Sophie.

What a special treat as they hadn't been here in two years.

This photo just cracks me up.

 And this one melts my heart.

This was the morning they left

and Sophie graced me with a nap

and small baby noises as she slept away.

Again sigh...

 And I got my Etsy shop up and running again.

Finished this guy yesterday and will get him listed soon.

 But I would escape to the beach in a heartbeat if given the chance.

:)