Barometer Art

Because of how I dry my art, I am very in tune with the weather, and have to alter my painting schedule around it. I can tell if there's more or less humidity in the air by how quickly the paint dries. I wonder if other artists do this? They must. I already know that paintings dry *much faster* in the summer heat. I try to take advantage of this while it lasts and I usually have many more paintings in process during summer. Winter isn't as helpful. I spend a lot of time standing over them, willing them to dry faster.

It has its benefits though. I generally stand there and contemplate what I want to do next, and get a feel for where I'm going with it. Otherwise, I might throw some weird color down that I decide after the fact was a huge mistake. Contemplation is good. Who knew watching paint dry could be so meditative? At least it gives me time to hula hoop.

Fortunately, it's been warmer lately. Almost spring-like, even.

Barf in the Lake is just about done. Seriously. No, I will not keep that title.

Some color.

I've actually got 9 (!) paintings going right now. I think it's a record. Well, actually, the two color studies above are nearly finished, so really it's 7.

They're both studies of larger paintings that are also nearly finished. Yay! I'll list them (with the full set of pictures) in my Etsy shop tomorrow. I just added a little glass to them, for even more fun.

Of course, now that I've expanded my studio, I'm bursting out of it. I knew this would happen. The more space I have, the more paintings I start, and the more space is taken up.

Hurrah.

Fishy

(Why doesn't Colin have a blog, again?)

It's just as well, because I would post things like this either way. I love this beautiful koi, and for purely selfish reasons, I want him to live on my blog. Isn't he pretty?

This is Primary Koi, a fine art photography print by Colin, available in his Etsy shop.

This is the first Valentine's Day in many years that I haven't worked a 12 hour shift at a flower shop on the craziest, busiest, most insane day in a flower shop's year. I generally spend Valentine's evening in a bad mood and want only to pass out. Today, I woke up late, am planning to do some painting, and then have a romantic picnic dinner with my wonderful husband while watching LOST. Yay. :o)

... and we're back!

Whew.

I hate being sick. It completely rendered my creativity non-existent. I wasn't motivated to paint anything all week! That surprised me somewhat, because one of my favorite things to do as a child, especially when I was sick, was to color. In fact, every time I was sick, my mom would buy me a brand new, humongous box of crayons and some new coloring books. By the time I got to high school, I had like 15 boxes of crayons in my closet.

But, not so with the painting. I just couldn't make it happen. The few times I tried, the colors just looked like mush to me.

Maybe I should have bought myself a coloring book.

The upside is, I sold so many paintings last week that my Etsy shop hardly has anything in it! Yay!!! Thanks to all of you, it truly made my week a million times better.

Now, it's back to work. (And taking care of Colin, because of course I ended up getting him sick too.)

Chipotle Shrimp, here I come!

O how I love creative people.

I'm sure you can see why I think this is one of the COOLEST LOGOS EVER:


Not that I base my political decisions on logos. Much.

Other fun political/artsy stuff: Artist Shepard Fairey (of Obey Giant fame) made this awesome poster to show his support.


To view the second poster, check out the Obama poster page at Obey Giant. They were plastered all around California before the February 5th primaries.

Also, it wasn't easy, but after much bribing, Colin and I were able to convince a few more citizens to get out there and and exercise their civic responsibilities.


It's quite a year!

Top 10 reasons why being sick isn't as bad as it used to be:

10. No one to be shocked and utterly disappointed in me for letting everyone else down.

9. When I call in to work, I say, "Self, you don't have to paint today unless you want to."

8. The internet doesn't require me to talk.

7. Lost is on.

6. I don't pass along my germs to nearly as many people.

5. Massive amounts of tea.

4. Massive amounts of Advil.

3. Colin makes me homemade, delicious, anti-oxidant rich Health Soup!

2. A liquid diet jump-starts my fitness program.

...and the #1 reason why being sick isn't as bad as it used to be:

1. Jammies!

More New

Both in my Etsy shop, although the first one is no longer available. :o) (Thanks, Crystal!)

I've been experimenting with finely ground glass lately. It's interesting. Somehow, it's not sharp, but it does make interesting texture as well as making the painting super-uber sparkly (which is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible to capture in pictures.)

I did notice just today that there is something extra special about the way morning sunlight reflects off the glass. It's brighter and MUCH more sparkling than I'd even realized. I love the different colors of light. I should wake up earlier more often. (Yeah, right.)

I find it sort of funny that my mom used to make stained glass windows, and now I'm adding glass to my paint. Madness.