It took a little while, but I finally got a photo of my latest quilt, Forest in Bloom. I actually started and finished this quilt in one marathon session, buying the fabric at 5:30 pm and finishing at 3 am. Sometimes I get some crafting adrenaline going and I can't stop! The new owner of this quilt is very happy with it.
Caspar!
I painted Caspar for one of my best (most repeated!) clients. She loved him.
Weird American Flag
I wanted to sew a flag that reflects my current patriotism: I love America but something just doesn't feel right.
I used orange, mint green, bright blue, and yellow for this flag. It has 42 stars.
Rosie
I rarely paint pets from life (because they move to much!) but I did this sketch of a nice lab/pit mix named Rosie a few weeks ago. She is a good girl.
Coyote Mobile
As I was making this mobile for a friend's baby, I was reminded of my time in Saguaro National Park. I was painting the Saguaro cacti at dusk and coyotes started to howl so loud, I was sure they were coming to eat me. Hopefully the baby doesn't think that.
Catch up!
I may not have blogged for a while but I have been making a lot of art! Here's a sketch I did of my friend Cat last week during Ladies' Craft Night.
Sewing up a storm!
I got a new sewing machine recently and I have been sewing up a storm. It feels good to take up a new medium and exercise a new part of my brain. I do not enjoy sewing garments from patterns- too easy! Instead I like to do a little sketch, brainstorm how to construct it, and experiment with my fabric until I can engineer the correct construction.
For example, at the Art Museum we have an exhibition of the past 300 years of men's fashion opening this weekend. On Tuesday I decided I needed something men's wear inspired for the opening Saturday, so I sketched up these striped wide legged trousers.
It's not exactly a high fashion rendering. It's on a post it note!
I went home, found some nice black and white striped fabric in my basement which had been patiently waiting for the perfect project. I folded up a pair of pants and used them as a pattern and just googled "how to..." when I needed help. Youtube is always my savior. I think they turned out pretty great! I call this look "circus pants couture".
Viola!
Everyday Wonder Woman
So I saw Wonder Woman this past weekend and obviously I thought it was the best movie ever. There were so many great qualities of Wonder Woman that I see in my girlfriends. It's very refreshing to see a strong female warrior that we can all relate to.
In the past few days, when any of my badass friends told me about a tribulation of their day, I've been drawing up a quick cartoon of Wonder Woman dealing with the same situation and sending it to them. It's just my way of putting a smile on their face and reminding them that they are Wonder Woman.
Rascal
This was the first year I got requests specifically for Mother's day. Makes sense, everyone is a mom to their dog or cat! This is Rascal, a very fine lady.
Sydney's twin, Chloe
This is Chloe, who passed away suddenly last week. Her owner contacted me for a portrait of her for his wife, who is understandably very upset. Chloe looked almost like a twin of my dog Sydney, who passed away 3 years ago. Same white fur with speckles, eye patch, black ears, and he even crossed his paws like this! I really enjoyed thinking about my own lost friend while painting Chloe for her owners. I hope it brings them much comfort.
Dog collage
This client had a very very funny dog for me to paint. First of all, his name is Mr. Cooper, Acquisitions Manager. Apparently when he was a puppy he would try to fit all his toys in his mouth at the same time. Also, he sits unlike any dog I've ever seen, balancing on his rear end. Also, he has a signature facial pose- head tilted with his mouth slightly open and bottom teeth showing. Overall, he is a very special beagle!
Unfortunately, Mr. Cooper Acquisitions Manager was not making it easy on my client to provide reference photos.
She was luckily able to snap a photo of him sitting like a weirdo, though. But without his famous head tilt or mouth ajar.
She finally was able to send me this photo of him with his mouth open! Not the best photo for a painting reference, but I got the idea.
So I ended up finding this photo with a google image search, and I used it as a reference for his head with the tilt, and improvised the mouth open. I think Mr. Cooper Acquisitions Manager turned out pretty darn cute!
I'll be sure to get a better photo in the sunlight and add him to the Pet Portraits section of my website as soon as it stops raining! Hopefully now you have a little understanding of problem solving when working with reference photos.
Oldies! and redesign!
I was searching for some good watercolor paper in my basement and found some works on paper I did about ten years ago while my brothers were deployed in Iraq. I had been meaning to start cataloguing more older works on this website so I started a new section of paintings, Soldiers. I'll add more paintings as I get them photographed. Check it out!
Finished!
I finished my second quilt of 2017! The Coyote Quilt!
Well, finished for now. I still need to hand stitch a sleeve on the back so it can be hung. But as a quilt, it is complete! I am very happy with this one. I really pushed myself on the composition and I love how it turned out. I even completed it about 4 months ahead of schedule. As soon as I finish tidying up my studio, I'll be on to the next!
Great opening!
Last week I attended the opening for "Small Works VI, by Webster Arts. They did not hang my mini quilts in the way that I envisioned horizontally, but I think they still work great! So glad to be included in this lovely exhibition.
Coyote progress!
I think the quilt top is just about completed! Next up- making a "quilt sandwich"- which is layering the quilt top (below) with quilting batting and backing fabric. I will use a loose long stitch to sew the three layers together and that will keep everything in the right place while I am quilting. Hopefully I can get going on that tonight!
Coyote progress!
The trees really add some interest!
I clearly need a bigger dining room table for the purpose of laying out my quilts! I think I will add a little snow to the mid ground and a little green to the foreground to connect the two spaces.
Coyote Quilt update!
I've been working hard and having fun building the quilt top for my coyote quilt. Here's a few pictures showing how an evolution in the mid-ground. Something about those prints just was not sitting right with me. Luckily, I work at a beautiful art museum so I took a trip up to the third floor to see some American landscapes, and I noticed how the mid-ground usually had rolling hills that folded neatly into each other. This was the perfect solution for my quilt, so I got to ripping. I love how it is turning out!
Old mid-ground....something is just not quite right....
much better!!
Join me!
Art Shows!
Spring is busy! I have work up in two shows right now.
I have 4 plein air landscape paintings hanging in "Lovely as a tree" at the St. Peter's Cultural Art Center in St. Peters, MO. Their address is 1 St. Peters Centre Blvd. St. Peters, MO 63376. That show will stay up until May 7. I also have my recently completed 3 Dogwood Quilt panels hanging at the Webster Groves Library in a show called "Small Works" from April 1-30. Ill try to get some installation shots soon!
Coyote quilt!
I got started on my coyote quilt last night. Here we have ten coyotes and one crow. Im excited to see this one come together!
