June 29, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Our Artwork
My latest work in progress, they wait for varnish and then the walls of a classy home theater company for an informal show. Return to pomegranates and cedar waxwings. Couldn’t resist glittering geometry in the botany mix, eventually all of them will be sparkling.
June 29, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Uncategorized
The honey bees, they were in my yard, down the street in a shining tower of white boxes, perching on my sugar bowl and humming throughout my childhood. . . Mollie is the champion of all lists, but I think I might just attempt one just for the sake of memory tallying.
the shallow tubs of honey butter my grandfather gifted all his children at Christmas
giant, giant amber jars crystalizing in the basement, purchased by my very thrifty father
a small house across from the grocery store in the middle of my hometown, a big stack of pastel hives perched on the roof
my grandmother’s kitchen, the smell that was left after she poured hot beeswax into ceramic molds in the shape of baskets and rabbits
this video, one of my top ten strange sesame street shorts, the gorgeous lady in the netted hat, she was my hero, the epitome of courage and grace as she smoked those bees to that weird weird music
June 28, 2010 | Posted By: Chris
Filed Under Chris, History of Redemption, Our Artwork
Hey everyone, remember me? My name’s Chris, I’m actually the husband of the amazing woman who runs this blog nowadays, since she’s been posting such amazing stuff the past year or so I kind of gave up on the idea of doing any posts, since Annie does such a fine job at it. Her posts are like poetry. What could I possibly add to this beautiful slice-of-life blog of hers that makes our artsy lives look so freaking interesting? (wink wink)
But hey, I’m still around, eyebags and all, drawing stuff for people in our hot and humid studio while blasting music over the hum of the fans, and I’m especially excited about my current illustration project… a set of about 50 pieces for an upcoming book called The History of Redemption. It’s going to be a really special book and I can’t wait to share more over the next few weeks and months, but for now here are some of the pieces, some in-progress photos of the original drawings and the finished illos as they’ll (likely) appear in the book…
I’m really excited about the direction these are going in (and I’m ecstatic that all my thumbnail sketches are approved already), I feel like I’m finally arriving at a style that feels personal, honest, and fun for me, and appropriate to the subject matter…
June 28, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Artist Love, Life, Like + Love
Acrylic mixed media paintings by Kaoru Mansour, I looked through every single piece from the portfolio. . . I could have posted every one of them. What delicate ornamentation, it is just enough I think. via Daily Poetics.
Tennis shoes I crave.
Juried Indie Craft Parade over the weekend with several other very qualified individuals. For hours we whittled away at almost 300 applications! Erin and Libby then had to make our refinements fit even more into the space available, so now I believe there are about 71? that were selected for the fair. . . and what a great group it is!!! I can’t wait, I’m saving my change in a mason jar. . . though I think I might need to dig a bit deeper, there were so many artisans who pulled at my purse strings. Erin will be featuring some of the accepted entries on her blog leading up to the event so keep your eyes peeled.
It was easier and harder than I thought it would be, jurying, so many more aspects to ponder than I realized. Every rejection I couldn’t help thinking about the artist behind it, and how it feels to be turned away. But I have been reassuring myself with several factors, and if you are a rejected artist maybe it will offer you some comfort (or maybe not. . .) - it was anonymous, we only saw photos of the work, no names, there was room for only one third of the entries, there were similar entries and we didn’t want to have too many of one thing, and also keeping a variety but unity in the style of the group as a whole. And really, I think you’ll really love the fair, its gonna be awesome and fresh.
June 25, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Life
A rescued blue thistle from an arrangement I was doing for a friend to give to his wife (how sweet, it must be nice, getting flowers from your husband, hint, hint). . . it was tucked too far down on a short stem to see, so now it resides on my countertop. Now I know where Dr. Suess got his inspiration.
June 24, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Our Artwork
Actually, this was partly a clock kit. . . you know, the usual thrift redemption with a few extras. . .
another Egon striped girl tribute I guess. . .
June 23, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Friends + Family, Life
A fabulous party thrown by my sister for a close friend. A surprise party, and it worked! Hours and hours of work for gorgeousness, and hurrah! a garland I made out of spectacular gold lame table cloth I found once. We stitched it up over the weekend and I have a feeling it will make an appearance at every party from now on.
Amazing food, bought from artisans, or made by Erin or friend Michelle . . .look at those chicken salad sandwiches! They were ridiculous. The best I’ve ever had. Oh yes, It was held in the gallery of White Whale. . . the perfect blank palette for a glamorous party. . . let us know if you want to rent it. . .
Below, after the photographer left (a great professional girl who took photos of us all together) we laughed ourselves into six-pack abs then voila, the decorations descended and we all went to bed. Here on my sister’s blog more photos from a camera with a wider lens and more, better stories. Try not to be jealous.
June 22, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Uncategorized
Top, little painting to be sold for this gulf oil disaster fundraiser, organized by Meighan from My Love For You (and several other blogs). I haven’t been able to bring myself to look at photos of the suffering animals. . . I’d rather just acknowledge and contribute than have those heart wrenching images burned in my head, I’m a wuss, the eye faucets turn on a little too easily for such things.
Frames, fabulous little frames, interesting frames, scored in one swoop for mere coins apiece at a thrift store. Its either feast or famine in the frame department in thrift stores it seems. . . They will be made into paintings for Indie Craft Parade, which, I might add is going to be awesome. . . this weekend I’m part of the jury (gulp) sorting through over two hundred applicants. Which is good for a first time art fair.
