The start of tiny arts.

The start of tiny arts.
Originally uploaded by michele_maule
I've been asked to participate in a tiny art show at Tilde, in Sellwood, this coming December!

I got started on working on these 4x4" panels today. I'm thinking about doing 6 collage pieces, and 6 simpler pieces.

We'll see. I'm focusing on what I want to create rather than what I feel people will want to see. The ongoing struggle of an artist/people pleaser :)

I've been taking a lot of time to mull my art over. Taking my time, writing, and wandering around the city. I'm hoping to absorb all the inspiration that I can from the place I live.

In other news, I found another lump on Chloe last week. I'm taking her in to the vet tomorrow. Send good, positive, thoughts our way. Not that we'll need them, because it's just a weird little bump, right? :)

Fall

Well, the official first day of Fall is about a week away, and it's already feeling very Fall like today.

Grey skies, cool air, and I even saw some leaves changing color on my walk with Chloe this morning. Where did Summer go? I feel like it had just gotten here last week. Oh well, that's Summer in Oregon. Gone in a blink of an eye.

I've already started prepping myself for the long winter. I'm envisioning lots of tea and cozy blankets. all I'm missing right now is a new winter coat and some new rain boots. My blue boots have giant holes in them... I guess they don't make rubber boots like they used to...

In other news, I got so much work accomplished today! I organized over 300 greeting cards and got some new paintings listed in my Etsy shop. The upside to not selling a lot at a show is that you're able to add all of that hard work to your Etsy shop when it's over. Now, hopefully people will enjoy them there! Maybe enough to purchase one ;)

Silver linings exist everywhere.

almost here

Well, my show in Fayetteville, Arkansas opens this week!

This Thursday, you can see my work here, at the Fayetteville Underground.

I'm really excited, and I wish that I could be there. However, I will not be, but if you live close, please stop by!

These are some of the pieces that will be there. :)

almost there!

Oh my! I'm getting closer and closer to finishing the paintings for an upcoming show in Arkansas!

I'm excited to be done with this body of work, and I'm getting excited about the next show I'll be working on.

I think these two paintings are done. They're almost done, anyway :)

I'm hoping to be completely done by this time next week. I really hope I am because the weather is getting beautiful and I would really love to take a day off so I can enjoy it!

Chloe is LOVING this weather. Chloe gets to hang out in the back yard while I paint in the garage. She loves the sunshine and the grass. She's been doing a lot of sunbathing lately and that makes her a happy dog.

Finished!

Yay!

I got some paintings finished and listed in my Etsy shop!

go me!

You can see them here, and here, and here!

I bought galkyd yesterday and I've been playing around with it today. If you're not familiar with galkyd, it's a oil paint medium. It allows for faster drying time and it acts as a type of varnish, so it can really pull your painting together.

anyway, it's been a fun experiment thus far. I hope it looks alright on my paintings. Fingers crossed!

New Paintings!

I've spent the past couple of days hunkered down in my garage/studio painting my little heart out.

So far I'm happy with the progress I've been making. While editing the photos for this post, I noticed a couple of changes I'd like to make, but overall I'm pleased.

I always tend to have a them with my series, but I don't really have one for these paintings. I've been looking back at my photos from this past year, and picking the ones that I find myself drawn to the most. Pretty simple :)

Workity, Work, Work

I got so much painting done today and yesterday!
Go me!

I started painting the wood floor thinking I might not be able to do it...but it is actually turning out okay! I'm not really liking the shoes in the chair painting, and I'm pretty sure I want to change the yellow chair, to a dark brown chair, but I'm liking everything else so far.

It has been so beautiful in Portland the last couple of days. Sorry to those of you who are still in the depths of winter. I'm not trying to brag...hehe. Chloe and I have been out and enjoying it as much as we can.

We found these cute little pine cone things on our morning walk. I think I might have to paint them.

It's been such a busy week! Last week was also very busy! I'm leaving for a vacation the week after next and I am so ready.

Perfect Day

I had such a great day. whoohoo!

I spent most of my day in my studio, and when I emerged it was 50 degrees and sunny! It was so beautiful. So I took Chloe to the dog park and she played and played. That was at 3:30...it's now 6:30 and she is still totally passed out. Hooray for doggie exercise!

I came home and napped for an hour, and it was a m a z i n g!

These are the paintings I worked on today. They're going really well. I started a new one too...

Okie dokie. That's all I got for ya!

yay friends!

Hey!

2011 is becoming the most social year of my life. I feel like I've had breakfast dates, coffee dates, and dinner dates every week so far. well, I guess we are only in the 2nd-going into the 3rd, week....but still! I never get out this much.

I must say it does get easier the more I do it!
I had a lovely breakfast meeting with the always lovely Ryan of Littleputbooks, and then met up with the also lovely Leigh of noisydogstudio. It was just what I needed to end my weekend of solitude in my studio.

yay!

I also got a new illustration up and here are the photos of the work I did yesterday. Go me!

Solid

Well, I had a solid day in the studio. Yay for that! I spent my morning, and most of my afternoon there. I started two new paintings and worked on my commissioned kitty piece. They are two portraits. One is of just me and the other is of Nate, and I. I'm afraid Nate is looking a little like David Schwimmer...opps. Oh well. Maybe he won't notice?

I had a great day and I'm looking forward to getting back in there tomorrow. I also added some new pieces to my Etsy shop. Yay for productivity! I'm hoping this motivation sticks around for awhile.

It's a beautiful, rainy, January day. I'm planning on getting some more illustrations done! Hope all is well.

kitties

I was finally able to get into my studio for the first time this year.
I started a commission piece for one of my co-workers. It's of her boyfriends cat. Sweet!

I have to say, I've never painted a cat, and so far it's been fun.

In other news, I have a show in July in Arkansas! I've been thinking about ideas and racking my brain for images to use. Every time I think of something, and go to execute it, I feel like it's not good enough. I feel like there has to be some big meaning and some explanation to what I'm choosing to paint...

It's been frustrating. Then, last night, I was watching American Masters on Jeff Bridges. What an incredible dude. I'm getting off topic...but anyway, he said something about acting and Hollywood, that really struck a chord for me. He said, "Don't take it too seriously."

I know I'm not an actor, nor do I live in Hollywood, but for some reason that really resonated with me. I'm over thinking things and making it too difficult...

So, next week, when I'm back in the studio, I'm going to carry that idea with me.

Getting There

I have a little over 2 weeks of full time work ahead of me.
It's been a little rough the last month and half. I feel like I've been working non-stop for weeks, but it's been paying off quite a bit so I can't complain :)

I am looking forward to having a day off and being able to relax just a tad.

I spent most of my day in my studio yesterday making these cute little typewriters. The teal one started to bubble up a little, so I have to go back and fix it...or start over...

In other news, it rained buckets here today! There's been some flooding and it looked like 4:30 outside all day.
I started day dreaming about summer a bit, then came back to reality rather quickly when I realized it was only December. :)

Hi!

Hello! It's been awhile, I know.

I've been pretty down in the dumps lately, and I didn't want to be a whiny-blog-lady so I just decided to step away from it for a little while.

I'm feeling much better now! I've been back in the studio and working away.

I've been working on some new paintings and I'm excited about them

In other news...
also, Cat, from Polarity, contacted me and is interested in adding some of my images to her beautiful lockets. yay!

I've been working with another group of artists who have started a new website. It's called the artisan's Collective, and I was asked to be a part of it a few months ago. It's up and running and maybe you should take a peek.

So lot's of good things in the works and I'm feeling pretty good about it all.

Thanks for reading! Hope you're having a good day.

New Work. Vacation is almost here!

24.5 hours until I am officially on vacation!!
Whoohoo!

These are the things I have been working on this last week.

I am really in love with the little birds...

It's hard to believe I won't be in my studio for over a week!

It's okay though. I think I need a break...

Hello!

It's finally summer here in Portland! Today it got up to 87 degrees! It was so nice and warm. Chloe loves it too.

We spent the first part of the day in the studio. I started to work on a custom painting. It's going to Greece for a wedding gift.
I normally struggle with custom work. I don't really like to do them because it's very hard for me to get exactly what the other party wants. also, sometimes it's hard for me to get motivated to do it. Especially if it's not my idea.

However, this painting is going very well. I had a lot of fun painting it today, and I am looking forward to working on it tomorrow.

Nate and I got up on the roof the other night and I got some really great photos. I'm thinking a new painting or two. The clouds and the power lines are so lovely.

anyway, hope everyone is staying cool. I know it's getting really hot in other parts of the country...

New Work!

So here are the paintings I've been working on today.
It wasn't the best day at the studio...

I couldn't get into being there. I really felt like I had to go, so I went, and didn't stay long. I wanted to come home and snuggle under the covers with a cup of tea.

I'm liking the bird painting so far, and I did something a little different with the typewriter painting. I painted the typewriter first, then did the collage around it. I like how it worked out, and I'm thinking I might start doing this with other paintings.

Quiet Time

I'm sitting in my apartment and it's oh so very quiet. I can only hear Chloe snoring and the sound of the washing machine in the basement.I've been doing a lot of work the past couple of days. I've gotten back into my studio and it feels so right. I'm working on some new paintings (although, I don't know what the subject is going to be) and I have also started a new, secret, project. I'm really happy with it so far, and I am looking forward to sharing it, once I work some more details out.
I'm really taking my time with this project too. I know for a long time I keep telling myself to slow down, take time to create. Sometimes I feel this mad dash to get new things made and listed in my Etsy shop. I get it in my head that I need to make, make, make, now, now, now. Like if I don't get something made and listed my shop is going to fall into oblivion.

I think it's important to list new items frequently, in order to drive traffic to your shop, but I am trying to let go of this now, now, now mentality. I want to be happy with the things I am making and I don't want to turn my art into some sort of production line.

Lost.

I lost my camera.
Poop on a stick. I hope it shows up quick. Really quick.
Otherwise I have to get a new one...

and, well, that's not exactly in the cards right now.
Not unless I win the lottery. and considering I don't play the lottery, my odds of winning that are literally zero. Maybe now would be a good time to start that...

anyway, I did manage to borrow a camera today so I could photograph the painting I've been working on for the craft book cover. It's not the best photo, the boots in the painting look so awesome. Really. I had a lot of fun painting them.

Well, if anyone has a good camera recommendation, please let me know.
I might very well be in the market for a new one.

So Busy.

Yikes! I feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day for everything I need to get done.

Here are the paintings I promised. Only a couple though, and they are far from being done. But I thought a sneak peek would be nice :)

I hope I get them done before March...oh I really really hope so.

On another note, I am so happy being in my studio. I'm am so happy that I share a space with so many other great people/artists. Michelle Ramin invited me to her studio this afternoon and we drank tea and talked art. It was just what I needed this afternoon. I wasn't feeling particularly inspired or motivated, but that little bit of conversation helped. yay!

One more thing...if you haven't voted please do!
I think the polls close tomorrow, or maybe tonight, I'm not sure...but I'd love it if you did vote for me :)

http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/2010/01/poppies-vote-no-4-affordable-art-artist.html

Thanks to everyone who has already voted!! I really appreciate it.
Okay, laundry and blog interview questions await me :)