Look What I've Been Up To...Mural

Have you ever been sleep deprived?

Over Thanksgiving break I put in 48 hours of painting (I didn't even count the hours of consultation and planning) during evenings and weekends, after work, between running the Turkey Trot, and trying to stuff my face with the best brussels sprouts and cornbread I've ever had.

In the end, the client was pleased and I was tired.  I'm still trying to catch my breath.  I'm looking forward to Christmas break just so I can do nothing.

Mini Love

I've been a little inspired, as usual, by Valentine's Day.  Maybe it's the red, or the hearts, or the love...I don't know.  I just always love the images for V-Day.

And I've been more than inspired by Lyndsey's Valentine Swap.  I'm even entertaining starting one at work, among the teachers...bring back a little mailbox luv.  Would you ever do a Valentine Swap, kindergarten style, at your place of employment?

So to help inspire you to join the Swap and get a little bit of snail mail of your own, I've put a few new sets of mini-cards in my Etsy shop, where they share some shelf space with a few paintings from last year's (here and here) love-making (and by that I mean card-making...with hearts and such.)

A Full Retrospective

 

Goodbye 2010.  You were a very full year.  Full of love and romance,

God provided for us, in His timing, a new house to call our own,

And to fill to the brim with sunshine, love, and too much stuff.

Lots of crafts were made...paper, stitched, crocheted.  Too many to count, in fact.

While we weren't yet blessed with little chicks of our own, we've cuddled many a good substitute.

Spring brought a new song to our hearts, full of optimism and merry-making.

Being back in Oceanside to stay meant we could act like tourists in our own town.

Arts and culture were sandwiched in between good restaurants and the good ole Coastal Lifestyle we love.

July meant discovering Portland, and rediscovering most beloved family.

August was filled with too-short days of foreign-family visits. (Seriously, too short...always is.)

I spent our summer (and our money) decorating our bedroom and I quite like the results!

Not nearly enough time was spent painting.  Lilly and I were both a bit exhausted from other responsibilities.

School means back to the grind...where even parties are work.

This girl had a milestone birthday, ushered in with a non-surprise party which ended in smiles and rollerskates.

The year ended with my first ever Christmas Eve dinner hostessing.  (It was a smash hit.)

Fantastical Me

New original, now in the shop.

The meeting took place at the spot where they agreed, at the edge of the forest under the lantern of a full moon. Sensing the wise old traveler's sorrow, the fairy reached a hand out to comfort him as he began telling his story...

It feels so strange to be painting like this. I have never really lived in the fantasy world. When I was young I was never scared of monsters, instead I feared robbers and fires. I could never read fantasy novels and skipped out on many of those movies too (except Never Ending Story...loved it).

I also prefer to paint things that are part of the real world. I love capturing, not really recreating. I think that has to do with the fact that I feel I could never recreate better than it's already been done, I'd just like my own record of it.

I was really offended once when another art student said that I was a recorder, not an inventor. But I've become more comfortable with it recently. I'm still trying to figure out who I am as an artist, but I wonder if I ever really will unless I become one full time. I don't know...

Hurricane Season

It's always summer in Oceanside, but sometimes it's more summertime than other times.One of those times is almost here. Two more days left of school and then it's really summer.I walked into my house this afternoon and realized, it's hot in here. Last night we slept with the windows open, I don't really know if there is anything more sweet.Well, I'm holding on to the last few days and then, I fear, the real work will set in. Our sights have been sealed upon more than a few tasks to accomplish in our too short vacation, among them are remodeling the kitchen, redesigning our bedroom in as complete and thrifty way as possible, and gutting the art room at school to paint the long neglected floor. Oh, and maybe doing a mural, an illustration for another text book, private art lessons, finish (I mean start and finish) a quilt, make lots of use of our gym memberships, and visit with family from the other side of the globe.

Strawberry Cut-Out for a photo op at the Vista Strawberry Festival

Sounds like the opposite of a vacation. My hope is that I can find some time to blog, paint, and get my Etsy on amidst the hurricane. Maybe I'll be too busy to eat, too. That'd be a super easy diet plan. Anyway, until that day arrives, here's the few little things I've had time to do lately, check them all out in the Etsy shop!

Spring Tweets

New in the Shop for Spring.
I had some aprons, but those flew off the shelves. I'll have to make some more soon when the dust begins to settle.Mowgli things they look pretty good...go see 'em for yourself!

Lindsey Powderpuff, Aritst Extraordinaire

More endeavors to master Photoshop. It's easy when I can import my own little drawings. Of course I'm not doing anything too complicated yet (as you can see here), so excuse my simplicity.

But I would love some feedback...any suggestions? Font? Layout? Placement and color of type? Remember, I don't know how to do much, so stick with the basics or give me directions, friends. And no need to go easy, lemme have it.

Flower Girl and Her Masked Owl

I finally posted her in the shop!

{I said I would.}

Orchard Girl

You know how I said I've been trying to re-learn Photoshop? (I know, I know, I'm so behind the times). Well, here's attempt number seven or some such number.

The girl is a watercolor, and the orchard is a little scene I'll tell you about later. Not bad, after figuring out how to cut out the girl and import her, work on two different layers, and sneak in a couple of tweaks on the shadow.

Hey Valentine...

I got this to say:

You are one SLY Devil.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Winter Citrus Salad with Endive and Red Onion

Here's what my fabulous Aunt Zaurie made.

She is famous for her cooking.
And here's my version of it. I prefer the watercolor version of things.

Hey Girl, Guess Who Who?

Here comes the flower girl.

I think she's me. My bridesmaids dresses sort of looked like this, almost 7 years ago. And the bouquet was modeled after my own...but I don't think there were any Masked Owls at the ceremony.



My students started their animation section (see here, and here) and I think they are really loving it (who wouldn't?!). But this comes from another of my prep drawings. It might show up in the shop soon, but I have yet to find time to post it.

Making Time

Aside from being in escrow and trying to buy a house, thinking about having a baby and/or adoption, grandparents being sick, giving finals at school, catching up on routine doctor visits, and the final release of our movie, To Save A Life...
THIS is what I've been up to. Check them all out at the Etsy shop.

What have you been doing with yourself?

One Cute Chick

Continuing on the preparation of leading my students in an animation section, here's what I've come up with.
Can you see I've got Valentine's Day on the mind? And I've been inspired by my overwhelmingly talented and successful friend, Kate Rietz for a long time.
I thought he was so cute, I posted him in the Etsy shop (for super *cheep,* I might add) in order to share the love this Valentine's Day.

Merry Christmas, San Diego Style

Santa has been known to hang out in Carlsbad on his days off. Rest assured this is not the case...the biggest day of the year is right around the corner!

Crystals on Crimson

When I was in High School I was fortunate enough to have an extensive art department which, among others, boasted a watercolor class, that I took twice...that is when I wasn't ditching and hanging out in the drama room where discipline was noticably absent. Don't tell my mom.
My senior year, I did a study of my teacher's painting, a photo he took of these gorgeous fall leaves with an early layer of snow. While it's an only a study, I wish it hadn't been...now it's been resigned to a life of zero commercial exposure, reproduction, or anything but private use. Why do I do that to myself?


I gleaned a great deal about how to paint snow from him, and thus, how to paint white. I learned that there is a lot of color in white snow, a white dress, white clouds.

This painting now hangs, looked upon with affection, above my parents' fireplace in Utah--warm, nearly melting, and safe from copyright infringement. Thanks Mr. Fuller.

Teacher Down Time

Did you ever wonder what your teacher was doing during their free period?

Well, most of mine actually did work, but I had a watercolor teacher in High School, Mr. Fackrell, who mostly sat at his desk and painted when he wasn't instructing.

On Thursdays I have a very long block of free time (Thursdays are the best for that very reason), and today I sat in on my husband's class, listening to crazed freshmen play bingo, and painted this little barn owl. I've been wanting to for some time, and today I was satisfied.

I painted him on a Strathmore 140 lb. postcard...these things are wonderful. If you paint, I suggest these pre-printed postcards, they are just too convenient. I've posted this little barn owl in my Etsy shop, perfect item to set off October.

On a side note, I also had a science teacher who ate chalk and drank glue...for the shock factor, I think. Did your teachers ever do anything strange? Did your art teachers ever just sit around and be creative?

A Few More Newsies

New in the Etsy shop.

I haven't entirely crawled under a rock in my going back to work. Sure, being a full time art teacher is time-consuming, but friend, it has it's perks! I've still found a bit of time to be creative. If I can do it, so can you.

What are you going to do to be creative this week?

Life at the Farm, Take 2

Photographer, I am not.

Watercolorist, I am.Often I take photos to use as references later. I love to have a watercolor record of my visit to special places like Wheeler Farm in Murray, Utah.

My husband's favorite thing in my Esty shop are my little watercolor postcards...remembrances from days like these.Which would you like to see as a watercolor postcard in my shop on Etsy?