Lady Fox's Outing and a Commision Unseen

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Lady Fox's Outing
on my mantle...8" High? Something like that
I like displaying the paintings this way. Perhaps I will create a shelf for the Castle in the Air Show and line a few of the Animeople pieces up, then hang a few, then a shelf...you get the idea, my faithful reader, you always do.
I finished a commission as well- a trade (don't read this you tax people you!) in exchange for free daycare for my older son over the summer as well as a weekend of babysitting both boys. I looove trades! At any rate- I'm not showing you the finished piece because I had to use a really lowsy low res print of a badly scanned photo for reference (it was a portrait my daycare providers father and recently, sadly, passed away mother). Note to self: DON'T agree to let the berieved father/husband/person choose his favorite picture of his partner to be painter. Get a handful and choose the most interesting photo instead and the one that is in focus.

close-up of da Bunny. I think he needs a name. Ideas?

Daddy Deerest and Blimp

Rather appropriate for Daddy's Day, eh?


Daddy Dearest
20"H



...and a better image of Aeronaut with original blimp.

Aeronaut and the Business of Being

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Aeronaut
umm...about a foot high?
better pic coming SOON esp. now that I added one of the first dirigibles in the background sky!

And then I was busy.
With a fairy house workshop in less than two weeks two commissioned portraits (with people heads), a misc. hubcap project, and two large solo shows on the horizon I am a busy busy Mommy. This morning Phineas and I strolled through the old rural graveyard in a light rain, collecting moss for fairy house carpets. I love moss- I love its delicate tiny world- leaves like little stars or plush vibrant tiny fern leaves. An entire garden in an inch of ground. And then to the thrift store for small antique looking frames for prints of the Animeople paints. The framed prints sold well at the last show- the Sci Fi/Fantasy show.

One more Animeople done, 19 or so to go! This one fits into my steam punk-y show as well for September. Of course its a horrid reproduction, as always. The sky should have a slight pink hue and the coat and basket are a tad dark alas. But- come on- its been perpetually raining for weeks! What can an art photographer do??

I'm sorry kind reader, have I mentioned that my good friend Sarah termed my miniature animal headed portraits as my 'Animeople' paintings (that's anim(al)-(p)eople) and I so like the word- it wonderfully has no 'ism' and no 'ist'. So I will go to the side bar in this here blog and change it from 'minitures'...when I'm not so busy. which I am. Did I mention I'm rather busy?

An Interum Rabbit

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Oh dear Reader, you must forgive me my seemingly lackadaisical attitude! I have been sick for three weeks! A cold a flu and then a sinus infection have kept me from my studio, and sad unforeseen events like the passing of my daycare providers mother. But my studio awaits and I walk down there with a head that has mostly surfaced from the sea of ick, longing to paint! Meanwhile, couch ridden, images and ideas come to me in droves and with them the impatience to translate them to paper and wood. The drawing is part of a set of ideas for more 'Animeople' small paintings. I studied Ren-Wu Hwa: the traditional chainese painting of people, when I lived in Taiwan and I think it would be wonderful to do a couple of classic styled paintings (in oil, not watercolor) with the addition, of course, of the totemic/symbolic animal head. Also others based on classic Indian art (which I copied profusely in my travels). And and and

Meanwhile, between colds, and before flu I had a fabulous opening at Periscope Cellars Gallery in Emeryville, selling a few paintings, a bunch of small prints in antique frames, and making some connections that I hope will turn into wonderful collaborations. Yay!

Spring and Summer Shows

Hello Art Appreciators,

I have two shows lined up this summer so far, one at the beginning and one at the end.
First and soon!!
Ive got 5 "Animeople" paintings (animal headed miniatures) in a sci-fi and fantasy themed art show in Emeryville opening April 28th (yes- that's a Wednesday).
(see info below)
And Saturday September 26th I'll have over 20 pieces up at Daredevils and Queens on 4th street in Santa Rosa. The opening will be during the Handcar Regatta. Super fun steam-punk event!:
http://handcar-regatta.com/

Here's the info for the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show:

> Come one! Come all! It'll be both Scientific and> Fantastic!

Event: The 2nd Annual Science Fiction & Fantasy Art Exhibit
Wednesday, April 28 at 6:00pm-9:00PM

> Where: Periscope Cellars
http://periscopecellars.com/gallery12/
> To see more details and RSVP, write me or follow the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=105896249452786&mid=231fd94G23566f7bG46a32a6G7&n_m=shermworm1%40yahoo.com

Thanks!!

Will Work For Peanuts or Not? A Self Portrait

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My Goodness it's been ages (ten years?) since I made a self portrait. I think I drew a mustache on the last one and called it Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. ha ha. At any rate. I like this one better. It falls into both my miniature series and my box series (you see I'm forcing myself to limit the series I'm working on- to focus in on two directions. But not prone to leave anything out I sneakily combined some existing directions- don't tell anyone, okay?). Actually it is bigger as well- paint box sized, you know, not exactly miniature.

Its my grandmothers old painting box. And myself as steady Elephant- working for peanuts and wondering which direction to pursue. Should I paint Chinese clouds-cartoon elements in the realistic world- just as we often act like cartoon characters/2D animations in the everyday? Will this bring me my prosperity, my peanut rain? Or? And yes, I do often feel I'm painting with my nose for how clumsy my art can be.

If a fortune teller who was known for truthful telling read our cards and told you would would not succeed as an artist (or whatever it is you, my open minded reader, are working so hard on in life), would you continue to do it? What if she said you would eventually get by financially and emotionally on this path but never be entirely content and stuck with the choice for life? What if the alternative would mean you would have to change a lot and still would not guarantee you happiness and/or success? What would you choose?
Would you continue on your path even if you would never rise past average?
Seriously, I want to know. so please comment.


And in case you were saying to yourself, 'Hey! I thought this blog was about painting while parenting!' I'll have you know I typed this blog all one handed while my other hand has slowly fallen asleep cradling a deeply sleeping almost 3 year old boy. We steal our moments. Or we just get really good at multi-tasking.

Craft Fair Production and two more Fairy Houses

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Please note the new fairy house workshop date is January 30th. That's a Saturday- from 10-2 including lunch. What a deal! Only a couple spaces left so please contact me to sign up now! (see flyer in my next blog entry).

Matching prints to vintage frames to sell at craft fairs. probably around 40 dollars each. So very reasonable! What a deal! These are the bigger ones. I have some true miniature sized frames- the fabulous old ones- mostly oval, as well. What do you think my readers, should I have black friday deals? First ten shoppers get 15% off! That's not bad for the Fairy Houses which are around a 100 each. Doors open at 6:30! Line up!;)

Another week another two fairy doll houses completed. Having fun with wood themes. The material really decides the final shape. Eucalyptus Oasis came out all upright and tall. I like craggy twisty trees, and feared Eucalyptus would not please me but in the end it has its own interesting character- its round skylight roof and regal beams. Redwood Retreat has more of the usual bends and twists, with the one amusing anecdote being that its main branch destroyed my clippers. my BIG clippers. and the bridge of my nose, swollen and a bit blue under foundation, since the metal of the clipper SNApped and flew back at me. The tree won. But I was able to snap the branch anyway. weird.




Redwood Retreat
front, close-up back, and another close-up
sorry the swing is hard to see as it is perpendicular to the front, and there is actually a third platform under the 'swinging lights'.




Eucalyptus Oasis
front, back, close up of swing

New Miniature Painting - The Hunter

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Hunter
9.5" X 7"

Another miniture portrait for you, kind reader, to view. Is it odd I am, in part, coping work from the past? I HATE actually copying works- like artists that hover before some masterpiece at the museum trying to emulate the work. how dull. Sure you can learn so much but, hello- yawn. These don't feel that way. Maybe the animal head makes it mine?
I want to do a whole family portrait of deer. At first I thought to borrow the figures from Las Mininas by Velasquez (I love the little girl but a dwarf deer?), but I want something less roomy. Any ideas?

Lady Squirrel, Show Canceled, and the End of Summer

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Lady Squirrel
I'm too lazy to go down to the studio but I think its about 7 inches high. One of the best pieces, I think of this silly series thus far. Sometimes even a size 0 brush isn't small enough. How rediculous. Its like buying jeans nowadays, where the marketers keep lowering what a size, say 12, is, so that someone can feel more petite. In old patterns I have to buy 12 sizes up from my current size. Ludicrous! Actually, no, brushes aren't that bad.. But still. A zero?


Sad news- I think the August 29th show is canceled. Either the gallery is being sold or under new management or some such tumultuous affair. I SO need to find a gallery that isn't in economic straights. If anyone can suggest one that would jib with my style I am all ears. If you hook me up with a good gallery I'll paint you a self portrait of myself with ten ears...all ears...get it. I think I need to go sketch that now in my book.


Summer nears an end and soon my oldest will enter the Totalitarian world of elementary school. No tears shall be shed at this cross-roads event, I can't WAIT to get more time to paint. But seeing him in this new identity I am so proud I might get a bit verklempt.And I have been painting less for these last couple weeks so I can spend time with these manic little men. It's odd I don't sketch or paint them more as I find them such lovely specimens of humanity. But I have been taking advantage of their willingness to pose for me.

General Quail, Another Miniature Painting

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Here you are my revered readers- another miniature painting.
This series is so impractical. So much little detail in such a small piece! But I'm strangely entertained by these odd little animal people of the past. I strayed a bit on General Quail, giving him his clover background instead of the more traditional curtains or what have you. Though, when I taught the history of Elizabethan Miniature painting I loved best the symbolism some artists worked into the background. I recall flames and rose vines. All suggesting burning desire and etc etc. So perhaps this skinny necked General is looking for his lucky clover? Or perhaps just looking to eat the bug that ate the leaf.
This one will hang by a ribbon bow, traditional style, attached to the back.

I've just drawn today a Miniature Squirrel Nobel Lady. Very Ornate. Never will you meet more regal a squirrel ("I want a trained squirrel!"). Coming soon to a blog near you!

Benjamin is in summer school in the mornings and yet somehow I am getting LESS done when he is gone, still trailed by the grasping hands of young Phineas. I hope this is not a foreshadowing of my [lack of] activities during kindergarten. Still I must remind myself daily to spend some time with my older son while I still have him, mostly, to myself. So today with an odd overlap of daycare I was able to play Candyland with Ben for a precious untoddlerated hour.

And Yet Another Miniature, Jackal, and A Sappy Bit on Being a Parent and an Artist

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Jackal
6"X8"

Being an artist and a parent means updating my blog by pressing as softly on the keyboard keys as possible while they sleep in bed behind me.
Being an artist and a parent means occasionally destroying my brush by forgetting to clean it because I had to RUN from my painting to attend to some duty like scraped knee kissing and sibling or cat claw removal.
Being an artist and a parent means letting go of keeping floors clean and laundry folded.
Being an artist and a parent means making sure the caps on the varnish, painting mediums, and acetate containers are screwed down really tight.
Being an artist and a parent means enclosing the studio behind a dog security gate/fence while my kids run amuk in the rest of my studio like chickens with their heads cut off and somehow miraculously still concentrating on painting.
Being an artist and a parent means always having an ear leaning away from the project.
Being an artist and a parent means finding a way to let them participate and create their own always amazing (to me) art.
Being an artist and a parent means sometimes putting down the child to take up the brush, and sometimes putting down the paintbrush to hug the child.

Ibis, Another Miniature Painting, and the Possibility of Interviews

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Ibis 6"X 4"


Just a quick post today. I don't usually post on the weekend (you know, in the TWO big weeks I've been blogging so far!) but I am trying to write at least three week day posts a week and last week was a bit post slim.

All this blogging about myself feels so narcissistic, and anyway, how much can I personally write about being both parent and artist? So I am compiling a list of interview questions for parents who make art at home while they also don the mantle of parent. It may take some time to actually finish these lists and pin down interview times so please, kind reader, bear with me and all this me-me-me-writing until then. I promise the interviews will be worth waiting for!

My miniatures aren't all that miniature, just so you know. Ibis was actually the first one, and a bit rough, but also the smallest (by a couple inches). I added the curtain last night, which helped ground the bird. And Jackel is done as of last night as well, but too wet to photograph.

Noble Egret, A Foppish Bird and the Back of Art

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And also a whole other series I'm working on! Are my energies a bit spread out or am I in a creative typhoon? Whatever the case, I have already painted a couple of these miniatures. Clever clever me, I thought I ought to work smaller so as to make my art more affordable to the masses, so I came up with the most detailed little pieces I could conjure thereby making my time worth very little.

In Elizabethan times, lacking a camera, people carried about portraits of their loved ones. For some inexplicable reason taking these and painting them with animal (mostly bird) heads seemed a good idea. Tennie Tiny bits of lace done with negative 1 size brush? But I like them. They are so wonderfully odd with their human hands and fancy frippery. I should like to paint all the old Egyptian Gods this way. I already have Ibis done (soon to be shown here). Jackal will most likely be next. And then I'll paint all the Egyptian gods in punk clothes.

But Im not really showing you, kind reader, any integration am I. So here's a bit of a secret. Many of my paintings have a bonus drawing on their backside by little elves that sneak down into my studio and draw on the wood sitting about- just like Mommy! So I always face the less desirable side out, thus leaving the good grain for my painting and giving buyers a little surprise when they turn the painting around.