New Painting - finished

I will post this on my Etsy shop tomorrow

New Painting - in progress

Three days ago I started a new painting in the same theme as my little ACEO triptych (which just sold today). I knew that I would have time in the upcoming week because it is Spring Break and Nathaniel is at his dads for the week (and took the car). So I am essentially stuck at home with (hardly) any distractions. Maya will be here, but we can paint together. I do have the distraction of my brand new imac (which is SO cool) but I will spend the week making art, art and more art. First is this painting, next I am going create a large papier mache cat that I have been commissioned to make, then I am going to make some books. We will see what happens after that.



My new imac! On my end table until my desk arrives.

Self Portrait Thursdays

I have started to post on the Etsy forum thread "Self Portrait Thursdays" It is a fun way to connect with people and see some interesting portraits. As someone who creates a lot of Self Portraits this is super fun for me! This is the image I added today.

I also am on a web page featuring self portrait artists: http://www.ipwm.org/artkitten.html

Interview with the Mincing Mockingbird

"Listen, If We Could Be Serious For A Moment, I Think I Have Been Shot"

Ah Etsy... always giving me something new to drool over. The latest artist that has me wiping my chin is The Mincing Mockingbird. His gorgeous little paintings have completely captured my attention and I had the lucky opportunity to interview him. Hilarity ensued.

"Bird Faces The End With A Disturbing Lack Of Dignity"

1. First off, why birds?

Birds are insane. Seriously. If you get in close, without being pecked or bitten or gouged, there is madness in their eyes. I like trying to capture that. Even the cute ones. Absolutely bonkers, with an ancient, reptilian, Cretaceous-period kind of crazy. That and I like painting in a "painterly" style, and birds lend themselves well to that.

"I Will Worry About Remorse In The Bright Light Of Morning"

2. What led you to be an artist?

Dinosaurs. I'd draw them constantly as a kid. My aunt was a full-time artist when I was growing up, so it was always a realistic option.

"I Did Not Grow This Mustache To Tickle Your Ironic Funny Bone,
This Is Serious Business"

3. What do you like best about making art?

The best part of painting, or writing, or any creative activity is when you get lost in it - the concentration and buzz of all your neurons working at once, in harmony. The process. There is no greater high - well, that doesn't involve "pipes" and "rocks."

"Seizures"

4. What do you find to be the most challenging?

That's a good question. Technically, I chase down challenges in my drawing or painting, or whatever. For instance, I had problems with shadows. Well, I painted paintings with shadows for MONTHS, just to overcome that challenge. Overall, I'd say time is the biggest challenge. Never enough of it.

"Will You Please Put Down That US Magazine And Listen To Me"

5. Besides being absolutely gorgeous, part of the appeal of your paintings are the witty titles. How do you come up with such clever ideas for titles?

Listing is very enjoyable for me. I just try and come up with things that make me laugh, or better yet, make myself laugh and feel creeped out at the same time. I might take words from a 1911 book on farming techniques and twist them and add my own thing. I'm a pretty voracious reader, and I enjoy writing, so I just see it as an added little bonus to the piece.

"Uploading My Brain Online So I Will Live Forever"

6. Favorite thing about Etsy?

The people and their sometimes awe-inspiring creations. It's like finding buried treasure. I have a feature on my blog called "Random Object of Awesomeness." When I find something mind-bendingly cool, I put it on.

7. What inspires you?

Nature, both past and present. Absurd and smart comedy. Most of all, my fiancee, Etsy's franticmeerkat. She is an amazing artist and designer, and she keeps me on my toes. My muse, without doubt.

"Stress Eating As Self-Expression"

8. Do you have any advice for other artists?

Best advice I could give is create what you WANT to create. You'll make better things. And the best customers pick up on the joy that exists in things made with inspiration.

And do it every day. One of the titles of a recent painting was "My Modus Operandi Is To Dial Up The Awesome And Break The Knob Off."

Thank you to The Mincing Mockingbird for the great interview. You can find his work here:
http://mincingmockingbird.etsy.com
and his blog here:
http://www.mincingmockingbird.blogspot.com

Interview with Red Otter

My first interview of amazing artists that I love begins with Julia aka Red Otter. Julia is a bookbinder and designer that sells on Etsy. Her shop is filled with bright, gorgeous journals that are almost too pretty to write in!


"Lime Lime Notebook"

1. Why did you start to make journals, how did you learn to make them?

About four years ago I was living in a small bedroom in a lovely house, living paycheck to paycheck when I came to last page in my journal. Seeing as I would’ve much rather spent my money on tea and oranges, I decided to make myself a journal. I used paper given to my by an art professor and fishing line from one of my roommates. After that adventure, I slowly developed the techniques and processes of book making.



"The Mini"


2. What is your inspiration?

The online artist community! Right now artists blogs are a favorite source of inspiration. Places like Posie Gets Cozy, or Perfectbound I find daily inspiration from. I love popping in to see what Simply Breakfast has in store, along with Creature Comforts and tinyk. I find inspiration from artists who make the simple and everyday things into something marvelous and unique. I find inspiration from women who have taken a craft or art they love to do and made a small/big business out of it!



"Orange Persimmon Journal"


3. You recently moved to Madison, Wisconsin from Minnesota, how is the change affecting you?

Madison, Wisconsin is a wonderful community to live in! I was so surprised when I moved here, I think I had anticipated something more rural, less chic. Madison offers so much in the realm of art and culture, its positively brimming with inspiration and opportunities. Moving away from Duluth was tough though. I miss the lake. I miss having that calming presence in my life.

4. What is your favorite thing about making art and journals? What is your favorite material?

I love tying up that last stitch in a journal, pulling the linen thread taught, then turning the journal over and looking at the finished product. It's thrilling to create something like a book. For me, I find so much satisfaction in creating something utilitarian as well as beautiful! I love working with silk ribbon and an eclectic array of papers. It seems as if there are endless combinations and potential creations!



"Piccadilly Square"


5. What is your favorite aspect of selling in Etsy?
I love meeting new people! I feel like there's a world of fellow artists, dreamers, and creators at my fingertips! I love the support I find on Etsy, it's unlike anything I've ever been apart of!



"Little Owl Notebook"

You can find these lovely journals and others on Julia's Etsy shop http://redotter.etsy.com and check out her blog at redotter580.blogspot.com.

Thank you Red Otter for taking the time for this interview!

Making art together

When I make art, Maya, my 5 year old, wants to make what I am making. When I make books, she makes books, when I paint she paints. I love it, she sits at her own little desk and I sit at my drafting table. This weekend when I was making my "Three Women" triptych, Maya decided she wanted to make ACEOs as well. I think they are great (of course I am her mom) but children have such an innate design sense. I wish we did not lose it as we get older...

These are her ACEOs. She was really excited about them and really wanted me to sell them on Etsy. ("Everyone is going to buy them!" she said). I decided I would put one on my shop, how can I say no to that?


Maya's Self Portrait




Maya's Circle Painting



Maya's Lion Painting ("The mouth is filled with teeth" she says)

"Three Women" ACEO Triptych

I have spent the last three days at my drafting table hunched over meticulously painting these and I am generally satisfied with my work (although my sore back is not all that happy with me and is about to go on strike, I just hope it doesn't last as long as the writers' strike). The portraits in order are called "Alice", "Gretchen" and "Susan", the last one being a self portrait. I have just placed them on my Etsy shop as well.