I'm not quitting

I get sad when I think about how neglected my art blog has been lately. I have hit a major inspiration slump. After the Missouri job (the 4 huge rooms of murals in 2 weeks) I sort of needed some down time. It took it out of me for a while. Then, I'm never my best in Jan/ Feb. Usually it's the best I can do to sew a little. March hit and it was still major winter around here and I was doing my best to keep the little ones entertained and myself in good spirits and then in April I got pregnant with #3. I try not to be a complainer, but if I had any creative juices in me, they all went straight to my core and drained out of my brain. I drew a little sketch of how I've been feeling which tries to show how being pregnant has seeped away all my will to be awake and do anything but gestate and try not to throw up. If I were to actually get out my paints I would paint this with all grays and browns and bright beautiful colors in the flowers fading out around them. The boys also need to be pulling a lot harder to make it more realistic and interesting. Initially I wanted Joren wrapped around and crawling up my leg and me partially falling over, but that would require drawing another face which I didn't have the energy for at the time.

So, even though I know there are only a few of you that check this blog, for those of you devoted readers, I just want to put it out there that I have not given up, I'm just taking a break for a while. I am actually packing up the studio into a storage unit and making the room into a play room. It will be much more useful that way. We will move next summer and by then my baby will be a few months old and maybe by then I will have some inspiration back. And then, we will have more space.

I get wistfall and nostalgic about letting something so dear to me rest. I used to think that art was so inherent to who I am that if I let it go I would cease to be me. I've learned that is not true, although as I search to find my authentic self at this moment I will miss painting, but like my mom did, I will come back to it and when the time is right I will paint again with more experience and time to devote to it, and hopefully more love in my heart. This life is all about that right? The ebb and flow. Giving and taking. Now is my time to give.. and give and give. I always felt sad and guilty that my mom gave up painting for us kids. I thought it was my fault, but she always said that was how it should be, and now is her time to paint again. She said mothering is it's own creative endeavor. I know that's true and I am putting all my energy into that right now.

So, don't hold your breath for a new painting any time soon, but if I do one, you'll be the first to know.

When I find a new painter that I love, I get so excited. I feel like so many people are painting what I am supposed to be painting. Here is an artist that I totally get. Although it will be many years before I get how to paint like he does. (that's hopeful right?) Here is one of my favorites by Paul Ferney:

More Murals

Hey everybody! I am so excited to show you yhese pictures of the murals I did in Missouri!
enjoy

I got lots of help on the backgrounds on these starry night paintings. Thanks everyone.




Hey everybody! I am so excited to show you

Flowers in the Cellar

My in-laws wanted their basement to be more cheerful so they asked me to paint some flowers in the stairwell. I was excited to do it in honor of my grandpa who painted his stairwell with flowers. So here it is:

I had to give directions to my father in law to finish the stairs since I didn't get time to add the middle tones and greens for grass and moss in the edges of the stones (so don't look too closely at the stairs), but the flowers are done and I think it turned out very sweet.
I was inspired for this a bit by one of my favorite artists "Kim Parker" Thanks Kim for your awesome work. (Her link is on my sidebar if you want to check out her work.)

Missouri Murals

My friend Leah called me out of the blue a few weeks ago to see if I was available to come to Missouri to paint some murals for a new church called "The Crossing" that is opening on Nov. 2 in our old town. It worked out great for me to go to Missouri on our way home from Oregon and stay there to paint. I knew it was a big job but when I got there I realized it was a REALLY big job. They wanted murals on almost every wall in 4 large rooms and I didn't have much time since my kids would have to be babysat every minute I was painting and I would have to stay with someone the whole time I was there. A house guest for a week is one thing, but 2 weeks/ 3 weeks... that's a lot. So I tried to hurry. I painted everyday from 9-5 and then from 8-midnight for two weeks straight with only a few breaks. It was super intensive and I painted more than I have ever painted before in my life. I had tons of fun and stressed myself out quite a bit and would do it all again because it was so rewarding. Leah hooked me up with some great babysitters. Janelle was awesome! My kids were excited to go to her house every day. (Thanks Janelle!) And staying with Leah and Joe was an absolute treat. They were a lot of fun.

I painted 4 rooms:
A jungle room: Before
during:


and after:




An Under the Sea Room : Before
After:





Thanks Chase who painted the seahorse and Katherine who helped with the Angel fish. It was fun to work with you guys! I also had tons of help with rolling, edging and blending. Thanks to everyone!

A Starry Starry Night room: This is completed but I totally forgot to take pictures. Boo. I'll get some for you soon. It turned out so fun!

And a Garden Room, which turns out will be more like a Missouri farmland room. I worked (like I said) like a crazy woman for 2 weeks and when I hit the day before I was scheduled to go home and there was way more left than I could do in one day I called it quits and headed for home. I packed up and drove through the night. We pulled into our Michigan home at 7:00 AM. My kids had just had it and I needed a break! So I have plane tickets to fly back down and rock the garden room. It just needs a few more days of intensive love and it will be gorgeous. I'm so excited. Here's where it is at right now:


I was really pleased with how they all turned out! What a fun project. I kind of wish our church would do something this fun in our buildings. I want my kids to go to church and play in fun rooms like these. (I might get a hefty calling if I keep up that talk huh??)
So, thanks to everyone especially Leah and Joe for making this awesome opportunity happen and to my husband for his support and to all the sitters and friends who opened their arms to me and my kids.
XO!

A TREX for MAX

Family of Five

These 5 paintings are for the 5 children in one of my favorite families. They live in Oregon and I am delivering them when we drive there this week. I hope they like them!

This addition is premature since the name is not yet painted. It will be in a beautiful simple script across the bottom.


I can easily do the same paintings again featuring YOUR childs' name. :)

Bella

This was a commission piece for a sweatie girl named Bella. Her mom wanted me to use this beautiful quilt that she made as inspiration. I think it turned out really cute. I love how the design wraps all the way around the board. I learned from this piece that even though the design looks like it might be simple to paint.... it's not. :)