Being an Artist Mom

I am an Artist Mom. However, during the holidays I am only 10% artist and 90% mom. The artist in me is trying to recover from this two month hiatus! So, now that. . .

• the kids rooms have been cleaned out and all of the new toys have found a home
• the laundry is caught up
• the Christmas decorations are down and packed (though not exactly back in the attic)
• I have finished 16 yearbook pages for the kids school and turned them in
• gone to a beautiful wedding of a close friend
• and started that dreadful new year's resolution diet thing. . .

I AM READY TO CREATE AGAIN!

(By the way, if you were to get a Christmas card from me this year the pics above would have been on it. If you didn't get one, don't feel left out - I never quite got around to that this year!)

Spike the cocker spaniel

This is Spike our cocker spaniel puppy. After using the colored pencils, I moved on to use a set of pastel pencils. I ended up having to go in with some pastel sticks to achieve the darks. It looks like Spike! He is a beautiful puppy. It also didn't take near as long as the colored pencil piece.

Ahh, to use colored pencils again!

Years ago, my passion was pencil - colored pencil, pencil pencil, pen & ink, you name it. Since I have had children, I have lost a good bit of the patience needed for this medium as well as any chunk of time more than say about 15 minutes to devote to any one thing at a time. Recently, I had such a longing just to "color" again that I purchased a bristol board pad of paper and set to work. I left it in my kitchen and got it drawn out in a couple of days. I then enjoyed working on it off and on for over a week. A little bit here and there. I am generally pleased with my first attempt at colored pencil in over 15 years. There is of course a smudge that will not go away on the side of the piece - hazard of working with my sweet 4 year old sitting next to me, coloring herself. I haven't quite given up on trying to get rid of it. I also haven't resigned myself to the fact that the blue sky may have to get bigger. Ahhhh, such is the life of an Artist Mom!

New Paintings!

These are two that I painted on my lake weekend. They will both be going up to Willis Gray Gallery for the holiday season. I hope you enjoy!

Kenley Collins of Project Runway

Acrylic on Board

Okay, so yes, I LOVE Project Runway on Bravo. I fell in love with Kenley Collins style this season and was inspired to paint some of her runway show dresses. There were some decent still shots on Bravo so it was easy to have the computer as my reference. I have always been inspired by most anything retro and to have the retro with a more modern twist was refreshing to see! Kenley may have been a bit defensive, but I found her confidence refreshing. I have always wanted to dress like a rockabilly and never had the guts. I have to admire that in a girl! I hope she would be pleased to see my painting and not appalled. I am sure it doesn't give her work justice! (p.s there are two more in this series. Of course, if you have followed this blog at all you have to know that I am trying not to give a timeline as to when a work will be done because it never seems to happen the way I plan!)

Just another word about the painting. I enjoyed this subject more than any in recent history. I also left the texture off this time. Like last post, let me know what you think!

Pepper Family

Acrylic on Board $150

I really enjoyed this one. It is a bit more controlled than I have been painting. I kept the texture underneath. I also enjoyed painting with the yellow much more than I thought I would. I have generally avoided this because of its translucent properties and it is easy to corrupt with other colors. Fear conquered. Let me know what you think!

Fall

I cannot believe it is the fall time of year again so soon! It seems like summer was JUST here! I am taking another quick girls trip to the lakehouse this weekend where I hope to paint. So, maybe I will have something to post come Monday! Also, the Pensacola Arts Festival is coming up in November and I am looking forward to heading down for that again also! Fall is full of so many fun, but time consuming events that take away from my all ready slim painting time. Fall Festivals, my oldest is turning 11 ( I can't believe he has gotten this old this fast!), pumpkin patch trips, weekend lake trip, Halloween, Pensacola Arts Fest, and the beginning of hunting season (this means my sweet man will be off in the woods from time to time) Somehow through all of this I will find the time to paint - or at least begin some paintings. I am so excited about having my work in a gallery that I want to paint more and more and more. Anyway - have a great fall!!!!

Chocolate covered pear

8x8 Acrylic on Board $85

Please contact Willis Gray Gallery if you are interested in this piece.

256-355-7616

The past couple of weeks have been very frustrating regarding carving out the time to spend in the studio. We had an issue in our attic with rodents. The little creatures had been run out of their homes in the woods when the brush was trimmed up at the nearby campsite. Needless to say my husband and I have spent a good deal of time cleaning out the attic (the entrance of which is located in my studio). My studio was filled with Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and misc. boxes while they were being cleaned or thrown away. The interlopers are gone and all the boxes are back in the attic. Much more organized than before. There'a a plus.

I have also had the pleasure of watching my boys play baseball every weeknight but Wed. the past couple of weeks. In order to do this homework must be done in the short time between school and ball. What then was I doing while my boys were at school? Catching up the laundry. I am determined to figure this studio time out and stick to it. Stay tuned! Any ideas on juggling family obligations, housework, mommy and wife stuff, with studio time?

Red Shoe

8x8 Acrylic on Board $85

If you are interested in this piece please contact Willis Gray Gallery

25-355-7616

I am having to create the time to spend in the studio these days. Being an Artist Mom is wonderful and frustrating. I am so blessed to be able to pursue my art. I am also blessed with my family to run - it is hard to carve out the time to spend immersed in my art.

I have spent the past year knowing that I want to have my art as my career. I have wanted so badly just to take that want and run with it and be successful. I am finding the patience now to slow down and concentrate on the art I want to create. It is hard to market a body of work I haven't fully created yet!

So, I am working in the studio for four days each week now that everyone has returned to school. I am also going to continue teaching the art classes I started this summer. I will have students once a week for an hour. I am very privelaged to spend time with these talented girls. They are a huge motivation for me!

So, here we go. Hopefully you will be seeing my blog updated more often as I work in my studio more often. I look forward to finding more Artist Moms on the web to see how they manage their time.