Remember the Mushrooms?

Back at the beginning of the month I picked up my brushes and started a little watercolor.  And I was really not sure where I was going to take it.  After the excitement of the Chickens, I came back at it with my colored pencils, to see what sort of interesting texture I could add.

And I decided it needed a moth.  So I put one in.  And there, once again, it languished, as I started another drawing.

I felt like I was taking it in all the wrong directions.  I had an idea in my head, and this was not it.  This happens a lot in the creative process.  In fact, I think the most inspiring part of making things is how you keep trying, even when things never quite seem to work out the way you intend them to.

So, in the end I went back to my watercolors and added a few more lines and this is where I am going to let it sit.  Until I decide that I like it after all, or I have another brilliant idea to subject it to.

Maybe it's not so bad, and I've just been staring at it too closely.  But also, ever the artist's conundrum, when is a finished piece done?

Many Hats

Well!
Since I posted last, I've gone to my first artists' reception as a featured artist, made my first gallery sale, and celebrated with Stam chocolates and an e-mail to my mom. Her reply?  "Atta girl!  Love, your first cheerleader, M"  That makes a whole lot of smile in my heart.

 Time to resolve that this year will be my year to learn how to be an Artist.  Another hat to add to my collection of varied occupations, interests, and activities.  Still, I am encouragingly reminded that being Mama to my family is my top priority right now.  The littles are my best creative output and my deepest source of inspiration, and I get so much loving support from them and Todd; it's going to be a great year for all of us to grow into.

Since the juried show is now up at Outside the Lines, I thought I would post all the art I worked on for it.

(After attempted repairs... but you can still see the purple 'tornado trumpet' in the background.)

 After smaller small got into the studio and added his creative contribution to my first drawing, I switched gears and style and ended up creating two sketches that I felt enough confidence in to submit to the gallery.

They accepted one of them, the hen, named Mildred.  Henry, the rooster, is still up on the wall here.

And I ended up drawing one more piece, but besides liking the background, we all felt that the hen as a central focus fell rather flat.

 And those're the ups and downs of it, huh?  There isn't a lot of studio time, and sometimes things just don't work out.  And that is why it is so good to have the smalls, and family life, and the violin, and knitting, and baking and cooking and gardening and hiking and canoeing and reading and dreaming to keep everything balanced.

And on that note, it's time to go make some bread.

Beginning Again

It's back to school for Roo, and back to the studio for me during Moo's naptimes!

We had a grand winter break, with a big snowstorm at the beginning and lots of sunny, cold days at the end.  Perfect for sledding and snowshoeing and playing boardgames the whole lazy week between Christmas and New Years.








































Among other knitted gifts that I managed to finish in time for holiday gifting were these mitts for Roo's kindergarten teacher.  (I really like how they turned out, and want to crank out another eight pairs or so to give to various friends and relatives...  So much knitting, so little time...)

Apparently, I'm still thinking about mushrooms.  I gave my mushroom-varieties watercolor to my Mom for her birthday, back in October, and despite carving a new mushroom stamp for our Christmas cards this year, my first project back in my studio was starting this small painting this afternoon.

Not entirely sure where I am going with it, but I am enjoying creating in the studio again.

Also, a very happy and exciting note to all my local friends - I had a piece selected for a juried show running at Outside the Lines Art Gallery for Jan/Feb.  The artists' reception is this Friday, the 4th, from 7-9pm, if you want to stop by.  'Cause I'll be there!

Hope you all had a wonderful holidays and wishing you a grand start to 2013!