blogging through this year

And one more page from my people-watching sketchbook.

I have had this blog as sort of a visual notebook for one year now. I have found the practice to be everything I hoped for at the beginning. I have been able to show my current work process to various people who are interested. My friends in locations all over, my family, (especially my mother-in-law and greatest fan!) and new acquaintances. I was also hoping to make some new friends, among other artists who blog and have so generously shared with me across the digital world. I appreciate all who have commented and made my life so much richer.

Thank you all, and may the next year to come be even more happily blessed.

people watching at the show

I enjoyed my time at the art show more than I expected.

(The larger figure on this page is my husband reading a philosophy book while minding my booth)

Talking to people about my own work is always enjoyable. And I can sit and people-watch for hours and not get restless. Here are some of my quick people-watching sketches.

a statement

My process begins in brief, domestic moments; flowers from life, quietly gracing my home. As a painting evolves, contour, line, color, and shape grow to explore the depth of those moments; the floral subjects expand and intensify--tiny details in petals and leaves become valleys, mountains. A floral landscape emerges, bursting. The domestic moment is no longer quiet. Whether returning to an original, wild energy or reveling in refined cultivation, on canvas the flowers sing.

This is just one of several statements that I have prepared. The whole business of "artist's statements" seems sort of contrived, and I have a hard time with articulating a statement. And that is partly why I have been working at this blog, to get some of those difficult artist thoughts out and written.

I have benefited from the help of a few good friends who are more experienced writers, among them one is a poet, and one an actor, a Phd in Literature helps too. I had some suggestions for titles to my paintings, this one is titled "My Heart Tonight".

post-mortem about the show

What a busy last couple of weeks with the art show and then a week of teaching, including taking 27 upper-school students to the Art Institute of Chicago on the train. Lots of bad weather to complicate matters, trekking through blowing snow and bitter winds to the museum with high spirited 6th graders (they did not mind the weather).

I am finally starting to relax and clean out the rubble in my studio. Art shows are such a huge amount of work for the artists.

At this time, my feelings about the One of a Kind Show are mostly disappointment. I did not make much in sales and lost money on the endeavor. On the positive side, I have many new contacts which I intend to follow up. And I did have a very good time interacting with all the visitors who came by.

Above, one of my paintings, titled "Moonlight Rose" 40x30 acrylic on canvas, framed.

visitors to my show

I had many visitors from the private classical school where I have been teaching. This adorable little girl is one of my best students. What fun to see her and the family.

The show ends

The dust has just barely settled. Photos from the installation days last week.

Loading the trusty van.

Getting the big pieces to line up!

Finished booth set up.

Ready for visitors to arrive.

The show begins

Today is the first of four days that I will be exhibiting at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. The show is called The One of a Kind Show and Sale and it is on the 8th floor of the Mart overlooking the Chicago River in one of the busiest parts of the city.

I have been carrying artwork down city blocks, pounding nails, and hanging paintings for the past two days. Now I am going to be in my booth meeting people (I hope) for the next nine hours.

Here is my booth yesterday afternoon in the midst of the assembly stage.

pigs are still here

This pig book project stayed around for a long time and I have used it a lot for promotion. I have not had another whimsical illustration project like it in a while. I have often used the dancing girl pig as an icon. I have a thought that it would be fun to put her on a coffee mug using one of those online services like Cafe Press.

not all pigs

Other animals appeared in the pig's world. There was a musical competition which, of course, the pigs won. Three siamese cats and a baboon had a song and dance number.

Free Pigs in town

Here are the Free Pigs in town, enjoying lemonade and sandwiches. I had always wanted to create a imaginary world. I did portray a few people from my life in this painting. My husband the great philosopher expounding at the table, wearing a yellow suit. And my mother-in-law in the center pushing her new grandchild in the stroller. You can see she is happily bragging to anyone who will listen about her grandchildren.

Another great thing about being a free pig is that one can eat all they want of anything that pleases. These pigs are indulging in a child's dream, cavorting in an endless supply of jellybeans.