Monday, October 29, 2007

life in the unruly lane...

It's that time of year already...when people dress up and pumpkins are abundant. It hardly seems like fall in Los Angeles where our firemen have been battling fires in the heat and the weather has been anything but crisp. Even though the fires were not near our home, the repercussions of them are everywhere. Hosing off grimy patio furniture and breathing the unclean air. I want those fall days to arrive soon, so I can break out my socks and sweaters.

I found this picture above of my kids from a Halloween many years ago. I still cannot resist the fall colors. Even my daughter caught the All Hallows Eve spirit when she came to the house with a couple of pumpkins for us to carve. It's nice to know you are never too old to enjoy the things that hail in a new season and it brought back memories of when we were putting together the kids costumes for Halloween night and carving jack o lanterns for the doorstep. Becca's not wearing a costume this year, but she did paint her toe nails black.

I pulled out these scary ghouls when going through my Halloween Boxes...I don't know the name of the artist who made them but I have had them for many years. They have tons of personality and always make me smile. I need to make a new mask for the devil guy in red...over the years it's fallen apart and vanished. What could I make it out of? Polymar Clay? Papier Mache? Hmmm...any ideas anyone? I'll put that on my list of things to do...

THINGS HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY ON THE ART FRONT... I was thrilled to receive copies of my new book "Mixed Emulsions" in the mail. I know it is in the warehouse and they are ready to ship (if they haven't already.) I couldn't be happier with the colors that flood throughout the book...and the reproduction of my art. It's rewarding to see it all come together after hours and hours of writing and creating...I must admit, it's exciting!

More good news, Stampington & Company has produced The Unruly Girls Club Clearly Impressed rubber stamps...Having stamps made of my precocious group of ladies is fantastic. I hope everyone enjoys using them. Speaking of Stampington, the article I wrote on INCHIES is in the November/December issue of Somerset Studios magazine. I got seriously addicted to working in this one inch format. So much can be done in such a little space. Beware...you might find it hard to stop once you get started.
You can check out all four pages of the article by clicking here...
I have been busy as can be laying out the newest edition of Pasticcio 2 in my publishing program. I love creating it, and this issue is super sized and jam packed. Sarah and I call it the super Holiday Issue and I can't wait for it to be done. Here's a sneak peek at the cover... I was the one when my kids were in grammer school that put the yearbook together on the computer... I would probably be a photographer/graphic designer if my life had gone differently...Anyway, cross your fingers for a November release of Issue 2 of Pasticcio Quartz (Quality Art Zine). By the way, Pasticcio Issue 1 is still available!
Where is Jesse? Why he's in Texas working on a movie there. He is having a great time, but he won't be home till December and I miss him...as does Peyton...
Now I'm not one of those dog owners who dresses up their dog and carries them in their purse or anything, but I could not resist putting this pumpkin outfit on Peyton just for a quick pic. Ok it's silly...but it made you smile didn't it?
And that is what we need to do more of...
Happy Halloween...be safe and spooky...

Friday, October 12, 2007

portals to portland...

Well, I am home again from Portland, Oregon and my teaching gig at Art & Soul. It was a jam packed, week full of artful classes, wonderful students, talented teachers, and classes of discovery that were fully enjoyable.

I was so proud to take a class from Ashley Sinclair and Ashley Toffelson - Pax Artistry. They hand make their masks and teach a fantastic class in painting them...it was a great class...but I have the distinction of photographing Ashley Sinclairs birth on MY birthday 24 years ago. I saw her arrive on this planet...and I have watched her grow up...and now she's teaching art...How cool is that...?

Art & Soul - Portland, Oregon 2007
Left to right 1st row: Ashley Sinclair, woman behind the mask ?, and Ashley Tollefson
2nd row: Ann Baldwin (artist extrodainaire), Lesley Riley (what she does with fabric is fantastic!) - check out her beautiful artistry in my book In This House...
3rd row: The lovely and talented Misty Mawn and Carla Sonheim (what a smile, love her spirit)
and there I am at the wild and crazy Vendor Night...I was exhausted after teaching all day...but it sure was fun.
I'll be teaching again in April of 2008 at Art & Soul By The Sea in Asilomar, California.

It was great to see my friends Debbie and Connie join me in Portland. I've known Debbie since I was 15 (she's Ashley's Mom) and is the CEO of her company Encore Ceramics and Connie was the manager of my business for 5 years...What amazing ladies they are. So we hit the town to celebrate. We had an amazing dinner at Piazza Italia on Johnson in the Pearl District of Portland...I could have sworn I was in Europe sipping wine in an Italian Cafe...it's a really cool place. And we scoured the fabulous Powells Book Store one evening...a not to be missed treasure chest of books new and used. Portland is really a fabulous town, that feels very European when you walk around.

Now I am busy unpacking and catching up...an endless chore.
More later when I get it all together....