Studio Tour

hello, happy monday! so i'm getting into a groovy groove with filming and editing video for the upcoming e-course. 
I kinda like when my studio gets messy. I think its probably the best time to document with photos. Things scattered about. a paul cezzane eraser mingling with the pastels. sometimes the mess is a beautiful thing. i watched a documentary about francis bacon and he took the cameras and interviewer into his studio. it was an absolute whirlwind of oil paint, old rags, piles upon piles. i'm not totally sure that piles of oily rags is quite safe but there was a form of beauty in his studio. he said something to the effect that a messy studio is the sign of a prolific artist. i agree.....(but sometimes i gotta tidy up a bit to get my bearings in order) if you get a chance to watch the documentary i can tell you you will find it interesting. he takes you on this wild tour of the restaurants and bars he used to frequent. very eccentric and just down right cool!!

so here is a tour of my messy studio:

 background awaiting more paint

on the easel

 inspiration board

 where's paul?

  background ready to be finished, on my easel

Dreams

phantom rainbows

letting go of energy that drains

and replacing with my bolts of color

realizing that the phantom rainbows

slam, crashing to the earth

instead of easing off in the distance

to nestle among the mist

fading gently along the horizon

i wake to find myself at a small door

too small to wedge my body

somewhere between the chocolate factory

and alice's dreams of descent

this is a mix between a dream i had the other night and a creative journey i took while trying to go to sleep last night. sometimes these brain synapses send bolts of images to my brain. this particular image was of a girl bent in the shape you see here.....however she was surrounded and dressed all in white.

happy merry dreaming to you!!

Paintings of 2011 and My word

a sampling of my 2011 paintings.

2012 is here!
what possibilities will this year pose.....?
what adventures will i travel down.....?
what connections will i make.....?
and which ones will i be able to connect with again.....?

there is so much to love, so much to see
so much to ponder
and so much to seek

my word for the year is: SEEK


for me, this word has taught me to not give up. In its verb form, it is hopeful. seek is to be active. it is doing, and doing again. belief in that answer lives, yet not knowing is scary territory. to be willing to seek and ponder. to put the body in motion. this is where my soul resides.

Letting Go

Wednesday night was a night to release. To let go. Thank you Pixie Campbell.
You have begun a powerful movement for women to entrust what they can control and to let go of what they cannot. A visionary for us all.

goodbye 2011. hello 2012. i am ready to take in what you have to offer. i can't wait to fly above like peter pan. to see the world through the eyes of a child again. there is joy. i believe! 

Now to choose my word for the year. Last year was my first year to have a word......"Dreams". do you know what yours will be....? i have some pondering to do.

Happy New Year everyone!

ps. Announcement, dates, details, and all the juicy tidbits about my online course, Paint Your Story will be up at the stroke of midnight. Sunday, January 1st, 2012 - 12AM

Paint Your Story

"It took me four years to paint like Raphael and a lifetime to paint like a child" -
Pablo Picasso

Announcing my first online workshop:

Paint Your Story!

coming Spring 2012

dates, details and Intro video will be up January 1st

Woodland perfume

Woodland perfume sample set and larger bottles are coming to the Understory next week. On monday or tuesday of next week I will launch 3 new perfume blends to my shop. Owl, Bird, and Rabbit. If you love Bear or Fawn....you will love Owl.

Owl wears warmly on the skin with earthy patchouli, rosewood and immortelle as the base notes. Frankincense and violet leaf play in the middle. Evergreen slips in to recall the cool mornings as soft sandalwood and musk warm your heart. A brisk note of teakwood and vanilla briefly intervene at moments. A beautiful wearable earthy, musky blend. If you have always wanted to wear an earthy oil but never thought you could, this is the one for you.

Rabbit is one of my new favorites. It is reminiscent of a bunny scurrying through the snowy brush as the dawn breaks. Paws dusted with smoke, fragrant greenery mixed with warm Amber. Hints of vanilla sandalwood offset with patchouli honey and black rose become a resting spot for the hint of smoke.
Douglas fir and wild mint capture the snow and fragrant understory of the rabbit's lair.

Bird is grounded by exquisite Neroli and vetiver. Oakmoss continues to ground the blend as soft notes of peach and white musk play on your nostalgic senses. Black raspberry interlaced with vanilla cream comes in at the end with hints of vanilla and orchid. As the bird nibbles on berries, he is surrounded by leafy green trees. As the sun warms his feathers, he bursts into the sky for his next journey.

They will be available separately as samples, the larger 1/4 oz amber bottles, and as sample sets......

I'm so thrilled with this new series of blends. Thank you to all of you who have tried the oils and left the most awesome feedback. You guys rock!!

ps. the new banner features a photo from the amazing Lisa Parks.........

Shop update TODAY!!

Today at 10am central time.....i'm doing a big shop update with lots of dolls, original artwork, and a couple of new prints. Here is a sneak peek of some of the stuff.....

get your browser ready!! all the items will list at 10am (central)

Everything will list at once. (all items are in draft mode just ready to go LIVE!!)

I am super stoked about this new line of work! i love the rawness....the sad faces...

and the primitive-ness of the dolls.

go now to get ready!!