Just kidding.  It has been an interesting month working with this theme.  I feel that overall I was able to maintain my theme, but also branch out into whatever interested me.  One thing that I am convinced of- I think I am really finding my style as an artist.  It feels good, like a pair of shoes that fits just right.  My style is figurative-based, mainly the female face, with saturated, unapologetic color, digressions in texture, unabashed curvilinear line that screams 'I LOVE ART NOUVEAU' and yes, the occasional sparkle.  And, well, this month at least...some fun, whimsical 3D polymer clay candies.  That being said, below is my slideshow for my CEDs this month, music courtesy of DJ Johnny Nice, per usual. (thanks, beb!)

Another art happening...I completed my monthly self-portrait.  It is a combination of stippling (ink on paper), acrylic paint, acrylic paint mixed with modeling paste for texture, felt pieces, a hand-painted cupcake on felt that I later hand-beaded...add some gems stones and glitter and there you have it, my April self-portait.

And...you guessed it.  Mention that it is late, blah, blah...time to go to bed...blah, blah...but it sure feels great to be finished!  The theme for May...'ONE'...what am I going to do?  No idea!  Goodnight!

...was too tired to post last night, but the show was fun!  It felt like an art scavenger hunt at times, stopping off the turnpike to deliver the Star Wars paintings, stopping in Bear and Bird to pick up the Square Show pieces...trying to figure out where to eat, and then navigating our way through Davie to the venue for the moustache-themed event at Stage 84.

Well, we found it.  Very cool place, almost like a small coffee shop feel, with a little stage, couches and tables bright red walls lined with art.  On one side- the pieces that were either being sold or donated to the silent auction.  On the opposite wall, a collection of paintings on canvas by students with autism.  There was a contest for most heroic beard, etc...very eclectic and very fun.  

As for today...where to start?  I will start with the weather because it had a major impact on the events of the day...namely the poolside brunch I had planned as a going away party for my friend Ashley.  Sheets of rain.  Buckets of rain.  Drips, splashes, puddles- BLAH! Plan B was  to have the event inside... we made it happen, and it was fun.  I even made my own sunshine and two clouds for the wall. 

And Ashley, my friend and avid collector of my art...good luck in Boston!  I will send you new art when you get settled in, and you can bet John and I will visit you!

After the brunch...cleaning...napping...delivering a commission to Lake Worth...discussing a new commission (THANKS, PAUL!)...dinner out with the husband...another nap...a jog...and finally TV time and putting the finishing touches on my CEDs from this week.  One more to go...and my self portrait and then April will be complete.   

And now, of course, I make an excuse about how it is late and I need sleep...because it really is!  

After painting the edges of my Star Wars pieces (still got to wire the backs)...I settled down in my chair to work on my entry for the Magic Hat show later in May.  We are supposed to create a piece inspired by their new summer ales.  I sketched out a few ideas, got John's input and finally selected the Blind Faith IPA.  I wanted to stay within my style, but incorporate imagery that would related to the name of this ale.  Went with a blind folded gal, 'bout to take a sip, hair all awry...as for the faith...I referenced indirectly Byzantine iconography (which I love), using the mandala behind her head, which doubles as the spiral image that is on the bottle caps.  

Per usual, started out with a light pencil sketch, then went directly to painting in the outlines with black paint.  My favorite way to work.  Truth be told, I was feeling ambitious.  The piece isn't due til later in May, but my intention was to complete this piece and drop it off to Gina (she's the curator for the Green Room shows) along with my Star Wars works later today.

And you know, I probably could have done it.  Finished the piece, I mean.  But, I promised John I would run with him.  And it would be good to get up, can't stay seated all day.  Also...I don't want t rush the piece and miss out on the chance to work on the details more.  My stopping point?  All the basic colors are blocked in.  Went with black and blues since that is what is used in the label.  I made her hair shades of orange to compliment the blues, and I was thinking she was probably a fiery gal.  The bottle needs a ton of work.  But it's a start.  No since in rushing it, I can drop it off at the Star Wars show next week.  

I wish this graphic would show up a little bigger...but anyway, tonight is the art event that will benefit Austism Speaks.  The event is down in Davie, so it is a bit of a drive, but going to make the most of it.  Pit stop in Wellington to pick up fellow Tipsy Art girls, Jessie and Sofia, then down to Bear and Bird Gallery to pick up our pieces from the Square Show, dinner...then donning our moustache accessories and heading down to the event.  Not sure if I will post again tonight, but you can bet  it will be an art-filled evening!

I love waking up, walking in the kitchen and seeing the work that I completed the night before, on display. No matter how crazy it gets, and how messy, I try to always 'set up' my work for the next day.  It gives me a sense of accomplishment, makes me feel better about the paint under my nails, aching hands, sore shoulder...and it gives me motivation to make more work.  Which is exactly what I need today, as I attempt to tackle the entry for the Magic Hat show, and find some time for the rest of my April CEDs and self-portrait.

Cheesy?  Maybe.  True, I think so.  I worked on my Star Wars painting tonight for the show at the Green Room in Fort Lauderdale.  All five paintings are pretty much finished, going to take a look at them tomorrow with fresh eyes and in the daylight, maybe add some details and paint the sides of the canvases...wire them for hanging and they will be all DONE!  Yay!  I put a hold on the CEDs to complete this project...tsk, tsk.  I still have the last ones for the month and my April self-portrait waiting for me to...well, figure out what to do with 'em.  Hmmmmm.  Perhaps after some sleep I can come up with a plan.

Another decision to make...do I start my Magic Hat entry so I can deliver that with the Star Wars paintings, save myself a trip down to Fort Lauderdale?  I am not sure what I want to do with that piece yet...again, maybe tomorrow it will come to me. 

Side note...hands are hurting pretty bad from the combination of non-stop drawing, painting and beadwork.  This happened to me when I was in graduate school and it really stressed me out.  I want to take it easy..but I can't stop myself from creating. Also, I am trying something different with painting to try to prevent the 'painter's shoulder' that I seem to get from standing at the easel, arm raised for hours...I took apart a flimsy easel to make a larger table easel so I could rest my elbow on the table while I painted.  I guess I won't know if it worked til tomorrow.

I meant later today.  It is almost 2 a.m. which means it is tomorrow...and I need to go to bed.  Goodnight!

...cupcake for self-portrait, still in process (see below)...you can see what it will kind of look like below when attached to the portrait, which is still in the beginning stages, gonna work on the hair tomorrow...CED's from the past few days in progress, not going to post until all are done...I am working on these kind of 'all at once'...and, lastly...painted the skin color in on my Star Wars paintings...that is all for today!

So...after the usual nap...I was up and ready to take advantage of the amazing weather.  (A big THANK YOU to Jennifer and Jake Moffitt for the awesome table! Now I can draw on the balcony without dragging a bunch of stuff in and out!)  Good light, nice breeze, some Avett Brothers playing in my ears...and, well...CED #113 AND 114 came to me.  

Looking through the series, I am concerned that I abandoned the literal 'sweets' imagery and light colors too soon...the last week's worth of work is really, well, dark.  But I feel that the facial structure/exaggeration is consistent, as is the curvilinear line in the hair...hopefully that is enough to hold the theme.  Only seven more new pieces in the series...got to bring it back full circle and relate some of the original imagery or move on to a next step...not sure what I will do as of right this second.

Another artistic happening around here today, I prepped Paul's piece and put it in the frame.  (this is my $2 frame, folks)  Love.  I love the way a piece changes when you mat or frame it.  It's like some kind of transformation.  I wish I had the means to mat/frame everything I create.  

Since the weather was so nice, I dragged my work all over, looking for the just the right backdrop for a final picture.  It was a little windy, but I did find a good spot by the pool area, and despite the pesky reflection the picture came out pretty good.  So that's it.  Just have to deliver the work.  

And get started on the rest of my projects.  I have to complete my Star Wars paintings this week, and my entry for the Magic Hat Art Contest due to delivering them to Coral Springs this weekend.  Gotta figure out what I am doing with the remaining CEDs for April (maybe I will set up a suggestion box...) and work on my monthly self-portrait, which will revisit all of the things I have worked on this month.  But for now, gonna run.  Literally.