Yeah….Halloween 2011.  We did not dress up, not one trick or treater came a-knockin’….it was a chance to paint.  I spent the last two hours working through the beginning of my newest painting…just  getting lost in mixing colors on my palette and putting them on the canvas.  And what do you know- some figurative elements started to show up in the trunk of the tree…not sure where this painting will be taking me.  I wish I could just keep painting…but teacher has gotta teach tomorrow so I better wind down and get some sleep so I can be up at 5am tomorrow…painting to be continued….


And just to note...I think maybe the start time might have been closer to 7pm...

I am an early riser.  I really do have a hard time sleeping in, regardless of how late I stay up.  8am this morning- I am up.  Per usual, I get up and start my day…but the mix of the early start and the blah weather brought spurts of productivity.  (Right...randomness at casa de Gironda....Mackie thinks he can fit in this box.  I didn't have the heart to tell him otherwise. It doesn't have much to do with art, but it was pretty cute.)  ...uh, I digress...this is what my morning was like...easily distracted...

I don’t know where the time goes…all of a sudden its 12pm and the new canvas is set up on the easel.   I must say, it felt like Christmas morning taking the wrapping off of the canvas, it is a bit of a chore since it is larger than I have been working…30x40 to be exact.  Grabbed my pencil and my Sharpie marker and just started drawing…pretty soon I had the beginnings of a tree.  And somewhere along the way the word LOVE appeared on my tree. Then I stopped around 1pm…at some point I sketched out a few designs on some small canvases (posted farther down) ...and now here it is 8pm and that canvas is still in the sketch phase…not a scrap of paint on the surface.

But I did do some art-related things today, the usual trip to Michael’s (I insist that I do NOT need a reason to go there…) and…oh yeah, WE LAUNCHED TIPSY ART TODAY!  Yes!  Now that is where some of the day went.  It feels great to have set out a little over a month ago and today make that idea and reality.  The website is live, the Facebook page is ready….sure, we will add some things to both, but it’s really there.  Don’t believe me?  Go to www.tipsyart.com. It is for real.  We did it!

(Right) A few little things I quickly sketched out...will be examples for the T'Art site at a later date....

Preparing for the week…Halloween tomorrow, my favorite holiday…gotta get ready for FAEA conference in St. Petersburg, I can’t wait to see the new Salvador Dali Museum…but I know my mind if going to be on this new painting…my eyes living in each shape, wondering what colors will live there…and where this work will take me.  I love this feeling…inspiration.

My friend, fellow artist, and muse Jessie posted this on our new web and the truth in the statement haunts me, so I will share it;

 "If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."-Vincent Van Gogh


Yep, it’s kind of like that.

ummmm.....so we did it.  We held our first T’Art (Tipsy Art) event.  What we came up with a little over a month ago actually happened- we taught folks how to paint in a small party setting.  I couldn't sleep last night I was so excited about it.  What started out as just a passing observation after Sofia had a bad experience at a local paint/wine event (not naming names, but she paid a good amount to attend)…’you guys could do that’…she said to myself and Jessie during our art making madness…we glance up and say ‘yes, we could'…'WAIT, YES WE COULD DO THAT'…fast forward to staying up all night building the beginnings of the web site (launching tomorrow), discussions on our business model, our roles in the business, msc. discussions on the how-to of making this thing work…talk of brand identity (thanks to my husband’s PhD articles that I have been checking out)…random texts and phone calls to stay on track, a short apron painting session at my place, lot’s of visits to Michaels…and at 5:30 last night we were doing it- setting up for our first T’Art event. Tables set up in a U-formation, black table cloths ready for whatever mishaps might come, water cups, extra napkins, brushes, palettes of paint, two easels up front and we were ready. 

Now, if you know me, you know I am not a fan of landscapes, I mean- where am I going to put the cheetah print and rhinestones, you know? So when we got Sofia’s text with the picture the client was wanting…gulp…a landscape…a pretty tough one…I thought to myself, no worries, surely Jessie’s thing is landscapes, we’re all good.  (Meanwhile, across town, she is getting the same text, making the same gulp and thinking that I must be able to handle a landscape…oooh, no way girl) But you know what?  We totally made it happen.  Jessie started a painting at school, started the water, land and background sky and I was able to jump on that painting while she started another one from scratch so everyone could see the process.  Sofia is taking pictures, making sure everyone has paint, trouble shooting…and at the end of the night everyone seemed happy, their paintings were great, the three of us worked as a team…and it was pretty awesome to get paid to paint.  (…and a landscape at that!)...and hang out with good people, YES.

So, it’s still early but we came up with this idea the weekend of September 18th, made plans and last night we had our first event.  The web is going live tomorrow now that we have pictures of what we do, and I will be up tonight painting some additional samples of what T’Art has to offer.  Feels pretty good.  My concept of syntax is shot at this point and I know I am going crazy with the ellipses and my comma use is out of control…but I am just really happy with the way things worked out, fell into place...all of it.  

One more wedding weekend and then things will be a little more normal...I come home and see my studio area and it makes me sad that I haven't had a chance to sit down and make anything...nothing on my easel at school because I have been busy grading work and getting sub plans ready...I miss my art :(

So...we had a little celebration here at Casa de Gironda last night to celebrate my husband being finished with his comprehensive exams for his doctoral program...John made Chicken Cacciatore, his first time ever making it…and…it…was…AMAZING.  I might have to get him to write down his recipe and post it. (Yep, it really was that delicious) And for the record, I was the esteemed sous-chef for this meal.  My cutting skills surely led to the success of this dish.  (Patting myself on the back as we speak)...picture on the left proves that I really did help out.

One of my good friends came over for dinner and about 3am…we decided we should paint.  I have been telling her about my new business venture, we looked at the website (which is going live later this month) and she was really excited about the idea.  The conversation kept going back to making art…and I guess I mentioned something about rhinestones, and before you know it we are huddled over in the corner with brushes, water cups, acrylic paints and an array of rhinestones that I believe Liberace would be proud of.  The only thing I think could possible match or be better than painting is painting with a friend.  Especially if the person does not consider themselves ‘an artist’.

Artist?  Schmartist.  

We made four small glittery, jeweled butterflies.  They are beautiful.  I woke up this morning and took pictures of them, and in the light from the window they sparkled so much. 

Love. It.

Today’s agenda?  Starting an art organization for the art teachers in my county, we’re having our first official organizational/planning meeting today... bothering John to post that recipe…running at the beach to try to work our awesome dinner…cleaning up from the party last night at some point…painting and/or making things sparkly…and maybe starting an art teacher blog aimed at pre-service teachers…

I am not going to say much...but..I am working on something with some girlfriends...a little venture...just had a fun Saturday art/planning session...more info to come...

Alright. Back to the business of making art and writing about it.  My friend Jessica posted the pictures from the Creep Cinema show this past Saturday, so those are included in a slideshow below. (Thanks, Jessie!)  I really can’t say enough about what a cool venue the show is in…a comic book store…but a really big one.  When we dropped our art off a couple of weeks ago we probably lost an hour just wandering the nooks and crannies of this place, checking out ‘Ugly Dolls’, anime, graphic novels, cool art books and collectibles.  I got a few ideas for some grants and art projects…having the kids create a graphic novel or comic book, contacting a local artist, exploring Pop Surrealism, creating our own ‘Ugly Doll’ pillows…and even more ideas for my own art.   I forgot how awesome Wonder Woman was.  Wow.

So, back to the opening….it  was great. We got all dolled up in some fancy schmancy art attire…embellished with plastic centipedes, rats and such for the occasion and set off for the art event at Bear and Bird Gallery.  (Hey, when else are you going to get away with this?)  It was crowded, just as she had said it would be.  The work was hung salon style, really packed in.  I had to make a few rounds to really check it all out, and I am sure I missed some.  We found the event photographer and got pictures beside our work, then just mixed and mingled among the tight crowd of folks there to appreciate the work.  Walking downstairs in my red heels my mind was already spinning with the next event, the next opportunity to create and to share my work.  

I finished up the three ‘Word Fixation’ paintings that I was working on in my ‘Classroom Studio’.  I didn’t work on them last week but I guess they were pretty close to being finished…or abandoned. 

I have two things that I would like to work on…a piece for a show down in Boca, due date is November 30th...

…and I feel like I need to do some just…DRAWING Pencil.  Simple line, selective rendering…accented with some colored pencil details or a light wash…that might be my next project for the ‘Classroom Studio’…which I think I will refer to as ‘Studio C’ from here on out.  Just cause I like the sound of that.

...haven't posted in a minute...but I am still alive, last week was a blur of glitter, bow-making, Homecoming this and that, helping to set up an art show, attending an opening, a random piercing...and actually relaxing a bit and being lazy after all that hoopla was over and done with.  So...taking a breather... hoping to finish those three paintings that are living in my 'classroom studio'...and work on the new business venture...soon to be unveiled.  Word.

Please note...Scooter did not really get a piercing, so don't worry!