Japanese Gothic Lolita artist TAMA has a gorgeous way of using sheer, watercolor paints in glorious, bright colors to depict the sweetest, most odd and gruesome of scenes in the prettiest of ways. I'm a huge fan of this diffuse softness amidst so much bright color and weirdness. Every piece seems to glow! Visit TAMA's website and see for yourself; a wondrous gallery of work can be found here; just click ILLUSTRATION , then click through the little square boxes on the left.
We're finishing up wrestling season for Noah here at home -- he finished 4th in sections and goes to the Tournament of Champions soon, which covers all of Northern California. He's done amazingly well, especially for a first-year wrestler; we're so incredibly proud!
Ski season ended with Toby seriously injuring his wrist one race shy of finishing the season (he has "skier's thumb," a ligament tear in the webbing space between thumb and forefinger.) It was a disappointment to him, as he was a potential qualifier for the state finals if he finished well in his last races. He has two years left in high school, though; I think his time will come.
What a wonderful whirlwind of a time in life it's been, despite the frenetic pace, with the boys so active and successful and happy -- and Tim's birthday just past. I've really enjoyed being immersed in it. Although the constant 4 a.m. wake-ups, I could live without... !
It's nice to have a few moments to refocus on art and online life now that other pressures and commitments lighten up, though, I admit. I go a little bonkers when I stay away from the studio for too long.
Last week I completed my pages for a chunky Pick-A-Theme book swap at IllustratedATCs. Great fun! My chosen theme was "Dark, Seductive Masquerade" and I'll be receiving ten chunky pages in that theme to create my personal book from this swap. The other themes were as follows:
CAKES & TEACUPS
EXOTIC FRUIT
GARDEN GNOMES
HALLOWEEN
GODDESSES
GODDESSES (again)
QUEEN OF HEARTS ("different")
SERAPHIM
HALLOWEEN TRICK-OR-TREAT
WINGED CATS
I spent early Valentine's Day on the road to San Francisco, where, once arrived, my husband Tim and I visited the SF Museum of Modern Art. There was a particularly interesting exhibit there -- the 1000 Journals Project was visiting the museum -- and I even got a chance to add my own personal note to one of the journals (#872, to be exact) which is like being a part of art history. Very cool and meaningful!
Later, we picked up my sons Toby and Noah from their dad (who has them this week) and we continued south to my parents' house, to meet up with my mom, who celebrated her 74th Valentine Birthday yesterday. The six of us enjoyed a leisurely meal at mom's restaurant of choice -- Chili's -- complete with too many appetizers, too much food, and too rich desserts. Lovely! I think mom had a great time.
For the Valentine holiday, Tim gave me a card; a GIANT box of Godiva chocolate (yum!); and a lovely art book I wanted. I gave Tim scads of yummy candy -- including some in a heart-shaped box, from See's -- and an altered children's board book I made into a multi-page Valentine, that I'd been working on, off and on, for a month or so. I was touched at how much he loved it; it brought him to tears. That guy's a keeper.
I hope YOUR Valentine's Day this year was full of love and wonder, too!!
Skinny pages (3x7) for a skinny page swap at IllustratedATCs.com.
Patterned paper collage, acrylics, charcoal, ribbon.
A handful of my friends at IllustratedATCs have developed an awesome online workshop that begins April 1. So if you're interested in developing your whimsy art skills, be sure to check it out!
A supremely cool gal and one of my very talented mail art friends, Tabitha Ladin, has just published a wonderful dragon coloring book that's now available on Amazon. For all the dragon aficianados in your life -- maybe even YOU?? -- it's a perfect purchase, at a really great price (under $10.).
TabLynn (her mail art world name) has an amazing talent for depicting dragons with just the right blend of reptilian realism and fantastical might. Her line art is detailed and meticulous, making for a sophisticated outcome no matter what your coloring skills. And each drawing is published with a blank backside, creating the perfect coloring experience; one that even allows you to remove pages for framing or sharing with others.
Please visit Amazon and check out what talent and drive can create... and maybe even to bring home this bit of dragon-y goodness for yourself, or someone you know.
The book is also available at CreateSpace and at LuLu, where you can buy the softcover version OR download it immediately as a .pdf for just $5. Whee!!
My first try at a complex digital collage/painting.
Every year, on Christmas eve, while I slumber with my beloved and sugar plum visions dance through my head, Santa delivers a gift of original, art-y goodness meant just for me. Usually, he brings me an artist teddy bear, which I always help him choose -- and finance. :)
This year, though -- something different. Santa will bring me my first EVER original painting; a beautiful, soft, feminine work in oils. I know this because Santa used my PayPal account to fund his giftie!
Shipping from Ireland, just for me, is 18x22 inches of ethereal gorgeousness entitled, "The Firefly Keepers, by artist Lisa Falzon (a.k.a. meluseena on Etsy). A perfect, empty spot in my front room has been waiting for just such a prize.
I am so excited about my first ever "flat" art purchase, I'm absolutely vibrating with anticipation. Wheeeeee!
A week or so ago, I discovered the artist Andrea Joseph while browsing flickr. I love her work so much; it's so finely detailed and intricate. She generally works in monotones, using sepia inks and ballpoint pens. Yes, you read that right; ballpoint pens. Those cheap-y things you and I use every day to write out grocery lists, take notes, and sign our names. It's unbelievable, what a person of talent can do with a humble ballpoint pen. Case in point: this glorious shoe composition.
Amazing, isn't it? It's done in BALL-FREAKING-POINT PEN, people. There must be ten BILLION tiny lines of cross hatching in this drawing. In ALL her drawings.
Just wait til you see the rest of her work. Do check her out, and her blog, too. She's side-splittingly wry and funny, in addition to being blazingly talented.
I'm starting to think I kinda hate her, actually... :)~
