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Making new happy messes in the studio and creating some new work for the Park City Gallery for February.

I have been painting up a storm in my studio and am ready to take some new work out to Silver Queen Gallery in Park City. Its always hard to say goodbye.

It’s funny how the subjects and energy in my pieces can change but always still feel like part of the same family. The colors, animals and energy is very affected by the things I’m experiencing at the time. The books I read and music I listen to can impact my work immensely. For example, I just finished the (Pulitzer Prize -winning) novel Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. It’s the only novel I’ve read in the Western genre but I really connected to it, it’s beautiful and terrible. Being just under 900 pages, it took me a few months to get through, but wow it haunted me for ages afterwards. Images of buffalo, and the shadows of the people that came before me, the harshness, grit, simplicity, and resilience of the human spirit… all that energy has found it’s way into my work. It makes me feel more connected to the ghosts of those people who forged out West that lead to my existence today. Park City with its old mining roots seem like just the place for these to be.

 

Between the beautiful mountains and ski resorts, the world renowned Sundance Film Festival, and historic Main Street with its array of Art Galleries, Park City is easily one of my favorite cities on the planet. I was lucky enough to grow up snowboarding in those mountains and was able to enjoy all that the city has to offer as I live an hour away. I have always dreamed of having my artwork in one of the distinguished galleries. I am so excited to say that I will now be showing my artwork at the Silver Queen Gallery! The gallery in on historic Main street and run by lovely people. I can’t wait to get started.

 

 

Well it’s time to say goodbye to 2 more of my “Head in the Clouds” series. There are on their way to the Artspace Warehouse in Los Angeles. Dream Chaser & Waning Moon – Goodbye babies!

Dream Chaser // Acrylic and Mixed Media on Wood

Waning Moon // Acrylic and Mixed Media on Wood

Eye of the Storm // Acrylic, Mixed Media and Vellum on Wood

((Sold))

Candy Sky // Acrylic and Mixed Media on Wood

I have been working on a new body of work called “Head in the Clouds”.  Now.. weird thing.. I have heard it is common for other women to paint differently when they are pregnant. I definitely have experienced that. I am in such a different headspace during that time! There doesn’t seem to be much of a rhymn or reason to it except that maybe the tiny little energy that exists inside is coming out into the work. I like to think that everything I’ve done while pregnant has been with help from my little ones. These latest piece are very bright, I’m using colors here that I don’t normally use, they are much warmer. Everything seems more explosive and celestial. I will always remember these as the first paintings Lilah and I did together.

Ink and paint drawings on vellum to be collaged into the piece

 

 

Wow this piece had me in knots! In a good way though. I loved this Tiny Man so much and really just couldn’t figure out what to do with him. There are some different references here and I wasn’t sure what direction to take it in. There were some ideas about the Mayan culture and symbolism that I attempted.. After painting and repainting I ended up with a piece that I truly love. I sent him away to live with some great friends so I am happy that I’ll see him again.

I was invited to be a part of the group of artist in a showcase for RAW natural born artists last year. RAW is an independent arts organization that includes all genres of art. They currently operate in nearly 60 cities across the United States, Canada, Australia and London.

I was excited to be a part of the showcase but was absolutely shocked to be awarded ARTIST OF THE YEAR for the United States. My work went through a public vote to win the state of Utah (total shock just from that) then went onto the panel of judges and gallery owners. Out of 15,000 across the nation I was selected to be the Visual Artist of the Year. What an honor. Holy. Smokes.

 

I won some fantastic prizes, moola, and some great opportunities. And look guys..a shiny-new-trophy-award. Never thought I would win one of those! Im feeling pretty dumb-struck and totally humbled that I was selected. I would demand a recount but I really like my new stuff 😉

 

I was featured on the website and did a fun RAWdio winner interview which you can check out the RAWdio Podcast or under the MEDIA LINK.

I have wanted to do a piece inspired by Alice for a long time so I hope I was able to do it justice. Here is my piece for the show Entitled Painting the Roses Red using acrylic and mixed media on wood

Here are a couple shots of the piece in process

I was able to be a part of an awesome Alice and Wonderland Art Show at the Urban Arts Gallery. Welcome to Wonderland that featured some great artists and artwork. There were all kinds of sculpture and installation pieces, which I loved. Not to mention it was a happening party. There was live music a tea party and some seriously cool costumes. I thought I had really outdone myself dressing up like Alice, but was nothing compared to some of the characters we saw.

I found the White Rabbit..

 

I have always adored the story Alices Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol. I’m fascinated with and collect old novels. This one in particular has continued to spark imagination, inspire and resonate with people for over a hundred years. Its pretty incredible. There is also something fantastic about the notion of this whole other world existing inside the mind of a small girl, don’t you think?

Photograph of the original Alice // Alice Liddell circa 1862

 

I also love vintage illustrations. How gorgeous are these original illustrations by John Tenniel?

 

One of my latest pieces. Mixed Media on Wood using Constellation Maps.

I love this piece in its entirety but, there is something special about this detail on its own.

I was asked to be a part of the very cool FE5TIVAL event. It was the 8th anniversary fundraiser and celebration for the NURTURE THE CREATIVE MIND FOUNDATION which is youth non-profit organization. It was a great night held at the Historic Union Station Building in Ogden. This was my first time live painting and I had a blast. I was a little unsure about the time constraints of doing a live piece but I was able to do this quick piece in about 4 hours. I used Mixed Media on canvas with collaged constellation maps and painted papers. I usually paint on wood, so the give on the canvas was weirding me out a little..but I ended up with a lovely crocodile-riding girl under a starry sky. It is entitled Lasso the Moon and was auctioned off at the end of the night for this great cause. Thank you for FE5TIVAL5!

Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation

Prepping for my Collage Drawings, Star Maps and Painted Papers

 

Finished Detail