Remember that line from The Rescuers? “Faith is like a bluebird, you can’t catch it or buy it or wrap it up tight, but it’s there just the same making things turn out right.”
The Rescuers wasn’t my favorite movie mostly because I found Madam Medusa *very* scary, in a way that McLeach just wasn’t. Yet Rufus the Cat and his little bit of encouragement, as well as about a zillion other lines from the movie, are burned indelibly into my memory.
When people in my generation start losing their memories, they will probably still be able to quote movies.
I always preferred The Rescuers Down Under–I think I may have even seen it first–who knows, I was so little. I mean, Wilbur is fantastic, then of course there is the lovable Australian cast of creatures.
….oh yeah, and I painted a blue bird that I can’t look at without thinking of the Rescuers and subsequently Australia (which is so frighteningly on fire)…
The background is inktense, the bird itself is Daniel Smith watercolors, and the black tips on its wings are gouache. The eye, ever bright, is ink.
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At the end of August I collected the last of my pieces from the Firehouse Gallery and moved them all to–plus a lot more original pieces–to the Leesburg Town Hall. I was in such a rush I didn’t really get pictures of everything once they were on the walls–but they DO look good I think.
All the pieces are for sale, of course. I actually last minute switched out one of the works (my Blue Ridge Mountains) just so I could say that. The Blue Ridge stays with me!
I think one of the hardest things for me to do, as a artist, is put the brush down and let a piece be finished. I did that with the Blue Ridge, and it is just so pretty.
pure ultramarine
Here is the one picture I have of the arrangement in the town hall lobby:
It was also cool, then night we held an opening during First Friday Leesburg, to see so many of my products on display. Most of them owned by my very supportive mother–but some of them are mine.
I have these gorgeous painted boots you can see in the back there–not for riding anymore, if ever–perfect for a Kentucky Derby Party, or maybe a Steeple chase tailgate. I have a couple more pairs needing painting, I should probably paint them all up and then list them all at once instead of dripping them out into the world.
Also, you should know: Product pictures are a thing. There are moments when I think, “OH! I can totally do that.” and others, usually when I am holding a camera, when I realize that it is MUCH harder than it looks. Hats off to all you product picture people. Good work!
The exhibit runs to the end of Nov, you should swing by the Leesburg Town Hall if you happen through Northern VA. The downtown is incredibly cute, lots of great food and fun shops, plus, you know, this really awesome art exhibit by this artist you follow on the internet.
I’ve already started thinking about Christmas and I’ll be planning out time to paint. If you’re interested in a commission piece, they are shockingly affordable and make amazing presents. If you aren’t sure about something, just ask me.
You can hit me up here, or go straight to my Etsy shop and place an order there.
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Remember that love affair with birds? Still going strong.
One of my favorite visitors to the bird feeder (though, lets be honest: almost
everything is my favorite so long as it isn’t the squirrel) is the chickadee. I
remember watching them at bird feeders in touristy locations—they were the only
birds brazen enough to brave the proximity of the crowds. Sparrows are pretty
brazen, too, but they spend their time under picnic tables rather than feeders.
My feeder is dominated by house finches and cardinals, but I
do have goldfinches, titmice, and chickadees…and in the wintertime I see juncos
regularly.
This spring blue jays and starlings started hanging around
more, and I’ve noticed more robins in the front yard.
A sketch, and Inktense scribbles in blue and purple.
It had been a while since I’d noticed a chickadee, and one
came and sat on a branch quite close to the deck doors—I was surprised that I
had forgotten just how tiny chickadees are. I mean, I could probably fit 2 of
them on the palm of my hand if they were so inclined.
Such a loud voice and big personality in such an incredibly
tiny body—specially compared to the other song birds I’d gotten used to seeing.
Blending with a wet paper towel.
I painted this charmer for my mother as a mother’s day gift.
I’m so very pleased with out it came out. #firsttry
Brushing in the branch.
I’d been experimenting for a while with inktense blended
backgrounds, and had a really solid idea in my head of how to use the brush
pens. I guess it shows. Inktense is such a versatile and sometimes befuddling medium.
You’ll be seeing more of it in the coming weeks.
Brush pen, already a little blended. Drying before adding the black.
Have I mentioned that I love the brush pens? Love them. I
love putting the color where I want it deepest and then coaxing it out further.
All blacked! And some sharpie paint pen highlights for the branches and white patches.
I still adore my Daniel Smith watercolors—I’ve developed an affinity for their particular granulation and vividness. I’ve been using them so much I’d forgotten just how special they were. My past weeks challenging myself with artist’s loft supplies have been…eye opening…and challenging. So, successful? You’ll be seeing some of that practice, soon.
Prints of the chickadee are in my Etsy shop, if anyone is interested. Just have 5×7 up there now, but 8×10 could be arranged!
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