daily painting: sometimes you have to make a bad painting in order to make the good paintings

ha ha! sometimes you have to make a really bad piece of work in order to let the good work come out. and instead of getting all distraught about it today, i thought it would be more beneficial to laugh about it and post it here! this daily painting is NOT for sale-- it is absolutely hideous. :)
i am going to paint over it just as soon as it's dry, but i wanted to post it here because i think it's important. and here's why:

everything you see on the internet is so finished and perfect and inspiring, and it can often feel defeating when you're sitting in your studio without an idea, or working on an ugly painting, or feeling like everyone else is more talented than you (ok, me.) the comforting part is that i am almost certain all artists go through these feelings at times, and it's nice to get a glimpse of it in others' lives. not that i wish ruts and bad paintings on other artists, but i like knowing that it happens to other people, too, because i know i'm not alone in my doubts and ups and downs and ugly, embarrassing work.

so, here's to making ugly paintings on fridays!!!!
i hope you all have a splendid weekend. i will have better daily paintings to show you next week. (i hope!!)

cool artist... chris kerr

i would like to meet chris kerr in person, due to this interview. i think he must be a really fun guy to be around. plus, his artwork is awesome, so it'd be doubly fun, because i bet he'd want to show me around his studio and show off all his cool stuff.

and, he's got pretty much the best website ever, complete with sound effects, and i think you shold probably go check it out right now.

{ps: the interview is from japanese online magazine flash+film, in which i will be featured in a few weeks! i'll be sure to post it once it's up. yay!}

holly mae pendergast

these figure studies by holly mae pendergast struck me while checking out the kayo gallery site.
i love how they look together-- the combination of colors is really beautiful. i love the moodiness of the pieces. i feel like there is a story behind each person-- something not every figurative artist can capture.

you can see much, much more of holly's work on her website and at kayo gallery in salt lake city, utah.

random and unexpected inspiration

have i ever told you that in a previous life i was a singer/songwriter?

(ok, not a previous life, but when i was in college and a couple years beyond.) i taught myself t to play the guitar when i was 15 and started writing songs shortly thereafter.


but once my art career started swinging when i was 23, and i was trying to juggle art-making and making a living, the singing, guitar playing, and songwriting got lost in the shuffle. i just stopped doing it.

well, tonight, while ryan i and i were making sushi for dinner (vegetarian, of course!
avocado, bean sprouts, tofu, carrots, zucchini... yum!), i popped in an old, old favorite sarah mclachlan cd that i hadn't listened to since i was, oh, 18 years old or so. i have no idea what made me want to hear it, but i'm so, so glad i did because, first of all, it was still beautiful. (i think once i started listening to indie music and bands like the dismemberment plan and modest mouse, i shunned all my old "chick music." so sad.)

and second of all, IT MADE ME GET OUT MY GUITAR AND START PLAYING AGAIN. i kid you not. and it felt GOOD. my fingers are raw and throbbing, but i'm feeling something i haven't felt for a long time, and i think i'm hooked again.

perhaps one of these days i'll figure out how to record something and put it on this here blog.
but first i need to get those callouses on my fingers back.
all i can say is OUCH!

(photo from sean dreilinger's flickr page. it is not a photo of me--just a photo i liked!!)

etsy find: lertsis

i happened upon this etsy shop called lertsis just now that i think might be my new favorite.
i *love* these prints. love them.

and how cool that the artist is from bangkok? i love global etsy is.

go visit the shop! i promise you will be glad you did.

daily painting, 05.29.08: red rain

daily painting! daily painting! this one is called "red rain," and it's more on the theme i've been incorporating a bit into my work: global warming and the destruction of our environment.
(uplifting, eh?) :)

it is available for purchase right here.

illustration: stefanie augustine

i'm enamored with stefanie augustine's illustrations this morning.
she is currently part of a group show at together gallery that i wish i could see so badly.

she has a pretty sweet list of past clients, and i can see why. her illustrations are fantastic.
her site is a must visit!

daily painting, 05.28.08: stop global warming

better late than never to be posting the daily painting, i guess! whew! busy days with too much to do, always.

anyway, this little precious piece is called "stop global warming." the bear is trying to save the flowers. awww.

you can purchase the original right here.

hope you love it!!

another new painting

also going to yes gallery and studio in warren, rhode island.

this one is called "feed the birds," and is 8x8", acrylic, india ink, gouache, and linoleum block printing on wood.

don't you love the shapes of birds?

new project! {hand-printed napkins}

in preparation for ICE next saturday, i have been developing some new ideas, and i am so, so excited to share this project with you: my new line of hand-printed napkins!



each set is printed by hand from hand-carved linoleum blocks. the colors are custom mixed as well, and the napkins are 100% cotton.

i am quite pleased with how they are turning out so far and will have more sets to show you in the coming days.

you'll be able to buy them at ICE, as well as in my etsy shop.


and now i want to print everything in my house. i'm thinking: pillows, duvet cover, tea towels......
and how can i get my gocco printer in on the action? there are experiments to be had...

happy wednesday!

cartolina cards: THANK YOU

fiona, the wonder behind cartolina cards, has a heart of gold. she sent me a package full of her cards that arrived yesterday, and it felt like christmas!! they are even more wonderful in person. if you are in search of unique and incredible cards, i suggest going straight to cartolina. they are beautiful. and what's more, they are printed on recycled paper, so you can feel good about them, too!

thank you, fiona. i so appreciate your kindness and generosity. :)

daily painting, 05.27.08: "why are you so sad?"

it's daily painting time!! this one is called "why are you so sad?"

you can buy the original right here, for $65.

what are you waiting for? :)

new work and a bit of news

i just wanted to quickly share this new painting (called "fly fly away") with you that will be going to yes gallery in warren, rhode island in the next few days. if you are in the area, go check out this gallery! leigh (the owner) is rocking and rolling and has a great group of artists that she represents, and i can't wait until i can go visit in person.

also, i wanted to let you all know (especially those of you in portland, oregon) that together gallery is now carrying my prints and postcard sets! this is another gallery that i am dying to visit in person, and they're carrying 6 of my prints as well as my floral postcard sets-- get on over there to check it out!!

julie malone (aka julie cupcake)

last night i discovered the work of julie malone on flickr, and i think it is just adorable!
how could you not love a capybara saying hello? (below)

julie uses linocuts for her work, which i can never resist. i love the look of a hand-printed design.
you can see more on her flickr page and in her etsy shop!

daily painting, 05.23.08: i am so in love with you

awwwwwww. this is a little homage to ryan, my dear one :) he came in and made fun of this painting, and i told him that it's him and me and that he's wearing a bear hat, and he didn't know what to say after that. ha ha! except i don't really have blond hair. oh well.

this daily painting is 6x8" and is done in acrylic, india ink, and linoleum block printing on wood. isn't it cute??

{buy the original right here.}

oh, and HAPPY FRIDAY! and happy long memorial day weekend!! do you have any fun plans? barbecues? road trips? laying by the pool? do tell!

giant robot: tree show IV

i want to go see this show. badly.

oh giant robot. you steal my heart daily.

the show is at the san francisco giant robot store. may 17- june 18th. get yourself over there if you can!!

{images in order: deth p. sun, yellena james, tyler parker, elisabeth timpone}

amy rice

anyone who can paint carrots and not have it feel all country grandma-y gets an A+ in my book! amy rice's work is totally inspiring me this morning. some of her work is hand-colored gocco prints, which for some reason i've never considered. i love my gocco printer, but i tend to just leave it at that-- gocco printing only. i love the idea of filling it in with color by hand!

thank you, amy rice, for the inspiration this morning.
isn't her work so lovely?

you can see amy's work on her website, on her flickr page, on her blog, and at bluebottle gallery in seattle in june (she has a solo show).

don't you love that artists these days almost always have a website, flickr page, etsy shop, and blog? i love it!

dwell on design-- SPECIAL OFFER!

hey y'all-- dwell just sent over an email letting me know that they are offering A FREE TICKET to anyone who has not yet purchased a ticket to their upcoming event called dwell on design, in los angeles from june 5-8, 2008. WHAT A SWEET DEAL!!

you can register right here, and use the code BDODEC to get the discount.

it sounds like a fantastic event-- if i wasn't going to be participating in ICE i'd be there in a heartbeat!! (as if i needed an excuse to go to california....)

thanks to dwell for the awesome offer!!

daily painting, 05.22.08: birds like the springtime

i can't tell you how much fun i'm having with these daily paintings! today's painting is in honor of the beautiful weather here in atlanta. i love springtime! the magnolia trees are beginning to bloom, we have had much rain lately, and everything is green green green.

you can get the original painting, called "birds like the springtime," right here. it is 6x6" and done in acrylic and india ink on wood. ($75)

this would look so perfect in a little nook that needs some brightening!

new favorite photographer... chris raecker

in keeping with the circus/amusement park theme of today, i wanted to share with you these photographs by chris raecker that sara just shared with me. they are INCREDIBLE! i wish i had all of them framed and hanging on my walls. seriously. i am infatuated with these images.
the series is called "midnight carnival," and the photographs are available at jenkins johnson gallery in san francisco and new york city. (this artist, who i posted about here, is also represented by jenkins johnson. so great!)

circus circus!

(a county fair in managua, nicaragua, from wylie maercklein's flickr page)

i am fascinated by images of carnivals, circuses, county fairs...... really anything that has ferris wheels, brightly colored, striped tents, photo booths, signs for funnel cake and popcorn with incredible typography, neon lights.... especially old images-- circuses from the 1920s are really the top for me. i want to find a book of these images. i love the old bearded lady stuff and the side shows and freaks.... it makes me sort-of sad to look at and think about, but i love it nonetheless.

i found so many images on flickr this morning i didn't know which to choose! here are some of my favorites.

(vermont state fair, 1940, from the library of congress flickr page)

(vermont county fair, 1940, from the library of congress flickr page)