Pink Coyote

New Work

I do not know whether I'm coming or going over here. I can't seem to strike a balance between getting work done and taking care of myself. I think it's going to be catching up with me soon. What I'm trying to figure out is how much time I need each week and how to ask for the help I need (and from whom) in order to achieve that. Because two childring is simply not the same as one....let me just say!

The past month has been a really neat whirlwind of sharing some paint, reconnecting with friend-artists as if I'm one of the gang again, and feeling like a little bit more than just...a mom. I love being a mom! But I like being this other part, too, and right now, instead of me being me all the time, I feel like I'm split in two! Begging and borrowing time to do this thing...this thing where I try to keep myself filled up by sitting in a quiet space, listening to the Muses...

Their voices are so sweet after a long day of "Mama! I didn't want that cup! I wanted my frog cup!!" *tears, tears* and the like. I laugh as I write this, because I really, really don't mind the tedium of motherhood, and I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining about my little blessings. We laugh our butts off and cry some, too and generally have a dang good time. Case in point is that it's 3:50am and I'm not ready to go to bed yet. Still more to do to feed the monkey on my back....

Here's the latest, of which originals are in the shop. Prints will have to go up in a day or so, because hey...I gotta get some sleep. *Grin*

 

Alchemy, detail. 6"x6" mixed-media on board.

Crow teaches us how to manifest intelligent creation in our everyday lives. Their mystical black feathers are like the dark and fertile womb. Crow communicates effectively, taking an idea and following it through until satisfied with the outcome. He is the totem that accompanies you as you set out to make each day filled with creativity. His caw is a message to remember to cultivate magic, a call to gather those things that inspire you, and surround yourself with beauty. Crow is alchemy: add your special touch and create your own unique and intriguing expression. This magician is soaring away to connect with his divine ability to transform the everyday.

 

 

Possibility, 6"x6" mixed-media on board.

 

Rabbit has the amazing ability of expansive growth and fertility, accomplishing the seemingly impossible in a short amount of time. She never paints herself into a corner, she's the one with a plan and she always leaves herself an out. She nourishes herself first, then is able to take care of those around her. She is economical, taking careful measures to balance rest with work and play. She is earthy and grounded, yet focused. Rabbit can shift into high gear quickly and move with great speed, seizing opportunity or retreat when it is presented. This little cottontail is ready to take you on an adventure down the hole...

 

Crow is an old friend and rabbit is someone I'm just learning about. Both were really fun to make. I think mixing color is my very favorite job ever in the whole world.

Incredible

 

This cute crocheted hat was sent to us as a gift from the lovely and thoughtful mama, Penelope, when Ivylu was a few weeks old. Doesn't she look like a little granny on her way to church?

Penny is an incredible artist and illustrator, whom I've loved spending stolen moments with as we've crossed paths over the past four years. Now that she's a mama, we have even more to gab about. We will each be working on rather unique pieces for a one-night L.A. show in November, along with a bevy of some really amazing artists. I'm so excited! (More details to come.) Part of the excitement of putting paint to surface is that I get to hang with some chicks I really dig.

I'm so fortunate to be surrounded by a million incredible peeps. I want to throw my arms around the world and say thank you.

Some Mighty Good Stuff

It's been a crazy couple of days at our house. Ivy took about an ounce of milk from a bottle tonite while Miles and I were out gathering a couple of jingly things to help her with the car ride northward where we'll be visiting with friends this weekend. Our little mermaid doesn't like riding in the car, and until tonite she would not take any pumped milk-she only digs the real thing. So we're making a little progress, so that Miles and I can have a date together now and then. When I arrived home she and Brandon were the best of friends in a way I haven't seen them before. So yummy. Daddy's mermaid girl...

She still thinks her bedtime is somewhere between eleven and twelve at night and I've created some habits out of exhaustion that I'm already regretting-like nursing her for an hour until she passes out. At a certain point, I just lost my ability to creatively problem solve. I'm working on it, but I think it's pretty safe to have "Frustrates Easily" tattooed on my forehead, as I've planned to for many years now.. I'm only staying up until 3 am a couple of nights per week to paint and do all of those things I wrote about last post. *sigh* The new mama sleepies are starting to catch up with me. I'm having some trouble keeping up and it kills me (my ego) to admit it. I wish I weren't one to spread myself so thin all the time. Balance.

Balance, Balance, Balance. Balance!

Enough kvetching. Here's a cute bag I sewed for one of Miles little friend's birthday last weekend. I had a lot of fun making it and it was super easy. The applique part did not turn out as um, professional as I wanted it to. But I don't think the handsome Cole minded. It's got a little vintage leather coat button secured to it for snazzy looks, but I made a velcro closure for easy ripping open when collecting treasures in a hurry. I stuffed it with healthy (er) snacks and a couple of little books and off we went. No wrapping required!

Below is a pic of M wearing his dinosaur hat, which I think looked like a cross between a fez and a pharoah, (fezroah?) in this shot. I snapped it right after he finished his slab of chocolate cake and captured the drunken euphoria at once. I love pictures like these, the ones that haunt you for a lifetime. We have a snap of my cousin from about 25 years ago making the kookiest face and no one ever forgets it. It's seared on the memory. I hope M won't hate me for this someday. I'm going to take my chances and live for the moment.

 

The absolute best news I've heard all day is that my dear, dear, sweet comrade Wendy over at MotherRising is having great luck and fully booked her first Mighty Girl Art Camp, an amazing week-long day camp for girls to live out their creative dreams in a rad tipi with goodies galore. I do believe my friend is the best qualified person to make a difference in a young girl's life. Hands down. If you are located in the D.C area, go find out more about enrollment! If you're inspired, create your own neighborhood goodliness this summer! If you'd like to make a contribution to share with the girls, contact Wendy! She'd love to hear from you! Thank you, Wen, for sharing your light with those who really need it. Your work is so important!

Have an inspired weekend, already. xo

Elephant Strength

My life is getting a little strange. I see myself moving toward something that I have wanted for a very long time-a gig at home with my babes, making art. It's unbelievable how complicated it's been to get to this point. I have lots of energy to put towards this goal, and I can't tell you where it's coming from. The strange part comes in when I look at my near nine-week old daughter: Why am I doing this NOW?

The answer that comes to me is just that now is the time. It doesn't sound urgent or bossy, just gentle-but firm. No judgement about why it's taken me so long. There seems to be just a little bit of fear, a manageable amount, mainly to do with walking that very fine line-the one with my children's needs on one side and the ever-balancing needs of me on the other.

I'm not exactly sure why I feel especially pulled to create and build just [before and] after my second, and likely final, baby has been born. Shouldn't I be drinking her up every minute of every day? Am I sacraficing my precious time with her by staying up very late at night in order to create my little paintings? Wouldn't I have more energy for both of the dumplings if I took better care of my body's need for rest so I'm not staggering into the kitchen like a zombie every morning to the sound of Miles saying, "Momma, maybe you need to have some coffee today..." and giving me sideways glances. Maybe!?

I believe, with full conviction, that it is all too possible to sacrafice my children's needs in order to get my work seen, connect with other artists, answer a million emails, upload, scan, write, blog about (*breathless*) and, of course, I have to take time to make it first.  And I, of course, do not want to sacrafice them in any way! But... [she said in a quieter voice] I am also acutely aware of what happens to women when they sacrafice the divine creative within them in order to be mom, wife, housekeeper, banker, et al. I don't have to list them all here because I know you know what I'm talking about.  So, a high-wire act it is for me.

And I suppose just as the gong of demand begins ringing a lit-tle louder on Wyatt Street, the need for me to balance it grows deafening, too. I've always said that being a parent feels like walking on a really high tightrope. I seek just enough for me and try to deliver just enough to everyone else to keep us all thriving.

I suppose there may have been elements of this notion swirling around when I created the latest one:

Strength, 6"x6" mixed-media painting on cradled birch board.

Elephants are the ancient, wise ones. They are associated with great physical and emotional strength, resulting in the establishment of deep familial relationships and support around them. They are known for toppling obstacles and never giving up on the journey to act in accordance with one's highest self. Their perseverence distinguishes them from other beings, indicating longevity and endurance when the task ahead is heavy or daunting. Elephant finds her power within her own mighty strength, and enjoys the reinforcement of an empathetic community dedicated to seeking higher wisdom.

The original and prints are available in the shop today...

It seems that if I am present and not lost in the stresses and details of it all, I will be able to pull it off. That's sort of what it feels like, a big heist. Can I defy all convention and do both? Can it be done?

I enrolled in Marisa Haedike's e-course in the hopes that I can learn a thing or two about art and business from her, she is an expert at this and makes being a working artist look as easy to do as watching the grass grow. (Want to join me?) I can't tell you how excited I am that I get to do this. You know the most exciting thing about it? My paintings paid for it. And though it may seem old hat to those of you who have been doing this forever, it's a huge big deal to me!

For anyone out there launching themselves off of a creative cliff, I am speaking to you: There is no better timing than right now.

Nitey night, night owls...

Music in the Park

A couple of weeks ago I got the hook up from Mati Rose on Facebook about a little folkish duo, Renee & Jeremy, and their KEWT video. I immediately clicked over and bought tickets to see them play at a little nature & music festival in the park. The funny thing is that they played at the creepy old zoo site at Griffith Park in historical Los Feliz, literally 2 minutes from where we lived in L.A. before we headed for the hills nine years ago. An added bonus is that Tom Freund played and we loved he and his funky band. (He played a medley of You Are My Sunshine and This Land is Your Land and I got all choked up. Why do  songs like this cause such a tug? Or am I just a sentimental dweeb?) Both bands were great and it was so wonderful just to be lying on the grass outside under the sycamores!

It was a really sweet show and though the craft booths were pretty lo-fi, it was an amazingly beautiful day and Miles thought it was the "most funnest day" (to quote one of his friends).  

We did a little snugglin',

 

 

A little jammin',

 

A little snackin',

 

A little drinkin',

A little more drinkin'- my kinda drinkin'!

 And finally... a little sleepin'.

 

It was a very good day...

In other news, I do believe I've changed my mind. I would like to go to Squam Art Workshops this year. Before Ivy arrived, I didn't know what I'd be up for! But now I know. Except, I don't quite know how I'm going to pull it off. Being jobless with a noob doesn't exactly lend itself to cross country travel to connect with likes and deepen one's craft... Hmmmn. I'm determined to find a way to make it work.

Meantime, I've added one more painting to the shop (+ prints) and there will be three more added by weeks end. Pinky swear!

;)

 

A Little Joy for Everyone

There are so very, very many good mamas around me. So many. When I started this blog in 2005, I was about to give birth to Miles. Mamahood has been woven tightly into my little piece of fabric here in blogland. It is such an essential part of who I am in my soul and who I am as an artist. Lately, with the boom of just about everyone I know connecting and reconnecting on Facebook, I am experiencing another explosion of meeting and greeting new mamas that I've never known, but, like me, have been finding others like them and growing their circles. Plus it seems like new babies are popping out everywhere! Another baby boom!

I consider myself so lucky to know so many yummy mummys. One such lady just whipped the business out of breast cancer last year and I am SO proud of her. One of the unique things about Jill is that she's one of those mamas whose ears are wide open and wants only to hear about me, me me (or whomever she happens to be talking with). She is absolutely the most amazing and attentive listener I've ever met. This is such a rare gift, one that I cannot claim myself, but wish I could! She is deeply intuitive, (to the point of saving her own life with the cancer thing, choosing to do the opposite of what her doctors recommended) wise, caring and bursting with the joy of life and her two boys. Plus she has mondo cajones.

I decided to honor Jill by driving the beautiful Stacy of Bellawish crazy with a last minute necklace order the week of Mother's Day. I think we were both half asleep, burning the midnight oil, (as I am now) when we discussed the details, but she agreed to hustle and ship it out next day, because she is, in fact, saintly.

What ended up happening was that in our haste, we crossed wires, I didn't match my stinking paypal address! and the necklace was shipped to me instead of Jill. It arrived Monday and I was having a crappy ass, shit-tastic day and so I tore into the package and put the thing on myself, shouting dramatically, "I need a little JOY in my life!"  And in that moment, I realized my foible was totally meant to be. (I really did need some serious joy right at that exact moment.)

So, to Jill, there is another superb JOY necklace on it's way to you. And when I see you in a couple of weeks at hippyfest, we can take a twinsie picture!

And that is my little story for today.

Wishing you a little joy...

Block Print

It seems like our craft room is undergoing a major shift-everything Miles and I set out to do must be done in little segments. We have to actually plan to be interrupted non-stop as I manage Madame Moo (because she's milky, not because she's a cow....c'mon!), gather snacks, supplies, clean up, and put out little fires all. day. long.

So today's project fit well within those limitations: block printing! This morning, I received an Etsy email with a tutorial in it from ArtMind, and I had all of the supplies on hand-synchronicity! It was so much fun, and now I plan to block print on anything I can get my hands on. It's all I want to do!

Here's what we did:

Miles drew a picture, "Happy Raincloud" (he signed his masterpiece after I scanned it):

I shrunk it down by 50% on the copier and then traced the image with a soft lead pencil. I placed that face down on the block and rubbed with a harder lead pencil to transfer it onto the block. A burnishing tool or a spoon would have worked just as well. It was surprisingly easy, so next time Miles will be able to do this part. I went over the lines with a sharpie once it was transferred onto the block to make carving it easier. Next, I washed the whole block in warm, soapy water.

Then I carved out the lines (not the negative space, that would have taken forever on a line drawing like this one) with a #2 lino cutter, and the block was finished.  The round eyes were a a little bit of a challenge, making the turns might be a bit better with a firmer block like Dick Blick's Blick Blue Easy-To-Cut. We squidged some block print ink out onto the paper palette and ran the small brayer through it until it was totally covered.

 

Both of us practiced applying the ink to the entire block and then pressing it on to different cardstocks and papers. Our favorite was plain old, white cardstock because the blue looked good against it and the image came through the most crisp on white. We'd be wise to glue it down on a piece of wood for easier, stamp-like application, but we were too excited to go to the trouble today. When we might only have 5 minutes to create, we have to cut to the chase. (Note to self: buy a bottle of ink extender)

The clean-up couldn't have been more simple, just water and a little bit of a paintbrush in the small cuts rinsed off all of the ink in seconds! Now we have some spiffy cards to send to the grandfolks and far away friends!

         

 

 

Being Mom

 

Holding JOY

Containing sacred tears

Loving 

intensely

Sacraficing willingly

and

unwillingly

Showing up for work

imperfectly

Seeking the right words

messily

Changing my mantra

daily

Delighting

regularly

Staying connected in the rough moments

Honoring

souls

Nurturing

people

Trying

Growing

In total gratitude

 

 

Love to all mommas!

Well, things are heating up around here. I'm painting more and, oddly enough, wearing the baby on my body as I do it! Who says motherhood and creativity can't be at least tolerant bedfellows? Typing is actually more difficult!

Original and prints in the shop today:

 

Magic, mixed-media on 6"x6" cradled birch board.

 

Owl is higher wisdom, mystery and night magic. Her senses are keen and her vision long for seeing that which is often difficult for other creatures to detect. Owls indicate flexibility and adaptability, making them ideal guides for long or dark journeys. They can hear the mystical whisperings of our secret wishes and unconscious desires, making them very useful when we are called to listen to a much quieter voice within. They can open up portals of the deep self and help one acknowledge messages that it is time to hear. While owls have access to the deeper truths, knowing when to go about business silently is another of her gifts.

 

 

Speaking of night owls, here's my cheeky little creation at 6 weeks, last Friday. Hope you are all having a great week!!