A room of one's own.

I think Virginia was on to something...

I've been waiting for about a year to clean up this studio.

 I've known (hoped) that we were going to have another peanut soon,

and thinking the peanut would could possibly be a girl,

and thinking that I would give up my studio room

for a little space in the garage.

And with the news that Jack will have a brother, and they'll share a room,

I am surprised at how relieved  I am to keep my studio.

 I shouldn't be surprised, but I am.

And now that I will have a permanent art room
 it's time to finally make it beautiful.
The possibilities are endless.

I'm purging and letting go of a lot.

I'm finally ready to sell a bunch of originals
that I just couldn't part with before.
I just put them up for sale in my etsy shop.

By the way, I love (LOVE) seeing studio spaces.

I love seeing how people organize & set up.

Mary just showed pictures of her studio,
 and I love all things Mary.
Do you have a space to share?
We'd love to see it.

Big news in my art world...

I won a commission of 12 paintings for Sharp Hospital.

I really can't believe it. I've been working so hard on completing it,

that I kind of forgot what a big deal it is for me.

Here was the first commission I won this summer.

12 big mixed media collage paintings
And they're big.

Really big.

Like 3 feet x 3 feet big.

This is the biggest painting
I've ever created.

And I love it.

I've been waiting and waiting until I finished them all
to post because I hate showing unfinished work.
I know what the finished piece looks like in my brain,
but no one else does.
So it feels a little naked.

But finishing 12 enormous paintings
takes longer than one thinks it would.
It feels like it's taking me forever.
Step by step.

So here you have it.
Here are my works in progress.

I used my photos from the
Washington coast at
Artfest last spring.

And it just reminds me

that one thing leads to another.

you know?

every single experience,

the good and the bad,

contributes to our story.

and are a piece of who we are.

and one thing leads us to the next thing.

which enables us to do the next thing.

one small act of courage

gives us courage

to move forward and

take the next risk,

which leads to the next thing...

starting a blog,

opening an etsy shop.

signing up for a booth at an art fair.

creating a proposal to teach.
all of it counts.

I'm finally digging up my last bit of energy
to finish this project
and deliver it
and move on.

Studio Pics...

Here is my studio.

These are my "before" pictures.

One day I'll have "after" pictures.

All cuted out.

Neatly organized.

But right now

I'm up to my eyeballs in canvas

and gel medium and paint.

I am just finishing up 29 commissioned paintings.

Here they are in the process.

There is barely room to stand.

A little more paint,

a little more paper,

a little more paint

and I'll be done...
what are you working on today?