One eyed monster

I was recently at an art show showing my work when a couple with a three year old in a stroller came up. I got all warm and fuzzy noting these parents exposing their child to the world of art at an early age. Then in HORROR I see in the child's lap an iPad with a movie playing. She wasn't seeing any of the art. She missed all the different sizes and shapes of people. She didn't hear the accent of the woman next to me. She didn't see the bright colors of the paintings. She saw Toy Story.....probably for the 20th time.

It is a different world with positives and negatives brought on by the world of technology. I try to keep my balance and keep up so as to not lose touch with the modern world. But at that moment I really felt that all was lost.

Today I had a long conversation with my 13 year old nephew. We discussed how hard junior high is and how bad he is at math. ( he sadly got that from my side of the family) But then we started talking about books. He has a favorite author, he is eagerly awaiting this authors next book due out in the fall. A long wait for a 13 year old. He then said words that gave me hope. One of his favorite books had been made into a movie. He saw it and was disappointed. Why? He said his imagination was way better than the movie. He liked the 'movie in my head while I was reading' much better than what he saw on the screen. I could not agree more!

I know the text messages need to be check and replied to, I know the emails keep on coming and facebook has added something hilarious but let's never forget the truth that James so brillantly noted. Nothing is better than the movies inside our head. Take time to 'watch'.

Creative begets creative

This is a painting I did of Greve and Celli. It was the favorite at the October show at Snow City Cafe. I sold it at the opening reception. I felt that was a great success story but it just keeps getting better.

A gentlemen saw the sold painting and wanted one of his own. He and his wife are huge movie fans. Since he could create his own idea he added Dorothy, Toto and the Tin Man. He was even able to choose from the movie posters which movies they really liked. I loved his idea and had fun painting it.

These movie poster postcards were a limited edition that MGM put out quite a few years ago. I have held on to them for years waiting for the right inspiration. Is this story over? Not yet. A woman contacted me asking if the Signore Greve Showtime piece had really sold. After I explained it had she asked if she could commission another one. This time she wants Greve and Celli paying their tickets at the theatre window.

I have enough postcards left for her painting but once they are gone they are gone. One customer even went so far as to contact MGM but they aren't making or selling any more of the movie poster postcards. That's okay, that will make these three paintings even more unique. We will just wait until the next creative wave splashes in.

December First Friday

Thanks to all who showed up for Gallery 31 Fifty's December First Friday show. Enjoy the video highlights.

Take a Leap

This is my painting titled, "Leap Frog". I created it for a Snow City Cafe October show featuring bike art. You might remember in a past blog me struggling with the logical left brain and the arty farty right brain.

I wanted to do a series of animals on bikes. I knew it would make for a good artist reception but would they sell? Of course every creation has to be a two part process. Come up with something new, fun, creative AND something that will sell. I wasn't sure about the selling part in the bike series but I let my right brain take over. I am glad that I did.

This painting was the hardest for me. I wanted to create depth and mystery of the woods. I wanted the frog on the bmx to be believable. I wanted there to be energy. I think I accomplished all those things but I even got a little bit more.

The painting reminded me of the book, "The Wind in the Willows". I came across Classics Illustrated full-color graphic novel adaptation of the book. I loved every page. The artist was fantastic, the story was captivating and I fell in love with the whole idea of it all over again.

I am trying to adopt one of Mole's lines from the book. He says, "I decided to be determined to enjoy myself". So often it is ourselves that ruins a day, an idea or an adventure. I hope you can also decide to be 'determined'. Oh, I forgot to mention, I sold "Leap Frog".

Feel the Burn

It's show week. Friday, at 3150 C Street from 5-8 p.m., 7 of us will gather in the name of art. My schedule is full of last minute details in hopes that this show will be better than the last.

Odd things become important. What's the condition of my skin. Any acne soon to rear it's ugly head? Do I need a haircut? Is the weather going to cooperate? Does everyone seem to be sick? If so, up the vitamin C count. (I did a show once after a bad flu bug...it was torture.) You want everything 'just so' for the big night.

Today I decided to make jalapeno boats. I found this yummy sounding recipe and I decided to surprise my honey when he arrives home. A bit of an appetizer. The recipe claimed that the cream cheese cuts the heat. Liars.

I ate the first boat to test my cooking skills and realized straight up that there was no heat cutting. My mouth was on fire. I reached for milk realizing we haven't bought milk in 10 years. For the record soy milk does NOT have the same heat calming properties. I think it made it worse. Then everything went horribly wrong.

I blew my nose using the tips of my fingers to wipe my nostrils clean. Oh the horror. The heat was now on the lining of my nose. I could feel nasal liquid flowing and was SURE my nose was bleeding. I was afraid to wipe it, my lava like snot could touch other areas of my face. My nose was redder than I have every seen it. No sunburn ever gave me an affect like this. Now the left side of my face was burning. My eyelid was hot! My EYELID.

I tried to busy myself, you know, distract myself from this searing agony. All the while convincing myself that it will run it's course and I'll be none the worse for it. Sure, no one at the show will know I tangled with a jalapeno and lost. Certainly my face will at some point in the next 16 hours go back to normal.

I hope.

The Art of Clothes

I love nice clothes. I can't say I love 'fashion' because I don't follow the designers or the current trends. I don't subscribe to the fashion magazines. Occasionally as a treat my husband will bring one home. I do pour over it noticing every detail, I can't help myself, it's art.

You know the best part of these Marios Schwab photos and the fashion magazines? You don't see any pajama pants!! No hoodies or flip flops. Or, the horror, sweat pants with pockets. You see beautiful women and men adorned with the art of clothes. Interesting colors and designs, great shapes. Let's be honest, putting on a well fitting, stylish outfit just feels good!

So why does everyone dress like they need to get to the Laundromat? I really am boggled by this. I think there is a feeling that p.j.s and slippers in the grocery store means, "I am so cool that I can shop in my jammies". No, you actually look like your homeless.

When I visited Italy one of the things that really strikes you is how well put together everyone is. Americans are SO easy to spot. They are wearing nerdy jeans, tennis shoes and sweat shirts. How we must look to those fashionable Italians! I came home determined that I would always try to present myself in a way that said I have respect for myself.

Is it really so much work to actually pull on real pants? Is slipping on a pair of shoes really SO exhausting? Is it easier to pull on a sweat shirt than a pull on top?

I go to the mall and the place is packed with p.j., flip flopping, hoodied shoppers. They all have bags of purchases clothes. Where do they wear them? Is there some well dressed place in town I've missed? What? The bags are full of more hoodies and jammies!? That's it, Italy here I come.

Recycling Munro Style

Bruce Munro found inspiration one day on a rocky peninsula in Australia. He experienced that awesome play of light when a silver shimmer of sun bounces off a surface. He then got an idea

Munro used 600,000 donated CD's and placed this art installation at Long Knoll Field in Wiltshire, England. He hoped that CD Sea would remain in place for 2 months. But he hadn't accounted for the growth of grass or the interest birds would have in the shiny disc. After only about 2 weeks the installation was dismantled and the disc were recycled....again.

I love this idea. I am so impressed with how perfect his path is curving through the 'sea'. I would have loved to walk it. Munro said if this installation inspired a smiling face it was successful. Well he certainly made me smile. The sparkle, the moon glinting off the surface...wow. I hope it made you smile too.

Get to Work!

I love winter. My favorite season without questions. When spring creeps in I am usually a bit depressed for a few weeks. When Anchorage got hit with snow fall upon snow fall last week I gleefully shoveled and hoped more was on it's way.

Here's the problem. I just want to play in it and I have work to do! Every day I tell myself that this is the day I am going to buckle down but then the sun comes out and next thing I know my skis are in the car and I am headed to the trails. Yesterday I decided I really needed to smoke up some fish. A great excuse to be out in the glistening snow. I shoveled, I frolicked, I found all sorts of reasons to be outside.

My 'to-do' list is relentless. The messages of unanswered calls build, my e-mail box is full...what is wrong with everyone? Don't you see this wonder out your window? Doesn't it take your breath away with it's peaceful blanket of white?

I took a bike ride this morning and absorbed the crisp serenity that only winter brings. I decided to just get it out of my system early. So TODAY I will be focused and accomplish creative things. Right after I put out the winter bird feeder.

Chicken Soup Anyone?

Andy Warhol is coming to Anchorage! Well, not that man of course but his exhibit titled, "Manufactured" opens on Friday at the Anchorage Museum. This is an exhibit I won't miss.

Do I LOVE Andy Warhol? Not really but I find his thinking about art interesting. He was a filmmaker who was the mind behind the pop art movement. What is pop art? Well, it is the blending of fine art and media style graphics. The above art is a good example. It is a piece of art with a comic book style. I choose this instead of the world famous chicken soup can. Everyone knows that Warhol piece. A graphic designer spent hours creating the Campbell's label in hopes it would make us buy the soup. Now the label is part of American culture. You can buy t-shirts with the Campbell's label. Does that make it art?

I don't know the answer to that question but I am a bit fascinated with the impact his ideas are having today. You can get your photo done in the 'Warhol' style just like Marilyn Monroe's famous Warhol piece. Pop art is million dollar market.

I am not sure what to expect at this exhibit. Andy didn't die with a large catalog of works. He was really the start of us realizing how much the media was affecting our lives. I do know I will be there opening day and I hope the chicken soup can is there.

Being Fresh

What's new an exciting? That is one of my favorite questions when I have met someone I haven't seen in a while. Honestly, almost everyone has an answer. If they don't I hope my question makes them find a way to add a little adventure in their life.

Keeping my art 'new and exciting' is a constant task. Not just new art but keeping my website, blog, art show displays all fresh. As noted in my last blog, spending any time pouring over a computer keyboard is absolute torture. Sadly a torture I must endure to keep people coming back to my website.

The above painting is titled "Two Wheeled Flight". It is part of the BE THE BIKE show that is currently on display for one more week at Snow City Cafe. The show has been up for three weeks yet my website had yet to be updated. After a great walk on yet another wonderful fall day I decided to tackle the task. Whew, I made it.

Please go to my website www.artistsyouhire.com and check out all the new paintings from "BE THE BIKE". Stop into Signore Greve's page. He has a few new adventures to share with you. I hope your day gives you the perfect answer for "What's new and exciting?"

New Red Pumps

Ahhh computers. Have you ever tried to work on a site when your computer ask you for your customer name and password? Seems like an honest questions. We don't want just anyone flitting around in our site so who are you? Heck if I know.

I received an email reminding me that I needed to renew my website domain names. All part of the business, a necessary evil you could say. The email had a handy 'just click here to renew'. Hee hee, isn't that cute. Just click here. It really should say, " Remove your left shoe and have it at the ready." First question was 'customer name.' I learned my name years ago and my business name is pretty clearly embedded in my head. WRONG! What it should read is, "We hope you remembered the random list of 12 numbers we assigned you two years ago." And the password, don't even get me started. It took me days to recover the password that THEY assigned me. I am not kidding it looked like a swear word. Finally something I could agree with.

Sometimes I feel it's just me that gets into these situations. Not true. I was visiting with my friend Ruth and she had a story about how she got locked out of her online banking. Apparently she tried too many times to remember her password and is now blocked out. She has to go into the bank to get her balance. So much for online.

Every computer should come with a cute red shoe to threaten your computer. Hmm, you would probably need a password to throw it.

Anthropomorphism

It's a big word, anthropomorphism. It's meaning is simple. Giving human charateristics to an animal. Like having a bunny ride a bike.

Or a moose for that matter. The images here are partial photos of paintings I did for my October show. The show was about bikes and about anthropomorphism. Polar bears, herons, frogs all got a spin on a bike. I love taking an animal and putting it in a human situation. Actually almost everyone does.

I am reading a graphic novel of "The Wind and the Willows". Most people have read or at least know of this classic. The author gives us a fantasy view of life in the marsh land with all of it's wildlife traveling, making friends, enjoying picnics etc. The confident river rat, the toad with all his finery. You can't help put want to shrink yourself to walk around and see their world.

I have a friend that doesn't like animals. I am truly sad for her. She will never get that warm glow when your cat reaches her paw up to pat your chest. She will never hear a dog groan with bliss as she nestles closer to the warm fire. She might have never considered putting a moose on a bicycle.

A Glorious Day

This is a great painting titled Fall Park by Leonidafre. The palette knife technique gives it great texture. And this painting looks like my day!

Okay, in Alaska we really don't get that much variety of color but the angle of the sun, the glint of frost and the crunch of leaves under your feet is glorious. The earth gets ready to sleep and puts on a great show before pulling up the covers for the next few months. After a horrid wet summer we are having a fantastic fall. My favorite season is creeping in bit by bit. I can't wait.

After months of planning and plotting for this art show, that project, this responsibility, I find myself with a relatively clean calendar. It is as if I have more free brain space to just soak up all the wonder of this season. I can let my mind wander through art ideas instead of meticulously picking through the current project. What new adventure awaits? I will eagerly wait to find out.

Finding the Time

These amazing parkas are part of Sheryl Maree Reily's installation titled "Restorations" at the Anchorage Museum. They are each made out of plastic bags. The plastic bags made the statement of being the new bread basket of the modern world. The coats were FLAWLESSLY constructed. Around the 'family' was a pile of computer monitors painted white. I thought this show was everything museum installations should be. I clearly understood what she was trying to say. Her use of art to discuss the change technologies has caused life even here in Alaska was excellent. What does that have to do with finding the time?

I am a member of the art museum. I don't use my card as much as I should or would like. But being able to dash in for a quick 30 minute viewing without paying for a ticket is nice. This installation is finished on the 10th of the month. My schedule clearly showed if I wanted to see this it had to happen before Thursday. But who has the time?

It's interesting how we have things that we don't ever skip, miss or put off. Other things are 'need to get to' and eternally get pushed off until they never creep into our mind. How do you determine what category your 'to do' list falls into? Wednesday I found 30 minutes to go to the museum. It was placed on my don't skip, miss or put off list. I literally ran from my car into the front door. Took two stairs at a time upstairs and then for the next 25 minutes I just enjoyed the art and the quiet of the museum.

I know that 30 minutes made my day, my person better. Some days you just have to find the time.

First Friday Party!

We had a great time on Friday night at Snow City Cafe. The BE THE BIKE show was a nice success. We had lots of art lovers new and old stop in. Best of all we have LOTS of visitors bike to the event. Many customers had great ideas for Signore Greve's travels. I am anxious to get to my sketch book. For now enjoy the video!

Unexpected ART

It's show week. That means a level only slightly below hysteria. Last minute paintings are finished and often started. Crisis spring up right and left. Of course it always works out. What gets done is done. Yes, I will be hanging a wet painting but it is finished.

In my hustle and bustle of my day I walked back down in the studio from the house and saw this gorgeous image. I have giant ART letters sitting on my window sill. The sun was giving me trouble at the easel so as much as I hate to do it, I dropped the shade to block out the light. What a cool 5 foot by 5 foot image!!

I love when nature gives me moment where I drop everything and grab a camera. With fall in the air don't miss the amazing palette outside your window. Nature always has something to share.

More Yellow Please

Ahhh the humble pickle. Well, I assume they are humble, I have never actually chatted with one. The point is, they are delicious and I LOVE them. But here is my problem.

As an artist I LOVE color. I am known for bright and bold color. I don't think I could paint muted if I tried. I use to wear a lot of black. One day I decided I wasn't giving color the respect they deserved. Now my black rarely sees life outside my closet. I am all about color. I am guessing you are with me so far but wondering what pickles and color have in common. Great question!

I tried to buy pickles the other day. Just pure, tangy, yum pickles. Did you know with every jar of pickles you get bonus? It's true. Read any jar in the pickle isle of your store and note the added prize, Yellow 2. It's like cracker jacks but this prize gives you cancer! The pickle makers of the world want you to have color not only in your art, not only in your clothes but also in your pickles.

It's not fair. Not only to me but to the pickles of the world whose only goal is to fill my tummy with deliciousness. So thanks anyway, but I have enough yellow 2....in my art studio.

Art Heroes

It's easy to have a lot of heroes in the world of art. Not just the masters from the Renaissance but those that are here today. I have already talked several times about Chris Ayers. (oh great creative master) And I could fill quite a few blogs about my colleagues. But today we talk about Holly Hobbie.

When you read 'Holly Hobbie' did this image pop into your mind? If you are my generation or older I bet it did. As a little girl I LOVED Holly Hobbie....not the person but the character. What do I mean? It's a great story.

Holly was a high minded art student living with her husband in a happy (sort of) poverty. A friend suggested she send some of her little girl sketches to a greeting card company. It wasn't really the mark on the art world she was looking for but it was desperate times. The card company loved her work and bought a few designs. One day she is in a drug store and sees a display with HOLLY HOBBIE card collection. She was excited, surprised and suddenly realized her name would never be her own again.

Fast forward 25 years. I find this incredible children's book called Toot and Puddle featuring the two adorable pigs you see above. The author/illustrator? Holly Hobbie. I shake my head and think what mother who loved Holly Hobbie as a child grows up to name their child Holly Hobbie? It wasn't until a few years later I realized Holly wasn't a character but a brilliant artist. Holly has gone on to have Toot and Puddle become a cartoon. She also has other equally as charming characters. A few greeting cards just to get by became a wonderful career.

I highly recommend Holly's illustrated biography called "The Art of Holly Hobbie". It is out of print but can be found on Amazon.com. She comes across as quite humble, grateful and seems to be enjoying things as they come along instead of always looking out to the next thing.

Like I said, my hero!

Against All Odds

This is an image of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Running Fence. It is currently part of the exibitions on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This fence made it's appearance across Northern California in 1976. It took years to plan and months to construct. Billowing white 18 foot high nylon panels hung from cables. These cables stretched for 24.5 miles.

The artwork's cresendo was its disappearance into the Pacific ocean. This project involved 240,000 square yards of fabric, 90 miles of steel cable, 2,050 steel poles, 350,000 hooks and 13,000 earth anchors. Wow. Keep in mind too they had to get permission from every land owner the fence ran through and every local authority who could raise a fuss. Can you imagine convincing a California farmer to let you place 'art' on his property?

After 2 weeks the piece was dismantled. Was it a success? Did it serve any purpose? Well, here I am 34 years later talking about it. I am sure everyone was talking about it in 1976. I imagine even if you thought the whole concept was ridiculous it still caused conversation about art. Christo and Jeanne-Claude did many such projects. Maybe you remember several years ago when they placed the 'Gates' piece in Central Park. I wish I had figured out how to get there and see it.

Sadly, we won't see any more work by this inventive and ambitious duo. At least their ideas and art continue to spark conversations and maybe even cause a few head scratches.

A Late Bloomer

This is Anna Mary Robertson. You may know her as Grandma Moses. Anna died in 1961 at 101 years of age. Do you feel like it's too late in life to take on new pursuits? Or maybe that now things are complicated and fast paced. Picking up a new hobby or talent is impossible. Please read on!
This is a piece of art Anna created around the 1940's. At 75 years of age she found her arthritis made her needlework impossible so she started painting. In 1938 her rural life style paintings were displayed in a drugstore window. Soon a collector saw her work and she was off to exhibit her work in New York. She went on to paint around 1,600 works and was quite popular right up until her death. Wow, way to go Anna.

I have to admit a twinge of jealously when I meet a 20 something artist who already is making progress in the art world. I think how successful they can be in 20 years. In 20 years I might be struggling with arthritis! But can I really complain? Absolutely not! I am doing what I love, what I always dreamed about as a kid. I will take a lesson from Anna and keep finding new things to learn and discover.

Success at Failure

This is a drawing from Jules Feiffer. He has done many illustrations, plays and books. He just published his memoir which landed him on the pages of Smithsonian Magazine. That is where I found him.

I recognized his art. You would too if you Googled his name. The interview in September Smithsonian magazine was a question and answer style. One particular comment got my attention. He said, "Success is nothing to sneeze at, but failure too, offers great possibilities." Hmmmm, curious. Failure to me is just plain....ouchy!

He goes on to say that our negative notions about failure often limits us. We don't take chances and we stay in the bounds. But often if we try something and fall on our face we figure out what went wrong and we try again.

Do I try again when I have a big art failure? I don't think so. I hate the way it feels to have a vision in my head that I CAN NOT bring out onto paper or canvas. I usually put it in the dud pile of artwork and move on never to visit again.

Jules has over 50 years of success with his art. Maybe he is on to something.

Art Supplies

My friend Vi sent me an image of this sculpture made entirely of paper. The artists are Allen and Patty Eckman and they use inspiration from the American Indian culture. Allen made the comment that he felt paper allowed for unlimited detail. When he touches paper that proves to be true. I am not use what impressed me more. The hoops, the fringes or the fabric of his clothes.

Maybe fruit is your art supply. I have to admit never looked at this piece of fruit and thought....hmmmm it looks like a dachshund. This artists saw, created and successfully completed his vision.

Recently at our local farmers market a vegetable carving competition took place. I was anxious to go see what people came up with. I mean once you have done the flower radish and the watermelon bowl what's left? I had no idea a yellow squash could look like art. I mean art in the truest sense of the word. Not clever, not cute but really artistic carved with designs.

(Now you're asking yourself, where is a picture? Good question. My camera wondered the same thing. It sat on the table by the door as I hurried out so as to not miss the judging. )

There really is nothing that can't be transformed into art. So next time you bite into an apple think art. There could be a monkey lurking there. Next time you wad up a piece of paper think of a galloping stallion.

Bold Ideas

In my last few blogs I have been talking about creative inspirations. The challenge of thinking with the art side of your brain and letting the detail side take a break. My mom sent me this comic and I thought it would wrap up this discussion nicely.

I wonder how often this scenario rings true. All artists have those,"it's just crazy enough to work" ideas. BUT the real test of those moments is having the guts to pull it off. Having the confidence that if it is a miserable failure you can shrug your shoulders and walk away. Does that describe me?

I am an art sissy. There, I said it. I don't want to be but I am. I have had many a bold and brilliant idea. I try to explain them to my husband and he slowly shakes his head yes but all the while his eyes are saying , " maybe something she's saying will make sense soon". Okay, that probably isn't fair to say, he always encourages boldness in my work but he is quick to remind me that the wilder the idea the longer it will take to sell.

I will become a bolder artist. I have a bold idea for my October show that I am currently working on. It could be a flop but I am GOING FOR IT. Oh, and I won't be dipping my cat in paint anytime soon.

My Brain On Art

Here is my right side of the brain on art. Ahh, doesn't she look happy, all engrossed in her creation. Good for her just letting the ideas and creativity flow. It won't last for long though. Why? Meet Mrs. Left Brain.

Yep, it's all about the numbers. Will this idea sell? If you mess up this 'creation', how much money in art supplies did you waste? This is a big painting, when it goes unsold for a year where will you store it? Sure you've done 'said' painting style a million times but your customers like it. Stick with what we know and don't step on my register tape!

This battle gets a bit exhausting. I have decided it could be the reason many artist drink. Can you see the right side with a bottle of wine? WOOOhooooo, let the ideas flow. Outta my way, my brush and I got some work to do! My left side would be whimpering in self pity on the couch in the corner. Probably hugging her adding machine.

Soberly, I will try to make the two meet. Neither side feels there can be a balance. One moment I am partying with the right side and the next I am fretting numbers with the left. Meanwhile the easel is having his own insecurities due to lack of attention.

There are definitely too many opinions in my studio these days.

Imagination Food

As an artist you hope for this, a bright light of inspiration over your head. You eagerly reach for it hoping you can recreate the vision as clear on canvas, sculpture etc. Sadly, many days there is no light. Just a lifeless bulb annoyingly positioned over your head. What do you do?

I don't have the answer to that, not yet anyway. Some artist have routines that they fall into when the bulb has been unlit for too many days. Maybe it's journaling or sketching. Maybe it's a tour of art galleries or the museum. That can sometimes work for me but often the brilliance of others makes me feel even more insecure and colorless. Journaling just becomes a rant of my inadequacies as an artist and sketching just reminds me of how lousy I really am.

Sometimes an idea comes but your can't seem to execute it. You draw and redraw. Yeah, that's it. Smile. You look longer....no, it's cheesy, cliche, been done many times before. The bulb goes out.

The challenge is to keep challenging yourself while still being true to your strengths. You want each show to impress those who are kind enough to travel to your opening. Yet repeat customers want to see a consistency of sorts. Where is that perfect idea that encompasses all three?

If I could just find that elusive light switch.

Creative Cardboard

It all started with a mom having a conversation with her 5 year old son. Shanelle was sharing memories of how her and her sister would do box car races every year. Box as in cardboard box. The sisters loved working on their cars in preparation for the big race. She beams as she finished the story. Her son, following along with rapt attention, says, "Why would anyone want to race with a cardboard box?" Time for an object lesson. On a rainy Saturday we all gathered to enjoy the First Annual Box Car Race.

Aubrey stands ready, complete with accessories for the start of the race.
Here I am with my favorite to win. Breaux had a little design work help from his dad and was a bit of a cheater with a little electric car under the cardboard. We can cut him a little slack. At 18 months he is a bit new at the whole walking thing. The concept of heading toward the finish line was a bit unclear. Wherever he turned his head, that is where the car went.

Here is Katlyn and Brianne who didn't let the theme 'kid's' car race deter them. Actually the adults were donning kids cars by the end to try their hand at the race. My husband has already planned out his vehicle for next year. I best not give away his secret but it will be out of this world.

Ricco was more interested in the ice chips dumped on the ground than the race. Too cute in his car but again not really interested in the finish line.

Laya has us all rolling with her ice cream truck. Her mom actually downloaded bad ice cream truck music onto an ipod. The ipod, on a speaker, was in Laya's backpack. Laya's mom is pregnant. She admitted that when she bought all the ice cream for the truck advertisements the cashier commented on her intense cravings. She just smiled and laughed. How could you explain the cardboard car race competition.

I will be honest. On a cold and rainy Saturday I had no interest in standing around getting wet watching cardboard get soggy. But I promised my friend Adabell I would go to cheer on Breaux. And I loved the idea of creative, fun, family activity and wanted to show my support. Was it worth it? When 8 year old Bricyon was running his race he fell. His arms were inside his box and for about 8 seconds there was nothing but a cardboard car with flailing rubber boots sticking out. He did eventually right himself and finish the race.

I had a great time and forgot all about the rain.

Barnes and Noble Pajamarama

With a few butterflies in my tummy I walked up to Barnes and Noble ready to be the featured author of the evening. "If We Hopped on Our Bike..." was making it's first author signing bookstore debut. I couldn't stop the broad smile that appeared as I saw posters on the front window advertising my signing.

Since the reading event of the evening is called pajamarama some of my audience came in their P.J.'s. Barnes and Noble helped me get into the spirit of things by providing me with a fun robe. I quickly learned this was very important to my listeners. When I showed up in my 'book signing' clothes a bit of a riot broke out. The quick donning of the robe saved my reputation.

Here, Brooke, in her Strawberry Shortcake P.J.'s and break up boots helps me show the group where Alaska is located. My group had a lot of enthusiasm. It was really a lot of fun. When the reading time was done I headed back to my author signing table. There, employees told me they could hear the 'adventure' all the way at the front of the store. Oops.

Tuesday night was a huge moment for me. For many years I have dreamed of illustrating and authoring my own children's book. Standing in the bookstore, visiting with young and old customers, being invited to the reading night was honestly a dream come true. I apologize to those I might has disturbed on Tuesday evening. But you really should have joined us. We had a great adventure!

Jackson Pollock Gimmick

Yeah! I loved this comic. Apparently I am not the only one out there that is confused by the popularity of Jackson Pollock. I have cardboard acrylic palettes that look exactly like his paintings. Did you see he has a stamp out now? Oops I spilled a can of paint....I mean, WOW I created art. Sheesh.

But I digress. The comic did give me a good belly laugh, mainly the Pollock part,but the gimmick comment did make me pause.

My character Signore Greve has been very popular. I did cautiously branch out into bookmarks and small drawing pads with his image pedaling across. The question is at what point does it become over the top. It is art and I don't want to lose that but the little items help pay the bills. That is more important then ever. The economy has forced many of my artist friends to get cubicle, Dilbert jobs. (shudder,shudder) Greve has helped me squeak through month after month.

It was good for me take a step back and think this through. Greve makes people smile and I love that about him. His character really has no limits, he will never run out of places to go and things to enjoy. I guess that's my answer. Keep the gimmicky items to a minimum but keep Greve and Celli moving. They fit perfect on a drawing pad and bookmark. On school folders, bedsheets and little boys underwear....not so much.

The Good Ole Days

I know, I'm too young to be longing gazing back at days gone by. At least I think I am too young. But as the artwork shows there is one thing that modern man can no longer create with skill. The mighty eraser.

Today's erasers smear, smudge, gob, stain, they pretty much do anything but erase. Don't even think about that cute pencil with the panda bears on it. That green eraser on the end, it's just waiting to ruin your paper with a swath of green that won't come off no matter what you do. Working on a crossword puzzle, BEWARE! Today's erasers will not only smear your page so the clue number is unreadable but it will instantly tear through the tender newsprint.

Am I the only one who has noted this crisis in eraserdom? Are we without erasers because of rain forest damage or did someone in Eraser World find a cheaper (lousy) way to make them?
Now it's true, I have many perfect, purchased separately erasers for sketching. But what ever happened to that happy little partner on the end of your pencil. Standing at attention ready for service when ever the pencil turned.

Sigh....the good ole days. Thank heavens my computer has a delete key.

Goodbye Old Friend

Beezil Little River April 1997-June 2010

How do you paint with a broken heart.