Revelation.

This isn't a visual art piece. More of a verbal dissertation if sorts.

I've recently learned a lesson in success. What is success? Everyone asks. No one really knows. Does it mean a house? Does that house have to be fancy, or can it just be a house? I guess its how you define it. For me, Success [true Success, always has a capital S.] is basic. Really basic. Doing something I really love while getting paid for it. The price of "knowledge" today is really fucking ridiculous. Knowledge should be free. Why are we paying so much money to something that should be shared. Much like music. And prose. And performance. It means so much more when you can give something away for free to someone who really appreciates it than it does when someone you don't really know pays for it. I will say though- they are a very close tie. It feels so good when someone you don't know buys your work- because they actually like it and haven't known you since birth on. [Sorry, Auntie, but I still am super thrilled that you buy and display my art. I have the distinct opportunity to have my work in a Private collection. YEA!!!!]

Back to my thought. What do I really love? I love to paint, I love to cook, I love to have the opportunity to help out at my son's school no matter how much the little beastlings frighten me. Anyone who knows me, really knows me, knows that I hate most peoples kids. There are some exceptions, who I will not name as you know who you are, or at least your parents know who you are. I've learned that I really do not like working in an office. The first one I worked at [which only lasted a month!] I had my very first anxiety/panic attack. Fucking frightening. The second one I worked at 2 years [only for the resume credit. 2 years looks good. Better than one year.] and nearly divorced my husband. 2 years is 2 years too long to work opposite shifts & still attempt effective communication when you NEVER see each other. So glad I'm done with that. I love my husband dearly. And he loves me. I don't know why, but dammit, he does, and I love him all the more for it. I have been able to spend time with him, just being together. Being broke is always a strain on a relationship, but I'm really trying not to let it be. I hate it too. And I'm trying. I want to be happy. I want us to be happy. [for the record, folks: we are. Very happy. :)] I really love to learn new things. Or at least more about my favorite things. I'm a self taught artist. I am learning as I go, what to do, what not to do. How to run a business [sort of], how to paint to get the effect you want. Really do your homework & plan everything out- down to the fucking brushes you will be using. [Sorry, Sara~! I'll fix it!! You'll love it!] I love to cook. I'm an amateur chef in my own kitchen. Anyone who has eaten at my house can attest to that. Ask Fredward; he'll tell you. I'm get to learn all of the things that my girlfriend learned in her 9 years as a cook & chef all over Milwaukee. I'm super excited about that. [bonus: Joann!! I've missed her for 9 years!]

I have all of these really great things happening in my life- the things I've really worked for- and its all so basic. Simple happiness. Not the 'success can't happen until I've achieved x, y & z' bit. I am grateful I didn't have to work for my family. It came to me; disguised as the lesson I so clearly needed. And learned from. Thank you.



You know what? If all that isn't the definition of my Success, I don't know what is.

Thank you for reading.

ART SHOW! TOMORROW!!

Be there, or be square, folks. I'll be at Art on Murray, the Art & Harvest festival in Milwaukee, WI. Starting at 1pm, you'll be able to browse through various & talented artists and participate in different activities! After dark, there will be an Oktoberfest Party, so stick around! Buy me a beer, while you are at it!


**If you need directions, know that I'm on Murray Ave between North Ave & Thomas. Its a block. You really can't get that lost. Well, I suppose you could, but really. Google or Mapquest Murray Ave Milwaukee WI. You'll find it. I promise. See you tomorrow!

Fall Photos/ Ceramic Mugs Available

Hello!! Upon the suggestion of my dear friend Katie [over @ Espresso Love], I put up some of my photos for prints on the DeviantArt website. Some are solely on ceramic mugs, and others are magnets. I will have to mess with the dpi & the pixels to get them as 'fine art' prints, but in the meantime, here you are.



click here -->DeviantArt Print Shop<-- to purchase. Thank you!!

Prettyful.

I love this time of year in Wisconsin. The colors of fall are so vivid. Enjoy some of the photos I've taken, won't you?







top 3 taken in Mukwonago 10-13-09; bottom 4 taken @ Price Park, East Troy

*updated* WIP- Emerald City

Its coming along... I've been working on this during my art shows in Mukwonago & Whitewater. I'll let you know when its finished!!

Work in Progress: Emerald City

I'll be working on this bad boy [70" x 30"] at Fall Fest!! Stop out & say hi!

TODAY!!!

Taste of Whitewater, in Whitewater!!! Cravath Lakefront park.. I'll be there 1030 - 5ish.. Come out & say HI!

I really can't believe I forgot to add this:

I'm on display! Well, not yet, but very soon!!!

Yours truly will be out & about, showing art at the Taste of Whitewater event [September 11-12].

Also, I will be at Johnson Bank / Goblin's Glen in Mukwonago during Mukwonago's Fall Fest [September 19]... In addition to displaying art in Mukwonago, I WILL BE PAINTING ON SITE!!!! Very exciting stuff.. Can't wait to see you all out there, supporting your local artists!

Newness...

I'll be out at Taste of Whitewater [September 11-12] displaying & selling my art. You should stop out! Tell your family... tell your friends... Come out & support your local artists!!!

Belly Numero Uno

Let me start by saying "Thank you, Sara!!!" for multiple reasons:

She let me paint her belly. HER ACTUAL BELLY!!!


I called her this afternoon to see if she had any ideas for the baby painting, because I hadn't decided if I was going to draw it, paint it or which direction I wanted her to face. She called me back minutes later & suggested that I paint on her belly & take pictures!! Genius! It was a thought I'd had a while ago, but I dismissed it!!! Can you believe that?!?!?!

For taking the time to let me assail you with paint. As you said, it was the first time you'd let another woman touch your belly... and I believe there were some compromising positions, but I digress. :)

For being there, all these years! I think I've known you forever, now.

Your kids were so nice & polite- they asked all kinds of questions and watched in earnest! I was so flattered!!

Oh yea; the BIG ONE: your camera. OMG, can you believe this? Got everything ready- plugged the camera battery in earlier today, grabbed my suitcase, brushes, camera, paints, rags, put everything in, travel to Sara's, start painting and go to take the first shot......

Nothing. The camera won't turn on.

I FORGOT THE BATTERY!!!!

UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE!!! How embarrassing! Thankfully, our memory cards were interchangeable, so she let me take some pics on her camera with my memory card. I was so mad at myself. I really wanted to take some cool shots- some black & whites, different angles.. but her camera would only let me take 14 [!!!] pics on my 32MB card and 7 [!!!!!] on my 16 MB card. I was so irritated, but shit happens, right? I got some pics, so I'm happy with that. It turned out good for the first one. It dried pretty quick too, which I was happy about. This paint comes off really easily in a hot shower- so to the ladies whom I'll be painting next: no worries!



Her kiddos got in on the action, and painted their names after I was finished.






Thanks again!! This is the first of many bellies to come!! Cristina, Tracey, Amy, Nicole- YOU are next!! Whether its an actual painting-on-the-belly or a silhouette [like 7 months], I'm very excited. And you should be too.

On tap for this evening:

Belly Painting!!!!!!!

I'm sooo excited!!! Pics to follow!

Friday night: 4 boys, two beers and three paintings later....

Some things incoherent might come out. *MIGHT* Here's some sneak peeks at some things I'm working on... Everything is mid-way through, & No, I won't tell you what direction I'm going with these. You'll just have to wait & see when they are done.









Drying paintings on the dryer. Awesome.

My First Website!!

And, no, it's not mine. As you all know, I've been doing work for the Pink Apostles... well, here is the basic website. I'll be doing more design work, so keep checking back from time to time to see what I've done!

---->www.thepinkapostles.com<----

Camp Venture Pics!

Thank you to Lori Reed Johnston for taking the pics at Camp Venture!!!

Brody modeling the DOC band

Thanks again Erin, for letting me snag a few of your photos... Brody looks awesome!




Also very cool: received kudos from Karen, at the cranial clinic for my work on Brody's DOC band. We'll see if Jackjack will need one next week!

Accomplished!!

Woot!!! I've finished the backdrop scenery for Camp Venture [through Brooklife Church]!!!



I'll show more pics once the whole thing is put together... Kimberly put me in charge of overseeing the construction of the shack, and assembly is on Sunday!

Camp Venture

I'm currently re-working some scenery that the nice gentlemen attempted to do for my friend Kim, before she called in an emergency to the professional [me]. Should be done by the end of the week. I'll post some pics!

I'll give you a teaser photo... what I've done so far, half-assed stitched together.

*Sidenote: This does actually have trees... and is quite large. I'll take photos all along the way.

New Supplies, New Ideas

My flying companion in my studio, whom I promptly squished. Looked like a small, translucent red ant with wings. Must say the wings were beautiful. Should have taken a shot of them before I squished him. Though most insect wings are beautiful, if you look close enough.



YES!!!!!! New stuff means new ideas. New ideas mean new stuff! I'm so excited!!! Made plans for the 10" x 10" canvases, and also laid out a couple of box arrangement ideas for the "Things I've Broken" series [coming soon!!]. Finished the concept for the East Troy Area Country Campers logo [super cool, coming soon!]

No immediate plans for the paper, though as I type this there are some things brewing!!

Brody's DOC Band

If you don't know what a DOC band is, check out this website. A friend of mine had to get one for her son, because his noggin was misshapen. Well, instead of leaving it white, and open to a lot of unwelcome questions [When did he have brain surgery? Will he be all right? Will his brain contents fall all over the floor if he's not wearing it? -okay, that last one was a little exaggerated, but you get the idea-] she asked if I'd help decorate it when they got it.

3 kids, 1 annoyed husband [due to the screaming of kid #3], 24 hours, and this is what you have.

Before:
After:



Thank you to Paula Strawn for your advice and direction, to Fredward for your assistance and advice, and to the Rogosienski's for giving me the opportunity.

And just when I thought I wasn't doing anything

I looked around and realized, I am. I really am. I started working with the Pink Apostles of East Troy this month. I designed some gear for the Apostles to distinguish themselves at their events or even in daily life. I will be designing a logo next for them, so look for that soon!


make custom gifts at Zazzle

Thanks for reading! Hoping to update again before the month is out!