JULY 21st

pigments and pregnancy dreams

Jul 21, 2023

the cup I received from them, and the pieces side by side

I worked on a trade with the great Courtney Hassman (I will be plugging ALL the friends and artists here). I chose to use oils on a smaller canvas with their chosen color palette, and that led to this second oil piece. 16x20 in, it is Available if anyone is interested.

Their dreamy website is here

I learned to make my own watercolor paint using pigment and binders with the guidance of Gabby LeBeau. I'll link at the end where to get her handmade watercolors.

I truly have not been painting as much this month as I prepare for my solo show in August. Many logistics, printings, photographing, stretching canvases, and am reminded in all of it how connected I am to my community and how much I love them.

I completed my first official piece - I’ve played around with glass pieces that I will keep for sentimental reasons, but this was a gift for my parent’s cross collection. My art/stained glass partner, Jacob, framed the piece for them with walnut wood.

We are having a meeting to finalize the design for our windows that will be installed into a community center, and I’ll be sure to share the process :)

I still am taking a break in between “real jobs”. I left the coffee shop and I don’t have definite plans on what is next, but I’m open for all sorts of odd jobs and of course painting. I really enjoyed painting these cabinets black - the motion of the brush in my hand brings me back to myself.

I have dreams more and more often of being pregnant. I feel pregnant with ideas and dreams - perhaps it symbolizes all of this. I also long to have a child of my own, and though that timeline is unclear, the desire is not. DRAWING HELPS

I’ve been watching birth videos since high school and now I see many parallels between the calling of being an artist and being a parent. Perhaps this is a longer subject than I will expand upon here, but it takes up much of my heart space at the moment. Mad respect to all the good parents out there- you’re really doing it.

what i’ve been doing

I love teaching at one of Jackson's non-profits, The STAR Center. We painted on paper plates, making pieces for mobiles, and cut spirals to paint as snakes.

I taught my second kid's camp ever for 9-12 year olds focusing on portraiture and figurative drawing. We looked at Frida Kahlo, Fauvist portraits, and cartoons.

I taught a class on Intuitive Paintings to adults, and had a lovely and emotional time with them. I was honored to share this space with them. More to come!

what’s coming up

MY SOLO SHOW

On August 26th I will be hosting a gathering at the show for others to paint their own “thin spaces”. The class goes along with the concept of the show.

Look out for my feature in August for American Artist Appreciation Month on WBBJ news. I am one of 3-5 artists selected for West TN and feel HONORED to be chosen.

July- muses

PAINT

Shop Handmade Watercolors! And for Jackson peeps, she’s local! Check out their instagram: here

website to browse or shop WATERCOLORS

Love you, Gabby!!

BOOKS

I’ve been digging DEEP into mythology and this was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I believe two years ago, I tapped into my animal self, and this book helped put words into that experience. We all have a wild twin out there, ready to be found.

PETS, mine and others’