Studio Sale

Over the second weekend of September (already three weeks ago?!) I had my first solo studio sale (that wasn't associated with any organization).  It was great!  It was exhausting!  Here's a look back...

I'm prolific--can't stop with the making--so my inventory is vast.  

My shed housed mixed media work from my salvaged wood days.

Turned my shed into a display room.

I had surprisingly few wall clocks left.  I was able to get several out to new forever homes!  Hurrah for aluminum, it doesn't degrade!

Clocks are dwindling...

 These little dudes were hanging out in my closet.  I still love them all and was able to share several with customers!

table toppers

 The biggest part of my sale was the ceramics section.  You can make a lot of work in just a few years if you keep it in your basement most of the time.

So. Many. Ceramics.

Love these faces.

I still have plenty left, so I'll be having an online sale through Facebook and/or Instagram.  Stay tuned!

I had a lot of help from friends during the set up and break down process, and seeing all your lovely faces and meeting new people from the neighborhood was awesome.  I might make it a yearly thing! There's certainly enough making still to be done...

EDIT show at Wichita City Arts

I got the opportunity to create a new body of work I've been thinking about for years since finding a big stack of Wichita Eagle newspapers from 1961...you can find art supplies anywhere if you just keep your eyes open on neighborhood walks.  A year ago I participated in an art fair in Wichita and, as these things do, one thing lead to another and I have a show in the arts district there through the end of September at City Arts.

The scribble thing started when I was working on this piece and just couldn't get her hands right...

"Everything's Fine"-- found wood, vinyl, newspaper, paint
2016

After sitting on this layered scribble motif for a long time, playing around with colors, thicknesses, and cutting techniques (mostly done on the computer and cut on a vector system like my other line work), I mentally paired them with some newspapers I'd been painting and using as blotter paper.

Here are some pieces and installation shots!

"Jonathans/Thighs"-- 18 x 15 inches; newspaper, vinyl, paint

detail

"Front Page"-- 15 x 23 inches; newspaper, vinyl, paint

detail

"Petroleum News/10¢ Off"-- 23 x 15 inches; newspaper, vinyl, paint
 

detail

Installation, Balcony Gallery

Beautifully framed by friend and neighbor Lori at Hoop Dog Studio!

The show is up through next week at City Arts in Wichita, Kansas.

Art Westport report

For my only show of the year, it was just like getting back on a bike...the only thing I forgot Friday night was chapstick.

I noticed this year I got far fewer obvious questions, like, "You make ALL THIS STUFF?"  More likely, I had conversations with visitors about the meaning behind my work, my process, my inspirations, how certain pieces connected to the viewer and new perspectives on my collection.  Many friends and long-time festival-goers stopped in and I was happy to share my good news about my spot in the Kemper right now, as well as the new direction I'm taking my work.

The anatomical hearts are always my best seller, not only because they are the least expensive pieces, but because of our general connection to this organ as both our literal center and poetic touchstone.  I heard stories of dads who are pace maker distributors, new med school grads, cardiac nurses, and open heart surgery survivors.  People feel comfortable showing me their scars and telling me tales of their near-death experiences and what steps brought them to my booth today, often because a friend happened to stop by when they were having a heart attack or someone they didn't know came to their rescue.

(Check out my post about the making of these hearts here.)

front view

night view from my desk...I don't like that blank spot in the bottom left, but
I didn't want to cram in anything else

outside wall

I was cross-promoting my Orzo series but had them tucked away
because, although they are clearly cousins to my other work,
they don't exactly mesh visually for this small space.

This was my third year at ArtWestport, and being able to know home is a mile and a half away is a great comfort, along with seeing many great local artist friends and making new ones from the area.  Check out these cool people:

Justin Marable

Bailey Marable--Dulces Jewelry

Charley Forsythe--SeeForce

Louise Carroll--Delicate Hammer Studios

Jen Unekis

Melanie Harvey

So now I'm going to spend some time organizing--OMG it's necessary--looking at opportunities to show my work, dabble in some ceramics, and write more...here!  

As always, follow me on Instagram to get up to date info on my art makings and the occasional cat or flower pics.

MuDots #13

Springtime Brings the Roses
antique sheet music, pen, misc. paper dots, paint
approx. 11 x 14 inches

MuDots #12

Pictures of Childhood

antique sheet music, pen, misc. paper dots, paint
approx. 11 x 14 inches

The Baby (from a greeting card) over the "childhood" was a total accident.
I didn't notice until I took this detail shot.

MuDots #11

Only a Chain of Daisies

antique sheet music, colored pencil, misc. paper dots, paint
approx. 11 x 14 inches

MuDots #10

Green Whispers

antique sheet music, pen, misc. paper dots
approx. 11 x 14 inches

MuDots #9

Floatin'

antique sheet music, pen, misc. paper dots
approx. 11 x 14 inches

Follow me on Instagram for cool things and the occasional cat.

Have a great weekend, lovelies!

MuDots #8

Instrumental hits

antique sheet music backcover, colored pencil, misc. paper dots, paint
approx. 11 x 14 inches

MuDots #7

Friends

antique sheet music, pen, misc. paper dots, paint
approx. 11 x 14 inches

MuDots #6

Pink Wordless

antique sheet music, red pen, misc. paper dots, paint
approx. 11 x 14 inches

MuDots #5

The only piece not on music (so far).  I glued the book edges to this piece of matboard almost a year ago and then just looked at it, not knowing what to do next.  There are book, magazine, and envelope edges mingled together, holding another set of decades' worth of paper dots on top.

121 Dots

matboard, book edges, misc. paper dots
12 x 12 inches

Dot Info:
circus ticket, paper used to make a monoprint, envelope, picture postcard,
magazine ad insert, painted/drawn on vintage newspaper, found photo, kids' book,
greeting card, found photo, greeting card, found photo

MuDots #4

Most Popular

antique sheet music back cover, pencil, misc. paper dots, paint
approx. 11 x 14 inches

MuDots #3

Rosary

antique sheet music back cover, colored pencil, misc. paper dots, paint
approx. 11 x 14 inches

That top left dot is from a souvenir ticket to the circus from an estate sale in my neighborhood, c. 1970s.

MuDots #2

Try These

antique sheet music back cover, pen, misc. paper dots
approx. 11 x 14 inches

McCartney

McCartney
salvaged wood, vinyl, paint, paper
23 x 37 inches

Another doubled-up background, this was the first "big" piece.  As with Hardy Stock, this one has been reworked, and actually turned upside down, and I'm glad I was brave enough to keep going.

I was listening to an interview with Paul McCartney when I was making it (the first time) and couldn't separate it from the finished product, hence the title.