The goods

The opening Friday went great. Here are some new favorites...

 ♥

Spokane Doesn't Suck

A typical conversation while out of town...

"Where are you from?"
Spokane!
"Oh wow, I'm sorry."
Don't be. (Followed by me proclaiming my undying devotion)

Big thank you to Derrick from Spokane Doesn't Suck for asking me to contribute. This is a fantastic idea...a fantastic blog! It's great to be reminded that there are others out there loving on this city. Some days this side of the bleachers feels a bit lonesome.

Read my post here. Forgive me for my nerdiness. Then read the blog! The other submissions by Karli and Brandon are glorious.

♥

Hello

Guess who's back? I try to blog when I can and not worry about it when it becomes too taxing...But then comes the guilt.

I made a pretty little picture because I missed you. ♥

Exciting things are brewing...literally. Coffee! Monday marks the release of my letterpress coffee bag from DOMA. I will post about this next with images and such (in a day or so). Also, I am making beautiful new works for my first out of Spokane solo show and instillation this coming March. I can't wait to give sneak peeks!

Hope you all had lovely Holidays! 2012 seems to be off to a grand start.

Colorful turkeys?

So, Thanksgiving is coming up...

I thought it would be fun to make a lovely little turkey coloring page for people to print! Feel free to download the larger printible version here. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. I would love to see what you come up with...maybe post on facebook? ♥

Inspired

I've spent a lot of time in my head lately - really thinking about my art and it's direction. I've been marinating on thoughts of what's happening out in the world beyond Spokane, and setting some goals as an artist. I keep coming back to the realization that Etsy is where I've discovered some of my very most favorite artists. It's sort of unexpected - and at the same time delightful.

If you're not already familiar with them, here's some favorites you should definitely check out:

Betsy Walton

Jennifer Davis

Julia Pott

Caitlin Shearer

Lisa Congdon 

I've also been extremely inspired by some of the group shows and collaborations I've been hearing about. I'm a sucker for a good theme.

Jennifer Davis (from above) is currently exhibiting in a show titled Homeroom - at Subtext Gallery in San Diego, CA. This maybe one of the greatest themed shows I can imagine...each artist reinterprets a work from their childhood in their current style. There are some big names in this show....kinda wish I could hop a plane down there just for an evening to check it out!

I'm also seriously considering finding some of my own childhood art when I'm home for the Holidays. So I can reinterpret a piece of my own - just for fun.

I was also happy to discover 'Delightful' -  an ongoing collaboration between Davis, and the artist Amy Rice (started a few years ago). For part of it they did a series of paintings in which each others works were used as inspiration to create a corresponding piece....

Birthday Party Pony by Amy Rice
Favorite Bird by Jennifer Davis

Most of the time I find the internet a little overwhelming - realizing there is so much work out there and so many talented artists. It can also be very inspiring. ♥

new crush!

Doing research for work I stumbled upon Impactist's Vimeo page. Not only do they create delightful music -  they also make lovely, completely inspiring, animated videos (...even sometimes on an iPod). I definitely have a new crush. They are Kelly Meador and Daniel Elwing - a directing duo with backgrounds in film production, design, animation, music, and fine art.
Not only will you find the most amazing album sampler videos - there are also animated shorts, commercial work and some really cool reel montages...you should definitely check them out!...and be inspired!...And then go have a listen.

Did I mention the blog!!! ♥ ♥ ♥

Here are some video stills to temp you...

www.impactist.com

Beauty Spots and Happy Thougths

I got my new coloring book back from the printers Friday. It turned out amazing. My partner and I had printed and bound the first one I did, a while back. It was nice...but this time I really worked on correcting all the things standard cheapo coloring books always get wrong. I even asked for tips on Facebook about what people would like to see in the perfect coloring book.

Here is what I came up with....

• The pages have a mix of larger and smaller sections in each image so a bunch of different colors can be used.

• The last page is speech bubbles for cutting out - so you can make the animals say wherever you would like...hence the "happy thoughts".

• The books are professionally printed by a local Mom and Pop print shop (with a little bartering for art to help cover the cost).

• We picked a slightly thicker paper and printed one sided images that are perforated.

• When you tear out the illustrations they are 8x10's to fit a standard picture frame without cropping...I love parents that frame their kid's artwork and hang them with the rest of their collection.

So far I am talking to two places in Spokane that are interested in carrying them...The Timann Too (Children's Book Store) and aNeMonE  (Handmade Paper Flowers). I will keep you posted on where to find them...and I do have plans for an Etsy shop sometime in the near future (It's probably about time!)

If anyone has any interest in carrying the coloring books in their store please feel free to email me.

artfully wonderous weekend

A weekend of art walking, art viewing, discussing art, teaching art, and costume making....how delightful!

I took a couple photos to share with you from the different events...but somehow I skipped a bunch of galleries we visited. I should have taken more! (not that this post needs to be any longer!)

The Archie Bray show at the Kolva Sullivan Gallery blew my mind once again! Every October they journey over from Helena, MT to share their ceramic mastery with Spokane. I pretty much wait all year for them. This time I got to chat up a few of the artists outside the gallery and then later at the Kolva after party...not to mention talking them into checking out Terrain down the street. (wonder what they thought of it?)

 

I ran into the lovely Chris Dreyer...blinded him and got the greatest cutie pie photo ever! Chris almost lost it over some wheat paste art outside the Kolva. It is rarer than you would expect here in Spokane. Wheat paste kinda has become a mantra for him...this eventually spawned a super amazing non wheat pasty idea of mine on Saturday. Something about a one night parking lot show...but shh - said too much already! (just wait a couple months...these things do take time)

I was impressed with the street art that popped up over the weekend. I saw quite a few instances including this nicely executed stop sign tree. You better stop at this one!!! Could Spokane finally be getting there?

I was delighted at the Riverspeak show to find John and Naaman's piece in the back. Here are the "Boys who like butterflies" themselves having at it. ♥

I also included a photo of a piece I happened to stumble upon by my new artist friend Darcy Drury.

Over on 2nd Ave. there is a building that serves as band practice space and artist working studios. They also have had some really great shows there - this month was one in particular. I missed my friend Cori as she ran home to change...but I am slightly infatuated with the work she had. The dress and the drain one in the center would look marvelous on my new walls!!!

I also met a new artist there that I am really excited about...Keshia Wright. There are a couple images of her lovely works below - including some wood chopping.

Then...Terrain. This was really hard for me to photograph. The images simply can't portray how epic this event really was. It was very loud, very hot and very packed for much of the night - which is awesome....I just did more enjoying that photo taking. But, here are a few from earlier:

The next morning I woke up really early and taught watercolor pencils at the MAC to families that attended I <3 Art. The museum was packed full of kids running around (having a blast) doing art projects with their parents. They even had me do the white board for the event....it turned out really cute!

After this I grabbed my artwork from Terrain. I hauled it home and managed a one hour power nap before heading off to the Saranc Arts 'State of Spokane's Visual Arts' Artist Symposium. This was hosted by the talented Scott Kolbo. It was a positive non bitching hour long chat with an amazing panel of speakers. We covered everything from Critical Dialogue, the roll of the MAC and the media, the lack of a center or rather artist hub, the equality of Lowbrow and Highbrow art, and the roll of artists in Spokane. I think a lot of seeds were planted in both the young and upcoming artists as well as the more seasoned professionals. There was a wonderful mix of new faces along with the usual heavy hitters in the Spokane Art Scene.

The hour long talk was recorded if you missed it and would like to catch up:

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This was followed by a lovely impromptu crashing of a pre-planned dinner party (15 of us) at Niki, and Chris Deyer's apartment. Then Sunday can be summed up with baking peanut butter cookies, spicy sweet popcorn with wine, followed by candy corn, amazing pizza and great company. We are getting ready for Halloween and I am so soooo very excited!...But more on the amazing costumes once I get a little further along.

Thank you for sticking out to the end of this insanely long post....I wish you a beautiful week with an equally magical weekend as it is approaching fast.

Bicycle ♥

I sent my spoke card design off to Pedals2People for SpokeFest! I still have the blog post bookmarked from last years contest...I always seem to be running a day late. This year I remembered a day early! The bike gods must be pleased with me.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

If you are fortunate enough to live in Spokane make sure to check out the Perry Street Fair tomorrow....maybe ride your bicycle?

Here's some bike love I've been ogling by Etsy artists!

♥...♥....♥....

♥...♥...Have a pleasant weekend!