a. t. whim

Today was when the rain got serious and pounded the hell out of my yard.  It was just lovely.  It would have been better if I didn’t have this sore throat.  But I think a couple hot toddies will make me feel much better.  The cold weather finally gave me an excuse to buy the cutest arm warmers ever!

The ruffles by the fingers are what make them really special.  I want to wear them all the time.

I was also thinking dreamily of my favorite mustard yellow coat.   Soon love soon.  I can’t wait for those cold chilly days when I get to wear her.  In the mean time I painted another painting with my beloved coat in it.  It’s been awhile…
It’s titled *Come with me* because everyone needs a traveling buddy in this crazy city.  I think a need a few.  This one reminds me of the yellow coat painting I did last year called *Winter Walk in my Best Coat*.

Essentially the same painting, just different styles.  I’m also very excited that I’m giving a friend some painting lessons!  I’m going to have a painting buddy!  I think it’s so much more fun to paint when you have friends painting with you.  I can’t wait!
Anyway, I’m in denial that I’m sick.  I’m pretending it’s not there, but I don’t think it’s getting the hint.   Hot toddies are so gooooooood though.  I recommend having one this chilly rainy night.

My Heart is Flighty. That’s the name of this painting and that’s how I’m feeling these days! I’ve been seeking out inspiration so much lately, that I’m obsessing over any little thing that causes the slightest tug at my heart. Now, I’m so overwhelmed with these obsessions. I feel like my heart is being pulled in a million directions. Someone once asked me if I would rather be Harold or Maude. I said, “Harold. I want to be tragically beautiful.” Then I got all embarrassed and laughed nervously and loudly. I was born in the year of the Horse, and this is what “The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes” has to say about me: The unpredictable Horse will fall in love easily and fall out of love just as easily. So forgive me, friends, if I seem fickle… You see, I was just born this way. I’ve been reading a lot about my Horsey nature these last few years. It keeps me aware of my faults, it’s fixing those faults that’s the problem.
I’ve been enjoying little things these last few days. I bought the movies I Heart Huckabees, Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge. Went to the new IKEA here in Portland and sat on every couch and chair, opened every drawer, lusted after the bookshelves, and ate some Swedish meatballs. Almost cried when I heard Marcel Marceau died. Had a nice drink after work with some friends, and now I have just finished the painting above. I think I’ll go watch one of my movies. OH, and bake cookies…. yum.

I haven’t gotten many guesses for the little contest I had in my last post. My music isn’t that obscure, in fact… it’s not obscure at all! But maybe you don’t memorize lyrics as I do… So here’s what I’ll do, I name the song… you name the artist! Okay!

1. Spellbound, 2. Kissing Families, 3. Joga, 4. You said something, 5. Lips like sugar

Now, I’ve made it easy! bye lovelies.

I’ve got my head in the clouds…

So if you haven’t realized, I paint myself a whole bunch. My so endearing boyfriend pointed out that it may seem very narcissistic on my part. And it’s true, there are certain aspects of myself that I am very proud of. But I know my face better than anyone else’s, and when I paint my stories I want to be in them! Anyway, Frida painted herself all the time and no one complained…. but I can’t compare to her, she was also so beautiful, so deep and so passionate. But I’m going to keep painting me anyway, because that’s what I know.

The other night I went out for a quiet drink by myself. I was waiting for my light to cross the street and was called Yoko Ono for the second time in my life while a strange man hugged me and said “if you’re Yoko than I’m John!” I told them I wasn’t a big Beatles fan (which is a lie, I do like the Beatles!) and almost ran across the street when my light turned green. Why Yoko? It’s being Asian and the hair isn’t it? Why can’t someone say I look like Maxine Hong Kingston? I would then be overwhelmingly flattered and I would love you so hard because you know who Kingston is. So anyway, I ended up at my bar. It was so wonderfully half empty on a Friday night and my bartender put two cherries in my drink.

I’ve been buying and getting tons of new music lately. I’ve missed having new music and old music that I somehow lost along the years. I sit and read the lyrics as I’m waiting for the paint to dry. Let’s play a little game. I’ll list a few lyrics and you leave a comment and guess who it is. I’ll pick a comment at random and send the winner a little surprize. I’ll give it a little while because I don’t think I have many readers. Don’t forget to leave your email so I can get your address!

okay here we go:

1. did i meet you in my dreams
on some lonely street it seems
one look and i wear my heart upon my sleeve
one touch of you and i just can’t believe

2. it’s no wonder that we did it this way
keep looking forward on paths sideways
it’s everything that is connected and beautiful
and now i know just where i stand

3. all that no-one sees
you see
what’s inside of me
every nerve that hurts you heal
deep inside of me
you don’t have to speak - i feel
emotional landscapes
they puzzle me

4. And I’m doing nothing wrong
Riding in your car
The radio playing
We sing up to the eighth floor
A rooftop, Manhattan
At one in the morning
And you said something
That I’ve never forgotten

5. (this one’s for you Drea.)

She’ll be my mirror
Reflect what I am
A loser and a winner
The King of Siam
and my Siamese twin
Alone on the river
Mirror kisses

Okay, and I’ll even give you a hint! #1 was released in 1988, #2 in 2005, #3 in 1997, #4 in 2000 and #5 in 1987. Good luck!

Three new pieces that I’m VERY pleased with. I’m keeping 2 of them for now, but I’m really tempted to keep all 3…

*Little Girl Gone*

She’s got my crazy hair, my current favorite skirt, and I’m pretty sure my head looks that big.

*Shipwrecked*

I’m loving this girl’s tearful face. I sometimes feel like a shipwreck, and I’m taking everyone aboard down with me. Those times, I take a breather, and just tell myself, “don’t freak out, don’t freak out”. Because, yes, I usually freak out and do something stupid like adopt 50 bunnies because they all looked so cute and I couldn’t pick just one.

*This isn’t a love story: and I get to keep my heart*

This little illustration is dedicated to the boy that makes the girl feel pretty even when she’s not trying.
I’ve been shut in for so long, I need to take a stretch. I think it’s time I do another show soon and see you lovely people. I’ve also been ignoring all my friends. I didn’t realize how far I sank into my isolation. I went out a couple times this week, and realized, “Oh my gosh, there are real people out here! It’s not a computer screen!” So now, I’m going to try really hard to stay connected. I do love all my peeps out there! Don’t think because I never call, I don’t care, because I really do!

Now it’s late, time to sleep.

Little somethings in the shop.

Yesterday one of my hens laid me a GIANT egg. It fills the palm of my hand, and I’m completely amazed that this little hen made such a big egg. She is so very proud.

And this is what happens when I don’t check my zucchinis regularly!!! I had to use my yard stick to measure this 19.5 inch baby. What are you suppose to do with a zucchini this size?

Now it’s off to the bookstore again where there’s a mountain of books waiting for me to shelve them (or buy them…)

Have a good weekend!

This month is coming to a close, and I can’t believe how quickly it went!
Fresh from the kitchen studio is my Portrait of my sweet boyfriend Phil who loves lizards. Pictured with him is our dearly missed uromastyx Biko.

Here is my mysterious fox lady walking through silent streets.

And I was telling my son the story of Rapunzel and drew this picture as I was telling it.
I’m working on a drawing of the witch cutting off Rapunzel’s hair, I should have that one done tonight.
But my favorite part of this week were the new picture books I got. I found these 2 old gems as I was shelving the best section in the store.

*The Grouch and the Tower and Other Sillies* by John O’brien….

just look at the walking house, and tree headed people!

Then there’s *Long Ago a Moonboat* by Christopher Carroll…

This one’s loaded with beautiful, intricate illustrations. I wish I could show them all to you.

I also got the new Peter Sis book *The Wall*, and a few European folktale books. YAY! I love getting new books!

What an insane week it’s been. After a whole week of Harry Potter mania, frantically painting and crafting, leading up to the midnight sale at Powell’s; I got on a plane the very next day and here I am in California feeling as if everything was a blur. I would’ve written sooner, but I’ve had my nose in the new Potter book for the last 3 days. And I just finished it about 2 hours ago. I think I’ll read it again, but more s-l-o-w-l-y this time! I do have a few pics for you to look at from our fabulous midnight event…..

This is the 21 foot by 14 foot archway I painted for the main entrance of our store. And I must say I’m pretty proud of the way it turned out! I didn’t have enough space to spread the whole thing out while I was painting it, and had to do it in sections. So after the grand unraveling, I’m VERY happy it wasn’t lopsided!

My favorite part is the lamp and the quill behind “Blotts”…

Here are a couple Monster Book of Monsters…

and here’s me, dressed as Dobby, face painting with 2 lovely people that don’t even work at Powell’s…

It was so much fun! And I’m SOOOOOOOOOOO incredibly grateful to the 2 people helping me, I think I would’ve cried if I had to do it again by myself. Unfortunately my camera ran out of memory after these few pictures and there is so much more to show you. I’ll have to borrow some pictures from someone else and post them here later.

I’m feeling a bit antsy not having my art supplies around me. I was trying to think of what I could bring on the plane, but I think most of it’s been labeled unacceptable. So here I am, on vacation, without my paints. I’m tempted to go to an art supply store and just get a few things. We’ll see.

By the way… Harry Potter was FABULOUS! and I won’t say anymore.

Yesterday I got a little package from my lovely (and very talented) friend Portia. Enclosed were the nicest pair of socks a girl could ask for…

FRIDA SOCKS! I absolutely LOVE THEM! I want to wear them all the time.

Tonight I watched a movie that made me giggle like a school girl…
It was so cute and sweet, and so painfully cute and sweet, and then so disgustingly cute and pathetic and sweet. I especially liked the subway scene near the end, where he is sitting alone facing the little following he has on the other side. Reminds me of that long silent scene in an Evangelion episode.

Now class, I have a list of books for you to check out… because I think they’re fabulous and you should too!

Ms. Rubinstein’s Beauty by Pepe Montserrat is that bearded lady picture book I mentioned earlier.

Barkbelly by Cat Weatherill. And she just came out with a new book called Snowbone.

Arrival by Shaun Tan isn’t out yet. But I just happen to work in an awesome book store and got an advanced reader!!! It’s so amazing!!!! Shaun Tan’s work is spectacular as usual.

Horns and Wrinkles, by Joseph Helgerson, I’m reading at my lunches at work. I like the *rivery* things going on in it.  And the river trolls are so cute!
I feel that I should at least read one adult book this year. But working in the kid’s room has put a million children’s books on my reading list. I absolutely must, at the very least, read the newest Haruki Murakami book. That will be next, right after the new Harry Potter….

I spend way too much time staring at my chickens.  I never knew they were so entertaining! But every single cat in my neighborhood has decided that my yard is the best.  I used to love kitties, but now they are the bane of my existence.  There’s just too many!  And they’re everywhere, marking anything and everything I leave outside.  It’s so frustrating.  I’m not sure what to do about my kitty problem.  I just chase them away when I can, and spread pepper and coffee grounds all over my yard.  My little chicks don’t know any better and just walk right up to them.  They’re cute, but not too bright.

Not too long ago I painted this and named it Maude, after “Harold & Maude”.  I can just imagine her leading the group in a cemetery with her bright yellow umbrella.  I’ve been working on a piece for Harold, but he has turned out to be harder to capture.  Maude was so simple, bright and cheery.  Harold is sadder, and more introverted… But hopefully I’ll get him done soon.

I’ve been working on my chicken coop on the non-rainy days.  For having absolutely no carpentry experience, it’s definitely a trail & error process.  It’s slowly getting there.  I wish not so slowly, because the chicks are growing fast, but they’ll at least have a roof over their heads soon.

Etsy seems to be having some speed and image issues, so I’ll wait till later this afternoon to put “my favorite chickadee” and a few other prints in my shop.  Until then…

Happy Monday!

These aren’t exactly new works. It’s been so long since my last post, and sadly these are all I have to show from the time elapsed. But that’s not to say I haven’t been busy!

Since Spring hit I can’t seem to sit still. I’ve been so busy digging in the dirt, chasing after chickens, obsessing over August’s birthday party, shooing Bunny away from things that she finds delicious (books, magazines, table and easel legs); that unfortunately my little shop hasn’t been updated for a few days. My other job has reeled me in with more hours too, so that times when I would be painting… I’m shelving books. But the next Harry Potter book is coming out, and I must admit I am a devout Harry Potter fan, so soon I’ll be painting decorations for the store and painting young little wide eyed faces for the midnight sale. I can’t wait!

I did get some painting done for a friend and her sweet sad eyed dog. Usually though I was digging in the garden.

It’s starting to look good and not like giant freshly dug graves! I also built trellises to hide the ugly metal poles we have holding up the covered concrete area and planted snow peas to climb up them.

But my absolute favorite thing to do is let my chicks out in the garden and watch them hover around me as I dig up tasty worms for them. I never knew chickens were so entertaining. My favorite one is feathering out nice and is going to be so beautiful when she’s a full sized hen.

Ain’t she pretty?

Well, the birthday party chaos is over. My garden is almost done. The chickens are almost old enough to live in the coop. Soon things will be calming down, and I’ll get to do some serious painting again. But today it’s raining outside so I’m going to use that as my excuse to try to do as little as possible and just relax. I recommend you do the same.