such pretty pretty art I see

I'm deep in commission work, painting portraits, t-shirt illustrations, cd and poster designs....not to mention a half made 'alloween costume! Do you get seasonal depression? Jacinda says we are like this every year, though I am not sure. I feel as if my emotions got stored in a pumpkin and rolled down S. Lincoln. It's random though; I am happy a lot too in an insane kind of way.

Enough about me, what about you? ...or maybe NATHAN ELLEFSON?

Terrain 2009. (If you live in Spokane and do not know of such Terrains it's time you jump on the art bus, if you do not reside in Spokane consider this is a free pass for now) This year at Terrain there were (approximately - exacts are difficult) 3,100 attendees, and tons and tons of great local talent. I found my pieces mingling between two of my favorite emerging local artists; one new found and the other a good friend...Nathan Ellefson and Mariko Sullivan.

Oh Nathan...
Our unofficial audience favorite of Terrain 2009: Nate Ellefson. Originally from Richland WA he found his way to the 'Can' via Whitworth Collage where he is studying Printmaking and will be graduating in May this coming year. Crossing my fingers I ventured to ask the golden question...shall you be staying? I got a maybe, as he is still considering Grad School...saying "If I don't get into somewhere I'm excited about I can definitely see myself sticking around." The Printmakers that have been coming out of Whitworth are something to keep your eye on. Nate is only one of several who have my attention.

Email contact info for Nathan is: nellefson10@my.whitworth.edu ...in case you may want to contact him? You can check out his work this coming December 4th at the Caterina Winery along side my old pal Mariko Sullivan's. A perfectly splendid duet put together by Sasha Turner the gallery manager of Caterina.

Oh Mariko....These are two of my favorite images from Mariko's show currently hanging at the Empyrean Coffee House (only for a day or so more though). She found her way to Spokane after attending Evergreen in Olympia studying Art and Writing. I got to know Mariko in a very interesting way this past Spring. Almost complete strangers starting out, we created art together in the kitchen of my very small apt for a show at the very same Empyrean earlier this year. In a way she helped me get comfortable working in front of others. It was a productive yet trying month and I came to LOVE and adore her work from an insiders point of view. I simply cannot wait to see her show at Caterina with Nate. Their characters will hold an intriguing dialog and play well off each other.

You can check out more of Mariko's work in her Carbonmade portfolio at www.MarikoSullivan.carbonmade.com.
If you are an artist and in need of a portfolio check out Carbonmade. It is an extremely simple, uncluttered, easy to use, and free (unless you want the Whoo!) way to show off your work. Dang, that was a lot of love in one sentence. In fact it was Mariko who introduced us...check out mine: www.TiffanyPatterson.carbonmade.com.

It's the real love, I see so in your eyes.

I have pledged my eternal love and dedication to the Ugly Yellows (at least until we repaint).

My partner puts up with a lot. This is our future craft room (first coat of paint). Imagine beautiful dark bamboo floors, clean white molding and thin white cotton curtains with the sun shinning in. I have been cheating on my blog with our new house. It was purchased and then gutted, so I have been a little busy.

We have slowed down and are only visiting the hardware store about 3-4 times a week now. I have developed a slight crush on paint samples. I can't leave without a handful (I have a favorite paint guy too...Tom). Their names make me smile and I dream of having the job of naming paints, finding inspiration in anything and everything. Our living room is Playful Pool, with Sea Tickle for the ceiling (white crown molding to come). The gray in our bathroom is City Storm, and that oh so lovely orangey mustard of the craft room is Golden Avocado. Since I mixed the color for the top wall and ceiling myself (there was no perfect hue) I get to name it....so I am calling it Green Mamba Stellified.

A co-worker introduced me to the music of Ian Brown; of which I am now hopelessly obsessed with his song Stellify (it might also be my new favorite descriptive word). The tune has been looping in my head over and over ever since. Jacinda even caught me full out dancing to it and yelled at me like I was 5 years old..."Tiffany! Stop dancing and go get the extension cord!" I feel like I am 5 a lot. Doo doo doo "I stellify. I'm miles high...Shinning like a diamond in the darkness of the sky. "