Ugly Yellow

Sea of Love

2012-01-18T17:31:00.000-08:00

It's here!

DOMA asked me to illustrate their 2012 limited addition letterpress Valentines Bag this year. They are a local coffee roaster located in Post Falls, Idaho, and their bags are deliciously letterpressed by my buddy Chris Dreyer over at at Dreyer Press.

(You may also this post from my first trip Chris's studio.)

I snuck over while Mr. Dreyer was setting up the press and printing the first color...a rare treat not many get to experience. Chris works out of an old warehouse next to the train tracks. His studio is way down in the basement in what used to be a walk in cooler. A word of warning - Do not let this chaos fool you. Chris Dreyer is a magical creator. Seeing the madness behind this lovely bag might just make you appreciate it a teensy bit more.

The coffee comes in a recycled paper craft bag printed with soy based ink. For the coffee this year they chose an Organic Colombian with strong notes of cherry, sweet tarts and fleur de sel caramel. Smooth body with a long, clean honeyed finish.

You can pick it up online from DOMA or locally:

Spokane, WA:

Rocket Market

Main Market

The Kitchen Engine

Madeleine's

Sandpoint, ID:

Winter Ridge Natural Foods Market

Super 1 foods

Coeur d' Alene, ID:

Pilgrims Natural Foods Market

♥

Hello

2012-01-11T13:55:00.000-08:00

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?

2011-11-18T11:59:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-17T12:24:00.001-08:00

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:

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. ♥

Scary (IF)

2011-10-31T16:26:00.000-07:00

Here is my Illustration Friday drawing....theme: Scary.

Happy Halloween! ♥

Coffee and...

2011-10-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be familiar with the poem 'For Connor' by my friend Mark Anderson...(as I have posted about it and him on several occasions). This time the post comes in the form of a film collaboration I got to participate in.

A video of Mark's poem 'For Connor' was selected to be part of an exhibit at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture titled Need|Want...(a collaborative show with Terrain - that I also have a painting in). I got to work with, the most talented - Chris Dreyer and Amy Hunter. We put together this little short film of him for the show. It will be playing through the end of the year at the MAC - (how exciting!).

We shot (starting at 5am) in Mark's favorite Coffee Shop - Atticus, and were lucky enough to find a song by the The Horse Thieves that fit absolutely perfect. Aren't they fantastic?

Let me know what you think!
Also...Here is my piece for the exhibit. It's about my obsession of cheese:

P.S. I started a second mural collaboration with Darcy Drury (painting live) during the opening of this exhibit last Friday. I will have to post photos when it is finished! ♥

A wedding...

2011-10-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine asked if I would photograph her wedding (This is the 2nd one I've done now...does this make me official?). It was at the Steam Plant - a historical Spokane building turned restaurant. Believe it or not this was the first wedding ceremony ever held there. It was a little difficult for photographing in - but so aesthetically pleasing!

The lovely wedding of Devon + Jason (some of my favorites):

I also shot some photos on our stroll over to their hotel. I will post a few of those gems in a bit when I get them all finished up. ♥

No Boundaries (Illustration Friday)

2011-09-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

Every week I decide that this is the week I will do the Illustration Friday drawing....and then every week I do not.

This week the topic was "Boundary". I can't lie, I kinda hated it...which made me think a lot about it. It took a while to figure out what to draw - and then voilà!

Now I pretty much love it. What do you think?

A Sunday Mural

2011-09-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

This is my house! We spent a full day painting Sunday...Well - painting, drinking, and consuming ridiculous amounts of delicious food! Our 10 min planning session after breakfast (fueled by mimosas) lead to this materpiece....

A few other friends stopped by to help later that evening (after work) - sadly we were to worn out to think about photographs. Also, there are still some final touch ups, and windows to be tangerined....so, I will have a clean pro photo to post in the next week or so!

We are super lucky to have such amazing friends - and the coolest house on the block! I wish all weekends could be this productive!!!
♥

...Allen Duffy, Cori McWilliams you kick some serious ass! Also, Johnny, Karla, and Carolyn we were sad you had to work but soooo happy you got to hang out later!

P.S. there are rumored birds being added tonight by the lovely Miss Karla!

Shirts!

2011-08-17T14:42:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we went to the Garland Street Fair. I got to see some t-shirts I designed for Blue Button Apparel. They printed them on a bunch of different colored (super soft) tees and organic cotton bags...and turned out amazing!

Running into friends that had picked some up - I of course made them pose for a photo!

Head over to their shop on Garland to pick one up (totally inexpensive) and proceeds help support this fantastic local print shop!

♥

Chicken update

2011-08-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

The ladies are at a month and a half now....

Lady Rene is getting quite the chub face - so cute! She is a grasshopper fiend. The neighborhood children sneak over and catch them to feed to her through the fence. Mimolette is such a little fatty, and only getting fluffier. She is a digger after discovering worms in a hole I made while transplanting clover into their pen.

The coop is dubbed the "Co-op Mansion". It is fully insulated with tin roof and a wall that opens behind the nesting box. It has a porthole window for light in the winter and a cleaning door (facing front).

Parades of children now come by to see them...it's as if we created a zoo in our neighborhood! We will be sitting in our kitchen with the windows open hearing little voices calling "Oh Lady Rene!"

♥

So Stoked!

2011-07-28T10:25:00.000-07:00

Yay Karyn! ♥ This last winter she had me do a custom design for her first tattoo - I had all but forgotten about it when she posted this....(click image to view)

I think it's so interesting seeing your work created by another artist...two styles married in a mini collaboration - tattoo by Caleb at Evolution Art Space. It turned out lovely. Congratulations lady!

A Montana Wedding

2011-07-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

My cousin asked that I take some photos at her wedding - the first of several wedding requests I've had lately. It was fun, but deathly hot at 4pm in the desert. The wedding was at Makoshika State park in Glendive Montana. (We get to go back for the driving tour one of these evenings...so excited!)

Here are some favorites...

Small town treasures

2011-07-21T22:47:00.000-07:00

I'm loving our time in Montana - there is something so delightful about small towns. Today we visited the Prairie County Museum in Terry. We found photos of my partners great grandfather, and before heading out drove past her fathers childhood farm.

We walked in to the museum about 4pm to find a handful of little old ladies just waiting to show us around...

Collabrative Consumption

2011-07-11T15:22:00.000-07:00

Imagine a new way of consuming and creating as artists with fewer obstacles and limitations!

A post over on the Etsy Blog got me thinking about collaborative consumption in regards to the Spokane art scene. There are so many amazing tools for artists, but many of them come with enormous commitments, and not just monetarily...Imagine not being limited in the tools you could use to create, having resources of recycled materials, and free disposal of unwanted materials! That is just the tip of the iceberg.

Gutting and rebuilding our house (for almost two years now) we've been surrounded by power tools and supplies that I would have never been exposed to otherwise. Not only has my work changed and grown, but my mindset - some of the limitations I didn't know existed have been lifted. We had our friend Karla over last week just so she could play with power tools (it was fantastic). What would Karla make if she had unlimited access to tools when she wanted them?

Jacinda and I are dreading the day our fathers finally decide to steal everything back! We have purchased many of our own, but the big nice ones...nail guns, chop saws, belt sanders, etc - we have become so accustomed to using we are going to have to invest in for keeps. We've been spoiled.

I feel like there is endless potential, and on the other hand one bad egg could be disastrous. I am sure I have posted this prematurely...I must marinate this idea - but I would love to hear about your thoughts!...Or successes?

Meet the Hens

2011-06-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

Introducing Mimolette and Lady Rene (completely adorable pieces of work). This photo was taken a couple of days ago and it's unbelievable how much they have grown since. I have a feeling you shall be seeing more of them, and our giant backyard chicken pen we're building. I can't wait to show you the free vintage door I found for it too. Viva la Craigslist.

♥

all that sparkles

2011-06-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

Something about glitter and flowers made sense today.

Flutter sparkles:
My Kolva Gallery opening went swimmingly last week. I had such a lovely time! There will be photos coming shortly - but until then, you shall be tempted by glitter photos from the most enchanting of cement floors.

The flowers:
Our yard is irresistible right now. So many things are blooming and the poppies have arrived in full force. We actually planted tons of different types. I am hoping for waves of color through out the next few months. OH - and peonies soon soon!!!

In other news:
I am starting my chicken coop fence this weekend. I found a most delightful vintage door free off Craigslist which will be used instead of a gate. My dad is driving over to help. I can't wait to be able to post baby chick photos! Eeeek, such goodness to come.

I wish you a sunny lovely weekend! ♥

Golden

2011-06-07T08:50:00.000-07:00

I finally get to share with you our film we made for the 50 hour slam a while back. I had to sit on it for two months which was ridiculously hard!

I feel like we all bonded so much in such a short weekend. Chris Dreyer and I ended up with a tiny crew of extremely talented friends. Tiffany and Justin, two of the main actors ended up recording all the music for the film with the help of a friend at my work. They had never really played together before, and we had no idea what our film would be about at the time.

Not only did we get a fantastic topic....a lovely little tune as the inspiration for the film - but it happened to be a song by friend and fellow blogger Karli of Rough Gems. The other two mandatory items were the line of dialog, and including a statue on the Spokane Statue walk.

We shot the thing on my digital camera (d-5000), and the dream sequences on my little Japanese toy camera, the Digital Harinezumi 2.

You can check out the other films from the fest, some of which are wonderful and others a little hard to get through.

(Hints)
Also, we wouldn't mind at all if you wanted to vote for 'Golden' - http://www.50hourslam.com/2011/vote

♥

Spokane for Japan update!

2011-05-31T14:03:00.000-07:00

A friend asked me for a photo of the finished Spokane for Japan mural for a blog post....which reminded me that I didn't even post it here yet! Silly me.

Darcy Drury was a joy to paint with. Neither of us had ever worked on a collaboration piece before...not to mention a live one with tons of people watching. It was 8 hours of solid painting which was very tiring but at the same time really laid back and delightful. I couldn't have been happier with the result! ...and the bar likes it too, which is probably a good thing.

Friday is coming oh so soon. I can't wait to post photos from Flutter!

A Springtime Flutter

2011-05-23T16:21:00.000-07:00

This post is actually two fold. First, sharing with you some progress photos of Flutter...(My exciting gallery exhibit that will be opening in a couple weeks). Then ending with my "I need to take a break from this insanity and appreciate the nice weather" photos of Spring showing up around our yard!

Doing a screen printed narrative actually turned out to be a lot more work than I had anticipated. I was illustrating at the laundromat, VA hospital, my partner's parents house, in bed, at the breakfast table, and in the car....pretty much living this project for the last few months. So...

Flutter deets: first ever narrative, first completely solo gallery show, and the release of my first zine! [I get excited about firsts!]

Mixed media screen prints with sparkly inks and hand drawn tidbits tell the story. The posters, each unique, are created in additions of three. The limited addition zine (of 50) is made up of a portion of the illustrated posters..(silver ink!!!) The zine is being printed via the most fantastic Chris Dreyer of Dreyer Press. And as seen above, super huge thank you/shout out to Scott Ellis of Blue Button for his screen printing assistance! They are amazing!

A public artist reception will be held during Art Walk at the Kolva Sullivan Gallery (115 S. Adams St.) June 3rd from 5-9pm.

And now for some springtime love...

I will have happy poppies for you shortly. (Like hundreds of poppies taking over everywhere kinda happy! ♥)

new crush!

2011-05-06T15:33:00.000-07:00

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

FFFFOUND!

2011-04-28T16:32:00.000-07:00

Since getting my FFFFOUND account I've gotten a little obsessive with the photo collecting. I constently post (from all my favorite blogs and sites) whenever inspiration strikes. It has become an amazing tool for bookmarking my favorite images from all over - not to mention finding new ones.

Here are some of my recent favorites:

It's delightful discovering new artists and blogs too! I love the suggestions under the "New for you" button....they are pretty much spot on (...except for a week they thought I was a gay man. The pictures were amazing - just, ahem, a lot of men)!

Spokane for....

2011-04-26T23:11:00.000-07:00

Darcy Drury (a most fantastic local artist) and I will be collaborating on a "LIVE" mural painting in the "Pit" at NYNE - for the Spokane for Japan show this Friday! Come out in support of Japan, and have a seriously amazing time! This Friday is the first of a two part event. The second will be May 28th at the Lincoln Center.

Next, the Great Spokane Art Party May 7th..."it is the antidote to the typical silent auctions, wine tastings and benefit dinners. It is an engaging evening of wine, hors d'oeuvres, camaraderie and hands-on art exploration for adults." The event is in support of Blueprints for Learning...which works to improve the quality of early childcare and education in Spokane. Check out all the amazing projects with local artists as instructors: clay tiles, mono printing, paper making, fused glass pendents ...to name a few. I will be teaching "Mixed Media Illustrations on Wood"! I can't wait.

And third! I can finally share with you the design I made for the INBA Outreach fundraiser. They are printing it on reusable bags filled with goodies and selling them to raise money for their annual scholarship. I was so excited when Devon asked me to do it! To kick off Pride week they are also having an art show and there is a call for entries going on now (you can find it here) for any GLBTQ and A(llies)'s.

I am back now (without blogging for what seems like forever) - but it was all for good. I have some super exiting projects in the works - images coming soon! Have a most lovely week!...and hope to see you Spokanites Friday!

Mineral

2011-03-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

I was wondering what sort of gem I could post today. It needed to pay tribute to my new new gemstone and mineral obsession and assist in mentioning my guest artist post on Rough Gems for 'Type Tuesday' tomorrow. Arriving home, coming down the path, I saw it protruding from my post-box. It was my 'Mineral' print by Karina Eibatova that I ordered from the Mammoth Collection.

I really don't have the money to be purchasing art - even an 'affordable' limited addition print. BUT - when I read 100% of the proceeds were going to Japan it seemed like a decent excuse....and my love for this print has been haunting me ever since I found it.

Long story short, I am super excited - the print is beautiful. Also, I am pretty sure you are going to like my new (gem inspired) font - so make sure and sneak over to Rough Gems tomorrow afternoon to see.

CA or bust!

2011-03-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

Big thank you to blogger friend Pretty Little Thieves! She referred my coloring book post to Common Thread Studios in CA. Not only did they want to carry the books in their shop - they also featured them on their blog (writing such lovely things). Read the post here.
So, if you happen to be near South Pasadena, go check them out! They have a cute little shop, and a studio with industrial machines for you to work on your projects. They also offer a wide variety of sewing classes.

...(Spokane could seriously use a place like this)!

So many wonderfuls!

2011-03-25T11:16:00.000-07:00

Eeek, it's Friday! [I can barely contain myself]

Spokane Poetry got some grand recognition in this week's Inlander! You may remember a while back my post about (a good friend and inspiring poet) Mark Anderson, and his poem "For Connor"...we'll to top that - here is him reading it. This is by far my favorite poem of his, and I still get goosebumps every time I hear it.

Luke Baumgarten (another friend) wrote an incredible article about Mark. It is so honest and inspiring. Anyone who knows Mark will tell you it is spot on. The Inlander also put together a fantastic promo video for Broken Mic at Neato Burrito...(featuring a bunch more friends [newest - Mr. Allen Duffy])...AND doesn't my Neato Burrito mural look lovely on video? Hehe.

After posting this, it made me realize how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many wonderful people doing such great things in our city! ♥

Happy Friday!

Green

2011-03-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

When you grow up with your Birthday on St. Patrick's day there is a lot of green involved - like more than (if say) you were born on any other day of the year. That said - I got the most lovely flowers as a surprise from my Wife.

Also, I was so excited to find our cute new kitchen stools on Design Sponge today...they are super sturdy and made with reclaimed wood and steel. We are thinking of buying more!

Also - congratulations to the winners of my 100th post giveaway...you can check out all the amazing submissions here!!!

spring type

2011-03-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

Lately I've really been enjoying Karli Ingersoll's blog - Rough Gems. She does Type Tuesdays where she posts some sort of illustrated letter-set or something written in handdrawn type. I remember loving her work back when I was just getting interested in illustration. Out of all the posters floating around Spokane Karli's were so inspiring. She really has a lovely way of working with text.

So, this morning [inspired by her], discussing over coffee - seasons, and which seeds need to be started first...without even thinking about it I begun drawing a happy spring type set:

Don't forget about my giveaway happening now! ...I think Karli will be having a 100th post giveaway as well in the next couple of days - so check her blog out.

Stir

2011-03-12T23:29:00.000-08:00

Here's my drawing for Illustration Friday's theme Stir. When I got this week's email all I could think about was making caramel...so much stirring, but so tasty.

I also have an ongoing giveaway for my 100th Ugly Yellow post [here]. Enter before the 18th to win one of three prizes!

Have fun drawing, and maybe treat yourself to some caramels!

100th post giveaway!

2011-03-07T16:08:00.000-08:00

Having 100 posts on a blog may not seem like a huge accomplishment, except sometimes I have a hard time sticking with the things I start. So, to celebrate this small feat it seemed like a perfect excuse to have another super fun giveaway! A little thank you to those who support my work and read my blog!

Your entry into the contest will be a photo posted on my Facebook Art Page [here]...this is an anything goes derivative work photo contest (it sounds scary - but it is far from). At the bottom of this post you will find some links of things to play with. You have full artistic freedom - the only rule is that there must be something of mine used in some way. Your art using my art...You could post a photo of a fantastically bright coloring book page hanging on your fridge, photoshop a speech bubble on (well) anything, or you could post a photo of your dog surrounded by a swarm of bumble bees - it's up to you. The possibilities really are endless.

Post the photo before Friday March 18th 8:00pm (PST) for your chance to win one of the 3 prizes. One photo per person (so make it count)! This contest is open to anyone anywhere - so tell your friends!

Here's what you could win:

3 prizes and 3 different ways to win.
1. The winner of the custom Pet/Animal painting will be chosen by a random # generator.
2. The Coloring Book - goes to my personal favorite of the giveaway images. I will dub it "The MOST [blank]." This blank could stand for 'surprising', 'horrifying', 'happy'...we will have to wait and see!
3. The watercolor illustration - goes to whichever photo has the most "likes" (thumbs up) when the giveaway closes.

[Here] is a download link for some items to play with.

Also, I know a bunch of you have D.I.Y. tattoo ladies and things I may have given you....so feel free to use other things of mine as well (as long as it isn't too much of a stretch).

Yay! Good luck - have fun! ♥

- I am reserving the right to disqualify/delete any overly offensive or evil spirited images.

Layer

2011-02-22T11:21:00.000-08:00

This weeks Illustration Friday theme is Layer. When I opened by blog reader today I found this post from Julia Humpfer. What a great find!...and perfect for showing layers. I decided to give odosketch a go, and just not worry about the mistakes - it was pretty fun!

(Sorry I couldn't get it centered below...)

Happy Drawing! ♥

Beauty Spots and Happy Thougths

2011-02-15T21:40:00.000-08:00

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.

comfort sweater

2011-02-14T13:17:00.000-08:00

Here's a little drawing for Illustration Friday's theme "Sweater."

Stay cozy! ♥

Pug LOVE

2011-02-02T19:07:00.000-08:00

I don't usually share my commission paintings, but I really wanted to show you guys the ones I finished just last week.

I had been doing vintage style family portraits for my good friends Ginger and Luke - and finished up the series by painting their babies Kody and Farley Bob....or Uncle Money Bags and Winston Churchpug:

Of course this way I get to give a shout out to Mr. Brandon Vasquez - amazing local photographer who did this fantastic photoshoot of their family last fall:

I became very attached to these photos while I was drawing the pugs! The rainbows are simply perfect...and painted in the playground of an elementary school just down the block from Luke and Gingers house!

Check out more of Brandon's work on here!

Have a bright and happy day! ♥

Go Marmots!

2011-01-24T13:52:00.000-08:00

Here is the poster I finished this weekend. It is for the Spokane Woman's Rugby I heart Art event. Marmots are adorable don't you think? ♥

p.s. come visit me...I will have a table of goodies for sale!

(and see the bottom of the poster if you wish to be a vendor too)

Tiny little prints!

2011-01-24T13:32:00.000-08:00

Emailing people about submissions on the internet is sort of the same as emailing people on Craig's List...you don't really expect to hear back from them. You can't just not do it, because there is always a tiny glimmer of hope somewhere deep within that actually thinks (this time) they may respond.

A while back I stumbled upon The Littlest Print Exchange. It was exactly what I had always hoped to discover: trading art for art with other artists I have never met from all around the globe. How fantastic!

Here's their description: "The Littlest Print Exchange is an annual juried trade of tiny art prints. Fifty artists are each invited to submit an edition of 50 prints and in turn receive a complete portfolio of 50 prints from all 50 contributing artists." Of course discovering this amazing site was immediately followed by me writing them and begging to be part of the 2011 project. Then I had to explain to my heart that it wasn't our fault if they didn't write us back...I had actually forgot all about it until I got that little gold nugget in my inbox. Guess who has fifty prints to make?

Check out the previous portfolios, find out this years theme, and (of course) how to submit...over here! Now I am snooping around checking out the other artists already picked for 2011.

And a little video:

super amazing project list update

2011-01-19T13:41:00.000-08:00

I guess it's about time to update my blog! I have been working on fantastical projects and had no time for anything else!

My 2011 is lining up to be pretty epic:

TinMan Gallery:
I had submitted work to the TinMan Gallerie's 20 Under 40 juried art exhibit. It turns out there were only 8 artists selected for the show, and I am beyond thrilled to be one of them. I am really excited about my new pieces too...the opening is right around the corner - Friday February 4th during the Visual Arts Tour.

Chase Gallery:
I am currently working on an installation piece for a group show at the Chase Gallery - it will be up March and April as part of Get Lit festivities. Getting to be part of a show with some of Spokane's "Seasoned Professionals" almost makes me feel like a grown up or something? (more on this soon)

Kolva Sullivan Gallery:
Thirdly, I am proud to be having my first solo gallery show at the Kolva Sullivan in June. And for a little twist - no paintings. It will be a narrative print show...each piece a page from the story. Super limited addition screen printed posters with splatters and hand inked sections. I will also be making a zine of the works.

So that was the big stuff. Right now I am doing poster for the Spokane Woman's Rugby Art and Craft Fair - which I will be having a table at, selling my stuff. It is conveniently 2 days before Valentines...perfect for buying up cards and gifts for your lovers. I will share the poster as soon as it is finished.

Lastly (so much text - eeee) I am really happy that I have been able to have a blog for so long without forgetting about it or getting tired of it...AND I am getting really close to my 100th post (this is #93). It's kinda a big deal for me - so that will mean something super special, like an art giveaway or something...anyways, stay tuned!

Chicken (IF)

2011-01-17T13:31:00.000-08:00

I LOVE chickens. I can't wait for Spring to hurry up and get here so I can get my three hens! I will be sharing my Coop Mansion designing and building progress here on my blog in the coming months...so stay tuned.

Happy drawing. ♥

p.s. Here is a great website I will share - in case you also are planning for chickens soon : www.mypetchicken.com

toy camera

2011-01-03T21:55:00.000-08:00

I feel like the year is off to a great start. I have some really exciting art projects lined up...(but more on that later).

For Christmas, my lovely wife bought me a Digital Harinezumi (2++). I was crushing pretty hard ever since discovering them - and about lost it when she told me (close to a month early as usual). So yesterday things had settled down enough and I pulled out the Harinezumi determined to figure it out. I was planning a trip to the laundromat, which seemed like the perfect place to play with a toy camera.

I definitely need some practice on my filming, but I got the hang of it in a snap....and threw together a little test video. It turned out better than I could have expected! Let me know what you think?

Witner (IF)

2010-12-29T16:28:00.000-08:00

I imagine even bears get a little chilly in the winter.

It always surprises me how few people wear scarfs here... It's one of my favorite things about Winter.

Theme "Winter" Illustration Friday ♥! I hope the holidays are treating you all well! Have a lovely New Years.

Instant Holiday

2010-12-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

Step 1. Cut

Step 2. Glue

Step 3. Glitter

Step 4. Inspect

Step 5. Repeat

Step 6. Hang

Step 7. Admire


Step 8. [optional] Eat raw potatoes?

Happy Holiday making
♥

a most sparkly...

2010-12-17T13:20:00.000-08:00

...to you!

Bright Night

2010-12-14T13:54:00.000-08:00

It seems strangely barren now that all the snow has melted. It is almost as if Spring will surprise us any day (then I see the weather report). Everything is nasty and pretty at the same time, making for such magical photos. I think I am obsessed - Flickr won me over...I knew it would.

Last night I sorta felt like a photographer again, even though I was only shooting within the safety of my backyard...

It's time to get rid of that old hot water heater we removed. I keep finding it in my photographs.

On another note: check out my favorites on Flickr. I think that may be one of the best things about finally having an account...ridiculously amazing and inspiring photos I can collect all in one place!

Happy photo hunting! ♥

Phenomenon (IF)

2010-12-12T19:06:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share a photo of my sketchbook as well. (Heh - it really is always that messy) I love illustrating typography and have a pretty comfortable "Tiffany Standard", but I decided it is time for me to mix it up a little and push myself a bit. Yay for Illustration Friday.

Happy drawing everyone!

Prehistoric Love (IF)

2010-12-09T13:35:00.000-08:00

Click to view larger

So I am a bit late with my Illustration Friday drawing...last day and all. I'm done with my annual wintertime cold and couldn't pass up the theme "Prehistoric". Love it!

So here is a cute little lunch break dinosaur I whipped out. Hope you all are having a wonderful week!

Winter

2010-12-02T15:56:00.000-08:00

I have been walking to the bus in the mornings...dreaming. I love the fog and muted colors of this time of year. The barren tree branches remind me of rivers and sometimes (on very special days) the crunching sounds from walking heel toe in fresh snow makes me sound like a tap dancer shuffling away.

Happy Winter everyone!

p.s. I have a flickr now. ♥

Hey Spokanites!

2010-12-01T12:09:00.000-08:00

...make sure to pick up an Out There Monthly this December! My Holiday Gift Guide cover came out today, and she looks oh so lovely!

Winter Gift Guide

2010-11-22T15:45:00.000-08:00

We are going pretty minimal for most of our gift giving this year...plus I have been promising my family paintings for way too long! So, even though I wont be buying nearly as much stuff off Etsy as last year, I hope everyone else still will!

Check out the treasury I created...a winter gift guide for art lovers:

Aren't they lovely? Any favorites? ♥

Sneaky - Illustration Friday

2010-11-22T14:13:00.000-08:00

Whohoo!
I haven't drawn an illustration for the Illustration Friday in some time.
So here you are! The topic was sneaky, but I prefer sneakity!
♥

(click the image to view larger)

sneaky peeks

2010-11-20T13:16:00.000-08:00

I apologize if I got you excited for cotton candy. I was too!

My first job at age 15 was working in a concession stand at the Super Oval, a racetrack in my hometown. That summer I lived to stand around making sticky cotton candy while everyone else rushed crazily about prepping for the evening. There was really no competition for this task. I would end up spending the entire night covered in tacky sugar all up in my outfit and hair. The most reminiscent part to these teenage summers came from popping out the plywood windows and shoving stick after stick of free fluffy sugar to the waiting little tyrants (racecar driver offspring) that roamed the Oval before dark.

Back to my point...due to circumstances beyond my control I will no longer be having the "Cotton Candy Underground" artshow in Coeur d'Alene on the 3rd. I actually canceled it. There was some change in ownership and it just didn't seem like the right time for an exhibit there. I will have to find another excuse to rent a cotton candy machine and feed you all those sticky sweet sugars of my past.

Even with with a short deadline looming overhead, I had a wonderful time preparing some new pieces. So, even though you have to wait to see them....I will share some sneak peeks here:

Have a lovely weekend!

Oh Deer!

2010-11-17T15:50:00.000-08:00

I'm just going to put this out there...I can't knit - like at all (which is very frustrating). I had been looking for the perfect hat for a long time. I knew it would have ears, but couldn't be lame (there are a lot of cheesy animal hats out there)!

Tiny Owls definitely took Etsy by storm. I found her hat pattern (she was still a new seller), posted it on facebook, worked out a plan to barter logo and banner design for a friend to knit it, went back to buy the pattern (not long after finding it) and it had sold. I ended up swiping one up the next day when she relisted.

When I checked today the Tiny Owls shop was up to 130 sales! Amazing. I keep going back (knowing that I cannot have what I will find) and there are more and more adorable patterns...even packs of patterns. So - if you are more talented than I, you better get over there and check it out.

Also...BIG thank you to Janelle for my beautiful deer hat! It turned out perfectly. Sneak over to her shop Lemuria Handmade Crafts and check out our little logo design for hat swappery. Her shop is empty at the moment but the new banner is up and I am sure it will be full of lovely items in time.

Adventures in a Pumpkin Suit!

2010-11-02T17:01:00.000-07:00

Oh goodness....I had a weekend of party photo taking madness!!! Such lovely times. ♥

The first set of photos was from our Hellaween Party on Friday at Areli and Justin's. The second set was from a party for Chris Dreyer's work...Boom Creative, which had a most magical movie wall - you will see...

Oh, and here is Jacinda and my Helloween Prom photo!!! (her mom took it before we headed out) She's a cheesy broccoli, and I - a genetically engineered seedless pumpkin. Homemade costumes are the best!

Click the photos to view them larger.

We didn't get home until 5am that morning. Saturday (afternoon) was spent ordering pizza, watching movies, taking baths and then wrapping Emily in plastic wrap outside the grocery store (for her Dexter Victim costume), before we headed to Boom....

We also sparkle attacked pretty much everyone we came in contact with!What is Halloween with out a little glitter? ♥

Harvest

2010-10-25T16:37:00.000-07:00

We are almost done harvesting things from our yard for the year. Jacinda is home cooking/canning tomato sauce and freezing peppers as I write this. We have chopped everything down and our yard seems so barren (I guess the weather isn't helping). Our overflowing compost bin has almost sunken to a manageable size, and I am drying more tobacco seeds than a girl could want! In the Spring we will be sunflower seed roasting, and hosting bird house making parties (with the gourds)...until then, where to put everything?

I have been extremely busy working on commission art pieces and running all over town getting the final pieces for our homemade costumes. I can't wait, tonight I will be dying, sewing, and stuffing all in the name of Hellaween (as our party has been dubbed). On Wednesday we are having a cake making party to get ready for Friday!!! I promise photos...and maybe even a few shots of our costume progress!

Have a most lovely evening! ♥

New Painting

2010-10-07T12:49:00.000-07:00

I was holding out on posting this until after Terrain...so, I guess it's time. This is my latest piece titled: Slow Dance (a constant search). It is sort of a new direction I am trying, and my first night piece. I think I'm sold!

You can click on the image to view it larger! Hope you love it. ♥

artfully wonderous weekend

2010-10-06T21:17:00.000-07:00

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:

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.

Tonight is the night! The 3rd Annual Terrain.

2010-10-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

Last year in seven hours, 3100 people experienced Terrain 2009....and this year it is bigger!

Tonight only!
64 artists! 179 pieces of art! Killer bands!

Spokane = Giant party!

We had a lovely artist reception last night, getting a preview of the AMAZINGNESS that is Terrain 2010. Big big big thank you to the organizers...so much unpaid time, sweat, and passion!

I have this soaring excitement that is on the verge of exhausting. Not only is Terrain tonight, but it is the Visual Arts tour for Spokane (41 total venues on the list [today and tomorrow]).

I will post pictures! ♥

stumps

2010-09-25T23:11:00.000-07:00

an autumn fog

2010-09-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of Fall! I love sweater weather...but it came so quickly.

It was a bit chilly this morning, but that didn't stop me from sneaking out half dressed to take photos before breakfast.

I wish you a most splendid Autumn. ♥

coffee and a paper

2010-09-21T16:12:00.000-07:00

My life has been really crazy lately...I think this has been so for a lot of people. Although, the crazy hasn't been able to stop all the little wonderful things from slipping out through the cracks!

First - The Inlander came out on Thursday with 6 of my full page illustrations in it. I had so much fun drawing magical forest creatures (as they have coined them).

Next - I am super excited for the new coffee and pastries that will be served at Neato in their new morning coffee shop "Morning After". Not only do I plan on riding my bike to work this winter, I also plan on warming up as a "regular" (sorry about all the quotes here) drinking tasty espresso with handmade sauces. I am going to be tempted by pastries and treats...so it may end up neutralizing my morning exercise if I am not careful!

...I even got to paint some steamy little coffee cups for them! ♥

The last of my poppies.

2010-09-13T15:18:00.000-07:00

This year we grew these papery wonders from seeds...they did very well. So so so many poppies! Aren't they lovely? ♥

One World

2010-09-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

Yay, I finally got to see the One World Spokane T-shirts printed. I love bartering for work! Blue Button did an amazing job on them: chocolate brown organic cotton tees with white ink.

[sorry I didn't have my camera on me to snap a real photo]

For those that don't know....
One World Spokane is a non profit Organic Community Kitchen serving local food, where you choose your portions, and can even volunteer in exchange for a meal. (also 12 blocks from our new house...heh!)

Dessert

2010-09-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

I am more of a dessert lover than I should be. It was very hard for me to narrow down which type I was going to draw for the Illustration Friday theme this week. Turns out it was simple....the "Rainbow Cake" always ends up standing out - it's aloofness - it's elegance! I WILL make this cake, one (most perfect) day. But for now.....

(click image to view larger)

Also, here is a cute little repeating fork pattern that you can play with (for personal use)...just click it to enlarge.

Happy drawing everybody. I can't wait to ooogle some dessert illustrations this week!

pleasant surprise

2010-08-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

This morning I got a pleasant surprise in my reading list! Big thanks to Flyer Design Goodness for the lovely words and sharing my posters under 'reader of the week'. They cover some pretty amazing artists...I have found much inspiration there. ♥

p.s. See you tomorrow at Lilac Fair (previous post), and have a lovely weekend!

Star Gazing

2010-08-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

This is going to be such a positive event with an amazing line up of some of the most talented lady performers in Spokane...

[click on the image to enlarge]

I got the Illustration Friday topic on the day I started working on my Lilac Fair poster. For the artwork, we had already established that there was to be a girl on it, very feminine. One thing I love about doing posters is that people pretty much let me do what I want - especially Chrisy from the Empyrean. The theme "star gazing" seemed most appropriate...and I do LOVE combining projects. Hence my new most favorite poster was born!

I have a crazy to do list at this point, but it isn't stopping me from having an art/craft table at Lilac Fest. So make sure to stop by! $5 at the door benefiting the Venessa Behan Crisis Nursery.

Make sure and check out the line up.....Pasties and Paddles and Kim Wescott....eeeee! ♥

Can't wait to see you!

p.s. go peer at all the other beautiful illustrations this week over at Illustration Friday. It's so fun to see how different people interpret the same theme.

Undying love.

2010-08-13T13:14:00.000-07:00

I've decided it's time to profess my undying love and affection to Patty and Tim, owners of Neato Burrito and The Baby Bar. Not only do they run a Mom and Pop Shop smack dab in the middle of downtown, but they support local artists and musicians all while raising a house full of the coolest kids out there! AND Patty surprised me a personalized "gift card board", AND they let me paint a giant mural on their wall! ♥ ♥ ♥

So for no other reason that to support some hard working Spokanites...bike over to Neato Burrito - then try the brisket with peanut sauce, corn salsa and cabbage ....I know this sounds weird but it is seriously amazing! (p.s. they also have tofu) ♥Have a most lovely Friday!

Train Love

2010-08-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

I have such a crush on the Train. ♥ ♥ ♥Recently I took the train three hours to my hometown; my first Amtrak ride as an adult. We started out several hours late and then on the way out of town had to reverse all the way back to the station. Someone had forgotten to get off....I was simply ecstatic! My 2am trip through the darkness became a glorious ride through the countryside at sunrise.

The last couple weeks have gone by sooo fast! - train rides, babysitting turkeys, camping, parties...not to mention I have a very exciting illustration project I am working on. Although, I am not sure if I am supposed to mention it yet or not. Eeeee! So - looks like you will have to sit tight and imagine wonders to come! And I wish you many wonders. ♥

following

2010-07-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

New shades. New Camera. Error on my SD card (always gives me a pretty surprise).

I thought I would do a follow up post since Jacinda and I took my advice and biked ourselves up to the perry street fair. It was a beautiful day which make for an amazing adventure!We couldn't agree on the route so we left it up to Google Maps bike application. This took us a completely new way leading us straight up the South Hill on a trail we didn't even know existed! Although the directions were slightly confusing....(maybe because I was reading while bicycling), we ended up 3 blocks from Perry!The park was packed so we walked around and ran into a few friends with booths. We found P2P, adjusted my bike seat and dropped off a present (house numbers I painted) for some bike friends. We met Jacinda's Mom who ended up chauffeuring us around to yard sales...of which we filled her entire trunk and back seat. We even had to drive back up in our pickup later that evening to claim a big brass headboard I scored for our yard (the Jasmine has simply outgrown its bamboo stakes)!

It's nice when the weekend feels more like a vacation!

Lastly on the weekend agenda:
We released some lovely ladies into our yard (2nd time this year). I remembered my camera this time! Aren't they cute (and crawly little buggers)....And the next morning!!!
♥

Bicycle ♥

2010-07-16T13:44:00.000-07:00

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!

Iron Mike

2010-07-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

Such pretty things have been blooming....and I have been taking photos! It's been a nice week:Ok, now for show and tell:
If you have never heard of The Bright Side Project you should check them out. I do, constantly. Each day they feature a brand or product they think will add a little sunshine in your life, and then they do a giveaway. The only thing they ask from you is to share a little something about yourself...and I love answering the questions!

Today's question was:What is your favorite memory of (one or both of) your grandparents?

For me it wasn't really this question that was memorable, but that it brought up my own question I didn't know I had.

My Grandpa was a railroad guy, and before that he was in the Coast Guard (even lived in a light house). At a certain point in my childhood he started calling me Iron Mike. The first time was on vacation to Canada after running back and fourth on a suspension bridge and begging my Mother to let me do a cartwheel on it. She didn't. (I was definitely in trouble when I found out that if I jumped up and down in the middle it would send ripples in either direction) As a child I found this new name, Iron Mike, strange and random....never realizing where he got it. And today it came up in my answer over at The Bright Side Project...so I searched it!

Iron Mike is the de facto name of various monuments commemorating servicemen of the United States military. The term "Iron Mike" is uniquely American slang used to refer to men who are especially tough, brave, and inspiring.

This makes me happy. I love that I just accepted the name no questions asked. Oh, and here is my answer to the question (if you were wondering).

My favorite memory of my Grandparents:
I was staying with them for a bit one summer when I was a kid at their home in OR. My Grandpa took me fishing. We kept catching “Water-dogs” for hours…not a single fish. It was then we realized we were catching the same one over and over and over …he just kept eating worm after worm.

This is about the time my Grandpa started calling me “Iron Mike” because I was always surprising him with my awesomeness…like how professionally I removed a lizard from the hook and tossed it back in the water without flinching an eye.

Yep...that's him!
(I took this photo is March, but that's another story)

♥ ♥ ♥

Have a lovely Holiday Weekend! Maybe I will bump into a few of you local Spokanites on the Art Walk this evening!!!

satellite

2010-06-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

Illustration Friday, satellite.Every so often, I like to go to the window, look up, and smile for a satellite picture.
- Stephen Wright

I have been wanting so badly for things to slow down enough to do little art projects for fun again. I decided to make it happen, last night, late.

I rounded up some materials: 1 sharpie, 2 colored pencils, white and back paper, sting, tape, and 1 exacto knife (with a broken tip). For me this weeks topic turned into a challenge to make something happy out of whatever I could find - without waking up Jacinda. I decided satellites reminded me of being a child, should be hanging, and I went with a mobile.
♥ ♥ ♥ Have a wonder filled day!

Landing

2010-06-18T16:15:00.001-07:00

So, which link do I leave?

When posting a comment, sending an email, designing business cards, I constantly wonder what is too much, to little, peoples preference? In this day and age when most people have at least a handful of links, what is the best way to promote yourself without overdoing it?

A landing page! Flavors.Me is a great free site to help you create just that! Here is some inspiration!

Check out my new [one and only] link! I am actually considering purchasing a domain name and recreating my own version of my landing page. But, until then....you can't beat one link, and you can't beat free!

Get busy, bees!

p.s. Thanks Caylan (for the idea/help)!!!

Summer

2010-06-10T00:24:00.001-07:00

The first time I met Summer was at a kegger last year. My partner was wearing a tee-shirt she proudly snatched up from Value Village. It read:

Your name must be Summer
cause you're HOT!

All parties found this quite humorous.

Summer is a Rollergirl, an amazingly talented crafter, and now the owner of the Veda Lux Boutique on Perry. Her soft opening was Tuesday, and everything looks amazing! You can find cute vintage clothing and lovelies, along with Summer's Sumarian Jewelry line and her handmade hair accessories.

You should stop in and visit - 1106. South Perry Street (next to Lorien with the giant windmill).The Veda Lux Grand Opening will be during the 11th annual Perry Street Fair July 11th at which I will have some goodies for sale. This district just keeps getting better, and she simple couldn't have picked a more perfect spot!

Nominate

2010-06-07T10:18:00.000-07:00

Spokane's 2010 Arts Awards nomination form is out! In no way am I asking you to vote for me... just simply vote for someone. There are 6 categories to choose from.

We have some very strong forces in our little underground art ring; not to mention the amount of press in the last few months! Some tiny reminders:

Visual Art Events:

Month
Terrain
YoSpo Arts Extravaganza
The Transcendence Project
New Originals (Spokane Boxing)

Organizations:

Youth Sustainability Council
Shrinking Violets Society
RiverSpeak Arts Collective

Leaders and Organizers:

Naaman Cordova-Muenzberg
Jillian Foster (we miss you already!)
Brooke Matson
Patrick Kendrick
Sasha Turner
the (at least) 15 other people I accidentally left off!

...and this is just my visual art list!

We are growing, sharing, educating, and contributing in an enormous way to the local art goodness. It just takes a bit of time to nudge our little subsurface gang towards the light.

last years winners

this years form

xoxo

Random busy bees and lovelys...

2010-06-03T16:51:00.000-07:00

Good Lord, I may have fell of the face of the earth for a bit, but I'm back now. I bring photographs as my peace offering!
My first ever art giveaway was an amazing success! It was like a big scavenger hunt that with 51 Photos of people with my artwork (in one week!!!). The very lovely Tanya is now the proud owner of a new painting. This picture is beyond perfect and totally made my day.

Here are a couple....
Next we have: Booze Day!Not only did I get to do the artwork (poster and tee-shirt), which included a map for the paper, but I also got to "run". Except there was absolutely no running involved. We met up with some friends who surprised us with pink mustaches....team PINK MUSTACHE!

A record of 250 people attended last year with almost double, 480 runners, this year!

After that came the interview. The Inlander, more specifically Leah Stottle, wrote a wonderful story about my work (which made me blush...a lot). It came out the day before my art show opened.

There were all of these strange encounters with people who had read the piece. My favorite was a lady standing behind me Neato Burrito reading the paper while she waited. She nearly lost it when she figured out she was standing next to me, reading about me. I didn't tell her that the mural on the wall was mine too.My art show "INK: I ran into my canvas at the grocery store" opened for the May art-walk. This was my first real gallery show and it was so amazingly packed. James Owner/Curator at Second Space had created this big themed show to coincide with the tattoo convention the following weekend. I got to be the feature artist and he rounded up some of the best local tattoo artists to show their 2D works alongside.

The tattoo convention was the next weekend and I ended up designing three bee tattoos.

My dear friend Jillian was packing to move off to Portland. Her and her art partner/bunny in crime (another wonderful friend) asked me to make them (Naaman and Jillian) bees to get tattooed the day after her going away party. They ended up getting them done at the convention by an artist that was also showing with me at Second Space.

Amelia, probably my biggest fan (which is so weird to say - she's lovely) ended up with a little gang of fat happy bees done by a Portland tattoo artist - Splat Ter.She happened to walking by the gallery while I was outside photographing the painting she had bought. So I got to see the tattoo in person - which turned out so perfect! I am extremely honored.

Sometimes Spokane feels like a small town.

I need to sleep now, but I have so much more exciting and upcoming news....so stay tuned, and I will try not to slip off again. Art is thriving!

Remember:
...Art-Walk tomorrow, Artfest and Elk Music Fest this weekend! xoxo

country cat fur

2010-04-24T09:50:00.001-07:00

Happy Spring!

For Conor

2010-04-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

'For Conor' was more siren song than a poem.

Today is Friday!!! I am so thankful for all the diverse talents my friends and peers offer.
(so I share this with you)

Poetry I love, but don't know much about. I am picky and under read...more a window shopper when it comes to the stuff. A month or so ago I was attending a Haiti benefit at the Empyrean where Mark Anderson (local slam poet) jumped on stage. He gave me goose-bumps. Reading the poem now I hear it in his voice, at his tempo. Maybe it was the passion he gave, or the fact that the entire thing was memorized and spit out like a dance, but it bloomed around us and engulfed us. So image this as you read:

This is a poem for Conor
Conor who I have never met,
Conor who I may never know:

For two whole hours I listened to his girlfriend’s mother
as she talked behind me in a strip mall coffee shop
about the boy whose soul she was trying to save.
It was 11 o’clock on a Sunday morning
and this is how I had always wanted to learn about holiness.

She says “Conor has a good heart
but he was never taught to use it.”
And I think to myself,
what funny things we overhear
when we are always listening.
From what I gather the problem is this:
her daughter is a meek white lamb
from the land of picket fences
and Conor is what is born out of adrenaline,
reformed and settled at the bottom of his stomach,
but still not converted.
And as for myself,
I have been caught sinning so few times in public
that there are fools who have mistaken me for holy.
But at that very moment,
I had been through something
very recently, which was
very similar, and which ended
very badly for me.
So I feel for him,
and I press my ear so far into that lady’s throat
that I can hear her breathing above the espresso machine.

Because Conor and I
are the same shape
of wide eyed wishing wells
who want love
more than any other form of redemption
but at that moment
love was falling through for the both of us.
So I swallowed my coffee slowly,
and I listened as hard as I could.

Because that morning
the only thing that could save me
was to feel just a little less lonely,
which is exactly what his story did for me.
I should mention
if I hadn’t been listening then
I might not still be standing here
to speak to you.
So I wonder what makes an angel.
Does it have anything to do with wings?
Before they have their wings
do they come with names like Conor?
Do they suffer like the rest of us?

And this is not a poem.
This is just a thank you note
to Conor who I have never met,
Conor who I may never know.

----
Since then, I have asked Mark to work on a collaboration project for 2K11's Get Lit Festival...it should be fantastic.

Mark, you are amazing!
I hope your slam went well last night! I didn't make it again...but one of these times it is going to work out. ♥

Supporting my Supporters = Spokane Art Giveaway!!! YAY ♥

2010-04-08T16:28:00.001-07:00

There are a few people/places in Spokane that I really feel loyal to. They let me make things for them and give my works a safe place to reside for all to see. At one time or another each one of these unquestioning souls put everything in my hands and let me do whatever I wanted. That kind of trust really builds confidence. This is a thank you (so go visit them).

The piece I am giving away is titled "Ellipsis". It is made with acrylic paint and pigment pen on canvas board in a (painted) vintage frame. It was in the 2009 Terrain.

To enter the contest you must take a photo (of your beautiful face) with one of my mural/door paintings and post it to my Tiffany Patterson's Art ♥ ♥ ♥ facebook page. You have one week. (Ends Friday 4/16/2010 midnight) The photos can be from one or all of the following locations:

Neato Burrito (/Baby Bar)
827 W. 1st

Empyrean Coffee House
171 S. Washington St.

Pedals2People
1802 E. Sprague

Wild-card:
Peaceful Valley Community Park
(pillar under the bridge)

PLEASE NOTE:
-If you have a photo like this taken previously, yes, it still counts as long as you are in it and post it to my page
-Each photo only counts for one person's entry
-One entry per location (max of 4 entries)
-Please, no photo-shopping yourselves into the pictures if you wish them to count :)
-The winner will be drawn randomly and then we will set up a time/place to do the hand off
-Sorry, I will not be shipping the painting so you must be able to pick it up in Spokane

Good luck, can't wait to see your photos!
♥ Tiffany

April Showers

2010-03-31T12:52:00.000-07:00

I've got 3 giant paintings on plywood and a stop motion film to finish...which all need to be installed by 5:00pm this Friday (for the April Art Walk)! Eeeeek.This month for the Transcendence project (read all about the amazing amazingness here) I am partnering with Goodwill Industries Mentoring Children of Promise, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Spokane. Together we are creating (an art project titled) 'A Brighter Future'. We have had two fun Saturdays of painting and now it's getting down to the line.

The photos were taken the last two Saturdays at the Porch. The Mentors and Mentees or Bigs and Littles (as they say) all worked together to create the backgrounds for the paintings. I am now painting on top. The layering of paint represents positive interactions and shows that each layer is important and essential to the final piece...no matter how small. That is where the stop motion film comes in. This project is really about process. It looks at not only how mentors can have a positive effect on children, but that the relationship goes both ways. I really learned a lot from them.

Our giant display will be one of 4 Transcendence projects on the same block...1st Ave between Madison and Monroe. Come see it in the Rock City Music Bldg (where Terrain was 09) and take a peek at what beautiful collaboration looks like.

Happy Art Walking! ♥

24 hour stop motion love!

2010-03-26T23:46:00.000-07:00

As promised.... ♥ Enjoy!

MONTH: 24 hours with Tiffany Patterson on Vimeo.

Description: In March 2K10 a group of local Spokanite creatives took over the Kolva-Sullivan Gallery (115 S. Adams, Spokane, WA) with continuous 24 hour residencies. It was an art installation/social experiment and a giant party we called 'MONTH'.

This is my day. March 18th 5PM to March 19th 5PM.

Booze Day 2K10

2010-03-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

(Click to view larger)

This is my newest poster project...Booze Day.

Every year Spokane has our beloved Bloomsday run. 'Bloomsday is one of the largest and most prestigious road races in the world, with over 50,000 entrants last year.' But Spokane also has its very own Booze Day Marathon Pub Run that happens the night before the big race. Hope you like her t-shirt because by entering Booze Day you get your very own. I am still working on illustrating the map for the Inlander. It is going to be amazing!

♥ ♥ ♥

Gold glitter...

2010-03-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged for a while and all my lovelies are backing up!

First, here is a sneak peek at my MONTH stay. It was absolutely amazing and exhausting...there will officially be gold glitter in the gallery for years to come. I will be editing and posting my stop motion film later this week (I took pictures during the entire stay). Most of the 24 hours were spent on top of a very tall tall ladder. Jacinda was such a huge help (building trees from posters and sewing patterns) and lots of friends stopped by and pitched in.Driving home the other day I begged Jacinda to stop at a nature park we go by every day. I have been dreaming of the photos I would take. It started pouring and the light was marvelous. This is my favorite shot I snapped when the rain let up. Flikr is calling to me...."Tiffany, pay the stupid fee - you NEED me!"

I left the walk with a deer scull, jaw bone, and vertebrae. Also that evening I pulled a tick out of my hair, and then screamed and threw it into my laptop. I had to scoop it up before it found refuge in my keypad. Thank god it didn't get me...I very much thought it was still to cold for them!

I didn't make it back to the MONTH gallery show during Taylor's stay (she was right after me), but did for Jillian's. It was the first day of spring, there were yellow stickers applied to my face, and I got to use a button maker for the first time!

I feel as if my photos are no longer doing the space justice. They are not even coming close to the magic you feel in this art jungle!The next time I pop into the gallery will be tomorrow for "A Romantic Evening with Boys Who Like Butterflies" Naaman (above) and John. We will be discussing the nature of gender, performance, and contemporary art.

Things are getting crazy here with all the art happenings coming up! I hope you are enjoying your spring. ♥ ♥ ♥

Happy Happy

2010-03-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to be really good about not buying things for myself constantly (remodeling the new house and all)...but, one of my very favorite artists Caitlin Shearer (from Australia) has a sale going at her etsy shop that is almost ridiculous! Her prints are half off...and Happy Birthday to me, one is coming my way!

A blog I love called Dandelion Daydreamer did a wonderful interview today with Caitlin (where you can win prints). Caitlin also has a lovely blog I follow here. Check them out, treat yourself to some art! ♥

Oh...p.s. I started a Facebook fan page yesterday. You can join it here. I was a little worried but now just feel extremely loved. Over 130 people joined and it just went up yesterday. It feels so wonderful to have a community that supports you.

I ♥ Spokane

Day 10....boy she's pretty!

2010-03-15T22:37:00.000-07:00

Karla Dagovitz blew me away today! Such a pretty lady dripping down down I found, as I entered the gallery this afternoon. There had been a change in the schedule and Karla got the 14th through the 15th (when one of the artist had to cancel). Megan Martins had the 13th creating a family tree with a forest of red stings hanging down. I love that Karla took those lines and repeated them with her lovely 'Sierra' lady dripping into a dead crow on the ground.

I've been running into Gallery owner Jim Kolva almost every time I stop in. I think we might be on the same schedule. He is delighted with how the show is going! I even got a shot of him snapping some photos of Karla and her works.I helped Dara Harvey bring some stuff in (including her fence). She even brought down her sewing machine...can't wait to see it tomorrow. We are holding our monthly RiverSpeak meeting in the space. How fun is that?!?

xoxo

The artist is smoking hot!! (Month)

2010-03-13T21:45:00.000-08:00

Another day at MONTH.
I am seeing a trend....little notes to the outside world seem to be stacking up inside the Kolva!

Mariah was successful, the gallery now has new pets besides that creepy dog (that may or may not be real)...little red wigglers. The art is finally starting to overlap and grow up towards the enormous empty space above. I slipped over after work and got to see day 7 end and LadyFest begin. Sadly I missed out on the dance party that evening! :(It is almost to the point that I cannot stand being in the space...way to excited for Thursday! I am starting to gather my supplies and I put out my Facebook event! I'm calling it Tiffany Patterson's 24 hour MONTH stay and post Birthday madness! Of course encouraging everyone to come make art with me, drink wine, and the most important....bring GOLD GLITTER! Oh such plans I have. I might add that it will take a full pickup truck load to get my "plans" down there!
My Birthday is on St. Patties day along with my anniversary (holy crap how 5 years flies by)! So, this being said, my posts of MONTH will be less frequent up until Thursday...many things to take care of in the mean time.

Loves and clovers! ♥ ♥ ♥

A week into Month

2010-03-11T23:45:00.001-08:00

I showed up today right at the end of the Habein's Stay....

Grace didn't want to leave!

Then Patrick and Mariah showed up.

Mariah was getting settled in as I left...but I still got her to pose for some photos in her Shrinking Violet Tee-shirt. I had been needing a photo to include in my portfolio (as I am trying to keep better documentation of my work). A fellow (wonderfully artistic) Violet: Gaia Brown, handled the layout for the shirts that we sold at our Birthday Bash last month.
Mariah has promised worm bins tomorrow....so I will sneak over after work to grab a photo. I have to say that there is so much wonderful creative energy in the gallery and if you are able you've got to stop in!

xoxo

Blush

2010-03-11T14:12:00.000-08:00

♥ Thank you Kelly (of Unconventional Ida) for your lovely post about my work!I know you have all seen her artwork on Etsy, but did you know she is just a hop and a skip away. Kelly lives over in Missoula MT. One day I intend to get over there and see her work in person...if it doesn't end up on my wall first!

Sometimes you think you should write a stranger on the internet to tell them they are lovely, but....? I say yes! Talk to strangers.

♥

And on the fifth day...

2010-03-09T22:24:00.000-08:00

Tonight was Conrad Bagley at the Kolva Sullivan Gallery. We were treated to a dinner party with homemade East Indian food. My particular favorite was the Lamb Curry. I brought Conrad a coconut which Killer Jillian Foster (of Black Rabbit Magic) took care of. A chop stick, wine opener and then later the cement floor proved handy.I snuck out early but not before seeing the start of Conrad's tapestry. There was wonderful food and company! This show is reminding me how great it is to live in this lovely city. The Habein family tomorrow (not said how you would think) with their daughter Grace...a budding young artist. This followed by a good friend and creator of the very popular Spovangelist blog, Mariah McKay. We've been promised worm bins!

Stay tuned! xoxo

end of day three

2010-03-08T22:28:00.001-08:00

Have a lovely day.

Month...day one.

2010-03-07T20:45:00.000-08:00

Imagine a space, a gallery with white walls and big windows. There is a bed in the middle with a brightly colored afghan and a handful of pillows. Now add the image of an artist let loose and free to do as they please for 24 hours. Take that image and times it by 24. That is 'Month'. Except some days there are 3 artists, and some days there are dance parties, and this Tuesday a dinner party. Month is a community instillation happening right now as you read this.

The rules are simple....no art leaves the gallery until after the closing party (when we all get to take something home). Everyone must respect the space, and all other artists work.

These photos are what I am calling the 'calm before the storm' (at the end of day one). Those of you that read my blog will recognize Chris Dreyer of Dreyer Press...I can't even wait till the 18th. I will be setting up my camera and making a little stop motion film of my stay! Here are a list of artist featured this month at the Kolva Sullivan Gallery...(5pm to 5pm the following day)

The Line-up:

March 5-6: Chris Dreyer
March 6-7: BrightSpirit
March 7-8: Thuy Nguyen
March 8-9: Bruce Hormann
March 9-10: Conrad Bagley
March 10-11: The Habein Family
March 11-12: Mariah McKay
March 12-13: LadyFest w/ Carolynn Connelly, Candice Walberg & Stephanie Sellers
March 13-14: Megan Martens
March 14-15: Matthew Waite
March 15-16: Dara Harvey
March 16-17: Shane
March 17-18: Marcia Dukes
March 18-19: Tiffany Patterson
March 19-20: Taylor Weech
March 20-21: Jillian Foster
March 21-22: Jamie Nadherny
March 22-23: Lisa Whiteman
March 23-24: Gina Rawls & Arelya Hader
March 24-25: Boys Who Like Butterflies
March 25-26: Angela Mageras & Hilary
March 26-27: The Koalas

I will be popping in randomly through the month and sharing photos of our progression here on my blog. Hope you check back!

♥

Empyrean

2010-03-04T14:09:00.001-08:00

An owl in a teacup...how perfect is that!

This is a sneak peek at a design I put together for the Empyrean Coffee House. I made a bunch of (slightly different hand drawn) Empyreans, and can't wait to see which one they pick for the building...something about carved out of giant blocks, not sure. I am waiting to be surprised!

♥ love.

elude

2010-03-03T12:08:00.001-08:00

(Good ol Mariko)

My little art blog is turning into a little photo blog - c'est la vie.

I have wonderful wonderful projects afloat, so many in fact that I have eluded my blog. Great and exciting things to come though: Empyrean design goodies, Booze Day wonders, and an Art Gallery 24 hour residency group show thingy (in a couple weeks)...just hints for now.

Quick overview of our Shrinking Violet Society Birthday Bash we threw last Saturday....300+ people, 6 cases of donated champagne (not to mention beer, sparkling-cider, and bottled rootbeer) along with Santé cupcakes, and over $1,800 for our non-profit (you know, minus the expenses)! Can we say successful first public event? Here are a few favorite photos...Three lucky people even won some little original paintings of mine!Have a lovely day...♥ xoxo

Grey then Bees

2010-02-18T13:09:00.000-08:00

First: Grey

It is like torture having beautiful fog every morning on my way to work. I am never on time and stopping to take photographs is usually out of the question! But, today is a lovely day. Jacinda and I got up at the crack of dawn, had a wonderful breakfast...together (not in the car), and even stopped for some pictures on our way into town. Do you see the sleepiness in her eyes! (She wasn't ready for that one)

ok...now BEES!

This morning I got a new email from the Art House Co-op about a new project, The Pattern Project. I am not sure if I will do it but there was a link to a great little tutorial on how to make patterns in Photoshop. I have read them before but they never seemed this simple.

So here I share with you my first Tiffany Pattern...Feel free to use my little repeating bees on what you want...(for personal use only)! Have a BEE-utiful day!

Ok, that last line might have been unnecessary. ♥