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After the Storm

The Grand Decision, acrylic/spray paint on canvas 36" x 48" (Sold)

It's been awhile since I've updated here, mainly because I've been busy and partly because my head hasn't quite landed from all the craziness it takes to put on a show. Now that it is up I'm a bit out of sorts, I got used to the high pressure cooker and now I've been taken out of it and it's.... Strange.
Work doesn't stop though and its back to catching up with people's requests and making sure I have stuff for upcoming exhibitions. (Yes, more exhibitions!)
I wanted to impart my advice to any young artists who want to exhibit a body of work somewhere... And you should! My advice is to MAKE the work THEN book the show because as much time as you think you have for it... you don't. And somewhere in there a kind of desperate mania can set in. It will thwart your ideas, whisper you're not good enough and make you question why you are doing this to yourself.
I always put myself in financial ruin when I take on a show. I have to decline mural work and commissions in order to get stuff done. Don't do this. Don't be like me. I'm a sadistic twisted artist apparently.
Get the work done first, then book your show.
I will probably never follow this advice but you should.
In Our Shangri La , acrylic/spray paint on canvas 36" x 48"
(Available through Kirk Hopper Fine Art)

I created a lot of magical pieces for the show. I experimented with new techniques, challenged myself, dug deep into new color experiments and themes and am generally pleased with the new pieces. This is one of my favorites, I'm kind of hoping I get to keep it forever.
A lot of the themes deal with where you want to be as opposed to where you are or being where you are and being content. These mice are content in their Shangri La but they are definitely up to something and it's kind of small there. I wonder how long they will stay?
I'll be updating here with the new work and a little about the process I went through. I'm a different artist now, this show changed me in a lot of ways. I learned a lot. A LOT!
Tectonic Shift, acrylic/spray paint on canvas 20" x 20"
(Available thru Kirk Hopper Fine Art)

One thing I learned is how much I enjoy working on smaller pieces. I really found it necessary to bounce between the large pieces back down to small format work. 
Another thing I found interesting was how totally isolated from the world you can feel when you're on your ship following your route and doing nothing but painting day in and day out.
At some point I snapped and required social outings and conversation and... People!!!! Yes I just said that, hermit girl who is happily in bed by 10pm just said that.
What a strange trip ....and I've made this my life so I better get used to it.
Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive through it all, you know who you are! 
Kisses!!!




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