Work in Progress...

DAC requests documentation of the artistic process of two pieces created for the exhibition. Above is the documentation for one of my newest pieces, although I have not completed it yet. I am close and hope to finish it tomorrow afternoon. I am now in phase three of the work that I will hang in 6+ weeks, meaning that "my story" is nearly complete. This weekend, I will write an artist statement, update an artist biography, and continue to make art. Postcards for the show have been ordered and will be mailed out next week. SO exciting!

Happy Birthday Aidan and Leah

The two were born just short of 18 years apart and share a bond that knits them together forever. Leah and Aidan are incapable of seeing anyone else but each other in a crowded room, gazing at each other with identical eyes. Each year of Aidan's life, I have the privilege of celebrating their birthdays with Leah, Aidan, his adoptive parents and younger brother. The celebration reminds me of God's redemption and perfect plan for all of us.

Leah gave birth to Aidan 5 years ago tomorrow! I was with her every step of the way, weeping with her over her decision to let another family raise her son, but rejoicing in knowing that Kevin and Jana were designed by God to raise this precious baby boy.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16

Work and more Work!

Summer is definitely over! First week of school (all three days of it) went well. A few schedule glitches, but at the end of week one, most things are on track. We will graduate our first senior class this year which is quite exciting.

I was able to sneak into the studio for several hours this weekend and completed another piece for the DAC show in November. Yikes, the show hangs in a mere 8 weeks! Lots more to do to meet the deadline.

Late Summer in My Garden

The heat is unbearable these days. As I peer out from the windowsto my garden from the air-conditioned living areas of my home, I realize that the garden reflects me in the late summer! The garden and I are both hot, thirsty, tired, and disorganized. We all both longing for a cool drink of water and a long nap as the new school year begins. However, in the midst of this angst is beauty that doesn't surface until now. Black-eyed susans, night blooming daturas, and a zipper spider compete for my attention tonight at sunset.

New work!

I am on my way to producing the work for my show at the Durham Arts Council Exhibition in November. Way more to go...but I am excited!

South Florida Wetlands

A great week in south Florida with my father! We visited two wetlands parks and the birds were spectacular. I hope that I can use some of these images in my new body of work.

DAC show in November!

I applied for a solo show at the Durham Arts Council for the 2009-10 school year in December. My spring was all-consuming and I put the application out of my mind until early June when I was notified that my work had been accepted for exhibition November 6-January 10, 2010. How exciting! How frightening! Most of the new work needs to be made this summer, before school starts again. I have lots of ideas and I hope that I will be able to convey my ideas on paper. Please comment with your address so that I make sure that you receive a postcard to the opening reception.

Summer Reading

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rasnay

a GREAT summer read!

It has been several years since I have experienced the extreme exhaustion associated with suffering through difficult circumstances. I fell into the month of June barely able to put one foot in front of the other and stumbling through my days. But alas, summer appeared, providing the opportunity to rest a bit. I am trying to be very intentional about the following things:

1. exercise

2. sleeping

3. eating healthy

4. making art

5. reading mindless fiction (aka beach reading)

6. solitude

7. praying

8. capturing precious moments with my daughters

9. spending time with authentic friends

10. taking inexpensive, quick trips out of town

It's a long list and reads much like "New Year's Resolutions." But maybe this summer is a "new year" for me! I hope so.

A Rich Week!

Here we are photographed as a class during the final crit of the week. I learned as much from my instructor as I did from classmates. It was hard to hug everyone good-bye on Saturday morning as we all departed for our returns to reality.

Experimental Drawing...Final Day

Truth be told, I worked non-stop on my portrait of Ginger to the point of overworking it by our final crit today. I think that I captured her gorgeous eyes, but didn't come close to portraying her nose and mouth. All in all, I was able to convey my love of her in this portrait.