new blog

i have decided to switch my blog over to tumblr:

darrahdeangooden.tumblr.com

please join me there instead if you'd like!

to austin: progress coffee

hey austin! just wanted to let you know that my work will be showing at progress coffee beginning february the 1st through the 28th. even if you don't stop by there to see my art this month, i urge you to try out progress at some point if you have yet to do so. it's a unique, local spot in east austin with many kind and happy people. i am thankful to be able to display my art on its tall walls.

these mountains are safe

last week, the band that my husband is a part of, shapes stars make, released their first full length album entitled, these mountains are safe. and it is incredible! you can buy it on itunes if you wish. but, personally, i would recommend purchasing your own hard copy. artist and friend, chad roddy, created the whimsical mountain illustration that you see on the outer cover, followed by several more beautiful gems on the inside. it is worth the purchase and available at locations such as best buy and hastings.

to find out more about where to purchase the album click here.

to listen to shapes stars make on myspace click here.

enjoy!

daily candy

i was surprised and honored to see my name mentioned in a daily candy feature this morning (and i couldn't help but chuckle about and ponder the fact that they referred to me as "new mom")! the gallery actually held its opening on october 1, the night of my newborn son, oscar's, birthday. needless to say, i wasn't able to be there, but i do have four pieces that are currently hanging in the gallery through the end of november. if you get a chance, you should stop by artisan style. i have so enjoyed working with the owners and appreciate their vision to share good art with the public and to humbly serve the artists that they work with.

snippets

just a few rough close-ups from pieces i've been preparing for a show in tyler this week. it seems to have turned into the birds and branches show...

fancy dancers

commission, 15"x22" (or so), acrylic on gesso board

another art deco-style piece that i was working on when i posted the one below a couple of weeks ago. it will hang near "beachy". i just never got around to posting it once i was finished.  

beachy

commission. 15"x22" (or so) on gesso board

i spent most of my day finishing up this piece. i wish i could have spent the day lounging on that beach. it looks breezy, peaceful...not too hot. all day while i was painting this piece i wondered if the woman on the far right felt excluded...no one is locking arms with her. or perhaps she was just enjoying the breeze, too. 

*disclaimer: i did not come up with this design on my own. it was an idea already given to me to re-work. another art deco piece to compliment the others. 

blank be gone

commissioned triptych, each canvas measures 24"x36"

i've slacked on the picture taking lately, so i made a point to snap a quick photo of this piece before it gets delivered tomorrow. you might remember a series of paintings i created for a healthcare project last year...this is another piece that will be on display with the others. after hanging all of the pieces, the waiting room still had a remaining blank wall that really needed something on it, so we decided to go with a three piece that will coordinate with this.

hunting art prize 2009

remember him? mister abrams. he's made quite the debut on my blog over the past year. and i am truly thankful and honored to report that i sent him away to houston, texas a few days ago, as he was chosen to be one of the 2009 hunting art prize finalists.

for those of you unfamiliar with this prize:

"the hunting art prize, which is sponsored by the international oil services company hunting, plc, is a prestigious annual competition open to established artists, talented newcomers, and promising amateurs. it's $50,000 award is the most generous annual art prize in the U.S. and has helped to build the reputations, raise the profiles, and support the careers of distinguished artists."

needless to say, i wouldn't mind taking home that prize, but at the same time am truly humbled just to get to be a part. a gala takes place at the beginning of may where all of the art will be displayed and the winner will be revealed. 

in other news, i have been busy creating all sorts of commission pieces: people portraits, ranch houses, burros, dogs, zebras, trees and abstracts. if you are one of the few consistent pop tart readers, i apologize that i have been neglecting the blog lately.  i am going to make an effort to step it up. thanks for stopping by!

i've been stalked

this morning i received an email informing me that i have been stalked. click on the binocular wearing bird above to check out the etsy stalker site. today they featured a collection of chairs and "olive" made the cut. i am honored to be a part. thanks for stalking me, etsy stalker!

hearts and thoughts

just a quick post since i've been such a blog slacker lately. i've been busy the last few weeks working on several projects. i'll try to post some pics soon. i've also been spending some time freelancing at a local flower/design shop this week as they needed help prepping for valentines day. it was a fun treat for me.  good design and beautiful flowers. 

thanks for checking in! 

i will be back soon with some visuals...

modern

Installation of Permanent Collection and Then Some from Modern Art Museum of FW on Vimeo.

i thought the above video was an interesting watch. it's a time lapse video depicting the installation of the permanent collection at the modern art museum of fort worth. this video and info can also be found on modernblog.org.

the music that you hear is by a denton band that i really like called mom. shapes stars make (my husband, michael's band) will actually be playing with mom, as well as a band called this will destroy you at the granada on february 25th. you should come if you're in town! for ticket info go to: granadatheater.com

here, yeller....

commission, 16"x20", pencil on illustration board

i struggled to take a super photo of this piece, so i suppose this will have to do for now. the photo is also cropped down a good bit from the original. 

a blue birch progression

       custom piece, 25"x37"x1.5", acrylic on canvas

this piece will actually hang near "lone red bird" that i posted about a couple of entries below. as i mentioned earlier, the home is decorated with lots of bold accent colors, blue being one of them. the owners really liked the original birch piece and wanted me to create something similar that complimented their home. i've painted a few different birch pieces, but never one with such bold color. it was a fun challenge.

etsy dallas

etsy dallas does a little member spotlight once a week on their blog. this week i was surprised to see that they did one on dgoods, my etsy shop. the group has lots of talented artists and crafters. you should go take a look at their blog or site and peruse when you get a chance.

thank you etsy dallas!

lone red bird

 67"x37"x2.5", acrylic on canvas

this is a much larger rendition of a similar piece that i created a while ago. the home where this will be displayed tends to be decorated in an overall soothing palette that serves to compliment bold accents of color, hence the fire engine red bird on its branch.

new year, new deco

13"x36", acrylic on board

happy new year! i hope you had a nice holiday. i certainly did. after taking off from painting for a good week and a half, i started back up on monday. i began by working on these two pieces. they will actually be featured with the other art deco pieces that i blogged about last september. like the others, i was given little images to work from that i then altered a bit. all that to say, i really cannot take full credit for what you see. these should be the last of the art deco series. 

a good eve to you! it's nice to be back. 

and a...

merry christmas to you! 

day 10 - and i'm done!

commission, 16"x20", pastel on illustration board

this is actually the 10th and last piece of my countdown! yes, i know that i said there would be "12". but, during the twelve days, two of the project deadlines ended up being pushed back until after christmas (thankfully!). i started them, but eventually saw no need to push myself and finish when i didn't have to (save the countdown). i'm sorry to disappoint if you were actually following the countdown. but, thankful that i had a little more time to go christmas shopping and take care of things before tomorrow that i wouldn't have been able to otherwise. i'll post the belated two later on. thanks for following!

day 9 (ish) - longhorns

commission, 30"x60", acrylic on canvas

the longhorns. 

there are still some details that i want to change up in this piece. specifically concerning that far right cow, the background, and the grass. but, i thought i'd go ahead and give the longhorns a post, drink my mountain dew, and then call it an early night (mt. dew doesn't have much of an effect on me). good night!