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!