The Boys of Summer

We are huge baseball fans!! Tonight Cliff Lee will be the starting pitcher for the American League in the 2008 All Star Game. We are soooo excited. My son and daughter play ball all summer long. There is nothing more enjoyable then a hot summer day, watching my kids play their hearts out. We also follow the Cleveland Indians religiously. We try and get to a couple of games a year. But, tonight it will be a lot of fun watching Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore play with the kids by my side.

Here is another kitchen painting.

Went to the art supply store and got 9 more Ampersand panels. My hope to be able to fill the blank supports soon.

Summertime

Things have been busy around here. I am trying to finish the final designs for the stained glass windows and also refurbish the station of the cross that are currently hanging in the church. The new church is looking wonderful. The dedication is September 14th, so everyone is working quickly to get finished.

On top of all of this, I just found out that one of the grants that I applied for last school year has come through. So, in addition to having a brand new art room in September, I will also have a shiny, new ceramic kiln with all the supplies. It is really going to be an incredible school year. But for now, I am enjoying the summer with the kids and granddaughter, lots of baseball/softball, gardening and painting!!!

I started working on small, masonite panels, painting for about 1-2 hours a day. I can say that the "daily painting" practice has hit me, but to tell you the truth its more like a "every other day or so painting" practice. But, it feels great to paint after being away from it for a while.

Why I Do What I Do

Here are some of my students working on a still life painting. They have been working so hard and their paintings have turned out to be true works of art. I am so proud of them.

Tonight I had the privilege of seeing some of my students work hanging at the Regina Art Show. The greatest moment came when they announced the awards. One of my students,Brian, a shy, young man, had won first place in painting (he is pictured working at the table). I could not have been prouder of him. He was at the show to receive his reward. I will never forget the look on his face. It is moments like these that I know that I have one of the greatest jobs in the world.

New Developments

What a night, around 5pm we found out that Cal Ripkin Jr. was going to be at the local Joseph Beth Bookstore to give a short talk and sign his new book. Well having two baseball enthusiasts in the family I knew that we just had to go. I must say that "Cal" was incredible. He not only signed autographs but took the time to pose for pictures.

As far as the art goes, I have really changed directions. My pastor asked me if I would be interested in helping design the new stained glass windows for our new church. What an honor!!!I have been working with two people that I have known for quite some time and love and admire. It has been pure joy. Below is a small mock up of a paper banner that I designed to hang over the large, plain windows (were the stained glass will eventually go) during the advent season. We have so many ideas for banners that will be used until the money could be raised for the stained glass to be installed. Working in this manner has really opened my eyes to creating liturgical art. Life is really funny, had you told me 3 years ago that I would be working on stained glass design I wouldn't have believed you, but now it truly feels like a pathway to a new direction in my work.

Way To Go Tribe!!!!!

Its Been A Long Spring Break

School starts again on Monday. I was hoping to get more work done then I have, but I did start a new project. I am trying to tile my family room floor. I ripped the old floor up, which was not that hard but some of the cement came up with the tile. So, instead of being able to lay the tile right away I have to level the floor. I have never leveled a floor let alone tile one, so I am taking my time. I hope that it will be done by Monday (fingers crossed).

This whole project started with a quick visit to Home Depot to look at some gardening supplies. I must confess that I am have a bit of spring fever. I came across some ceramic tiles that matched the family room perfectly and, as luck would have it, it was on sale for 0.63/tile. How could I pass that up!!! Like I have said before, I have been watching a lot of HGTV and I have watched many people lay down tile. I didn't look all that hard so, here I go.

17 Days and Counting!!

I am soooo excited for this coming season of Cleveland Indians baseball. I guess you could say we are a "baseball family". I have two kids that play from spring through summer and we always have the games on the TV. Our family tries to go to a couple games a year. Once baseball starts I know that the good weather is not that far away.

Things are going great with the construction. The painting is 95% done, and will be finished this weekend!! The bathroom floor is being installed and then the plumbing. It will be so nice to have another bathroom. Once that is done the rest (lighting and carpet) will go pretty quickly, then we will move in to the new space. I am sooo excited, not only for the room, but to unpack my studio and set up.

I have been doing a little painting at school. I am teaching 6-7-8 grades acrylic painting. I started doing demos for them, but then just couldn't stop and really got into the paintings. After the lesson is finished I will bring the paintings home and post them. They are simple paintings of apples but I have really enjoyed making them. I will also post some of my students work. I must say for teenagers they are doing a great job, they really are into it. These are times that I can't believe that they pay me to do this. I really do love my job.

The End of the Season

Today was my son's last basketball game of the season. I really enjoy watching him play, but I must confess that I am glad that basketball season is over (how come just typing this sends off the "I am a bad mommy" feelings). My two daughters are cheerleaders and between them and my son I was at a basketball game, at least, 3 times a week. Between sports and the painting the interior of the house I have not had time for ANYTHING else, aghhhh. My creative side is being fed though, by designing the new interior for the house. Actually, I am having a ball doing it. My den is the only room close to being done, and I must say, I love it, the colors, textures....it is a whole different side of art that I never have done. I guess watching "Design Star" this summer has rubbed off.

It Must Run In The Family

I am so proud of my daughter, she received an honorable mention for her artwork in the area Scholastice art show, as you can see, she is beautiful as well as talented. I know that she has an incredible future ahead of her, I am excited to witness its unfolding.

Happy 1st Birthday Hannah!!

It has been quite a year filled with joy and laughter.

Update on the house

Things are looking really nice. The drywall is almost finished, so it shouldn't be much longer.

Much work has been happening around the house, the front porch is almost finished and the heating system is being hooked up. My painting has been restricted to that on the walls. This is a new venture for me. I really have never had the time or resources to decorate the way I really wanted to, so now I am really taking my time to pick out exactly what I want. This past summer I got hooked on the show, Design Star. I got so many ideas, I am now officially addicted to HGTV.

I have been keeping up with what has been going on in the art world, via the blogosphere. One website that I found, thanks to a blog, is www.dailypaintworks.com. Many talented artists are featured, I highly recommend visiting this site, especially if you are an art collector.

What I Have Been Up To

As some of you might know, I teach art at a private school. Every year there is a fund raising event with a dinner, dancing and a chinese auction, silent auction and live auction. As the art teacher, I contribute to the event by doing an art project with each class that is then auctioned off at the event. I started working on these projects at the beginning of the school year. The last month has been spent matting and framing and putting all the finishing touches on the pieces with each class. There was 9 projects created. Pictured is a paper collage that I did with the 4th grade class, the cross made by the 2nd grade class, a print project by my 3rd graders and, my favorite, a performance project that I did with the 8th grade. Each child in the 8th grade posed as part of a letter to spell out "dreams". Each student is pictured and the class worked as a whole to create this work. They even chose the quote to use. I am very proud of this class. This piece went for $3,000. I was soooo excited and am happy that the school will benefit. So that is what I have been up to, but now that the event is over I can (hopefully) get back to doing my own art.

Extreme Makeover

It has been a while since I have been blogging, but, I'm back!!!!!!

As you can see by the picture, things in my part of the world are changing. My house is transforming from a 2 bedroom, 1 bath to a 5 bedroom, 2 bath with an extended living room. This is something that I have been dreaming of for many years. The kids and I are sooo excited. We are hoping that the construction will be done by Christmas (fingers are crossed). I will post pictures of the progress. Yesterday they finished with all of the wiring and Friday the last of the plumbing went in. I am not much of a carpenter, but with the electrical and plumbing done, I am hoping that it will go quickly.

I have been on a long hiatus from creating my own art. Since May my studio has been packed up. This past summer I purchased some vine charcoal and paper but, to be honest, have not done much with it. I have had great intentions but no time. I guess that is one of the reasons that I am starting up this blog again, to get me going in the right direction. Things at work have calmed down and with the addition getting closer and closer to being finished I am dying to do some art. Since the space I have at the moment is limited I have purchased some small 5x5 and 6x6 canvas boards. I figured, new house, new studio, new direction in my art. Could be fun!!

Its been a while......things have changed quite a bit, in many, many ways.

Hannah is a joy!! She has brought such life into our home. I have finally gotten use to not waking up in the middle of the night when I hear a baby cry ( after 5 children its kinda hard-wired into me). My house is still in a state of chaos, which is why I have not posted any art in many months. I am having 3 bedrooms and a full bath added onto my home and a new septic installed, and needless to say, it has been crazy.

I am sad to say that my studio is no longer existent. I had to temporarily box up my supplies and put them into storage until the construction is over. This brought a dull cloud over me as well as a pit in my stomach, which has kept me from doing any kind of art in my limited spare time. The only things that I left out were my charcoal and graphite pencils, some kneaded erasers and a sketchbook.

Even though I have not created much art work myself I have spent a bit of time researching a variety of artists and techniques. One artists that has just infatuated me is William Bouguereau, his work is just incredible and it is his influence that has generated a desire to work with the figure again. When I was in college, I loved my life drawing classes and found a drop-in life drawing class on Wednesday nights. I am really excited to start them. That dull cloud is starting to lift.......drawings posted soon.

New Digs

It's been a wild couple of weeks. The sketch you see here is one of only 4 sketches that I have been able to produce since the baby has come home. I have forgotten how much work one little being can be. Also, last Wednesday construction started on my house to add on 2 bedrooms, a full bath, extend the living room and replace the septic system.

So, given the circumstances I have given myself permission not to feel guilty because I am not able to get into the studio as much as I would like. In fact, my studio will be moving as soon as the constuction is finished. I have decided to change the studio into a den, the family could really use the space, and my studio will move into my bedroom, since it will be quite large. I am not sure how this will work but I though that since my bedroom is the one area that I can get some quiet it would be the best place to create. Also, I have a habit of waking up in the middle of the night with some great vision for a painting and then never putting it down on paper, hopefully this set up will somewhat remedy that. Now if I can only get myself out of the bed.

Welcome Home Hannah

We brought Hannah home yesterday. She is adjusting well, but grandma and mom are exhausted. I forgot how much work a newborn is. Mom has been nursing her and I have taken burp patrol so mom could get some rest. The problem is this little angel wants to eat all the time. Boy how easy it is to forget this part of parenting.

As you might guess I have not been doing much painting. I have been invited to participate in two shows in mid January, but after last night, I am not sure that I will have the time or the energy to get the work done. I am also a bit concerned about using turpentine in the house with the baby. I started working in oils about 2 months ago and would like to continue but if the fumes are harmful I can switch to acrylics. I will be doing some research on the internet about this, but if anyone has experience with this issue I would love to hear from them. As for now, I am working things out in my sketchbook, that is, if and when I have time.