You are currently browsing the monthly archive for March 2008.
We had a fun week last week with Jonathan home for Spring Break. No traveling, but we did get our taxes done, and the boys went to see Horton Hears a Who in the movie theatre. I am working on a small collection of paintings of trees in all media. When I have about 8 or 9 completed, I am going to head downtown to talk to a gallery or two. Here are a couple of oils in the collection:
I have been saving these nice JFM frames for years. Paintings of trees deserve high-quality frames. No plastics.
The Our Town poster is coming along. Paula helped me out with some good ideas. Check it out here.
Last night Jane and I watched the first part of Sense and Sensibility. I am enjoying the Masterpiece Classics.
I am working on a high school play graphic/logo for Trinitas. Our Town is the play. I want to channel the late 50s early 60s illustration style.
Is it too simple? The play is very simple, but maybe I need more for the graphic. This needs to go on tickets, playbills, posters…
I love to read Irene’s blog: Bloesom Kids. Irene announced a chance to win a FrogPod by signing up to receive GrowModern’s newsletter. Well, I signed up, and I won. Wow. Thanks!
They are having another drawing this month. Check the GrowModern blog here.
For inspiration or encouragement I often go to Keri Smith’s blog entitled wish jar. She has great advice for us all. In a list of 10 ways to infuse your work with your personality, this is number seven:
7. “Pay no attention to the man behind that curtain.” Ignore what other people are doing. It has no bearing on your existence or vision of the world. The times we feel the most discouraged are usually due to the fact we are comparing ourselves to others. Most times reading awards annuals, and industry mags only serves to make us feel inadequate. Try cutting it out entirely. Designer Bruce Mau recommends not entering awards competitions. His reasoning, “Just don’t do it, it’s not good for you.”
This makes good sense to me until I read number 10:
10. Study other artists or creators who followed their own vision. Research.
I think I know what she means. We need to research without jealousy and without malice. Lately, I have been unsure of myself as an artist. I keep telling myself that I want to have a body of work that I can believe in. I also want to do things that I like so much, so that when they do not sell, I will be thrilled with keeping them on my own walls. It’s just such a good feeling to sell things. It feels like someone telling you that you are so pretty. So when things do not sell, it feels almost lonely. Sometimes I put things in my shop as PIFs (pay-it-forward) just to see that email that etsy sends when you sell something. PIFs are free. So they always get snatched up.
Ramble,ramble. I think I will go read more of Keri Smith’s kind words.
See the photo here: Aidan
So this is what we are eating for dinner:
It is Lent. Orthodox Lent is different from what others do for Lent. The Lenten diet is like becoming vegan. Which works for our grocery budget, but it is very boring. Nursing mothers (me) are encouraged not to participate, but I am trying to go without meat. The boys and I are eating our beans and rice with heaping spoonfuls of sour cream and shredded cheese and some whole milk to wash it down. Tonight we are going to try this eggless and butter-free recipe:
Lenten Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 C margarine or shortening
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C granulated sugar
1/4 C plain soymilk (for some reason the SILK brand works best, but any kind is fine)
1 t vanilla
2 1/4 C flour
1/2 t salt
1 t baking soda
12 oz. semi sweet or dark chocolate chips
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cream margarine and sugars until light and fluffy. Slowly add soymilk, cream well, then add vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, then fold in the chocolate chips.
3. Drop by tablespoons on cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes
Daylight saving time can cause a switch in birth order and can create legal loopholes.
