look a little closer blog

Last night I had my volunteering at Visions and we started putting the pieces of our mural together. Our goal is to assemble the entire thing by March 23, so it’s ready for the “class party.” The team leaders and I will hand stitch the pieces together. We each took a “finished” row and will stitch all the sewn rows together before the last class.

I am so excited about the way this project turned out and think it was a huge success! I’m constantly amazed at the creativity of the students and am so happy to work with them. I’d like to do this project again, but this time painting “mini murals” so the students can take them home (this was their request!). I know it’s a big goal, but maybe I can finish them before the next semester begins.

Here are the latest pictures!
Enjoy!

**

*It all started with this sketch…*

*And then turned to a watercolor…*

*Then to the painting…*

*Once the pieces were cut, we had lots of creativity!*

*Now we’re putting it all together…*

*Good thing we numbered these!*

I love how creative the students were!

*birds, suns, stars, moons, hearts, and glitter for buildings*

*trees of buttons, surrounded by flowers*

*Rainbows, boats, and lots of moons!*

*But it’s really coming together!*

*You can really see their personalities in each piece*

**Sorry for the blur, I was just so excited!**

I can’t wait to see what the finished piece turns out to be!

Calee asked me to help with some album art for Flow and the Mingos.

Thanks for sharing my art girly!

Theme: changing seasons and time.

Here are some concept sketches:

My favorite..

Last week was crazy.

It was like I had a rain cloud over me..

But something magical happened and a butterfly came to the rescue!

And brought friends…

They had a different idea for the rain drops…

Much better…

Hooray!

They reminded me to remember the love and serenity through the dark and annoying times!

Anyone that knows me, knows that I love butterflies.

I’ve always loved them, ever since a child. And once I started painting, they were my favorite thing to paint. In Iowa, I used to face paint at town festivals, and I was always known as the “butterfly girl.” When I got my guitar, the first song I wrote was about butterflies. Three chords. (G, C, D)

G                                   C
Butterflies are my friend (x3)

G                                 C                         D
Butterflies are my friend till the end!

I even took one of my senior pictures with me laying down and butterflies were in my hair.
Yes, I was a little obsessed!

Well, this weekend I decided to bring back the butterflies. My friends moved into this awesome apartment with huge white walls and said I could do an installation on their wall. This will be an ongoing project and I plan on filling the wall with paper art (inspired by the local artist, Katie Sokoler)

**

Here’s the magic of the butterflies…

These butterflies started on the floor…

Since there was a nice open space, I decided to join them…

Arranging….

They made their way to my hair…

And my nose…

And told me to make a wish…

They even surrounded my friend Dani! (she was the only brave one to be part of my photo shoot!)

The butterflies slowly made their way up the wall…

They finally did.

Now my friends will be greeted with these every day!

Ta da!

Enjoy friends! May love flutter by you every day!

Oh my goodness. This has been a chaotic week! I’m so happy it’s Friday!!

At work, I usually try to be the “happiness fairy”

Giving people popping stars if they are stressed…

Sometimes I even send candy messages..

But today I was feeling a little crazed!

But someone brought me a message…

Thank you! It made me feel much better…

And I gave the a message in return!

Hooray for the weekend!
Art!
Music!
Friends!
Happiness!

Have a good weekend!! xo

something has taken over my desk!

it’s showing love everywhere!

clip thingys!

even my healthy snack!

post- it tab thingys

even the scissors have found love!

have a lovely day!

I’m feeling the love and making lots of art!

Things I love lately:

*…work days in cramped corners and painting in undies (well, I usually always do this!)…*

*…using cereal boxes for mixing paint..*

*adding detail of  ribbons and diamonds…*

*…looming birds, webs of color, and fishes eating the roots of a village*

*a swan with feathers of glitter and a sail boat weathering the storm*

*a golden village above a pink octopus and a beautiful peacock looking at an organ-like thing*

*finally finishing this piece (or getting very close)! it was on my wall for nearly five months*

*When Lavi gives me her opinions…*

*And decides she wants to help! (no worries, there was no paint in this!)*

*Updating even older art from my walls! (It started off with just the blocked colors as a landscape, no details)*

*bright colors and fireworks of color*

*diamond drips leading to tiny dots*

*finally having a messy art room, even if it’s a shoebox!*

*and messy hair is kind of fun too*

My art has taken a turn. This realization has been pretty exciting.

Last year was pretty turbulent and was reflective in my paintings. It’s really interesting to look at the progression from then to now. My good friend, Kristen, also helped me see this transition!

Colors were a bit blurry and everything was a bit muddy.

There was a lot of chaos and little detail.

I just needed a way to get through the muck…

It really was about release..

But lately something has really changed.

Maybe it’s a reflection of my life..
I’m happy and sharing love as much as I can.
It’s all about the details and looking a little closer..
And remembering why I love art in the first place..

I like creating landscapes of color and daydreams.
Little worlds to escape into.

Like this one I did for a friend last year..

and this for my friend’s baby, Georgia Faith.

My art is best when I’m feeling the love!

Yesterday was a stressful day. I’m pretty sure I drove my colleagues crazy with my popping stars, but the day ended on a much better note *literally*! Once a month I volunteer at a nursing home and sing/laugh/forget-the-words-to-their-songs-making-them-mad-but-still-having-fun to the elderly. It’s a really awesome project, but sometimes it can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to learning all the hits from the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s, and on. Well, last night I had help and it was great! We traded off on the guitar and song leading, and I was able to lead the residents in dancing with the egg shakers. “Left, right, up, down” all to the tune of Sidewalks of New York. Needless to say, volunteering lifted my spirits.

On my way home, I skipped and danced through the snow…

Left little reminders of love… (i gave every car on 96 street a heart!)

Considered sitting in this lovely throne…

But decided I’d rather snuggle with the kitty..

We stayed in and watched the snow globe…

**
On my morning commute, I thanked the guy that made a path..

And the guy with the snow blower! (I have not seen one of these since the cornland!)

Looked at the pretty trees..

And decided to leave more reminders of love..

Happy Friday!

today has been stressful

but i found these in my purse..

and am feeling better.