Space...

...I've been looking at a lot of it the last two days. I just gave my 30 day notice to terminate my storefront lease on Roscoe. This space didn't turn out to be exactly what I originally envisioned, but in this economy I was very lucky to receive many commissions from folks in the neighborhood, get some great exposure, interact with the community and in the end learn quite a bit about my(neurotic)self! I'm grateful that I was able to host some pet adoption events and share my passion for animals and finding them homes. I also met many artists inquiring about my journey and can only hope they were inspired to follow their artistic dreams.  

So, in a year of many changes in my life, this should complete the logistical portion of these changes, at least for awhile - I hope! Now I have some decisions to make, I loved the space above, but it's a little out of my price range and a bit further north than I want to be. The good news is, I saw some other great options today...so stay tuned, hope to have a new studio secured sooner than later...and this all means good news for you if you like my work: A STUDIO MOVING SALE!  Let me know if you've had your eye on anything, I'm feeling VERY negotiable these days and would rather see my art on your wall than mine!

My dog spotted on Mapquest satellite map...

At this year'sFields Project Art Fair I had a lovely lady and her daughter come to my display and excitedly share with me that my dog field sculpture (done in 2007) shows up on the MapQuest satellite map! This is pretty amazing because we mowed that field in one day and the photo was obviously taken early in the day since the negative space around the dog and the flowers was not mowed yet. You can't see us, by we are down there on the tractor...we stayed out there until it was done, in spite of the fact that Jennifer, the farmer was pregnant at the time...women farmers rock! ; ) See below for the finished project:

Anne’s 11 acre Field Sculpture

Lots of hugs & a few happy collectors in Madison...

It was great to visit Madison last weekend for Art Fair on the Square....reconnected with so many old friends and even got to see my Mom, lots of hugs!

I don't think she planned her outfit...but my Mother sure complements my artwork!

This little guy was thrilled about his new painting acquisition.

Such a wonderful surprise to run into my old dorm mates from 1985, Brian & Karen Natoli, and their lovely daughter, Grace.

....and dear friend, Mary, who I so need to catch up with.

Katcando

....and Kathy Mauer of Katcando, I designed a logo for her jewelry business several years ago, we finally got to meet in person! A lovely, lady and her work is gorgeous..check it out! 

Dear friend, Jolene (Wangen) Huber, her beautiful girls & little Zoe, the dog.

And Lizzie Oz! A fabulous artist and a fabulous lady...I have a few pieces of her work that I adore.

Last, but not least...Amanda Shell of Whirley Girl Designs (my new studio mate) who came along to help out. Thanks again, Amanda!

....it was an amazing week on the farm: part I

I spent a magical 9 days, June 18-26th, at the 13th Annual Fields Project Artist Residency. I'll split my recap into a few posts because I have a lot of photos that I would like to share. I stayed with the Pfieffer Family near Ashton, IL on their pig farm, and I'm glad to report that they have agreed to adopt me! ...do you like their license plate?! My toes are the green ones, painted in honor of the week, which was filled with laughter and an endless supply of rural artistic inspiration.

I'll start with the family farm dogs...this is Beauty.

...and Bebe, hard working farm dogs most of the time!

...and old, Tiger - he has quite a set of lungs!
Lots of kitties running around, too!
Pigs! I'll go into much more detail about these guys in the following posts. Momma cow and her calf...sorry Taryn, I forgot momma's name, baby'g going to be an 'L' name...I suggested "Louie", "Lester"....oh, how about "LeRoy"?
And this is Frosty (note the ears...struck with a little frost bite) and Daffodil in the background..they were really fun goats, totally engaging and loved attention! So beautiful.
A painting of them in process in my outdoor art studio at Castle Rock State Park.
Daffodil, so pretty.

Frosty was often 'standing' on the fence like this when I would get in my truck to leave for the day.
Look at that mug!
...more to come!

Canine Gargoyles and other photos from Wells Street...

With Kelly Velasco and her new painting 'Black Hair...Blue Mood'...

Sharon got the brand new "Black Cat" painting...

I was mesmerized by the canine-ish gargoyles at the old Grossinger Cadillac building on Wells Street...lots of construction going on, hope they don't tear this beauty down.

♥ MoM ♥

That's my Mother, Colleen...one of my biggest fans. My love for her is so immense...I can't put into words the gratitude I have, just knowing that no matter what I'm going through, she is always there for me. She has the biggest heart and is one of the most compassionate and nonjudgemental people that I know. It's funny, we only see eachother 2-3 times a year, but we talk often enough that I never feel like it's been more than a week or two. In addition to always being there for her family, the number of lives she has touched and comfort she has provided as a hospice social worker and grief group leader, I'm sure, is immeasurable....I'm so proud and lucky to call her my Mom.

With Mom & my brother, Carl, circa 1967 and below, Mother's Day in 2009...

painting the birdbath...part 2: glorious color!

Here's the color portion of this story...spent a week deliberating if I should have 3 different color schemes/tiers and in the end stuck with it. In the past I would have done a coordinating border like the black and white bones I did in the 'Suite Chicago Dogs' set....but since this is one single piece and that was 4 separate pieces opted to try something different. It might look a little odd here, but wait until you see it with the black outlines painted in....stay tuned!

Actually going home to finish it tonight as I have to deliver to the autobody show in Westmont that is doing the clear coating...wish me luck!

painting the birdbath...part 1: chalk and black paint

The weekend before last, I finally started putting some art on the crazy fiberglass bird bath! I started by drawing on the composition with purple chalk - I had started with a title of "Canines'n Blooms" and a brief color rendering, but couldn't really figure it out until I was working full scale. Chalk is great, easy to erase.

I then went in with black paint and it suddenly started coming to life... 

This is great fun, I know I don't look thrilled here...but I was! ; )

I've captured most of it on video so stay tuned for the high speed painting synapses! Do you like my bike seat laptop video tripod?

And the underside...which few will see, was going to do bones, then all leaves, but settled for the swirl...I think it's a good solution: Almost forgot to show you my rendering...inspired by my 'dog park debacle' series of paintings:

CaninesNblooms

Stay tuned for part 2: color!