Mist

Title: Mist

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Materials: Acrylic on Illustration Board

Year: 2008

Here is a new set of small ACEOs titled Orange, Purple, Green, and Blue Mist. I think I will add more pieces to this series. These will be available in the ACEO Section of my Etsy Shop.

The Storm

Title: The Storm

Size: 8 x 10 inches

Materials: Acrylic on Yupo paper
Year: 2008

This is a new painting I did on Yupo paper. What is Yupo you ask? Yupo is a synthetic paper made of 100% recyclable materials. It is plastic like and the results with paint are always a waiting and guessing game. I was very surprised after I would put a layer on to come back later and see how it changed. I liked how it turned out. More Yupo please! This is available in my Etsy shop.

Ink Abstracts

Title: Ink Abstract 1 and 2

Materials: Ink on Acrylic Paper

Size: Two 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inch pieces

Year: 2008

I have been working on some new ink abstract ACEOs. These were started during a holiday road trip, perfect size for traveling. Look for more coming in this series. These are available in my Etsy Shop.

Good Homes

My husband and I just returned from visiting his family. I was very surprised to see a painting I made for his mother years ago hanging in her house. I forgot it even existed. I blocked that phase totally from memory. "Oh yeah, I used to paint in oils." Of course, I immediately analyze it and confirm how much I have improved and instantly can find a million tiny little things I would do differently now. This painting is at least 7 or 8 years old. I love creating my art, love living with it, and feel every piece deserves a good home. Sometimes it is hard to imagine them hanging in another house and someone else living with it every day. I am still struck every time I go in my mother's office and see one of my pieces in there. It looks like it belongs there. It was adopted by the right person. Then again, I have pieces that I have made that will never leave my house as they belong in this home.

I wish everyone a happy holiday!

Spring

Title: Spring
Size: 24 x 30 x 1.5 inches
Materials: Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.
Year: 2008

I know its the middle of winter, but here is spring. The green color in this painting reminded me of a spring green. I guess it will be spring soon enough.

This is available in my Etsy shop.

LaRue's Alien

Title: LaRue's Alien
Size: 5 x 7 inches
Materials: Acrylic on Canvas
Year: 2008

Here is a new little piece I just finished. My husband (LaRue) said it looked like alien skin and would like me to make a larger one for him. For now, here is a little one.

This is available for purchase in my Etsy shop.

From The Inside

Title: From The Inside
Materials: Ink on Paper
Size 5 x 7 inches
Year: 2008

This is a new ink drawing on wet media paper. I am very much in love with black ink and have these new fabulous pens with India ink. It makes me never want to pick up a pencil again. These kind of drawings always feel like some sort of meditation practice. It starts out very simple, but before long every space has to be filled with something. I guess it is better on paper than in my head.

As always, this is available in my Etsy shop.

Shipping Sale!

Hello Holiday Shoppers!
Now through the end of the year, I will have free shipping and gift wrapping in my Etsy Shop. Also, some of my originals are now available at South Shore Gallery in Apollo Beach, FL. If there was a piece in my Etsy shop that you had your eye on and is no longer in there, let me know.

Night and Wind

These are 2 new sets of small paintings. The first one is titled Night and the second one Wind. I love little sets of things that can be arranged in different ways. These are made on thick, chunky gallery wrapped 4 inch canvases, so they even stand up on their own on a shelf without being hung on the wall.

These are available for sale in my Etsy Shop.

Treasury

Etsy Treasury: When someone picks a grouping of 12 items on Etsy. It usually has a theme of some sort, i.e. subject, color, etc. My Through the Shredder print was picked to be part of this one today. It was nice to see my stuff included in this group of lovely, colorful, beautiful items. Here is the link to this particular Etsy Treasury.

New Items!

Hey fellow art lovers. I now have some reproductions of my paintings available in my Etsy shop. I have added some printed reproductions of some sold paintings as well as some where the original is still available. I can also make a print of another painting or size you don't see available already. Happy shopping!

Click here to get to the reproduction/prints section of my Etsy shop.

Craft Roots 10/25 Ybor

Here is another event I am participating in this Saturday. It should be a fun one. Stop by during your Guavaween festivities in Ybor City.

Circus McGurkis

Hello Friends,

This Saturday I will have a booth at Circus McGurkis. Hope to see you there!

What: Circus McGurkis. A peace festival/people's fair sponsored by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and Tampa Bay Peace Education Program returns in its traditional form with art, crafts, musicians, dancers, storytellers, community action groups, kids' activities. Free admission.

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. , Saturday, October 18, 2008.

Where: Lake Vista Park, 1401 62nd Ave. S, St. Petersburg.

Burn

Title: Burn

Size: Three 4 x 4 x 1.25 inch pieces

Materials: Acrylic on gallery wraped canvas

Year: 2008

This is a new set of mini paintings in bright burning orange and reds. They are available in my Etsy shop.

Art in the Park

Silver Lining

Title: Silver Lining

Materials: Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Size: 12 x 9 x 1.5 inches

Year: 2008

Here's a new one. Originally this piece had the words "somewhere else I will find the missing pieces" written on it. After painting over them and rewriting them a couple times, I decided to keep them out. I guess they didn't belong there.

This will be for sale in my Etsy shop.

Where's Joy At?

Hello All,

I just wanted to let you know about some events I am participating in. To your right you will find a section called Where's Joy At? and you will find a list of upcoming shows, art fairs, etc. The next event is coming up this Saturday.

Saturday, October 4, 2008-Art in the Park
Where: Williams Park, St. Petersburg, FL-Click here for a map
Time: 10 a.m.-3p.m.
This an outdoor event that will be running every Saturday starting October 4th through May. Stop by when you visit the Saturday Morning Market in downtown St. Pete. Enjoy a stroll in the park surrounded by arts vendors, kids' activities, food, and music.

Hope to see you there!

Joy

Moo Cards

I recently bought some business cards from a company called Moo. You can upload different images that you want to be printed on the front of cards and your info on the back. These are their mini cards, which are smaller than a normal business cards. I fell in love when I opened up the box. Other people seem to be enamored with them also. They're so cute! When you see me, ask for your own little mini piece of Joy art.

Specimens Continued

Title: Specimen No. 7
Size: 11 x 15 inches
Materials: Acrylic and ink on paper
Year: 2008

Title: Specimen No. 9
Size: 4 x 6 inches oval
Materials: Acrylic and ink on paper
Year: 2008



Title: Specimen No. 8
Size: 4 x 6 inches oval
Materials: Arcylic and ink on paper
Year: 2008

The specimen series continues. Yea, I might be just a little bit obsessed. I have started framing the small ones. They are all now in my Etsy shop for sale.

Specimen No. 6

Title: Specimen No. 6

Size: 4 x 6 inches

Materials: Acrylic and ink on paper

Year: 2008

Specimen No. 5

Title: Specimen No. 5
Size: 4 x 6 inches
Materials: Acrylic and ink on paper
Year: 2008

More Specimens

Title: Specimen No. 4
Size: 7.5 x 5 inches
Materials: Acrylic and ink on paper.
Year: 2008

Title: Specimen No. 3

Size: 7.5 x 5 inches

Materials: Acrylic and ink on paper.

Year: 2008

Specimen No. 1

Title: Specimen No. 1

Size: 9 x 10-1/2 inches

Materials: Acrylic and Ink on Paper

Year: 2008

Here is a new specimen for you. I have started a new series that combines acrylic used more like watercolor along with ink. My husband seems to be fond of this one. He feels as if it might eat him.

This piece is for sale in my Etsy shop.

Tidal Pools

Title: Tidal Pools
Size: Three 9.75 x 9.75 x 1 inch pieces
Materials: Acrylic on Wood.
Year: 2008

I know you have been wondering when I was going to post something new. Well, your wait is over. I love painting on wood. Once I lay the paint down, it has a mind of its own. Each time the colors and shapes surprise to me.

This piece is for sale in my Etsy Shop.

((sounder)) Director Collaboration Project

I found these videos in my July Juxtapoz Magazine and enjoyed them. Thought I would share. You can find more about the ((sounder)) Director Collaboration Project at http://volcom.com/sounder. There will be more videos released this summer. Here are my two favorites so far. After I saw the second one I had to immediately send it to my sister.
((sounder)) Those Days Were Good Days from ((sounder)) on Vimeo.
((sounder)) Oh River from ((sounder)) on Vimeo.

From The Sketchbook

Title: Would Knot
Materials: Pen on Recycled Paper
Year: 2008

Sorry I've been absent for a while. I was moving, and this last month has seemed to fly by without a blog posting by yours truely. I finally got my studio set up in the new house...for the second time. I kid you not, just a few hours after I had it all put together the first time I came home to water pouring out of the master bedroom bathroom flooding all the bedrooms of the house we just moved into. Everything is now dried out with no major damage. And to think I was worried about getting paint on the brand new tile floor so I put down this plastic outdoor carpet stuff. Tonight I finished a drawing I had started in my sketchbook before we started moving. I love this particular sketchbook because it has this really great recycled paper that is so soft. It almost feels like fabric. I am very particular about the way my paper feels, pens flow, and sounds my pencils make, which is why I don't spend much time on paper. Luckily, that all came together for this drawing.

Through The Shredder

Title: Through The Shredder
Size: 8 x 8 x 3 inches
Materials: Acrylic and Paper on Canvas
Year: 2008

After a couple of weeks feeling like I've been through the shredder, I decided to make this collage with pieces of junk mail that have been through the shredder. It was a very messy project, but those are the best kind.

Available for purchase in my Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11498488

Dark Water

Well, here it is. The cover of my husband's new album, Dark Water, with artwork done by yours truely. When the CDs were done, we went to go pick them up. I was kind of scared to look at them and I had successfully avoided it until I dropped a box of them and they spilled out all over the sidewalk. It was a very surreal moment to see these little shrink-wrapped copies of my painting spilled out over the pavement. Then I kind of broke out in a sweat when I thought about the number of copies with my art on it. When we got them loaded in the car, we unwrapped the CD, popped it in the CD player, and I stared at the cover the whole way home. I could not believe that was my painting on there. We thought the collaboration was a success. It also pushed us to try to pursue some other collaborations and ideas that have been stewing.

For more information on LaRue Nickelson and his music you can find him at his website and Myspace. The CD is now available for purchase on CD Baby and soon will be available through other downloadable outlets.

Wood Blocks

Title: Wood Block 1

Size: 9.75 x 9.75 x 1 inches

Materials: Acrylic on Wood

Year: 2008

Click here to purchase

Title: Wood Blook 2

Size: 9.75 x 9.75 x 1 inches

Materials: Acrylic on Wood

Click here to purchase

I love the watercolor effects I got on these paintings and also how you can still see the wood grain through the paint. It was fascinating to watch the paint morph and change as it soaked into the wood. As they were drying I ran out to get some glossy polyurethane to keep that wet look about them. I was getting ready to take them outside to put tthis on as the fumes can be pretty bad. Then it started to rain. I waited and waited...still raining. I finally got too impatient and ended up putting the polyurethane on in the house. Soon my husband was complaining about the smell. Of course, wouldn't you know as soon as I open the can some other people decided to drop by. I can see the headline now. Artist asphyxiates innocent bystanders and her cat with polyurethane.

Budget Cuts

Someone once gave me some wise words about being an artist. "You have to be okay with making something that no one may want or need." It sounds kind of bleak, but I would have to say that stuck with me. I decided I could be okay with that. My husband being a musician and me an artist, we will go on making our respective crafts whether anyone wants or needs them. With that said, I think that Florida, mainly the Tampa Bay Area, has a lot more potential than there is opportunity for in the arena of the arts. I saw a lot of news coverage about the budget cuts coming in Florida, mainly about health care programs, which distresses me till no end. Then I found this on http://tampaartist.com/ and thought I would repost it since this hasn't gotten the media attention I think it deserves. Fellow Floridians, make sure it is known to your lawmakers that you want and need the arts.

"Last week, when Speaker of the House, Marco Rubio, announced that whole departments might have to be eliminated to balance the budget, The Division of Cultural Affairs became an easy target for the House aides who are preparing the budget. By simply zeroing out funding for the Division this vital administrative unit will cease to exist, and our advocacy for Arts and Culture will be carried back to the dark ages in the name of short term and short sighted expediency.During the economic downturn of the 2006-2007 fiscal year when other Departments were required to reduce their overall budget by 4%, the Division of Cultural Affairs took a 61% cut. But the Arts strengthen our economy. We know that for every dollar the State of Florida invests in the Arts we get a Seven Dollar return… we know that students who have four years of Art or Music education perform 60% better in verbal skills and 38% better in math skills on their SAT scores, and become better citizens for the State of Florida. We know that there are over 150,000 full time employees devoted to the Arts in the State of Florida .Why should we forget all that, and pull the plug on the support group that makes it all possible?
Agreed, times are tough, but let us not sell out our cultural heritage, and take away the leadership so necessary to keep Florida attractive as the place to live, the place to visit, the place to invest in.High Tech industries relocating to Florida are choosing communities where the Arts flourish because they know the creative thinking employees they recruit demand cultural facilities for themselves and their families.
Nowhere else can you find finer museums, symphonies, education in the arts and dedication to the finer things in life.We need to make an outcry.
If you are in the news media please pursue this story. The budget is being drawn up as we speak.If you are not in the media, but you know someone who is, please forward this email.
Thank you for taking time from your busy day to help avert this disaster and thank you for your advocacy.Jim Shaw, chairman, Florida Arts Council"

ETSY SHOP SALE THIS WEEKEND

I just wanted to let everyone know I am running a sale this weekend on the original paintings in my ETSY SHOP. Nothing over $100. This means some pieces are 50% off. This is a great time to get an original piece of art for a great price. Sale is Friday-Sunday 03/28-03/30. Happy shopping!

Art or Just Trailer Trash

Airstream Ranch, originally uploaded by waking_dream.

Along I-4 the owner of an RV dealer has planted these airstream trailers longways in the ground, like our very own trailer trash Stonghenge. He started it as an advertisement that you can see from the interstate. It has become kind of a tourist attraction. I have driven by the Airstream Ranch along I-4 many times, and find it very amusing. It makes me chuckle every time. I love when people get ideas like this and actually execute them. It has become a news story circulating here in Florida for a while. Today, there was another story about it because the owner is facing code enforcement problems and some people that live in the area think it is an eyesore. Many people showed up today to support Airstream Ranch as well as the neighbors who don't want it. Now, lets get some experts to tell us if it really is art. Othewise, how will we know? The director of the arts council says it is good because it brings more tourists. The president of Ringling School of Art and Design says it is art and should stay.

I think he should do whatever he wants. He plans to do more to it if he gets past these code enforcement problems. I will surely keep looking for that. As I was looking for more information about Airstream Ranch today on the internet I found this beautiful picture by waking_dream on Flickr. Now that's art! If only I can get one of those Save Airstream Ranch T-shirts I saw the people wearing in the news story.

Surface

Title: Surface
Materials: Acrylic on Masonite
Size: 12 x 24 x 1 inches
Year: 2008

This is another painting in my Underworlds series. This one sat in the corner of my room on an easel taunting me for about a month. It was repainted many times, and I just was not very happy with it. Last night, I decided to give it one more try. Imagine my surprise when it turned out pretty decent.

For sale in my Etsy Shop

A Pair

Title: A Pair

Size: Two 4 x 4 inch pieces

Materials: Acrylic on stretched canvas

Year: 2008

Here are some more small pieces I worked on this weekend. They didn't start out as a matching set but ended up that way.

You know where you can get them, my Etsy Shop.

Parts

Title: Parts

Materials: Ink and acrylic on stretched canvas

Size: 9 x 12 in

Year: 2008

Another one of my favorite materials to work with is black ink. It is my doodling tool of choice. This piece started out as a painting with this peach color in the background, but then the ink was calling me, and I love the contrast between the two.

This piece is available to purchase in my Etsy Shop.

Bye Bye Blue

Today I went to The Arts Center to help take down the Robert Stackhouse and Carol Mickett exhibit. All the paintings were removed, wraped in plastic. The signs peeled from the walls. And sadest of all was the piles of blue wood that were once a beautiful instalation piece. It came down much faster than it went up, too fast. There will be new things though. There is a new exhibit coming of Jun Kaneko's work. This also looks to be very interesting. The following is the information from The Arts Center website about this exhibition.

Jun Kaneko is a prolific artist who learns by process and through the dialog between maker and object, a distance he is constantly challenging, achieving an intimacy with his medium where his bold hand can seem invisible. Mainly identified as a sculptor, Jun Kaneko also works on equally technical and innovative levels in glass, textiles, bronze, paper and canvas.Kaneko came to prominence during the contemporary ceramics movement of the 1960s and 1970s along with colleagues and teachers Peter Voulkos, Paul Soldner, and Jerry Rothman. He has taught at some of the nation's leading art schools including Cranbrook Academy of Art, the Rhode Island School of Design, and Scripps College.His work is included in more than 40 museum collections including Cranbrook Academy, Detroit Institute of Art; Philadelphia Museum of Art; and the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery. This exhibition is an extensive representation of Jun Kaneko's work in ceramic sculpture, drawings and paintings over the past two decades. Organized by Smith Kramer Fine Art Services.Synovus, Stanley, Everett and Hough GalleriesMarch 7 - May 10, 2008.
http://www.theartscenter.org/exhibits/0308/jun_kaneko.htm

New ACEOs

Title: Henna

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Materials: Acrylic on illustration board

Year: 2008

Title: Pebbles

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Materials: Micron pen on multimedia artboard

Year: 2008

Title: Condensation

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Materials: Acrylics on acrylic paper
Year: 2008

Title: Circles

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Materials: Acrylic on illustration board

Year: 2008

More ACEOs. I have fallen in love with making these little ones. Now everything I make seems to be getting smaller. Once a week my mother and I get together for a walk and then breakfast. While we were waiting for our food at breakfast, I pulled out all these little pieces to show her my latest. She was surprised I had a whole gallery in my purse. I had given my husband a couple. They are sitting in their little protective plastic sleeves on his desk. I suggested he put one in his wallet in one of the picture slots. He said he didn't want it to get ruined in there. I reminded him it is only a 2.5 x 3.5 inch piece of paper.

Available for purchase in my Etsy store.

A Little Rain And Snow

Title: Rain or Snow

Size: 6 x 6 in

Materials: Acrylic on stretched canvas

Year: 2008

Yesterday I spoke to my father, who lives in Indianapolis. We always compare the weather between Indianapolis and Tampa. Last night, the weather was miserable there with snow, sleet, and freezing temperatures. I shared that earlier that afternoon I got in the car and the temperature gauge on the dash read 91 degrees. This morning I woke up to gloomy skies and heavy rains. This seemed like a good day to share a recent small painting I did called Rain or Snow. As always, this and others are available through my Etsy Shop.

New Etsy Shop Items

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know I have some new items in my Etsy Shop. Hand-painted and hand-printed cards are now available. Here is a sampling.

Painting With Lizards 101

I am a night owl and work at night. This evening I was working on my computer and kept hearing a noise over in the corner. The cat was going crazy. She was on the table, off the table, on, off, on, off... I went over a few times and didn't find anything. Then she sat there staring at the corner for what seemed like hours. When I was done with my work on the computer, I decided to do a little painting before I headed to bed. I grabbed a jar of paint brushes. Then I saw one move. Of course I jumped a little because that was not a paint brush, that was a lizard! It is common in Florida for these to get in the house. The cat especially thinks it's great. I took the jar out to the patio and set Bonnard free. (I named him after one of my favorite painters, Pierre Bonnard.) The cat got out as I was doing this, and the last thing I saw was a blur of white fur running off into the dark night. I hope Bonnard survived the chase. Can you find the lizard in the picture? Look for the tail.

ACEOs

Title: Speckled 1

Size: 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches

Materials: Acrylic on Strathmore Wet Media Paper

Year: 2008

Title: Speckled 2

Size: 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches

Materials: Acrylic on Stratmore Wet Media Paper

Year: 2008

Title: Speckled 3

Size: 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches

Materials: Acrylic on Strathmore Wet Media Paper

Year: 2008

Title: Speckled 4

Size: 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches

Materials: Acrylic on Strathmore Wet Media Paper

Year: 2008

There are a couple of things I am obsessed with, the color lime green and dots. The lime green one can get out of control. If something comes in lime green, that is my first choice. Its probably a good thing that not everything comes in lime green. Dots, dots, dots. I find it kind of meditative to paint dots. I could go on and on, and I do until I run out of room. Now I have a new obsession to add to the list, ACEOs. This stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. They are little collectible pieces of art, pocket sized. They are the size of a baseball card, 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches. They can be any medium. I have always been amazed at the variety of these cards and the craftsmanship of the artists. This week there was a flood that made its way into my art closet. (Yes, there were tragedies.) Everything was emptied out and took over my work area. I resorted to working on these small pieces of paper. Now I am absolutely obsessed with these. I guess there is always room for one more obsession. These four are a series I titled Speckled.

As always, these are available in my Etsy shop.