ahhhh, spring.

No posts since February?  Shameful.  I must have been painting too much to post (hmm, I don't think so).  In any case, it's spring and I am thrilled.  This painting is me trying to shake off the last of the winter white and embrace some of that "new green" that first appears on the trees such as the willows hanging over the edges of Mona Lake.  It's a beautiful chartreuse that soon turns to a more summer-y green.  My will-power is seriously challenged when I'm in the studio looking at an unfinished painting and just out my window the garden is beckoning to me.

easy denim dress

Zella strikes a pose in her new denim tunic / dress.  I loved embroidering these little cat face appliques on the pockets - so much in fact that this is the third dress I've made using this combo. of soft light-weight denim with contrast fabric-lined gathered pockets.  The first two were for wee little babes much smaller than Zella. 

Elkhart Pediatrics

Some beach-y themes for a pediatrics hospital in Elkhart.  

Young Sailor

Gus is sporting his new sweater which I acquired at Valueland.  I altered it somewhat to fit (shorter sleaves and shorter collar).  I also appliqued the anchor on the back for a "nautical collegiate" look.  Go Sailors!

Hanging Chads

Election time rolls near and I have just been told that Hanging Chads will grace the cover of Paul Kellstedt and Guy Whitten's second edition of The Fundamentals of Political Science Research.  Yea!

ArtPrize2012

This year's entry for ArtPrize (titled Tangerine and Jealousy) exhibited in a prime location at The SPOT on Pearl Street.  It was nicely installed and beautifully lit.  Today I'll remove it and bring it to Lafontsee's where I hope someone will fall in love (and write a check).

Beets never tasted so good

The term "swallow your pride" comes to mind, and I must say  it tastes delicious.  I started these little babies from seeds (Annie's Heirlooms) and proudly watched them grow big enough to pluck for a cold beet salad with bitter greens.

Twirling

I had as much fun making this dress as Zella is having in these pictures.

4 Spring Pieces

A Fetching Shade of Green



Spring has sprung and this yellowy-green is currently my favorite, so it shows up in a lot of recent paintings.  For whatever reason this piece makes me think of a busy puppy fetching a stick.

new year, new work

Tic Tac Toe, mixed media on panel, 48 x 48 inches.

look out, sports fans

Here's a new hat I made from Alden's favorite worn-out T's.  A few stitches and buttons in contrasting color add some funkiness.  Hooray for knits, no hemming necessary!

rockin' in the new year

Gus rocks in the new year, sporting brown twill pants w/ rolled cuffs lined in Dad's cast off plaid shirt.  The big patch pockets are also lined w/ plaid.  Rock on 2012!

seriously shiny skirts

Zella strikes some serious poses in her twirly skirts - made from upholstery fabric remnants. 

pink twins

I started this one shortly after finishing Bubblegum and Kryptonite for ArtPrize.  Color field painting is a very new area of exploration for me, playing with softer edges, layers and glazes - doing less with drawing media and almost everything with a brush.  It feels like I'm teaching myself to paint, figuring out what works and what doesn't.

(not so) petit fours

Saying adieu to summer is such sweet sorrow, but a glorious autumn day is hard to beat.  This painting is from a current series of abstracted large-scale sweets.  (80" x 36")

the thrill of the hunt

Okay, I didn't sew this skirt - but I can tell from the nicely hand-stitched hem that someone else did.  I'm not sure if it's old or new - the sweet print and maxi length could be seventies, or just as easily more current.  The green velvet jacket is Charlotte Russe, but I picked up both pieces at Valueland for about seven bucks.

dining and living revamp

A fresh coat of paint in "leapfrog" on the dining area wall is a great backdrop for Shelly Klein's painting and John De Hoog's table.  Marc and I found a sectional sofa for the great room (very comfy), and we hung one of my pieces for a punch of color.  Dinner and drinks, anyone?

bubblegum and kryptonite

These are the finished pieces for ArtPrize 2011.  Each is 6 x 4 feet, they will hang side by side as a diptych.  Next week Marc will help me install at my venue host, Fifth Third Bank.

A Dress with Pockets

I look so happy because I am with Marc in our old stomping grounds (downtown Grand Rapids) celebrating eleven years of marriage.  And there is the fact that I got props for my dress while shopping at Urban Exchange on Fulton Street.  It's a grey/black print rayon with a button bodice and a side zip and the sleeves are left unfinished, so they're a little frayed.  I made this one after several unsuccessful attempts at finding the perfect lightweight summer dress.  When the weather gets cooler, it will look great layered with leggings and a sweater.