Local Artist Spotlight

What a treat to open my mail this afternoon and see one of my paintings staring back at me in postcard-formation. Thanks to Brandon Stewart for featuring my painting, "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea", in his monthly Local Artist Spotlight.  Brandon is a Dallas-area Realtor in Ebby's White Rock/Lake Highlands office who has carved a niche in the local community by promoting the arts.

Treasury Tutorial

I heart Etsy, the site to go to find all things handmade and vintage that you never new you had to have. Etsy is a haven for independent artists and artisans to sell their work online, and once you stumble into it, there's a bit of a black hole effect because each great find leads you to another even greater find. 


From time to time, my paintings and prints are selected by other Etsy Members to be featured in their Treasuries. Like today, this print of an original painting of mine (which is sold and now lives in St. Louis) was selected to be in an Etsy Treasury entitled "Raspberry & Green Whimsey".

The Edge of the Deep Green Sea

As an avid Etsian, this always brightens my day, but when I share the news with others unfamiliar with the site, they are a little like, "Whaaa...?"  So I thought I'd take a sec to explain what exactly a Treasury is. 


The Treasury is a member-curated gallery of short-lived lists of 12 hand-picked items each. Members can feature their favorite items, items selected on a theme, or just whoever they like. The Treasury is not intended for self-promotion, but instead to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy. Etsy Admins often choose an exceptional Treasury list to promote on the home page.
So there ya go, now you know. 

Just Like Heaven

6" x 6" x 1.5"
Acrylic andMixed Media on Canvas

I painted this for a dear friend as a baby gift. She is expecting a little girl ina few weeks, her first, and is often asking me what it will be like when her little one arrives. The best way I could describe it was through this Cure song, "Just Like Heaven".

"Show me how you do that trick
The one that makes me scream" she said
"The one that makes me laugh" she said
And threw her arms around my neck
"Show me how you do it
And I promise you I promise that
I'll run away with you
I'll run away with you"

Spinning on that dizzy edge
I kissed her face and kissed her head
And dreamed of all the different ways I had
To make her glow
"Why are you so far away?" she said
"Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you
That I'm in love with you"

You
Soft and only
You
Lost and lonely
You
Strange as angels
Dancing in the deepest oceans
Twisting in the water
You're just like a dream

If you are looking for a sweet original baby/wedding/housewarming gift, these paintings are highly textured, full of layers of color and are available to be custom-ordered. Priced from $75 - $150, email me at utopiapkwyarts@yahoo.com for more info.

The Edge of the Deep Green Sea

16" x 20"
Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas

"and so we watch the sun come up
from the edge of the deep green sea
and she listens like her head's on fire
like she wants to believe in me" -The Cure

The tentacles of an octopus first inspired this painting, sort of a reflection of how tied down I feel at times. With the children so young, there are often days when I don't leave the house or even make it out to the studio to paint. (If I don't make it outside for a morning run before the household wakes up then I'm REALLY cranky.) As much as I love all three of my precious babies, it's simply a hard time feeling so occupied with constantly meeting their basic needs.

As I worked on this piece, I noticed this painting slowly started to take on a more abstract look while preserving the feeling of something aquatic. I almost quit working on it because it was frustrating me so much and I hate feeling like I am fighting with my paintings, but then I had a breakthrough on Friday. Friday happened to be a special day as my husband and I were celebrating our fifth anniversary. I like to think that April 2 is a lucky day for me all around, and I'm glad a little luck made its way onto the canvas.

Am feeling very "oceanic" lately...ever since I did the two paintings below I feel like I am stumbling upon a new series inspired by the mysteries of the sea.