Art by Diahn

What City is This, Anyway?

2009-11-14T13:07:00.002-05:00

Oh, my people. We had a great trip, but I'm completely befuddled. I'm pretty sure I'm in Knoxville, because I don't have an internet connection at the place where I slept last night, and I had to make up my own bed.

Okay - that's not true.

Dr. SmartyPants made up the bed.

In the past six days, I've touched five cities and six airplanes and six cabs and well...you get the picture.

All I do know is that our family is back together and muddling through as best we can.

Now...on with the glamour shots...

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We got dressed and ready to go, and had to do a little portrait in the hotel room mirror...

And a shoe shot, because, oh my word, I love these shoes. Really. After my toes went numb, they were completely comfortable. I even got a pedicure JUST FOR THESE SHOES.

Look! It's the dress WITH the shoes. I'm totally planning all my outfits around these shoes from now on.

We did finally leave the room and someone else took our picture, although he didn't seem to understand that the shoes needed to be in the picture. But I forgive him.

Really. I do.

Because regardless of how much I loved my shoes, this is what it was really all about...

Look at my sweet man up there, holding the plaque.

My patent-holding, innovative idea-making, moving-and-shaking, at-home bed-making sweet man.

Congratulations, my love. No one ever deserved it more.

(And you look really hot in a tuxedo...)

Blind Contour Friday - Week 5

2009-11-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Blind Contour Friday! I hope you all broke out your pens and paper and played along this week, or that you'll play sometime before next Friday. All you have to do is create your own blind contour drawing, post it on your blog and leave your name and a link to your post in the Mr. Linky there at the bottom of this post.

If you're having trouble thinking of something to draw, you can check this great list of ideas and just pick one. Relax, pick up your pen and S L O W down while you observe what you are drawing carefully.

Please make sure you link your post back here so we can spread the word and add more and more players. If you use Twitter or Facebook, feel free to post it there, as well!

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I did this blind contour drawing whilst watching the BBC's mini-series version of Pride and Prejudice. I had paused the DVD to get up and stretch and find some chocolate or something to make it through (it is a 6 hour mini-series...) and when I sat back down, Miss Elizabeth Bennet was framed so lovely on my TV that I decided to make her my subject for a blind contour drawing.

She's really much lovelier in real life.

Her eyes are even approximately the same size and on the same level as each other.

Mr. Darcy was quite taken with her eyes.

I heart Colin Firth.

The end.

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By the time this is posted (I am writing it on Thursday morning), our big black-tie event will be over and we'll already be on an airplane, heading back to Knoxville.

via Atlanta.

Because every plane in the world goes through Atlanta.

Eww.

I'll try to snap a photo or two before we go to the award and upload it to Twitter or Facebook or both. If I don't, well...you'll just have to wait, then, won't you?

Much love, my peeps...

Etsy Excavations

2009-11-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Still diggin' up the goodies over at Etsy...
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This week, we're heading north to talk with Jeanette Jobson, up in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada! Jeanatte's shop, IslanderNL, is full of oil and watercolor paintings, prints and even lovely and delicate jewelry.

Tell us about yourself. How did you get your start as an artist? What's your own personal art history?

Like many creative people, I started dabbling in art at an early age. It wasn't until I lived in the UK that I really got serious about it and started looking for training in art. Most of my training came from Tom Greenshields, who was an artist and sculptor living in Devon, in the southwest of England. Tom trained at the Slade School of Art in London and was a member of the Royal Academy. I met him through life classes at his farm and he sort of 'adopted' me. I think I spent more time at his studio or in his house than I did at home.

I lived and breathed every medium under his tutelage for about 5 years and that is where my love of drawing came from. I took in and participated in exhibitions, networked with some of the best artists and creative minds of that time and was fed a diet of art and classical technique. I was very lucky.

I took workshops with other artists to learn additioanal techniques in mediums or specializations whenever I could.

I continued off and on in portraits of people and animals, then set art aside to some degree while my children were growing. There never seemed to be a lot of time or space available to dedicate to art but when I moved back to Newfoundland, and the children were grown, I started in again in earnest.

You live in Newfoundland and Labrador, which, according to my Google Earth is not only really far north, but really remote. How long have you lived there? How has that environment shaped your artistic vision?

The world's best kept secret is Newfoundland. Its an island in the North Atlantic complete with its own time zone. Its rugged, ancient, pristine and beautiful. Its a perfect spot for artists to be inspired through all senses and with all elements.

I live on a small farm and with an affinity for animals, they provide their own inspiration. The environment has a unique edge with rocks and trees and water dominating. While I'm not a landscape artist by choice, I have explored the water
more since joining Watermarks, another blog of nine individuals around the world who draw or paint water and its many forms, including fish, animals and birds. The potential is endless in this environment.

I see that you have primarily watercolor and oil paintings in your shop. Do you prefer one over the other, and if so, why? Do you have another favorite medium?

I was locked into the grey shades of graphite for many years and it is still my comfort zone. I know how the medium performs and I can create the tiny details that I so love at times. Charcoal and coloured pencil are my staples that are in every day use in my sketchbook and for times when painting frustrates me,.

From a practical point of view, colour sells and often has more visual appeal. Watercolour and oils provide their own set of challenges and creating something beautiful with these mediums is very satisfying. Both have their own appeal and if I had to choose I don't know if I could. Each one is my favourite while I am using it.

Tell us about Gyotaku. How did you get interested in the art form? Is it smelly? ;)

Gyotaku is fish printing or rubbing. A fish is inked then covered with paper and manipulated, providing a perfect anatomical print.

It all started with my drawing of a fish eye. A friend suggested that I might be interested in gyotaku which is a Japanese fish print technique from the 1800s. I looked into the technique and experimented with some local fish then I was hooked.

I usually go one step further with my gyotaku prints and add watercolour washes to enhance them, still leaving the original print visible. And now I have taught my first gyotaku workshop with some enthusiastic beginners, so I hope to see more of it locally.

There is a 'smell of the sea' when using fish to print with, depending on their freshness. I usually get about three days out of a fish before it heads to the compost. The smell, if any, dissapates quickly from the paper that you use to print on and I have never found it to be overwhelming at any stage of the process.

I like to end the interview with a list of favorites:

Who is your favorite artist?

From the past, Lord Frederick Leighton. This Victorian painter created masterpieces of detail and story in oils. His portraits are exquisite.

What is your favorite thing to listen to while you paint?

When I draw I can't listen to anything, it becomes too distracting. While I paint, especially larger impressionistic works, I listen to a variety of music. Currently its Emile Benoit, a Newfoundland fiddler, now dead; but with a unique voice and 'joie de vivre'. Nigel Kennedy's version of The Four Seasons by Vivaldi is a constant.

What is your favorite fish?

Capelin. They are perfect little fish that come to spawn on the beaches of Newfoundland each summer. Silvery with lovely irridescence, they make good eating, printing and painting. And tourists love them as a souvenir of the province.

What is your favorite book and/or author?

Very difficult to say as I have such a broad range that I dip into for both pleasure and for art reference. Robert Hughes, The Fatal Shore is memorable, about the colonization of Australia. Mike Sibley, From Line to Life, is well thumbed in my studio for inspiration and reference.

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Thank you Jeanette! I really enjoyed this - it's so much fun to learn about how other artists work!

My Readers are the Prettiest

2009-11-11T22:23:00.002-05:00

Thank you all for your sweet words and sympathies. I appreciate them more than you can ever know. The reality of losing our sweet Oscar hasn't fully sunk in yet, I think.

It's likely because two hours after we had make that awful decision, we got on a plane and left town, so we haven't had to live in our house without him. I have a feeling it will hit us hard on Friday.

My parents are with the boys, which has been just the medicine they needed. Papa Ray is full of surprises and silliness and distractions, while Nana has lots of hugs and encouragement to give out. Plus...she's an awesome substitute teacher. (thanks mom)

If we were at home, we'd probably all be crying our eyes out and eating ice cream right out of the carton...Instead, Dr. SmartyPants and I are on the second leg of our journey, in Orlando. The big black-tie event is tomorrow night.

I'll be sure to post photos of us all in our finery as soon as we get all prettied up...

Much love...

Unspeakable

2009-11-09T21:33:00.003-05:00

This, my boy, is how I'll always remember you.

Hale and hearty

Romping through surf

Chasing your shadow and your boys

Snapping at crabs on the sand

My heart is breaking at the thought of never seeing your sweet, smiling face again.

Of all the dogs

In all the world

You were the very best one.

Oscar

5/31/2000-11/9/2009

Shadow Shot Sidewalk

2009-11-07T20:02:00.003-05:00

While I'm technically posting this on Saturday, it is Sunday in Australia, where the project originates, and therefore it is still a Shadow Shot Sunday post...

The boys and I are heading south tomorrow, so I had to go ahead and get this posted. We will be traveling the entire month of November, it seems (I keep writing that as "Novembeer." I wonder if I'm trying to send a subliminal message to myself...)

Anyhow - Dr. SmartyPants and I are off for a few days of alone time - first we've had since...uhm...well...summer of 2008? Something like that. We'll be making our way to Orlando for his big black tie banquet award smarty pants thing there, which means I'll be setting aside my usual yoga pants, t-shirt and bare feet for an evening gown and (freakin awesome) high heels. I'll be sure to document the occasion with an overabundance of photographs.

Because that just doesn't happen every day.

We'll hang in Knoxville the next week, then we'll be off to Alabama for all the Thanksgiving festivities. I cannot even believe that it is time to write that sentence.

Thanksgiving, people.

That's just around the corner from Christmas.

Dang.

A Snippet of Time

2009-11-07T19:59:00.001-05:00

We try to keep it clean - really we do.

We just aren't any good at it.

But we still learn a lot.

And that's what really counts...

Right?

*whimper*

Blind Contour Friday - Week 4

2009-11-06T09:32:00.004-05:00

Please make sure you link your post back here so we can spread the word and add more and more players. If you use Twitter or Facebook, feel free to post it there, as well!

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Obviously, I still haven't cleaned the scanner...

This is a blind contour drawing of my youngest son's stuffed dog, Snapper. WOW, those soft edges are difficult to follow. I seemed to do much better when I tried to follow individual hairs on the right side.

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In other news - reviews are mixed regarding this commenting system - I'm going to try to see if I can make it easier, but if I can't, I'll be going back to the plain old Blogger comments. I appreciate all your help in reviewing it for me.

The main thing that is bothering me about it right now, is that it isn't immediately evident that you can use it without registering for Disqus, and that you can use your Google ID to sign in so that there is a link to your blog (you should be able to do that via the Open ID option.)

I'm going to give another day or two, but if I can't resolve those issues, I'm axing it...

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Have a great weekend, peeps!

Etsy Excavations

2009-11-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Still digging up some artists for you over at Etsy...I hope you're all enjoying this series. I know I am!

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Today, we're talking with Candace Squire, wanderer turned artist, currently living in Austin, Texas. Candace paints hauntingly simple and serene landscapes in oils and watercolors. She sells her work at her Etsy shop, shanti shanty.

Tell us a little about your story - how did you get started painting?

i started painting (like most) when i was a very little girl. i like to dream that i've been a painter in former lives, for me this is a good explanation of why i have always found the smell of the art rooms so intoxicating. i was very fortunate to have had an incredible art teacher in high school. he was a professional watercolorist and an inspiration. my life has taken many twists and turns as an adult, and none of them have involved art school, so the instruction i received from him is just that much more valuable to me.

What's the story behind your shop name?

"shanti" is a sanskrit word meaning peace. i am an enthusiastic yogini and i chose this word as a focus for my shop to remind myself of what i am seeking through my art. i believe these small creations, filled with love and color and dreams and wonder, are a piece of my own puzzle to come to a place of peace in my life.

What is your creative process like?

i have a sketchbook that goes everywhere with me. i try to scribble in it at least once a day even if it is only for a few minutes during a fresh air break at work. my watercolors are always set up at the dining room table for easy access. when i have the time to paint with oils, i turn up the music on the record player as loud as i think the neighbors will tolerate, and dance around my workspace palette knife in hand. somehow some of the paint makes it to the canvas. the whole ritual of it, getting my whole body into it, helps me relax and nudge the perfectionist in me to the side.

Where do you get your inspiration?

places i've been, in real life or in dreams. i am always seeking to bring the lands in my dreams to life on canvas. i also have a fascination with trees. i admire their strength and stillness. their quiet lives. i have favorites, best tree friends, that i paint and draw and meditate on often. my family is also a well of inspiration for me in so many ways.

You have oils and watercolors in your Etsy shop - do you prefer one over the other, and if so, why?

i go through phases...the watercolors offer me instant gratification. since my studio space is also the guest bedroom (and also the storage room for all of my partner's music equipment) it requires more preparation to set up the space for my oil paints, so i will paint furiously with oils for several weeks and then put everything up to dry for a couple months and so on. oil paints are very special for me. and there is no substitute.

Have you dabbled in other media?

oh YES! one of my favorite mediums is clay. especially wheel throwing. i love everything about it and hope to soon be able to afford to rent some space in a pottery studio. i also am in the middle of about a hundred craft projects ranging from knit socks to origami lanterns.

I love your painting, Landlines, for its simplicity and quiet energy - which of your own paintings is your favorite, and what do you think it says about you?

hmm...i think right now it is dreamscape: the color palette is just right for me at the moment and it is one that just flowed out of me it seems. i am constantly struggling against my desire for everything i make to be "perfect" and every moment i am creating without that looming over me is a small victory. i paint to free myself.

I like to end the interview with a list of your favorites:

Who is your favorite artist?

there are so many...but at the top is vincent van gogh. my dream is to go to his museum in amsterdam one day. there is a short film by the director akira kurosawa called "crows" in which he meets vincent van gogh in the fields and then proceeds to walk through some of his paintings. i turn it on when i need some inspiration. it's a brilliant film.

What is your favorite thing to listen to while you paint?

always something dreamy and psychedelic. usually cocorosie, os mutantes, portishead, joanna newsom, radiohead...or the classics: the kinks, beatles, queen, david bowie, willie nelson. i have a broad taste in music and always need something energetic. otherwise i tend to just sit back and watch my paintings rather than actually paint them. my partner is a musician, and when he and his guitar keep me company i am happiest.

What is your favorite paint color...the one you seem to grab every time?

i love all shades of blue and green. there is always one of each on my palette.

What is your favorite book and/or author?

if i pick one it has to be poet rainer maria rilke. he's rescued me in some hard times and always inspires me. but also anaïs nin, raymond carver, rumi...

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Thanks Candace!

Comments?

2009-11-04T15:34:00.003-05:00

I'm trying out a new commenting platform, and would love your feedback on it...

You should be able to leave a comment using your blogger, facebook or twitter id. I'm trying it mainly because I like the idea of threaded comments, and blogger doesn't have those...

Is it a pain in the arse?

Does it work just fine?

Comment, and let me know!

****EDIT: Let me know in the comment section if you are able to comment by using your facebook or twitter id, or blogger/OpenID without registering with Disqus...if you CAN'T and don't want to register with Disqus, please send me an email, instead, and let me know that...I'm still trying to find out if this is easier or harder...there are other options, too - THANKS!!*****

It's very possible that this is just another way to procrastinate...it is November, after all...

Oh, look! Shiny green boots!

Bokeh, Baby...

2009-11-03T21:31:00.003-05:00

I've become crazily enamored with bokeh, lately - I love trying to see just how sharp I can get the foreground, while pushing the effect in the background - this photo really shows it off, I think, with the sharp pine needles in the foreground juxtaposed against the yellow leaves behind it.

I'd love to have some deep, philosophical comparison to go along with it, but I'd just be trying too hard, and I'm feeling decidedly lazy lately. I think it's the time-change. I wanted to go to bed an hour ago.

So - hey - I know - why don't all you lovely readers leave me some cool comments about what bokeh says to you. I know there's something deep there...some completely Zen thing that is embedded in the photo.

I need me some Zen, people.

NaNoWhat?

2009-11-02T15:20:00.002-05:00

It's November 2. Have you started writing yet?

I have. But it's not what I expected, and it's kind of freaking me out.

And that's all I'm going to say about it.

Dang.

Shadow Shot Subway

2009-11-01T18:05:00.001-05:00

Holy smokes, I love this iPhone app...

For more spectacular shadow shots, visit HeyHarriet! and click on the links!

More Halloween Hijinx

2009-10-31T20:46:00.002-04:00

The boys' outfits...completed. D was Ben 10, and J was Spock. Spock's hair was my knitting project for the week. Junebug's hair is very blonde, and completely non-Vulcan, so we had to come up with another solution. I had a pattern for a Hallowig, and I modified it heavily to have sweet Spockish sideburns. I tried to get one finished for myself, but just couldn't quite get it finished - the modification of Spock's hair took up too much time.

I was so close, though...just needed to finish the top. I'll have it for next year, I guess.

But for this year - this was my Halloween costume.

I love my new lime-green galoshes.

Hope you and your goblins had a great time...

p.s. these pictures were taken with my new iphone app, QuadCamera. Way cool fun, peeps.

Howl-o-ween

2009-10-31T06:00:00.000-04:00

I'll be back with costume pictures later - and with the Halloween knitting project - assuming I actually finish it before tricks and treats commence.

And I finally posted my version of this week's topic at Lens Us Together. Nothing like waiting until the last minute....

Blind Contour Friday - Week 3

2009-10-30T06:00:00.001-04:00

I cannot even believe how dirty my scanner is. Guess I'll be cleaning THAT today.

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Please make sure you link your post back here so we can spread the word and add more and more players. If you use Twitter or Facebook, feel free to post it there, as well!

Etsy Excavations

2009-10-29T07:00:00.002-04:00

Still digging up some artists for you over at Etsy...I hope you're all enjoying this series. I know I am!

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Today, we're talking to Rosa Murillo, an artist who grew up in Mexico, but currently lives in North Carolina. Her enchanting collages can't help but capture your eye and imagination. She's got a new downloadable print in her Etsy shop, just in time for Halloween and Day of the Dead celebrations.

Tell us about yourself - how did you become an artist? What's your background in art?

When I was in architecture school I found that the part of the projects I enjoyed the most were the ones that needed illustrations, model making and design, that's when I discovered that there was an art bug I wanted to explore but life took me in another direction for a few years, until I decided to explore painting as a new experiment and fell in love with it.

Lazarus Heart is one of my favorites. What is the story behind that assemblage? What does it say to you?

This piece came together one day after I was reading the Lazarus story in the bible. I started to imagine how it could feel to be dead and then alive again. The things you might have seen! The drawing is made in a thick plastic sheet that I colored with pencils and ink. There's a collage attached to the back of the plastic and also to the front, so it shows some transparency and layers. It talks to me about past, present, future, the layers in your life.

I love how you incorporate found objects and paper ephemera into your artwork. What is your creative process like? Do you let the ephemera guide the painting, or do you look for particular objects to try and finish out a piece you are working on?

Sometimes when I am working on the studio, if I get lucky, the pieces start to come together on their own effortlessly, finding the place they want to inhabit in the painting. Sometimes a cigar box helps me contain these types of collages, otherwise they would spread bigger and bigger.
I usually start with the general idea and palette I want to work in and I will start to go through all the drawers and find pieces that might go together on that palette or theme. Then I will try to find a place to assemble them like a piece of wood, a box, a canvas. It depends what feels right. The way I work is very intuitive and if the piece doesn't feel right I have to keep trying different things until it does. I usually end writing something and drawing little people who will live there.

Tell us about Found Art Tuesday - how did it start, where has it taken you?

The Found Art Tuesday project started as a commitment on my part to keep motivated by making something creative every week and sharing it with someone who wasn't expecting to find art like this sitting on a park bench somewhere, and to hopefully make an impact on them. Maybe inspiring them to make something creative as well, or just to make them smile. I've started projects like this before but didn't stick with them too long because I struggled to find the time. Documenting the pieces in my website helped me stick to it, I felt this way there was a bigger commitment because this time, people were watching!

I like to end the interview with a list of favorites:

Who is your favorite artist?

My 6 yr. old daughter. she amazes me with her creativity! I also like to see the art made by architects. They have such an interesting perspective.

What is your favorite thing to listen to while you paint?

Sting and U2, back to back, over and over.

What is your favorite object you've ever used in a painting or assemblage?

An old document from Mexico from 1887. It is a title for a property, handwritten in brown ink, with notary seals and official signatures. It's amazing!

What is your favorite book and/or author?

You mean, besides everything Harry Potter? Well, one book that will always have a special place in my heart is "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende. This book taught me that anything you dream can be possible.

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Thanks, Rosa! That was fun - I really appreciate you taking the time to answer all my question! It's interesting - I just finished re-reading "The Neverending Story" recently, and started reading it to my boys - it's a classic tale, isn't it?

Sweet Mercy

2009-10-28T16:29:00.002-04:00

I need to lock this boy up.

If he ever gets a chance to look at a girl other than his mama like this, I'll have to beat them off with sticks.

And then there's this one.

I once watched a little girl run into a post because she couldn't quit looking at this one. Seriously. He was only 6 at the time. Now he's 8. It's only getting worse.

Thankfully, he's oblivious. Far more interested in sword fights and Bakugan and using the Force.

That first one up there, though? NOT oblivious. Not-quite-ten-years-old.

Loves the ladies.

Help me.

Fair Dinkum

2009-10-27T15:12:00.002-04:00

Sketched from taxidermic specimen. Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

This is as far as I could get while wandering the museum with the boys a couple of weeks ago. They bounce like pinballs through the mammal hall, shouting "LOOK" at the peak of their volumes.

They go to eleven.

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I watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail last night. I laughed until I snorted.

Then I marveled at Terry Gilliam's illustrations/animations and was in awe all over again at the pure genius behind them.

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I'm feeling very random and disjointed this week. Can you tell? I hope to pull it together very soon. I don't like it.

Not one bit.

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I did laundry every day last week.

Every. Stinking. Day.

Today, I walked down to the laundry area, and couldn't find the washing machine because of all the dirty laundry.

I keep looking around for Rod Serling.

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That's all I have to say about that.

Bird Brain

2009-10-26T17:26:00.002-04:00

It's Monday.

Nuff said.

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There's still time to play along with the blind contour drawings - they are so much fun, people - even if you don't draw, you should try it - you'll be amazed at how clearly you begin to see shapes and silhouettes and the ins and outs of things. Scrap paper, napkins, the Sunday paper - doesn't matter what you use - just grab a pen, an object to draw and get at it...then link it up for us! Go to the Friday post to see what to do.

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Did you know it's almost Halloween? Where the heck to does the time go? I've been busy knitting in preparation.

Knitting for Halloween?

Yep.

Something I've never knitted before, although I hope to make two this week.

If it works, I'll show you a picture.

If it doesn't.

Well.

You'll just have to deal with the disappointment.

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I went to the eye doctor today. It was interesting. I'm very near-sighted.

But I'm over 40, so I'm starting to get a little far-sighted.

And they are canceling each other out.

So my vision is improving.

I'm like Benjamin Button.

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Have a great week, peeps...

Shadows of Fall

2009-10-24T21:19:00.002-04:00

Who says shadows have to be dark?

For more shimmering shadows, head over to HeyHarriet! and click on the links!

A Farcical Aquatic Ceremony

2009-10-24T15:40:00.002-04:00

I have no soccer pictures today, because 20 minutes in, the skies opened and the deluge did begin.

So I offer you a water tower, instead.

It's the best I could do.

Blind Contour Friday - Week 2

2009-10-23T04:00:00.001-04:00

Welcome back, my friends! I hope you all stopped and took a little time this week to really observe the world around you and that you all found something to look at so intensely, you could draw it without looking at your paper...

I did. I actually made a few blind contour drawings this week, but this one just seemed to take me into that lovely right brained, time-lapse zone, so I decided it was the one I would share. It's the old standby - the model I always have with me...

With a little prodding from Connie, I decided to give you all a link that I've found very useful, especially when I am just feeling uninspired about what, exactly, to draw. The Everyday Matters Yahoo group is a virtual cornucopia of creativity. There are people from all walks of life, artistic skill levels and backgrounds there, and they share their art and their desire to make art a part of, well, every day. The group was inspired by the book, Everyday Matters, by Danny Gregory, which you should all read if you haven't yet.

Anyway - they've had a list of prompts going on for 244 weeks, now, and they are all listed at Karen Winters's blog, The Creative Journey. Use it as a jumping off point to help decide what to draw, but don't feel like you have to go in order or anything - just find a subject and go for it.

I'd like to give a special thanks to everyone who played along last week - you all were wonderful! I hope you don't mind, but I've put together a little snippet of a mosaic of them...

Top Row: Peggy, Deborah, Stephanie, Lay Hoon

Bottom Row: Zelma, Connie, Florence, Me

Remember to add the link to your Blind Contour Friday post to Mr. Linky down there, so we can all come see your fabulous drawing, and please remember to link your post back here, so others can find us and play along.

And - while it isn't required that you leave me a comment, please feel free to - I heart comments...

Really. I heart comments.

Wow. I Mean Really. Wow.

2009-10-22T21:17:00.002-04:00

People. This is straight out of the camera. No alteration.

Can you believe these colors actually exist in nature?

Dang.

Etsy Excavations

2009-10-22T07:24:00.002-04:00

Okay. I've been selling over at Etsy for a couple of months now, and I've noticed something really interesting.

It's a great place, stuffed to the rafters with talented artists and craftspeople, but it is HUGE and a little daunting if you just want to find some new art. So I have taken it upon myself to find some for you. Just art from visual artists - painters and photographers - because honestly?

They're buried kind of deeply over there...

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Layla Luna stocks her shop, Rowdy Studios, with such charming sketches of birds, I want to spend all my money there and hang one on every wall of my house. She is obviously my kindred spirit, as she explores the vast and fascinating diversity of birds. She paints other things, as well, which you can see at her website.

You have the best alliterative name ever. Is there a story behind it? Were your parents poets?

Thanks! I just got lucky. My hippie parents named me after the song "Layla" by Eric Clapton and I married into the Luna name. How could you turn down a name like that? It solidified that my husband was the "one"!

What is your artistic story? How did you get started, and what's the driving force behind Rowdy Studios?

One of the biggest defining elements of my childhood was my time spent at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in Texas. I took art classes there beginning when I was 10 years old until I graduated high school. After graduating I went straight into college as an art major but got lost along the way. It wasn't until I was 30, that I began school again and graduated from Arizona State University in the fall of 2008 with a BFA in Painting. Rowdy Studios is my creative home. It encompasses every creative morsel that I feel compelled to complete. Its my baby.

I can see from your shop that you are as birdie-obsessed as I am. What's your inspiration for your artwork?

I recently began volunteering at Liberty Wildlife, a non-profit avian rehab center here in Phoenix which has been my latest inspiration. To be honest, I am still trying to figure out my "bird" conection with every piece of artwork.

Tell us about your dogs - my readers love dogs. I saw in your profile on blogger that they are straight from heaven...

My pups, Kona and Papa, are pound puppies that my husband and I instantly feel in love with. We often discuss how much they have enhanced our lives. They are spoiled rotten and deserve every hug!

I like to end the interview with a list of favorites:
a. Who is your favorite artist?
Right now it is Nicolai Fechin but it is forever changing.
b. What is your favorite thing to listen to while you paint?
The Breeders, David Bowie, Willie Nelson...depends on the mood.
c. What is your favorite bird?
Tough one. Either the Shoebill or Kiwi.
d. What is your favorite book and/or author?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo

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Thanks, Layla! You have a captivating style that really grabs my eye, and an energy in your paintings that is so engaging.

For more information about Layla, visit her website, her blog, or just go directly to her shop...'cause you know you gotta have some of her sketches, people.