Habit of Art

things i'm fond of today

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:58:00 +0000

The Obliteration Room. Installation by Yuki Nakano. Visitors help "obliterate" a white room by adhering colored dots on walls and furniture. The top photo was taken on day one. The bottom photo is seven weeks later. The Obliteration Room is currently at the Gallery of Modern Art in Queensland, Australia.

Furniture by Los Angeles-based designer Tanya Aguiniga. Shown are Felt Chairs, Birch Bench, and Zinacantan (steel and wool yarn).

Cendrine Rovini. I've been following Cendrine's art for awhile now. This particular piece, La récolte d'oraisons, is one I'm particularly fond of. It's part of her current solo exhibition "Liquid Vermeil" at the Da-End Gallery in Paris. Cendrine talks about her latest works in this video.

Bags and slippers (linen and leather) by Tarco Nakazato. I love the color combinations and graphic elements.

Cal Lane. Lane describes her art as "pullling together industrial and domestic life." Above are two of my favorite works of hers: Plasma cut steel wheelbarrow (2007) and Dirt Lace installation at Purchase Collage, New York (2004).

new print: it was just a dream

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:57:00 +0000

I tend to have very vivid dreams. Sometimes I'll spend the first waking moments recounting the stirring details of my dreams to my husband, who, in turn, does a remarkable job pretending to be interested.

My dreams play out like a chase sequence in Bourne Identity or an elaborate storyline from an epic film. And then there's the perpetual teacher's nightmare- standing in front of a classroom without a lesson plan. Not sure why I still have this dream seeing that I left teaching many years ago.

Sometimes the most evocative moment happens before the REM cycle. While falling asleep and with my eyes closed, there are times when I can see an electrifying display of colors. The colors are bright and captivating, and before I can think too much about it, I am fast asleep. Yesterday, I was reminded of this nocturnal chromatic phenomenon when I started working on my latest print design, It was just a dream.

I find beautiful dreams are the hardest to remember, or, at least, retain. With my new work, I wanted to capture just a split moment of tranquility and bliss found in a beautiful dream.

To create the soft, blurred effects of this piece, I used pastels. I haven't used pastels (particularly oil pastels) as much as I would have liked to the past year, because I've been focusing on acrylics. If you've been following my 30 works in 30 days project, you may have noticed that I like to work with a variety of art materials. I'm realizing from this personal endeavor that I am ready to explore further the use of different mediums, like pastels, in my art.

This week: not eating paint chips yet

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:12:00 +0000

I can see how artists can go mad working on their art day and night for long stretches of time. At one point this week, my husband said to me, you really need to get out of the house. That was code for, when did you take a shower last?

Yup, it's easy to neglect even basic hygiene while hyper focused on some kind of intense cerebral output. Just think of Einstein. He came up with the theory of general relativity, but I don't think he brushed his hair for decades.

Thankfully, my fanatical art run is only for 30 days. Then I'll be back to my old self, which is still pretty reclusive, but a little bit more in touch with the real world. . . and with brushed hair.

//// To see the availability of any of the works shown above, just visit my Etsy shop here.

more sites to add to your blogroll

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:07:00 +0000

via Jill Bliss

Cabin Porn. It's basically crack for cabin addicts like me. Thanks, Jill, for getting me hooked.

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via minieco

Handmade Ryan Gosling. If you're crafty and taken, then both of you will get a good laugh out of this tumblr. This post in particular hit home . . . um, sorry again, honey, for leaving that pin in the sofa cushion!

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Annekata. After a five month hiatus, Kathrin is back with more creative and thought-provoking posts. Truly one of my very favorite blogs.

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In the Make. Studio visits are up there with cabin porn. Thankfully I can get my fix every Monday when photographer Klea McKenna and writer Nikki Grattan post their latest interview with a San Francisco-based artist.

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Things Organized Neatly. Not sure why I like household objects neatly arranged in rows, but I do. It actually is very pleasing. Too bad my desk doesn't look anything like this. (Thanks to reader Falco for the tip!)

30 works in 30 days

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:40:00 +0000

Zenith, a new mixed media painting on maple wood panel

My friends think I'm crazy. I'm calling it a test in self-discipline. Since January 7, I've been creating a new original work of art every day for my Etsy shop. Today marks Day 10 of the challenge.

I've been focusing on smaller, affordable pieces of art, which has been refreshing after a stint of working on larger wood panel paintings. Working small allows me to experiment more with different ideas and materials, like the mini canvas panels and watercolor markers purchased a couple of months ago.

I also found a line of maple wood panels out of New York that I'm trying out. Due to the closing of a Portland art store in October, I lost my local source of smaller, uncradled wood panels. The maple wood panels are quite a bit pricier (nearly double), but the material is nicer and the panels come with slots in the back for easy hanging.

New pieces that have sold.

The 30 day project has made me sit at my art desk every day, which is one of my favorite places to be. The challenge comes in finding enough time in the day to finish a work of art [that I like!], take pictures of it while there's decent light, and then upload it into my Etsy shop. The schedule this past weekend was a little hairy, but I managed to get it all done.

There is no master list or inspiration board to work from. When I sit down at my desk, I decide at that point which substrate to use, and then I go from there. I'm actually a little surprised that my works don't look more alike than they do. Maybe a mini-series of art will surface in the second half of the project.

twilight, 10 x 10 in. mixed media painting

Five pieces have sold so far, which is so encouraging. This month, I'm trying to create a number of original works of art that are truly affordable for anyone. I love the idea that a person can have in their home a one-of-kind art work for $40. I realize that I may be underpricing my art, considering the time and detail I put into the smaller works. But it brings me joy to know that people who love my art can afford to own an original. And just so you know, I pack each one of the little works of art with as much love and care as I do the larger pieces.

Twilight (above) and the works below are currently available. You can keep checking back every day for new originals in my Etsy shop, or you can subscribe to the shop's feed here.

I now know one Dutch word, woonwinkel

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:22:00 +0000

Woonwinkel (say that fast three times) means home shop in Dutch, and it's also the name of a local home store in downtown Portland. Opening just eight months ago, Woonwinkel has joined the ranks of hip businesses (Ace Hotel, Frances May, and Canoe) in the West End neighborhood. Not to mention that it's across the street from the food carts! Bubble tea and modern, minimal home design? Sounds like heaven to me.

One of the first things I noticed in the bright and spacious shop was this tile mosaic of an owl on the floor. It was discovered after the flooring was pulled up during the renovation. An Owl Pharmacy had once occupied the space in the historic Pittock Building, which explains the symbols on the mortar bowl. What a find!

The most fascinating piece in the shop was this collaborative work between Brooklyn designers Chen Chen and Kai Tsien Williams. In the left photo, you can see what looks like a hodgepodge of everyday objects wrapped in a giant piece of pink taffy. The found objects are actually bound in a mixture of epoxy, resin, and wax. And then cross sections are cut to create these unique and stunning coasters. Whoa.

Woonwinkel is a well-curated shop showcasing beautiful and clever designs by independent designers from Europe and the local region. Lucky for all you who live outside of Portland, an online shop is in the works. Now how do you say I want it all in Dutch?

my week

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

The theme this week was, appropriately so, new things. New hobby, new food, new show, and new project.

I got a gift card to Powell's Books for Christmas- actually it was more like I "stole" it from my father-in-law in our family gift exchange. Powell's is an enormous new and used bookstore in downtown Portland, and it's a must stop for any tourist wanting to get a good dose of Portland culture. I can literally spend hours in this place, and the beautiful thing is, so can the rest of my family.

Last week, my husband and I had a free night without kiddos, so we headed to Powell's. I only made it about 10 feet in when a book caught my eye. It's called Tart and Sweet:101 Canning and Pickling Recipes for the Modern Kitchen. The title alone made my mouth water!

I've been wanting to learn how to put up food, and this book walks you through all the basics. I'm also all about unique combinations of flavors in the kitchen, and I was enticed by the recipes in Tart and Sweet. Here's what I made this week: Candied Kumquats with Cinnamon and Star Anise, Lemon Herb Pickled Garlic, Southeast Asian Carrot Daikon Pickles, Wasabi Green Beans, and Preserved Lemons.

I like exotic foods, but there are times when I just want a good cheeseburger. Around the corner from Powell's is locally owned Little Big Burger. Picture a modern and minimalist fast food burger joint, and that is Little Big Burger. I ordered my hamburger with chevre cheese, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it was so good, my husband and I came back a few days later with our girls. Other nice surprises included the spicy house ketchup and the bold and graphic art of Damien Gilley blanketing one wall of the restaurant.

Thursday night was my artist reception at Prana. After a very busy season of work, it was so nice to catch up with friends.

Since my Etsy shop now looks a little bare without these paintings, I decided to take on a new project. I'm going to commit to creating and uploading one new original work of art into my Etsy shop every day for the next 30 days. Prices will vary from one work to the next, but most will be in the $30 - $75 range. Again, these are all one-of-kind pieces that I will create in upcoming weeks. I just completed the first one last night. It's titled morning mist.

On this blog, I will show a recap of new works once a week. If you want to get a daily update in your reader, you can subscribe to my Etsy shop's RSS feed here.

my phone talks to me!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:35:00 +0000

I like gadgets even more than my husband does. I was bummed in middle school when I couldn't get into Shop class, and I was always a tad envious of A.V. kids getting to wind film onto a reel. I did take Home Economics, however, and I learned how to make a pencil pouch with a sewing machine.

Two weeks ago, my husband surprised me with a new gadget- the iphone 4s. I have been secretly eyeing it since it came out in October, but I was trying to be practical and show a little self-restraint. Of course, once I had the phone in my hand, all that went out the door.

The coolest function of the phone is Siri, the voice activated application that helps you send messages, make phone calls, and set reminders. Definitely a handy tool when running errands. The newer iphone also allows me to process credit card transactions using the Square app. The little reader just plugs in at the top and you just slide the card through. Perfect for art events!

Seeing that I needed a new case for the phone, I ended up creating my own design with Uncommon. It's as simple as downloading an image and reconfiguring the design in a template. I came up with four designs.

An Uncommon case is where art meets function. I received my personalized crater case last week, and I am really pleased with how it turned out, particularly with the color matching. I will say that the shiny plastic seems to scratch easily and a white trim option would be a nice addition. But these minor details won't keep me from placing another order in the future.

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I want to remind those in the Portland area of my artist reception at Prana this Thursday night. My latest paintings will be on display. Hope to see you there!

a new beginning

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Caldera, mixed media, 18 x 18 inches, 2012

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us.

A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens

Originally penned to describe pre-French Revolutionary times, Dickens' words are poignant today. Just browse the daily headlines to find stirring stories depicting our precarious times. Thanks to fiber optics, within moments I can go from complete elation to utter disgust and hopelessness.

Sometimes, the insanities of this world are too much for me to handle, and I feel an overwhelming sense of despair and sadness. I don't lament very often for my own hurt, but my heart weeps for the world every day.

I hold my girls tightly and look to my husband for reassurance. But, often times, this isn't enough. So I pray, and I paint in silence.

Painting has become a time for me to connect with God, and I turn to Him for inspiration, peace, and purpose. Like the majestic mountains and vast seas around me, God is my constant. And knowing this is what grounds me.

    A voice says, “Cry!”
        And I said, “What shall I cry?”
    All flesh is grass,
        and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
    The grass withers, the flower fades
        when the breath of the LORD blows on it;
        surely the people are grass.
    The grass withers, the flower fades,
        but the word of our God will stand forever.

- Isaiah 40:6-8

People have described my art as calm, mysterious, and bold, and these are all qualities I would use to describe God. Recently, I had a revelation about my art. My landscapes are not just pictures of scenic mountains and waters- they are a portrait of God's character.

A new year is beginning, and, frankly, I expect the headlines of 2012 to look no different than the years before. This can be a defeating thought if it weren't for my faith in a Creator. This year, in quiet moments of creating, my hope is that God will continue to transform my heart and use my art to impact those around me.

I'm not one to make new year's resolutions, but if I were to choose one for the blog, it would be for more transparency. It's fun to look at pretty things, but art is definitely more than just aesthetics. Often times the creative process is a time of personal and spiritual reflection. Even as I write this, there is a tinge of discomfort at the thought of being more transparent, but I recognize the value of openness and genuineness in an avatar driven virtual reality that we call the internet.

Thanks to all who have supported my creative journey the past couple of years. Your steady readership and comments have been a huge source of encouragement! I enjoy meeting followers of this blog, so if you have yet to comment, feel free to just say hello from wherever you are : )

Many blessings to you and yours in the upcoming year,

Cathy

my creative week

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:28:00 +0000

whenever it's a little quiet on the blog,

it usually means i'm busy working on some creative projects . . .

here's my latest painting, Aura

it's part of my upcoming show at prana next month

i finished this crocheted baby blanket for my nephew in the nick of time

it's just big enough to accompany him in the carseat or a stroller

i found some glass paperweights at a frame shop and

thought they would look nifty with some of my art

not sure if people use paperweights anymore,

but at least they look nice on a desk

the handful of paperweights were gifted to loved ones

hope everyone had a joy-filled christmas day

the sunrise from our window was glorious

the sunset was beautiful, too

family photo shoot with lisa warninger

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:23:00 +0000

photos by lisa warninger: middle, right and bottom row

Our family had our first family photo shoot just a few weeks ago! Urban Weeds photographer Lisa Warninger organized a family portrait marathon at The Cleaners in downtown Portland, and we were able to snatch one of the 30 minute sessions.

I have been following Urban Weeds since its start in 2009, so I am pretty familiar with Lisa's photographic style by now. She captures people as they naturally are, which is what I love about her work. I also love the sense of place in Lisa's portraiture work, particularly the Portland settings.

When she's not shooting street photography, Lisa keeps busy shooting for clients like Elle, Chronicle Books, and Wrangler. The family portrait marathon in November was a one time thing, but Lisa plans to continue her sassy Valentine's Day Mini Shoots. This year, the mini photo shoots are scheduled for January 28 - 29. Check her blog in upcoming weeks for more details or feel free to email Lisa at lisawarninger[at]mac.com.

my week

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:37:00 +0000

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas . . .

pulled out the felt tree skirt that i made two years ago

we got our tree [harvested just the day before] from a christmas tree vendor a few blocks away

did you know that more christmas trees come from oregon than any other state?

the capitol hill holiday market was this weekend

i was a little booth envy after seeing see jill bliss' flowy fabric cutouts!

it was great seeing a lot of familiar faces and meeting new vendors

i think i spent more time shopping than selling

i couldn't resist these lovely ceramic pieces from laura cooke [already gifted as a wedding present]

i also bought an onyx ring from resolute twig

the silver band was oxidized natually after being sealed in a bag with a hard boiled egg- love it!

right after the holiday market, my husband and i zipped on over to
a sweet wedding in the pioneer oaks church

the reception was at the cleaners in downtown's ace hotel

the deer and mistletoe place cards were pretty adorable

New work, "Celestial"

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 03:51:00 +0000

I thought for sure our family could retreat to a quiet, secluded place for the holidays this year. But that was before I said yes to two upcoming events. The first is a handmade holiday fair at a local school, Capitol Hill. I'm actually one of the event organizers, so I've been running around this week passing out flyers and mulling over last minute details. Crafty Wonderland is this weekend, and some of the participating vendors will be at the Capitol Hill Holiday Market next weekend. Click here for more information about our little handmade fair.

The second event is my art show at Prana. For the month of January, I'm the featured artist at Portland's new Prana store. I'm planning on showcasing a few new originals along with other 2011 works. My latest painting is Celestial, which is an 18" x 18" mixed media work on wood panel.

projects i'm still working on

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 08:44:00 +0000

I love finishing a project as much as starting one. There's so much satisfaction in knowing that I made something with my hands that can be enjoyed by others. I also feel a great sense of accomplishment after finishing a project, especially one that takes days or weeks to complete.

Then there are those half-finished projects that sit at the bottom of my closet for months [sometimes years!] due to a creative hiccup, life's distractions, or diminishing fervor. Thankfully the closet is small, but it still bothers me to see some of my creative work on a long-term hiatus.

Today, I thought I'd share with you a few of those perennial works in progress. The montage below shows snapshots of the projects when I first wrote about them on Habit of Art.

I started crocheting a mini blanket last January when I found out I was going to be an aunt again. I'm nearly done with this blanket (top photo), but I have another blanket to start for the other twin! I'm determined to finish both blankets by Christmas, before the babies outgrow them. It just wouldn't be Christmas Eve without me madly working on handmade gifts.

One evening in the Fall of 2010, I had a sudden creative surge. I grabbed a piece of plywood from the shed and started painting this landscape scene. The mountains were painted in oils and the background in an ink wash. After the first stage of painting had cured, I sadly discovered that the plywood had bowed. I'm assuming from the ink wash.

At times like this, scrapping a work of art seems like the easiest solution (out of sight, out of mind). But, the teacher in me would not approve at all. I have fished many works in progress out of the classroom trash can and urged defeated students to embrace problem-solving opportunities.

After talking with a couple of handy wood craftsmen, I now have a plan of action to fix the warped wood. I'm going to rewet the front of the painting and then place it face down on the ground with some weight on it. Once the board dries and straightens out, I'll then attach it to a wood frame. We'll see if this works!

I have a history of taking years to finish quilts. Then again, that was when I was handquilting blankets. The quilt shown above, which was started in April 2010, was originally designed to be a queen size duvet cover. Although I was using a sewing machine, it was still a time-consuming project. I got about half way through the project and then it sat untouched for over a year.

Fast forward to spring of 2011. I'm watching two additional cats for a few weeks, and I discover in horror that my basket of fabrics had been used as a cat litter box! Even if I wanted to try to get the cat urine out of the fabric, I couldn't get past the idea that my face would be snuggling up to it every night.

So now, the duvet cover will most likely become a twin size duvet cover, thanks to one very misbehaved cat.

things i'm fond of today

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:46:00 +0000

drifting in the depths, tiel seivl-keevers [brisbane, australia]

paintings by michelle breton [melbourne, australia]

tussle by melissa castrillon [cambridge, england]

ceramic vessels by shino takeda [brooklyn, ny]

I had this idea of recording my sketchbook via video. Then I came across this video that artist adriana lozano [buenos aires, argentina] uploaded onto her flickr last week.

Adriana's sketchbook reads like a book. Did you notice how the drawings continue onto the next page? This is another project I have been wanting to do but just haven't had the time to work on . . . one day.

To see other videos of adriana lozano's wonderful work, go here.

my week

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:36:00 +0000

thanksgiving day in salem, oregon ::

i learned a new word- spatchcock

my husband says it sounds intrusive

it means to butterfly poultry so that it cooks faster

after four weeks of climbing up and down a ladder or crouching on the floor,

my "tattooing" of the prana store is now done

it was a wonderful experience and i am so thankful to have worked with a company

that cares about how their products are made and the people involved

i've started including friendship pins with orders:

one with every order thru the end of 2011

just a reminder that my calendar sale ends tomorrow!

check out my latest interview on artists who blog

thanks stephanie!

New! 2012 calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:41:00 +0000

New in my Etsy shop is this 2012 calendar. The mixed media collage, which was actually created several months ago, was inspired by a trip to Crater Lake. I love old lodges and cabins, so I created this calendar to have a vintage, rustic-like look. The months and dates were all handwritten, and the paper is 100% recycled cardstock.

For the next week and a half, I'm running a special promotion in my Etsy shop. In celebration of my shop turning two this week, I'm giving away a calendar with orders totaling $30 or more. To see more photos of the calendar, go here.

Almost done

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:35:00 +0000

These are the two floor designs I have been working on in the new Prana store. In the first pic, you can see the very small paintbrush I have been using to paint the lines.

I'll be painting during the store's grand opening party Friday night. If you can't make it to the event, maybe you can stop by in early January for my First Thursday artist reception. I'm Prana's featured artist for the month of January, so my latest originals will be showcased in the shop.

my creative week

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:05:00 +0000

I managed to find some time this week to finish an 8 x 10 mixed media painting called dreamscape. When I start a new work, it's rare for me to have an idea of what the finished piece will look like. My painting process is very organic. I apply one layer after another until all the elements seem to just fit together. Outside of art, I tend to be a big planner, so it's very freeing to sit at my art desk and not have to plan a composition beforehand.

One of the comments I receive the most about my art is that it's much more detailed in person than on the computer screen. It's difficult to capture with a camera the subtle gradations of color and texture in an artwork. In dreamscape, the background may initially look like it's one flat color. But, at closer observation, the wavy pattern that has been scratched into the wood panel reveals underlayers of color.

Negative space isn't usually a dominant feature in my work. But, in this particular piece, the dark empty space between the mountain and clouds creates balance and adds an element of mystery.

dreamscape is currently available in my Etsy shop here.

I'm helping plan an art fair and fundraiser next month at my daughter's school. It's a two day event where Portland shoppers can purchase art and handmade gifts by local artists and makers. My two girls will be sharing a booth with me. I'll be selling my art, and they will be selling their beaded jewelry. They want to buy some chickens for families in developing countries, so this is their way of raising money.

The girls will also be selling some wearable friendship pins. I helped them figure out how to get the beads on the other side of the safety pin so that it can fasten to clothes or bags. I have to say that the friendship pins are pretty cute, and I feel like I'm in middle school again!

In the spirit of holiday cheer, I'm including one of these little guys with every order from my Etsy shop this month and next.

Sketches for a floor design.

This upcoming week, I'm finishing my art installation at Prana's new Portland store. I have three designs done and one floor design to go. My back already feels a little contorted from standing on a ladder for hours or being hunched over on the floor. [I can't imagine what Michelangelo felt like painting the Sistine Chapel- which took four years!]

I have really enjoyed seeing the new retail space come together, and it has brought back many memories of opening my own store. There are days when I really miss it, and sometimes I do think about opening another art-focused shop. . . but not anytime soon.

I'll post photos of the new Prana store and my designs later this week. The grand opening party is set for this Friday from 6 - 9p. Enjoy some drinks and snacks while watching me paint on the floor. The design will look something like the sketch on the right.

my week

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:36:00 +0000

i have been buying art supplies at art media, a local art store in downtown Portland,

since i was a freshman in high school [that's 25 years!]

this was my bus stop

a couple of weeks ago, art media became blick art

i visited the "new" store today

pretty much the same stuff . . . it just feels different

nostalgia is already kicking in

i do love fall in portland

a halloween highlight:

severed finger cookies my neighbor made

tasty!

my latest ebay find:

unworn urban outfitters oxfords,

fairly made in guatamala

i have begun "tattooing" the inside of the new prana store, which opens this wednesday

you can see me at work the next few days and

at the grand opening event, friday, november 18

ta-da!

Idyllic living in Sauvie Island

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 03:11:00 +0000

My daughter's class took a field trip to Sauvie Island yesterday, and I was one of the chaperones. Located just ten miles out of town, Sauvie Island is a wildlife and agricultural haven. The u-pick farms are a particularly popular destination for locals during the summer and fall months.

The school bus dropped us off at the historic Bybee Howell house. Built in 1856, the restored house is now owned by the Oregon Historical Society. As I peered through the windows, I was saddened to see that the house sat unfurnished and unoccupied. It's no longer open to the public, but folks can still walk around the grounds and pick fruit (free of charge) from the small orchard in the back.

Standing on the back porch of the house and looking out, I imagined that living on Sauvie Island a century ago wasn't all too different from what it's like today- kids chasing each other between trees, flocks of canada geese flying overhead, and the sound of the autumn leaves rustling in the wind. For just a moment, I basked in the timelessness.

I love living in the city, but I also love to retreat to the country. Time is measured by the digital world in one place and by seasons in the other. Since I'm not ready to give up my urban lifestyle quite yet, I am thankful to have a place like Sauvie Island just a short drive away.

New work, "Wanderlust"

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:21:00 +0000

Wanderlust, my latest mixed media painting on 18 x 24 in. wood panel

work in progress

After a six week painting hiatus, I'm back at it and have finished my largest painting so far this year. You may remember me working on it in this video. After concentrating on smaller pieces for the past two years, I'm looking forward to the challenge of working on bigger paintings in upcoming months.

I'm all about night scenes lately. I like to create dramatic contrast with colors, but it's more than just aesthetics. I am drawn to the quiet of the night. In a day and age when information and noise are constant in city living, my landscape paintings are an escape from the busyness of man's world. And at night, the peacefulness of the wilderness seems to be magnified even more.

Wanderlust is currently available in my Etsy shop. You can read more about it here.

Art installation for Prana

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:21:00 +0000

Sketching out the mural design on my chalkboard wall.

The yoga apparel line, Prana, is opening a new store in Portland, and they have asked me to "tattoo" the inside of it! Shown above is a sneak peek of one of the designs that I'll be installing in their yoga studio space.

The new Prana store will be part of the popular walking and shopping street of NW 23rd, just across the street from dessert destination Papa Haydn. The store opens in a few weeks, and I'll be working on the art installation during the opening event. I've never painted in front of a crowd before, so I'm curious to see how it goes! Once I have more information about the opening, I'll be sure to pass it along.

I swoon for Pendleton

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

I've been focused on a big client project (will tell soon) since returning from Ireland. Yesterday, I needed a little break, so I headed to the Pendleton Woolen Mill Store. The store is just a ten minute drive from my home, but this was my first visit.

I dragged my husband along and the second we stepped foot into the large warehouse, he knew that he had a rabid Pendleton fan on his hands. My eyes got really big, I had a huge smile on my face, and I turned to him and said this is my Disneyland!

It is really quite amazing how powerless I am to bolts of exquisite fabrics. And there were so many beautiful fabrics to look at, my eyes were speed jumping from one pattern to the next! Then, I turned the corner and saw this spectacular space.

It's an enormous showroom of blankets and tapestries- one of my favorites being the gray panel on the right. My husband noticed the floors right away, which is the original hardwood flooring from the Pendleton Mill.

The initial reason for the store visit was the remnant table. I was thinking of making some throw pillows for our couch, until I found a queen size wool remnant I couldn't resist. It would go perfectly with the rustic headboard we made last spring! The wool fabric just needed a finished edge, so, I bought ten yards of wool tape at the store for $1/yd. The total for the remnant, edging, and cute little pouch (in first photo) came to $55, which I thought was a great deal considering Pendleton blankets go for upwards of $200 - $300.

It took me about two hours to double stitch the binding onto the blanket's edge, which includes the cutting and pinning. My husband is thinking that we should give blankets to family for Christmas, but I'm already talking about making blankets for our future cabin in the woods!

image via The Portland Collection blog

I love good fashion as much as I do good blankets, so I was pretty much freaking out when I saw this new collection online. It's called Pendleton, The Portland Collection (TPC), and it just launched a few weeks ago. The three designers all hail from Portland, and, together, they have created a stunning collection that marries modern, indie fashion with Pendleton heritage. This video captures bits of their inspiration, work space, and creative journey.

How to recover deleted and lost digital photos

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:48:00 +0000

Technical glitches from time to time are expected for a regular computer user. Unfortunately, I had my most serious tech calamity while in Ireland. Within just a few short moments, thousands of images from the past five years were deleted.

Staring at an empty photo library is an eerie and heart-sinking experience, especially knowing it's been several months since the files were backed up. I actually thought about backing up my files before the trip, but the task kept getting pushed off. (Lesson learned for next time!)

I lost all the images on my camera's memory card as well as the photos in Aperture, my photo application. And seeing that the computer failure happened in a tiny coastal town, my tech options were limited. I did have access to the internet, however, so I was able to browse tech forums for some helpful tips. I learned that a photo library can sometimes be recovered by holding down a couple of keys while restarting the photo application, but no such luck for me. The only way I could salvage the deleted files would be to download data recovery software.

Even though a file is accidentally deleted, it is not permanently gone until it is written over with new data. As long as I kept my computer use to a minimum and didn't take any more pictures with my camera, I knew that I could recover a lot of my erased files. After some quick comparative shopping on the internet, I ended up going with CardRaider to recover lost images from my camera's memory card. I was able to retrieve over 130 files, including the short video I took at the Cliffs of Moher! About 15% of my photos were lost or damaged for good (like the two photos above), but, at $20, CardRaider proved to be well worth the purchase. And it was a breeze to use.

Since I didn't have an external hard drive with me, I waited to retrieve images from my erased Aperture library after returning home from our Ireland trip. When I got home, the situation became even more dire when I realized a lot of our family photos from the last five years had been backed up on an external hard drive that I accidentally dropped and broke earlier in the year. Big sigh.

I downloaded the data recovery software Disk Drill in hopes that I could recover most of the photos, and I'm thrilled to say that I'm still weeding through thousands of salvaged images. Like the recovered files on the memory card, there were a number of corrupt photos. But I'm just happy to have again some memorable photos of the family.

Hopefully, something like this won't ever happen to you, but just in case it does, I thought I'd pass some information along. And, if you do decide to go with Disk Drill, watch this helpful video first- there's a 15% discount code at the end you can apply to your purchase.