hue and hum

conversations

2013-03-09T12:10:00.001-07:00

So, I've been a lazy-ish blogger lately, I hope you don't mind? I posted this photo to instagram a few weeks back and admitted that I filled up all of these notebooks in two months! Can you believe that?

When I started blogging a few years back it was a fun exciting way for me to have conversations with myself and with all of you. Typing, writing stories, taking photos - it's all a way for me to talk things out in my head. Surprisingly, I still had a hard time figuring out what to put on my canvas. I've always known I had stories I wanted to share and things I wanted to say, but I couldn't figure out how to put it all together. It was like I was anxiously staring at a disheveled heap of puzzle pieces. I was sure it all fit together... somehow.

I've had a little bit of a break-through the past few months. I owe a lot of it to the book, "The Artists Way", and to my friends Amy Hackworth and Mindy Gledhill that got me hooked. It forced me to generate a lot of material and to work through some really difficult emotional road blocks. Piece by piece, I've started to assemble the puzzle. It's an exhilarating, empowering feeling! I know I have a lot of work to do and I know the puzzle isn't solved yet. It probably never will be. But I am grateful for some clarity that has come into my life lately.

Meanwhile, I have still been having some great conversations. Unfortunately, and selfishly, I've been having them with myself. In my notebooks, in my sketchbooks, in my quiet time, and in song writing too. I am excited to deliver all of these conversations to you in paintings and songs and beautiful meaningful art.

So, let's begin with my new website....

caitlinconnolly.com

I Can't Make You Love Me

2013-03-03T22:31:00.002-07:00

My favorite. Ever.

Why? The lyrics. The song. The guitar solo at the end. My brothers voice. The memories. I tear up when I watch this. You probably won't, and that's okay, but just know that I love this.

>> Watch the full episode here
>> Did you know that Fictionist can harlem shake? This is hilarious.

sketch

2013-03-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

I love seeing a sketch come to life!

Sometimes the painting becomes a large replica of the sketch with a high dose of color and other times the painting surprises the sketch entirely. This one was pretty darn close.

I have been having a great time in my studio. I have one or two dozen panel boards lying around with half started ideas waiting to be brought to life. I've been putting myself in high gear lately because I have a handful of overlapping shows to get ready for. I'm participating with the onehundred group tonight, in the 35x35 show, and a joint show with J. Kirk Richards in April! Could a girl ask for anything more? Don't think so.

do you believe in love?

2013-02-17T11:37:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't blogged lately, here... let me make it up to you.

And you thought Edward Cullen was creepy?

it's the journey, not the arrival

2013-01-01T23:55:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year, my friends!

As I think back on 2012 I realize it was truly a very challenging year for me. The kind of challenge that forces you to break open your heart, pull out all the pieces, and then figure out how to put it back together. 2012 was a year of waiting, lots of waiting, and learning difficult life lessons while I did so.

2011, on the other hand, was a great year! (or perhaps it's been long enough ago I don't remember how hard that year was?) 2011 was the birth of so many exciting things. Fictionist was in Rolling Stone magazine multiple times and they got signed to Atlantic Records! Our friends and neighbors were cheering us on, I mean, we were even cheering us on - it was great! I fell deeply in love with art. I started to create sketches and paintings that I felt connected to and something deep down inside me said "this is really important". 2011 was full of new beginnings and the birth of a promising future. Yes, there were still challenges, but challenges smothered in frosting and topped with colorful sprinkles. Yum.

2012 was different, it was quiet and slow. I was loving creating but I found myself in a very difficult emotional place. I had worked through the first huge creative hump without realizing a much bigger and scarier challenge that lay ahead of me. The second hump involved lots of heart breaking and rearranging, as mentioned previously, among other challenges. Hum and the band worked tirelessly on their album and, because of the nature of the business, the progress is slow. Good. And slow. Of course, all potential momentum is waiting around the arrival of the album, and so we wait.

As we waited I grew anxious. Concerned. Nervous. The waiting brewed my anxieties and turned them to fear. I so desperately wanted to arrive and I think I believed the arrival would squelch my fears. After a number of months of unhappiness I learned a valuable lesson. And not a lesson like that one time when I read quote on a paper cup that really made me think ah!, but the kind of lesson that could only be learned through tears shed, a heart rearranged, and realizing you just grew a bit older.

Life is about the journey and not the arrival. True happiness should lie in the journey, and if it does, then moments of arriving, or not arriving, can come and go as they please. After all, the duration of the journey far outweighs the fleeting moments of arrival, so happiness reserved for those moments is an un-lived life saving itself for disappointment and illusions of happiness.

I know, because I've been there.

As I begin a new year I choose to be happy today - because regardless of what happens in the future, today is just as good as tomorrow, and tomorrow is as good as the next.

I wish all of you a incredibly joyful today, tomorrow, and rest of the year and I hope that you will find joy in every unpredictable step of your journey.

With love,
hue

art shows

2012-12-30T23:16:00.002-07:00

You guys! I am alive. Are you alive? How does anybody survive December?? It was such a busy and great month!

I showed four small pieces at the Kayo Gallery in downtown SLC during December. Hum, you know, the cute one with the hair, had been out of town for a handful of days and surprised me during Gallery Stroll! I was just a little bit happy.

Kayo Gallery is a hip little place that I've grown to love the past few years and I feel honored to have my art on their walls! Also, every time I say the name of the gallery I just really want to say "kay- YO!" like I'm in the movie "Bring it On" or "Save the Last Dance" or some kind of cheerleader meets gangster movie where white girls get hip.

Then, on 12-12-12, I got to share my artwork at an über hip house show. So here's the thing. I showed my artwork next to Brian Kershisnik's and a living room away from Cassandra Barney's. These two lovely people are artists I've admired from a distance for years. I can remember the first painting of each of theirs that moved me in a deep place in my heart that I didn't know existed. I had to pinch myself a few times to know that it wasn't all just a dream. Also in the photo, the talented (and new friend of mine) Andrew Ballsteadt, and Cassandra's daughter Fiona brought the house down with her tasty illustrations.

Just a little sad I can't do it all over again on 13-13-13...

Merry Christmas!

2012-11-29T10:51:00.002-07:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

This year Hum and I decided to record a Christmas video in lieu of sending out a Christmas card. So, from our house to yours, may your holidays be bright and wonderful. Merry Christmas!

xox,
Hue and Hum

>> We would be thrilled and honored if you shared this on your blog or with your friends!
>> Fiest likes this song too.
>> And so does Sufjan.

selling some things, giving away other things

2012-11-27T11:52:00.003-07:00

You guys! Happy Thanksgiving (past) and Merry (just around the corner) Christmas! I had so much to be thankful for last week. My family, my husband, our dog, our home, our friends, our passions, our faith, all of you, and - the list goes on. My heart is full.

Also, I'm thankful that it 'tis the time to share our Christmas Album again! I just stocked my Esty store, so feel free to drop by and pick one up! (It is also available on itunes, but yes, thanks for asking, we do make more money via Etsy.)

Also, join me on instagram as I launch my first portrait giveaway! Learn the how-to by joining me - @ladyhue. (Thanks to the overwhelming support, love, and great response already!)

>> Hum and I started watching Nashville since I had multiple people tell me we'd like it. They were right. Tammy Taylor and some good song writing? Win, win.

>> I love Jimmy's Hashtag game. The thanksgiving song hashtags were especially hilarious. I mean, "let's giblet on?" Oh come on.

>> I've been feeling especially inspired by reading "The Artists Way" as of late. Morning pages are my new best friend.

two

2012-11-21T16:36:00.003-07:00

Guess who turned two today!?

We bought Albus on a whim nearly two years ago. Although it seemed like a crazy idea at the time, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Albus filled a little hole in my heart and brings a little extra happiness to my life. He's a spoiled little rat. Yes, I let him sleep in our bed. And when I say in, I mean that very literally - he nudges his way under the sheets when it gets too cold. I often find myself wandering the pet aisle at ____ super store analyzing which toy he'd like to tear apart the best. I buy pumpkin puree in the large cans just so I have extra to scoop in his bowl. And even though his favorite activity is to bark out the front window, I still love my little teddy bear of a dog.

>> And of much greater importance - my dad turned 55 this week! Go dad! Sorry everyone, but I got the best dad in the whole world.
>> Remember when Albus turned one and looked dapper in his bowtie?
>> I bust up laughing every time I watch Albus in this video.

dorkestra

2012-11-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hum and I spent last Saturday at my oldest brother, Andrew's house. Andrew found this house for sale last year and, what!? Yes. It has a pipe organ in it. We're not sure if he bought the house because really liked it or if he just wanted a pipe organ. Also? My brother is an amazing arranger. He writes choral music and his brain does this weird thing where he can hear multiple harmonies at once, think in multiple instruments, cleffs, voicings, and somehow make it all come together in perfect harmony. If you read between the lines of what I just said then you understand what I'm really trying to say is, my brother is one smart cookie.

Because my oldest brother, Andrew, and my next oldest brother, Stuart, like each other so much, they've been wanting to collaborate for quite some time. Andrew has been dreaming about composing some orchestra meets rock band arrangements of Fictionist songs and last weekend (oh, you know what I'm about to say) those dreams became a reality.

We filed in strings, brass, winds, and Fictionist members into his music room and tried his arrangements. At one point the orchestra was playing a melody while Jacob (on trumpet) and Hum (on electric) were soloing over it, and I'm not going to lie, I got a little teary. Then there was the other moment when Stuart was Chris Cornell screaming over the string section into the mic. That was memorable too. I have a weakness for beautifully strange music and these arrangements were just that.

This rehearsal was a trial and error practice to see if the whole thing was a good idea or a bad idea. I'm not sure what will happen next or what the timeline is like, but I can tell you I loved it, I want a lot more of it, and I think it was a really, really good idea. Also, it was fun to play my flute that has been (sorry mom...) collecting a lot of dust lately.

>> Teenage flashback: I don't know about your high school, but playing in the orchestra at East High was so not a cool thing to do. But because I'm a nerd I did play in my high school orchestra. A few friend and I even bought matching pink shirts and printed "dorkestra"on the front in our graphics class that we then wore around school with ironic pride. ("No, I do not own a pair of lucky jeans... but look at this cool pink tshirt I have... eh? eh?").
>> Do you remember how much I love the Elbow + Abbey Road orchestra youtube video? (A lot) I'm biased... but in my opinion, Saturday was even cooler.
>> Speaking of beautiful arrangements... are there any Eric Whitacre fans out there? I love this song, and this one, and this one.

>> PROVO-ITES! Come see me THIS WEEKEND! I'll be doing live portraits while supporting my favorite Utah Valley craft fair - the Bijou Market. (Pssst... bring a few photos to leave with me while you shop)

>> If you can't make it to the Bijou Market but you're hoping to order a portrait for the holidays, don't worry! I'll start an online batch in a week or two. Make sure you join this email list so you can be first in line. Also, join me on instagram (@ladyhue) for a giveaway.

do the hair roll

2012-11-05T10:09:00.002-07:00

I'm a simple hair-do kind of person, and this is my favorite go-to do. I've had a couple of people ask for a how-to, so here it is!

Section off a u-shape portion.

Do a little rat-a-tat-tat.

Wrap it around your finger and tuck the ends inside like so.

Use a few bobby pins to hold 'er down.

And just like that. Bada bing bada boom. Instagram me if you try it! I wanna see you do the hair roll. (@ladyhue)

>> I first saw this hair-do on the cute Karmin a year or so ago. Love it, stole it.

>> My fav pinterest hair-do's
>> Since I took these photos I painted my bathroom green. We call it the green latrine. It's kind of va va voom with a little dash of oh yeah. I'll share some photos another day.

Spooky scary

2012-10-31T19:08:00.001-06:00

There are many things on our resume that I could blog about today, like perhaps the fact that Hum was in the movie The Sandlot when he was 8 (he bought a pair of roller blades with the money he earned), or perhaps the fact that I sang a song called Kindess Begins with Me on the LDS Primary childrens CD when I was 6 (listen to the mp3 to hear my diva vocal slide at the end - no regrest, you know?). But today I think I will boast about the time that we were extras in Tracey Jordan's hit novelty party song, Werewolf Bar Mitzvah.

Werewolf Bar Mitzvah spooky scary... boys becoming men... men becoming wolves...

Have you ever played the game two truths and a lie? Well, we're playing it now...
Happy Halloween everyone!

>> Remember when Albus was Albus last year? Good times man, good times.
>> We'll be watching Jurassic Park with some of my siblings tonight to celebrate the holiday. How did you celebrate?

saturday

2012-10-29T10:57:00.000-06:00

Saturday. Whew! Saturday was a stay-out-all-day and run from event to event kind of day. Saturday was a pull-out-the-winter-coats-for-the-first-time kind of day. Saturday was a could-it-get-any-better-than-this? great day.

For starters, Hum, Albus, and I went to my little brothers lacrosse game. My baby brother just started his first year at college and it's so fun to watch him turn into a (what!?) man. He played a great game and even though they lost I was impressed with his optimistic attitude and gentlemanly behavior. What a stud.

Then we headed to the Madsen Cycles Bike Rally hosted by Stephanie of Nie Nie Dialogues. I met her for the first time on Saturday, she is as sweet as everyone says she is. (Has anyone read her new book, Heaven is Here?) Madsen Cycles was founded by our brother in law, and together Madsen and Nie Nie gave away a bike to a family in need. I love seeing kindness being spread as it was last Saturday. People are good, aren't they?

Lunch break at 5 Star BBQ in Orem. Albus waited patiently for us to stuff our face with a BBQ lunch while he sunbathed (in his sweater) in the car. What a champ.

We hoped on I-15 to visit one of my favorite artist studios.

We attended a meet and greet kind of thing at Brian Kershisnik's studio, it was such a treat. I can remember two of my favorite moments of being touched by a painting in real life very clearly, his was one of those two moments. I'll write about that another day.

We talked art, and then, of course, the guitar had to be pulled out of the case. And then we went on a walk around Kanosh at golden hour before starting the drive home.

Cherry on top? We went to see The Perks of Being a Wallflower on the big screen that evening. The audiobook was great and so was the movie - the book was a little more colorful than I expected, but I still enjoyed it. The last chapter was my favorite. It was a beautifully written narrative on forgiveness and optimism and healing. I like those kind of things.

>> I'm dying over this video. "A full house... a house full... of men".
>> Thanks to my friend, Miriam, for having me guest on her blog during Tiny Art Week.
>> I think I finally figured out what we're going to be for Halloweeeeeeen!!! The only thing is... I don't think we have a party to go to. And yes, this is me, trying to invite myself to the party that you a throwing. Also, please serve some fall themed soup. I love that stuff.

and this is how I painted a mural

2012-10-25T12:47:00.001-06:00

I am thrilled to have just completed my first mural! It quickly became one of my favorite projects to date and now my mind is swirling with ideas for my next mural project. Now I just need a wall...

Day 1: Hum and I showed up and started chalking the building together. (Thank goodness for the handyman Chad who painted the entire base coat of the building for me.)

Because I was earning part of my wage in burrito credit, and doing so only because I knew it is Hum's favorite eatery, I told Hum a week ago that this wasn't my project, this was our project. He was a total hero, like he always is, and he spent all day dropping chalk lines with me and brought me food and beverages all week. Whenever anyone showed up to the mural he shook their hand and introduced himself as my mural slave. Whataguy.

We used a chalk line and dropped 2'x2' lines across the building then I chalked in the entire design. My sketch was loose by nature so I didn't have to be overly particular about the guidelines, but it really helped to have them.

Day 2: My lovely and talented friends, Missy and Leslie, who I trust with my life... or at least with a paintbrush... came to assist me. They helped me block in most the design with general colors so it would be easy to come back with a perfected second coat later.

Day 3: It was the sun-shiniest day you ever did see.

I spent the whole day on the top scaffolding soaking in the fall sunlight and finalizing the top portion of the mural. Hum washed all the chalk off the walls for me and climbed on the roof to take glamour shots of his wife.

Day 4 & 5: I spent the 4th and 5th day finishing the rest of the mural and I only had "one hour to go!" for about 6 hours. You know how it is.

This is when everything gets really confusing and funny and weird because it's the middle of the night, I'm painting by the light of my truck headlights, I "finished" 5 hours ago, I'm giddy excited to finish, and I'm dealing with the aftermath of drinking 2 large hot chocolates from the gas station next door to keep my fingers from falling off.

The "name signing". It's official, people! That's such a lady-like street-cred name, right? Next time I start a different blog with a different name (which will happen never) I'll go for something more bold, like Leather Jasmine. No, that's still a little soft. I'm having a hard tapping into my tough alter ego. No wait, I found it. Ruff Raspberry. Nope, still not it.

Almost done...!

Day 6: The drive by and coherent appreciation of the past 5 days work.

>> PROVO-ites! This Saturday! 11 am! Come hang out with me, my family, and Stephanie Nielson of Nie Nie Dialogues. So basically: Hum's sister, Lisa, married a guy named Jared Madsen, and they are the founders of the Madsen Bike Company. Stephanie is hosting a Madsen Bike rally and you can have a chance to win a Madsen! More details on how to enter to win and where to go at the bottom of this blog post. I hope to see you there!
>> More about Madsen Cycles here. Have you seen these cycles? They're all the rage right now. That's right, my family is cool
>> I'll keep you posted about the grand opening of Mountain West Burrito, join me on instagram - @ladyhue

goblets of royal cactuses

2012-10-22T20:17:00.001-06:00

Well, my friends, the mural is almost finished and it's looking great! Photos to come soon, I promise. In the mean time, meet my cactus friends:

My cactus friends shall be named Pikachu and Jigglypuff.... because they're poke - mon. Ah ha. ha. ha. ha. Oh man, so 90's, so good.

I happened across these very royal looking goblets at the thrift store a little while back and I couldn't help but buy them. Once I got them home I had a little *ahh ha!* moment and I realized they would make the perfect planters for my cute cactuses. And so it happened. And they lived happily ever after.

>> I started listening to The Perks of Being a Wallflower on audiobook today so I can watch the movie. Who's read it/seen it? Are you a fan?
>> Here is a list of all 649 pokemon and their evolution history. You're welcome.
>> I love this Irrational Fears blog that my friend Leslie does. You should submit an idea... I'd love to see it in full color.

painting on walls

2012-10-17T13:39:00.001-06:00

This??? --->

This, my friends, is the beginning stages of a mural I am going to paint!

Listen up:

MOUNTAIN WEST BURRITO.

SOUTH OF BYU CAMPUS.

(where awful waffle used to be!)

This is exciting to me for two reasons. Remember, Mom, when I was little and I would draw on the walls with crayons? I would write "caitlin" and put little circles to dot the i's and when you asked me if I did it, I blamed it on my brother. (Through trial and error, I refined my lying techniques as a teenager). Instead of crayons - paint. Instead of my mom's closet - the exterior of a building. This, my friends, is what we call progress. The other reason I am excited? Mountain West Burrito is opening a second location about 5 minutes from my house. Also? I am going to earn enough money in burrito credits to eat Mountain West like a Queen. And since Hum eats there weekly (not a joke) he shall be my burrito King and I shall feed him oodles of beans and cheese and sour cream from the palm of my hands while he beats his chest Tarzan style.

This is me with my game face next to the wall I soon get to deface. If you live near campus, drop by this weekend and say hi! You can add your mark to my mural and take home a coupon for some burrito goodness.

look, a new exciting project!

2012-10-15T10:28:00.000-06:00

I have been working a new great project the past few weeks. It has to do with cool things like women (yeah ladies!), un-cool things like sexual abuse and trauma (boo), and childbearing.

I was contacted by an organization called "Survivor Moms" a few months back to work on this project. They are an amazing (now government funded!) organization that helps expectant women cope through their pregnancy and childbirth who have also been victims of sexual abuse or trauma. It is unfortunate that such a program needs to exist, but incredibly humbling that there are generous people out there trying to help and make a difference. I feel lucky to be apart of such a beautiful cause. These illustrations will be in full color and will be available to women as a computer program and a physical booklet. Who knows, maybe you'll see one in the flesh at your doctors office sometime in the future?

>> Survivor Moms Blog
>> I'm excited to enjoy this band tonight!
>> I decided that I really want to buy a few miniature horses when I grow up. Have you seen these funny looking things? They can be mini besties with Albus.

This is me being serious. It happens. Sometimes.

2012-10-11T09:28:00.000-06:00

Ahem. To hear me being (semi) serious on other topics, please jump on over to read my interview on The Luncheon Project!!! I am thrilled to be featured as today's post. I lunched with Lizzy, a creative mind behind this inspiring blog, and we had a great time talking business, creativity, and we dreamed about all the restaurants we would open together while eating our curry. Drop by, and leave a comment, wontcha?

>> Thanks again, Justin Hackworth, photographer extraordinaire.
>> Other favorite Luncheon Project reads: Christopher Clark, Mindy Gledhill, and Justin Hackworth!

my couch loves me for who I really am

2012-10-04T11:00:00.001-06:00

This face? This is the face of a husbandless lady that stayed up until 3 in the am watching Vampire Diaries. "Whaaa!? She wouldn't!", says you. "Oh yeah, I did", says I. Hum is on the road, solving the mysteries of the musical universe with my brother somewhere in the city of LA. Meanwhile, I am on my couch, somewhere in the crisp fall city of Provo, while my toosh is solving the mystery of how to cause irreversible damage to my microfiber blue suede couch. I like to keep my expectations low in life, thus to never be disappointed. Spending half of my day watching a mystery Vampire TV show? That is something I can definitely live up to! Booyah! First step, couch potato toosh imprinting, next step? Watching Discovery Channel instead of Vampire trash. Don't cross your fingers though, it may never happen.

In all fairness, I was working on a new exciting commission project on my laptop, Iris, the whole time I was becoming one with my couch (and with Stefan). It's a project I feel lucky to be involved in, and I'll share more about that with you later!

Now for something completely different:
>> I've gotta know, who copied who with the whole vampire nonsense? And why am I such a sucker for vampire nonsense? And what is the meaning of life? And do vampires go to heaven?
>> Will Ferril and Jimmy Fallon Tight pants skit.
>> The Fresh Prince of Downton Abbey (c/o Christa) (Or Downton Arbys, ha.)
>> Zooey + the Offspring? Who knew. This is what I call a naked baby photo!
>> Friendly reminder, 30 Strangers show tonight! Justin Hackworth photography. Provo. BYU Campus. See ya there.
>> I'll probably stay in my pajamas until dinner. Remember, no judgments here, this is a safe place.

Denim, and other important things

2012-10-02T20:00:00.000-06:00

You should probably know that we got some new photos taken yesterday and (oh know you didn't!) we dressed in denim.

Oh yes, we did.

I tried to keep a straight face, and it almost worked, right up until the moment Hum attempted the Lagoon lovin' booty shot.

Utah has an amusement park. We're cool, we're hip. It's called Lagoon. Going to Lagoon is like going to Disneyland - but it's a lot less cool and almost as expensive. You gotta try it! Going to Lagoon was interesting for a couple of reasons. First, there were roller coaster, bumper cars, and games - oh my! Second, there were couples lovin' on each other like it ain't no thang. I learned this back pocket booty lovin' stance as a kid and it is what Hum and I refer to as "Lagoon lovin". It's perfect when you're waiting in a long line to ride the White Roller coaster one more time, still hoping it doesn't collapse on you. For another version of this technique, feel free to try "mobile Lagoon lovin'". To do so you stand side by side, the partner on the left puts their right hand in the others left back pocket and the partner on the right mirrors the same idea and goes for the the right pocket. This stance is perfect when you need to walk (and not waddle) to your next location.

Jazz hands.

>> The only photographer who might put up with this nonsense? Our wonderfully talented friend, Justin Hackworth. More to come about that - he's great. Provoites - you've gotta come to his 30 Strangers show reception this Thursday night at BYU! See you there.
>> The denim was Hum's idea, 100%. He texted this photo to me during church for inspiration. This is so weird on so many levels. Is there a parent in the mix? Kids? How old are they? I'm confused. And why was he thinking about denim portraits during church, anyway?
>> I got my hair color freshened up and it looks, um, wowza, very red in these photos. I blame it on the denim.
>> My family has a couple of good denim photos. Did yours? Oh the joys of growing up in the 90's!

repurposed sketchbooks

2012-09-27T17:57:00.001-06:00

I saw the greatest thing at a local craft fair, Craft Lake City, last month! A vendor couple (who I unfortunately cannot remember their names and I don't believe they sell regularly or online) was selling these repurposed notebooks. They found vintage books at libraries, thrift stores, or garage sales. Then they rebound them with white paper, leaving a few remaining pages. I think the only way to prove my love is to admit that I bought 7. It all happened so fast, I don't know what to say. I wonder if Nancy Drew will mind that her book has been turned into my notebook... and then I wonder if my sketches will become very spooky? (Insert ghostly oooh!).

>> I just got back from Luncheon-ing with the lovely Lizzy behind The Luncheon Project! I think this is such an amazing blog and I feel lucky to be apart of it. More news TBA about that ASAP, HAGS!

Autumn Leaves

2012-09-26T09:16:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday Hum and I went for a lovely drive up a Provo Canyon. The mouth of the Canyon is about two miles away from our house so it was easy to load up the car and take off.

This might have been "the weekend" to drive the canyon. Every nook and cranny of the hills were saturated in colors that I often forget nature can create.

Behold - me, my flowery skirt, and my Marilyn Monroe moment. YOLO! Wink, wink! Lol!

I remember taking an autumn drive with my parents went I was a kid and saying, "Wow! It looks like God took a paintbrush and splashed the mountains with different colors!". My parents laughed at description and right then right there they knew I was destined to be an artist!!! Nah, just kidding. I don't think anyone saw that one coming.

I wish you were all my neighbor (Mr. Rogers and I have one thing in common) so you could have carpooled with us on our sunday drive. When we were almost home and I finally put my camera to rest and Hum laughed at me and said, "I don't think I've ever heard you say 'gorgeous' so many times in my life". Well, guess what world... it was GORGEOUS. I love fall in Utah.

>> Have you taken any fall photos? Link up, I want to see them.
>> We should probably all listen to this song right now. Jazzy goodness.
>> Hum wrote a beautiful song last night. I'm still humming (ha) it this morning.

fotoshop phriday: pho with a foe

2012-09-21T07:40:00.000-06:00

Well friends, it's been a few weeks since the last fotoshop phriday so I have a special treat for you today...

This is Frodo with a faux fro eating pho with a foe.

Dedicated to my dear friend, Brandon.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

thoughts

2012-09-19T18:25:00.001-06:00

I spent all of the past week doing this: painting a porch that used to be ours until we left it when we moved last January. We've been staying in Salt Lake all week trying to tidy things up a bit (grass comes tomorrow!). The project took about three times as long as I thought it would (as it always does) and I have had plenty of time stuck with myself in my head. It's been rough, I tell ya... (winky wink).

As I painted plank by plank of the fence and porch I thought about a lot of things. I thought about houses and wondered why some people need big houses and some people need small houses. I wondered if I needed a big house or a small house, and either way, what color would I paint the kitchen cabinets? I thought about colors, opaque and transparent, and about all the color swatches in my purse that I stole from Home Depot. I thought about Home Depot and the interesting people you see there - like the guy I saw that looked like Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid - about a foot shorter than me, had levi cut-off shorts up to his man parts, a very baggy tank top with lots of holes in it, flip flops, a thin long pony tail, and he was balding too. That was a funny thing to see. I thought about my backyard, full of weeds, which made me think about Eve and wonder why in the heck she ate that apple. But then I remembered that she was actually a very wonderful woman and I still like her, weeds and all. I thought about weeds and wondered how deep the roots actually go into the earth, then I thought about metaphorical weeds and wondered if those roots go just as deep. I guess it depends on the variety of weed? I thought about flies and wondered if they exist because of Eve too? Then I thought about how great it would be if I had a horse tail attached to my rear so I could swat them away from my bare legs. (Or I could grow a longer ponytail?) I thought about horse hairs and wondered if my paintbrush was full of them? Then I swat a fly with it and it died! I thought about my paintbrushes at home and how I missed them this past week. I thought about my paintings and wondered if I hated them. Then I thought about my paintings and wondered if I loved them? Then I felt very confused. I thought about this big painting I was creating on the porch and wondered why it looked so bad? I guess my stroke is a little too gestural. That kind of thing looks really good in a painting on a wall, but really bad on a floor to walk on. I thought about floors, there are so many different kinds. Fancy hardwood floors, floors made out of rubber, or floors made out of dirt. I grew up in house with hardwood floors but I bet I had ancestors that grew up on dirt floors. Do you think they were happy too? I thought about the olden days, whenever those were, and then I thought about the 90's and I wondered why their music was so bad? I thought about my dad's sunglasses I was wearing, I think those were from the 90's too, and they were also bad. But more like a bad = rad kind of thing, you know, they were rainbow tinted. I thought about my Dad and how he taught me to build things. I thought about the fence that I built, but how it was a little bit crooked. I thought about building a straight fence around my next home and wondered what color I would paint it? (Good thing I stole all those paint swatches!) Then I tried to tell myself "shhh..." and I turned on the Swell Season to drown out my busy mind for a while.

>> Fictionist is playing in Provo Saturday night! Come to the Velour and enjoy some serious tuneage. If you don't trust my recommendation, definitely trust this guy.
>> I've got a new BFF picked out for you and her name is Jenn Blosil. Stop by her kick starter project to hear about her story, and definitely check out the very last video on the page. Then... you'll probably watch the other two, and then you'll have to watch the first video as well. It's kind of like falling into a musical quicksand hole, but you get sucked into happiness instead of death.
>> You may remember Jenn from the song she sang with Hum. Mmmm... it kind of sounds like a chocolate sundae from DQ.

Dang, you look good!

2012-09-12T11:01:00.003-06:00

Thank you to everyone who hired me to draw their portrait this past month! I drew a lot of portraits and I really loved every single one. I updated my online portrait album so you can browse a lot of the portraits >> HERE. I always forget to take photos of every single one, so if yours isn't there, email me a photo, wontcha!? And if you choose to instagram your portrait, use the hashtag #ladyhueportrait. Thanks a million.

If you didn't get to do portraits this time around but you still want one you have two options...

1) Come to the Bijou Art Market (November 16-17) in Provo Utah. I'll be there drawing live portraits both of those days! It's like going to Disneyland but I don't draw you as a bobble head with shimmery teeth. However, I would really love to order myself a Hum bobblehead, how do I do this!?

2) Sign up on my mailing list, make sure to check "lady hue art" and you'll be the first to know next time I start portrait orders again! (It will be a few months)