trust
acrylic on board
approx 5" x 8"

i knew pretty early on what i wanted to paint for johanna's word. but I wasn't sure how, or rather from what sort of perspective I wanted to approach it. Then as I got down to the wire I realized it would be a fabulous word to end with. you can see all the words together here.
This project has at times been much harder than I expected, but I feel so amazing to finish it.
I look forward to seeing what happens next with my paintings.

I want to say thank everyone for giving me words…for playing along with me.

trust was a great word for the next and new chapter in my life.

trust this next and major change that is coming.

trust that not taking a huge art opportunity gig is alright, because when I am honest with myself I know that I am not ready for it.

trust that we are going to be great parents and we'll make mistakes but as long as there is love in the house everything will turn out alright.

two weeks or sooner.
check out this photo {my belly over the weekend}
we have the house at a state of constant readiness…bags pack, apartment clean, supplies in the cupboards for when guests come. 

behavior
5 1/2" x 4"
acrylic on board

It was down to the wire with this word, {I actually was going in a totally different direction} when I was hanging out with a friend and she was talking about her daughter pretending she was a robot. And something clicked. One the fact that I love painting robots & two what a great behavior…robot behavior.

so there it is, Mary's word
behavior!

only one left to go….feels so good to be so close to the end.
I really wanted to finish before the little one comes.

we have a little over two weeks to wait.
I really want to meet the little person inside of me.
So strange to think that there is a little person inside of me.

hepcat
5 1/2" x 4"
acrylic on board

you can't be a hepcat with out a girl in a bunny mask and a porkpie hat & a super long tail.
ash's word gave me a bit of trouble until I stopped taking the word so seriously & just went for it.
it gives me a giggle.
{for some reason I started the sketch from the bottom. her feet. I normally start with a face, but I knew I wanted to go with the bunny mask, so this word I guess became all about going for it. I like that her proportions are wonky from starting with the feet.}

and even though it is in my house I love this tree coat rack the boy & I painted

our hospital bag is packed & waiting by the door. 

hum
5 1/2" x 4"
acrylic on board

We are down here near the end of the words.
For some reason when I got gracia's word hum I thought of a siren.
Of mythology…like the siren's of the sea.
& I wondered if a siren just hummed whether or not it would attract fish. As opposed to singing and attracting the sailor's on ships. And my sketches went though a bunch of different variations until I got to what you see above. I just really wanted to paint a girl with the goggles too. So I added them to my humming siren. 

three weeks or less if baby is going to join the world on the due date. wow.
three words left: one painted, one sketched onto the base, and one needs a bit more work on the sketch…

sleeper III
4" x 4"
acrylic on wood

The three on the crib before I mailed them out to Charming Wall in nyc.
The show will open March 1.
We got a dresser last weekend and loaded it up with clothes…they are so tiny, it is starting to feel more real. Maybe only four weeks left.

two of the little paintings done for charming wall show in march.
right now the third one will be a little boy sleeper.
{guess I am practicing boys in preparation for the little one to come}

sleeper I
4" x 4"
acrylic on wood

sleeper II
4" x 4"
acrylic on wood 

Here are some sketches for a little sleep series for the Charming Wall show in March.

the birds will go in her clouds below 

I am thinking to keep this series up for a bit.

I have been preping a lot of canvases, so I should be pretty productive this weekend & I have a bunch of color ideas {blue & green for the girl above. that or the grey & yellow - any thoughts?}:
grey & yellow
red & orange
brown & red
blue & green
blue & yellow
yellow & green
red & yellow
dark blue & white
purple & green
blue & brown  

a huge thanks to Holly for her wonderful write-up about Johanna and for including me in it.
have a great weekend.

relief
approx 5 1/2" x 4"
acrylic on  board

{another} amanda's word

I realized from this project that my paintings need to tell a story.
That I need to tell a story.
I think I have always known that, but this project has really made it more apparent for me.

I am going to do a little trio of the idea behind this piece for a "tiny art show" in March for Charming Wall. 

also are there any other 'dream' phrases…like:
day dream, sweet dreams, wet dream {although the last one isn't quite what I am looking for} 

Home and houses have been swirling around in my brain lately.
Soon our apartment will be our little boy's home.
For the rest of his life the first thought of home will be most likely the one the Boy and I create for him.
That's pretty powerful stuff & sort of unbelievable.

Because of those thoughts and musings I have been drawing houses a lot.
{the background of the previous word}
And I came up with a quilt idea that I have convinced my nana and my baby's nana to make for me.
{Inspired by Steph's soft houses & her quilt & janet bell's paintings}

The sketches:

For fun I painted the sketch that the Boy liked the best. 

I have a bit of a compulsion when it comes to painting the edges of my paintings.
Even to the point of finishing up an extra piece of blue and a rooftop that really no one is ever going to see.

wunderbar
5" x 3.5"
acrylic on board

anne's word. It was really funny to realize that as I was finishing up the ideas for anne's word she returned to blogging after some time away for school and life.

I have houses and home on the brain lately. I guess it all comes with the fact that we are going to be someone's home soon. {more on that later this week}

eloquent
acrylic on board
5" x 3.5"

amanda's word
{happy birthday!}

There is just something about door knockers that makes me think they have a story to tell, the secrets of their owner's comings and goings…and what a story it would be. And if they could, their story would certainly be eloquent. My painting is based on a photo that the dad took in dublin, 'cause you know those door knockers have lots to say.

So my desire to do more is happening. I have a really long todo list in my room & I actually have two more words finished already. Plus I did some work to add some long over due 'newer' works {*that didn't happen today} to the website & finally put some art that hasn't been for sale up on my art sale page. I am going to tackle that right after this goes to publish.
{**took me a bit longer than I planned, but the paintings are up are ready to find new homes - some older pieces are steals}

I have also been tackling projects around the house. A little spackle job that needed to begin. A trip to goodwill. Prep work for a list of frames I need to get. Want to hang some art up in the new apartment. Art that I have had for ages, just waiting in some folders and large envelopes in the closet. Sad little art.

Wish I could make it to nashville for this show with lisa s and aurora. It looks like it is going to be fabulous. Plus nashville is one of my favorite places. I spent a life changing summer there. Set me on the path of my life that I am living today.

independent
5" x 3.5"
acrylic on board
**updated with a new picture**

jessica's word
have you been to her cute online shop…

you'd think I would be influenced by the deer's of christmas, most notably reindeers, but actually totally inspired by this painting. {i can't find my link for the artist…} Love it. Plus I am also totally in love with this necklace & this ring even though it is unavailable.

a little closer up on the deer

have a great weekend; i am going to spend mine in the studio, dealing with the fact that there is a crib in here now.