Where's my head?

I've been running around like a chicken with her head cut off recently. Way too much stuff to do and little time to do it all. Sound familiar? I think I am always in this state of mind. Until after December though, there is no chance to slow down and clear my mind! Oh well, that's ok, because I love what I do!!

The State Fair is less than 2 weeks away and I have more than 2 weeks worth of work to do. Aaron and I have decided that we will work long days until then to get ready. What choice do we have?! We are planning a day off the day before the Fair starts, IF we get everything done in time. We will need the day off before the 17 straight days at the Fair!!

This weekend, or should I say Saturday only, I will be back out at the Tijeras Art Market. Hope to see you there! Aaron(dh) will be playing his guitar from 10:30 to 1:30 so you shouldn't miss it!

Today is my middle son's 17th birthday! Where did all the time go? Seems like just yesterday......well, you know! So, on top of everything else, I have to go home early today and get the kitchen clean for the family dinner with grandparents etc. tonight.

I have some new paintings done, just need to take photos and post them. Also working on more frames for the daily journal paintings. I will have them done by next week, hopefully, in time for the Fair!!

I guess that's all the news that's new for now! Have a wonderful day!! :)

201 posts!

Logging in today, I realized that my last post was number 200!! So, to celebrate, this week I'm having a drawing for a free print! To enter, leave a comment with the name of your favorite print. If you are unsure of the title, you can find them in my shop listings. Oh, and make sure you leave me your email or some way to contact you. I will put all the names in a hat and pick a winner to be announced on Friday. You will have until Friday morning to leave your comments. The winner will have their choice of a print from my shop.

Also, wanted to thank everyone for their get well wishes! I'm feeling much, much better today. Starting to get my voice back after losing it over the weekend out at the Tijeras Art Market. I will be out at the market again on Labor Day weekend.

The next four weeks will be busy with preparations for the New Mexico State Fair. I have a booth again this year and the best part is we will be out on Main Street this year instead of being behind the petting zoo and McDonald's farm!

Hope to see lots of locals out there! I will have lots of new work!

Under the weather

Turns out I will not be at the Gallup show tonight. I came down with some kind of virus on Tuesday and I still don't feel better. I think I've been pushing my self a little too hard recently. Spent most of the day yesterday sleeping. I'm taking it easy today, a little painting in the studio, so I can be rested and feeling better in time for the Tijeras Art Market this weekend.

I also listed a couple more of the framed daily paintings in my Etsy shop this morning.

Tijeras Art Market, New framed paintings, and a cool new Dave Matthews song!

This weekend I will be back in Tijeras for the Art Market at the Just Imagine Gallery. I will have new framed art that you just have to see! Those frames I talked about in the last post are done and they came out better than I had hoped! They will be available out at the market and whatever may be left of them will be in my Etsy shop next week! I want to take photos of them but the clouds are making it difficult.

Also, just found this cool new video of Dave Matthews (my favorite!) that I just had to share!

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=14164054

Have a great weekend! :)

Framing

Besides painting my rear off this week, I'm working on designing and building frames for my daily journal paintings. I am using raw lumber (1 x 3") to create my own frame moulding which will ultimately result in handmade, handpainted frames to compliment my smaller, 8 inch square paintings on canvas board. I will post photos once I get some completed. I have just finished putting the frames together and now I'm sanding and gessoing them to get ready for painting.

Earlier today I started my largest spiral abstract painting to date. It is on a 40 inch square gallery wrapped canvas. I've picked a color combo of yellow, red and brown. One of my favorite combos for sure. This painting WILL be finished for the Gallery show in Gallup August 9th. I'm thinking only positively on this one. I got quite a late start on painting it, but I will not give up until it's complete. I guess it's true that I have always worked best under pressure.

In addition to all that, I have to restock my matted prints to get ready for another weekend at the Tijeras Art Market. I just love that place! If you haven't been there and you get the chance, you should definitely check it out! The shady trees, the mountain breeze and of course the art! Also, there is always live music to enjoy too!

I will try to get some photos posted by the end of the week, although I can't promise anything with all I have going on!

This weekend

Saturday and Sunday from 10-5 I will be out at the Tijeras Art Market again. The market is just east of Albuquerque on I-40, take the Tijeras exit and keep turning right until you are on the old Route 66 going back towards town. The market is located just behind the Just Imagine gallery and coffee shop. There are signs and flags marking the spot. So, if you are local and feel like getting out of the city this weekend, come see me!

I will have several new paintings out there this weekend, and I will be sharing the booth with my artist friend Josephine Brionez de Flores. She makes wonderful art with feathers and beads, have to see it to appreciate it!

Since my middle son is home again, we decided to go camping after the market closes on Sunday for a couple days. Finally some well deserved time off! :)

Summertime and the living's busy!

Seems I can't get caught up these days. Lots going on!

Painting everyday to get ready for a gallery show in August at the House of Lyndon, Gallup, NM.

Getting stocked for the New Mexico State Fair in September. I have a booth again this year in the Enchantment Arts and Crafts section. This year, instead of being tucked behind a building and across from the petting zoo, we will be out on the main street of the fairgrounds! I will also have a booth to myself this year as last year I shared a booth with an artist friend. So I have more space to fill! The fun part about this year is that my husband will be out there with me everyday since he is now a full time performer. He's working on getting some bookings for the Fair, but otherwise will be with me at the booth, playing his guitar and selling cds.

This weekend(July 14,15th) and two weekends a month I will be out at the Tijeras Art Market. I will post the dates as soon as I know them for sure. This week I will be sharing the booth with my artist friend, Josephine Brionez de Flores

Saturday, July 21st I will be back out at the Neighborhood Market in downtown Albuquerque. At the corner of Gold and 8th, hours are 10am to 4pm.

I've designed and started to build frames for my small daily paintings. They are made from raw lumber into 3 inch wide painted wood frames. I'm planning to paint each frame to go with the painting it is intended for. The painting will extend out into the frame and turn an 8 inch painting into a 14 inch framed painting.

I am preparing my next instrument for painting. Not sure when I will start the actual painting, still have to gesso it. This one isn't a guitar, it's a Russian instrument called a Balalika(spelled wrong I'm sure!). I love the shape and I can hardly wait to paint it! I have had an awesome response on the guitar and want to have a whole row of painted instruments to show eventually.

On a personal note, I've been getting stuff moved around at the house and moved into my studio still. My middle son returned this morning from 6 months at his dad's in Arkansas. I am so happy to have him back! I now have all my sons living at home again!

Upcoming shows and GREAT news!

I cannot believe how busy I have been lately! I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted here! The next two weekends I have two shows coming up.

Tijeras Art Market

This weekend I will be at the Tijeras Art Market, Saturday and Sunday, from 8am - 5pm. This will be my first time there and I'm really looking forward to it! The market space is nice and shady with permanent shade structures. The location is the East Mountain area just outside Albuquerque, off I-40 in the village of Tijeras. The market is located behind the Just Imagine Gallery and coffee shop.

Next Friday, July 6th, is my first, First Friday event at my new studio. The Factory on 5th is located just north of downtown Albuquerque on 5th street, between Aspen and Haines streets. My husband will be playing guitar as entertainment for the event.

So, if you are local or even if you are just visiting Albuquerque, I'd love to see you out at one of these events!

Now for the good, no GREAT, news! I mentioned back in May that I had some exciting news to share. Well, the news is official now! I have sold out of all my Paula Beck prints! All my black and white portrait and pottery prints that I have been threatening to bonfire for years are gone! This is a huge accomplishment for me as there were 7,000 prints left! I sold them all to one person in the Chicago area who plans to sell them as a fundraiser for a school/church. So, that is what I've been most busy with in the past month or so. I have always signed and numbered the prints as I needed them, so I have spent the past few weeks signing them all and getting them packed and shipped. Now they are gone for good! No more reminders of my past life!