I remember a time before the plants grew- today's fox painting, this weeks' Illustration Friday

I remember a time before the plants grew
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

I’ve been very active dreaming lately. Usually when I wake up, I remember only a tantalizingly little bit, or just a feeling. This painting sprung out of one of the more well remembered dreams of late. Then I translated it into ‘fox’. The fox paintings are making me so happy these days, people. Possibility! It’s like finding a new series of books that you never knew existed, with no visible end in sight, and instead of making you weary, it’s just exciting.
The 2 fox shrug that I bought hangs in my closet, little legs dangling. It’s too hot to wear it. Everyday, after I change my clothes, I take one little leg and pet it. I examine the little paw. I push my face into the soft fur of the belly, the silk ribbon that holds human arms in place, and breathe deep. I love this thing.
Hence the foxes have sauntered into my paintings, taking their rightful place front and center. Almost like the shrug has stuck a deal with me: “Sure, we’ll hang in your closet, but you’re going to have to tell our stories.”
Seems fair.

Parting shot and smartest quote I've head lately:
"we all do no end of feeling, and we mistake it for thinking." - mark twain

Boss? Treat? Now? Ok?

Boss? Treat? Now? Ok?
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Topanga sporting her new sweater. Curiously, she doesn't seem to mind wearing it. Or maybe that's just the treats talking.

Because every home needs a robot chicken

Well, at least my home does.

Photo by Reuters.
Article here.
Sadly, they do not mention where one can purchase a robot chick. Honestly, what sort of reporting is that?

Could someone please do this to my laptop?

Best.Laptop.Ever.
Because who dosen't love those O'reilly illustrations? The illustrations on the cover make me want to buy those books something fierce, even though I have no interest in Java or C++ or what have you.

Portions for foxes

Two-headed fox in the woods
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

When I was little, I read really rococo stories. Stories that rambled on for pages. Stories that visited strange lands, saw weird vistas, met odd characters. These stories are now a fixed part of my subconscious, and give me the base that I extract images from. I don't recall ever reading about a two headed fox, but the feeling in this painting is just the same as an old story. I was so excited painting this. It was like unlocking a door to a great mysterious land- vast and full of possibility and strangeness. If there are two things I cherish, they're possibility and strangeness. If there are three things, then add cuteness, too.
If I ever feel like there's a lack in my life, it's a lack of mystery, adventure, possibility. On really good days, painting brings it all those things to me. I think this is the main reason why I paint- to try to see new things, to try to get a new angle on remembered things. Lynda Barry once said about painting "It's like being able to fly, time travel, and turn invisible all at once." Hear, hear!


Fox Lady
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

This painting reminds me of a tiny part of an illustration in a child's book- this would be one of the paintings on the wall of the protagonist. A painting of one of his relatives.

The Sammys are here!

New today in the shop. The one pictured above is my favorite. (Poor Leno)
Each one comes with it's own purse, and every bit is handmade. They're not bears, or dogs, or any other sort of easily recognizable creature- they're Sammys! It's my own design, and I am just a wee bit in love with them. Each Sammy is different from each other one- making each one of them one of a kind.
Check them out!
*--OTHER NEWS--*
A shop has been set up on Etsy to help out Alison of WonderlandQ- she faced a medical emergency, and, being a crafter, found herself without health insurance, so you know what that means.
All kinds of really wonderful things have been put up, and all the procceeds go to helping her out of this predicament. In other words, here's your chance to snag some awesome goodies AND feel good, doing something nice for someone. How often do you get to do that?
The shop is here.
And this little fellow is still up for grabs...

My forgotten chick has been found!

By the good people of
Softies Central.
Who are, actually, not a group of people, just one woman. But it's so grand to use the editorial plural.
We thank you, Softies Central!
We, of Absolutely Small, hereby direct you to this link. We decree this lamb cute.
Good day to you all.

Sneak preview!

Yesterday was a sewing day. A sewing nonstop day. A good day. These creatures will be rolling into the shop on Friday. They travel by purse...which will make more sense on Friday. They are known as Sammies- neither dog nor bear nor other easily identifiable creature- they simply ARE. And each one is unique.
I've already said too much!
But here's one more photo:

New bone

This is one way to keep a dog occupied.

Illustration Friday for 4/13/07- "Fortune"

Dan: "Why does he look so surprised and horrified?"
Me: "Because he just found a FORTUNE. In that piggy bank."
Dan: "Ok..."
Me: "And the bank isn't necessarily his. He just, you know, realized the fortune within it."
Dan: "Right."

Illustration done with colored pencils, just for a change.

Lorelei & Rory would approve

Misc. junk for dinner and a movie

Inspiration in pint sizes

Elise #2
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

I don't rely on inspiration to strike to get started working. It seems like I get 'inspired' after I start the work, not before. But, every one in awhile, I see something that really does inspire me to get into the studio.
This is based on one of those rare sightings.
At Trader Joe's, I spotted the most amazing sight. A very little girl, sporting a huge pointy hat, speckled with glued on bits of tissue paper. This hat was nearly as tall as she was. But, oh, the colors. The bright blue hat matched her eyes and her wee outfit. She had white blond hair, and it was all just so visually PERFECT! I wanted to scream for not having my camera on me. (All the time this happens. I really need some little purse camera.) I had found a real life muse!
And so- Elise paintings. Based on real events, which are then twisted around with liberty. More on Flickr, as usual.
Enjoy!

Also green.

Hey, is that jerky?
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

It's spring! Spring!

New stuff coming to the store soon...

Fun things seen recently:
*Train Man movie- a Japanese film which was quite good.
*The new Dior Couture line- folding fabric into origami shapes- how soon is this going to trickle down to ready to wear??
*Yotsuba&! - actually FUNNY manga. Laugh out loud funny. When was the last time I read something like that?

First offering for Illustration Friday- "Green"

Appropriate theme this week as I am completely new at this.

Oh yes.

Oh yes.
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

What can I say? Two headed foxes will be popping up in my paintings very soon.

NEW ART HERO. Holy cow! Maira Kalman!

Words not organizing themselves. Not coming out right. Go! Look! LOOK!
Maira Kalman!!!
From the statement on the Julie Saul Gallery website:"She has worked as a designer, author, illustrator and artist for more than thirty years without formal training. Her work is a narrative journal of her life and all its absurdities." Self taught! SELF TAUGHT! And successful and wonderful. Oh! Oh! Oh! And she embroiders! This is like what I intended to do- I thought I could use thread like a type of paint. Goache! Oh! and she paints dogs so wonderfully! Look at her pug painting- scroll down!
I have to go calm down.
***
Ok.
It's not jealousy. Usually, I get this sting in my heart and head- "They're living my life! There's none left for me!"
I am not getting that here. Instead, I feel...excited. Liberated. Her art touches me becuase it seems not to care what the outside world thinks of it. It seems like it's just a joyful expression of her true self. And I mean that not in a self-help book way, but as in really, truly, how she percieves things and expresses things. Unfiltered. It is what it is, and it is charming and wildly colorful. It seems like this really is enriching her life, like a...third hand, or a tail, just a neat extension, part of her.
I am a worrier. I worry that because I didn't go to art school, my art will never be good enough and never has any hope of being taken seriously. Even though it delights me, I find myself holding back, couching things, saying self depricating things when people mention it, see it, give me comments on it. Most especially in real life. It's very easy to pretend to be brave here. I worry my style is too 'cute', not enough this, not quite that enough. Not fitting in with the cool kids. I worry about getting older and not leaving a trail behind me. I worry all this and more.
But looking at her art, I am starting to see that maybe none of these worries are true, that these fears are not actually the way the world is or has to be. She's done so much, and it's wonderful, and she is not formally trained. Oh, man, do I love the artists who are not formally trained. (I love a lot of artists who are, but the ones who aren't give me hope.)
Seeing her art reminds me to just create. A lot. And to not worry about how other people percieve it.

When suddenly...

I believe in the unexpected. Often, the way out of a problem is a solution you can't see yet. Things happen. People unexpectedly invite you to concerts you really want to go to. A check appears out of thin air (er, the mail). Usually, the unexpected is for good.
And sometimes...
it smacks into the back of your Honda as you take off from work, putting a pinch into your afternoon.
Or it refuses to play your brand new video game, refuses to play all your video games, and in fact, is broken.
It makes my heart swell with gratitude that the kinks in my week have been so minor and fixable!
As far as the painting, this is the previously mentioned "Staunch Character in a Sea of Leaves".
Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Working on...

Calling cards

Note to the writers of Gilmore Girls- I've got your ending

We don't have tv reception. We don't have cable, or satellite, and we like it that way.
But.
I have to confess- we chain watch episodes of the Gilmore Girls. We borrow them from my mom- she has the box sets of all the seasons. And we(notice, I am sticking with the 'we'- it is not just I who does this) watch them again and again.
And now, I have dreamed the very last minute of the very last show of the very last season. Yes- I have DREAMED THE ENDING OF THE GILMORE GIRLS. Current writers of the show, are you taking note? Because this could save you some time.
Ready? Have you watched up to at least season six? Good. I'm ready to spoil it all for you now.
SO:
It is about 20 years in the future. We see an older Rory exit the foyer of a large, nice house. Then, we see an older Logan exit the building after her. They head towards a fancy S.U.V. In the backseat is Lorelai. In the front seat, ready to drive is a girl who looks just like Rory did when she was young. It is their daughter.
AND SCENE!
THE END.
Of course, this is way more satisfying and gives far more closure than any actual t.v. show ending possibly would. Or maybe I'm just bitter because I've seen a few other beloved shows end very disappointingly.
So, now that I've exposed my complete and utter nerdyness, here's a photo for you.

See? Asymmetrical. Is it even cuter now?
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

More on Flickr. It was a sewing weekend. (Special thanks to June!) Also, a lunch bag was fashioned. You should really visit and see.