Finished Alamo

A while ago, I wrote about how I was doing a painting for one of my friends. Although we both agreed that a picture of the Alamo might be a little odd, I thought I'd give it a try. I wanted it to look really fun and unique, so I ended up collaging the pathway. I loved the way it looked. I loved it so much that all of my creative ambition were satisfied for a long time. The canvas sat like this for about two months.

A few weeks ago, I realized that my friend was coming into town soon and I needed to get this painting finished! I worked really hard and I didn't know if I could pull it off in time. I actually began to loath the painting and I felt terrible about it. I'll just be honest, it looked like crap. Somehow, as I reached the end of the process, it all began to come together.

This is the finished product. I really think its cool. I'm very happy with it and my friend is as well.

Old Dresser/New Dresser

My husband and I started a new project last week. We ended up with his old dresser that he had since he was a baby and throughout childhood. I had been wanting to trying repainting furniture for a while, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. I was nervous about trying it on this particular piece, because of its sentimental value. But of course, we just decided to wing it.

We started out by sanding the thing to death. I think we may have gone overboard with the sanding, but we wanted to be sure we got off all the shine from the finish. After priming it, we chose an off white color for the paint. After looking at a plethora of off white paint, I chose the color marzipan, for no other reason that I happen to like marzipan.(If you don't know what marzipan is, its an almond candy.)

After the paint finally dried, we sanded it a little more to give it a rugged look. I wanted to give it some nice new hardware so I ordered some from Anthropologie.com. I love the color turquoise and I think it makes the whole thing pop. Even though the knobs we chose were expensive, I didn't mind as much because the piece is so special.

It has belonged to my husband his whole life, and its our first major project we worked on together. This is our finished product. I love it!

T-shirt Rug

Its been a while. I started a new job again. I really love where I work now. I also just finished my first semester of graphic design school. Which I also love! I haven't painted in a while. I feel like I lost focus yet again. However, I have been crocheting quite a bit the past week. I think my creative juices are starting to flow again. I saw this online so I can't take all the credit. I will probably making all my old clothes into yarn from now on instead of getting rid of them. Four old t-shirts make a cute little bathroom rug.

Caroline and Cambodia

I have a really amazing friend named Caroline. She's been one of my best friends since our first day of college. We bonded over our mutual love of Audrey Hepburn and Africa. Caroline had been to Africa before and I still had yet to go. She has been back a few times since then, but within the last few years she has developed a love for Cambodia. She has been on medical mission trips to this country and has taught me so much about it that I didn't know.

Caroline is a pediatric oncology nurse in Nashville. I don't know how she goes to work every day. I cry just listening to some of her stories. I know that there are days when it is very difficult for her. She said that whenever she is sad about her patients, she looks at this picture. She asked me to do a painting of it for her and I don't believe my recreation of it would even compare! I did a sketch of it the other day and I caught myself smiling a few times while I was drawing.

The Alamo, etc.

As I mentioned in my last post, I have a very dear childhood friend name Abby who asked me to do a painting for her. What was going to be one large painting has probably turned in to 4 paintings of various sized and of various scenes. I did some drawings for her so she could see what she might want. She and her husband lived in San Antonio while he was in med. school. She thought that a painting of the Alamo might be something nice to have, as they are now living in Virginia. So this is what I came up with...

Even though she liked the drawing, we both agreed it might be odd to have a giant painting of the Alamo above your couch. So I drew this next...

I thought we had a winner here, but she just informed me that they are moving in a few months and want to see what their new place will be like before I really get started on anything. I might end up doing a set of 4 paintings of different landscapes. I'm really looking forward to seeing what we come up with.

I still have yet to pick up a paintbrush...

This post has no title...

So in case anyone cares, I haven't blogged in 8 months. I haven't painted at all during that time either... which is probably why I have had no reason to blog. I have wanted to and have been thinking about painting for a while, but for some reason I just can't bring myself to do it. Its been a very difficult and terrible year to say the least.

Here are a few things worth blogging about:

• Something that I could have mentioned on my blog several months ago was that I sold a painting! Not to a family friend, but to a complete stranger! I have to say, I think its a big deal.
• I'm also starting graphic design school next week! I have really been looking for a legitimate "career path" and I am hoping that this will help somehow. I am also hoping it will make me a better artist.
• I got commissioned for the first time! One of my best friends asked me to do a painting for her and her husband. She sent me some photographs of what she would like and I started doing some sketches today. I'm excited and I hope they like it!

I am thankful that its a new year and I am hoping and praying to find some inspiration again.

Seasons

The other day, my husband was cleaning out one of our closets and found this painting. I started them 2 years ago and forgot about them. I wanted to do a set of paintings that portrayed the four seasons, so I thought I would put a twist on it and do seasons in Florida. The changes in seasons aren't very noticeable in Florida, so I wanted to do changes in weather. One with clear skies, one with white clouds, one with dark clouds, and one with a storm. As you can see, I didn't get very far with it. At the time I felt like I really messed up the palm tree and I didn't even attempt to start the other ones. Looking back on it, I actually like the palm tree. I still want to try to do these paintings. don't know if I will try to finish the one I have or if I will just start over.