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Do you know what happens when you are an artist who happens to think that her spouse is one good looking dude?

Every single male figure that you paint or draw starts to look vaguely like him! 

I'm serious. This 'generic' angel that I sketched out in preparation for a large sanctuary wall that I am painting, could be my husband...or at least a relative of his...eesh.

Time to call in some models.

Seriously though, thank you to the friends who have let me cajole them into being angels. You guys are the best!

Thank you to everyone who came out to the National Museum of Women in the Arts on Sunday to hear me speak about my Urban Portrait Project and Anna Ancher's work!

It was an absolute honor.

Inspiration

Have you ever found yourself charging into a project...

with what you believe is an incredible attack plan...

only to find yourself suddenly in the dark and not so sure anymore?

It is a sad place to be.

Sometimes though, when you're lucky, a new light brightens a little of the darkness.

Then everything that you see glows with it...

 and you feel like singing along.

Thank you Kay Nielsen and Ivan Bilibin for the unexpected inspiration!

Boring Headshot or Painted Profile Pic?

 Colette Marvin has the most fascinating job. She is an art forgery expert, meaning that she researches art crime and cultural heritage protection for the government and for private clients (including consulting on this case)! She also teaches a course at DC's Duke Ellington School of the Arts on Art and Social Media.

I met Colette when she invited me to come speak to her class about my Urban Portrait Project, AS IS. As part of a revamp for her art forgery website, she commissioned me to paint a loose portrait sketch (like one of these.)

In an online world awash in corporate head shots, I love the idea of opening an "About" page and finding a bright, loose painting sketch instead! There are so many creative companies out there who have the most stale staff photos on their websites. Having a piece of art in place of all that blandness is a fresh way to shake things up.

Colette's work requires her to do quite a bit of analyzing and discussing particular artworks, so she will also be including this colorful little painting somewhere on her site. We took this one in more abstract direction--focusing on a dynamic composition of color blocks and lines versus a descriptive representation of facial features. 

This was such a fun project! Thank you, Colette!

Congratulations Fluerir!

 A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to be introduced to the dynamic duo behind Fleurir Chocolates who literally sweet talked me into creating the above installation for their first shop in Georgetown, DC, and then a variation of the tree for their new Alexandria, VA shop. 

Today, Robert and Ashleys' caramels were named on the New York Times "Best in the Box" list! Cheers, Friends!

(Want to order a box for yourself? You should. I can personally vouch for their deliciousness!)

Future Art Professionals

Thank you Bailey and Girl Scout Troop 3441 for inviting me to speak at your meeting yesterday about being an artist! Bailey and her mother heard NPR's story on my Urban Portrait Project, AS IS, and asked if she could interview me.  I really appreciated the tough questions about my sources of inspiration, and about other professions that I find interesting. 

Thank you girls--I look forward to hearing about some of YOUR artwork in the news one day!