I was asked a couple of days ago to submit paintings for the Walt Disney Signature Collection. The idea is to paint something inspired by Disney Classic Movies but with my interpretation. No characters, but something that could be hung in a high end retail store, hotel, or company that might not be immediately recognizable as "Disney". But when you turn the print around, there would be a synopsis on the back explaining which scene and which movie the inspiration came from. Cool stuff! I'm honored to have been asked and now I have my giant borrowed bag of around 40 approved masterpieces to view for inspiration!
I do have a lot of ideas rolling around in my head. So I'm off to view "Pinocchio" and see if what I have in mind to paint relates directly to a scene or two in that movie! If my painting is accepted, I still keep the original but I license the reproduction to Disney for 3 years. It all sounds very interesting to me. I guess there's no way to know for sure if it's going to be worth it without just jumping in!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Visiting the Poppies
Today was a beautiful day here in Southern California. We decided it would be the perfect time to take a drive up North, about an hour from us, to see the California Poppy Reserve. I can't believe that I live so close and I've never been there! We get wild poppies growing on the hills around us but they are sporadic and I've always wanted to see the wildflowers in all their glory. Anyway, we took the long, WINDY (as in windy road, not windy air!), scenic route. It was pretty gorgeous with all of the Bouquet Canyon shale jutting out all around us and the trees meeting overhead to give that cozy, woodsy feeling. Little streams to each side of us entertained the occasional fisherman on the side of the road. I'm wondering, what kind of fish could have been in there? We came upon a huge reservoir which was quite beautiful. There was a tent pitched right next to the water that looked like a circus tent! But a big sign said that it was for a prayer meeting! Wow, so.....backwoods? LOL! I had no idea that people actually did that! And all of this practically in my own back yard!
I had enough of the twisty road after about 20 minutes, LOL! Yes it was scenic and pretty but you know it was a little nauseating! After a while we ended up coming out the other side and I was excited to see that we were nearing our destination, thanks to our chirping GPS mostly! The unfortunate part though, was the poppies just weren't quite ripe! There were many Japanese tourists pulled off the side of the road, walking through the fields and taking photos. I was surprised to see that! There were also a few artist doing their plein air paintings which was interesting. Basically, though, we pulled into the Visitor's Center and asked if they thought this would be better next week. She agreed that next week or the week after would probably be better! I could tell by the enormous expanse of almost flowering vistas that it would really knock my socks off when it was in it's full glory. So I'm actually thinking that maybe Easter Sunday might not be a bad day to go again! It was pretty crowded today and I can only imagine how clogged the cars will be when it's really ablaze!
So, that's my next field trip! Another visit to the California Poppy Reserve with my camera in hand, catching the perfect shot to recreate in acrylics :) I'll post some photos when I do!
I had enough of the twisty road after about 20 minutes, LOL! Yes it was scenic and pretty but you know it was a little nauseating! After a while we ended up coming out the other side and I was excited to see that we were nearing our destination, thanks to our chirping GPS mostly! The unfortunate part though, was the poppies just weren't quite ripe! There were many Japanese tourists pulled off the side of the road, walking through the fields and taking photos. I was surprised to see that! There were also a few artist doing their plein air paintings which was interesting. Basically, though, we pulled into the Visitor's Center and asked if they thought this would be better next week. She agreed that next week or the week after would probably be better! I could tell by the enormous expanse of almost flowering vistas that it would really knock my socks off when it was in it's full glory. So I'm actually thinking that maybe Easter Sunday might not be a bad day to go again! It was pretty crowded today and I can only imagine how clogged the cars will be when it's really ablaze!
So, that's my next field trip! Another visit to the California Poppy Reserve with my camera in hand, catching the perfect shot to recreate in acrylics :) I'll post some photos when I do!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
My Aching Shoulders!
Soooo painting balloons again! I can't wait until my posts are about something else I'm painting! I always do this kind of thing. Jump feet first into projects that I want to see completed! And how they get to that point, well that's another story! LOL! I'm really happy with how the painting is progressing but the detail is pretty overwhelming. I just can't let anything go. I paint over every little detail, every little box that makes up the whole over and over. Hence, my aching shoulders!
I'd like to say I'm 50% finished but....well I'm going to say I am! I would really like to be finished by Friday. I've just got to move onto something else just to give my eyeballs a break, LOL!
Today is Michael's birthday. 19 years old and living on his own in New London, CT! He started his first day on the Chinook yesterday. He really likes his job and his shipmates but he's so young, just 19 today! So there's not much hanging out after work at the bars with the guys, LOL! I think he's a bit overwhelmed and a little depressed. Which of course makes mom depressed too. I have faith that things will get better for him.
Time to walk away from this painting for now. I have to take a break and come back with fresh eyes! The windows are open, the birds are chirping, the weather is around 80. Wow it's a beautiful day outside! I wonder if it's too early to break out the cushions and umbrellas from the shed?...
I'd like to say I'm 50% finished but....well I'm going to say I am! I would really like to be finished by Friday. I've just got to move onto something else just to give my eyeballs a break, LOL!
Today is Michael's birthday. 19 years old and living on his own in New London, CT! He started his first day on the Chinook yesterday. He really likes his job and his shipmates but he's so young, just 19 today! So there's not much hanging out after work at the bars with the guys, LOL! I think he's a bit overwhelmed and a little depressed. Which of course makes mom depressed too. I have faith that things will get better for him.
Time to walk away from this painting for now. I have to take a break and come back with fresh eyes! The windows are open, the birds are chirping, the weather is around 80. Wow it's a beautiful day outside! I wonder if it's too early to break out the cushions and umbrellas from the shed?...
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Kid's Are Out, Painting Is In :)
What a whirlwind week! We flew to Cape May, NJ to see my son graduate from the Coast Guard boot camp on Thursday. My daughter flew in from Hawaii the night before and along with my youngest son and my hubbie, we all flew out together. It was incredible and emotional to see my son walking in front of us with his uniform, all 20 pounds lighter and full of military bearing! I just couldn't hold back the tears! We could not be more proud of him!
We've cherished the few days of leave that he had at home and now he's left to start his new career in New London, CT. My daughter flew back to her home in Hawaii the day before he left. So my heart is heavy but I know that we've raised some amazing, independent children. I wonder how did that happen? LOL! Now my youngest feels like an only child again and I think it makes him feel sad also. But I know that he's looking towards his future and he has some incredible role models whom he loves dearly, his siblings. How did I get so lucky?
I haven't painted for about a week between the trip and the studio having an air mattress on the floor. But today everything is cleaned up, put away and the room is calling me back inside. I need to get back in that head space that envelops me when I paint. It's my therapy :) I put my music on, my painty clothes (do I have any other kind?) and just settle in. The time goes by so quickly and all of a sudden the house is dark and I haven't even bothered to turn on a light! Laundry? Bills? What's that?! I have a hard time separating my brain between my hot air balloons that are my current project and the far away buzzer of the dryer calling to me from downstairs. Maybe one day I'll be able to reconcile the two and be the most productive painter/mom/housekeeper on the planet! The reality of the situation is that the mom brain kicks in when my son is asking me for the second time "what's for dinner!!!" and the dirty socks from 3 days ago still haven't found there way back into the drawer. My always-testing-his-patience husband will nicely say "are there any clean socks?" which reminds me that there are other things around me happening besides me and my paint :) Reality, go away!
We've cherished the few days of leave that he had at home and now he's left to start his new career in New London, CT. My daughter flew back to her home in Hawaii the day before he left. So my heart is heavy but I know that we've raised some amazing, independent children. I wonder how did that happen? LOL! Now my youngest feels like an only child again and I think it makes him feel sad also. But I know that he's looking towards his future and he has some incredible role models whom he loves dearly, his siblings. How did I get so lucky?
I haven't painted for about a week between the trip and the studio having an air mattress on the floor. But today everything is cleaned up, put away and the room is calling me back inside. I need to get back in that head space that envelops me when I paint. It's my therapy :) I put my music on, my painty clothes (do I have any other kind?) and just settle in. The time goes by so quickly and all of a sudden the house is dark and I haven't even bothered to turn on a light! Laundry? Bills? What's that?! I have a hard time separating my brain between my hot air balloons that are my current project and the far away buzzer of the dryer calling to me from downstairs. Maybe one day I'll be able to reconcile the two and be the most productive painter/mom/housekeeper on the planet! The reality of the situation is that the mom brain kicks in when my son is asking me for the second time "what's for dinner!!!" and the dirty socks from 3 days ago still haven't found there way back into the drawer. My always-testing-his-patience husband will nicely say "are there any clean socks?" which reminds me that there are other things around me happening besides me and my paint :) Reality, go away!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Leaving for New Jersey
So I'm leaving for New Jersey tomorrow to see my son graduate from the Coast Guard! I'm sooooo excited! He's been gone for two months and I miss him so much! My studio is going to be disabled for a few days since there's an air mattress on the floor in there to accommodate his gf and then him when he gets back home Friday night! I'm absolutely busting at the seams with anticipation and pride! SEMPER PARATUS!!!
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