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Quick announcement: I have a show opening this Friday from 6-10pm, here in Indianapolis at the Harrison Center on Delaware and 16th. Anyone who wants to attend would be more than welcome. It's a three person show and the other two women (Susan Hodgin and Gala Bent) are fantastic artists. The show will be wonderful. :)
Here's the site where you can learn more: Harrison Center.
I hope to see you there!
Some good advice has started to roll in for the "Best Advice I Ever Got" project. You can view the submissions so far here! (Make sure to check out the links to their websites...some gems!)
If you'd like to participate, click here to find out how.
Part of my transformation has included meditation. Just sitting quietly, focusing on breathing. I always thought I could never do this. I usually have things pop up that I need to write down before they return to the tornado that is my mind. My mind goes back to racing. So I thought it was pretty serendipitous that on the flight back from the retreat I picked up a random magazine, flipped to a random page and read an article about meditation. I could really relate to the author. She talked about how her mind wandered. How she was send to this meditation class and was very skeptical. She peeked during the exercises (hee). But then she talked about it after the class with the rest of the students and they said the same thing: they had a hard time concentrating. So she felt less alone and decided to continue to meditate at home.
At home, the author would put the timer on for 15 minutes and sit in a comfortable position. She tried to focus on her breathing. Her mind would still wander, but she would catch it and let it go, again focusing on her breathing. And it got better over time. She wrote that this slowed her down and made her less reactionary in her life.
This sounded like something I needed and could do, so I have been meditating at home. Catching myself go and then bringing myself back. It's an exercise in starting over. In letting it go, not being mad at yourself and giving yourself another chance. Over and over again. I like that. I could use a second chance or two...
So, imagine my surprise when Colin and I were asked to do a story on meditation for Nuvo last week. What are the chances? (I think someone is trying to tell me to keep going.) So we went to a meditation studio and sat in on one of the sessions. We participated and asked a few questions. Later I had to do an illustration that summed it up quickly. A quick read that talked about meditating. So, that's where the illo above comes from. I wanted to convey that all these things pop up in your head, but occasionally you have a moment of peace. And then it's gone and you start over.
And keep starting over...
January is always so cold and gray... Seems like spring is a long way off. At the beginning of march my mom and I always start keeping at eye out for the first robin... a promise that spring is coming. Whoever sees the first robin and calls to brag about it first, wins.
I had that in mind as I created this painting. The cold harsh gray winter. Winds blowing. Chapped faces. Bare trees. But there's that one robin who braves it first. That small promise that it will change... Maybe I am just impatient this year so I made a robin of my own. :)
I have a show coming up on February 3rd. It's at the Harrison Arts Center in Indianapolis. Corner of 16th and Delaware. Please come if you live in Indy! It'll be great. It's a three person show and the other two artists are phenomenal.
I've been steadily working on my paintings for the show. I decided to revisit the image I did for the coloring book a while back (remember that?). So I took that line are and made it into a painting. I changed her facial expression a bit to make her seem to be enjoying her sleep a little more. Here are the results:
The initial line drawing:
The finished painting:
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By the way, I've only gotten a few submissions for the Best Advice Project. I hope there's more coming. Deadline is Feb 17th!
 Transformation...
The first thing that I'm tackling with this transformation is my physical health. Since becoming self-employed my health has taken a back seat. I let my work dictate my time. I've felt guilty for not spending 8 (at least) hours in the studio each day. And that's not really a good thing. It's not a healthy way to live.
So, to tackle my health, I first started looking at the way I felt. I was eating a lot of sugary and processed foods (they are the easiest to come by... just open the bag of chips!). And it was making me sick. Literally. I would feel nauseous and have to eat IMMEDIATELY. Then shortly after eating I'd get dizzy. My blood sugar was all over the place and so was my energy. Lift and crash. Lift and crash. My doctor called it hypoglycemia. My friend Melanie said there was something I could do about it. Melanie is a diabetic and has had to alter her eating and exercise, too. And she told me about the south beach diet.
At first I was a little suspicious. I don't diet. In fact, the word 'diet' freaks me out. I have heard horror stories about yo-yo-ing and feeling bad about yourself when you slip up. And i wanted none of that. But she assured me that it was not like that. It was just a way to alter the way you eat so you feel better.
Reluctantly, I tried it. I bought the books (used on amazon...so cheap!). I studied what was making me sick. And I vowed to change it. I'm on day six now (I think). The first two days were really painful for me. Withdrawals from sugar and caffeine. I felt like I had ants crawling underneath my skin and I was really spaced out. Dropping Colin off at work, I nearly ran a red light because I was just not with it...
Then day three I started to feel good. Not just better. But good! My energy was pretty level. I didn't feel sick or dizzy. It was amazing...and pushed me to go further....
I started to look at physical activity. And I decided that I really missed exercise. And exercise is a good way to reduce stress... and feel balanced (my new year's goal!). So when Colin leaves for work in the morning... before I turn on my computer or pick up a paint brush, I go for a walk. Fast walk... not picking the daisies. And then I come home and do a little yoga and relaxation. Doing it before the work starts has helped me because I don't get distracted. I don't try to fit it in my schedule, and then miss. It's just there. I schedule meetings around it. No excuse. I like that.
So, that's the first part of my transformation. I've been at it for nearly a week and already I feel different. I feel a little calmer and collected. I feel good. I haven't said that in a while.
I think that for me, saying it "out loud" here and to my friends has helped me stick to it. I feel like I have something to prove... and for a competitive person like me, that's fuel.
Gift in Ugly Wrapping
There's a little chinese food joint near my house. I can ride my bike there. Harsh overhead lighting. Dingy floors that have been mopped one too many times. A gray-flecked counter with the plastic tearing along the edges. The people who own it are really friendly, but they don't speak English so you have to just kind of point at the menu and smile. It's a strange experience. But a good one because it was the wrapping for one of the best presents I've gotten. A simple fortune cookie.
I opened up the plastic wrapping and ate a small corner of the cookie (I don't like fortune cookies, but you have to eat just a little for the fortune part to come true). I pulled out the paper inside and was prepared for something dumb like "Be a flower and a cloud on your nose." But instead I was confronted with this:
I feel like that fortune was put there just for me. A little smack in the face (in the gentlest of ways). I took it to heart. It reminded me that sometimes we have to do things that are scary or uncomfortable because we are meant to learn something from it. (Boy, that's so hard!) We can't just go on our merry little ways without challenging ourselves. How does one evolve without conflict? Right now I feel like I am on this dark path, and I get nervous not knowing whether my foot will fall down on solid ground. But that should not stop me from walking forward. "I learn by going where I have to go." I keep pushing myself forward ...and I learn and grow and get better.
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I have added that saying to the bottom of my emails as a reminder to myself. Speaking of which, my computer has been returned safely (thanks, Kat) and I am now receiving emails. So you can email me your Best Advice submission if you're finished with it. :)
I am just going to start writing this and see what spills out.
This weekend was really scary for me personally. Being around eight powerful, open, spiritual, beautiful women. It completely overwhelmed me. And it was just what I needed. I didn't talk much. I really felt it was my place to sit and be and soak in all of this. Listen and learn and feel my discomfort. For a while I felt like they were all several steps ahead of me... and I followed like a wounded lamb. On the edge of exposure (and I don't do well with exposure). I felt like this time they had things to teach me, but I didn't have anything to teach back. But after a time reflecting and feeling bad about that, I decided that that was okay. If it's where I am right now, that's where I am. Forcing it would have been dishonest to myself and injured me more. And I can't do that, even if I'm the only one left out. And I trust them enough to feel like they are all okay with me where I am...
On the long journey home I had time to sit with everything that happened, and I started to realize how much I'd learned. I have an optimism about 2006 that I didn't have before (despite all the good news I post here). I feel like I have been given a flashlight and I know where I need to go... which, is into myself even more. I need to explore and tunnel through and figure out just what the hell I'm here to say and who I am. My beliefs from an objective, educated, honest place. Accept myself. Soak in even more. Really enjoy the caterpillar. And then see what happens.
So, to all the beauties that I spent the weekend with: thank you for being patient. Thank you for holding open your heart. Thank you for not forcing me. Thank you for being you. And most of all, thank you for this flash light.
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(I left my laptop in CA, so anyone who's emailed me, I apologize. I'll get back to you as soon as I can...)
Just a quick little update:
I got word that a campaign I illustrated made it into Archive. Sweet! It was a campaign for my very favorite jewelry store here in Indianapolis called Silver in the City. (My lovely husband Colin surprises me with jewelry from there on special occasions.)
Below are the ads. (Concept and design done by Young & Laramore Advertising.)
Tomorrow morning I fly off for a long-awaited retreat with eight wonderfully creative and inspiring women (Keri, Andrea, Swirly, Christine, Kate, Katrina, Jen and Pixie). I'll admit that I'm a wee bit nervous... But moreso I am really excited to share ideas, dreams, goals and support with such an cool bunch.
I hope to come back recharged, refreshed and rarin' to go! See you next week!
 Best Advice Update and Changes
I hate to say it, but the best advice project is not coming together the way I'd hoped. It was a big undertaking to mail out three physical journals and try to have them go through the post unharmed. So I'm kinda putting that idea to bed. Calling it a wash... But all is not lost! I think we can still have fun with this project, just in a different way.
The way projects seem to work well is via the web. So let's change the Best Advice Project to be web based.
The bad news is:
Those who have already had the physical journals will have to start over.
The good news is:
Anyone who wants to participate in this project now can. The more, the merrier. And you get a link back to your site this way, too!
So, in with this in mind click here for the new guidelines!
Happy creating!
I think I've mentioned before that I have a show coming up February 3rd. I think I need about 8 or so paintings for it. As soon as that giganormous job was finished for United Airlines (I'll show the art as soon as I know I'm in the clear) I moved on to start the show paintings.
For me, painting for shows is more difficult than painting for a client. For a client, you find out what they need and you just paint it. Easy. For shows, it's all up to you. What do you want to say? How do you want to say it? Does it have to say something?... etc. It has to be somewhat cohesive and give people a certain vibe.
I finished painting number 2 this afternoon. (See below for both 1 and 2). I think they are reflecting what I'm feeling inside a little... This Indiana weather is really starting to beat me up. No sun. Just gray and cold. It's coming out through my art.
Maybe I'll try to rev color a little for my next one... Try to battle this from my side.
The Indianapolis Star, Sunday edition (today) has an article on the cover of the Arts & Entertainment section about how to start collecting original art. They mentioned me and I have two paintings in the article! Yay!
The cover:
A closeup:
Inside continuation:
Whew!
All the paintings are done and have been sent to the agency. I sent them in two batches. They received the first batch this morning and emailed me to say they loved them. Yay! I'm just pleased as punch. Especially after sweating bullets in anticipation to hear. I thought I was going to burst. But they like them and I can rest easy. :) And I will. To reward myself for my late night painting lately, I just brewed myself a cup of sleepy-time tea. And it's kickin' in. (yawn...)
Before I drift off, I just wanted to mention that the voting for 2006 Bloggies has begun! How fun. I know of a blog you could vote for (hint, hint)...but only if you wanna. Oh, and you could also vote for Illustration Friday, which would be peachy!
Nighty-night, friends.
My new year is starting off with a bang. Late last week I was hired to do a Gigantic job (with a capital G!). My sketches were all approved yesterday and now I have seven large paintings due on Thursday... That's tomorrow. Gulp! Only one has a finished background though...so that's a relief.
So I've been painting like a madperson. I have all seven in the works. Three drying under fans while I work on the others. Paint brushes flying. Paint splattering on my studio floor. My panicked expression... But I'm getting through them. And I'm liking the results. It's fun! But I keep having scary daydreams of the art director receiving the fedex package, opening it and not liking them. So I'm really nervous to hear back. I hope they love them and think I did a good job. Double gulp. I hope me liking them equals them liking them. Keep your finners crossed for me! (Yes, finners...)
One more tidbit of good news: I got word that I've been selected for my very own solo show in August of this year. Yay! Solo!
Illustration Friday: Flavor
This is another menu cover I did for Just Cause Catering. I think it fits this week's "flavor" theme. Appetizing orange...
Want to start the new year off creatively and need some inspiration to get you started? Check this out (click on the 52 Figments link). The super sweet Swirly is doing this weekly postcard project. It sounds like so much fun. The first week's postcard is writing/drawing/collaging your own theme for 2006.
For me, 2006 is "The Year of Finding Balance". And I'm off to a great start by purchasing a new (easier to use) tea maker. And yesterday I watched a few movies after I was done sketching for a client. Peace and serenity...here I come. hee.
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© Penelope Illustration. Stealing
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