please help me decide...

Which image should be made into a large 20 x 24 canvas print? I will
be picking two, so feel free to vote
more than once. :)

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

View Results
Create a Blog Poll

you can take the artist out of the studio...

But...you can't take the studio away from the artist!


I thought you would get a chuckle from this one! I'm currently in North Carolina...and this is my hotel bathroom. I had a last minute chance to take a workshop with one of my favorite artists, Robert Burridge. After 8 hours of driving, I have homework to prepare for the workshop! I had to gesso ten 10" x 10" sheets of watercolor paper! Of course, gesso is everywhere! Thank goodness it comes up easily! I'll keep you posted on the weekend. I believe as an artist, you should never stop growing and learning.

Love,
Wyanne
-- Post From My iPhone

she had it all along......

I finally got back to the Octopus painting this past week. I was able to have two full days in the studio to work on it. I'm still not finished! I thought I would post some more progress photos...so you can see how it is coming along. It was really hard the first day to get back into the groove with the painting. This is why your art instructors tell you to paint or draw everyday. When you don't...its sometimes really hard not to struggle. By the end of the day...we had made peace again and things were flowing along nicely.

The painting is starting to take a life of it's own and come together. It doesn't matter how hard I work on a concept before hand for a painting...the painting always takes unexpected turns.

Recently, I had an unusual turn of life, imitating, one of my paintings. It's (most definitely) usually the other way around. I did a commission painting for someone a while back. She wanted a representation of herself in a big eyed girl, and her horse. She explained that her horse had helped her through a difficult time in her life. This was the painting that I created for her.
It's called "Trust, Grow...Love".

My youngest, Logan had a chance to attend a workshop recently by Danielle Herb, a 15 year old that founded, Drop Your Reins...a holistic training school based in Live Oak, FL. Through Danielle's extensive experience with horses and natural horsemanship, she has realized that horses are sentient animals that mirror human beings. In her workshops, young people and their families discover the power of personal growth and learning to trust though the use of Natural Horsemanship. They have also helped begin the healing process with a variety of children and teens including those with ADD/ADHD, Autism and low self-esteem. Danielle is an incredible girl, who at 15 has accomplished more than many adults.

In the workshop, (conducted by Danielle and her Mom, shown above) Logan learned how to ask for what she wants without being to bossy or too meek. It was incredible because rather than focusing on her words...she learned to focus on her energy. Danielle also saw that Logan had some issues starting to arise with self esteem, just from the way she rode on the horse. And at the end, she taught Logan to stand up on the horse (yes just like my painting). It was a process to help the child work through a fear with baby steps and trust. The workshop gave Logan and I, a reference point to come back to visit whenever a problem arises. It taught us both tremendous skills that we will use the rest of our lives.

I am always amazing at what young people can do if given the chance. If you step back...let them grow and spread their own wings. My 15 year old son Luke, was accepted into a magnet high school for visual arts. This was a HUGE achievement because we don't live in the same county as the magnet school, and he was trying out for his sophomore year of high school, and auditioning among 3000 potential students. But, he did it. I drove him to the audition...and then he was completely on his own. I never saw the artwork he had to create on the spot, heard the interview, or read the essay he had to write while he was in the audition. He did all of that on his own. I can remember trying to turn him into an artist at a very young age. I had him finger painting, and taking art classes before he was 5. But, he never showed any interest. But, when I gave up, stopped pushing, and let things happen naturally...he started sketching. From age 7, he has never stopped drawing. His skills are much better than mine now. My parents never supported my art. I can't imagine how differently things might have turned out, if they had. I was 26 years old before I heard an official grown up, parent figure, tell me I was an artist. It was my husband's parents...one of the reason's I married him.

A couple of days ago, two young girls came through the studio. They were probably around 16. One was very interested in my artwork. I noticed her carefully studying each painting. I asked if she was an artist. She beamed, and answered she was. Inside, I was so proud of her for not being shy or insecure when she answered the question. I could have never done that at her age! When I asked her what type of work she did...she just motioned around the room...work like mine. Wow...what incredible courage that must have taken! I guess some artists might have laughed or even been insulted that a youngster was comparing their work to something they had spent years refining. But...I was so proud of her. She, was who, I wished I was, at her age. It was wonderful. The two girls were considering buying a piece. I decided to give it to her as a gift. I told her that when she was famous, I wanted her to give a piece of her art to a young artist. And I could see in her eyes after I told her...all her insecurities and doubts went away...she knew she was an artist...and she knew she would be famous one day.

I've been adding flowers swirling around in my paintings lately. At first it was for pure design, and I knew it meant something to me...but I couldn't verbalize it. But, after meeting two strong young women lately, Anastasia (the artist) and Danielle (the horse instructor), I know, now, that it means letting go of your fears, doubts and insecurities to just fly away with the wind.

So, I'll continue on my long journey with this painting, and not get defeated. I let it develop on it's own and take me down all those scary roads...even though I didn't plan for those roads. I don't think I've ever had a painting come out exactly like I had preplanned it. You can choose to fight and struggle with those turns...or accept them. Most of the time...I accept them now and leave it in the Universe's hands. And...it always turns out better than what I had preplanned.
Maybe it wasn't meant for me to know I was an artist at such a young age. Having acceptance, and preplanning my life might have taken me down many different roads.

In the new painting, the octopus is giving the girl a pearl. The pearl represents many things, such as courage, talent, self esteem...but...you know what...she doesn't really need it...because

"She Had It All Along"

Thank you to Luke, Anastasia, and Danielle...for helping me remember that I had "it" all along too...even if no one ever told me.

Love,
Wyanne

Believe...A Special Sale for Blog Readers!

You might remember this Gocco print that I did a while back. It was a limited edition of 60 printed on vintage book pages from Faust. There are just 15 prints left. These last ones have great character and nuances. I especially like the one above because it has vintage handwriting in the upper corner where the previous owner of the book had made notes.

Someone recently emailed me asking if there were any prints left in the addition...and since they were all so unique...I scanned the rest and put them in my Etsy store. The last remaining prints are on sale at $15 plus free shipping in the US.

Once these are sold there will be no more. And no additional giclees will be made from these remaining 15.

And if you decide to purchase any additional items from the Etsy store, they will be 10% off. Just send me a message that you are a blog reader and I will send you a revised PayPal invoice reflecting the discount.

Happy Monday!
Love,
Wyanne

spacey girl...is a space cadet...no it's really Wyanne

"Spacey Girl...is a Space Cadet"
Mixed Media on canvas
12" x 12"

This past Friday, I took the day off to go to the zoo with my daughter and all the students of her elementary school. This was the first time that I had gone with her on a field trip, this year.
When my daughter introduced me to her friends that day... this was my introduction: "This is my mom. She's really sweet. She's not a mean mom. But she is really forgetful". Okay??? Where did that come from?

I tried to think why my daughter thought I was forgetful.

I've never forgotten birthdays or important events. Well...okay there was that one time that I forgot her best friend's birthday party...and we missed it. But that was over two years ago! I never remember numbers. I can't remember more than two telephone numbers...and half the time forget my own cell number because I never call it! One time, I did use salt instead of sugar in a cake that I baked...and didn't realize it until the first bite! I have special apps on my iphone to help me remember and keep track of not only my work schedule, but also when to take my vitamins. Wine Husband can ask me just to remember 2 things to do for him during the day...and I will usually forget one or both of them. In a conversation with a friend recently, she recited from memory, the week by week summer schedule for her family. I was amazed...I told her that I didn't know what our schedule was past next Thursday...and this was on a Monday!

Am I just getting old? No...after thinking long and hard about it...I've always been this way. But...why? I get distracted easily. I look at things differently. It's like the world is this kaleidoscope of patterns, dancing colors, and fleeting emotions. I tend to notice things that most people don't. From the odd patterns formed in stucco, to the peeling paint on an old door, to the uncertainty on a little girls face. I try to soak it all in and incorporate it in some small way in my paintings and art. I'm constantly studying and filing things away in my mind.

People who I've never met, come into my studio and ask me where I get my ideas from. They are amazed at the imagination and creativity behind the work. I'm always surprised by this...no matter how often it happens. Because for me...it's just the things that I see, in everyday life. So, I guess for now, I'll let myself off the hook.

We enjoyed our rainy day at the zoo. It was wonderful because all the animals were out. Here's some pics for you. It was a magical time.

We got to feed the baby giraffe.

And get close up and personal with the animals.even petting stingrays!

Despite the rain...we had a grand time. The things I collected from the trip could fill an entire year of paintings! And I'm really proud of myself...I even remembered to pack the sunscreen!

Love,
Wyanne

butterflies and bees...no birds yet...please

"Butterflies and Bees...No Birds Yet"
6" X 6"
watercolor and ink on paper

This past weekend...I went shopping for a swimsuit for my 8 year old daughter. Luckily, she was not with me. As I was looking over the swimsuits...I picked up a cute little bikini. The hang tag glared up at me, "Now with padded cups!". I was looking at a size 7 in the girls department. My first reaction was, "Oh...this must be from the Juniors department." I glanced at the other sizes of this suit on display...and I was wrong. They were making padded cups for little girls in elementary school. Now, I consider myself to be a pretty open minded mom...but this was ridiculous! Why?............ I don't get it? I did end up getting my daughter a swimsuit...but it was a pink one piece made for a rambunctious, self proclaimed, 1/2 tomboy.

At night...I try to sit down and doodle. Sometimes...I get a really good idea and it becomes a minature study painting for a larger painting. I guess that my "padded cups for 7 year olds afternoon" prompted this little painting above. We are not ready for the birds and the bees yet!

Someone was recently in my studio, and was looking over these little studies and asked if I sold them. I had never considered it because they are just studies and warm ups for the larger paintings. She purchased three that day. So, I decided to start sharing them with you also. I never considered that you might enjoy seeing how some of the larger paintings develop from these little paintings. There's a new category in my Etsy store called small originals.

I also finally put together a new postcard pack with a few more of your favorite paintings.


That's all for today...I promise...two posts in one day! You are all caught up now and I need to get to work!

Love,
Wyanne

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter!

playing hooky from the octopus & new jewelry

Last Wednesday was the last day that I was able to work in the studio on the new octopus painting. Later that night, I showed some of the progress photos to Wine Husband, who commented that it was coming along nicely, and he hoped that I wouldn't "junk" it up too much! I know "non-artist folks" mean well...but sometimes one simple, off handed, comment can kind of throw you for a loop. You see, there is more to the composition of the octopus painting that hasn't been added yet! Yes...more stuff...aka junk.... So, I decided to take a break from the octo to clear my mind a bit. I worked on jewelry. Here are some photos of the new work.

This is a red and black vintage lucite and brass lariat necklace. I must have been on a red and black kick. Check out the earrings:

And lastly, a bracelet. I love vintage lucite flowers...can't you tell? I guess a lot of people would think these old plastic flowers are junk...but I love them and that's what counts.


Making jewelry is a great way for me to clear my head from painting. I decided I will go ahead with the other areas of the painting that are not visible yet. I have more to add to the story. So expect to see more things appearing. My junk is my junk and all that matters is...that I love it.

Back to creating...
Love,
Wyanne

PS. If you like the jewelry...it's available in my Etsy store.