This moment......

A simple, beautiful moment in our week. Inspired by Soulemama.

Wandering Wednesday

Inspired by Gardenmama.
I wandered to the river for my first swim of the summer, I am a late bloomer this year. The Pisces in me just can't get enough, and it was hard to leave. I hope to be here again many more times before the Fall.

A Mother and an Artist...

I wanted to share the documentary Who Does She Think She is? because it is exactly what I have been thinking about now for several months. Can I be an artist and a mother without being seen as selfish, would my work ever been taken seriously because I am a mama? I remember feeling a certain vibe from a few of my professors in art school,I felt that they didn't take me seriously, maybe I didn't take myself seriously enough. It seems in general, in order to be a successful working artist you need to be completely absorbed in your art and how can you do that when you are a mother to small children. Aren't we as women taught that all good mothers put their kids above all other things? I feel like I have abandoned my artist self since having my son after graduating art school. I was completely devoted and satisfied with taking care of my new baby and my daughter for several years after, but now that my son is getting a bit older and more independent I find myself restless.Like something is missing.
I have not yet seen the documentary. But I have watched the trailer many many times with tears streaming down my cheeks. I should just buy it. I am sure it would be a constant source of encouragement and motivation that I could return to over and over again. I already take inspiration from Tasha Tudors documentary called Take Joy. Tasha Tudor was an amazing woman, and incredibly creative,wonderful mother and a working artist. I can't even contemplate how she managed to do it all. She is my ultimate mentor and I wish I would have been able to write her a letter to let her know before she passed away a few years ago. But it can be done. A woman can be mother and an artist.right?

Illustration sunday.... a field sketch

This is just a simple sketch that I painted out in the sunshine in my front yard. I was never really confident drawing from real life, but it was something that I did a lot in art school and something I haven't done at all in the 3 years since I graduated. Flowers are pretty easy, but it was windy and those daisies danced away.
My whole point in blogging my work is to force myself back into habit of drawing, being forced to draw in college really burned me out. I am trying to get back into it, and it feels really good.
Please post a link to your illustrations or paintings in my comments if you would like to share. I would love to have others join in so we can motivate one another, that is what I miss most about art school. While you are there art seems so important, but once you graduate and your family life starts to take over it really takes the back seat.
After attending the incredibly creative Oregon Country Fair I am re inspired to get my art back in my life and to pursue my dream job as an illustrator. Can I be an artist and a mother without being selfish?
I will post more on that tomorrow!

This Moment......

An ordinary, wonderful moment from our week. Inspired by Soulemama.

Illustration Sunday...

This is a work in progress that I would like to turn into a painting. Sophie at the Oregon Country Fair with the daisy crown that she made herself...I will update this again in the future when the painting is complete.
Please join me if you also love to draw and paint and need a little motivational boost.... and leave a comment with a link to your art for all to see.

This Moment......

this moment}-A Friday ritual. A single photo-no words-capturing a moment from the week. A simple,special,extraordinary moment. Inspired by Soulemama's blog.

The Oregon Country Fair......2010

Off to the Oregon Country Fair...

Sorry that I made and broke my Illustration Sunday goal faster than it was even started. Blame it on very bad timing. Our only planned summer trip and the Oregon Country Fair all fell within weeks of each other. I am in the middle of it now. A lot of packing and planning and costume making has been done here lately. I am planning on posting more regularly and meeting my illustrations goals after the fair and I can't wait to share pictures! Want to check out last years Fair?...go here.
It is always really hard to come back to reality after the Fair is over....I will do my best.

At camp...

Home sweet yurt....

Breakfast of champions...

Pancakes taste so much better outside...

I don't think she ate that one....

Down the Hobbit Trails.........

Many years ago, Ben and I traveled to the West Coast on a summer road trip from Wisconsin. A friend of ours told us of this magical spot on the Oregon coast, just a few miles north of Florence called the "Hobbit trails". We were determined to find them on our trip and despite the very vague directions, we found them, no problem.
We also found out (at a campground connected to the park by beautiful hiking trails) that we were going to be PARENTS! So needless to say this is a very special place for our family indeed....
Now we are more than happy to share this place now with both of our children.
I know that I would have been completely enchanted by this place as a child, my own little paradise.
I am happy to share with you a few pictures from a foggy morning on our recent trip to this ever so magical place.....

This Moment......

this moment}-A Friday ritual. A single photo-no words-capturing a moment from the week. A simple,special,extraordinary moment. Inspired by Soulemama's blog.

Just a little note...and a half birthday to celebrate

When I posted my Illustration Sunday post last week I obviously forgot the fact that we would be yurt camping at the coast for 4 days and that I would not be here to post anything. Then we came home to a computer virus and the computer I use for editing and posting my photos is out sick for the moment. I hope to be back with photos tomorrow or even later today when it safe to put photos on it again. Storing precious pictures on a computer is a scary thing! Photos mean a lot to me, a whole lot.
I hope to share(way too many) pictures of or trip very soon, we had a wonderful time. I have to admit it is very hard to come back to city life and reality...I can't wait to retire with my airstream trailer on the coast...like so many good people do...they have the right idea in my book!
But hey, we have a half birthday to celebrate today! We can't miss that. I see cupcakes in our future!
See you soon!