Tuesday, December 29, 2009

DSFDF portrait exchange

It's that time of year again... the Different Strokes from Different Folks portrait exchange is at hand. I don't know who this artist is, but she is painting my portrait. I had a heck of a time with this painting- from the first strokes of the first draft to the photographing of the final piece, it was difficult... it looks better (as they generally do) in person. I cropped the reference to just focus on the expression on the face. I am fairly pleased with the finished product, especially compared to the first attempt. :)

reference photo

Unknown artist
7X5
oil on canvas board

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Christmas paintings

These two will be in a show coming up in December. Come check them out at the Gresham City Hall building starting December 8. Artist reception (food and live music!!) will be December 15 from 5:30-7:30. You can purchase these there... or let me know. They are at a low price of $109 and $119 framed and ready to hang!

Red Ribbon #2
10X8
oil on canvas
$109



Red Ribbon #1
7X12
oil on board
$119



Friday, November 6, 2009

sock monkey liam

my monkey
7X5
oil on canvas board

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

I'm back...

I finally got back to the painting world after a couple months of hanging out with my baby boy. He sure is entertaining! This painting is my submission for the Different Strokes challenge. I can really tell that I've been away from the paints for too long. This is really not as good as I was hoping for this photo. I will paint more regularly and, hopefully, get back to improving my paintings.

Traveling
8X8
oil on paper
$25


Monday, September 21, 2009

New blog

From now on this blog will be dedicated strictly to art. For those who are interested, Mike and I have created a new blog for our family. Go here: mc-brady.blogspot.com to see that.

I have a portrait to post soon and I hope to get back into the different strokes from different folks challenges. I've had a bit of a break from painting- for obvious reasons- but I'm excited to get back into it.

Monday, August 24, 2009

painting for Jake and Stefeni

I finished this painting for some friends a couple of weeks ago and haven't posted about it yet... Jake is Mike's former roommate and Stefeni is Jake's wife. They got engaged on this bench at Red Butte Garden, so they wanted a keepsake of said bench. This is a larger painting than what I normally do, but I really liked the finished product.

Red Butte Bench
30X24
Oil on canvas

Saturday, August 22, 2009

38 weeks (almost)

Okay... officially 37 weeks and 5 days, but we're coming right along. Had a baby shower today and got some really cute things! Thanks to everyone involved- you are all so great! Afterward, we picked up a few items we were still needing and I think we are mostly ready for Liam to arrive. (Well, ready with stuff for him- not ready emotionally. I don't think I'll ever be "not freaked out.") Then, tonight, a couple of friends came over and helped me "nest." It's fun to organize baby stuff!

My mom was wanting to see the latest belly shot, but Mike wasn't home to take the picture. So, here are a couple of myspace-style baby belly shots...



Not really sure what the deal is with the point. It's kind of a weird shape. Ah well. Oh, AND... you can see the awesomely BLUE bathroom. No, we didn't choose that color- we actually don't use this bathroom much because we have to fix the fiberglass in the shower. Some day it will be pretty and not... smurfy.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Latest painting

Today was supposed to be a day of getting some paintings packaged and shipped and some cleaning done... Well, it's turned out to be "one of those days." I did some laundry early in the day, got some cleaning done, and called a few places to find some boxes to ship these paintings with. Well, last time I had no problem finding a box. This time, however, I've run into problem after problem- poor customer service mostly. Anyway, it kind of put me in a weird mood where I don't really feel like doing anything. I notice more today that I'm super tired, that my belly hurts, that when I am on my feet the baby feels really heavy... so, I'm trying to get the ol' blog updated. That's bound to put me in a better mood, right?! So, here's the latest painting (besides the ones that are going to be shipped soon.) I quite like it. Though, I think it looks better in person.

8X10
oil on canvas
$90




Rufus won!

I forgot to update you on the art contest I entered. Rufus won! Thanks for all your votes. The person who put the contest together posted the top 3 winning images on his site. Check it out. You can check out the other entrants also here.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Baby bedding

Here's a bad picture of the baby bedding and other arts I've been working on lately. I'll get better pictures when I get batteries for my camera. The quilt front and back are pretty visible, the bumper is to the left on top of the sheet, which is the solid turquoise fabric. You can't really see the skirt- striped fabric with sage green trim. You can see most of the mobile and the monogram wall hanging in the background. I hung two shelves on the other side of the room and I am going to be painting 3 square paintings to go above the dresser/ changing table. I also want to do something for the window- I'm thinking a painted wood valence with some neutral fabric panels. I keep finding little projects to do, so I'm sure there will be more to come!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Vote for me...

I entered Rufus into a contest through Fine Art America. There's not really a prize or anything, but I thought it would be fun. So go here and vote for me!

35 week baby belly...

Here's my huge belly today at 35 weeks... you're welcome.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Lots to catch up on....

I will attempt to go in chronological order, but I'm having a hard time remembering everything in order. I believe first was the trip to Idaho for the baby blessing and baby shower. It was really great to be there for the blessing. Kevin did a great job and little Kinlee sure is a sweetie.



I already went out of order because the day before I left to go to Poky we celebrated Mike's birthday. Well, first we had a BBQ with some people in our ward on Thursday. Friday night Mike's sister, Kristen, and Keith surprised Mike by coming into town and meeting us at an Indian restaurant downtown. We had delicious curries and lassis and a stellar time.

I think I'm off again. At some point Mike's other sister, Yuki, and her family came to visit. I'm pretty sure that was before Mike's birthday... yes, I think that's correct. It doesn't look like I was a very good photographer for that trip, though, because I can't find any pictures. Likewise, Mike's mom came to visit just after (or just before--> ugh! I wish I had a better memory) Yuki's visit. Again, no pictures. But, we had a really great time visiting with family the last few weeks. Oh, and- even before all that we bought a house! I remember to include that now because we knew we were having people over right after moving in, so we got everything put away and looking like a home in just a few days. We bought a townhome with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage, and lots of storage! We have a place for all our stuff and room to grow. I don't think I have pictures of our house, either- man, I'm not very good at this blogging stuff! We painted many of the rooms a pretty neutral color called water chestnut with white trim. I got to choose the accent wall colors and, let me just tell you, I'm not afraid of color! I chose a color called citrus punch for the wall between the living and dining room and a color called granny smith apple for the kitchen. I'm working on getting the baby room done in the next few weeks which will include a hand painted something on the walls and some other little paintings and things. I am also making all the bedding- just figured out exactly what I'm going to do yesterday!

Oh, look at me go... now I've really gotten out of order! Let's get back to my trip to Idaho... We spent a lot of time crafting! It was really fun for me! We made cards, helped Kambree with her Father's Day present for Kevin- a really neat, sentimental calendar, made a quilt (!!), and just had fun designing and creating things. We went to a movie or two, played games, ate delicious food, and just enjoyed family time. On Saturday while I was there my sisters threw a baby shower for me, which was so nice! They did a great job and I appreciate all the work they put in! I have the best family in the world! I couldn't transport a diaper cake in its entirety, so I did take a picture of it to show Mike (and you all!) what it looked like. It was from Yuki, who drove all the way from Salt Lake to come to the shower. April, Mendy, and Stacy also made the drive. What great people you all are!
I got lots of other really great things from really great people at the shower. I'm a little more prepared for the wee thing's arrival than I was before.

Okay, a few days after I returned home from Pocatello we had Mike's brother, Danny, and his family in town. We did some fun things with them, too. One day I went to the coast with them and we went to the aquarium. Here are some favorites from that trip:
And this one of Ian (and Anna on the back horse) on the carousel at the shopping center at Seaside:

I did pretty well documenting that trip, huh!? Well, next item of business, I believe, is Girl's Camp. I was a 4th year unit leader for our Stake GC this year. I am also 7.25 months pregnant! It actually wasn't too bad... we had mattresses to sleep on, showers, toilets, and delicious food. I definitely was totally fine! It was a little tiring walking around camp all day and just being in the sun.

We had a really great group of girls- 13 4th years in one cabin should have brought a lot more problems than it did! They were silly and fun and friends with each other. It was really fun to be with them all.

The theme was Bloom Where You're Planted and each of the units chose a name which fit that theme. Our girls decided on Soil as their name, amidst other units with cutesy flowery names like Forget-Me-Nots, Hibiscus Hotties, Cabbage Patch Girls, etc. Our girls were definitely more the Soil type, which was great for me!

Each unit does a skit for one night of camp and our girls definitely stole the show! They did a poetry reading thing with goofy poems they made up, or primary songs dictated dramatically, with drumming and guitar chords backing up the lyrics. It was hilarious and really suited the personality of Soil!

Tali

Each day the stake leaders went around for cabin checks. The cabin who did the best at keeping their place neat and tidy won an ice cream party at the end of the week. Well, Soil was a different sort of breed. They didn't care about ice cream. They didn't care about cleaning. They completely trashed the cabin for the main cabin check and this is what the stake leaders had to walk into:
Needless to say, they didn't win an ice cream party, but they definitely gave the whole camp a good laugh! They stuck with their theme of soil through it all! It was a really fun experience and I'm glad I went.

I think I might be ending this novel now... In most recent news my belly is getting big and the little guy is moving all around. As I said earlier, I have many projects to be working on to get ready for his arrival. I will try to remember to take pictures as I complete things.

Oh- here's a cute picture of baby Kinlee from a week or so ago:


Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Kinlee Bree

This is my new niece, Kinlee. I went to Idaho last week for her blessing and to spend time with the family. I will post more on that later, but for now just enjoy this beautiful face!

Friday, June 12, 2009

Veggie painting

Here's my latest painting for the DSFDF blog. I haven't painted in like 3 weeks or more, so I felt pretty rusty with this one. I think it turned out okay, though. I will probably be off painting again for a week or two because I get to go see the family! Remember the cute baby I posted a few weeks ago- Kinlee Bree- well, I finally get to go see her. And, my sisters are throwing a baby shower for me! Should be a grand ol' time with the fam-a-lamily! Until next time...

Summer Veggies
10X8
Oil on canvas board

Monday, June 8, 2009

Birthday time

It's that time of year again... Mike's getting older and deserves a celebration. Come on over if you're in the area.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

MIA for a little while

We have no internet and may not for a little while, so I am out of commission until further notice. We are moving soon (hopefully this week! :) ) and I packed away all of my art stuff, so there will also be no new paintings for a while.

Baby update: My belly is getting big and this little guy is a mover!

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Back to reality...

I feel like the last several weeks have been so stinking busy, but really it's been just one thing that has taken over my life. It just finished last night and I suddenly have time to worry about other things! I will have no problem finding ways to fill the time I have been spending, what with school, work, baby, moving, church... there's always something to keep me busy. Perhaps I can get back to participating in the Different Strokes challenge. There's a great reference photo up right now that I'd love to paint, but I don't know if I'll get to it in time to post. We'll see.

I wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers in my life! My own wonderful mom deserves way way more thanks and appreciation than I can give. I hope she knows how much I love her. My mother-in-law deserves a big hug too! There are so many women around me who I hope to be able to emulate when I am, myself a mother. Thanks to all for the wonderful examples!

My awesome husband is seriously one of the most thoughtful people I've ever met and I'm so lucky that he is mine! He is always there to support me in all my adventures- thanks again for your help with the fundraiser, Mike :) - he is unselfish and always trying to do things for me and for our family to be. He is really really busy, too, by the way, but always finds time to make me feel special. I love my Mikey Doo!

My youngest sister, Kambree, just had her beautiful baby girl this week- Cinco de Mayo. Congrats, Kam and Kev, and Happy birthday baby Kinlee.



And, since I'm all over the place anyway with this post I'll give you an idea of my own baby belly situation. I feel like I've completely popped in the past few weeks, so this picture is a little outdated, but it's the only one I have. Pardon my t shirt and lounge pants- I was just on my way to the gym. This was taken 3 weeks ago at 20 weeks:

Okay, I think that's all I have for you today.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Catching up...

I have a few paintings I'm working on- really. I feel like this week has been uber busy and I haven't really gotten anything done done. But, things are coming along. Watch for the new paintings soon. In my free time (lol) I've been daydreaming about our little munchkin set to hatch early September. What will he look like? What will his personality be like? Will he look more like his mommy or his daddy? How the heck am I going to be a MOMMY!? See, there are so many unanswered questions. I freak out, get really excited, hurt and whine, freak out again all in a matter of minutes. This adventure will be the most unnerving, I presume, as well as the most fulfilling. I just have to stop stressing. It'll be fine, right?

AHHHH!

It's a...

BOY!!

Monday, April 13, 2009

The stats...

We had our appointment this morning, but I think I'll hold off telling you the news for a few days, just to add to the suspense. (Although, Mike's already let the cat out on his blog. But, if you want to have a little fun vote here and then check your answer!) So, I thought I'd give you some stats about the old wives tales I've been studying up on... Feel free to change your vote if you so desire based on the findings.

-Heart rate: 142
-Carrying high (from what I can tell so far)
-The hair on my legs is growing at the same rate as before, as are my fingernails
-My feet are always cold, but that's how they were before the pregnancy
-Mike doesn't seem to be gaining sympathy weight
-I am 25 and got pregnant in December (for those of you interested in the Chinese lunar calendar)
-My urine has been a dullish yellow (some of these are so ridiculous!)
-I usually crave salty or sour foods rather than sweet (which is weird, by the way- generally I LOVE me some sweets)
-I have been getting headaches, especially in the past several weeks
-If someone asks me to show them my hands I would probably do so palm side up
-A needle dangled from a thread directly above my wrist swings side to side (across my wrist, not from arm to hand.)

Okay, carry on! I'll let you know the news in a few days... unless I get too excited before then!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Cast your vote...

I just barely figured out how to add a poll to my blog, so it's a little late. I'll just have to wait to tell you the news until all votes are in! We find out on Monday... 1.5 days away! I'm pretty excited to be able to call our little bun "he" or "she" rather than "it." While you're at it, perhaps you could leave a comment about some baby names associated with your vote. We're taking any and all suggestions, so help us out! Oh... I think baby's moving around- it's like butterflies or popping popcorn. Isn't pregnancy weird and awesome and exciting and... weird?! Okay, get to voting and suggesting. :)

Sunday, April 5, 2009

I'm blue

I'm not really "blue." Don't worry! We don't have cable television, so we have to watch conference online. That's fine except that I can't really sit still, watching my computer screen for two hours at a time. I needed something to keep me busy while I could listen to the messages. This was that something for this Sunday morning session. I really want to be a better painter and I really want to be able to paint portraits as I envision them. Ugh! Well, here was an attempt to keep things loose and simple. I should have stopped long ago, before crispifying the edges and adding too much detail. Now, the more I mess with it the worse it's getting, so here's where I stop.

Monochrome portrait study
6X8
Oil on canvas board

Little bird watcher

I have been painting a lot this weekend, trying to get a portrait done for a friend. It's not quite done, but I needed a break, so I did this little one. The reference photo was taken from the Police concert in Salt Lake City last year. This little girl was pretty cute with her binoculars, not really watching the concert, but watching her sister mostly. I used that really textured handmade paper like I used for the work boots a while back. It is fun to work with, but I think it's not quite right for this scene. Perhaps I will try it on canvas some other time.

Watching
6X6
Oil on handmade paper

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Passion for Painting


For those who take a gander at my blog regularly, you know that I have been participating in the Different Strokes challenges pretty regularly since the beginning. I post my submissions nearly every time there's a new challenge and have had a great experience being involved with other fine artists. It is fun to look through each person's submission and try to gain a little bit from their creativity and style. I have "met" (web met, anyway) many artists I would have not had exposure to otherwise. Well, there are certain artists that I am particularly drawn to through each of these challenges and I have received a painting award by one said artist: Lesley Spanos

Thank you very much, Lesley! So, as part of this award I am to list 7 things I love and tag 7 other artists for this award.

7 Things I love:

1. Soup- I could probably eat soup every day and be really really happy about it.
2. Discovering new musicians- I love happening upon some really fabulous local music or obscure musical genre that I am able to adopt as a fave.
3. My family- of course that definitely means my super awesome, way-too-good-to-me husband, my parents and siblings, nieces and nephews, who live too far away, my extended family in various parts of the world, and my friends along the way who have become family on some level. (These are in no particular order, by the way. I love my family more than soup!)
4. School and learning- I have been working on the same degree for several years with life happening in between, but I am always very excited when I get to take classes! Currently I am taking 12 credits at the local community college!
5. Yellow ochre and titanium white- my two favorite colors to paint with. I can't get enough yellow ochre and I love finishing a painting with that highlight of white. I also love linseed oil.
6. Laughing- sometimes I just laugh at really silly, random things because it makes me feel good. I think Mike likes it to.
7. Sun and warmth- I am often cold, even in the summer, so on the rare occasion that I am warm and cozy I am in love! I love soft, cuddly blankies and super hot showers just to kick things off in that direction.

Okay, now 7 artists I nominate... (Some that seem to fall into that drawn-to category)

1. Sally Tharp
2. Maria Kovalenko Leysens
3. Dana Cooper
4. Debbie Miller
5. Carolee Clark
6. Torrie Smiley
7. Ed Marion

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Beached

This was the challenge for the DSFDF blog I often participate in. It seems I will be doing a bit more watercolors starting this week. I will be starting a term of school, and one of my classes is watercolor! Yay! I think this one would make a nice watercolor, actually. Perhaps I will take a different part of the reference photo and use watercolors.

I started with a bright orange background, thinking that since orange is the complement of blue, and this painting would end up being very blue, that might be a nice ground to work with. It kind of made the skin tone brighter than I'd hoped, but I like how bits of orange are peeking out from behind the blue. I don't know... I'm still experimenting with colors. There's so much to learn and try with oil painting! That's exciting, but also quite daunting. Trying to teach myself is difficult. Anyone have any suggestions?

Beached
8X6
oil on canvas board

Friday, March 27, 2009

Queensly

I just finished this painting and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. I think Miss Queensly is pretty darling with her big, sad eyes and her "look at me" expression. I started this with a bright orange underpainting, thinking that I'd leave the background somewhat orange. There are bits of the orange peeking through around the eyes and in places in the background, but the bright color was too distracting as the overall color. I like to use the greenish bluish ochre-ish colors and I think they work for this little thang.

Queensly
8X8
Oil on canvas