"Everyone Else is Shouting"

12" x 12" acrylic on paper

2014

Hi everyone...I haven't been paying enough attention to my blog lately. I'm sorry Mr. Blog. Been busy painting away and working on my Etsy shop so I haven't been able to devote much attention to you. I shall try and do better.

Hey...I just purchased a really good art book about Franz Kline. I highly recommend it! 

Are you following me on Instagram? :)

Think...Outside the Box

"Outside the Box"

13" x 16" acrylic on canvas

2013

"This afternoon

in my grade level meeting

I must be prepared to

"think outside the box."

Right now

I'm remembering

the painstaking effort it took

to get in the box

in the first place.

Will there be applause

when we emerge?

Will the applause gratify us

the way the gasps of disbelief did

when we tucked our

last body

part

in?"

Poem by Mary Lee Hahn

Abstract Exploration

"Turnaround"

8" x 8" acrylic, ink, crayon and collage on paper

2013

These small abstracts on paper that I've been painting have inspired me. I've been working out some new ideas and techniques and I like the directions they're taking me. Below are the beginnings of four new ones. I love the rawness of the underlayers!

Paintings on Paper

"Windswept 3"

acrylic and collage on paper

8" x 8"

This is the third painting on paper in the Windswept series. I'm really enjoying working on paper for a change...and on some smaller pieces.

I've been preoccupied lately with designing a new website too...I'm using SquareSpace.com. Have you heard about them? I really like what I've seen...simple and clean templates, stylish and contemporary at the same time. The best part is that I will be able to incorporate my website, blog, gallery and Etsy shop all in one place. Easier to use...easier to update. Check them out!

We've gone straight from winter to summer here in Boulder...high 80's today. Might have to get Maisie's kiddie pool out. Wait a minute...I'm not done with spring yet!

"Windswept 2" 

8" x 8" acrylic and collage on canvas

2013

Here's the sister painting to "Windswept"which you can see if my previous blog post. This one is also available in my Etsy shop here.

A friend turned me on to the daily online "Writer's Almanac" recently. Check it out...it has some fantastic poetry and other juicy good tidbits.

New Painting

"Crossroads"

6" x 6" acrylic and collage on board

New painting just finished yesterday...working on a smaller surface this time.

I'm heading to California for a few days to see family. I'll be back in the studio at the end of next week, looking forward to finishing up some other new works to show you!

When life gives you lemons...

"Lemons on Red Plate"

My Lemons made it into an Etsy Treasury today. I love the burst of yellow color in all of the selections. Thank you, Arlene and Yakira! Here is the print on wood reproduction on Etsy.

In my last post, I mentioned that I had some news for you? I'm honored to have been invited to display my work at "9th Avenue Collection" in Denver. It's an antique and design center that showcases several Colorado Artists along with beautiful furniture, sculpture, and other treasures of design. If you're in the area...stop by and browse around...it's a great place for Christmas gifts!

Hope you're all enjoying the holidays...and not getting too frazzled in the process!

Free Shipping on Etsy!

"Last One From The Tree"

7" x 12" acrylic on canvas

available in my Etsy Shop here

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving out there. We had a really nice few days. My Dad was in town and it was so great to be able to spend some time with him. James cooked Thanksgiving dinner and it...was...awesome!

News from the Abby Creek Etsy Shop...shipping within the U.S. is free on all artwork until December 1st. All you have to do is use Code FREESHIP when you check out. I also just relisted my painting, "Last One From The Tree" with a special holiday price.

Back soon with some great exhibit news! Have a great Monday!

New SNIPPETS - prints on wood

I'm starting to create new "Snippets" from some of my recent abstract paintings. I have a lot of fun with these compositions. They also give me ideas for new paintings. I'll be adding a few more to the Etsy shop soon...just in time for holiday shopping. Art is always a great gift!

From the painting, "Safe Haven"
8" x 8" x 1.5" canvas print on wood
available here on Etsy


From the painting, "Beyond the Glass"
8" x 8" x 1.5" canvas print on wood
available here on Etsy

Inspiration Visits!

Happy Friday to you! Just finished this painting today so it's hot off the easel. I haven't yet decided on a title...ideas are starting to form though. The size of the painting is 24" x 36". I'll have a decent photo of it to show you soon.

I worked and worked and then worked some more on this painting. Finally, inspiration came! My work seems to be turning a new corner so we shall see where it leads. It's exciting when that happens!

Hope you have a beautiful first weekend of Fall!

Dogs and Poetry

Here's Miss Maisie, on duty in front of my studio this morning. This is one of her many favorite sidesaddle poses.

I'm working on two abstracts right now but won't have them finished until I return from my second trip of the month to California. James is coming with me this time...we'll be helping my Mom again with some things around the house and property, including taking care of the queen of the farm, Lulu the cow.

I'll leave you for now with this awesome poem from Delights and Shadows. See you soon...maybe while I'm there I will post some pics of beautiful Petaluma!

A Box of Pastels

I once held on my knees a simple wooden box
in which a rainbow lay dusty and broken.
It was a set of pastels that had years before
belonged to the painter, Mary Cassatt,
and all of the colors she'd used in her work
lay open before me. Those hues she'd most used,
the peaches and pinks, were worn down to stubs,
while the cool colors - violet, ultramarine -
had been set, scarcely touched, to one side.
She'd had little patience with darkness, and her heart
held only a measure of shadow. I touched
the warm dust of those colors, her tools,
and left there with light on the tips of my fingers.

~Ted Kooser

New Abstract

"Stepping Stones"
16" x 16" acrylic and collage on canvas

Here's a new abstract that finally came together after lots and LOTS of layering. I'm not complaining though...layering gives my work a more interesting texture and depth.

I've been struggling to get painting time in lately. Lots of health issues going on with my Mom so I will be flying out to California again in a week to help her with things.

Hope to be able to keep in touch more often on this blog, Facebook and Twitter soon. Hang in there with me!

Hope you've all been doing well!

New work!

"By an Open Window"
24" x 24" acrylic and collage on canvas

Just completed this new painting. I'm almost finished with another one so hope to show you that soon. I'm thinking this piece will be part of a new series, but I'm not sure what I want to call the series yet. I think the words will come as I keep painting.

I had to take my show down at My Sweet Bakery yesterday. It was sad to see the bare walls...but I'm happy that another Artist will be able to show her work there next. The Owner, Kelly, took a few pictures when my work was up and you can see them here on My Sweet Bakery's Gallery page.

So after packing up the artwork...James and I drove home with a car load of paintings...and a big box of pastry which we have almost entirely consumed (licking almond paste off fingers). If you live in Denver...get thyself to this place...their pastry tastes like the pastry in Paris!

New work

"Rising Voices"
30" x 30" acrylic and collage on canvas

Here's a new painting fresh from the easel. I'm loving working with this Phthalo Turquoise Blue color from the Amsterdam Expert Acrylic Series at DickBlick.com. It is so lush and rich and I love how it plays off other colors.

I've got some exciting news to share with you next week. In the meantime...hope your Easter weekend is filled with blue sky and lots of love!

"Love From Me" Project

My page in the 2011 "Love From Me" Project

Sara Harley has done it again! She has created another beautiful art book which will help to raise funds for cancer charity. Last year's book, "PAWS for Charity" was a great success in raising money for breast cancer charity. It was dedicated to the love we have for our animals.

The purpose of this years book, "Love From Me" is "to provide inspiration to people going through a period of personal challenge, and to raise funds for cancer charity." Artists who wanted to participate were asked to submit images that were inspirational or uplifting in some way.

My painting, "Opening" was selected as one of those images. I was thinking of so many things while I was working on it...love, healing, inspiration, growth and light. It seemed like the perfect image to send Sara.

"Love From Me" is now available for purchase at Blurb.com where you can see a full preview of the book. This would make a very special Mother's Day gift...so think about purchasing one to support cancer charity. All proceeds from the book go to The Rose Fund.

Thank you, Sara...for putting together this beautiful new book and for your generous spirit!

Workshop with Flora Bowley

Our painting workshop space

I had such a great time at my painting workshop at The Makerie Art Retreat in Boulder last Friday. If you get a chance to attend the 2012 Retreat...do it!...because it's such a great experience to be able to explore and expand your creativity with some amazing teachers.

As I've mentioned before, I've been inspired by Flora Bowley's work for some time. Her painting workshop filled every expectation I had...of learning new techniques, letting go of self-imposed expectations and just experiencing the joy of painting for the day. Flora's method of teaching is open, gracious and motivating...allowing all of us to experience a wonderful day of artistic expression.

I'd like to send a big thank you out to Ali Dejohn and her team who brought The Makerie to life and provided such a warm and welcoming environment for all.

And a very special thanks to Flora, for giving all of us in her Friday class a day of art to remember and cherish!

A critique with Flora

Flora and Linda

My workshop painting #1

My workshop painting #2

A Place to Rest

"A Place to Rest"

30" x 30" acrylic and collage on canvas

Here is the latest in line of paintings I'm doing for the show. I found a poem in one of my favorite little books that seemed perfect for it...

It doesn't take much
to hold the tiny weight
of a song sparrow,
any little twig will do,
or a sturdy weed in a field.

Why do I think my fledgling ideas
have to wait for a thick branch
or a secure landing place
before I set them down?

The wisp of a fleeting dream
can rest for a while
on a small extension in my soul.

If I never let these dreams land,
they will not gain strength
for the long flight into fullness.

All it takes is a little twig
to rest a great dream on.

~Joyce Rupp

Two New Ones...

Here are my two latest paintings for the show at the University of Denver Women's College. I'm really enjoying working with the 30" x 30" canvas size. In fact...I think I like working larger in general now!

I will be back next week with more detailed information about the show. I will also be posting information on my Facebook page. I would love it if you would head over there and "like" Abby Creek Studios! I post my latest paintings and Etsy listings there.

"Glide"
30" x 30" acrylic and collage on canvas

"Embrace"
30" x 30" acrylic and collage on canvas

All of the paintings I'm doing for the show are for sale so feel free to email me if you're interested in one. They will remain in the exhibit until the end of May but I can ship them to you after that.

Have a great weekend!

Art Sanctuary

"Sanctuary"
30" x 30" acrylic and collage on canvas

February 2011

ART SANCTUARY

I would always choose to be the person running
rather than the mob chasing
I would prefer to be the person laughed at
rather than the teenagers laughing
I always admired the men and women who sat down
for their rights
And held in disdain the men and women who spat
on them
Everyone deserves Sanctuary a place to go where you are
safe
Art offers Sanctuary to everyone willing
to open their hearts as well as their eyes

~Nikki Giovanni

*Would love to have you as a friend on my Abby Creek Studios Facebook page. Just click here!

Yummy!

The yum yum cake

Hope you all had a very special Valentine's Day!

So to begin, I have to take a minute to brag about my husband. Yesterday he made me this cake...three-layer poppyseed white cake with strawberries and a white chocolate whip cream frosting. James amazes me with his cooking and baking skills...he can pretty much make anything with one hand behind his back and his eyes closed. He's kind of a male Martha Stewart in the kitchen...which is why I often call him that. Thank you, Martha...for a truly special Valentine's Day! xox

I have four new paintings that are almost finished and ready to show you. The countdown is on for my solo show coming up April 1st at the University of Denver!