poppytalk handmade Mix Tape + new oil paintings

Good morning!

I'm thrilled to be a participating artist in Poppytalk Handmade's Mix Tape curated marketplace that starts today. Poppytalk co-founders, Jan and Earl, quip, "Mix Tape is a compilation of all things handmade (and vintage). Like a mix tape of your favourite music, this is a mix tape of our favourite handmade goods." I'm honored to be included in this group of talented artists and collectors.

At my table you'll see original paintings and limited edition giclée prints from my DUST BOWL GLIMPSES series....and....NEW oil paintings on handcrafted eco-canvases (see below). They are a bit unconventional in that they are made from salvaged Mexican Chechen hardwood and eco-friendly textiles.

"Spring Snow, Melting" is an original oil painting of the tranquility following a surprise Spring snowstorm on the Colorado prairies. Having once lived there, I could always count on the warmth and light of the sun to restore harmony.

"Spring Snow, Melting" - original oil painting

Following traditional oil painting techniques, I sized, stretched, and gesso(ed) my organic fabric using museum-quality materials. I then used archival adhesive to adhere the fabric to exotic hardwood salvaged from a local furniture maker. I intentionally frayed the edges of the fabric to create a contrasting, unexpected frame for the painting -- I'm really pleased with the outcome. Lastly, I finished the wood with 100% natural tung oil for protection.

Both oil paintings weigh about a pound and can stand upright on any surface for easy displaying on a mantel, book shelf, or table -- I do hope you like -- thanks for looking!

"Midday Wheat" is an original oil painting that reminds me of the spectacular panoramic views of the Colorado wheat fields at midday...when the sun is high and the clouds lazily cross the sky.

"Midday Wheat" -- original oil painting

studio update

The week of August 22nd promises to be a big week for me. That's when I plan to offer all new art for sale in my shop.

For starters, I will unveil my very first series of paintings, Dust Bowl Glimpses, since opening my Weathered Silo studio in January 2010. It's been a rewarding (and excruciatingly slow) journey. I plan to sell my original paintings (acrylic on birch panels) as well as limited-edition giclees (professionally printed locally).



Additionally, I'll be selling a handful of original pencil+ink drawings that incorporate natural colorants such as coffee, tea, and wine. They are part of my Art is My Compass series. Stay tuned for more details.




And last but not least, I will be offering the first of several oil paintings I've completed on pieces on handcrafted canvases made in my studio using salvaged exotic hardwoods + eco-textile remnants from previous studio work (hemp/organic cotton). I can't wait for the reveal -- they are paintings you won't need to frame!

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In the coming days I plan to finalize all the administrative work associated with updating my Etsy shop and other online marketplaces (a task I do NOT favor...especially when it comes to matching screen colors to artwork -- sigh!).

I will also be taking a much-needed family vacation August 7-14th in Eastern Washington with dear, dear friends. Thankfully we can count on sunshine and heat during these trips...something we haven't seen much of at all this year in Seattle. ;-)

Thank you to everyone who has given me support and advice along the way. I am grateful to have you in my life!

sneak preview no. 2

June is shaping up to be an exciting month for me. Here are just a few more images of what's to come later this month from my art studio. Have I mentioned my obsession with natural colorants and dyes? Cheers!

canson cold-press 140 lb watercolor french paper I stained with my morning coffee for my "art is my compass" original art prints

birch wood plank I stained with the same mug of coffee for my equine art contest entry

some of my colorado prairie landscape oil paintings on salvaged mexican hardwoods

summit tbr - no.2

Let me tell you about a treasure I found last week. It was Friday and we were on our way to karate practice. I noticed a pile of discarded wood by the side of the road...free for the taking courtesy of a local bedroom furniture shop.

Of course this stopped me in my tracks..literally! The girls were a bit startled when I put on the breaks and screamed with glee (sorry girls) at the thought of finding salvageable wood to handcraft more artisan canvases.



After safely dropping the girls off for their karate session, I backtracked to the location and scored this amazing piece of fir. Its warm tones and a weathered exterior complete with scrapes and notches instantly drew me in. I knew it would yield three to four new canvases.



It wasn't until yesterday when I was using it as a prop in my photographs that I discovered the most fantastic marking...proof of a previous life:

SUMMIT TBR
No. 2
S-DRY

It's simply gorgeous! There's no doubt that I will incorporate the stamp into one of my future designs. I must know more about the stamp and plan to research Summit Timber, PLIB and the other markings soon. I may just call the furniture shop, too.

a bit unconventional

hemp/organic cotton fabric with oil gesso

My approach to art has always been a bit unconventional....and I wouldn't have it any other way. I owe this gift to my mom who taught me how to be comfortable with exploring alternative approaches to art.

stretching my own canvas in an unconventional way

This past year I've envisioned creating a series of oil paintings that would incorporate stretching my own eco textiles (organic linen and hemp/organic cotton blends) and displaying them in an unconventional manner...on pieces of salvaged or weathered wood. The fact that each gessoed canvas (multiple coats + sanding) is NOT uniformly smooth makes me extremely happy!

salvaged Chechen hardwood with a single coat of tung oil

Well, the process has been much slower than I had liked, but I am making progress and that's what's important, right? So much is involved in properly sizing and gesso-ing the textiles to accept oil paints (more on that subject later). And the oil paints themselves need more time to dry before varnishing. Sigh. So while the oil paints take their sweet time drying, I've brought out the acrylics to satisfy my need to put image to paper faster.

gessoed canvasses waiting to be permanently affixed to salvaged hardwoods

the perfect painter's palette

I simply had to have this vintage metal lunchroom tray the moment I saw it at Goodwill a few months back. I think I'm putting it to good use these days.

several irons in the fire

staining hemp/organic cotton with coffee -- a staple in g-grandma Relda's kitchen no doubt

Mom recently asked if I'd been working on my first-in-a-very-long-time series of oil paintings. My reply was "yes" and that I'm "thrilled" with the final presentation that I have planned in the coming months. However, since oil paints take time to cure properly, I'm also working on a number of projects fitting for the holidays, brides and crafters alike. You could say that I have several irons in the fire...and I wouldn't have it any other way.

coffee and wine-stained hemp/organic cotton (ivory, unstained center)

coffee-stained hemp/silk charmeuse (ivory, unstained on right)

wine-stained hemp/silk charmeuse (ivory, unstained on left)

This week I've been experimenting with natural dyes, intentional fraying, and top stitching my stash of eco textiles (hemp/organic cotton, hemp/soy and hemp/silk charmeuse). I've absolutely fallen in love with the resulting colors that coffee and wine stains create and the patterns I'm coming up with...some tidy, others random and abstract. Oh I do hope you like! I've also been working with kapok, buckwheat hulls and 100% organic cotton twill tape. Stay tuned for my Etsy shop's grand opening announcement. In the meantime, I'm headed back to the studio and starting my search for an Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp Buddy. Cheers!

mad about woad

Bleu de Lectoure's famous pastel blue shutters -- image source

I've never really embraced the color blue...not for clothes, furnishings, and especially not exterior house paints. But that all changed recently when I stumbled across the story of Denise and Henri Lambert who purchased an abandoned tannery, Bleu de Lectoure, in southwest France in 1994. The couple triumphantly revived the tannery's centuries-old natural dye-extraction process using woad plants (isatis tinctoria) growing in abundance on the property. Woad dye production was halted in the mid 19th century when Indigo and synthetic blue dyes became commonplace.



To get the fullest picture of why I've fallen so hard for woad, I invite you to watch this beautiful video -- you won't be sorry!




Parting thoughts: I'm not sure what I love more: the exquisite color of woad blue or the fact that the Lambert's were able to resurrect an artisan craft previously heralded during the 14th and 15th centuries. What I do know is that I will buy a few of their products, including some pure woad pigment to dye some of my ivory hemp/organic cotton fabric as well as a tube of handmade oil paint for a series of new paintings.

hello again

Just the other day I reacquainted myself with some long-lost treasures...my set of oil paints and worn brushes. I've waited too long for this moment. Perhaps life as a stay-at-home parent and spouse to a chronic start-up visionary has kept me a wee bit preoccupied. But not any longer.

I'm starting work on a new series of paintings and hope to make an announcement soon as to the nature of the project. In the meantime, I'll continue juggling the multitude of summertime activities for my daughters, planning family celebrations and vacations, and forging ahead with with our home-restoration projects. Oh, and did I mention I'm smack in the middle of refinishing some amazing yard sale finds, reupholstering two vintage cane chairs, and thinking of ways to make use of all the leftover hemp, organic cotton and linen textiles? One thing's for certain: I'm extremely grateful to have the loving support of my family and friends along the way.

Cheers,
Mandy