A brand new LOGO for a brand new year!

My new logo!

Hi friends, I've been thinking a lot about branding lately, and I have decided that 2011 will be the year that I take my work and my "brand" (me?) to a new level. For many years, I have been too busy creating artwork to give any concerted thought to marketing myself. My 'logo' has consisted of my name slapped across any one of my painting images and used as a banner, facebook icon and/or business card (sometimes all 3 have been different!). And this year, when the bag & luggage company, Sherpani, began using my artwork for their catalogue and advertising, I realized it was time to become more consistent and professional. So here is my new logo! I hope that you like it. I've tweaked it a bit for the banner, but the base is above. I like it because it is designed entirely by hand using my encaustic process, and I've "branded" myself as primarily a wax artist.

As I embark upon this new marketing push, I will share my journey with you on the blog. I know there are many artists out there struggling to promote themselves in the same way, so this will likely prove interesting to everyone!

In the meantime, wishing you a joyous and bright New Year!!

Spreading My Wings

"Spreading My Wings" - 12x12 inch original encaustic painting on 1 and 3/4" cradled wood panel

Original is sold, but prints available here.

This is a new piece -- a commission - that I finished yesterday. This is one of my all-time favorite commissions because the woman I created it for had such a poetic and clear way of explaining the story behind the painting she wanted me to dream up. This piece is for her daughter (she actually has paintings of mine for several children), and it is meant to represent her transition from school to life ahead. So I imagined her as a bird leaving the safety of her little loving birdcage in the woods to fly to new heights in the big city. I added little touches like the ruler, pencil and half-filled out standardized scoring sheet to symbolize her school days .... though you can't see it too well here, the pencil is drawing out the word "dream." As a final touch, I added a 'diamond' (well a rhinestone!) in the sun in honor of the recipient's birthstone for April. :)

Box of Rain

"Box of Rain." Acrylic on Wood. (original is sold)

I painted"Box of Rain" a few years ago, but it has emerged in my consciousness lately. And I know that it's been on my mind because the weather inside of me is as rainy as the weather outside right now. I feel as though my heart and mind are a 'box of rain' that is on the verge of overflowing like a huge cumulous cloud in a thunder storm. But when I look at this painting, it reminds me that rain -- much like the sunshine in my last FAF painting -- can also bring flowers. Both the rain and the sun are agents of growth, and as an artist, it's important to honor both sides of the emotional spectrum. So today I am paying homage to the rain. Here are the lyrics to the Grateful Dead song that inpsired the title (and the feeling). I love this song - it feels like the box is a gift.

An Interview with Art Biz Mama

I'm so happy to share this interview I did today over at Art Biz Mama. I just love Dana Barbieri's blog and the many stories she shares about moms and their creative businesses. I tried to share a few words of wisdom about the process of balancing motherhood and my art business (though to look at my car you might feel that 'balance' is a bit of a myth). :) The funny thing is that really and truly, I don't believe that painting keeps me balanced. I think it helps me remain just unbalanced enough to lift off the ground sometimes... to sprout wings and look around from a new perspective.

Found Art Friday: GRATITUDE

"Let the Sun Shine" by me. Original is sold. Prints are available upon request.

"Life With You" by Claire Ishino

Though we have only two entries this FAF, I am so honored to display this gorgeous piece by Claire beside my own rendition of 'gratitude.' Claire writes in her blog that her submission was inspired by gratitude for life with her husband and children. The way she has placed the two teacups alongside a blooming flower reminds me of the healing power of simple rituals and acts of kindness. Thank you, Claire, for sharing your work!

My own piece was inspired by gratitude for the simple joys we find in life. These are like rays of sunshine that warm our quiet days.

I hope that you and your family found much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving as well!

FAF Coming & New Pendant

"Mommy Tree Talking to Baby Tree" pendant necklace. Now available here.

I've been making lots of jewelry lately and enjoying these little photographic tableaux. The hang tag for this piece features a detail from my painting "i carry your heart" - from the ee cummings poem. I thought it was a nice combination for a gift from mother to daughter or vice versa.

Speaking of people we are grateful for (like moms), this Friday is Found Art Friday, and our theme is "gratitude." If you feel like joining in, this might be a fun way to push yourself to do a little 'thanksgiving' gift to share with those you love. Just send me a jpeg or a link to your piece on your blog, and I will post the selections this Friday.

New Personalized "Forever Falling Tree" Necklaces

My new "Forever Falling Tree" personalized pendant necklaces are now available at my Etsy shop.

I have been working on this idea for a few weeks now, and I've finally figured out how to put these pendants together. Each tree can be customized with a set of names or initials (or just with one name).

This one features my name with my husband's -- though I had to shorten "Christophe" into Chris! It's really fun to wear this -- it's like a teeny tiny secret or a message in a bottle. Not obvious to the casual observer, but clear to those who are paying attention.