New Beginnings :) ..and Transitions...

I believe that is what this year has been about--the last couple of years really, but this year especially. I was knocked down in so many ways I could not lie...things are changing in so many ways I don't even know what's around the next bend. Oddly though, I feel stronger, and I'm ok with the "gray areas". I've learned a lot. I am not a fan of sorrow or hardship, but I am thankful to learn lessons, and also thankful I've learned to guard my heart and also who to trust--I've always tried to see the best in people and love and trust everyone..but I've learned that this is not always a good idea. It makes me sad, but it is true. Sometimes those who you think you can trust will hurt you, or were never really there to begin with. As an optimist in human nature I never wanted to admit this..but based on what I've experienced it may be true..Still though, I think we can still treat all humans with good and kindness and still guard our hearts and minds..it's tricky but I think but can be done. (I'm still trying to figure out the logistics!!)...Anyway..based on all this, I've been exploring new grounds and expanding old ones with sewing and embroidering, as it's therapeutic an enjoyable!..I hope to expand this series as my heart and mind opens further :)... here are some samples of the sewing I have been doing as of late!..I hope you enjoy it, and that it may inspire you in some way!! :)..there is a lot of good out there!..may you find it :)

Sew I Started Sewing again ;) ...

When I was a kid I really enjoyed sewing. I didn't know a lot, but what I did know I enjoyed. I first learned a bit of handsewing in 5th grade, from my teacher Ms. Havlick. We had a project where each student in the class made one hand sewn square, which the teacher then put together to form a quilt. Soon thereafter I learned some embroidery in Girl Scouts...and then in 6th grade I made a small, hand sewn quilt for my Grandma. Oddly, in retrospect-- I think this was where the roots of the chicken character really started...In the quilt for my gramma each square was made with a differentn fabric, and then I'd sew a little picture on each square that resembled the fabric. One of those squares had little chickens on it. (or perhaps duckies..I am not sure, I haven't seen it in 20 years)...anyway, that image always stuck in my head. Also, over the years, little chicken heads would pop up in my art...it was like the Mr. Chicken character was oddly meant to be, and just kind of took a while ( a couple decades ;) to "hatch"!...Initially Mr. Chicken was all little paintings..now I'm getting back into sewing as well :) When I paint, I'm a wee bit of a perfectionist and sometimes get burned out...Sewing by hand oddly relaxes me, so it's a good break in the action-- and also creates other types of merchandise. I realize sometimes people may not want a painting for their wall, but would love an item they could use, or wear, such as a headband, a key chain, or a necklace...etc...I also want to start sewing clothes, but that's another story and will come later! Here's the start of Mr. Chicken's sewn items ;)...which included a chicken doll (kind of like the traveling gnome)-- which I took everywhere and took pics of...I ended up giving him to a man in Hospice :) I'll sew another one for further adventures!...btw-- the lovely Irish lass in the picture with the punk rock chicken is my gramma. Her name was Peggy...I think we can largely credit her with helping create the chicken, as she always nurtured my artistic pursuits-- thank you gramma!! (miss you :)...

I need to start writing again!!!

Not just in my blog, but in life..(what happened to all that creative writing I used to do?!?!)...I've realized lately I've been neglecting my happiness (artistically) because I've been doing what I though what's right (school)...suffice to say I am obsessed with school, not doing much art, and lately it's left me feeling empty- and I am beyond burnt out..which is affecting my education , my art, my happiness, etc...Overall, it's just made me think-- who the hell am I and what do I want?!?! Luckily I think I finally know the answer to that question. I want to do my art and be a nurse....It's the implementation that's hard...And I do know I hold the key to my own destiny. these 2 fields are like a total 180 from one another...I hope I can pull it off...I have an extreme love of the creative arts and also a nurturing streak that just does not end! ...school is hard, I will not lie...who knows how this will end, all I say is that I will try my best!...and perhaps when I get stressy I shall write about it? I do in my personal journal but not here on the net! ;)I wish I had a good visual image to represent what I'm feeling and going through but I don't, as I've been so busy with school I haven't painted in 2 months... I miss it!!! lets see if I can find a cool video to represent :)...kinda!

Cha cha cha China!!! :)

So I find myself going to China tomorrow ;) LONGGGG story! The brief summary is that it is through Armstrong's nursing department-- we are studying "alternative medicine" abroad!...WaY cool!!! I've always wanted to travel but was too chicken to go by myself (no pun intended)...this seems perfect! I'll be with a bunch of other students and we'll be studying stuff that is VERY cool!!!...and in reference, here's a video, courtesy of one of my facebook buddies! ;)

The Beauty of Childhood

There is this song by Tori Amos called "Ribbons Undone."...now, I could be completely wrong-- because really, sometimes I am...but when I hear this one, it makes me think of childhood innocence and how precious that time of life is. I don't know about you, but when I was that age, I didn't fully grasp how special it was. I did a little I think, because I was always sentimental that way...but I felt it from more of a self-centered standpoint-- the here and now-- whatever boy I had a crush on...etc.... I didn't really grasp it from how my elders may have felt. I watched this video and started to think of my parents and grandparents and how much I appreciated them. I'm not going to lie, life wasn't perfect for me (but whose was)??...but regardless, I had a really good childhood. And I thank my Dad and grandparents for this. I hope to pay them back some day in a way--they really loved and helped me. They made me who I am, and for this I will be eternally grateful-- love you so much! Thank you :)

The Asheville Show!!!

I must admit, this was pretty exciting for me. I have never had a solo show in a state in which I do not live, let alone a state that is a couple of states away! This was the longest trip I have taken by myself in my life, and I'm a tad bit scared of long distance driving, so in many ways it was a personal victory :) What's even cooler is the night I got into Asheville, (after the longest drive I've ever taken), I found out I got into nursing school! I was sitting there, grabbing a bite to eat, checking my email on my internet phone, and there was the "email of acceptance!" It was a great weekend! :) And it was so AWESOME to show my work at The Lola Salon and Gallery. It's such a cute place, and the people are SO nice! (They do great hair cuts as well)!-- if you are in the Asheville area and need a great hair style, or some cool art, I'd highly recommend checking them out! Anyhoo...here's some pics from the show-- Enjoy!

Where the Heck have I been!?!?

That's That's a good question!-- I just realized I haven't blogged in about 3.5 months-- that's very unlike me!!!...Life has just been crazy busy, and lots of changes going on...

A brief summary...took a break from socializing and art for 2 months to focus on school...left old studio...got another studio 2 months later...hung an art show (post to follow), and got into nursing school! :)...essentially it was a nice little hiatus to refocus and realign my goals-- and it looks like it's gonna work out-- yeah!!! ( In my ideal world I'm a nurse half the week and an artist the other half ;) ...Oh-- and here's the latest chicken!!! I guess it's fitting-- it kind of represents the much needed mental vacation I took...ah, so refreshed!

Mr. Chicken Wants to Get Hurt!!!

um, sometimes... ;) Naturally, this one was inspired by the classic 80's movie, "Say Anything."...I mean, hey-- ya gotta love Lloyd Dobbler. That guy was SOOOOO in love with Dianne Courte...It makes me happy that this kind of love still kind of exists in the world :)

Simple Together

this one just kills me. seriously-- it's one of my all time You Tube favorites....it's so lovely and melancholy at the same time. I think it touches on human emotions we all feel, but perhaps cannot always express...I've been watching this one for a few years now...makes me wonder...hmm....don't forget those you love, even if it hurts :) Even if it doesn't work, it doesn't mean you didn't grow...

The Notorious Alpha Chicken...

Some time back I had an idea for a "B" series...you know, something along the lines of "Miss Chicken." ...and then I was thinking perhaps there should be an "adult" series!...something along the lines of Kama Sutra chicken or something...maybe this fits into the category of B.5?....It's based on a sketch I did of Betty Page on a coffee bag...way back in WI when I was working at this coffee shop in Madison called Cuppa Jo...I randomly started sketching Betty Page because there was a cool photo of her in the paper-- and an empty coffee bag was the nearest paper like substance...I then made a chicken out of it, as this decorated coffee bag was the first thing I came across while in search of chicken ideas...so there ya have it! :)

Mr. Chicken Opens up a Can of Whoop Ass!!!

...'Cause sometimes that's what ya gotta doo!!! (and sometimes its fun to take things literally :) ...I came up with the idea for this guy a year or two ago-- glad I finally finished it! This is an original gouache painting measuring 2.5 by 3.5 inches-- it's an artist's trading card!!!! (but I framed it in an 8 by 10 frame-- couldn't help myself :)http://youtu.be/8QJiAK-s5a0

It's Not a chicken, it's a Crow!

At least for the day...thought I would pay an homage to one of my favorite movies-- The Crow :) I enjoy how darkly romantic it is...I mean, if someone comes back to evenge your death, like after death, and then wants to be with you for all eternity, even when you are both dead-- it's kinda hot!!!Hope you like the drawing! It was done in pen and ink

The Lovely Bones

I saw this movie last year. I must admit it tugged on my heartstrings in a certain way...and this song kills me. There is something about the mixture of imagery and music that can get ya every time! (makes ya wanna paint or draw)! ...or something...

The Moment I Held You Here Was the Best of All

Here's the latest chicken!!!! This one was created using graphite, and was based on a dream I had. In the dream I was standing on someone's porch. I'm not sure who it belonged to, but it was a white, wooden house, with a gray wooden floor. It was very nostalgic, slightly worn, but oddly charming and beautiful. In front of me was an empty boat, and above it was a sign that read, "The moment I held you here was the best moment of all." And then there was an arrow, pointing to a little sign of the boat. In the dream the boat was empty. For the picture I created, I added the chickens :) The whole thing kind of reminded me of the movie, "The Notebook."

La Venus de Pollo!!!

Here's the latest! It's an original gouache painting...I think it's about 4.5 by 7 or 8 inches...I will need to go back and measure ;)

Lately I've been into putting the chicken into classic paintings, so the Venus definitely seemed appropriate! I matted it up and framed it in a lovely 9 by 12 inch black frame. The original is in my studio, and up for grabs currently. I need to list the prints on Etsy! :)

Mr. Chicken is now on t-shirts! :D

Yup, the chicken is spreading his wings!!! Right now is the "experiment" phase to see what kind of chicken merchandise people are interested in. (And also which images). Here are a few t-shirts I now have available via my etsy shop, mrchicken.etsy.com. I recently acquired more shirts with a wider variety of images, as well-- (Mona Lisa Chicken, The Scream, Blue Guitar Player, Vitruvian, etc...), but I still need to photograph them! I plan on doing a photoshoot this weekend if all goes according to plan, so those should be available soon as well! (they can currently be purchased in my studio). On a side note-- taking these pics was a blast!

Mr. Chicken Has a Blue Period...

I decided on this title because it works on many levels! (if ya think about it :) Prints are available on my Etsy sight, as well as in my studio

New Merchandise at Mr. Chicken!

The chicken is now on keychains and t-shirts!!! The keychains in the pic here are currently listed in my etsy store, and there will be more arriving this week. (think Mona Lisa Chicken and Karate chicken keychains)! In addition, I will at some point be listing the t-shirts-- I just need to hunt down some of my friends to help model them-- it's hard to take pictures of yourself! The shirts are currently in my studio though :) And if you want those keychains-- just look on the right side of the screen for the Mr. Chicken Etsy link!

The Death of Me

That's what I am calling this latest surreal piece! It was created with watercolor, gouache, and also irridescent medium. I'll spare ya the details on this one, but it's basically about how you can lose yourself in relationships, or potential relationships. As humans we sometimes get so wrapped up in others, and trying to please others, that we forget about our own needs, and part of us dies. Interesting how that happens...reproduction prints are available in my Etsy shop!

Now You See Them

I just love this band! They're home base is Asheville, NC, but I saw them at the Sentinent Bean in Savannah, GA. I hope they come back! Otherwise I might have to go to Asheville for another concert. What wonderful, happy music!