Beverly Hills Art Show, Here I Come!

I'm super psyched to be able to say that yesterday I received an acceptance letter from the Beverly Hills Art Show. God has really been blessing my efforts as an artist these past few months and I'm so thankful. The show is May 19th & 20th and I'll definitely post more info as it gets closer.

3D rendering (not real) that Josh created for me to use as part of my application 

Also, I've been up to even more painting- check out some of the posts over the past month at my new blog location.

A lot of things are going on at the New Blog Location

Go check it out!

Waves No. 1 & No. 2

This is one of two waves paintings. You have to go to my new blog location to see the other one!

6"x6" acrylic on 1.5" depth gallery wrap canvas

Handprint No. 2

This is just a crop of my newest painting. To view the full piece, check it out at my new blog location:

New Business Cards

Go check out my new blog location to see how each one is customized/unique!

Handprint No.1

Below is a sneak peek of the newest piece. To see the piece in full, visit the new blog location.

The Blog is Moving!

Hey all! GREAT news -I finally got a legit painting website put together:
http://www.aubreypaints.com/

Not only that, but the bog will now be through Wordpress at the new site, here:
http://www.aubreypaints.com/blog.html

If you follow my blog currently, or have just stumbled upon it, please make note of the change and visit the new location often. It will be the same 'ol blog, just in a different location.

Tea Time

Here is a painting I did back in the summer of '06. It is at my Mom's house. I still like it -which is saying a lot (if you are an artist, writer, etc... you know how older work can sometimes make you cringe).

16"x20" acrylic on striped fabric (fabric stained with tea prior to stretching)

Perhaps I like it because it reminds me of its original inspiration -Tea parties my sisters and I used to have in which we would dress extravagantly, eat stacks of peanut buttered Ritz crackers, create a huge mess and, inevitably, stain our Mom's table cloth.

More Cards!

It feels good to finally be producing some prints of my work. I really like how these turned out in card form. Next up -art prints mounted to 3/4" depth board.

set of (3) cards with prints of Santa Monica Beach paintings 

purchase here for $12 

set of (3) cards with prints of Venice, CA paintings

purchase here for $12

Etsy Print Shop Open!

I've added a "print" section to my Etsy shop. Below is a shot of the first addition, but more are on the way!

set of (3) cards, high quality print sewn to card face, inside blank

purchase here for $12

Small Victories of 2011 and New Goals for 2012

Time to review the goals for 2011. The bad news is that I most certainly did not work out 3x/week. (Ug.) The good news is that I far exceeded my artistic goal to enter at least four contests/shows. I actually entered six. Not only that, but I made the scary decision mid year (thanks to God's provision and my husband's encouragement/support) to turn artist full time.

(Portrait of Journey 16"x20" acrylic on illustration board -completed in '06)

Also, my New Year's resolution way back in 2010 was to complete 52 paintings that year. That was a real struggle and, while I emerged victorious at year-end, I pointedly deciding not to attempt it again in 2011. Imagine my surprise when, looking back over 2011, I discovered that I have far exceeded 52 paintings this year! The number is actually somewhere in the high 60s. Things do get easier when you make them a habit.

SO...Here are my goals for 2012:
1) Work out 3x/week (just keep plugging, right?)
2) Complete (3) cohesive bodies of work, each containing at least (12) paintings
3) Have a solo art show
4) Increase my artistic income tenfold (based on 2011 earnings)

What are your personal and/or artistic goals for 2012? Have you been able to maintain goals from previous years? Do you find that once one seemingly insurmountable goal has been accomplished it paves the way for bigger and bigger challenges?

Lucas

Adorable nephew:

10"x8" watercolor and colored pencil on cold press watercolor paper

a gift

Ice Cream at the Cape

A Christmas present for Grandma:

10"x8" acrylic on canvas faced art board

sold

Happy Anniversary, Josh

I love you.

Many Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving all! By the time this post publishes we should all be in the blissful state of food-coma. This Thanksgiving I am especially grateful for three things:

1) God's provision. My husband and I took a big risk to move to LA from Columbus, OH early this summer and we have been provided for every step of the way. We've definitely reached a point in our lives where we can't take credit for the good that comes our way -only give thanks.

2) Two of my lovely sisters and a friend are flying/driving in to enjoy a big Thanksgiving dinner and spend an extended weekend visiting.

3) The two dashing men that I get to spend my days with.

(Josh and Marvin at Angeles National Forest)

Bruno

Another commissioned doggy painting (this time for a birthday present). Love those big bat ears!

10"x10" acrylic on canvas

sold

Acts 17:27

Here is my submission for the Intersections show at my church, Ecclesia. I've been going back and forth about whether or not this piece is too blatant... I used gold leaf for the first time and will be using it a ton in my next series.

 30"x24" acrylic and gold leaf on 1.5" depth canvas

(wanted to show how sweet the gold leaf looks when the light hits it)

The piece is titled Acts 17:27 but is really based on both verses 26 and 27:

"and He made from one every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;"

This scripture has had a tremendous impact on my faith. It is a long story so I won't delve into specifics right now but for me it has been about how God enters into the circumstances of our lives in ways that lead us to Him. The best part is where it says "though He is not far from each one of us." It is like he is right there next to us and we have the choice to ignore Him and go it alone or acknowledge Him and accept grace. 

Sandia Mountains Commission

7"x5" watercolor, colored pencil and ink on cold press watercolor paper

sold

The above piece was commissioned by another lover of New Mexico. He tells me that he travels there every year to reflect. Since completing the New Mexico series I have met SO many people who have had spiritual experiences there. If you haven't been there then put it on your bucket list. My paintings are only a small homage -an foggy reflection- compared to the grandeur of that landscape when witnessed in person. 

Urban Beach No4

24"x18" acrylic on 1.5" depth canvas-faced art board

Love the light in this one. It is baking light. -And the blue of the sky is in reality how the sky often is here. SUPER saturated. Amazing. Also, I can't really figure out how the devil palm trees can stand up straight. They look so top heavy. If anyone knows the science behind it, please enlighten me.

Urban Beach No3

20"16" acrylic on 1.5" depth canvas

The old guy on the left is kinda creeping me out...but he was in reality so I don't think I should change that. -Opinions?