Washes and Coffee

Happy Friday!

Perhaps it’s because I stayed up too late reading last night (4 am, whoops), but this morning was a rougher wake-up than usual. 3 cups of coffee later, I was still dragging. Rather than work on my current painting with a fuzzed brain, I decided to make a few watercolor washes and just play around until I felt a bit more alive.

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I really loved how the pigment ended up drying, one of the reason I adore watercolors. The extra edges that weren’t planned, the spontaneous blooming, the blips of paint that flicked off the end of the brush — it all makes me so happy.

Energized and creatively infused, I went back to the garden painting :)

Hope you all have a fantastic Friday and a very lovely weekend!

<3

Happy 2015!!

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I’m going to go ahead and echo the same statement made by probably most people over the age of 20 or so.

How in the world is it 2015 already? 

And here I had just gotten used to writing ‘2014’ on the backs of all my work.

I started this year out with a fresh page in my sketchbook and practiced writing the new year. (I know it will still take a few days to naturally write 2015 instead of 2014, but a little extra practice never hurts!) As I drew out the numbers I thought about the previous year, recalling all of the wonderful things that we experienced and all the things I hope achieve in this new year. I don’t really do resolutions, but I do believe in greeting the new year with intention.

I said goodbye to the year that saw us live abroad in Barcelona and Berlin, the year we road-tripped down the west coast, our first anniversary. The last year of my twenties (bring it 30!) and the first of year as an artist full-time. There were struggles of course, but all in all 2014 was a fairly spectacular year. 2015 has it’s work cut out for it.

I’m hoping this year will bring a bit more organization, maybe a little more emphasis on keeping my space clean (seems to be a running a theme, my studio space is always 2 shades away from a complete mess) and a much better inventory system. Shipping this year seemed to be punctuated by constantly running out of supplies. I’m not sure what that system is yet, but I will be experimenting with a few different ideas throughout January.

Another thing I’m excited to try, is the kickstarter project of Angela Trinidad. Normally not one for planners, I am finding myself drawn to the layout and intent of her Passion Planner. With a focus on organization for 2015, it seems like a fitting purchase for the start of the year. Unfortunately I saw the project a bit ago but didn’t back it in time — and new orders aren’t shipping until late February. But they’ve provided a PDF of the entire book for free once the link is shared on social media, so I’ll print the first month or two until the real book comes.

What about you? Any exciting intentions for 2015?

 

2015

 

 

Christmas cards and cookies!

It’s been a Christmasy weekend here in the studio.

Between wrapping up the last presents, getting all of our winter clothes ready and general holiday revelry – my workspace has been more or less covered in all sorts of things Christmas. Yesterday afternoon was spent finishing up the Christmas cards, interspersed with batches of cookies, with a few small watercolors thrown in for good measure.

As it is every year, it will be a race to get everything packed wrapped and sent – but I’d like to think I’m making headway. Cookies help, right?

 

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Quick Eyeshadow Doodle

I’m wondering if I might be testing the bounds of responsible coffee intake.

I’m right smack dab in the middle of the holiday rush and I am loving it. Though for the next 2 weeks I’ll be spending more time packing and printing art than I will be actually making it, I’m so incredibly grateful to be in a position where this is possible.

So for today’s #makeupmonday post, I kept it super short and sweet. Just an application of eyeshadow. And some eyeliner for good measure :)

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9th Annual Ghost Gallery Holiday Extravaganza!

In today’s exciting news,  I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be showing a number of pieces at the 9th Annual Ghost Gallery Extravaganza in Seattle Washington.

I’ll have a few originals, a few prints (framed and unframed) and some packs of my gemstone cards on display (and up for sale) from December 11th – February at the gallery.

I’m thinking about trying to set up a flight to go out and see the show for myself, it looks to be a great one!

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A few Nyx lipsticks for #MakeupMonday

I’m a sucker for a good lipstick.

I’m also on a relatively tight budget. One might call it; ‘The I Work for Myself and All Extra Money Goes Back into My Business’ budget.  So, when I can find something  I love and purchase it without neglecting the cost of supplies for my work I am a very, very happy camper.

This week I chose to paint some of my more frequently used colors. For winter I am *loving* deep rusty reds and ashy peaches, which, conveniently are some of my favorite colors to paint with. Serendipty, friends.

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I’m almost through my entire shelf of makeup (I don’t really own that much and tend to wear even less) anyone have any suggestions for next week? Tweet me, Instagram me, leave me a comment here or hire a plane to write it in the sky!

(if you do actually hire a plane, I’d love you forever…)

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

 

2014 Holiday Sale!

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend Friends!!!

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I try to stay mindful and thankful of all I have year-round, but this weekend those thoughts tend to be at the forefront. My family, my friends, my husband and a warm roof over my head – I’m so grateful for the love of all of these people. Ontop of many other reasons, without their encouragement and support I probably would have never had the courage to quit my job to create Fin and Feather Art.

But I also have to thank you all, the people who follow my work. This little dream is completely impossible without you. In effort to show my thanks, all weekend I’ll be running the biggest sale in the history of Fin and Feather Art; a whopping %20 off everything on the etsy site!!! Enter code THANKFUL14 at checkout to receive the discount.

Use it for yourself, share it with friends and happy shopping!!!

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Nest Indigo for #makeupmonday!

For this week’s installment of #MakeupMonday I decided to paint one of my favorite items; a rollerball of Indigo by Nest Fragrances.

The scent was recommended to me by a dear friend while in Sephora, and upon seeing the display and packaging knew I would have to get it.  I was pretty sure it wouldn’t matter what it even smelled like, but I was sufficiently enamored with the dark floral patterning of the boxes.

And after smelling it I was positively hooked.

 

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That’s all for today, I have *so* much to do before leaving for Michigan for the holiday. Yikes.