A Fanciful Twist

Inspiration, Sanctuaries & It is not always too late to finish what you started...

In organizing the studio a bit, I happened upon little artworks that I started and then just simply forgot.  I have about 32 paintings of all sizes that are sketched or started to be painted, some even 75% completed.  It is pretty ridiculous actually...  What happens is that my attention gets taken by something else, and then voila, I am off to the next thing.

      

The bad thing about this is that you lose the creative mental space for that one piece.  The good thing is, sometimes you come back to it with renewed inspiration.  Which is what I am diligently focusing on...

Funny enough, I coaxed Dino, the little artist extraordinaire, into creating & completeing a painting for me. A trade or payment of sorts.  He obliged.  He started one day sitting at my table...

      

      

I told Dino what I had swirling in my mind in January.  He worked and worked and worked on it.... Check out the finished product which is now in my possession...

Some of my loves, which I explained to Dino are: Keyholes, Strange creatures, Fairytales, hidden doorways, forests, Cupid (see cupids arrow?)  I even talked to him about Snow White vs. the Witch and the poisonous apple....Needless to say, this is what I got, and I am overwhelmed with delightment....

      

Sometimes I like to wander my two little dweillings, searching for inspiration.  Not really actively searching, but seeing if little things catch my attention and get my mind rolling...Kitchens are so inspiring to me... Probably because I like to paint pastries and cakes....I just love my kitchen.

It is a tad small, but it is so fun to bake in and share with little people who sit at this table and wait for their first bite...I have not finsihed painting my cabinet, but heck, it has been unfinished for years...See the pattern here, unfinished objects?? I made those knobs (on top & bottom doors)...  They were sooo much fun to make.

      

So, it is officially time for me to crack that whip and finish some of my own painting projects...I am feeling inspired...

You see, I found this piece that I started in 2000.  7years ago, when I met Mr. Lovee, I purchased this piece of wood and sketched this little girl...As I was cleaning this week, she came toppling down from a shelf.  And, I was in awe, I thought, "Wow, how did I forget this...." Don't mind the hair and face paint, that will change...

      

Then I found Miss Habit.  How could I have forgotten her also?? And several more below...Oh, seems as though I will be very busy for the next few days...A long weekend of painting...

      

      

      

I am giving myself one swap gift today, to treat myself ahead of time for attacking these projects...

This little love is from Lisa Solomon of Lisa's Musings. Of course, everything she sent had such sensory alerting items...Thank you Miss Lisa, so very much.  I love them each and every one!

       

      

       

I almost forgot, I got tagged by Miss Shabby in the City...But this is a tag I can live with, so I'll play along...  You "grab the nearest book, turn to page 28 and post the 3rd paragraph..."

I was a bit unlucky at this, as most of my books are informational, no third paragraph, or, page 28 had only one little burb. It was silly how hard it was...So, I finally picked up Anais Nin's "Fire" diary from about 1934-1937...Here is what it read:

"Richard Maynard telephones every day.  The violinist plays at town hall tonight.  After three talks with me, she played as "I never played in my life before, thinking of you as a shadow and seeing your green ring flashing before me.' "

I hope you have a lovely 3-day weekend.  And, either kick your feet up and relax....

      

Or tour your own space for inspiration...  It is so important to love your space, and fill it with things you love.  Even if your space can only be in one room, or one little corner, even a shelf. Make sure to make a space you love. Your own little sanctuary...

      

Enjoy special moments. Even if they only come in spurts...They all count...

(To answer a question., the Mermaid is not a lamp. Although, it sure does look like I am using her as such. With all those lights draped on her.  She is actually an old wooden creature, about 4.5 feet tall, once used in religious processions in the Philippines.  She came here many years ago from the Philippines with her owner.   Over the years I have collected many old wooden dolls, all quite large, with wooden joints. All said to have been used in similiar religious processions, where they would be dressed up to resemble a certian saint. Funny enough,  I later found out,  my collection came from the same owner...)

What I actually do...

It is a rainy day in Catalina.  A very uncommon event, waking up to gloomy rainy weather.  Catalina is a little town in the mountains 30 minutes North of Tucson, Arizona, just at the base of the Western slope of  the Santa Catalina Mountains.

        

7 years ago a very special someone (everyone knows him as lovee, the upright bass player and outrageously knowledgeable commercial Realtor) introduced me to his charming and truly magical retreat in Catalina.  Since then I have had my working studio there for 7 years,   and I turned a canning shed into an art Gallery/shop   3 years ago.  The gallery is open by appointment, and also open to the public during the Catalina Artists Studio Tour.  We are a non-profit organization of 30 or so artists.

What I do...My creative endeavors as a child began with piano playing and painting.  They have grown to incorporate jewelry making, doll making, mask making and all kinds of "clay stuff."  I am a potter at the Tucson Museum of Art's " Romero House Potters Studio."  I have been a part of that creative place for about 5 years now...Time flies...I still paint all the time, and right now we are having a break at Romero House until the end of January. 

I do have a "real job" but I am also self employed and it allows me the freedom to do art.  I graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in International Retailing and Consumer Studies and a minor in Photography(the center for creative photography is outrageous).  I studied textiles, visuals, business aspects etc. etc. but decided that "The Devil Wears Prada," the book, was not the world I wanted. So, I stayed in Tucson and put the real estate license, which I acquired one summer during college, to good use.  Boy, it has been a treasure trove.  It has allowed me to be free and do what I love.  The goal is to be able to do what I love full-time...

The amazing women I do pottery with and the women from the real estate world are also very active in my annual witches festival.They get all decked out and congregate at my home in Tucson for a witches only night of fun food and pleasure! It is so much fun!!  I am already working on ideas for next year!! Ideas, anyone??

            

Although I have a home in town (my sis lives there too) I have spent the better part of 7 years in Catalina.  I miss my home sometimes, but the major focus in life is my art.  Creating is where I found the utmost fulfillment.

Because I spend so much time in Catalina, I have my very own little loftish space.  I have a private room attached to my studio attached to an office which will have a very fabulous bathroom as soon as construction is complete on that side.  On my side, the room is done(almost) and it is wonderful!!!  I have so many windows and high ceilings...It is charming...and..

The reason for this whole explanation is to tell you how I got here, to where I am today.  (ps: it just started snowing, a major wild happening in Tucson/Catalina!!!) Today I am searching for inspiration.  I took 4 weeks off from painting to have 3 jewelry shows, an artsy/crafty show and the big Catalina Artists studio tour.  My creative vibe is on fire and I spent the morning walking around, inspiring myself...Loving my Wendy Addison  Magic sign ( I got mine at Bon in Tucson-google map- but you can also order on-line at Bayberrycove, check link for Wendy Addison) hanging above that phenomenal John Derian plate of Adam and Eve ( I have a John Derian collection that I have been acquiring over the years, purchased at Bon, a fantastic Tucson shoppe). It has to stay up, I think for a while at least.

So, a few of Today's Inspirations...

From wonderful old mannequins with bustles and caged mermaids to James Ensor and Bosch...(ps:  I love to collect other artists work and photographs so you will see a bit of my own art , my antique treasures, including a life size mermaid and dolls from religious processions in the Philippines and a special picture of my grandmother as well as fantastic works of other artists.) The reflection in the mirror that I am trying to photograph is by Anna Bronwyn and The "woman in her drawers" is a cupboard by Luon St. Pierre & Liz Vaughn, I own a few of Luon's pieces, from mirrors to the adventures of Lulu and Dick Bench.  These items were discovered at one of my favorite places in Tucson called Bohemia. The next treasure to be purchased will live amongst the chaos if I can ever get my hands on one of Emily's Black Apple originals!!

   

 

I am so excited to start getting some comments and interacting with you all!  So many of my friends have been awaiting this blog!  The Banner art will change, but it was to the point where I just had to do it!! And, fix the rest later!! I promise I won't ramble on so much in the future.

Swirling About...

Happy Holidays!!! My lovely Christmas Branch was magical!  (details below)

WOW! What a wild road I traveled to see you she said...A road filled with Jesters and Duchesses, Sweets thieves, Strange beautiful ladies, chanting children and...Finally, Here we are...

The idea of being here, in this blogging world has been swirling about in my mind, taunting me, nudging at me.  Life is already one large nut-cake...And, although time gets away faster than a blink of an eye, I find the highlight may be this choice.  To be here. 

I have been enchanted by so many artists lately.  Their little characters playing free... All the while my little characters seem to have been punished, looking outside through heavy velvet curtains.  Wishing that they too could go out and play, instead of peering through keyholes all day. Although, "key-holing," can be quite interesting, to say the least. 

It is a strange day in Arizona today.  Perhaps primarily because we are currently in the middle of what I call "the 6 weirdest days of the year."  You know, the days after Christmas but before New Years.  It is the wait.  For what are we waiting?  I have no clue, maybe a whole slew of things...To start our so called "New Year's Resolutions."  Or maybe, to get back to work in a positive manner, to do all the things we wish we had done all year?

Whatever your task may be, mine will be getting my little shop up an running on Etsy and fixing my current Website, as I am having font issues.

I have so many ideas and thoughts to share and bounce off other people who are flying on the same wave...I am a treasure seeker, I adore history, the old treasures, stories, fairly-tales really.  I also feel that it is my duty (a sub-conscious duty I suppose) to get paint on everything that I own. From delectable shoes to lovely billowing skirts, the paint finds its way.  Sometimes I just can not believe my eyes, PAINT!!! everywhere.  I have come to embrace this though.  I got off track there, my point is, I paint everything.  Well, almost everything.Ha. My Kitchen Cabinet and...

I paint PIANOS! my goodness. Can you imagine?  I took acrylic paint to my old white spinet. It was glossy and lovely with gold accents.  I was too young to care.  It is an ongoing paint job now... The color has made her so super sassy she has changed her name to,  La Pianola.(sorry for the blurry Pianola picture)

I see inanimate objects as actual characters with personalities.  They actual speak to me when I discover them.  I can see their little personalities peering through.  Which is probably why I own so many "things." Some just beg to go home with me.  And, the Cinderella that lives with me sometimes despises this...But, in the end, she is a trooper and she knows a good treasure when she sees one!

So, that is a little rambling about what you might find when you visit with Vanessa, through the secret keyhole.  I intend to share all of my art with you, all the colorful faces that have sipped tea with me, and munched on dark chocolate covered honeycomb...

A huge thank you to many of the artists who have shared themselves with us, it is quite a leap to share ones self with others, and so many of you do it with open arms. 

This is the official first blog.  The door is slowly squeaking open...

(side-note:  The treasures on my Christmas branch came from some wonderful places.  The round green ornament on the left was done by one of my faves, Jennifer Kerr.  The Sweet Dreams angels, German glass glitter stars and snowflakes and Gift tags with vintage ephemera were all purchased at a local favorite shop in Tucson Arizona, called Bon.(Ps: they also carry my original art cards) The Sweet dream angels are all over my house they are by Thea Beasley for Jeremie.  The party girl Gift tags are by Kerri Judd for F.G. & Co. And, let us not forget the amazing Wendy Addisonand her glitter stars, hearts, snowflakes and much more!! If you are lucky enough to come across pictures of her museum shop you will be in a blissful high of sensory overload! I did a little search and found that Anahata Katkin's phenomeal blog has some amazing photographs of Wendy's enchantments.