Tag Archives: art

The Longest Summer

So much happened this summer.

I know I’m not alone in feeling like the past few months have been turbo-charged. Everyone seemed to be traveling and doing and going and everything all at once. It’s like we’ve all been making up for lost time.

It’s been too much for me to write about, so here’s a list (in picture form) of just some of what I’ve been up to:

A local filmmaker made a short video about my art for PlantPop, a botanical film studio. You can read the article and watch the video here.
Dear Diary Coffee hosted a closing reception for my solo art show.
I painted a blooming Spiny Star Cactus at the Almost Real Things Live art market and concert. Photo by Generally Right-Brained Art.
My work was featured in the Worth It issue of Almost Real Things Magazine. Read the article here (I’m #2).
I brought my art installation Magic Eye to the Burning Flipside arts festival! Read more about the project here.
In early June, I took a road trip to North Carolina, stopping to camp and hike along the way. This lovely trail is in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas.
While camping in Montgomery Bell State Park, Tennessee, I hiked through the woods to visit this old church and see the stained glass windows from inside.
After more than 20 hours of driving, I was treated to some delicious meals at restaurants around Southern Pines and a massage at Pinehurst – what a gift!
Some friends and I drove around my hometown and I fell in love with all the cute houses and tall trees. I’d been away too long and everything looked new and charming to me. I began to consider moving back to my home state, which felt so comfortable and welcoming compared to Texas during this long, dry summer.
The magnolias were in bloom and I couldn’t stop taking pictures. I left feeling inspired by them.
On my trip back, I camped and hiked to see Fall Creek Falls at Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas.
I explored the trails while camping at Possum Kingdom State Park, Texas.
I painted a scorpion that glows under black light, inspired by my experiences in Far West Texas.
Some friends and I went tubing in the South Llano River while camping during the Perseid meteor shower. While looking for shooting stars, we saw a Starlink launch and it was incredible! Something like 25 satellites, all in a row.
My boyfriend and I escaped on a spontaneous, fun, relaxing, and romantic getaway to Bonaire, in the Southern Caribbean. This could be an entire blog post… It was a fantastic trip!
I finished the Crab Fish Monster black light painting and found a home for it!
I took part in a pop-up art market at the Neill-Cochran House Museum as part of Austin Museum Day.
I hosted a Meow-morial for my beloved cat, Catty Arbuckle, with a Dia de los Muertos inspired altar. I will miss him always.
I’m pleased to be starting on some large paintings inspired by my trip to Big Bend National Park. It feels healing to get back to regular days in the studio.

The summer had a somber end with losing Catty, and overall I’m feeling wiped out. But with the cooler weather and rain finally coming into Austin, I’m feeling hopeful for a restful and restorative autumn.

Hug your loved ones. Be present in and grateful for the time you have together.

THINGS I’M EXCITED ABOUT

I found a nonprofit to partner with! Great Springs Project is working to create a network of trails and greenways that connects Austin to San Antonio and protects some of the Texas Hill Country’s most beautiful spring-fed rivers. I’ll be donating 10% of profits from art sales to help protect these waterways so that our wildlife and future generations can enjoy them. Learn more at greatspringsproject.org

I learned about Great Springs Projects after watching Deep In The Heart, an important and beautifully-shot film, now available to stream online. If you love wildlife, nature, or Texas, watch this film.

I’m loving this chart from this blog post by Mr. Money Mustache, which sums up everything I’ve learned about time management and healthy living.

Coming up! I’ll be participating in Austin’s favorite holiday market: the Blue Genie Art Bazaar. I’ve dreamed of getting into this show for years and am thrilled to be part of the holiday magic! Come by to see arts and crafts from your favorite local artists and grab all the gifts you want, November 18 – December 24, 6100 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX. Learn more at bluegenieartbazaar.com

Magic Eye

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be bringing my installation art piece Magic Eye to the Burning Flipside art and music festival this month!

Magic Eye was, in part, inspired by my own experiences with art at Burning Flipside, so it feels fitting that it’s getting to be part of the party.

I appreciate how people interact with art at these events: sometimes using it as a place to meet, pause on their way somewhere, or even a destination – a place to hangout and where they might meet new friends, who were also drawn in by the colors or lights. It serves as a way to build instant connection between strangers, giving them something to talk about. And it can be a point of reference that helps people navigate the unfamiliar festival grounds.

I’ve been fascinated by optical illusions since I was a child, and became enamored with color theory in art school, and I’ve been experimenting with ways to combine these two concepts for years.

In 2015, I began collecting images of optical illusions after realizing that I wanted to use them in an installation art piece.
In 2018, I incorporated color theory and dynamic light into the concept and began adding colors to the illusions, printing them out, and testing the effects of lighting with a color-changing LED strip.
In early 2020, I developed one of my designs into two tapestries which acted as walls for an interactive art installation at the FreezerBurn Texas arts event.
In 2021, I applied for a Fuel For The Arts grant to create more tapestries and build a frame to display them. I was asked to change my design to a more 3D shape and I immediately knew it would be a pyramid.
Testing and perfecting the construction in my living room. I used PVC pipes to build the frame and attached the tapestries with large rubber-tipped clamps.
magic eye at artic expedition
The final form, installed at the Artic Expedition drive-thru art exhibition in 2021.
Magic Eye comes alive at night.

There was just one thing I wanted to add: a place to sit. I dreamed of floor cushions or some astroturf to place around the perimeter, so that viewers have the option to rest while enjoying the art.

As luck would have it, a friend’s neighbor recently tossed out scraps of some very high-end astroturf, and I repurposed it into triangular patches, perfectly fitted to the art. I can’t wait to see it all together!

COMING UP

Join me on Wednesday, May 18th, from 7-9pm at Dear Diary Coffee, where I’ll be celebrating the end of my solo art show featuring paintings from my Iconic Texas series. We’ll have art prints, coffee, and other non-alcoholic drinks to purchase, and feel free to BYOB.

And on Saturday, May 21st, from 6-10pm, you can catch me live painting at a free art party at Distribution Hall. Come find me outside under the live oak trees!

IN OTHER NEWS

I recently returned from a week-long road trip to Marfa, Terlingua, Big Bend, and Devils River. I did so much and took so many pictures that it’s taking me some time to comb through them all – but I’m excited to share them soon!

Thanks for reading!

Rain Barrel

I was recently commissioned to paint a plastic rainwater collection barrel for a home in South Austin. This was my first time painting on plastic and for an exterior installation and I was nervous about getting the materials right. But after much research, and repeated trips to paint stores, I found the solution and got to work. Check out the images below to see the results!

The barrel before cleaning and sanding.
The client wanted a botanical scene that incorporated elements from the Sonoran Desert. I used one of the photos I took at Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona as a reference.
Drawing the outlines with an India ink pen.
After taping off the edges and preparing the barrel with Insl-X Stix primer, I drew outlines on the barrel with pencil and then used artist acrylics to paint them in.
After a thin layer of magenta was applied, I painted in the bright colors of the cacti and sunset.
Finally, I went back over the black outlines and, after waiting a few days for the paint to fully dry, sealed the barrel with two layers of General Finishes Exterior 450 water-based topcoat.
The barrel at its home in South Austin.

NEW!

Check out the new coffee featuring my artwork at Dear Diary Coffeehouse! Now available for order online or in store. And while you’re there, take a look at paintings from my Iconic Texas series, hanging in the shop through May.

COMING UP

My painting Flomot Longhorns will be on display as part of the Array exhibit at Art For The People Gallery, April 16 – June 24, 2022
Join me for the Artists Reception: Saturday, April 23, 12-1:30pm
1711 S. 1st St., Austin, Texas 78704

I’m featured in the upcoming issue of Almost Real Things and we’ll be celebrating with a free music and art event: Almost Real Things: Worth It LIVE!, May 21, 6–10pm
Distribution Hall, 1500 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

Working Through Anxiety In The Creative Process by Lisa Congdon

I’ve Been Working My Ass Off for You to Make that Profit? by Freakonomics Radio

The Dune audiobook, available for free via various public libraries.

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Colorado Bend

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When you get a Texas State Parks pass, you receive a booklet with a map of all the state parks. While recently perusing the map I realized that there are a few parks close to Austin that I haven’t visited yet. The description of Colorado Bend jumped out at me – a 70-foot waterfall?!

So, I made a reservation for a couple nights and grabbed a friend.

We arrived on a Sunday and the park was busy, but by Tuesday it’d emptied out. It’s a small campground but we were luck to find ourselves in a pretty secluded spot near the river.

Wildlife was everywhere! Deer and armadillos greeted us and at night we were entertained and annoyed by javelinas and raccoons.

I was delighted by the diversity of the park. We went kayaking in the river, hiked to a waterfall and around a cave, and swam in a spring. We saw people fishing and heard that someone caught an enormous catfish. We watched the full moon rise and wondered how the stars might look on a darker night.

This is definitely a park that I’ll be returning to.

COMING UP

The Austin Studio Tour is returning this year and will be bigger than ever! We’re combining East and West Austin into one citywide art event that spans three weekends in November. The Studio Tour is a free event, with in-person and virtual activities. Look out for me (#123) in the catalog and online.

My solo art exhibition Iconic Texas is opening on Saturday, November 6th at the Dougherty Arts Center! The show will feature 18 acrylic paintings inspired by my experiences camping and hiking in Texas’ public parks and will run until January 8th. For up-to-date information about visiting the gallery, please check their website or call 512-974-4000.

MORE GOOD STUFF

If you’ve been following me, you know that I’ve recently gotten into meditation. I’ve tried explaining its benefits and how I relate to it, but have often struggled. This episode of How To Build A Happy Life does a great job explaining the how and why of meditation.

I’m loving the Heavy Metal episode of Radiolab for its exploration of curiosity, history, science, and an unexpected look at the Meteor Crater I visited in 2019.

Want something spooky to read? Check out The Necromancer’s House for an unforgettably weird and wild ride.

Happy Halloween!

Stretching Myself

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After years of fighting self-doubt and working toward a healthy work/life balance, I hit my stride in my art studio. This summer I found myself painting almost daily and feeling more confident in my ideas and imagery. And there’s something that happens when you achieve a goal: you immediately set a bigger one. For me, this came in the form of the largest painting I’ve ever made and an experimental, interactive art piece.

The big painting was inspired by my recent trip to Caprock Canyons State Park. It’s a landscape of the canyons on three canvases, totaling 30″x70″ in size. It took weeks to complete and will be the highlight of my upcoming Iconic Texas art show. A few years ago I wouldn’t have dreamed of painting something so big, but now I want to go even bigger! I’m incredibly proud of myself and the progress I’ve made since I decided to try making art full-time.

A photo I took while hiking at Caprock Canyons.
Drawing the outlines of the image.
Painting in my studio.
The finished painting: Caprock Canyons, acrylic on canvas, 30″x70″

So, I went bigger. And I also went weirder!

I’ve been experimenting with black light paint and ways to create interactive or installation art for events. And one night, my friend Laura and I were chatting and came up with “black light paint-by-number” as a potential party activity.

I immediately fell in love with this concept and asked my friend Chase if I could use one of his drawings as imagery – he sent me a crab/fish monster! Perfect for the neon colors in black light paint and the upcoming spooky Halloween season. So, I planned out the painting and rounded up the supplies and did a test run outside my friend’s house.

It was a hit! I’m excited to refine the process and have it available as a fun activity for future events.

Drawing by Chase Gordon @hotdogdiet
Resizing and painting the outlines on canvas.
The painting glowing under black light.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Neill-Cochran House Museum for Austin Museum Day! It was a beautiful afternoon of art and music and it was wonderful to meet so many new people.

I’ve been busy filling my shop with art prints, mugs, and a shirt that celebrates Austin’s Barton Creek Greenbelt (my favorite place to hike). Head over to my shop page to see what’s new. And if there’s something that you want to see (like sticker packs), please leave a comment below. Thanks!

Possum Kingdom

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This summer has been full of adventure and art. I’ve been busy exploring new places, meeting new people, and I feel like I’ve finally found a good rhythm in my studio.

Here’s a taste of what I’ve been up to:

Sunset over Possum Kingdom Lake. I went camping at the state park for a couple nights and enjoyed the quiet of a lake right before the July 4th weekend.
One side of the rock formation know as “Hell’s Gate” in Possum Kingdom Lake, which was alive with cliff swallows darting in and out of their nests.
My friend convinced me that we should rent a small pontoon boat for the day and I’ll be forever grateful – it was so much fun!

Possum Kingdom State Park is small but has everything you’d want for a weekend on the lake. There are boat rentals, fishing supplies, and even a few short hiking trails which offer nice views. I saw lots of deer, but not a single possum.

Back in Austin:

My art installation “Magic Eye” added a little something extra to a private event.
At night it glows different colors, which creates the appearance of movement in the optical illusions.
Drawing the outline for a stylized painting of Hamilton Pool (a popular swimming destination just outside of Austin).
“Hamilton Pool”, acrylic on canvas, 20″x24″
Live painting at an event in West Lake Hills.
The finished painting: “Flomot Longhorns”, acrylic on canvas, 20″x30″

I’m painting just about every day and currently planning a camping trip to Davis Mountains State Park, which is close enough to Marfa to do day trips. I can’t wait to explore the area and see shooting stars move across that clear night sky.

Mark your calendars: I finally got the dates for my first solo exhibition! Iconic Texas is scheduled to be on display at the Julia C. Butridge Gallery November 6, 2021 through January 8, 2022.

Cactus Flowers

Something special happened this year, and maybe it’s something that happens every year, but this was the first time I’d noticed it. The blooming prickly pear cacti were absolutely gorgeous!

I was inspired by the cacti at Allen Park in Austin and decided to paint them. But I seemed to accidentally follow the path of cacti bloom west to Enchanted Rock and then north to Caprock Canyons, where I was blown away by the number and color of the flowers…

The lovely cacti at Allen Park.
Drawing the prickly pear cacti.
Working on the painting, based off of the outlines I drew.
The final painting “Blooming Cactus”, acrylic on canvas, 30″x30″, part of my Iconic Texas series, which seeks to highlight The Lone Star State’s public parks.
Detail image of the painting.
The flowering prickly pear cacti at Enchanted Rock State Park, Fredericksburg, Texas.
The prickly pears at Caprock Canyons State Park, Quitaque, Texas.

…They were just so absolutely stunning, I think I need to make more of these paintings!

COMING UP!
Art For The People Gallery will be hosting an opening reception for their THRIVE! exhibit on Saturday, July 10th from 3-6pm. I’m thrilled to have some art included in the exhibition and to be attending their first reception of the year! Come celebrate with us!

The event is free and BYOB! And if you can’t make it to the reception, the exhibit will be on display until September 30th.

Space Cat

I’ve been curious about black light reactive paint for a while but it wasn’t until a friend asked me about commissioning a painting of a “black light cat” that I put in the effort to learn the medium. It took a lot of practice to figure out how to mix the paint to get the right colors in both natural and UV light, but I think I did pretty good for a first try!

The final painting, in natural light.
I used an Ampersand Art Board instead of canvas, because of the clean, flat texture and the attractive raw wood edges that make framing unnecessary.
The painting under black light.

As usual, I did a lot of the planning for the painting on the computer, and was so happy with the digital version that I decided to make it available as art prints and tote bags on my shop.

The original design, created in Adobe Illustrator.

I was delighted to be able to gift the original painting to my friend on his wedding day…and thrilled to be able to attend! The wedding was the first time in months that I’d seen many of my friends, and since then I’ve done a lot of catching up, traveling, and eating out. It feels fantastic to finally be getting back to normal.

Art events are starting back up too!

I’ll have two paintings included in the THRIVE! group show at Art For The People Gallery, on display June 19 – September 30, and viewable on their online shop.

Hopefully, we’ll get to start having opening receptions again soon. I can’t wait!

Getting Back Out There

I don’t know about you, but this April has been busy. It feels like the world is reopening, and just in time for some beautiful spring weather!

The drive-thru art event ARTic Expedition took place (where I debuted my dynamic-light and fabric sculpture “Magic Eye”), I went camping with friends, and I got down to the Gulf Coast for some time with my family.

I’m looking forward to more outdoor social time and camping trips before the infamous Texas Summer begins. Bring on the sunshine, fun, and relaxation!

Magic Eye at ARTic Expedition.
Out of the Ashes by artists Rachel Collier and Tess Noble.
Dr. Beak by artists Eric Schiele, Destiny Augustine, and Robert Abdallah.
On the Overlook Trail at South Llano Rive State Park.
The armadillos were out in force.
Spring flowers were just starting to bloom. I love these fanciful little puffs on the “Sensitive Plant”.
Portuguese man o’ wars dotted the beach at Port Aransas.
They’re surprisingly beautiful! And strange.
Back in Austin, I ventured out to the Hike And Bike Trail, which follows the river near downtown. I’ve missed spending time in my city, which has continued to grow and change. I’m looking forward to exploring and finding out what’s new – especially the bars and restaurants!
My favorite swimming holes are starting to fill up along the Barton Creek Greenbelt.
I’m ready for summer afternoons spent outside with good company.

Somehow, during all this activity I’ve made time to work on a secret art project, which I’m excited to share next month. Stay tuned!

Hope For Spring

I want to thank everyone who came out to the opening of the Hope For Spring exhibition at the Neill-Cochran House Museum. It was a beautiful day and the lawn was the perfect place for an outdoor reception.

The exhibit includes over fifty works of art, in various styles, all depicting The State Flower Of Texas, the bluebonnet. It was interesting to see all the different styles represented, and in a variety of media including stained glass and fiber art as well as photographs, paintings, and drawings.

The Neill-Cochran House Museum is a historical home complete with original furnishings and decor. So, you’ll find the new artworks floating in a 19th century world, sometimes in unusual ways.

I located my painting “Bluebonnets” relaxing on the bed with a lovely piece of fiber art by Linda Miles.

This was a small, socially-distanced event, but I’m so grateful to be able to share my art with the community and to have the chance to celebrate together. I’m looking forward to more of these events in the future. Oh, how I miss big art openings with music, wine, and cheese plates!

The reception took place on the spacious lawn of the Neill-Cochran House Museum.

Hope For Spring is on display at the Neill-Cochran House Museum until April 11, 2021. Check their website for hours and admission information.

“Flora of Texas” by Randy Soileau.
“Sweet Spring” by Kim Kaiser.

Next up is the drive-thru art event ARTic Expedition which is taking place April 2-4, and then I’ll be off to South Llano River State Park for my first camping trip of the year!