when i get into my art zone it's like nothing matters but the work before me.  this is awesome when it comes to creating my own work.  but it makes it very difficult for me to paint while my kids try to paint... i sorta forget that they're there and paint seems to multiply on the table as they mix all the colors into one mix of sludge.

however, i think i've found a way to merge the two.  making art with my children. we had started out just making shamrocks, then moved to painting cards, and when i realized that H could easily paint with a stencil and get awesome results my first thought was, SPRAY PAINT!

to make this a happy afternoon for all, this is what i learned:

• it will be messy.  just embrace the mess, it's the only way to have fun with this. if you're concerned about staining things then remove anything you're concerned about.  wear paintable clothing and pull your hair up.  but, if you're anything like us, just wear your regular clothes and then wear your paint with pride.
• assemble everything you need before spraying anything. we used a canvas drop cloth, four 16x20ish pieces of cardboard or trashable canvases, masking tape (lots), spray paint, regular craft paint, stencils, stamps, shoelaces/ribbons/ etc. 
• create stations.  if you've got more than one kid doing this, break it up into as many stations as you can so that everyone is happy, everyone gets a turn, and you (the responsible adult ;-D) can work with one child at a time while the others work independently.
• roll with it.  your reactions to mess, art, mistakes and successes are all absorbed by the kids.  if something goes unexpectedly, like someone accidently painting their shoes bright pink, just roll with it. let go of all preconceived ideas.  
• prepare for some serious joy.  and not just from you.  i couldn't believe how quickly F picked that can up, shook, and got to work.  i might be raising a graffiti artist, or four. *tear*  help them to be successful and let them create as much as possible. let them spray, let them mask, and if they're not strong enough to press the nozzle then help them push but let them choose the colors and direction.  
• whenever the kids would get stuck on something i'd show them something new, how to use a stencil, shoelace, or masking tape to get new results.
• we did have one hard and fast rule, all spraying takes place on the drop cloth,at  one child a time. 

i shouldn't even have to tell you to have fun, just relax and it will be.  trust the mess.

last week a show at the utah county art museum started, a show for all of the students of the studio that i painted with from january to may. i entered three pieces for the fun of it: flair, dakota girl, and embraced by tradition. on the first friday of every month provo has a gallery stroll, where all of the downtown galleries stay open late and people walk for gallery to gallery. the utah county art museum typically has an artist's meet and greet for all of it's participants and families. so it was with the intent of meeting and greeting with other painters that we set out for the evening.

after an hour and fifteen minutes on the freeway i was beyond frustrated. a trip that normally takes 40 minutes had stretched and grown and now we were late and my nerves were fried. i sat down with some refreshments and let my kids play in a spinning door, much to the chagrin of every old lady in the place, buy hey, they were all in one place having a great time. after recharging i went to leave, maybe hitting a few other galleries, when the studio owner approached me and let me know i had won first place.

first!

at this point all of the little things that had been bothering me just melted away. i had never won anything before! but my little gal had taken first place. all of that fretting, all of the hours, had been counted. the competition was judged by two unbiased BYU professors; felt nice to have people who don't even know ME appreciate my work.

i feel overwhelmed with gratitude: my teacher who spent hour upon hour helping me to bring her to life, my husband who has sacrificed much of his creative time so that i could spread my wings and fly, my mom who watched my kids every tuesday so that i could paint, and the sweet hearts in my life who have supported me when i didn't feel like i could take the pressure of completing it.

we went back down the long hall to take a picture all together. i approached this little old hippie man and asked him to take our picture with my painting. he seemed all too eager and loved my painting as well. after studying it for a few moments he asked, "so were you, like, a chinese girl in a previous life?" hrmmmm, not that i can recall...

the show will run through the rest of august, so if you get a chance, go visit her. and while i was originally a little upset about the placement of my paintings, it now seems apropo that they're at the end of a long hallway, close to a new doorway.

i've been keeping something from you. i have utilized facebook once again. i know, i KNOW... but it's just so easy and convenient and i exhibit no self control when it comes to easy and friends. (oh dear) i am however setting boundaries, my little personal profile, i don't add many people to, (don't take offense please, i love you, i do, it's me not you, i just need a little space here. ;-D ) but i do have two public places that i would love to share with you.

one is my fan page. how pretentious is it that i have a fan page for my art work? fairly, but if you're interesting in knowing what i'm up to artistically, that's the best place to go.

the second is a RAW group, my sincere intention is that you (yes, i mean YOU) will start a RAW night of your own. and when you do, we'd love to have you post it here so that we can connect other artsy women and mama's together. a safe place to create art, share your heart, and eat. even if it's with only one other person, i think it can be considered a random art workshop. it takes some bravery, it takes some initiative, but i promise you... the pay offs are incredible.

wanna see what we did last night? i thought so. ;-D

last week i had the opportunity of co-hosting our first RAW night (random art workshops). it was beautiful, yummy, open and kind. i've wanted to do something like this for a long, long time but didn't feel like i had people in close proximity who would want to do an art night. apparently, artists will travel! and while there were only four of us that joined together that night, sparkly magic still swirled around us. i provided the activity, art journaling, and amy provided the house and munchies. really, the only downfall to doing this is having to wait until next month to do it again! the conversation opened up to pretty raw topics as well, but we each felt safe to share our truths.

my hope and desire is to have little RAW nights pop up all over the place, giving us crafty girls a place to peacefully create and share. if you do start one, please share it here so that we can help to connect women.

thanks to amy, rex, and demelza. i can't wait for next month!

every year we head down to spring city, utah for heritage days on the saturday before memorial day. see, this sweet little town may not have a lot of people (about 1000), but it does boast a whole lot of artists. they have the regular stuff you'd expect at a city fair, lemonade and live music; but they also have lots of art galleries, antique and artisan shops open, plus a really kick-a silent auction. i save my pennies every year and have been able to score some really awesome deals on original art.

this year i found the cutest vintage aprons for $15, i couldn't believe it! i reached for my check book... and realized i had left it at home. i had changed purses last minute and LEFT my monies at home. i'm still so bummed. no new art, no cute aprons, no awesome keys. when i went back to take these pics i nearly had to get into a fist fight with the antiques lady, she apparently doesn't want her items shown in magazines. but i want to remember forever the aprons i could have had, so she allowed it, all the while shaking her head and whispering threats.

it was still worth the 2 hour drive. i love the valley, the feel of the mountain valley air, the sheep and turkeys, not to mention the great company we have when we go down. i also finally got back the piece from the plein air competition i did last fall, which is a really good thing because i've already submitted it to the squam show!

the holiday weekend was great. one day for traveling and playing, one day for church and family birthday parties, and one more day for yard work. why aren't three day weekends mandatory? and now, we get to skip monday and jump straight to tuesday, and i heart a good tuesday.

~~edited to add: my auntie just sent me the loveliest birthday gift, two vintage aprons passed down from my own great grandmother. what could be better?