Musings, Mutterings and New Work

This is a long one.

You might want to refill your beverage.

I had a conversation over Christmas that has really stuck with me over the last two weeks and I feel that I need to share my train of though here in a confessional-sort-of-way.

I believe that part of being an artist is to feel life most keenly. This means the ups are sometimes magically high, laughter and mirth bubble up from your toes and the cup of joy runneth over. But this also means the lows feel that much more potent, crushing and dark. Sadness and frustration steal any semblance of eloquence from my tongue and I sit mutely. Writing in that place is akin to lancing a boil: that dark substance that has inhabited my body but is not a part of me must be released, bled dry, given exodus before I can stitch the wound and begin healing. I do not see this as all negative. Rather I find that the rawest parts of me lead the way to the most profound revealings. Many of my most "important" paintings (edit: important to my self-awareness-development) I've only been able to finish after a near existential crisis which lead me to new knowledge and renewed faith. In the struggle there is growth.

Which leads to what it is I really need to say:

I need the dark confines, those hard pages of my sketchbook to hold my secret murmurings safe. Not safe from anyone or anything, but safe for me. It's a subtle difference but one that means the world to me. As I begin this new year, renewing my focus and instating new goals, I wish to share ever deeper the lessons I learn though this thing I loosely term "art making." But there will be things I can not share publicly in order to maintain a safe boundary around myself and the great wide world. There will be days (as there always have been) when I can not bring myself to engage via the internet because my melancholy runs too close to the surface, and I wish more than anything, to be allowed to feel that genuinely.

I know you understand, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Now, in exchange for allowing me to get that off my chest, I want to share some new work that will be flitting it's way into The Shop pronto.

Our Lady of Quiet Tidings

6" x 6"

Our Lady herself (the original painting!) will be soon residing in the shop along with prints in her likeness. I have always harbored a love for religious iconography of all persuasions but particularly that which has to do with storytelling (creation stories, the annunciation, exchanges between mortals and immortals, the ascension, I could go on). I do not believe that we as humans are the only beings to give and receive messages, in fact, I believe that we can receive our messages anytime we're open to hearing them. I believe the collective wisdom of nature offers the richest lessons in true faith and honest love, and I can hear it all on the trill of a small beak.

Santo DeeDee

4" x 4"

Along with Our Lady, Santo DeeDee and his likenesses will be chirping right over to the shop. And believe you me, he has a trill unlike any other.

Searching the Forest for the Trees

5" x 5"

I don't know that I can live without this one. We had a long talk this past weekend; as I sipped tea and listened to Jeff Buckley and poured out my soul to this little painting, she opened her eyes and saw me so clearly. I need to live with her. However, she also has consented to prints in the Etsy shop, and is ready to view your path clearly when your lashes are too soaked with emotion to see.

I feel quiet inside. I think it's time to retreat to the joy of my filberts.

Peace this afternoon friendlies,

- Umber

Why Hello There 2010

Well if I had any thoughts of major diet change resolutions for New Year (and I didn't) they're officially off. January first and I ate a home cooked, finger lickin' blue cheese burger slightly larger than my own face.

** In other news, my very favorite Mme. Bookling has organized another one month Flickr group, Our Daily Bread, and it's absolutely not too late to join. Plus, it will basically be a one month-long confession of all that I eat and that's ALWAYS fun! **

I'd like to show [off to] you two of my new very favorite companions, The Brothers Grim. They're still trying to decide just where they'd like to reside in Dovely Estates but I have a feeling they'll commit to some stretch of wall sooner rather than later if for no other reason than to keep kitty noses far, far away.

Hello Brother Nip,

Welcome Brother Tuck.

The Brothers have lead quite the death (life just seemed like an unfair pun, agree?), traveling half-way around the world some 60 odd years ago, seeing their fair share of cotton batting and taxidermied pals, ending up in a shiny papered box under the Christmas tree with a big ol' K written across it. My dad is the best. Also, it takes a special family to get really excited about giving and receiving skulls but we've got it down to an art. I was nearly teary. Actually, pretty much any gift box containing bones is guaranteed to make me squeal with delight, but I'll let you analyze that later.

It's the simple things.

That said, Hello New Year!

I'm ready for you.

I've got big plans for you, knowing you have even bigger plans for me. I promise to give you everything I've got and then some, to reach ever deeper into my heart and soul, to try to sit still longer, to love in earnest, to remember my blessings, and keep my hands outstretched, open, awaiting all you have to pour into them.

Welcome I say.

Let's do this.

Peace and Tidings

1. Whip up 3 gallons of flippin' fantastic carmel corn (check)

2. Wrap the last of the presents (almost check)

3. Load new audio book onto Mr. IPoddy-McPoderkins - that's really his name. (check)

4. Hand-wash my lady-wear (procrastinating)

5. Last and final post office trip before Christmas (check)

6. Pack (yeah right, we don't leave for another 15 hours - plenty of time)

And just like that, Christmas is upon us!

I'll be spending mine in the warm embrace of family, with steaming mugs of hot cocoa, with stories read in my father's voice, with handmade gifts given and received, with sticky buns straight from the oven (please and thank you Mums!), with crackling fires and card games, with the scent of pine and the blue of a California sky.

And for you my friends,

I wish you the best and brightest,

the most merry

Christmas

of all.

Sending love and light to

EACH

and

EVERY

one of you,

however you celebrate this season,

- Umber

They're finally here!

FINALLY!

I'm a bad waiter. No, not talking "would you like everything on your baked potato (although I have put in my fair time hauling trays, mixing martinis and arriving home stinking of strawberry margarita - and no, it's not as appealing a stench as it may seem...)," we're talking order something online and why can't it be here ten minutes later? I'm waiting for someone to invent the purchased-goods-teleport-system. But in the meantime I'll tryyyyyyyyyyy to be more patient.

But now you don't have to be! Because my new Postcards are here, approximately 17 days later than they were supposed to be! But here none the less and I'M SO VERY PLEASED WITH THEM! They've got a sturdy weight, a glossy finish and honestly, they just feel good in the hand.

I've popped them right-o into the ol' shop and they are quite beside themselves over how lovely they look propped up along my window ledge while I type.

We're already getting along well,

so you can just imagine how they'll beam up at the postman and sashay their way right into the homes of your penpals!

In other news, if you happen to be in Seattle tonight, drop on by La Familia Gallery. Tonight is the closing reception for the "5 x 5 by Thirty" show, which is where so many of these guys have been hanging out for the past month so you know where I'll be!

Salut!

An Epic Battle and a Grand UmberDove Winner

The lines have been drawn.

The names have been written.

The jar has been filled.

May the last name still standing (on the desk) win!

The gladiators size each other up, paunches tensed, strategizing.

The first blow is landed!

Through his superior size, Marcus Thai-us wins the first match.

The hunt for a winner (and cat nip, and greenies) is on!

He wastes no time weeding out the week.

Until Maximus Sing-amus regains the pit and takes up his own fight against the paper names.

The tiny folds fall under his claws.

There is no mercy.

But then the victor reveals herself, last paper standing, to great cheers and applause.

GOOD GIRLS STUDIOS WINS!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Miss Good Girl, drop me an email at umberdove@gmail.com with the name of the print you would like as well as the address you'd like it shipped to and I'll send it out pronto!

AND

Because the kitty boys are generally generous sorts (unless we're talking tuna, then it's each for his own) they decided to give a second prize, ONE SET OF THE PHANTOM POSTCARDS WHICH SHOULD BE ARRIVING ANY SECOND NOW** to the soggiest name (eew):

ELLY!

Elly, drop me an email as well and I'll pop those postcards in the mail for you just as soon as they arrive!

CHEERS CHEERS!

And to all my reader-friends who have come out and supported me in the last week, I really can't even thank you enough! You have each, individually, made my days, put a huge smile on my face, encouraged me in this business, and strengthened my faith.

THANK YOU HARDLY EVEN CUTS IT.

but I'll say it anyways,

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!