Charmingly Contrary and the Big Secret

Do you know those birds, the ones get away with unmentionable amounts of sass while we coo and awe? The ones who blink and trill then turn tail-feather with an inappropriate flash of white, stealing the seed right out of our fingertips, without so much as a please or thank you? Troublesome little bits, but we let them get away with murder just because they're so flippin' adorable?

Yep those ones.

You know you've fallen prey to their wily ways, and given a second chance, will fall just as hard again.

The thing is, they know that too.

"Charmingly Contrary" 4" x 4"

Currently being shown with Venation

When I first decided to immortalize Miss Contrary, little did I realize just how much she would live up to her name. I swooned too quickly over her wide dark eyes and flirty cheeks but that little ball of feathers, she has a mind of her own.

It started off during the first round of photography. All the little smallies lined up, gussied and primped for their glamor shots, posing just so (with energy now, turn a little to the left, and smile... perfect!). But Miss Contrary was in a mood for mischief. She gave a little puff and left a downey feather stuck right in the center of her painting. She stretched up and caught the light of glare in her eye right as the camera snapped. She refused to stay put and bounded out into the sunshine to tease the little critters who call the rhododendrom their home. I should have been irritated with her but she was just so darn charming I forgot all about it.

She behaved quite well all through the tedious day of installation at the gallery, and positively shined during the opening (as all saucy creatures who know the levels of their charm do). The following day as I compiled everyone's portraits, tidying them up and slipping them into lovely little albums I realized that I didn't hold a single decent image of Miss Contrary. I had to make a whole photography trip into town just for that one bitty chickadee.

Sassy little bird.

But you know what?

I wouldn't have her any other way.

*********************************************************************

In completely unrelated in any way to the story of "Charmingly Contrary"I DO have some news for you. TOMORROW, Wednesday, marks the start of the biggest UmberDove blog contest to date so don't let your computer mouses slack!

It's so good.

I want to tell you RIGHT NOW!

But my lips are sealed.

**** Second Side Note: In case you were wondering about the state of large sunglasses and me, I assure you it has NOTHING to do with coolness, but rather an eyesight condition that I refer to as "blind as a rat in the sun." I'm a bit of a vampire, loving my gray skies and fog for the simple reason that I can SEE in them. Ah well. Maybe I do have something in common with that whole Twighlight deal. ****

The Opening

This is exactly how I felt last night.

And maybe a little of this too.

Both images, photo credit: Mme. Bookling

Venation officially opened last night, and Seattle's art-lovingest types braved the drizzle and tromped out into the slick city streets for the First Thursday Art Walk.

Shiny and Fabulous. (photo credit: Mme. Bookling)

Menfolk, BC and The Saint, holding down the fort, toasting with Scotch.

(photo credit: Mme. Bookling)

One of my favorite art appreciators of the evening.

(photo credit: Mme. Bookling)

The turnout was amazing (and humbling), the response overwhelming, and by the end of the night my cheeks were sore from my perma-grin. But more than anything else, the connections that I was able experience with those who came in to see the work was exhilarating. Watching people read, really read, the individual painting poetry then look, really look, at the artwork is astounding. And then to speak with them, to hear what they see and feel, to explain my own inspiration and influences, to know that the work touches them in some way,

well,

I really just don't have the words.

It's amazing.

But "amazing" still seems to fall short.

But the truth is, I feel incredibly blessed.

And unendingly thankful.

And ridiculously gleeful.

Pre-opening, pre-party, in the quiet, everything just so.

The wall o' smallies.

And Best Mmes to boot.

(photo credit: Mme. Bookling)

To all of you well-wishers and love-senders: I received it ALL and wish (and WISH) that each of you could have been here last night.

I really do.

To see the individual works in the show...

Facebook photo album

or

Flickr photo album

I'm off to do absolutely nothing for at least a whole day

LOVEY DOVE to YOU

and You

and you

and you

- Umber

p.s. If you happened to be the lovely one who knows something about "T-shirts, and Haiti, and Kerin Rose" - you know who you are - I want you to know that you COMPLETELY made my day. Thank you. From the widest part of my heart.

... and so the great wall of smallies was begun.

more to come tomorrow...

For the Birds

I have so many things I want to share with you, but for now I'm sitting quietly in the eye of the hurricane, sipping tea with my slipper-clad toes up on the heater, aware that as soon as the glistening porcelain base of my mug shows it's translucent lettering, it's time to move.

I've been coaxing along the last few pieces, tidying up my show statement as well as the statements for the individual paintings. Tomorrow begins the official installment in the gallery. In all honesty I'm on pins and needles with excitement to see my work hanging on those crisp white walls, I'm already so proud of each piece. Each of the 35 paintings I should add.

35

That's a few.

And throughout these last few days, I've kept this one close by, a visual reminder of one night a kindred soul said to me (having heard these words from another kindred), "hold on baby girl, you're gonna make it."

Receiving Messages: Hold Fast

12" x 4"

I feel good. We're almost there.

Currently...

Inspired By:

Hiroshige's 100 Views of Edo

Hiroshige's "The Plain at Suzaki"

The treeline behind the house at dawn

My Brothers Grim

Instinct vs. Conscious Decision

Listening to:

Pan's Labyrinth Soundtrack

Radiohead: Kid A

Portishead: Portishead

Drinking:

Guatemalan Fair Trade coffee beans

English Breakfast tea with milk and sugar

Fumé Blanc

Eating:

Homemade whole wheat bagels (with pomegranate jelly - TASTEBUDS HAVE DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN)

Extra Sharp Cheddar

Vegetable Barley Stew (with extra curry)

Thinking About:

Taking a run as soon as I return from the barn this morning

Buying a new tea kettle (I may have accidentally burned mine out yesterday)

She

Photographing new work, the first two pieces in "The Virtue of Instinct" to show you (but I'm a tease and it will have to wait until tomorrow)

Lusting After:

Birdy Leggings

Gorgeous wall vases

The scent of the ocean

On My Desk:

A very round orange ball of cat

A silver wing from South Dakota

A melange of sharpies and scissors neatly corralled in ceramic planters

Two cabochons of Dendritic Opal (I couldn't help it, they were so beautiful with REAL scenes of snowy mountains and two black ravens and a few scraggly winter firs, and I had to buy them just to touch and hold tight)

WHAT IS YOUR DAY LOOKING LIKE BIRDY-BIRDS?