Word: (noun) Paintunes.  Definition: music one listens to while painting.

I’m currently sitting in my studio working on a few final Christmas commissions. Both are pet portraits, my firsts but not my lasts. I happen to be obsessed with my animals – cat, Nala; miniature poodle, Chester; ball python, Oly the Sociologist; and my four ducks, who are unnamed – so I understand wanting a portrait of your furry (or not) friends. My selected paintunes while working on these pieces are songs heard on the Band of Horses Pandora station. Coincidence that the band has “Horses” in it’s name? Maybe. Probably not…

Are you still in search for the perfect gift for your special someone, friend, or family member? How about an original painting or postcard/greeting card prints?! My Etsy shop is now stocked full of newly listed paintings and prints ranging in style and theme. Buy now and have shipped this week in order for your gift to arrive in time to wrap and place under the tree before Christmas!

Here are a few items currently listed in my shop:

See more at tINK makes art on Etsy!

This month, I was honored to donate a painting to The Arc of Orange County, an organization that provides advocacy and services, such as home respite care and employment support, to people with developmental disabilities. The Arc of Orange County hosts an annual Festival of Trees, which helps raise awareness and funds for the organization. This year, the event took place from December 2nd to December 5th at The ArtsCenter at University Mall and included, for the first time, an Art Walk of Fame. Local artists donated pieces that were exhibited during the event and then auctioned off at the Festival of Trees Gala on the evening of December 5th. I am happy to say that my piece received three bids, which ended in a winning bid of $130, all of which goes directly to The Arc.

The Arc of Orange County is one of the participating organizations in my documentary project. Read more about this project here.

If you know me, you know I love interior decorating as much as I enjoy painting. My painting style tends to be colorful with a street art vibe, while my home decor style leans towards neutrals and antiques. My boyfriend and I moved into a new house in August, so I have been on project mode for months now. Here is a look at a few of my favorite little things in our house.

On November 21st and 22nd, I participated in the Durham Art Walk: “a unique art tour [in downtown Durham] featuring artwork by over 400 artists” organized by the Durham Arts Council.

I shared a space at West Village with Elisabeth Vitale, Alisha Arneth, and Talia Arneth and was fortunate to be adjacent to another friend Jamie Crockett. Liz, Alisha, Talia and I transformed our space into a unique display with doors bought at a local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The doors looked professional and creative and were, surprisingly, easy to assemble and transport.

Talia Arneth, Me, Jamie Crockett, Alisha Arneth, Elisabeth Vitale

Talking with people about my work including my inspiration and process was an amazing experience. It made me realize how much of my heart goes into each piece. I mean that in the most humble way possible. As I sit in my studio dipping my brush into the paint and stroking the color onto the canvas, I get lost in what I am doing. I get caught up in the process and forget what it is I am painting or what it means to me. Being able to rest in the completion of a piece and reflect on its initial significance is truly beautiful. I did not realize this until I was sharing my story behind each painting with people. It made the paintings come alive to me and made me feel I really had something to share, not only as an artist but as a human.

Needless to say, my first art walk experience was a good one. I will participate in the Durham Art Walk on April 17th and 18th, 2010. Come by, say hello, and chat with me for a while. I’d loved to hear your stories too.

BECOME WHO YOU ARE

I completed this painting last Fall. It is a part of my Inspirations series in which I use positive images, text, and themes in my pieces to encourage others. I am a big fan of quotes and inspirational phrases, so I take the words I’ve read, heard, or made up and create visual narratives showing what those words mean to me.

“Become who you are” is a phrase I came across in college. To it, I added another phrase: become who you were meant to be. I believe we are works in progress, continuously becoming who we were created to be: one at peace with everything, i.e. God.  Humans tend to be either too hard on ourselves or too prideful instead of resting in the reality that we are. We are ever changing, always growing creatures. We are not perfect, and the good news is, we are not meant to be.

This piece signifies each of our journey as we strive to become who we are.

Although I’m not a photographer, I enjoy taking photos. I have a Canon PowerShot SD750. It’s your average point-and-shoot camera, but I’ve managed to take some pretty decent shots with it over the past two years. Here are some of my favorites…

don’t worry darling.
acrylic on canvas
4″x4″

Here is a sneak peak at new pieces that will be for sale at the Durham Art Walk November 21st and 22nd. These pieces are a part of my Faces||Story series.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in welcoming Walt Whitman, Henry David Thoreau, and Mark Twain! **clapping**

Mark your calendars for a spectacular event in downtown Durham: Durham Art Walk, November 21st and 22nd. There are over 200 locations and over 400 artists. I will be in the lobby of West Village with a new series! Come see me!

Durham Art Walk

The Durham Art Walk is presented and produced by the Durham Arts Council with support from The City of Durham Parks and Recreation Department and many generous community sponsors.