I miss the little prince.

I do, so badly.

One Home Many Hopes Charity Auction

Hi everyone! This is the postcard for the upcoming show I am in: A charity auction titled ‘One Art Show’ to benefit the organization ‘One Home Many Hopes’. This organization is Boston based and “supports a loving home for orphaned girls in Mtwapa, Kenya.” It’s on Tuesday, September 16th, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm! It’s at Ned Devine’s (quite a nice space) in Faneuil Hall in Boston’s Quincy Market. It’s a silent auction and I have the privilege of being the featured artist, so please come say hi! I’ll be so happy to see you there. My friends Kate and Rachel plus many others also have work in the show. ☺ For pictures from ‘One Home Many Hopes’, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/15806739@N08/, and for more information on the organization visit http://www.onehomemanyhopes.org/.

I would wear that dress for you.

This summer I fell in love with clipper ships, and I painted this piece on a weekend when I was feeling nostalgic for the future. I'm not sure whether the original or a nicely framed print will be in the charity auction. "Remember when I loved you?" 8x10" acrylic on masonite.

maybe sparrow

This is the music video for "Maybe Sparrow" by Neko Case, who is one of the loveliest female artists I've encountered in my life so far. I was lucky enough to see her live this past February, and her voice is just as amazing in person. She's created an environment with her words, her sound, and the images she chooses to represent herself by. This music video is gorgeous. The illustrations are by Julie Morstad, who also did the artwork for Neko's "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood" album, which 'sparrow' is off of. Anyway, enjoy the beautiful video. :)

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Last week, Aaron and I spent two nights in Pennsylvania, taking the train into Philadelphia both days. On day two we visited the zoo and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, making it far superior to day one. The museum was absolutely incredible. We went in with no game plan (if I have a plan for a museum it stresses me out) and found amazing things. Tons of Eakins, the painted backdrop of a ballet set, armor, a hall of early-american primitive folk art, and an amazing show of European prints from the 1800s which were exactly my kind of thing. (little book of the European print show, which was titled "Curious and Commonplace") They had an enormous sale on cards (10 cents for postcards and 25 cents for notecards!), so I purchased manyyy pictures of pieces I love/inspire me for reference and perhaps framing. A little sketch from "Portrait of Edwin Sturdevant of Hartland, Vermont" by Thomas Wale in the primitive section. One of my favorite pieces in the museum was "Carnival Evening" by Henri Rousseau. As soon as I saw it, it struck me as completely magical. Those little clouds clinging to the top of the sky. The trees, the moon. It's haunting and beautiful all at once, which is something I am attracted to. Somehow I had never seen this piece in my life before. I like when you stumble face to face upon an original piece of art you've never even seen in print, and it immediately becomes one of your all-time favorites./ So, all in all, the trip was lovely and amazing and the museum definitely inspired me to paint for all the shows coming up. Yay! I hope you're all having a good week.

summer sketching under thunder.

Last Sunday, I spent the afternoon sketching with Kate and our friend Liz (of glovebox) at the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston's North End. Most of the time we were there, the sky was growing dark and thunder clouds were rolling in. It's fun when the rain takes its time and you can stay under a charcoal gray sky for quite some time. This greenway has many fountains sprouting up from the ground, which I immediately got soaked by and then layed happily in the grass before beginning any drawing. We collaborated on several sketchbook pages and then we all played in the fountains right before the rain came. Kate and I then met up wtih Jackie for a very nice lunch at Cambridge Commons. I miss the city.

Rachel and Odile (a girl and her rat)

Hi everyone! My friend Rachel and I have just begun an art penpal adventure. She has already sent me one wonderful little painting (accompanied by other little great things!) which is hanging in my room. This was my first painting for her - a little picture of she and her rat, Odile. I just met Odile recently and love her very much! So now that Rachel as received the package, I can safely post this to my blog. :) I hope you're all having a great week! Love, Amanda