foxfire, new years, bad blackbird dreams, and owl plates

Happy New Years!!

The colors in this picture remind me of new years eve. Also, I just really love this picture. You can give me a cat and a navy blue slip to wear any day.

In my old journals, I used to keep a list of new years "firsts". When I located my first journal to take a picture of my list, I found some other great things. (You see, my first journal was started when I was 5 with help from my mom, and then took a four year hiatus until I was 9 and picked it up again on my own). So, in my journal's younger days...

A portrait of my family circa 1989 (handwriting by mom).

"Blackbird eating Amanda" (a scary dream I had, 1989)

I used to do illustrations of my dreams in my journal. I've always had freakishly vivid dreams, which I've kind of realized is only common among my artist friends (how neat!). I actually remember all the dreams that are drawn in my journal really well, although I wonder if I would have remembered them without the reinforcement of recording them on paper.

haha....a gorgeous portrait of my Padre. 1989

I was in Borders looking for a new book yesterday and wasn't really having luck finding anything. I firmly believe that books speak to you. I only buy books when I feel the connection. I'm not sure if you'll know what I mean, or if you do the same thing. I think we find books that are relevant to the time and place we are personally at.

So anyway, 

right when I was leaving, I saw this book and loooved the portrait on the cover and the title (since I love foxies). And the cover's color palette reminded me of my painting "The Escapist" (the unexpected bright, glowy orangey-red in an otherwise severely neutral color scheme)! I got really excited, but I was really sold when I turned it over to read the back and found out the main character's name is Amanda Lawrence (so similar to Amanda Laurel :). Oh, and also that it was made into a movie in the 30s, which I will obviously rent when I'm done with the book.

And I had to show you my new plates. :) I got them at Target in the little kids dining section. I kind of love finding really adorable dinnerware in anticipation of my future first-ever dinner party, of which sherbert punch has recently been added to the menu.

And that is all! I hope you all have a beautiful, safe new years with your friends and family. 2008 was definitely a lovely year!

xoxoxo

Amanda

p.s. - I think it's really neat how many people

have found my blog by google searching the last lines of the Benjamin Button

movie (which I included in my post on the film). I was

so, so touched by the last scene, and it's really touching to know

that so many other people were as well. :)

undercover with a jack rabbit

Hello everybody! I just wanted to apologize for how little art I've been posting lately. My projects at the moment are of long-term calibers, and won't be ready for showing for a bit of time. I have been working on things for The Teeny Tiny Art Show IV in February, filling my sketchbook for The Sketchbook Project, and making blueprints for springtime plans.

And also spending a little time with a rabbit named Jack:

I hope all is well with you! More art to come soon. :)

Love, Amanda

the curious case of benjamin button

Some people are artists.

Some people swim.

Some people cook.

Some people make buttons.

Some people are mothers.

Some people dance.

We don't last forever, but what we are does. 

--

what a beautiful movie.

You played on my roof.

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." - Pablo Picasso

My mom included that quote in a book she made me for my high school graduation. I like it a lot. In the spirit of that quote, I am creating a new section in my online portfolio to house a lot of my childhood artwork that I recently stumbled upon.

Here is a preview!

"YOU PLAYED ON MY ROOF" (1990)

proof that I've always had a thing for epic titles. I kind of wonder what I was implying with this one, as I don't remember anyone ever actually playing on my roof.

"Swing Set Brigade" (date unknown)

I find this one a little creepy for some reason.

"MOUSE" (1990)

the dates were written by my mom, if you were wondering about the adult-like handwriting in the upper corners.

"LOVE" (date unknown)

I had a thing for the word 'love'. If we're ever biffle, I'll let you read a little illustrated story in my first journal about a snowman with fangs who went by the name of "The Good Love".

"Number Man" (date unknown)

He looks like he's full of lottery balls.

"OCTOPUS" (1990)

sun octopus?

"Spotted Cat" (date unknown)

---

So there are seriously like hundreds of these drawings. I will scan them whenever I find the time! 

I hope you all had a fantastic holiday! Talk to you soon.

xoxo Amanda

glow

we wish you happy holidays

and a happy new year!

that's it, I'll give you the moon.

miniature winter playlist:

-Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms

-Perfect Timing (This Morning) - Orba Squara

-I Want to Yodel - Josephine Baker

-So Comfortable - Orba Squara

-All the Wild Horses - Ray LaMontagne

-You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie - The Submarines

-I Love My Baby (My Baby Loves Me) - Josephine Baker

-Rocking Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee

-Stand By Me - Ben E. King

-Moonlight Serenade - Glenn Miller Orchestra

-Christmas Time is Here - Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas

-Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War - Paul Simon

---

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. 

xoxo Amanda

Bunky Fund prints on ebay!

These two prints are up on ebay here! Free shipping, and 100% of the proceeds go to The Bunky Walton Fund! If you'd like to make a donation to the Bunky fund on your own, you can send it to:

The Bunky Walton Fund Inc.

64 Oak Hill Rd.

Westford, MA

01886-1505

You can choose whichever of these two prints you like most. Bidding starting at just $14.99

Thanks everybody!

Love, Amanda

for the animals

As you all know, our economy is in troubled times right now. Lots of people are being effected in many different ways. One of these "ways" which I've recently become aware of: how many people are having to give up their animals to shelters and pounds because they just can't afford their pets anymore. And the media has made it clear that these are not careless pet owners - these are people whose hearts are broken at having to give up their pets, animals that they've taken care of for years. My family knows first-hand how expensive it is to care for animals sometimes. We've cared for three cats and two dogs all at once, and all in their senior years, so I feel for those who are having to sacrifice their pets due to the expensive costs of veterinary care.

My local Veterinarian's Office has "The Bunky Walton Fund", named after one of their past patients. All the money donated to this fund goes toward vet bills for those who do not have enough money to pay. Not all Vet offices have a fund like this. It's a wonderful thing, especially in times like these.

So, tomorrow night at 9 PM eastern, I will be putting a signed artist print on ebay. Shipping will be paid for by me, and 100% of the money made will go to the Bunky Walton Fund to take care of some of these vet bills and to raise awareness of the situation. I'll be posting the link to the auction here tomorrow at 9 PM, as soon as it's up on ebay!

Everyone love the pets and people in your life, and feel blessed to have them.

(pictured are the pets I have lost in my life, my sweet Malley, Blacky, Gizmo, and Suchi, my first dog.)

do you think it's a coincidence that catnip smells like green tea?

A question I asked my Tiger last night.

I liked that she and I might share the same tastes.

Bandits Uncertain

sketchbook page drawn on the train ride home.

-----

And, a Valentine e. e. cummings made for his wife. I love this image now and forever. The best kind of gift is waking up to something like this taped to the mirror, I think.

-Amanda

The Tennessee Waltz

Today (December 21), it's been twelve years since my Nana passed away. I miss her everyday. As I get older, I miss her in different ways. I wish she was around to see what I've become. I always wonder what her reactions would be to the things I'm doing, the art I'm making. She was a gentle and beautiful person; a woman who loved her trees, red cardinals, gold brooches, decorating for Christmas, a cat named Buffy, and "rich" colors. My mom always tells me I'm a lot like her and that makes me feel very honored. So, I wanted to post some of my favorite pictures of my Nana, Mary Claire. You can click any of them to see them larger.

And for Nana, a red cardinal in our yard yesterday.

I love the line of women that I am lucky enough to come from.

I love and miss you Nana (and Buffy). xoxoxoxo

snowed in

plans for spring

Audrey and Ip

Frida and Granizo

deer + girl, with names that match nicely

love-trunk

Hi everyone! Tonight I got one of these really cute elephants at Target...$1.75 out of the total $2.99 goes to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and the printed fabric on the inside of the Ellies' ears is made up of two drawings - a star and a snowman, each drawn by a child who is being treated for cancer at St. Jude's. 

The elephant comes with a tag that tells you aout the two boys. The star was drawn by Anthony, who has Ewing Sarcoma. He loves snow and wants a puppy for Christmas. And the snowman was drawn by Jacob, diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, who loves turtles and bike riding.

These elephants are so cute, and it's unusual for so much money from a product like this to go to the cause. I just wanted to let you all know about them! They're only in stores, apparently. They are very sweet.

loved him like a winter bird

This photo of a swan (given as an example on web sites to those looking to buy a Holga Diana) is so beautiful that I want to frame it. It makes me ache to get a little more creative with my Holga, or to just start using it again in general...if only film weren't so expensive. Light leaks are glorious.

I'm in desperate need of contact with unusual animals. I need to go to a farm, or a refuge. I need to hold a lamb, or touch a bull's face, or offer my wrist to an owl. The fact that we no longer have our O'Malley and Gizmo adds to this animal angst. Dogs fulfill me in a way that is somewhat similar to the feeling I get from wild animals (although those moments when you make eye contact or connect with some foreign animal provide a feeling so surreal and the sense that you've connected with something so much greater than yourself, or been allowed to touch the unknown for a moment).

When Court and I were little, we were playing in the "woods" (a smallish cluster of about thirty trees) in the backyard. It was winter, and everything had been transformed by snow into pure white. We felt something behind us. We both turned around at the same time, and staring at us was an enormous white bird with little black flecks on its chest. I'm still not quite sure what it was. It looked like a hawk. I'm not sure if their feathers turn white in winter for camouflage.

He was at eye level with us on a branch, and he just stared at us for a moment and we stared back, and then he spread his enormous wings and took off. It was so amazing.

Animals give me wonder. Their innocence never ceases to amaze me. I'm so grateful for them, and the humbleness they instill in me. I want to be surrounded by animals forever.

light blue thread

Last night I was thinking about what I wrote two posts back when talking about my Mom's pink reindeer - about how when an artist creates something, it attaches to them and becomes a part of what makes that person beautiful. I liked the image that was popping up into my head when I imagined the reindeer as an extension of my mom, attached with light blue thread (kind of Frida Kahlo-ish). So before I went to bed I did this drawing for my Mom, and then one for Nicole - all the different things that make them artists, and unique in general. Even though they're just black and white sketchbook drawings, in my head is a special color palette for each person. A few other drawings are in the works for the other lady artists in my life. :)

Love, Amanda