a print for Joey

 Hello everyone!

Today I'm putting a special print in my shop. All the proceeds from each sale of this print will go to Joseph Bacon, a 5 year old boy who is fighting Leukemia, to aid his family with medical bills. He was diagnosed on September 23rd, 2010 at the age of 4.

 To learn more about the Bacon family, visit the Bacon Family Blog or J&K's Toy Box page, where you can buy wristbands and ornaments painted by Joey and his sister Katherine. You can also follow Joey's story here on facebook.

Reading the Bacon family's blog is so inspiring to me. Joey, his sister Katherine, mom Angie, and dad Jon are so positive, brave, and filled with love and support for each other. Angie and Jon do so much to make every day fun for Joey.

 Joey is a beautiful little boy who loves so many things, including cowboy attire (he is a boy after my own heart!), so I  thought this would be a good painting for his print.

8x10 "Things of Love" print can be purchased here.

What are some of your "things of love"?

I hope you are all having a beautiful end-of-January!

Love,

Amanda

stranded in a fog of words

I love this song and this video. It pretty much sums up my mood lately.

Anais Nin deserved stars.

Teeny Tiny Show VIII piece: 

I forgot about Henry and June, 5x7"

acrylic on paper, framed

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Happy Friday!
xoxo
Amanda

heart of a cardinal

Teeny Tiny Show VIII piece:

Heart of a Cardinal, 5x7"

acrylic on paper, framed

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This is the only tiny show piece that I already have available for sale as a print in my shop. With Valentine's Day coming up, I couldn't resist. :)

I hope you're all having a lovely week and, if you're near me, enjoying the snow!!

xoxo

Amanda

all white, grey, and green

"The Birch Bed"

available in print form here. :)

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Also, "Just Being Audrey," a book for children about Audrey Hepburn that was illustrated by my friend Julia Denos, is officially out tomorrow! The video below gives a nice look at the story and illustrations. I can't wait to get a copy!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

I've been planning and painting for my show, mostly, and can't wait to share more work with you.

xoxoxo

Amanda 

milkyway palette

 

for depending upon the nature of the beast:

"remember me remarkable"

acrylic on masonite, 8x10"

I really love how this one turned out. There are certain paintings that I feel more connected to than others, and she is one of them. :)

I hope you're all having a lovely thursday! 

Love,

Amanda

pencil case

I'm working on a drawing that had me thinking about my favorite things, and it triggered a memory of getting my first pencil case. 

It was a pink box with lots of compartments inside. I saw it at TJ Maxx, and my Nana ended up getting it for me as a surprise for the beginning of first grade.

I love how being an artist allows me to forever enjoy things like pencil cases. In general, I feel like artists (and all curious-minded people) get to continually be amazed by things typically only loved by children. It makes me feel very grateful.

This is the pencil case I've used the past couple of years. I love the use of a scene as a pattern, the cowboy theme, and the vinyl material.

I hope you're all having a beautiful week! How is the weather treating you?

I'll be back tomorrow with a new painting.

Love,

Amanda

good luck charms

First, I want to thank Lori Dean Dyment for featuring me on her blog today, and alongside my favorite Breakfast at Tiffany's print by Elloh, no less! Lori herself is an incredibly talented artist. She does a feature called "wordless wednesday," which I can appreciate since I haven't been feeling too wordy myself lately. Thank you for the visual shout-out, Lori. :)

This is a little painting I did for my friend Kat who is on a mission to make this the year of the fire engine. Kat is a really beautiful woman who is passionate about making other women feel beautiful, too. She inspires me constantly to be myself, and to change things up from time to time. I made this painting in hopes it would be a sort of good-luck charm for her. I think when you make something so specific for someone and put love into it, its natural state is kind of a good-luck charm of sorts.

xoxo

Amanda

snow, tea, and the Ellen T. Crenshaw print giveaway winner!

This is how I spent the day of the blizzard. I loved watching the snow out my windows. It reminded me of my favoirte dorm room in college. I painted a lot that winter and had my desk set up in front of the window, which had the most gorgeous view of Cambridge rooftops and a family of falcons.

Today is the day we announce the winner of Ellen T. Crenshaw's giveaway! And the winner is...Bea Modisett! Thank you so much to everyone who entered. Ellen, who just had stickers of her work made up, would graciously like to send a sticker to everyone who entered.

So to all who entered (especially Bea!), email me your mailing address at AmandaAtkinsArt@aol.com and I will send your info to Ellen. :)
I'll be back soon with more paintings and sketchbook stuff.
Love,
Amanda

new painting and year of the rabbit winners!

 

for depending upon the nature of the beast:

"subsequently, I try (I thought you'd be my best friend)"

acrylic on masonite, 11x14"

 

Hello! 

I'm so sorry I'm announcing the giveaway winner a day late. I am writing from the AIB computer lab, as during the snow storm, our cable lines collapsed onto our house rendering me cable-less until Sunday. It's actually been nice not having the internet to distract me. I can't believe how much work I get done without it.

All the comments you guys left on the giveaway post (and all the new 'follows' and 'likes') really touched me, so I decided to draw two winners instead of just one. 

And they are Diane and Jocelyn!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered. There are many more giveaways to come.

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend!

xoxo

Amanda

"It's not impossible I'm knitting a ranch house."

Tonight, I saw Breakfast at Tiffany's at the Brattle with Julia and Kate. Julia illustrated this book on Audrey Hepburn, which is officially out January 25th. I can't wait!

On our way there, we admired the windows of Anthropologie, and I fell in love with this room installation. I think it would be my dream reading corner.

 Though I have seen Breakfast at Tiffany's millions of times, this was my first time seeing it in a theater. I noticed so many things that I never have before, like that Holly keeps her lipstick and perfume in her apartment mailbox. (I notice new things every time I watch this movie, though, even on my little TV screen! There are so many beautiful details.)

"I have a strange feeling that the blueprints and my knitting instructions got switched. It's not impossible I'm knitting a ranch house."

On the way home, I stopped at the corner market since I had no food in my apartment and we are having a snow day tomorrow! I love snowed-in days. I got soup, bread, and nutella. :)

I plan to spend the day painting, watching movies, and eating lots of nutella.

I hope you all have a beautiful wednesday!

xoxo

Amanda

silver, tinsel, and pine: three of my favorite things

Silver tinsel pine bow I got at Nesting in Concord last week for $1. 

It's in a little bud vase on my painting desk. I love finding things that make me happy for one dollar.

I hope you're all having a lovely week. Enter both giveaways if you haven't yet! Winners drawn on the 13th and 17th. :)

Love,

Amanda

ETC Illustration print giveaway!

Hi, everyone!

I am having another giveaway. This time, I'm hosting one for my very talented friend and fellow illustrator, Ellen T. Crenshaw. 

She's giving away a print of this watercolor illustration (originally done for Beer Advocate). Titled "To Catch a Brew," it is based on Cary Grant and Grace Kelley in To Catch a Thief and is one of my favorite pieces by Ellen. :)

You can enter two ways (and if you do both, you'll be entered twice!): "Like" Ellen's facebook page and/or follow her blog, and then comment here and tell me if you did one or both!

I'll select the winner in one week on Monday, January 17th. Good luck!!

xoxo

Amanda

the star of your name

My mom gave me this vintage menu as a late Christmas present. I love it so much. I think it's from a 1940s cabin resort in a forest somewhere. And you all know how much I love pine trees.

My friend Ally just commented that Laurel is one of her favorite names for a girl, and I said I agreed and sometimes I wish it was my first name. She said she liked it as my middle and that it's "the star" of my name but can take a backseat when needed, and I just really loved that! 

So where does the star of your name lie - first, middle, or last?

the year of the rabbit

Happy New Year, everyone!!

It's 2011, the year of the rabbit.

I love rabbits - their shape and manurisms are so elegant, and at the same time they seem perpetually young and adventure-bound. Also, I think they bring luck. So in honor of the Year of the Rabbit, I'm giving away one print of my painting, "On finding you."

To enter, leave a comment on this post. To be entered either once or twice more, you can 1) become a follower of my blog or facebook page and/or 2) mention the giveaway on your blog and let me know in your comment that you did so. :) I'll draw the winner on January 13th. Here's to a beautiful 2011 for everyone!!

xoxo

Amanda