Tuesday, July 31, 2012

morning inspiration: cats, paints, and picture books

I had a wonderful morning breakfast with my amazingly talented friend Julia Denos yesterday. Every time we have a meeting like this, I come home so inspired and full of ideas and ready to paint. 
We went to Cafe Crema, followed by The Curious George Store (where Julia had a spontaneous signing of the books!), and Black Ink.
Julia signing her illustrated books at Curious George.
At Black Ink, I fell in love with Blexbolex's "Seasons," full of prints depicting pieces of spring, summer, fall, and winter. I brought it home.
 I spent the afternoon listening to Billie Holiday and painting with Unicorn. :)
I hope you're all having a beautiful week! Back soon with more paintings.
xo, Amanda

Sunday, July 29, 2012

(when in Rome)

Some July sketchbook stuff. What have you all been up to this month?
xo, Amanda

Friday, July 27, 2012

July nights

"If only they'd quote you"
acrylic on masonite, 11x14" 
I don't want this month to end.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

things of comfort re: painting.

A year and a half ago, I had never seen When Harry Met Sally.
I borrowed it from my mom's DVD collection (I think my Dad gave it to her for Christmas once, but she never watches DVDs - she likes to stumble upon her favorite movies on television) and brought it back to my apartment last winter knowing that I'd be needing movies to watch while painting for Depending Upon the Nature of the Beast.
I put it in hesitantly one winter afternoon. I say hesitantly because, like my mom, I am skeptical of Nora Ephron movies that star Meg Ryan without Tom Hanks. (You've Got Mail is a favorite shared by my mom and I). I sat down to paint. I instantly (seriously) fell in love, from the first note of music, with When Harry Met Sally. I watched it several times in a row that day while painting.
I have watched it, I would safely say, about 100 times since then, and don't even have to look up because I know it by heart. I find myself saying lines out loud as they come (especially the little scenes where the old married couples are telling the stories of how they met). 
And now, at 1 am on a Wednesday into Thursday night, I am watching it for maybe the one hundred and first time and finishing a painting for my upcoming show and feeling nostalgic for my bedroom in my old apartment in which I holed up for a whole winter to paint and watch this movie on repeat. 
I love that when I'm old, I'll watch this movie or show it to my kids and it will always remind me of that time in my life. And it will always remind me of painting. And it will always be there for me when I'm painting. Just like Breakfast at Tiffany's and Shopgirl. 
It also feels appropriate as a little tribute to Nora. I've been reading her essays and love her even more than I did before. 
I hope you're all having a beautiful evening and a lovely summer.
What are your favorite movies to watch while you do what you do?
xo, Amanda

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

the trying of things

I experimented with paper cutting to make some logos for my friend's band, The Great Ak
Stickers and t-shirts!
I hope you're all having the most beautiful July!
xo, Amanda