Wednesday, February 26, 2014

consider the oyster

These are my final two Month of Love pieces from weeks 3 and 4:
Week 3: Fetish
MFK Fisher's passion for food and her ability to describe the pleasure it can bring in writing is what led me to paint this little portrait of her for Fetish week. 
Consider the oyster.
Week 4: 69 Love Songs
I chose "The Book of Love" for my Magnetic Fields love song. The line "I love it when you read to me, and you can read me anything" has always struck me as one of the most romantic lines in any song ever.
I hope you all had a lovely February!
xo, Amanda

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

the elephant valentines

This week on The Month of Love, the theme is Favorite Love Story. 
I painted this small tribute to e.e. cummings, Marion Morehouse, and the elephant valentines (which, if you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I adore).
Cummings painted a beautiful elephant valentine for his wife, Marion, every year. Nine of them live at the New York Public Library.
I love the idea of a specific animal acting as a symbol for the love shared by two people, especially an animal as beautiful and gentle as the elephant.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

love is a mailbox of tiny valentines

I just did my first post for The Month of Love! This week's theme is "Unfiltered Valentine."
In elementary school, I loved celebrating Valentine's Day. Everyone making their own mailbox and giving out tiny colorful envelopes with hearts and stickers inside is something that still thrills me today.
The way we first see love as children is my idea of unfiltered love. Valentine's Day is one of the first little celebrations of our understanding of love, and celebrating it at school paves the way for the belief that love is for everyone - our friends, our families, our community - and not just a significant other.
I am lucky enough to work in an elementary school and partake in this fun ritual. It's one of my favorite days of the school year. This picture of a happy city classroom was done in pen and watercolor.
We have a Snow Day today here in Boston! I hope you'r all having a lovely February day, wherever you are.
xo, Amanda
P.S. - My friend Sam Trevino interviewed me for Paper Darts, and it's up now! Thanks, Sam. :)