ever-green

 "ever mine to give"

acrylic on masonite, 12x16"

(for Novels for Keeping)

I hope you're all having a beautiful September.

xo, Amanda

jars of silver

While trying to think of a way to keep my gift bag-filling-tinsel out of the cat's reach, I thought of mason jars. It ended up so pretty! Most things look prettier in clear jars, though.

Novels for Keeping: an autumn show

Here is the official announcement for my upcoming show!

Novels for Keeping

new works by Amanda Laurel Atkins

Three Graces Gallery

Portsmouth, NH

October 5th to October 29th, 2012

Opening Reception:

Friday, October 5th from 5 to 8 pm.

I hope to see you there!

when in doubt, books and foxes.

Clarice Lispector on the train

Fox journal (you can get one here :)

the feeding hour

 "Bittersweet this feeding frenzy"

acrylic on masonite, 11x14"

for October solo show at Three Graces Gallery (more info soon)

This has been one of those paintings that perfectly encapsulates how I feel at this exact moment in my life, the kind of painting that is cathartic to make. Finishing one of these paintings always leaves me sad and exhilarated at the same time, and really excited for whenever the next one will turn up.

I think Ernest Hemingway sums it up perfectly in this line from A Moveable Feast: "After writing a story I was always empty and both sad and happy, as though I had made love."

I hope you're all having a beautiful start to August! Back soon with more work.

xo, Amanda

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

(when in Rome)

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

xo, Amanda

July nights

"If only they'd quote you"

acrylic on masonite, 11x14" 

I don't want this month to end.

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

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