La Mia Casa

Today I share with you, my humble abode - my live and work space in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

Above, is where I work on my computer and store most of my paintings and paper products.

My living room, where I store my giant cat.

Yes, Lena has been overeating. I'm under there, somewhere.

That is a Stereo/CD player and I still use it!

My kitchen/studio is one of my favorite spaces. 

It gets plenty of sunshine, which makes me quite happy.

Progress Pic Alert -

Gustavo Dog Gondolier and his pal, Mick in Venice, Italy.

Below, is the 2nd version of a crustacean inspired, crabby plate design I made for 

last month's MATS bootcamp. You can see the ones I submitted in the gallery.

I like the top version, particularly as a possible fabric pattern. I think I'll start creating more 

multiples, a minimal version along with the more colorful painterly versions, I typically make.

And oh yea, there are still a few of these flower pouches left in my etsy shop - Blip Blop Shop

I've added some new work to my website and rearranged a few things.

Feel free to take a look. I welcome your feedback.

Thanks for stopping by! I always appreciate it.

Lena, looking a little less bloated ;)

Enjoy the rest of your week!

xo, A

Hi there! Crabs, seashells and flowers for you :)

I recently ran into a friend on the street wearing mustard colored pants.

I came home and immediately made some paintings with it as a background. Above, is my favorite.

The assignment this month for Lilla Rogers' MATS Bootcamp was to create 

1-3 plate designs : crustaceans + pattern

The blue crab, above, probably got a bit too painterly for a plate, 

but I cleaned it up some for the final submission, which is at the bottom of post.

Meanwhile, I keep painting flowers. I think once I learned that florals tend to stay in style, 

as far as licensing and art goes, that I've given myself free rein to keep going.

Below, my set of summer plates. Click here if you'd like to see the class gallery.

June is the last month for bootcamp. 

I look forward to finding out what our final project will be next week. 

I recommend the class for anyone who wants

deadlines and a supportive group of artists with whom you can

 share opinions, resources and encouragement, if and when you need it. 

If you'd like to view any of the class galleries, showcasing assignments from

previous classes 2014 - 2015 - Click Here :)

And finally, Thank You Chris Dunbar of Konduit Set Makers, LI City

for giving (and cutting) some nice squares of birch plywood for me.

I should have taken more!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

xo, A

Magical May, I love you!

I've been painting more flowers. It is spring, after all!

"Earth laughs in flowers." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Bee to the blossom, moth to the flame; Each to his passion; what's in a name?" - Helen Hunt Jackson

"I am going to try to pay attention to the spring. I am going to look around at all the flowers, 

and look up at the hectic trees. I am going to close my eyes and listen." - Anne Lamott

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful

than the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin

"If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older." - Tom Stoppard

"You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming." - Pablo Neruda

Have a great week! 

xo, A

January art, my etsy shop and Cricket magazine

The new year has started, I celebrated a birthday and I've been painting.

I began this one a year ago, then put it aside. 

I went back into it the other day and I'm pretty happy with it.

Above is the initial sketch. Hope you can tell it's a class on a field trip to the modern museum.

It's very cold this week, so I painted some bright springy flowers :)

below, with a muted grey background.

Speaking of flowers,

I just added three wristlets, a pencil case and a coin purse to my etsy shop - Blip Blop Shop

I sold two and gave one as a gift over the holidays. 

My friend, Margot Kingon sewed these for me and I think they're real sweet.

Take a look at my shop to see details.

While I was home for the holidays, I came across this vintage Cricket Magazine

from 1976. It's pretty great! The cover art is by Erik Blegvad

I don't think I ever entered a contest, but it's fun to read over this one.

I was surprised to find a poem by Sylvia Plath.

You can see The Bed Book on Brain Pickings, one of my favorite blogs btw

Sylvia wrote this series of poems for her own children 

It was illustrated by Quentin Blake 

The art here is by Emily McCully

I really like this Coming Attractions page and got a kick out of the 

worm wishing a Merry Christmas to his tail and vice versa ;)

It's in good shape overall. I'll give it a read!

Ok, that's all for now.

Off to locate more blankets!

Enjoy the rest of your week.

xo, A