Chickens, chickens, chickens

Pippa in the Garden ©Sweet EnemyArt

Close up on Sass Chicken  ©Sweet Enemy Art

Cripes!  We've had our flock of hens since June, but I've barely let them make a peep here.  Well they're making their debut in the shop, and I found some early summer photos to introduce you to a others few as well:

Little Big Red, with Big Red in the upper right

Dustbath!

goodbye garden!

UPDATE:  Arkonbey just pointed out that the way we call our chickens when they're out and about is by going "coo-coo-coo-COO-Coo" and, well, you should listen to this.  Perhaps the Canadian influence has leaked down over the border!

Recent completions and so forth

Ghost Bun and Bros ©Sweet Enemy Art  Acrylic on canvas 2012

Hello!  It has been far too long, my friends.  I've been working away on several commissions and getting distracted by life in general.  But Neil Dixon of Yankee Imaging has been getting some great images of my recently completed work, so I thought I'd share.

"This May Sting a Little" ©Sweet Enemy Art  Acrylic on canvas, 2012

Having tried taking pictures of these guys myself, I do so appreciate someone who can really work the camera.  Focus on doing what you do well, and let others do what they do well.   Well...  Yeah.

The best part of this process is loading up the image onto my screen and suddenly going "holy crap!  I painted that!"

I'm happy to report that "Ghost Bun and Bros" has made it safely to the West Coast.  "This May Sting a Little" got some very nice comments during this year's Art of Horror show and is now back home waiting for me to find some wall space.  Unless you have room?

See you again soon, once we get the camera batteries to play nice so I can show you the commissioned works-in-progress.

Seven Goat Coat, 24 Hour Comics Day 2012 preview

Hello there!  So to catch you up, we're at hour 13.5 in our 24 hour stretch of drawing comics here at the Winooski Welcome Center in Winooski VT.  That means it's 11:30 p.m. E.S.T. and I'm feeling pretty punchy.  Here are three more page previews.  Once we're settled back at home, real scans will be made.
Which reminds me!  I will also try and post my 2011 twelve-page comic.  I don't think I have yet!

I am at page 7 so far (not counting the cover) so there is some semblance of hope.  I'm also the blogger for our event (which means also FB & Twitter, etc.) so I have to be kinda realistic.   One bonus with having the computer right here at hand:  GOAT IMAGE SEARCH.  I am so happy with my goat on the right.  He's a pretty boy.

five hours in and three pages finished...

It's 24 Hour Comics day, once again & around the world!  I'm at the Winooski Welcome Center with many of our usual crew from previous years at Artists' Mediums.  Once again I'm just attempting a twelve page story where everyone else has hopes of doing a full 24 page piece.  

The story seed I pulled out of the bag was "A Seven Goat Coat."  Which has a lot of potential, but right now I feel like I'm just treading water with it.  Five pages plotted out loosely and I'm not sure if it's going to turn into a teenage angst story (don't we have enough of those) or a magical realism story.  

Just one more comment for now:  Urgh, why in the world did I choose to do a story with humans!

(Edited to add that I'm feeling a bit better about the characters now (page 7), but it was a rough climb to get there.)

Brought to you by the Department of Shameless Self Promotion!

Digging through the vault (the external hard drive, that is) I found these for your viewing pleasure.  Some may be new to you, some have been posted before (but a loooong time ago!)

The bonus is that all of these are now up on Society6 as mini-prints.  Free shipping on anything in my shop* through October 14, 2012.

I've added nine new pieces since yesterday, and there may be a few more that I post there before the week is through.  So in the spirit of Shameless Self Promotion, if you want to buy something from there, it gets me that much closer to purchasing a plane ticket to Colorado for a wedding next Spring!  

Traveling Cloak, Mode de Monstre

Beatrix Rabbit

Afternoon in the Sky

**Offer excludes Framed Art Prints and Stretched Canvases.

Art of Horror Returns!

This art show is when I get to really celebrate the Halloween spirit, because we live in an area with zero trick-or-treaters.  Sad!  So break out your own costumes and join us this Friday to check out the  "sinister but lovely images" on view throughout the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery.  

Meet the artists, see art, more art, lots of art, plus costumes, tarot card readings, 

and a Day of the Dead shrine for the spirits of artists who have passed!  

I have three works in the show, here's a very reflective snapshot of one:

This Might Sting A Little  ©Sweet Enemy Art 2012

And what's right around the corner?  24 HOUR COMICS DAY!

More to come on that soon, or check out the basic info on our page here.

Poster by Rick Evans of obscurius.org !

Success! Another Art Hop wrapped and delivered.

Justin Atherton (No Grace) and myself on the final day of Art Hop 2012
photo courtesy of Jme Wheeler (Ink and Sugar)

Many thanks to all the awesome work that goes on behind the scenes at The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery and Art Hop in general, we had a great weekend.  People came, they saw, they chatted, they left with art.  

Of course, it's hard not to have a good time when you're spending time with a bunch of artists whom you've come to know and love; luring the general public into your studio space, and sending them home with new art or ideas to enjoy.  

I'm still learning the fine art of engaging strangers when they're looking at my art, but there were a few good conversations nonetheless.  One bonus of the quiet lulls between crowds:  I got to watch Justin start one of his acrylic paintings for the upcoming "Art of Horror" show, and also popped in while Beth Robinson worked on her doll pendants.  When I wasn't visiting, I worked on a few drawing ideas or moved pictures around in my display.  

Christy Mitchell, "Creative Facilitator" of S.P.A.C.E. and 266 curated not one but three shows for Art Hop weekend:  "20 Mediums" in the Soda Plant hallways, "Represent" in the main gallery of S.P.A.C.E., and "Five and Dime" in the Backspace.  

Here's my acrylic "Water and Sky" in the Represent show:

 

And here's a few shots of the corner studio Justin and I are sharing for September, taken right before Art Hop began on Friday.  Not too likely that we'll get back there to actually make art before the month is up, but the gallery staff are on hand Thursday through Saturday 11-4. 

  

Now that I've spent almost the entire day on the couch with Bernie I'm just about ready to get back to work on my own Art of Horror submissions.  Those should be posting in the next few days or so.  

Ciao!

Art Hop Preview: Tea and Butterflies

Tea and Butterflies

Acrylic on mat board

©Sweet Enemy Art 2012

Almost have a series going on here!  One aspect of the painting that I wasn't able to capture here is the iridescent gold background.  It's slightly matte overall, and the white spots on the lizard actually appear to float a bit above that.  

Art Hop Preview: Telling secrets to a Butterfly

Telling Secrets to a Butterfly*

Pencil & Acrylic on paper

©Sweet Enemy Art 2012

*my titles are always malleable, often the people who buy the painting come up with a far better one!

Art Hop Preview: Classic Dog

A fanciful compilation of some dogs I've met.  Acrylic on paper, lots of fun layers on this one!

©Sweet Enemy Art 2012

Art Hop Preview: Rattus

Rattus:  A portrait

Graphite on paper.

©Sweet Enemy Art 2012

Art Hop Preview: Little Red Cloak

Little Red Cloak

Pairing up a little watercolor piece with a painted mat to complete the fairy tale feeling.

Outer dimensions are 5"x7"

This will be at the "5 and Dime" show in the BackSpace at S.P.A.C.E. Gallery for Art Hop!

Art Hop Preview: Jester Rabbit

More fun with the new mat cutter @Artists' Mediums.  And a little Jester Rabbit that came about when doodling with liquid acrylic and my pen nibs.  

©Sweet Enemy Art 2012

Art Hop Preview: Sunset Dog

Trying out some new canvases we just got @Artists' Mediums.  Sweet little 6x8 gallery wraps!

Here's a little white fox dog at sunset 

He'll be at Art Hop!

©Sweet Enemy Art 2012

©Sweet Enemy Art 2012

Great things happening this weekend!

In the past, I'd always have mixed feelings about my approaching birthday.  Sure, it was a time for party cake and sweet loot, but it also meant the beginning of the school year.  I was not the sort of kid who got excited for school to start.  So, despite the involuntary chills I still get whenever I see the school buses roll by, I am excited this year for my birthday for reasons other than sweet loot.

This year, my birthday falls smack-dab into the middle of Art Hop!

Art Hop is the biggest art party I know of in Burlington, and this year is their 20th in existence.  So I was a mere 16 years old when it first happened.  In those days, I wasn't a social butterfly by any means.  I had my circle of friends (who put up with me) and tended to be shy around most others, especially in class.  At least that's how I remember it...  But this year it's a full-on socializing event!

It'll be one long weekend of celebrating, as this year I'm also in a new location, my beloved SPACE GALLERY.  The schedule so far is as follows;
Friday September 7th:  11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Art Hop officially begins at 5, but the gallery is open earlier)
Saturday September 8th:  10 a.m. to 11 p.m.  BIRTHDAY!
Sunday September 9th:  11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

I'm sharing a studio space with printmaker & painter extraordinaire Justin Atherton, and for the entire month of September our work will be on display there.  The gallery is open regularly Thursday through Saturday 11-4.

Here's a little peak at what my table looked like last night, and two pieces by Justin.  I'll have some more preview posts as the week goes on.

See you then!

Sweet Enemy Art all over the place, getting ready...

Justin Atherton!

More Justin Atherton!

Pantalettas

Every year there's a great used-book sale to benefit our local library. And when the sale is over, it's free book time.  I love this town.
Last round, Arkonbey found this little treasure, which I haven't really referred to much but it's one that's rather amusing to have in the home library.  I keep hoping it will inspire me to make something awesome.

This one is a "detail from 'The Ladies Accelerator' showing pantalettes, 1819."

Here's an artist who could really do good with material like this:  Kate Beaton.  Peruse the Hark a Vagrant archive! 

ALSO:  if you're in Portland Maine this weekend, do yourself a favor and go to the Maine Comics Festival!  FIVE BUCKS = A BARGAIN, people!

So, there you go.  Underwear & comics.    

Revisiting the Ghosts

Here's a piece I've been plucking away at these last few months.  It's a new take on a piece I did back in '98/99 while still at school.  The original is much bigger and resides in my friend's old room at his parent's house.

The video is just a quick peek, and you can barely see what I'm doing as it's dark-on-dark. Still, having fun finally figuring out these fancy dancy laptop features. That's CocoRosie playing in the background.

How I spent my Sunday

After a late night of music videos & sketch-booking, Arkonbey & I dragged ourselves from the comforts of bed, fed the B monster his rations and trundled down to Martone's in Essex Junction.

Will Workman met us there, and so with coffee, scones and sketchbooks we had a pleasant morning, especially as it was a chance finally to really visit.  Lots of good ideas bouncing around.

Three hours later, we gave up our table and headed our separate ways.
Home for a brief bit, so I got in an hour or so of painting before we headed out to Cambridge to see more friends.  

Here's what I did before we settled down to one of Patti's fantastic feasts:

Dave's Ural with sidecar (super comfy seating)

And away we go!

Perfect way to enjoy the warm sun, delicious air and muddy roads at speed!

Going to the DOGS

Old school nibs and super-dooper modern brush pen,
bringing you the Bernese and a variety of fluffy things.

Ahhh... I do love a new fine line pen.  Getting a little shaggy on the Maltese here.

And then I had to draw something other than dogs for a few minutes.
But of course the dogs snuck back in.
At least they're napping.

Sketches

More projects!

Weekend recap, half-way through

Arkonbey & I went to two openings last night, one for Jordan Douglas @ Vintage Inspired down on Flynn ave, and then Adam DeVarney's send-off exhibit @ S.P.A.C.E. Gallery.  Met many of our usual art-world peeps at both locations, and had a good time mixing it up.  Some of these folks can dance like there's no tomorrow.

Today saw me breaking back into my paints.  It took many starts and stops, but in between painting, I tried to keep my activities art-related.  And so, I'm happy to say that I have a new place where my images are available for sale, at a size or type of your choosing.  It's raawther exciting.

Society 6
Many thanks to Adam D. for the tip.

   ....and more to come!

Storytime @ Studio Place Arts

Not long after Christmas, I received an invitation from Janet Van Fleet to submit work for an exhibit titled "Storytime" at Studio Place Arts in Barre.
The opening is next Friday, March 9th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.  (Show info is at the end of my post here.)


Now I've had the chance to meet Janet in person, and I think the word is:  Cool.
I especially love her sculptures (check them out!)  You may recall that she was kind enough to mention me in her latest Art Hop review.   Well, she accepted "Creature and Healer" into the exhibit, so I will be in my second show at S.P.A.  And in good company, too:  Beth Robinson of Strangedolls will be there!

Creature and Healer (detail) ©Sweet Enemy Art 2012

The first art-outing that my friend G and I took was actually to see Janet's show @Flynndog Gallery in Burlington a few years back.  What we encountered was a long hallway completely filled with art on wheels.  Trains of wooden sculpture that had me itching to get in and play.
And so we did, and this was my first experience guiding someone without sight around art.  Thankfully I didn't do anything too stupid that time, just, y'know, had her exploring some of the male figures before I realized that they were rather anatomically correct!  These are rather rough figures, but still, G got a good laugh out of that one.  Thank goodness...
In recounting this to Janet yesterday, she did say that there do tend to be quite a few male appendages in her work.  (Please note I'm being genteel for your tender sensibilities.)  I think I'm going to like getting to know her!

March 6 - April, 2012

In the Main & Second Floor Galleries:

Storytime: The human impulse to construct narratives is explored through painting, video, sculpture, photography, and published materials.

In the Third Floor Gallery:

Never Forget: A group, multi-media show on the creative journey of women.

This exhibit is supported by the Vermont Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts

Opening Reception: Friday March 9th, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. 

Studio Place Arts, Barre Vt.

I woulda' if I coulda'

Vay Cay Shun!
AndreZero and Science Girl welcomed us to their digs near the capitol for a wonderful visit, and for four days we enjoyed a lovely balance of touristy stuff and just chilling.
Here are a few pages from our National History Museum visit, with later additions.  

THE BEST BIT, though, is what AndreZero overheard a little kid say to his dad while I was crouched drawing the pink fairy armadillo*:
"Dad, every single animal in this museum, she's drawing it!"
If I coulda, I woulda.  He must have seen me a few times, impressive memory what with the sea of people.  I thought I only got a piddling few!

Arkonbey already did a really nice post, re-capping some highlights of the trip.  I think I would benefit by sitting and thinking on such a list myself.  Well, I did at least sketch one event before I forgot about it:

That's one cool daddy.


*I would just like to say, sure it was easy drawing from taxidermy as opposed to something moving, but I'm raawther proud of how my sketch of the pink fairy armadillo turned out.  At most I think I had 60 seconds to do it in.