Some creatures on bikes

Let's just be clear, here:  I have lived with Arkonbey for a long time, and there are always bicycles in the house.  And yet, I remain completely unaware of how the things are actually constructed.  Far be it from me to actually go and look at one.  I mean, there are only a paltry few to choose from.  Regardless, here are a few creatures, on my interpretations of those two-wheeled devices.

Cat on a bike 1 ©SweetEnemyArt

Cat on a bike 2  ©SweetEnemyArt

Lemur on a bike  ©SweetEnemyArt

Thing on a bike (For Arkonbey) ©SweetEnemyArt

Thing on a bike was the progenitor of this series, by the way.

Art Community

Wow.  I am grateful for many people today, and since I've been terrible about keeping a journal of such things on paper, why not list a few here now.

1.)  Christy Mitchell, Creative Facilitator at the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery.  She's created this wonderful microcosm of artists and happenings right in the middle of the Burlington Arts district, and I always have a great time whenever we go.  She's a great dancer and has a wonderfully odd attraction to retro accessorizing.

I hope she doesn't kill me when she sees this.

2.)  Lorraine Reynolds, Mixed Media Collage & Assemblage artist.  Lorraine just shocked the pants off me by putting a little blurb about me on her blog, which is really sweet, especially seeing how I was going off last night about how she's doing a workshop at A.M. in the Spring, to at least three of her mutual friends, and we're all really excited...oh, I guess we hadn't confirmed that yet ...blush...

Captain by Lorraine Reynolds

3.)  Sidney Eley, Photographer and Mixed Media artist who invited me to take part in a group of working artists that bounce ideas off of each other.  I met Sidney at the VSC Vermont Art Week this April.  Through Sidney, I've been able to make better connections with some great local artists.  And it's good to have homework.  I'd put in a link to Sidney's work, but couldn't find one.  Still, if you're on Pine Street in Burlington, check out a few of her pieces at the new SEABA headquarters.

4.) All my peeps at Artists' Mediums.  Ten years and they still put up with me.  They even buy new framing equipment for me!  Alright, for the store, not necessarily for me.  But you should see this awesome book they put together for me.  And you will, someday soon.

5.)  Our buyer's agent, who had the foresight to give us a beautiful oil lamp as a housewarming gift, and the local power company crew, who made sure we didn't have to rely on it for more than two nights in a row.

6.)  And oh!  This artist, Kirsty Mitchell, whom I just stumbled upon this morning.  A photographer in England, who's right up my alley.

7.)  More people than I can count...  you know who you are, right?

17th Annual Art & Artisans Market November 13th and 14th 2010, 10-5

Alright art friends, here's the skinny. You can start your holiday preparations this coming weekend at the Art & Artisans Market, where I'm a guest artist. Stop in and see what's cooking.

(no, I mean it... It's Arthur's Fault will be there...)

Art Trek--I'm Massachusetts bound!

So, you know how lots of artists dream of showing in a NYC gallery? 

Karen and I are on our way to the R. Michelson Gallery, a venue I would love to show in someday (NYC is still on the list though.)  Northampton is a fun place to nose around in, so if I had an extra reason to go there, well, I wouldn't complain.

The opportunity to rub elbows with some of my favorite illustrators and authors is such a treat.  Last year I came home with two books autographed by that master of many mediums, Barry Moser.  Check out his work if the name is new to you.  

Speaking of treats, we'll be making our usual stop to L.A. Burdick's  chocolate shop along the way.  Oh yes, it's as good as it sounds.

Here’s a shot of the reception for last year’s show.  We had a prime spot just behind Rich Michelson himself, because we couldn't tear ourselves away from the book table...

Well that’s it for now.  If you’re up in the Jeffersonville VT area, make sure you check out the Small Picture Exhibition at the Bryan Memorial Gallery, which opens today.  The show runs through December 23rd. 

Likewise, if you’re down Northampton way, I highly recommend the  R.Michelson gallery.  The Children's Illustration Show looks to be up through March 2011.  Both venues have more than one show going at a time, well worth the visit. 

Plus, and this is important, both towns have some fabulous food.
You knew I was going to end on a food note, didn't you.

Small Picture Exhibition opens this Friday

Nazgul Bride  Graphite on paper  ©Sweet Enemy Art 2010

I've submitted two pieces to the annual Member's Small Picture Exhibition at the Bryan Memorial Gallery, which runs through December 23rd 2010.  Obviously, what you see here isn't quite Vermont landscape, but this show usually mixes things up a bit.  I'm curious to see if they hang both my pieces at once, or if the turnout was large enough where only one piece from each artist will show at a time.

Guess I'll have to wait, though, as I'm missing the opening reception this Sunday!  Check back then and you'll see why.  

Incubating ideas

Last night I attended my second meeting with the 'Pollinators', kindly hosted by Sidney E.  This is a group she invited me to take part in, where working artists can bring their in-process-work in for feedback and ideas.  As with the first night, the Mode-de-Monstre work that I brought received the best response.  Sculpture keeps coming up as a response when I show my drawings, and Wylie mentioned an iron pour that takes place in Burlington.  My response has been rather giddy.  I got out my roma plastilina clay when I got home, but it's tricky to work with (and my hands stank all night.)  This is something I'll probably need to talk with some other sculptors about.

I'm also halfway through a class with Alyson Stanfield of artbizcoach.com and it's simultaneously overwhelming and energizing.  Tons of "to do's" are threatening to topple over onto me, so thank goodness arkonbey has stepped up to the plate and is, well, washing the plates.  Ladies and Gents, my man makes dinner and he does the dishes. 

Back from the HoP

...and spending a few minutes searching for Sweet Enemy online.  Found a few images of my artwork, which is great--that's what I was hoping for, but I also found someone out there who's got a righteous excuse to use my psuedonym:  Check her out.