Red Dot Studio Tour 2013

Photos from around Victoria Chick's studio in New Mexico.

(One of my favorite places to visit...)

  

 

 

Art. Art. Art.

Between managing projects for the CLAY Festival, trying to promote our downtown art scene, and fulfilling my domestic duties, my painting time has taken a back seat.

It's sad.

Especially because it's one of those things that - once I'm engaged in it - I find peace and rest in.  It soothes me. It centers me. Why don't I pursue this more?!?

Day by day efforts, I guess.
That's what I need to do.

My hope is to add a touch of color to the above piece. I'd love to make it available as a print for my Etsy shop!  So there you have it. A new goal... :)

xoxo,

-jlt

A Word From Spurgeon.

Have you heard of Charles Spurgeon?
Below is a devotion he wrote concerning a short verse in the Bible.
He is a master of illustration, this one, and a man of soulful truths.
I read the following from his daily devotional, Morning and Evening.
 
"These have no root." --Luke 8:13

My soul, examine thyself this morning by the light of this text. 

Thou hast received the word with joy; thy feelings have been stirred and a lively impression has been made; but, remember, that to receive the word in the ear is one thing, and to receive Jesus into thy very soul is quite another; superficial feeling is often joined to inward hardness of heart, and a lively impression of the word is not always a lasting one. 

In the parable, the seed in one case fell upon ground having a rocky bottom, covered over with a thin layer of earth; when the seed began to take root, its downward growth was hindered by the hard stone and therefore it spent its strength in pushing its green shoot aloft as high as it could, but having no inward moisture derived from root nourishment, it withered away. Is this my case? Have I been making a fair show in the flesh without having a corresponding inner life?

Good growth takes place upwards and downwards at the same time. 

Am I rooted in sincere fidelity and love to Jesus? If my heart remains unsoftened and unfertilized by grace, the good seed may germinate for a season, but it must ultimately wither, for it cannot flourish on a rocky, unbroken, unsanctified heart. 

Let me dread a godliness as rapid in growth and as wanting in endurance as Jonah's gourd; let me count the cost of being a follower of Jesus, above all let me feel the energy of His Holy Spirit, and then I shall possess an abiding and enduring seed in my soul. 

If my mind remains as obdurate as it was by nature, the sun of trial will scorch, and my hard heart will help to cast the heat the more terribly upon the ill-covered seed, and my religion will soon die, and my despair will be terrible; therefore, O heavenly Sower, plough me first, and then cast the truth into me, and let me yield Thee a bounteous harvest.

A Murmuration.

Latest Painting: The Prince

"The Prince"

16 x 20

Acrylics

(8x10 Prints Available HERE)

Detail:

One of my favorite quotes 

from Charles Spurgeon,

 the Prince of Preachers:

"Our drops of sorrow may well be forgotten 

in the ocean of His griefs; 

but how high ought our love to rise!  

 Come in, 

O strong and deep love of Jesus, 

like the sea at the flood 'n spring tides, 

cover all my powers, 

drown all my sins, 

wash out all my cares, 

lift up my earth-bound soul,

 and float it right up to my Lord's feet,

 and there let me lie, 

a poor broken shell, 

washed up by His love, 

having no virtue or value; 

and only venturing to whisper to Him 

that if He will put His ear to me, 

He will hear within my heart

 faint echoes of the vast waves 

of His own love 

which have brought me where 

it is my delight to lie, 

even at His feet forever."

Studio Move

This week I decided to move my art studio

(and by that I mean my easel and bucket of paints)

to the corner of our screened porch.

The monsoon season here in southwest New Mexico

is so wonderful

that I feel like it'd be crazy not to take advantage

of painting almost every day 

to the tune of a thunderstorm.

So far, 

it's been a wonderful change 

of scenery and inspiring 

to say the least.

In fact,

I have some new pieces 

for my Etsy store

that I should be putting up 

this week!

Life Lately

Favorite morning routine:

breakfast early by myself 

on our screened porch

listening to the birds

and reading the Word.

(you're invited)

Photo:  

{my breakfast the other day}

-whole wheat bagel 

with cream cheese

and apple jalapeno jelly, 

- hazelnut coffee with milk

- Jeremiah Chapter 7

Rubbish.

Came across this at UNR last week.

I have a habit of living in cycles.

I get caught up 

running around and around,

adding on obligations,

social events,

jobs,

spending too much time on the computer,

unnecessary tasks...

all the while,

I guilt myself into feeling like

I have to do all this.

Like saying "no" 

is never an option.

So then I burn out,

fall apart, 

and unplug

- hermit status -

die socially for a while...

only to start over.

and over.

You see,

I live in cycles.

The sad part is 

most of the things

I tangle myself with 

don't seem to matter.

It's all rubbish.

I'm trying to change this.

No.

Let me rephrase this.

I'm praying to God,

asking Him to change this.

To change me.

I need to figure out 

what to throw away

and what to keep.

I need to learn how to unplug

(both physically and electronically)

in a healthy way,

how to keep learning

and stimulating 

my thoughts

and aspirations 

until they can't help 

but come to fruition.

It's time to break the cycle.

Just like Dr. Oliphint said,

 "Like Christ, 

Christians must withdraw,

unplug.

It is time to make sure

that we are molding our plastic brains

in a way that they will be trained 

to think carefully,

to concentrate,

to work through difficulties,

to meditate on God's character,

to revel in His glory."

It starts here.

In my mind.
In my heart.

That's where the cycle ends

and rebirth happens.

Stripes

I've seen a lot of zebra rugs lately...

And I fear 

they might be growing on me.

via

via

via

via

They bring such a bold

and graphic pattern to the space.

I especially love the way they spice up 

the neutral furniture in the second image.

In fact,

I think I might try and find one 

for our living room...

We have two 

velvet olive-green

sitting chairs with an ottoman

in front of our fireplace now

that could use some livening up...

How do you feel about the zebra hides?

(or faux hides?)

Another fleeting trend

or something worth bringing

into your home?

Busting Out the Brushes

Hello!

Ever since we moved to New Mexico back in January, 

I have neglected my easel. 

And my brushes. 

And my canvas...

I've only worked on our house and furniture.

Well, thanks to my husband working a wacky swing shift schedule,

I've had a lot of nights to myself...

And so,

I busted out the brushes.

I'm making a new page at the top of this blog 

for my art.

Hopefully, as I finish house projects,

my time spent painting 
will pick up speed. 

:)

Here's to starting it up again!

What I made a few nights ago:

Untitled (for now)

Acrylics.

40"x30"

P.S. - photographing acrylics is challenging... 

I turned off my flash, but the sheen is still hard to deal with.

Any tips?

Painting Again :)

Hello friends!

Today, we paint!!!

Well, I guess 

I paint.

Part one shall be 

my hallway trim and doors (White!)

soon followed by the deep teal of greatness

which I seem to obsess over...

Inspiration:

Via

 I'm excited.

Also, 

I'm trying out some paint samples 

for my office!

Some grays...

Inspiration:

Via

I've been gearing up to paint 

for a while now,

so it feels good to get started!

I guess my house projects 

come in spurts :P

Pics to come!

Color Quiz

I found this quiz today...

It's a fun way 

to discover a paint palette

that could work for you!

(Or just something to do 

if you're bored :P)

Take The Quiz!

My palettes were:

White Spaces

& 

Tapestry/Mosaic

It was fun for me... so I figured I'd share!

:D

Home Updates, Homies.

Guten Tag!!!

Here are some more

home updateywoos for ya.

We bought a rug a while back

from West Elm...

and it finally showed up!

I wanted something to ground our dining set

and add a bit more color to the area...

So here's where it ended up!

Before:

After!

I love the pattern and burnt yellow...

This room is still pretty bare,

but I have ideas for some art pieces (eventually)

and perhaps a little console against that bare wall.

All in due time, I guess.  :)

Also, one seriously neglected part of our home

is the wide hallway 

between our living room 

and office/ guest bathroom/ guest bedroom.

 It needs some love, to say the least.

I have yet to paint the hallway, trim, and doors...

But I'm thinking of doing something ca-ca-crazy.

Insert Inspiration:

Via

Via

So, I obviously have an obsession with deep teal...

But I think it would be rocking in the wide hallway.

Plus, it gets some natural light from all the rooms around it.

I'm thinking:

teal walls + white doors and trim + art + new light fixture!

Since I don't have the paint to embark on such an endeavor,

I decided to frame and hang some art.

Here's how it turned out...

Progress!

 I found all the frames a week ago

for 25 cents a piece,

spray painted some of them,

and framed a few of my original pieces

(as well as a stamp collection I have

from Argentina.)

Mini Update Cost?

Frames: $1.50 total

Art Pieces: $0 (Made them myself, stamps were a gift)

Spray Paint: $0 (Already owned)

Nails/Hardware: $0 (Already Owned)

TOTAL:  $1.50

(not too shabby)

All in all, I like how it adds interest 

to a previously neglected area,

but MAN! Does it makes me want to paint! 

Have you done any random small changes lately?

Or how do you feel about the teal?

Yay or Nay?

Happy Wednesday!

And thanks for stopping by :)

Art & Faith Coincide?

Last year,

I finally finished my degree in 

Studio Art.

I've always loved painting 

and drawing...

the way these mediums 

enable you to express beyond

normal means...

but I've always had trouble expressing one thing

in particular:

my faith.

How can art and Christianity

coincide?

Well, I've seen many attempts 

at such a unification, 

but never like this...

Check out this video.

Makoto Fujimura - The Art of "The Four Holy Gospels" from Crossway on Vimeo.

paint help!

Hello Lovelies!

Sorry if I seem a little 

house obsessed...

I probably am.

The truth is,

I've never had the chance 

to decorate without limits -

So, I'm pretty excited!

I need some input.

Well, I want to paint my living room...

but I'm struggling with which paint color to choose.

This is what I'm working with:

(Disclaimer:  We just moved in... 

so please ignore our ghetto bookcases, 

awkward floating rug and such.)

Notice my 1960's couch with 

teal swirlies and yellow-tan threading...

From a distance, it looks greenish.

The funky couch (and it's mix-match pillows)

are here to stay...

Someday in the far distant future,

I might reupholster it.

But that's a decade away :P

My coffee table is Benjamin Moore's 

Bermuda Turquoise

I plan on painting those french patio doors... 

so ignore those.

And here's our adobe-style fireplace.

So far, the only thing I've come up with 

is painting the fireplace white.

Probably "Decorator's White" just like my kitchen cabinets.

Other than that...

???

Maybe my walls should be white too?

Since my couch is so busy?

Or maybe a fun accent wall behind my couch 

would be the perfect thing 

to embrace its craziness?

Perhaps the Turquoise color?

I don't know.

Your thoughts?