One Cute Bebe

Hi everyone!

I have some very exciting news to share!  I have not posted for a while....sad to say I have not even had the chance to play in paint for a while either...but there is a good reason!  For the last 5-6 weeks I have been soaking in a colorful pool of monkeys, frogs, hearts, skulls (yes...skulls!), owls, an astronaut, a tree with vibrant flowers flowing from its branches as well as...let's see, what else am I forgetting...  Oh paint drippings, peace signs, a dog, some monsters...and a crown!  There!  That does it!  You must think I have been living in a fairytale book!  Well, sort of....please tell me....do the activities below take place in fairytales?

1. Coffee is a MUST!
2. I caught my almost two year old girl standing IN in the toilet one day.
3. My other 3 girls play wii nonstop and have been watching Annie and Pippi Longstocking...let's sing together now...."the sun will come out...tomorrow..."
4. Laundry, laundry, laundry
5. Being the go to girl for "mom, I'll still hungry" for the 100th time!
6. Frantically preparing dinner - like 20 minutes before my husband is due home from work!
7. "Mom, Curran spilled her cereal AGAIN!"
8. "Mom, Macie won't leave me alone!"
9. Do I need to keep going?!?!? 

Okay, enough, although I did NOT actually create a fairytale, I AM co-founder of a fun and clever line of wearables for babies and toddlers!  One Cute Bebe!  I teamed up with one fabulous woman named Cherie and together we created a fun, clever, one-of-a-kind collection of designs that will allow your babies and toddlers to truly express themselves!  Cherie controls the manufacturing while I concentrate on the designs.  After working together on various projects over the past 3-4 years, Cherie decided to contact me and invite me on an adventure that will take us to places we have never been before.  

I truly hope that our adventure is a non-stop one!  Please take the time to browse our website of wearables (http://www.onecutebebe.com/), spread the word and send us messages of hope...and lots of luck!

And don't worry....I am still doing mixed media art of course!  Are you kidding?!?!  Once an artist, always an artist...my creative spirit has never left my side.  In fact, I feel more creative than ever!  I will be digging back into my paints tomorrow as a matter of fact!  I am truly looking forward to it!

Live Artfully,
JM

 

ARTragious Art Camp 2010!

Okay...okay!  I know that I have slacked on writing...but I have been so darn busy!  That is always the excuse I use and seriously....that IS my excuse!!!

Art Camp was a success and loads of fun!  I had a lot of repeat students as well as some fresh faces!  And of course CHAOS!  That's okay though right?!?!?  Art camp just would not be the same without chaos!  In the end though...I was very proud of what came out of the studio!  Everyone did a super job creating!

Anyway - I wanted to share some of the fabulous art that was created this year by some of my students.  I deeply apologize that I do not have more photos to share!  I was too busy working with everyone and taking photos was not really on my mind!  I missed a ton by not taking any photos of the textile art creations...please, if anyone has some photos of the textile art creations please send them to me!

Created by Julia, Isabella, Sasha and Lauren

Created by Logan

Created by Jasmine

Created by Jon and Katie

Created by Macie

Created by Olivia

Created by Madison

Created by Addie

Created by Julia

Created by Lauren

Created by Morgan

Created by Brooke

Created by Jasmine

Mirror created by Jon

Mirror created by Felicia

Mirrors created by Isabella, Jasmine, Christina, Jon, Cami, Erin and Desiree

There was many more wonderful works of art created...I just failed to get more photos than I should have!  I hope to have the moms email me some so that I can add them for your viewing pleasure!

Thanks again for all of those that participated and helped out!  I am already looking forward to next year!  Can't wait to see what kind of colors we will produce next summer!

Live Artfully,

JM

Artful Birds...

Mixed Media Birds

I am still preparing for my upcoming artist signing at The Canny Rooster in Greenville, SC next Thursday, June 10th!  I have been a busy little bee here in the studio... I had been looking for some eclectic pieces to paint and bring with me.  I found these little white ceramic birds that I just thought were the cutest thing...I added a splash of color, some hearts, some words of inspiration and viola! I think they came out adorable!  I only got two birds to paint...I think I might have to go buy some more! 

Hope everyone is living as artful as I am these days!

xoxo,

JM

18x18, "Lucille" acrylic on canvas

Okay...this is my new favorite!  I am just so pleased with the way my very first elephant turned out!  I created this canvas for my mother and stepfather's wedding anniversary which was in April.  My grandmother LOVED elephants and collected many statues/figurines of them in various sizes that were always on display when I was growing up.  I used to love to look at them all!  The collection was passed down to my mother...who loves elephants as well.  She also loves anything African themed...so I thought that I would add my own colorful spin on a look that I typically see in shades of brown, black and gold.  I think I accomplished what I set out to accomplish!  I also tried a new product...Liquitex Pouring Medium...I used it on top of the flowers...I was hoping for a thinner look to them but hey...it was my first time messing with the product!

JM

xoxo

Teacher Appreciation Week...

9x12 "A Teacher Ignites" - Acrylics on Canvas

The above canvas...a mixture of knowledge, wonder, curiosity...along with bits of nature, math, letters, etc. was created for all those fabulous teachers out there!!!  I created it especially for one of my daughter's teachers, Ms. Matthews, a 1st grade teacher...and for having the honor of being chosen for Teacher of the Year 2010!  You go girl!!!  I hope that she loves the canvas as much as I do!!!  I hated to see it leave the studio!  This one is one of my favorites!

xoxo,

JM

Artful Mess...

18x18 "believe" - acrylic on canvas

8x24 "bloom" - acrylic on canvas

I have to admit...I am addicted to color!  Lately, I just cannot get enough of it!  I am busy creating for an artist debut that I have coming up in June for a store in Greenville, SC called "The Canny Rooster"!  Needless to say, my goal is to plaster colorful, happy vibes all over their walls! I am also addicted to the thought of simplifying.  Although that is far from what my lifestyle is with my four girls!  I am truly the Queen of Chaos when it comes to managing my time and their schedule!  In the end, I feel that "single words" can act as powerful daily inspirations.  There is something child-like about them...  Dreamy too...

Oh...above is my littlest one...Curran! Guess what she did...although I was not surprised!  She pulled one of the paper plates full of paint off the art table and started creating her own art!  Well, she is starting young I guess!

Live Artfully,

JM

Celebrate Motherhood - Mother/Child Mixed Media Workshop

Well...I am finally ready to open registration for my upcoming mother/child mixed media workshop set for Saturday, May 8th!  I thought it would be fun for a mother and child to work on a piece of art TOGETHER!  So...I created a very specific project in mind just for this purpose...and...it celebrates being a mom as well!  I welcome mother and child combinations of all ages!  And, no art experience required!  I will have step by step instructions in place so that everyone can take home a fabulous 8 x 16 canvas that THEY created!  All supplies are included in the cost of the workshop!  Below is the project we will be working on and completing!  I hope to see everyone there!  You can register online!