Day 5-Time Off Week

Well my week is quickly coming to an end. sigh! Today i spent most of my day in the studio. Except for a teeny tiny nap, smile. I think the week is officially kicking my boodie. I varnished all of the pieces that I am taking for the Huntsville Art League and then I started on this girl. I really like painting people. Of course the music was different today. (as you can tell by the painting) I was listening to relaxing music. YUM! I guess the girl was in the music. She still has quite a bit of work left. It is now 11pm and I'm wiped. Sorry guys....no big story for the day.

Enjoy!

Day 4-Time Off Week- Got HAL!!!!!!!

By Michele Lee copyright 2008 18x24 acrylic/mixed on canvas

Well as you can see I HAD to change that silly painting. This looks more like Her Spot/My Spot. (had to throw my favorite pillow in. I helps me keep my wild side. ;) So today I spent my time changing it and varnishing other painting. WEEW am I high as a kite from that. ;\

OK SO, here is the big news for the day. I have been working with a girl(Gina - Huntsville Art Blog) and she has gotten me a spot for the month of March at the HUNTSVILLE ART LEAGUE! YEAH! (thanks again Gina) A couple of years ago I did a show at the Clay House Museum in Madison.....but this is HAL. Just a tad bit bigger. I am so excited. So this week has turned in to trying to get my pieces ready in time. (i have to hang on Monday..yikes)

So most of this art journey this year is having to get through fear. Fear of someone seeing me, fear of rejection, fear of learning new technique, etc... So the other day I was sitting on the fence with this whole HAL thing. I told one of my good friends about it and she said, "why are you EVEN thinking about this...JUMP". So I go to a meeting (and you all know what kind ;) and guess what the topic was? Yep, you got it, FEAR! God usually does this. He puts a few things in front of me for the day until I quit swatting them away and listen. "Got it G, thanks". I went home, got on the computer, and there was another e-mail from Gina asking if I had made a decision. Well, long story short.....I'm jumping in. They can either like it, love it, hate it or just be stumped. But that's art. I'm a big girl now...I can take it.

Light a candle, kick your shoes off, get in something comfy.....Enjoy the "Spot"

Day 3-Time Off Week "Her Spot"

ARGGGG! what a day! I think I might actually be hitting my snappppping spot! Here is a picture that I did today. It looks a little like my spot in the living room where I hang out and do all of my blogging, reading and just getting a little quite in my head. I love this spot. I like to refer to my couch as "the life sucking couch". Because, if I am not doing anything like reading or something, then it will literally suck the life right out of me! And before I know it I have been asleep for hours.

A little bit of history on the couch. (boring maybe...but hang in there) I used to live in a different house, with a different man and a VERY different life. My day would start with drinking...followed by more drinking.....and end with drinking. Many times I would either pass out or fall asleep on this couch. For me it was a place in the center of the house where i could be in case of an emergency. (sick? yes!) So for me this couch has made full circle. It has turned ito a fun resting spot for me and my family.(especially the kids) There is no drinking or passing out anymore. It is now in a new house. And the man......well he is gone. My best friend now sits on the couch. (cheesy grin) God is good! He removed a lot of stuff (and that's exactly what it was..stuff) in my life. But I sure am glad that he let me keep my kids, my life, my new husband and my couch.

Now for those of you who are saying....."The crazy woman is a little obsessed with the couch!"

it is not REALLY so much about th couch. It's more about coming through it all and being OK.

So have a seat....and enjoy he couch.

Day 2-Time Off Week for MIKE & TRACY

Hey guys...day 2 has been a blast so far. It is about 7pm and I have come in for a food break. (must have those) Today was steel drum music. Can ya tell? I ended up finishing this palm tree, starting one called Her Spot,Fixed the Birch trees and have another beach scene started. WEW! So I feel the need to make it a long night...or at least a few more hours ;)

I got an e-mail this morning from my Mom. Her and my dad were leaving for Mexico! I forgot that it was time for my brother, Michael, and his fiance, Tracy, to get married! And what a great destination...AARRREEEBBBAAA!! So, this one is for them. Congratulations guys. I LOVE YOU BIG!

I am hoping that my Mom and Dad get to do something exciting.....like snorkle. But I know my mom...she will be way too busy snapping pictures. (smile) She has always been "Liz the Great" when it comes to picture taking. She even puts them in albums labeled with the year. So when ever we come home we can sit and pick a year! (althought there are some years that I would like to erase) >(

Now my Dad on the other hand will be right in the middle of it all! I can hear him now telling jokes and screaming, "LIZ ...come here and look at this!" "LIZ ...I can't eat this. It's way too spicy!" and of course our all time favorite..."LIZ...where's the remote!" All joking aside he is great! One of the funniest men I have ever known! Maybe that's why I married my husband. He can make me laugh like my Dad, where I think I'm going to pee my pants.

So the marriage advice I would give (since I'm not there to be in CONTROL) would be:

1. Keep laughing

2. Show each other how much you love each other

3. Don't EVER take this life too serious!

XXOO,

Enjoy,

M

Day 1 cont. Birch

By Michele Lee Copyright 2008

16" x 20" Mixed on canvas

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Here is the Birch. You can't see very well on here but there are all these little white fireflies. But one of them is red. I will have to get a better picture of this one.

Enjoy!

The one on left is the fixed one. (light on ground)

Now Enjoy!

Day 1 on Time Off Week

By Michele Lee copyright 2008
48" x 24" acrylic on canvas

Weeeew! What a great day. I ended up finishing Sushi and doing one of some Birch trees at night. But I may have to do something with the grass area. I also started 2 small flowers. But you will have to wait til later for them. hehe


Here are the ones from today. I hope you all enjoy them.

Didn't wear the sarong today...got lost in some great Jazz. Tomarrow comes steal drums and maybe some sort of beach thing....who knows.

Time Off

Ok guys....here it goes. My husband is giving me a treat this upcoming week. Time off form MOMMYVILLE! Yeah! We have planned out the week of meals for the family, gotten all of the laundry done, and the house is pretty clean. (alot of prep goes into gtting away from mommyville) wew! So everyday for the next week I get to paint as much and as long as I want. Now of course the picture to the left (me at the beach) is where I would REALLY like to go and paint. But you know I am just blessed to be getting this. (now hubby would say "Jeeze, give her a week and she wants a beach too?") So, I ill just put on the steal drum music and wear my sarong for the week in the studio. ;)

So get ready....I have no idea what is going to come out of this. But I can't wait to find out......

I will post them as they are done.

Stay tuned and enjoy the week with me.

New character for the "wierd house museum"

What a wonderful day! I actually got to spend the day with my husband (without doing some sort of project together). We got to just take a drive and stop and visit little places along the way for the WHOLE DAY! I love spending time with him like this. Anyway, we stopped at Pier One to pick up some candles and found this great frog! Now I know that this is a "mass produce" art and it is not mine....but I just fell in love with him. So we brought him home and he now resides off our kitchen in our little coffee and reading area. So since I didn't paint today (still working on the sushi painting, by the way) I thought you all would like to enjoy a little meditation time with the Frog.

kick back...put your feet up...have a nice warm cup of whatever......and let all those silly little resentments go. :)
Enjoy!

Monrovia Artfest May 10,2008

Monrovia Artfestest
Saturday May 10th 10am-6pm
At the Artistic Minds Gallery (corner o Jeff Rd & Old Monrovia)

If you are an artist and you are interested in participating
call Vonda or Diana for info 256-489-0335

This is such a fun art show. I participated in this the first year and just attended the art show last year. I will be paricipating this year...YEAH!! They have music, food and lots of different kinds of artists. You can bring a lawn chair and enjoy a whole day of art and entertainment.
Mark it on your calendars!!!!!

My friend "Bacon"

A while back I gave one of my closest friends daughter,Mary, a challange. Make me a pig with wings. I knew that she was the perfect child to ask because of her love for art. I told her that there was no time limit on delivery and she was to use her imagination. Anyone who knows me will know exactly why I asked this. My home is full of ....shall I say "wierd art". (example Justine-manniquin in family room, Rrrrrreberto-large mexican parrot over bed, Mama Dixie-very large old lady puppet sitting on piano(which is in the dining room-go figure) just to name a few) So of course you can all understand why I NEEDED a flying pig to enter into our "Home of Wierdness". Ok, back to Mary. This is a picture of the pig she created! She has named him Bacon, which I think is absolutely perfect. She also delivered him with a pamphlet of care instructions. This is the most creative child I have ever known. I won't give you all the details of the pamphlet but I will tell you that I just about peeeed my pants trying to read it. She made Bacon out of a cast molding material and even sent him with some extra in case he got injured.

WAY TO GO MARY! Thank you.

I hope you all enjoy Bacon as much as I do. I will post another picture when I get him painted.

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU!

This morning I was meditating on the things that I am grateful for. One of them was the referral from

CA Mark's Stiletto Irrevernce ! Thanks carol. You and all of your friends have been so nice. Thank you for all of the comments and support I have received while starting on this Blogger adventure. Love every one of your senses of humor (now I know thatis not worded correctly for you literary artist...but it's the best I can do ;) Carol's web pages (Stiletto Irreverence is not her only one) are a beautiful quilt of topics, self awareness and sometimes very strong beliefs (which I like!)

Here is a big THANKS again to all of you. This one is for you all.

New Piece

Ok guys, here is the new piece. This is all you get unil tomorrow...if it's done by then. It's a big canvas (4' x 2 1/2') The detail might take a while. I will give you a hint...Sushi ;)

Today I had a friend come over and paint with me. It was really nice. We experimented with paints, chatted and listened to music. (she is the QUEEN of music) It is funny to see how we went from two "chatty cathy's" playing in the paint to dead silent painters. You could almost hear the zone. I think maybe it sounds a little like white noise. My thoughts wonder, sometimes meditating on a thought and sometimes I think nothing at all. Just concentrate on painting the next stroke. I like that part of painting. I love getting lost in time and swimming in the music and paint. What I don't like is; looking up and seeing that it is almost 3pm and time for the kids to get home from school. And I have to go back on Mommy time. (there is no white noise there)ARGGGG! (smile)

One thing I have learned from recovery is: Don't get angry...just do the next thing in front of me. So I used this today and the children and I had a wonderful time together. We did chores, cooked dinner and talked and laughed with each other. I wish my husband could have seen it. He loves times like that.

Well enough of my rantings......Enjoy the "Sushi"

See ya tomorrow!

Shiney's Art

This was written by one of my good friends
I call her Shiney Leigh and she is an artist of literature.
check out her link to the right.
Intrinsically You17 02 2008
Hope your day is moving along providing you with more satisfaction and joy than you knew was possible!
And no, I DONT think that is asking too much or hoping for too much.
If you look at it in moments at a time and appreciate the vast untapped opportunities in each one,the miracles that exist are only in your limited expectations, not in the limitless possibilities!
In other words,
I hope the end of today found you with no regrets and that you did, in fact, GRAB life with BOTH hands!!That you laughed alot. That you found lil things to be in awe of.That you made at least one person feel for a moment that they were wonderful.
That you realized for a moment that what you bring to this life - to those of us fortunate enough to have found you - is infinitely more than you take out of it.And that what you bring is so intrinsically YOU, nobody else can duplicate it either.
~Me

She is so happy!

By Michele Lee Copyright 2008 Acrylic on canvas 16"x20"

Well, I think she's done. But you never know...I could go out to the studio later and find all kinds of things to change. It is another day off here at the house. All the children are home from school (arggg) and hubby is madly running around the house getting ready for a business trip. It is sunny outside finally! I love having everyone at home. It makes me smile just like the girl in the painting. She has been fun to paint because she is so darn happy! Well, I am off to paint some more....the painting may have to be on hold next week. Lots of activities scheduled.

Enjoy....and don't forget to laugh!

Getting started

I spent the day in the studio. Here is a little glimmer of what is coming up. I will tell you one thing...she is so happy that she is about to pee her pants. I love getting lost in art. Most of the time the piece becomes part of me. If it is a figure, it usually developes a character before the day is out. I know it sounds crazy. (and frankly I like that label) But this life is just way too short to be serious. She has been a true joy to paint.

See ya tomorrow.....

"Pensive"

By Michele Lee Copyright 2008 18"x24" acrylic on canvas

Good Morning?....YES! here is a painting that I did a couple of weeks ago. Her name is Pensive. That is the name that my father in law gave her when he saw her. I like it. It fits her well. I think today I am going to do another girl. My friend leigh took a picture of a girl for me the other night. I won't tell you what her name is ....you will just have to wait and see....

On a completely different subject..My sweet husband bought me a laptop! Can we all say "yeah" together? YEAH! I know that he did it because he loves me sooo much, but I think his alternate desire was to get me out of his office. he he;) I was jumping on his computer when ever he would get up to do anything! (he is an engineer so he really needs me not to do that in the middle of work) LOL

Anyway, now I have to learn how to use the darn thing.......But I think I will head out to paint first.

Enjoy "Pensive".

She's done!

By Michele Lee copyright 2008 12"x24" acrylic on canvas


Well, she took a little longer than I had expected. But as usual I got busy with other things. I usually listen to music when I paint. Preferably some sort of easy classical or wallpaper (soft intrumental). This however is what happens to me when I listen to the jazzy Diana Krall. (awsome by the way) I think that the sensuality of the music makes me tend to use a warm color palatte and draw female form.
"JEEZE LOUIS" that sounded like I was artsy fartsy or something. ;)
Well, enjoy. I am off to start another!

One on left is updated. I HAD to change her hair. She needed to be a little more firey to suit me.

Goodbye "D"

This is a painting that I did a long time ago.(2004) It was for me a way to express my feelings of alcohol and the hold that it had on my body, mind and spirit. First the bottle was sparkly and made me feel free from any fears I had. Then it turned with a vengance and became a firey poison in my veins.

Today I found out that one of my brothers in recovery died. and it SUCKS!!!! I will never walk into a meeting again and see his face. I will never leave a meeting and smell his cologne on my clothes from the hug that he gave. I will never again see him open his book...find the right passage for that moment..and read it to me. I hate it because it scares me. I hate it for him because of the joy he brought to everyone around him. Some days it is wonderful to be an alcoholic because I get to have a place and program that teaches me how to live this life. Some days I hate being an alcoholic because I have to see the people I love dearly in the program die. But one thing I do know is that he will never ever feel the pain or have to work at this life again.

Goodbye "D". I will miss you..............

Valentine Update

See here is the heart hanging in the living room for all to see. Did they notice.....I think not. Did they(and I mean the children) say thank you for their gifts after ripping them open...I think not. I think...well that's ok. So, I head off to my morning meeting.(recovery). The topic was dealing with expectations, the reading for the day was about expectations, my sponsor's quote for the day she sent me..... EXPECTATIONS! I get a feeling that the theme for the day from God is...um....well....expectations?! So, the day has made a wonderful turn. Instead of wondering why ...I've come to the conclusion that I received a much bigger gift today. Not the one I would have imagined, but the one that was specially designed for me. ;)

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!

By Michele Lee copyright 2008 36"x48" acrylic on canvas

Ok, so it's not officially V-Day yet....but it sure is close! So, Happy Valentine's Day! Here is the heart I painted for my family. I love them! It is about 4ft X 3ft (it's huge!) I am going to get up early and hang it in the living room. I wonder if any of the sleepy heads will even notice? Who know's....I'll keep you posted. Enjoy the heart and enjoy the day.

The New Girl

Hello all. Today was a good day to paint. Sunny and about 60. I can't wait for spring! See I am so ready that I have to paint a girl with a sleevless dress on. She is still in the works but I thought you all might enjoy her. She has no hair or completed hands (and she will probably end up with a completely different color scheme before I am done) but I like her. She has been a nice change and challange for the day. Hopefully tomorrow I can finish her. But with my life....you never know! he he;)
It's off to bed for this kitty.......Enjoy.




by Michele Lee copyright 2008

"But Seriously Folks"

by Michele Lee copyright 2005 16"X20" mixed on canvas

I did not get to do any actual painting today. I was to busy running errands, cleaning house, grocery shopping, doing laundry, taking care of sick child...(small nap)....then taking the basketball team out to eat in my large van I like to call "Bernice". (16 passenger to be exact with 4 hula girls on the dash and a pink flamingo lisence plate) smile.

But i did get to squeeze in some research for the next painting and a trip to the art supply store. YEAH NEW BRUSHES!!! All that being said, I didn't want to leave you all with nothing. So, here is one of my older paintings (2005). I have this one hanging in our 1/2 bath. Everyone who goes in there always seems to enjoy it. I hope you all do too.

GINA IS DONE!!!!!!!!

So here is GINA. I just finished. I still have to varnish it. Then I get to take it to her!!!! I really had a good time doing this one. She gave me a whole list of things that represented her and her husband. I think I managed to get every one of them in the painting. But they will have to look very hard to find them. (wink)

Next up is a figure. I NEED to paint a body! Sometimes when I do one thing for a while, I ACHE to do something different. Well, I am off for the day. I hope that you all enjoy the painting.

Girls Night

This is our Girl's Night crew. We were missing a few. Yes....we are all girls! ;)

Enjoy

Girl's Night!

Hi all!!! Sorry that I did not get around to posting yesterday. Life stepped in and tossed me around for a while. Between visiting a friend in the hospital,getting children packed and shipped to friends, supper,basketball party food prep and having to have a Komono made by 6.....I found myself, at the least, a little frazzled! But I wouldn't change one of these days for anything.

Here is a picture of me and Leigh. My sweet hubby took this of us last night before we went to "Girls Night"...What a blast! We have begun having a Girls Night once a month. (I highly recommend it) They used to be just a gathering of girls to eat and gab. But my friend Carol has kicked it up a notch...BAM! Last night was "Dorothy Parker Night". We had to come dressed as our favorite writer or character. I thought that it might be too much for us but was pleasantly suprised.....we all had a blast. We brought our books and told why we enjoyed them. Then let someone have the book to read. And we all got a signed book about Dorothy Parker!(Carol's gift) I brought Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. (If you haven't read it ...DO! It is about sisterhood) Leigh went as Tom Robbins(writer). She was freaking everyone out because she looked SOOOO much like a man. Just look at her compared to her press pass she has on! See? Freaky!

So, I guess my art yesterday was sewing a half-baked Komono and.......actually BECOMING Snow Flower(voice and all) for the evening. Good thing my friends are used to this kind of behavior in me ;)

Two thumbs up to Carol!!!!!!Great Idea Ms Dorothy Parker.

The beginning of "Gina"

Worked for about 8 hrs today. Here is a sneak peak at the beginning of the "Gina" painting.......Can you guess what it will look like? I had to shut down early tonight to get some sleep.

Enjoy!

Huntsville Art Blog

I forgot to post yesterday. Silly me. I spent the day with a good friend of mine prop searching for a new painting. Finally got everything I need and ,more importantly, got it laid out in my head. And there is a lot of space in there.(smile) This one is going to be somewhat of a challange. I have to incorperate 2 peoples interests and loves. So I will post it when I'm done.

On another note, I am one of the featured artists for the month of Feb. on the Huntsville Art Blog. Yeah! So here is the link (it is also on the right side of my page). I thought that you all would be interested....there are some AWSOME artisits on there.

Enjoy!

Huntsvilleartblog.blogspot.com

GOODNIGHT IRENE!

This is my studio (or part of it) at the end of a long day! It has been that today. You can see the monkey painting in progress on the right.

Enjoy.

It is "Goodnight Irene" for me.

New painting! .......He needs a name.

By Michele Lee Copyright 2008 16"x20" acrylic on canvas

Here it is! But I might change the background. Had to stop painting the monkey early today. I have a new piece that I have to start for a girl named Gina. I am excited...it is going to be kind of like the "Leigh" painting. But it will be about 2 people. Gotta go get to work!

Enjoy the monkey.....Don't let him get on your back!

If you can think of a title for him....post it on the comments.

Paint Day with the girls!

YEAH!!!! Had a wonderful day of art. I spent the day with some girlfriends painting. (well 1/2 the day. I had to come back home and be a mom for a while) But then I got to paint some more!!! Can you tell I love to paint? Anyway, we all sat around and painted, ate and had a little chit-chat. These girls are GOOD! I liked seeing their different styles.

I don't ever paint this way, so it was a nice change. Usually I am in my studio alone listening to wallpaper. NO, not the kind you put on the walls. Although that might be worth a try ;) It is music that my sweet husband put together for me. Here is a sneak peak at the one I started. (that's all you get for now) I will post it when I am finished. It has been fun painting it because it is soooo loud!

Enjoy the sneak peak....I'll be back tomorrow with the finished piece.

"Robin"

by Michele Lee, copyright 2005 Sold

About"Robin" ....I usually start my days with a cup of coffee and meditation. This morning I was thinking of a friend of mine named Robin. She is the owner of an art gallery (The Clay House) here in town. She is loosing her battle with cancer. Please keep her family in your prayers. She was one of those people who are just genuinly happy and shiney. (I like those kind) When I first started painting and decided to get out there a little, she offered to show my work in her gallery. In turn for giving me a "featured artist show" and for being such an inspiration, I painted this for her and presented her with it on the last day of the show. To me this is who she is. When ever anyone would drive down main street by the gallery in the summer, they would see Robin in a rocking chair on the front porch. Smile on her face and usually talking to someone. She sponsored many art shows and festivals at her gallery. She is and will always be a leader in the art community of Madison,Al. Thank you Robin.

(The picture at the top is of The Clay House Art Gallery)

My Day

Add on to the last post.....Julie's friend made it very clear that I did not give her credit for the photography!

Photography by Natalie

It is day 2 on the blog. So far so good. What a bautiful day it is. I am up in my daughters room on her computer. She came in and is playing a little background music for me.(Dust In The Wind by Kansas & Jamman by my sweet Julie herself) I am blessed! Isn't she beautiful?

Now I have to go get out to the studio. I have a painting to do for another friend. It is kind of like the one I did for Leigh. I will post it when I'm done. Sometimes it takes me 8 hours....sometimes 8 days. Wish me luck!

Here it is. I am still new at this. It's called "Leigh". I did it for a good friend of mine for her __th birthday.












"Leigh" by Michele Lee Copyright 2008 Sold

So here is my most recent piece. It is called "Leigh" I did it for a good friend of mine for her birthday.

Day1

So, here I am ......Day 1. I am hoping that I can really keep this blog up. This year is all about the disipline. HA That's a good one. I have never EVER had any thing even remotely resembleing disipline in my life.......EXCEPT for art. I love it! So everyday I vow to do some little or some big something with my art. It might be a whole painting or it might be computer junk. But by golly it's going to be something. Ok....that's all i have.