Start of Lanterns

Here is a new one for the day. It seems to have been stuck in my head for about a week now. I NEED to put some good color and "summertime feel" down on canvas. This is just the beginning I did quickly this morning. I will post more as it is done.

Today is the art show at HAL, so I have been running around for the last couple of days getting ready for that. I wish that I could just paint all the time. I like showing my work, but I have to get used to the public part of this work. I guess it is just another thing that I have to jump into with both feet. Here I go.

Enjoy!

Zach's Guitar

Here is the new one. My friend Zach had gotten a painting a while back and wanted another one like it. But of a different guitar, so here it is. I am sure that he will be happy to get it, seeing as I have had it at the house for about 2 weeks now. :)

Enjoy

And the "painting" resumes!!!!!

Sorry I've been gone so long. It has been a very busy week. The children were out for spring break (they are back in school now)!!!!!! Yeah for school! This week I am preparing for the art show on Saturday and my sweet husband is having surgery on Thursday. Poor thing...he will be down for a few days. So, I thought since I had a little time today, I would start a new piece. This one is really big, so it might take a while. It is also an oil...which requires a LOT more drying time. This is scene of an art gallery that was in Fairhope, Al. My husband and I went there about 2 years ago...maybe 3. I think the paint fumes are getting to me:) Anyway, it was a beautiful town and the people were amazing. (lots of art) We were strolling the streets one day and enjoying our coffee and sunshine when we saw this gallery. It reminds me of New Orleans. The inside was even more incredible. Sorry to say I didn't get a picture of that.

So here is the beginning...enjoy!

YOU'RE INVITED!!!

Don't forget to mark your calendars and tell your friends!


You are Invited
to an
Artist Reception
for
Michele Lee

When: Saturday, March 29,2008
3-5pm

Where: Huntsville Art League
3005 L&N Drive Suite 2
Huntsville, AL 35801



Please go to the website below for directions and Artist information:

http://www.huntsvilleartleague.org/

Posey

by Michele Lee copyright 2008 16x20" acrylic on canvas

Well, I think Posey is done. Or at least she needs to be. I tend to play with paintings too long until I end up messing something up. Maybe it comes from the "not knowing when to stop" problem I have :)

Anyway, she was been a blast to paint! I listened to the new Karen Johns CD and some wonderful solo piano music and this is who came out. My favorite part is the shine on those fishnets. Something magic about those legs of hers. hmmmm?

Have a great day!

Enjoy

Progress not Perfection

Well I have been a busy girl this morning. I have one more detail on the belly. It's going to be fun. I started a guitar that's almost finished for my friend Zach. It is due tomorrow. ARGGG. And then I couldn't help starting this girl. Her name is Posey. She is one of the actresses in the Posey Peep Show that we have here. But she has a ways to go. Not bad for 6 hrs :)

I like to look at it as "Progress not Perfection". If I try to perfect things in a hurry....I end up with a big MESS! Kind of like my life. If I try to keep all of the balls in the air perfectly.....I end up dropping them all and having to start from scratch, frustrated, angry and disappointed. So I say...have fun with one ball at a time. Eventually God will add more into the mix and he and I will make a little progress ;) not perfection.

Enjoy this beautiful Sunday...and the girls

DATE NIGHT with hubby & Karen Johns

Had date night with my hubby. We went to the Flying Monkey (Huntsville's local art co-op) If you are from here and you haven't been yet....GO! I can't say enough about it. Anyway, we went to see Karen Johns. Greg turned me on to her. He found her music through CD Baby and burned me a CD. I have been painting to her stuff and LOVE HER! By the way, Carol, her music is what I listened to while painting your girl. So when he told me that she was coming to the Monkey....well....we HAD to go. She is a little lounge lizard, a little blues, a little jazz, and a little musical theatre. In other words.....she is blessed! And on top of it all, she is a NICE person. I like those kind the best :)

My sweet husband went over to her at the break and within a few minutes I heard my name being mentioned. So of course I had to be nosey. He was telling her about how I love to paint to her music! And all about the painting of the girl I did while listening to her song "Carry Me Away". So she said she wanted to see it and possibly buy it because of all he had told her. He's so sweet. So Carol....you better hang on to her. ;) I can't wait to get out to the studio tomorrow and start a new painting from the CD, "Lucky Day", we bought tonight.

Thanks Karen for making the music,that blares from my studio daily, come to life.

Enjoy the pictures and here is her web site if you are in the mood for a little lounge time:

http://www.karenjohns.com/

What is going on?

What is going on in this house late at night? I awoke this morning to one of my 14 yr olds playing AC/DC as loud as it would go. (Now this is not a complaint..I think they are one of the all time greatest bands) But as I came out of my bedroom and into the kitchen for my morning coffee and meditation I noticed that Isabelle looked a little different. Hmmmm I thought....what is it.....a SOMBRARO?! Had she been up partying all night? Does she do this often? And where in the world did she find a sombraro? Isabelle, you are one crazy girl!

Ok people, it is just a little ha ha. I haven't lost my mind. But I have talked about our manniquin, Isabelle, in the past and thought you might like to see her. Thanks to Leigh's son, Robert, for the sombraro! What a fun new prop! I think I might have to paint something with that hat.

Enjoy!

YEAH...I got to paint!

So every artist or I should say quite a few, always seem to have done a self portrait at one time or another. Had I done a self portrait 5 yrs ago it would not have been a pretty site. So today I decided to do something a little different. I decided to start a painting of me. Well it's not a real me but it is how I feel about my..."me". Never thought I would get to the point where I would say this out loud, but here it goes. These days I feel warm and loved. I feel shiney and clean. And I feel.....well....LIKE I NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT!!! Ok, I'm back just a little of the old Michele left in there. I hope that one day my belly does look like this. I have already started....I went as far as to have my husband move my exercise machine to a spot where it can get more use. Or at least I can look at it. Some character defects haven't changed. Like procrastination. Don't really like that character defect very much.....I think I might have to work on that...tomorrow ;)

So, give yourself a big hug....and enjoy every single bit of you.

Wedding Flowers

I have made very few friends since being sober. Back in 2003 when people found out...either they did not want to know me anymore or I did not want to know them. Needless to say, I lived for a while in this world with no "true" friends. I think that God needed me to be alone for a little while to work on me. Boy did he have some work to do! ;) Anyway....I now have what I consider "true" friends. They are just a few...but I love them each very deeply. One of those friends asked me and my friend Leigh http://fencepostings.wordpress.com/ to lunch the other day. We were asked to be "Bridesmaids" (I like that word better than "Matron") in her wedding.!! Better yet...I think I want to be called Bride-chick or maybe Bride-sister or maybe...OH WAIT this is NOT all about me. She said that we get to wear anything we want....I think "Snow Flower" might have to make an appearance. LOL You know... the girl that I "BECAME" for our girl's night book party a while back. OK OK......I'M DONE! BACK TO THE STORY. Along with being a Brides-whatever she wanted me to help with the flowers. So today I did a little flower research. I also found this painting of a "steel magnolia" that I had done in 2006. It was tucked away on a stand in my entertainment center.

Congratulations Carol. http://www.stilettoirreverence.blogspot.com/ I know you and the "Gent" will be happy.

Enjoy!



by Michele Lee copyright 2008 watercolor pencil on canvas board

I NEEEED to PAINT!!!

I NEEED TO PAINT!!!!

Here is what I have been up to. I know...looks wierd huh? Well here's the scoop. A little while ago my husband and I built another room in our home. It is his office. BUT... after completing the basic project I had one final task.... paint the doors that "he" put in. You see, I said ..HE not WE. This part of the project was all his. All I had to do was paint the silly things. I mean, how hard could that be?.......Well for an artist who butterflies from project to project...painting to painting....PRETTY HARD!! I was also asked by my hubby (around the same time) to put a new patch on his "All About Me" jacket. Well...I thought...that will only take a minute. I have a few more things that I "WANNA" do, then I will get right to it. PSSSFFFTT! Let's see....skip ahead about 3 monhs or so :( and I finally got them done. These are the projects I hate the most...The ones that I put off until tomorrow. They hang over my head day after day until I get to a snapping point. Then I have to physically and mentally push myself to just get started on them an GET THEM DONE! But... and I throw a big BUT in there. When I am done...I am SOOOOO happy and relieved!

So, now I am done with a few more "gottas" and NEEEED TO PAINT. The aching inside of me is so loud that it is draining me. There are so many colors and paintings locked in my head from last week..I think I might POP!

Do you ever get that way about your passion?

Roses and sunflowers

GOOD MORNING!!!! It is sunny today and I am loving every minute of it. Here is the picture that I started at Girl's night. I am going to try to finish it today or tomorrow. I have been kind of busy this week with other activities....to long of a list to mention them all. I am looking forward to getting back in the studio some next week. We'll see how that goes. I have quite a few "home projects" that I have let go for way too long. am trying to get all of them done so that they are not hanging over my head. Learking in the shadows...whispering.."remember me? come finish me." My friend Leigh calls them her "Gottas". She says...you gotta do your gottas before you can do your wannas. I like that. But most of the time, yes I am going to admit it out loud, I do my wannas until my gottas pile up. My husband says I'm like a little butterfly, flitting from thing to thing. (he does this little dance with it too) It's so cute. I hope you all enjoy the beginning of this painting.

Butterfly Girl....Over and Out >>>>>>>swoosh

Girl's Night-March 2008

YEAH!!!! We had our March Girl's Night. The theme this month was painting. Can ya tell? Last month was book night. We all have such a blast when we get together. These are my sisters and ,may I add, some very creative girls. I love each and every one of them. It is such a blessing to have good friends in this life. The painting to the left is our painting that we all added something to. It came out very neat! I tried to get pictures of everyone...but seemed to leave myself and our host for the month, Becky, out of the shots. Sorry Becky...you know I love you too. Can't wait til next month girls.......Big hugs!

Awards for the evening go to ...

Carol - Getting the courage up to lay that slinky girl of hers on the piano. VA VA VOOM!

Leigh - Creating "a rose by any other name is just a rose" great job!

Gloria - Getting out of the house with a brand new knee to share her grace with us and a folk art style sunflower that is in true Gloria form.

Anna - Interpreting the music we listened to with such beauty...and a GREAT laugh!

Angie - The fastest painter in the south! This woman can sit as quiet as a mouse and let go of all her inhabitions....10 minutes later...KABOOM the most beautiful sunflower!

And last but not least.....

Becky - I would mention the "barfing dog" impersonation....naaa. How about great hostess award.

And we all left with her husbands new CD "DAVE AND THE MOONDOGS". Thanks Becky.

Why not start a girls night where you are? Or a boy's...sorry...men's night?

If you can't...then sit back and enjoy this one!

Personalities

One thing that I love to do is to create someones personality on canvas. I know that things that represent us always changes...but I think it's nice to hae that time in your life captured. Here are a few examples I have done recently. I haven't had much time to paint this week :( so I thought you all might enjoy seeing a few of these together. They are entitles, from left to right. "Leigh", "Gina&David", and "Julie".

So, think about the things that would represent who you are?
ENJOY! And have a great Friday!

"Waiting"

By Michele Lee copyright 2008 8x10" oil pastel on paper framed

Mommyville has officially started back! And what a great day for my back to go out! (well it is not all the way out yet :) So I have been spending most of the day on the couch.

Since this is a year of Art I thought that I would post one of my older pieces. This one was done last year and was sold on the first night of the Huntsville Art Stroll...may-sept.....If you all have not attended one of these it is a MUST in Huntsville. An evening on the square with about 150 artists , musicians, actors, and little coffee shops along the way...MMMM YUMMY! The Spring and Summer evenings here are absolutely blissfull. I cannot even describe them in words.

I call this girl "Waiting". A lady was walking by at the art stroll, stopped dead in her tracks, looked a the girl-looked at me....and said.."I have to have her" (her hair looked almost identical to the girl's) I LOVE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS> because I know how I feel when I am stopped dead in my tracks by something beautiful or moving.....It is the feeling of AWE.

So stop.....and enjoy the "Waiting"

Hanging Day

TAAA DAAA! Of course I can't give you all any normal picture for the day. It is in my nature to do a TAaa DAaa!

The day went very well. My friend Gina, who is an art consultant and set the whole thing up, even came out to help me hang. Thanks Gina. And my sweet husband worked his photo magic and gave me the Tme-Out week.. Thanks baby. I am so glad that i pushed myself so hard this week. Even if I don't sell a thing, I have really enjoyed all that I have learned and I will have gotten quite a few pieces done for the shows that are starting in April. Thanks everyone for putting up with my crazy self this past week. XXOO

Enjoy!

Spring re-post

Some people have said that they cannot really see the detail in the spring flower that was in my last post. Here is a better pic for you guys.

Enjoy

LAST DAY-Time Off Week

By Michele Lee copyright 2008 8"x10" acrylic on board

Well ,well, well, my week has come to an end. Sad but true. I have had so much fun! I hope you all have too. (hey that rhymes) OK back to the story....Monday I go hang all the new pieces, along with some older ones, at HAL. Then it's back to "Mommyville". Now, don't get to thinking that there will be no art. I just have to go back to regular hours. So there will just be less art. Let's recap shall we?
1. Learned some new techniques
2. Worked with lots of different music (favorite is still
instrumental)
3. Didn't drink (always a favorite)
4. Didn't cook ANY meals! (thank you Greg)
5. Talked with God a lot! (he says hi)
6. Learned that TOO much time alone makes Shelly a little
crazy! (hard to converse with people after being locked
in the studio all day and night)
7. Learned a LOT of discipline (contrary to my previous belief...I liked it)
8. Learned a whole lot about this computer. (still have a long long way to go on that one)
9. Learned that there is a LOT of stuff in my head! (can't paint fast enough to get it out...what's
up with that?)



Here is the final painting for the week. I am going to call her "Spring". I tried a new technique today and it helped that it was 65 and sunny. I can't hardly wait until things really start to bloom. My soul is ready for it! COME ON SPRING!

Enjoy!

ARGGGG HAL is coming!

OK first let me say HAAAAA to all of you who come to my house on a regular basis. See it's not always clean. I even had to crop out the kitchen area because of the tremendous MESS!

With that being said.....my coffee nooke has turned into a art warehouse in prep for the HAL showing! Hopefully I can get it all together befor Monday when I have to go hang.

Day 6-Time Out Week

By Michele Lee copyright 2008 16"x20" Acrylic on Board

I think she might be done....can't decide. I really enjoyed making her. I wonder what she is thinking about in that garden of hers? After I posted my last post about her I got an e-mail. The e-mail said that THIS girl has already been in her and that it was very weird to see her now in reality on canvas. That is so moving to me. That is the exact reason I do art! It's not about the fame and glory (not that I have any...but if I did;). It is simply to give something back. Now don't get me wrong...a little money never hurts, but usually the prices of my paintings just reimburse my addiction. (That being art supplies, so don't go get any crazy thoughts) So this one goes out to Carol ( CA Mark's Stiletto Irrevernce ) . I have decided to name her simply............"In Me"

Enjoy!