Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!!

Well, more excuses...My "almost daily painting blog" is becoming my "almost monthly painting blog"! Again, I do apologize. Our high speed is still not up, therefore, I can't upload any quality images (way... too... slow) OMG! But to be completely honest, I haven't got anything new to show as of yet. I hope to get back on the bandwagon after Christmas. My commission is minutes away from being finished, which will free up my precious moments for other pursuits.
I got my early Christmas present today...Yah RIGHT!! 3 wisdom teeth pulled in one day. "On the first day of christmas my true love gave to me...1 top right molar, and a partridge in a pear tree..." Percoset is great, though. I've never been "put under" before either. Never done drugs, never smoked, etc...yah, the typical, unpopular goody goody. I hope to be past the unpopular stage and maybe just be called a granola head or something, but, anyways.

Being put under is pretty cool. The attendants are talking away, chatting about which prescriptions to take and then I'm looking at the ceiling, and it's kind of undulating, like waves on a beach. It finally comes into focus and there's my husband. "Hey honey, we can go now."
I'm like, "Wild...don't I have to get some teeth pulled?"
He says "No, you're done," and then I realize that my face feels like one solid piece of ice from my eyes down. Otherwise, I feel fine. I wish labor was like that! Oh, your having a baby?...Here it is darling...you're all done!
Well, I hope everyone out there is having a wonderful holiday season. I know I will. We're heading to Maui in a couple of weeks. We'll have high speed there, and also plenty of inspiration, and time to paint. So you'll be hearing much more of me in the New Year.
Uh oh, the percoset kicking in. I'd better go to bed before I start writing more gibberish.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! HO, HO, HO!

AAAHHHRRRGGG!!!

I can't believe it's already been three weeks since my last post. Almost Daily Painting Blog is a little inaccurate at the moment. I must apologize. My brain is having a difficult time reacting to the actual passing of time. I'll think, "Oh yeah, I have to do that this week." But, it was actually last week I was supposed to do it, and I just haven't caught up yet, do you catch my drift? It's not that my life is crazy busy or anything. It's just the normal stay at home mom, self-employed, wife and housekeeper thing..writing a book, doing school work, looking after children and husband, trying to keep the house clean and family fed, and oh yeah, paint! Maybe I've just faltered in the time management area...or is it the fact that basically since the time change, I'm back to living on four hours of sleep a night? (Whoever invented that wonderful thing didn't have kids! Mine are still convinced that 4 a.m. is 5, etc...) Whatever it is, production has drastically been reduced, it's down to just plain old surviving. Said assignment that was due is now very overdue, I had to call in for an extension...said commission is...well...it's started. I have been painting this week, trying to get it done, and right now it's at that stage, that awful, horrible, stage where I want to throw it out the window and start over! I worked for over an hour tonight, and it just seemed to make it worse and worse. Every brush-stroke created mud, and it felt like I had completely forgotten how to paint. I was doing things backwards, like working on little details first! I mean, come on Tahirih, I learned that stuff back in high school, and here I am, my little 01 paintbrush, painting a corsage before the jacket was even blocked in. Well, needless to say, I gave up in disgust.
What is it about a commission that makes it so difficult? Is it performance anxiety? I can whip off a painting for myself in about 4 hours some nights, and it turns out beautifully. As soon as it's for someone who is paying me, it takes me longer than that to convince my ass into the studio. Then, I start painting corsages right of the bat, and forget what happens when you mix blue and yellow! Help!
Sorry no picture to post tonight, either. My high speed is down, and I'm suffering with very slow dial-up. It took me ten minutes just to log in to blogger.
Well, I certainly hope I have something to show you soon.
Goodnight all.

Hey Horsey!

I was absolutely horse CRAZY as a kid! I drew horse after horse after horse, I talked about horses, dreamed about horses, and finally, when I was twelve, my parents got me my very own horse. But, I think I must have got sick of drawing horses, because this is the first horse I have painted in about 15 years! I made it look just like mine, Miss Peeti Poco. I miss her. She died when I was 27, and coincidentally, she was 27. Our birthdays were only a week apart. I really enjoyed painting this little thing. I may have to give horses another go! This is another ACEO for ebay. The detail is difficult, though, so it's quite hard to make it look polished, and the picture doesn't do it justice. 2.5" x 3.5" is so small!
Well, I have a portrait commission that I have to start work on tomorrow, as well as an assignment almost due for my writing course, so I don't know when I'll next be able to post. Maybe if the weather is good enough for pictures, I'll post some in progress ones of the commission. So, ciao for now.

Crazy ACEO's Craze

So, I decided to try a few ACEO's, I believe it stands forArt Card Edition Collectables. My mistaken assumption was that I could whip them off fairly quickly, thereby afford to sell them for much less on ebay. Well...let's just say, that I could have finished three 6"x8" paintings in the time it took to do four of these little suckers, and the fourth is not fit to show you! It's hard to get convincing detail into a 2.5" x 3.5" little square!
My brain feels like it's going to explode!!! The good thing was, that I could work on them at the kitchen table with the kids running around, I didn't have to hide in my studio.
My poor baby girl is sick right now, though! ArRrGghhh!!! What I wouldn't give for daycare sometimes. Not when they're sick, I mean, but on other days, so I could get something done.
Any other artists out there have any experience with ACEO's?
Are they worth the time and effort? I want to paint big!! Really big, actually. My arm is starting to cramp and pretty soon I'll need reading glasses, or to paint under a magnifying glass!

Queen Shiva

This is my beautiful cat, Shiva. She's a Burmese, with attitude. She does indeed think that she is the Queen! She loves the sun, and takes every opportunity to soak it up, and this is one of the few times that she liked to be outside. I'm pretty happy with this painting. I haven't had much luck at painting animals in oil in the past, but maybe I'm finally getting it. The scan doesn't really do it justice though, it shows the background as shiny and uneven, while I think the scan just picked up on directional brushstrokes. There's a little too much glare, too. Anyways, hope y'all like it.

In Pursuit of the Perfect Wave

~In Pursuit of the Perfect Wave~ 16" x 16" original oil on canvas $400.00

This is a horrible photo of this painting! The colors are off, and the big white glare in the middle doesn't exist, it's from the light in the room. I can't get a good picture because I can't remember the last day that it didn't rain here! I finished this painting last night, and I really wanted to post it, so this photo is temporary, until I get a good day.
It's quite a bit larger than anything I've painted lately, but I really felt like I needed to breathe...take a break from the mini paintings and stretch my painting arm! How can you tell it's winter?...I'm painting beach scenes! I'm dreaming of the ocean, the sun and holidays! I can't wait till January.
This was from a black and white photograph that my sister took at Long Beach in Tofino, B.C. Check out more of her photography at www.ArtWanted.com/Karie.
TIP: For photographing your artwork, the best light is outdoors on a slightly overcast day. It gives a soft, even light which doesn't seem to affect the colors as much as trying to shoot indoors, under artificial light. Put your painting on a flat, even surface, or hang it on a wall. I usually try to zoom as much of the painting into the frame as possible, then crop it in photoshop to get clean edges.

CRASH!

CRASH!! 6"x 8" oil on gallery wrapped canvas ~ $120.00 CAN

This one was really a challenge. I'm new to painting water. The painting "Beach Baby" was my first real attempt. It turned out well, and so did "Our Own Island", so I thought I'd try this one. It's from a photo that my very talented sister, Karie Goffic, took. You can check out her incredible photography at www.ArtWanted.com/Karie. I'm pretty happy with the results. The hardest part for me was to get the big spray to look convincing. There are sure a lot of variations of light and shadow and color in something that most people would consider just white!

Our Own Island

It was such a great day yesterday that I was able to finish two paintings! I completed this one last night after the kids went to bed and put the finishing touches on it this morning.
I feel like I've hit a new learning curve. There was something I was hearing for a long time, but it never really sunk in. With these last few paintings, I think I've got it. It's that when you start, do a general block in of shapes and values. It sounds very logical, but I think that I may have not been really doing it before. Not generalizing the shapes and values enough. Maybe it's all of the practice that almost daily painting provides, I'm simply getting better.

Beach Baby

Ahhhh...to paint!!!! What a wonderful day I've had. For the first Saturday in forever, my husban didn't work, and I was able to paint in the daytime, before I was exhausted, and for more than an hour. What an incredible experience!! I feel refreshed, inspired and re-energized. It helps that the baby is sleeping almost through the night these days, too. (KNOCK ON WOOD!!)

I am really pleased with this painting. It was from a photo I took a few years ago at Okanagan Lake in Kelowna, where I got to go for a family reunion. It was my son's first time at a beach, he was 2, and in heaven. A really great memory, and it turned into a really great painting.

The Little Artists

I have actually been painting up a storm lately and have been keeping very busy. I seem to have a hard time finding the minutes to get my images uploaded and keep updating my blog. Nothing is particularly new and exciting in my life, just mothering and painting. This is a picture of my two darling children, Jacob and Rhiannon. It seems they have inherited my desire to create. They both love to draw and paint and I try to encourage them as much as possible. I praise their silliest little doodles. That's what my dad did, and I've been an artist ever since!

Svisdahl Homestead

"Svisdahl Homestead" 6" x 8" original oil on gallery wrapped canvas $80.00 CAN

This is my latest "painting a day". I took my kids for a walk in the stroller the other day, in the rain. This is one of the places on our walk. It is listed as a Heritage Site in Bella Coola, being one of the oldest existing farms from the old Norweigan settlers that first came to Bella Coola. The sky was really neat. Heavily overcast on one side, with the sun trying to peek through on the other. I thought I'd try to capture it, so here it is.

Salutation to the Sun

Salutation to the Sun ~ 6" x 8" original oil on gallery wrapped canvas $80.00 CAN

I found the reference photo for this painting at ArtWanted.com. It's by a photographer named Micheal Manning, and I would like to thank him profusely for allowing me to use his image as inspiration. I saw it and it made me laugh. It reminded me of doing yoga, these silly geese stretching their necks way out to the light. Anyways, it will be posted on ebay for sale by the end of this week, along with a few more new ones, and some old ones that I'm going to re-list.
Goodnight all.

October

October ~ "6" x 8" original oil on gallery wrapped canvas $80.00 CAN

So, I had a nice visit to Quesnel. I took lots of pictures of the incredible fall foliage, and this was one of them. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. It's called "October." I'll be listing this one on ebay soon, so be sure to check out my auction.

I'm still not getting much sleep, trying to recover from the flu. I really want to paint more, but it's just not happening.

To Sleep or to Paint?

Hi all, sorry, still posting only sporadically. That wasn't my intention when I started this blog, but...Life has different ideas for us sometimes. My only time to do this is the evening, and my 17 month old daughter, bless her little heart, decided that she was no longer going to be weaned from her night feedings. So my last two months of sleep training, and my little taste of sleep lasting more than 4 consecutive hours, came to an end. She started waking up every single hour all night and the only thing that would get her to sleep was to nurse! Believe me, I tried not to give in, but sometimes sanity comes first! Anyways, that put a stop to any painting or posting.
So, we started all over the other night. Made her dad sleep with her all weeekend. She doesn't act up half as much for him! We're making some headway, so hopefully I'll have some new paintings to show you soon. I'm itching to get that brush in my hand!
I'll be away from my computer for about a week, taking a holiday, so maybe I'll have time to paint then.
Ciao for now.

Mother

Sorry, no posts in a long time. I've been working on an assignment for the children's writing course that I'm studying. This is a new painting though, that I finished last night. I think it's finished, anyways. I might put some kind of hanging in the background in really dark tones, I'm not sure yet.

I'm also ridiculously exhausted this last week. My daughter, who was weaned off of her night feedings, is no longer. She's waking up every hour or two all night to nurse, and I can't seem to wean her. I'm at my wits end! I also have no energy to do
much of anything, let alone paint.

Well, I'm sure it will get better soon.
Signing off for now.

More on Plastics!

This is the painting I mentioned last night, it is a study for a flamenco dancer that I hope to do a bigger painting of. It only took an hour and a half, not really a finished work, but a plan...

I'm still on this no plastic kick. Well, this is for life, this no plastic kick. I vow to not buy any more products where my food comes in contact with any dangerous plastic. Today I bought fresh cow's milk, from a farmer, and even made my own butter from the cream that was on it. It's so easy!!! It only took about ten minutes...Voila...butter. Add a little salt and it tastes perfect. Anyways, I'm rambling. I'm furious because today I found out the sippy cup that I've been giving my daughter for the last year, has PVC in it, a totally toxic plastic, and a water jug I've been using for probably a year has it as well. I got this info from a site called www.pcvfree.org.

PVC - The Poison Plastic

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic, commonly referred to as vinyl, is one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. PVC is dangerous to human health and the environment throughout its entire life cycle, at the factory, in our homes, and in the trash. Our bodies are contaminated with poisonous chemicals released during the PVC lifecycle, such as mercury, dioxins, and phthalates, which may pose irreversible life-long health threats. When produced or burned, PVC plastic releases dioxins, a group of the most potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, which can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems.
Why are the companies out there allowed to sell this stuff?!! It blows my mind! I've been unwittingly poisoning my family and it's almost impossible to avoid. It should be illegal to sell this stuff...I mean, they're killing babies and they don't even care! I feel like yelling and screaming and lawsuits! But what can we, the public do? Just protect ourselves. I'm only using glass, and wax paper and paper bags now. So what for the inconvenience. Now that I know, now that I have the information, how could I possibly keep on giving these things to my family. I hope everybody on the planet figures this out, and gets this information, and decides to not buy plastic anymore. www.pcvfree.org has a petition you can sign to send Target stores, as a plea to get them to phase out PVC. Many stores, such as Wal-mart, Toyota, Nike and Victoria's Secret have already made this promise, but Target is lagging behind. I signed it, I hope everybody that reads this post will,too.

BE HAPPY!!

I am painting new pictures, really! I just keep forgetting to photograph them in the daylight. Last night I did one of a flamenco dancer, an 8x10 study for a larger painting. I'll try to post it tomorrow.
The picture for tonight is one of my old favorites, one of my Dad. I chose this one because my blog tonight is about happiness, and he just looks so happy in this picture, it is how I usually think of him.

This is a quote from the Baha'i Faith. It is so true!
"When a man turns his face towards God, he finds sunshine everywhere. Be Happy! Be Happy! Be full of Joy! Joy gives us wings! In times of joy or strength is more vital, our intellect keener, and our understanding less clouded. We seem better able to cope with the world and to find our sphere of usefulness. ~Abdul-Baha~
~and here's another~
Happy the soul that shall forget his own good, and like the chosen ones of God, vie with his fellows in service to the good of all; until, strengthened by the blessings and perpetual confirmations of God, he shall be empowered to raise this mighty nation up to its ancient pinnacles of glory, and restore this withered land to sweet new life, and as a spiritual springtime, array those trees which are the lives of men with the fresh leaves, the blossoms and fruits of consecrated joy.

My wish is for everyone on the planet to be happy. If we were all happy, there would be no war. I know, I sound Pollyanna, naive, like a child...but is it so impossible?? I wish it wasn't, so goodnight and be happy!

The Problem with Plastic

This is my new image for the night, it's called "Riches". I was fascinated with the way the light came through the marble and illuminated little flecks of red on the shell. It was pretty quick painting. A study, really.
Strangely enough, though, my blog tonight isn't about art, it's more along the family lines. I've been worried a lot about my kids lately. My son's got a high fever today,
and it really got me thinking about what kind of world they are going to grow up in. I keep hearing of all these cases of little babies and young children having cancer, and I find it terrifying. Why? Why so young? What are we doing that is making these little ones sick? I've come across a lot of things. I mean there's the obvious things, chemicals, bad air quality, etc...but what about closer to home, and I have found more and more articles about the dangers of plastic. Did you know that plastic coats the inside of tin cans, juice boxes, take-out cups, milk jugs. 90% of the things we buy at the supermarket have some form of plastic in, on or around them.
I found a lot of good information on a site called lifewithoutplastic.com. It explains a lot about the different forms of plastic, and how dangerous they are. Today I threw out all of my Teflon frying pans, baking dishes, and bagged up all of my tupperware. I am, as of now, making a resolution to not buy products that have plastic in them that will touch my food or drink.

Where does the time go?

Waiting ~ 18" x 24" original oil on gallery wrapped canvas $650.00 CAN

Where does the time go? And why do I so rarely get anything I want to get done, done?
My baby is already almost 17 months old! My boy is already in Pre-school, and I remember Grad as if it were last week! All of my goals still seem so far away, though. It's like chasing a rainbow. It is so visible, but when you think you've almost got to it, it's another mile off. Hmmm...It's not that I'm discouraged. It's just that time, time, it's just not tangible anymore. It races and the day is finished before I can even get caught up to it. Is this what aging is like? You still think you're twenty, but time has gotten so far ahead of your mind that you're actually forty? Well, questioning, and computering, aren't getting me anywhere tonight, so I'll leave you with an older painting, just to show something. This one's called "Waiting." If she only knew, not to be impatient.
I really am going to paint tomorrow.
Goodnight.

In the Shadow of Greatness

In the Shadow of Greatness ~ 6" x 8" original oil on canvas panel $60.00

Someone forwarded this to me the other day. It made me smile, and it is so true.

Before I was a Mom I never learned the words to a lullaby.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom I had never been:
Puked on.
Pooped on.
Drooled on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple little grin.
I never sat up for hours watching a baby sleep.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom

Rhiannon and I

No new paintings to post today. I did get one finished last night, but not photographed. I'll put it on tomorrow I guess. I just had a really great day with kids and friends today. It seems like I have so little time to just...do nothing. I mean, not cleaning, not cooking, not painting...just to be, socialize, play with my children.
My 4 year old son actually said to my husband today, "Dad, I talk to mom sometimes too, you know."
LOL! My goodness...I really need to play more. I've been so focused on getting time to paint that I've been not playing with my little people enough, so today, and yesterday, we had fun. Here's a painting I did a little while ago of my daughter and I, playing. My son was snapping pictures of us and he got a great one.

When I Grow Up

When I Grow Up ~ 6" x 8" original oil on canvas panel $60.00 CAN

Here's my new painting for tonight. When I scattered the blueberries on the table, they looked like they were following the plum...it reminded me of the Pied Piper...LOL! This one's for sale on Ebay, you can click on the link below and it will take you straight to my auctions.
Gotta go work on my painting for tomorrow's post before I fall down from exhaustion.
Goodnight all.

How to be an Artist

Three's Company ~ 6" x 8" original oil on canvas panel $60.00 CAN

Here's the final tomato picture. It's called "Three's Company." I really had fun painting these tomatoes. Still life is very new to me and I enjoyed actually being able to see what I was painting instead of trying to decipher what was in the photograph!
Here's an inspirational blurb that I really love. It's from a poster I have by SARK. It makes me smile and chuckle every time I read it.
HOW TO BE AN ARTIST

Stay loose. Learn to watch snails. Plant impossible gardens. Invite someone dangerous to tea. Make little signs that say yes and post them all over your house. Make friends with freedom and uncertainty. Look forward to dreams. Cry during movies. Swing as high as you can on a swingset, by moonlight. Cultivate moods. Refuse to be "responsible". Do it for love. Take lots of naps. Give money away. Do it now, the money will follow. Believe in magic. Laugh a lot. Celebrate every gorgeous moment. Take moonbaths. Have wild imaginings, transformative dreams, and perfect calm. Draw on the walls. Read every day. Imagine yourself magic. Giggle with children. Listen to old people. Open up. Dive in. Be free. Bless yourself. Drive away fear. Play with everything. Entertain your inner child. You are innocent. Build a fort with blankets. Get wet. Hug trees. Write love letters.
~SARK~

Three's A Crowd

Three's a Crowd ~ 6" x8" original oil on canvas panel $60.00 CAN

Here's the next in my tomato trilogy.
I have no words of wisdom tonight. My bed is calling me.
Ciao.

5 Ways to be More Creative

Three of a Kind ~ 6" x 8" original oil on canvas panel $60.00 CAN

I finally got some photos taken of the paintings I've been working on this week. I did a series of three tomato paintings and this is the first.
It's called "Three of a Kind". If you want to see the rest, you'll have to come back tomorrow.


~Whatever you dream you can do or dream you can, begin it;
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.~
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


Whew, finally, the kids are asleep. Blissful silence. I long for this part of the day. The quiet hours. I don't get enough of them. In fact, I think I get less sleep because I try to cram so much into these few hours before exhaustion forces me to my bed. For many of us, it's the only time to create. Do you ever have creative blocks though, those days (or nights) when nothing will come, no matter how much you want it to? Personally, I have few. My creative stumbling blocks come from an over-stimulated mind, too many things to paint...so little time...which one first...
Well, here are a few ideas to get you kick-started.

1. CONNECT WITH YOUR “INNER ARTIST” - That part of you that's naturally exuberant and joyful. Approach your art as child's play. Make mistakes...on purpose. Laugh.
Make a picture with your kids' crayons, or markers or lipstick. Dive at the page...scribble...make a mess. Then start. Defile the blank page, or canvas, don't let it intimidate you.
2. START LOOKING: No, really looking. How often do we actually notice the details?
What color was the "Starbuck's" lady's shirt, or even better, her eyes? Walk into a room and look at the details. Actually see the flowers on the table, the way the lilies curl, how the shadows are kind of blue. Then, close your eyes and try to remember. Do this several times a day, and it's guaranteed that you will start to remember the details more and more often. This really helps when you're trying to paint from photos and you just can't quite see what's in that shadow, or in that blurry background. You can think back to what it was like when you took the picture and the details will come back to you.
3. CHALLENGE YOUR INNER CRITIC: Ignore the nagging voices that tell you you're no good at this, you can't paint. Who do you think you are, trying to play guitar. Musicians, artists, never make it...and so on and so on. They might be our mother, our father, our University college professor, or just our own insecure doubter. Don't give them any credit, or they'll steal your power. Instead, say, "Oh yeah, I'll show you what I can do! And do it...CREATE! Because that is what we are meant to do.
4. IDENTIFY FEARS - There can be fears just under the surface of every choice we make. Fear of being rejected keeps us from asking someone to join us for coffee. Fear of failure keeps us from starting or finishing a new project. Name one fear that’s guiding your actions today. Write a poem about it, or a song, or draw a picture. Now, identify one small step towards the action you’ve been afraid to do and commit to when you’ll do it. If the action is small enough to be done in two minutes or less – do it today!
5. PLAY WITH YOUR CHILDREN: Look at the world through their eyes, as something to be discovered and explored. Experience things as if it were the very first time. Wail on that guitar, even if you don't know a song. Do some finger paintings, just to remember what it feels like. Sing at the top of your lungs, just to feel the joy of singing. Walk in a puddle without your shoes and socks, just to feel the mud squishing between your toes. It helps you get in touch with your senses, and your kids will think you're great, too.

Well, I hope these help.

Goodnight all.
Tahirih

exhausted ramblings

Hunger ~ 8" x 10" original oil on gallery wrapped canvas $385.00 CAN SOLD



Well, I started this blog with great intentions of painting every day...and still, nothing new to show anyone. KIDS!!!I'm so tired tonight. I did finish off a couple of my new paintings that need a few little touch ups, so maybe some pictures tomorrow. Now it's 9:30 and I don't have the energy to start another. I'm also having painter's block...not from a lack of ideas but from too many ideas. I have stacks of photos, tons of ideas, and I just can't choose. Maybe I'm just too tired today.
I'm going to post another painting, though, another recent one. I actually sold this one one Ebay last week. I sent it off today, I will miss her. Her name is Chantal. She is an orphan from the orphanage in Pemba, Africa, that my sister in law goes on mission to every year.
I'm going to sign off now.
Goodnight, all.