Shari Beaubien

Junk Journal

Here's my latest journal creation,
affectionately titled "Junk Journal".

This is the inside...

This project was completely, one hundred percent inspired by the talented Judy Wise, and this blog post.  Isn't that a great idea?  I had a few brown paper bags that I've used over and over again to protect my work surface.  They truly are beautiful in their own right.  So I cropped the bags, glued the two pieces together to make an inside cover and an outside cover, then covered everything with shipping tape.  The inner pages were watercolor dyed papers I've had lying around my studio for literally years.  A little binding and it's a really cool, funky new journal.  Thank you, Judy, for your inspiration!

Isn't it wonderful that technology makes it so much easier for all of us to share and be inspired by one another?  I love that.  I fear I'd be working in an absolute void otherwise.  I don't think I'd feel that anyone (save maybe Steve, God bless him) really "got" me.  It means so much to me to have the connections I do through blogs and emails so that we can all learn and grow with one another.  I think creativity struggles to survive without it.  Like the little plant in the dark room with no water that wilts and eventually dies.  You all are my water and my light and I thank you for helping me be the best that I can be.  If I can return the favor, at least in some small way, what a gift that is!

I'm off to Santa Barbara this weekend.  Setup is tomorrow and then the show is Saturday and Sunday at the Museum of Natural History.  More info. can be found on my blog sidebar.  If you're in the area, do stop by and say "hi".  Have a terrific weekend, everyone!

Lately

I'm having trouble with my new studio space.  Here's why:

I've now pulled *ALL* of my art supplies from every conceivable drawer, cabinet, shelf, and cubbie.  They're all sitting in these piles throughout the living room and family room.  And this photo is only a fifth of the mess, people.  It's driving me nuts!  I'm on a quest for some furniture in which to store everything, but so far have been unsuccessful.  My desire is to wait for just the right piece, but after only a week, my patience is wearing thin.

I have been painting a bit here and there, but this mess leaves me feeling restless and unsettled.  Not that my studio was going to win any cleanliness awards before, but this is ridiculous.  I can't even open the window without tripping over everything, let alone find something.  Argh!

Such is life right now.  Thanks for letting me complain a bit.

I'll leave you with a photo of my baby, Montgomery.  This is his "ballerina toes" sleeping position.  Somehow, the mess doesn't seem to be bothering him...

A Game

The lovely Deryn has tagged me, so here are the details...

You have to post these rules before you give the facts. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blogpost containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and to read your blog.

My middle name is Beth.  (Lucky for me it's short, huh?)

B - B is for Bentley, the name of my beloved Welsh Corgi.  (And I better mention Montgomery and Audrey, my two equally beloved cats, here as well.

E - E is for Erie.  I grew up on an island in the middle of Lake Erie.  It was actually a series of 13 separate islands all clustered together and connected by a series of bridges.  Together they measure 7 miles long and 3 miles wide.  Grosse Ile, as these islands are known, is connected to "the mainland" (Michigan) by two other larger bridges.  Canada is on the other side.

T - T is for teeth.  I had braces about four or five years ago and it was most certainly NOT fun as an adult.  But my teeth are straight and it was worth it.  I wear my "teeth" as I call them (really my retainers) to bed every single night.

H - H is for home.  I just love being at home, nearly to the point of being a recluse.  When I quit my job in the salon, everyone said I'd be so bored and lonely I'd go crazy.  But I couldn't be happier.  It's a blessing to be able to work here and be with the animals all day long.  Plus I adore the quiet.

As an aside, I've wanted to change my middle name for my entire life.  But I've been seriously wanting to make that change legal for about a year now.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to simply claim who you were meant to be in that way?  I think it's a powerful assertion of individuality and strength.  Don't ask me what it will be though... you'll just have to wait to find out!

So that's my story.  My tired brain is taxed from this exercise and I'm having trouble coming up with people who's names begin with B-E-T-H.  Forgive me.  So... I tag Deb May, Debbie Lewis, Lisa Call, and Mary Beth Shaw.

Now I Remember!

I knew there was something worth telling...  Duh!  How could I forget?

I have new classes on the books now!  I'll be teaching at The ARTbar in Santa Ana come January of next year.  All of the info. can be found on my website and my blog sidebar, but please don't hesitate to ask should you have any questions.  I'll be teaching "Be Still My Artful Heart Mixed Media Assemblages" on Saturday, January 26 and "The Totally Tricked-Out Tissue Box" on Sunday, January 27.

Nicole (illustrious owner of The ARTbar) and I have teamed up to create a really exciting offer.  Anyone signing up for both classes of mine will automatically be entered to win a really cool prize.  There will be a goodie bag, compliments of The ARTbar, along with an original piece of artwork from me.  This drawing will only be open to students who sign up for both classes, so your chances of winning are really great.  I do hope you can make it.

In other terrific news, I also found out that I've been accepted into Syd McCutcheon's Queen of Arts show this year!  Woo hoo!  It's at the Elverhoj Museum in Solvang on November 9, 10, & 11.  I had the extreme pleasure of attending as a shopper last year, and I can't even begin to tell you how spectacular it was!  But I'll try... It was a true treasure trove of some of the most creative offerings I have ever seen!  Think Art & Soul vendor night meets holiday boutique all wrapped in the ribbons of a darling little aebleskiever-filled town.  Magical.  That's all I can say.  I am honored beyond belief to be able to participate this year!  Thank you, Syd!  And if you'd like to make it a weekend event, check out Syd's Art Clinic here.  An art class and shopping... what could be better?

And the Winner Is...

Vickie!

Just email me with your mailing information, Vickie, and I'll get this in the mail to you.  A big thank you to everyone who participated in the fun!

Well... I'll bet you're wondering about my pristine table?  On Tuesday I moved all of my canvases, paints, gesso, brushes, water, and towels to the table.  After I got all set up, I immediately found other things to do - computer work, cleaning, organizing, laundry, etc.  It wasn't long before I realized that I was still avoiding making the initial mess.

So yesterday I did it.  I went straight to the table, mixed up a nice batch of juicy blue, and laid my brush right down.  Paint on the table.  At once this simple act was like being given a "get out of jail free" card.  So freeing and so good.  It's official now.  No more plastic for this girl!

I swear I had more to report, but my brain seems to be empty right now.  Maybe it's waiting for the coffee.  Until next time then...

Change Is in the Air

Here's our living room "before"...

(Notice the adorable Corgi posing for the camera.)

And here is where I used to work...

 

You can see my art table in the back there,
tucked against the far wall.
It's sort of sandwiched between our kitchen and family room.
This is another angle...

You can readily see there's not a lot of space and even less storage.
But it has served its purpose well and I'm grateful.

Here's our living room now, sans piano...

(Notice the adorable rear view of the Corgi.)

This is my new $300 table from IKEA.  It's wonderfully large - 6 feet long by 3 feet, 4 inches wide.  A dream surface to be sure.

I have previously always covered my old table using plastic drop cloths from Home Depot.  They protect the surface and when the paint gets built up, I simply replace them with a new one.

Yesterday, I began to cover my new table with a drop cloth and then stopped.  What am I protecting the table from?  My life as an artist?  I bought the table specifically to be used by me, for my work.  Why am I so worried about getting paint on it?  Because it's new?  Because other people keep their tables clean?  Because on the rare occasion that we have guests, they might see evidence of my paint?  I don't know.  This seemingly insignificant action really got me thinking. 

I don't even like the look or feel of the plastic on my work surface.  And built up paint can always be scraped off or sanded down.  Where does true freedom lie?  Freedom in not only what I paint but how I paint?  Why shouldn't I embrace the fact that making art can be a messy enterprise?  That's how I work and who I am.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  So why do I hesitate?  I'd love to hear your thoughts...

***********************************

Tomorrow is the last day to enter my little contest. 
Click here for more details.

A New Totem

Here's a photo of a new "Sacred Object Totem" I just finished.  (I started it in my class of the same name when I was in Colorado.)

And here's a close-up shot with the door open.  One of my wonderful students, Kathleen, was kind enough to give me the fabric beads you see in the bottom chamber.  She made them herself, and I knew they deserved a special place of honor.  Thank you, Kathleen!

As of this weekend, my art-production capabilities are in total upheaval.  The piano movers came Friday around 4pm.  By 5, my new wide-open space was completely M-I-N-E.  It's big and beautiful, but sort of a challenge at the same time.  There are really no walls to this room.  One side is a giant window.  One is a pass-through/cut-out into the family room.  The third "wall" is a few steps up to the foyer and the front door.  And what would be the fourth is an open space which serves as a walkway to the family room/kitchen, computer room, and garage. 

Now as you well know, artists tend to have a lot of stuff.  That requires storage.  And storage proves to be a challenge if it can't be higher than two feet.  I am working on it though.

Originally I thought I'd get an island and butt it up against the Costco table I currently work on.  That's not going to work though.  The two seem too large and awkward in the space, not to mention visually jarring.  Steve and I went to IKEA not once but twice yesterday and we did find this AWESOME table.  It's huge and solid feeling.  I had originally thought the island next to the old table would be good because I could lean work-in-progress against the back of the island.  But his table is so nice and big, I could lay the work down and work on all four sides!  It's a dream and a steal for less than $300.  I'll take some pictures for you and post them tomorrow.

It occurs to me that these descriptions are probably extremely boring to anyone but me.  But I can't help it!  I'm so excited...  Bear with me.

Just a reminder: the contest ends on Thursday.  See my post from last week for details.

Some New Journals

Remember the backgrounds I was working on in this post?
Well, here are the results of my efforts...

And I made a few with a pink palette as well...

I'm so happy with how they turned out!  These journals are a new item I've been developing for art fairs.  I have a few extra though, so I can offer them for sale here if you're interested.  Here's the skinny...

• linen-embossed black paper cover (feels exactly like fabric)
• original, hand-painted artwork on each cover
• 60# white drawing paper inside
• 160 pages
• large measures 8 1/4" x 5 1/4"
• small measures 6" x 4"
• each journal is unique and one-of-a-kind
• should you place an order, expect variations from what is pictured here

I'll be able to offer the large journals for $25 and the small for $18.  This price includes priority mail shipping to anywhere in the continental US.  If you live outside of the US, please contact me for a quote.  I'm happy to combine orders for reduced shipping costs.  I won't be listing these in my Etsy shop.  This is a one-time offer right here on the 'ole blog!  Email me privately if you're interested.  Again, I only have a few.  Oh - and the pink journal is only available in the smaller size.

Thanks for your support!  And don't forget about the contest I posted yesterday.  There's plenty of time to enter.  Have a great weekend, everyone!

Another Contest!

Here's what's up for grabs...

It's a copy of Stampington's "Belle Armoire" (September/October 2007).  Untouched.  I just ended up with an extra copy.  There's also a sweet little triptych-style book from... Basic Grey?  I'm not sure about the manufacturer.  I've refilled the inside with 16 pages of drawing paper - blank and waiting for your thoughts and sketches.  (The winner will receive both items.)

To participate in the contest, just leave a comment to this post.  I'll draw names next Wednesday evening and announce the winner here Thursday morning.  Shipping to the winner is on me.  Have fun and thanks for playing!

I've been having a good week... getting a lot of things off my desk - hopefully once and for all.  Just quietly working away without a lot to report.  Hopefully I'll have some pictures soon of what I've been up to.  I'm almost finished with those journals I've been working on.  I'll show you those tomorrow.  I have a few extra, so I'll be able to make those available for sale here.

I'm terribly excited because we say goodbye to the piano tomorrow!  Woo hoo!  Steve and I are going to begin shopping this weekend for an island.  Because our living room has very little wall space, I think the island will be the best thing for the studio makeover in terms of storage.  Stay tuned... I'll be posting pictures of the progress.

Lesson Learned

Well... I had wanted to show you my sweet little painting that I got at the swap meet this weekend.  But instead here's my eight-dollar lesson:

Don't try to varnish something if you're not sure it was painted with artist-grade paints. 

Ugh!

No more sweet little painting.  (LOL)  At least it was a relatively cheap lesson in the grand scheme of things...

"Monday, Monday..."  Remember that song?  Here we are again.  Did you all have good weekends?  I did.  Although it started out a little bumpy.

Friday I got the news that I was rejected from the Beverly Hills art fair.  Big bummer.  Even more so because the deadline for notification was two weeks ago, and I had to call to find out the news.  Of course, as soon as I called, my slides, check, and letter were returned to me the next day.  I was seriously starting to wonder if they'd even received my application at all.  Alas!

The news that eclipsed any sort of depression over Beverly Hills, however, is this.  We got a deposit on our piano!  Woo hoo!  Steve and I have been trying to sell this piano for months.  And in case you don't know why this is personally HUGE for me, it means our living room will shortly be freed up to become my NEW studio!  Here's a glimpse at the before...

It's going to take quite a while for the total transition to occur.  I plan to purge EVERYTHING in my stash in order to condense seven rooms of scattered art supplies down into one.  Can you imagine having all of your art supplies stored in one room?  Perhaps you can, but for me this is something that has never happened before.  I have always "organized" by stealing space in a drawer here and a cupboard there.  It will be a minor miracle to be able to house everything in one space.  And I'm pretty excited.

I also spent a lovely hour or so at Angela's art opening and she and Sarah's reception for "In This House".  It was terrific to see them both and spend some long-overdue face time with my dear friend Kelly.  What a lot of fun.  And those houses are simply incredible in person!  While the photography in the book couldn't be better, you're really able to get a feeling for the depth of the work in real life.  Super cool.

Oh... and we spent yesterday morning at the Rose Bowl swap meet.  I found just the sweetest little painting, but it needs a bit of cleaning, so I'll show it to you tomorrow.

TGIF

These short weeks really sneak right on by, don't they?  I can't believe it's Friday already.  I'm not complaining, mind you.  I'll gladly take another weekend!

Perhaps time seems to be passing a little more quickly due to the fact that our heat wave has finally broken.  Thank heavens for that!  After over a week of 113-120 degree heat, we're finally experiencing some relative coolness.  The death toll due to the heat for LA County was at 25 last I heard.  Truly horrible.

In spite of the weather, I've had a delightful week - painting and printing and getting stuff done.  I always feel my best when I'm being productive.  I now have matted prints to offer at my art fairs as well as a collection of greeting cards.  And I've been working on those journals.  They should be finished next week sometime. 

If you're interested in a print of "Fleeting" (shown below), I've listed two for sale in my Etsy store.  They look really nice all matted and packaged up, if I do say so myself.

At Long Last!

At long last, I'm so proud to show you all
the triptych I've been working on...

I've never done a triptych before, and this one was a lot of fun and a good challenge.  I'm so thrilled with the way it turned out.  Each canvas measures 8" x 8".  It's the latest in my "Soul Sketches" series and is entitled "Free Fall".  It's the second canvas I've scanned using my trusty new scanner.  SO much easier than having to photograph the work!  I scanned each canvas individually and then assembled them in Photoshop.  It's not for sale just yet.

Actually, none of the "Soul Sketches" series is for sale yet.  They will be - I do know that.  But something inside of me is telling me to hang onto them for just a while longer.  I guess that because they're so personal, I need to be emotionally ready to say goodbye.  So that little voice speaks and I listen.  That's important, I think.  The listening.

Chinese Cabinet

I wanted to share a couple of photos of my Chinese cabinet.  Steve and I purchased it from an antique store in Orange this summer.

The dealer told us it was from around 1850.  Pretty cool, huh?

It has 24 drawers with three compartments each.  If I'm doing my math correctly, that makes for 72 little cubbies!  Sort of crazy.  Steve and I both agree that anything that goes in there will be like the card game "Memory".  Remember that one?  And the way my memory is these days, I may never see any object I tuck away in there ever again!

We originally purchased the cabinet for art supplies.  I'm still working on that one.  I tried this weekend to get some of my cabinet cards to fit in the drawers but without success.  Only the smallest ones would fit.

Can you say impulse buy?  Geez!

Here's a close-up shot of one of the drawer fronts.  However impractical it may be, there's no denying how beautiful it is, that's for sure.