Shari Beaubien

Queen of Arts at the Elverhoj Museum

Here's the post card (front and back) for the Queen of Arts show.

I was thrilled beyond belief to see my artwork there!  You might recognize it... It's "A Measure of Peace" and is the one set aside at the bottom of the card.  I'll have this piece with me for sale at the show.  It's a special canvas to Steve and me because prints of this image were our Christmas card last year.

I'm so excited about this show for many reasons.  But one of the primary things I'm excited about is the diversity of artwork I'll be able to bring with me.  Most art fairs have you jury in under a specific medium and then expect you to only bring items representative of that medium.  For example, if I jury under "Acrylic Painting", I'd better darned well NOT show up with assemblage.  But due to the boutique-type nature of Queen of Arts, I have the ability to showcase a lot of things.  So, I'll have my fabric collages, journals, paintings, jewelry, prints, greeting cards, and a few other items.  If you're within driving distance of Solvang next weekend, you'll really enjoy this show.  Plus it's a perfect way to get that holiday shopping started off right!  (More information can be found by clicking the link in my sidebar at the right.)

Happy Halloween, All!

A New Work

"A Place I Once Lived"
16" x 20"

Here's the latest piece from my Soul Sketches series.  Believe it or not, I didn't paint or time this to coincide with Halloween, but I have to admit it does fit nicely with that theme.  I actually began painting this before Art & Soul, so it's satisfying to have it finally finished.  What do you think?

I've also been working hard on jewelry, of all things.  I'm excited to show you photos of that soon.  I had little sterling silver bezel cups that I've filled with original little paintings and collages then topped with resin.  Right now, I'm waiting for a new drill bit to arrive from Rio Grande so that I can turn them into pendants with jump rings.  I'll be taking these with me to the Queen of Arts Show and Sale in just two weeks.

Other than that, I've been working on little odds and ends.  I began going through my "purge" pile this weekend and will hopefully have lots available on ebay soon.  Stay tuned for that.  Gosh, I'm just excited that this is Monday and that I have a "normal" week waiting before me.  Thank heaven for small favors, huh?

My New Studio Space

I feel a deep need to return to "normal" this morning.  While this may prove to be a challenge with the smoke weighing heavier and heavier in the air, I'm going to give it a go.  So how about that long-awaited post about my new studio?  (FYI - these pictures were taken before the fire upheaval.)

Here's a shot taken from the hallway on the second floor.  I thought an aerial view would give you a better perspective of the space.  Our front door and landing are there on the left.

This is a shot taken from halfway down the stairs.  The family room is through the pass-through window and the kitchen is through the doorway on the right.  Where the fourth wall would be to the far right is a walkway to the garage as well as the entryway to our computer/workout room.  You can see what a challenge this space is!  While there's plenty of volume, there really isn't one single wall available.

This is one of the new pieces of furniture I bought recently at Bella Venezia. It's wonderful.

Here's a shot of part of the inside of the above cabinet.  I build these "U's", as I call them, which are really quite handy for storage.  I just pick up a piece of wood from Home Depot, measure how tall and wide I want the "U" to be and then cut it.  Some wood glue and a few nails on either end, and I have an instant shelf.  Twice the storage!  Try it if you ever have a tall cabinet where you'd like to store lots of vertically-challenged items.

This is a shot of the lower portion of the same cabinet.  And following, here are a few more close-ups of my various supplies and inspirations...

This Chinese cabinet we purchased a few years back at the Rose Bowl swap meet. It used to house my collection of fabrics. Not very functional for the middle of our living room.

Now it houses more of my painting/ephemeral art supplies, as you can see here.  All things sewing have now been reunited in one room upstairs.  Much better!

This little hand-painted red cabinet is another recent purchase from Bella Venezia.  Lots of drawers make good storage for my stamps, ink pads, and other flat items.  Of course, Bentley thinks he looks pretty good sitting next to it.

Here are some close-ups of the painting.  I tried my best with the photography.

And last but not least, one more angle of my new space as taken from inside the computer/workout room.  Alas, my studio may never look this clean again, but at least I have the photos to prove it was once upon a time!

Fire

Tell me a sky like this wouldn't terrify you, too.
This shot was taken from our front porch on day three of the fires.

And here's another shot taken from our front porch.  This is the fire burning in Castaic, which is the farthest of the three fires burning near us.  Doesn't look that far to me...  As of yesterday, they had this one 45 percent contained.  Luckily, the other two major fires are at 94 percent and 100 percent containment.

I don't know what else to say in an attempt to describe what this past week has been like for me.  It's surreal... racing through your house, looking at a lifetime's worth of carefully collected memories, deciding what's worthy of making the cut and what is not.  You grab the obvious things - the cats and dog, the wedding album, important paperwork, jewelry, artwork.  But then what?  There's an entire "middle layer" of stuff to choose from.  If it will fit in the car, should I bring it?  "There's a nook and a cranny left, I'd better grab my Netflix movies because I don't want to be responsible for losing them and paying a penalty."  "Oh, I just bought those apples at the store, they're fresh and they should go."  "I just started that canvas and it's not even completely covered in a first layer of paint yet, but I can tell it's going to be a masterpiece."  It's crazy, in hindsight, how the mind works.

While I don't relish being in the position of putting everything away again, I'm supremely happy to have a home to put things into.  I know so many people have not been so lucky.  And I can't help but think of something else, too.  This weekend was when the Beverly Hills Art Fair was held.  Remember they rejected me?  Thank goodness I didn't have my attention divided by that responsibility!  I'm so grateful I could spend this difficult time focused on my family and home.  Sometimes proof comes along that there is something at work in this Universe of ours bigger than all of us.

I just heard a news update.  The Ranch Fire (the one I mentioned above in Castaic) is now at 70 percent containment, and the other two - The Buckweed Fire and the Magic Fire - are both at 100 percent containment.  As I write this post, the sun has begun it's climb into the sky and I already hear the comforting sound of the air assault coming to life.  I never thought I'd cherish that noise as much as I have these past few days...

Thank you, so much, for all your compassionate emails and phone calls.  I can't tell you how much they mean to me.  Keep saying prayers for those people in Orange County, San Diego, and up near Lake Arrowhead. 

Bear with Me...

I live in Canyon Country, California.  That's in Los Angeles County in the Santa Clarita Valley.  Yesterday afternoon, we had SEVEN separate fires burning in Santa Clarita alone.

These have been terrifying days.  Our home backs up against a mountain.  We are, quite literally, the fire break for the rest of the neighborhood.  We've been lucky in that the fire has not come around behind us yet (knock wood), but with so many new flare-ups occurring almost hourly, coupled with the ever-changing and relentless winds, my fear is getting the better of me.

We packed up both cars on Sunday afternoon (including the computer) in preparation for evacuation.  Thank God it hasn't come to that.  As you can see through my post, our computer is back in place but the rest of our unpacking is going to take some time.

I'm still in a state of unease.  But I'm hopeful in that our high wind warning is scheduled to end today at 4 pm.  I believe our humidity levels are finally out of the single digits.  But the fire fighters up and down Southern California are tired, and the resources we have are stretched so thin.  I've never seen anything like this in all of my 17 years of living in this state.

At any rate, I'm here and I'm okay.  Steve went back to work today, so life is slowly returning to normal.  It's just going to take me some time to get there myself.  I ask for your patience and your prayers for everyone that these fires have affected.  So many have lost everything...

Cleaning Catharsis

For three solid days this week, I've thrown myself into cleaning.  As of yesterday afternoon, my new studio is finally complete!  Everything has a place and everything that doesn't is in the garage, awaiting a giant Ebay auction.  It's beautiful!  I plan to take pictures either today or tomorrow and I'll be sure to organize them into a coherent post sometime next week.

As many of you know, I have been purging, reorganizing, and moving the contents of my studio for the past three months.  I've taken art items stored in every conceivable nook and cranny in literally every room in my house and condensed them all into one room - our former living room.  The piles of stuff have weighed on me more than I anticipated.

Monday I woke up with this incredible need to clean.  Not just with regard to the studio, but the entire house.  And it wasn't a need like, "Man, this house is dirty!"  It was a need deep in my soul... like my very being was yearning for a catharsis.  It felt good not only to clean but even more, to give myself permission to listen to that voice.  Sure I have art to make with accompanying deadlines approaching, but it was such a gift to myself to listen to the whispers of my heart and then act on them.  I'm not sure that I've ever given my own intuition that much power before, and the results are pretty profound.

My depression/funk seems to have lifted.  With every room that began to sparkle and shine, my mood improved.  Every time I cleared a pile from the table, floor, or shelf, it was like the weight of a ship was lifted from my shoulders.  I was not only tidying my space, but I seem to have been performing a sacred act.  The effects on my psyche were that profound.

Now you might be thinking this entire post is a bit new-agey.  But I can't help it.  It is what I felt and my blog is about my journey, no one else's.  All I know is that now I have a very clean studio and home.  I feel better than I have in two weeks.  And I gave credence to the urgings of my inner voice.  All is right in my world.

Happy Anniversary, Steve

Eight years ago today, atop a sun-bathed cliff overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean, Steve and I joined our lives together.

On that day, here is what I said...

Steve,

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who dreamed of a prince.
She imagined her prince to be strong in character,
yet gentle with regard to matters of the heart.
He would be intelligent, handsome, and caring.
He would fill her days with laughter and her nights with unconditional love.
The first time we kissed, you stepped out of my dreams and into my world.
You are the prince for whom I've been waiting my whole life.
You have rescued me from an existence that, without you, would have been an unbearable void.

I will love, honor, and cherish you until the end of time.

I will guard the flame that brought us together and keep a wide, open space for our passion, striving every day to show you what lives in my heart.

I will remain faithful to you through all the time that we travel together.

I will keep nothing from you and expect the same.

Know that I will always give my deepest support to your dreams and aspirations.

And as we weather the storms of life, I will communicate openly - listening to your needs and expressing my own.

I will respect your feelings and remember the value of compromise so that we may never part each other's company in anger or misunderstanding.

My goal will always be to understand you, never to change you.

We will be our own best friends and our own best counsel.

And when we have grown old together and our time in this world has come to an end, I will wait for you in the next.
For you know my soul like no one else.
You are the other half that makes me whole.
You are the man I am destined to love throughout all eternity.

This is my promise.

*        *        *        *        *

I love you, honey.

Sunday Chores

Sunday was tent-washing day at our household.  It took us A-L-L day long... the canopy, the sandbags, the poles, the side walls, the awning, the mesh panel walls, my name sign, the various bags, and the french wall.  Phew, what a lot of work!  But now everything sparkles and shines and we hopefully won't have to do that again for another year.  (I wonder what the neighbors thought we were doing?)

I also wanted to share my friend Caterina's new website with you.  Not only is she a lovely person, but she's an AMAZING artist!  Check it out here.

Happy Monday, Everyone!

One More Post about Art and Soul

I'd be remiss in my Art and Soul recap if I didn't mention just two more things... 

First, I want to say thank you to Margaret Rodgers.  We shared an elevator ride one morning and she had a bag full of the cutest little books.  I remarked how wonderful they were and without hesitation, she pulled one out and handed it to me.  I protested and informed her that I hadn't made any trades, but she said it didn't matter.  This generous act simply MADE my day that day and has continued to warm my heart ever since.  Thank you, Margaret, for reaching out to a stranger with so much kindness.  You make the world a better place.

Second, I also want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who exclaimed "I read your blog!".  It was my pleasure to meet so many of you in person, and I'm so glad you took the time to introduce yourselves.  I'm humbled that you might find enjoyment in the words I write here and I'm honored to share this artful journey with you.  Thank you for making the world a little smaller by reaching out to me.

Art and Soul (part four)

Okay folks, this is my final Art and Soul post.  Here are some photos of my purchases from vendor night.  The first two are lovely items from the even lovelier DJ Pettitt.  (Except the yarn - that came from a store on Alberta Street.  Kathy - I didn't get a photo of you, either!  Argh!)

This is a piece from Misty Mawn with a really mysterious feel to it that I love.  You can't really tell from the photo, but there are tiny little turquoise beads covering much of the surface.

Adorable little journals from Carla Sonheim.

And last but certainly not least, "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood" from Katie Kendrick.

I think I've been fighting a cold or something all week long.  I'd like to report that I'm winning (knock wood) but the battle is taking a lot out of me.  I've been tired and run down most of the week, not to mention feeling this general malaise.  I hope to actually do a bit of painting today though.

Whether there is a sickness or not, I really have come to accept and understand my particular cycle of creativity.  I know some artists (MaryBeth - wink!) who just power on like some sort of machine in their production.  I admire that.  But my creativity ebbs and flows.  No that's not right.  I think the creativity part is always there as my mind is constantly filled with images and ideas for the next thing.  But sometimes I think the energy portion of my creativity gets depleted and needs to replenish itself before things can actually come out of me again.  Does that make sense?

It's not surprising, I suppose, that my well would be depleted after a retreat like this.  I'm just trying to go with the flow and not push things and accept (with love) that this is who I am.  Painting will return when it returns and it will be wonderful when it does.  In the meantime, I'm continuing to shift the piles.  Man, I can't wait for that furniture!

The good news about all this pile shifting and purging (beyond the eventual organization, of course) is that I'm getting rid of a lot of stuff!  I'm going to mass it all together into one or two lots and post it on ebay.  Except for the papers.  From those, I'm going to make collage packs to have for sale at some point - perhaps at Queen of Arts or maybe a future vendor night at a retreat.  We shall see...

Art and Soul (part three)

Here's a photo of a piece I created in
Misty's class called "Spontaneous Art"...

In addition to this, I made a dozen or so really cool backgrounds on watercolor paper.  Her style is so loose and free, it was a joy to watch her work.  Thank you, Misty!

And this was the result of my two-day class with DJ...

The style of the face is compliments of DJ and is painted on muslin.  It was such a treat to go from Misty's fast and loose style to DJ's more controlled one.  Like yin and yang, I feel like my ultimate balance is somewhere in the middle.  DJ generously gave each student individual instruction on shading, blending, and building up the layers.  I feel like I learned so much.  Thank you, too, DJ! 

The background of this piece, by the way, is another from Misty's class using COMPLETELY different colors of paint than what I used on the fabric in DJ's class.  I was amazed at how serendipitous this played out.  I don't think I could have painted two things more perfectly meant to be together if I had tried!

Here's a photo of some earrings I promised you a while ago...

The earrings on the left are a pair I purchased from Deryn Mentock about a month ago.  The hearts in the back are the pair I traded with artist Cindy Bolin at the Santa Barbara show for.  And the pair on the right are from Lisa Call at Art and Soul's vendor night.  I adore all three.

I'll post more photos of my other purchases tomorrow.

Last but not least, the sorting of the piles in my studio continues.  I'm still waiting for the furniture delivery on Friday, but here's a photo of the little cabinet that did fit in our car.  It's just a few inches higher than my table.  Isn't the patina fantastic?

Art and Soul (part two)

I'm feeling a bit better this morning.  I told myself I didn't need to paint yesterday.  My heart wouldn't have been in it anyway.  Instead I just worked on my computer stuff and spent a great deal of time reorganizing the piles of supplies.  I sorted and placed things in new piles in anticipation of the furniture being delivered on Friday.  Believe it or not, the new arrangement of the piles makes the entire thing look less messy.  I'll be so glad when this studio move is complete, I can't even tell you.

Here are some more photos from Art and Soul...

Me and Misty.

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Me and DJ.

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Me and Suzanne.

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And oh my goodness, there are so many pictures I should have taken but didn't!  Lisa, Katie, Judy, Nina, Deb, Janice, Tracie, Marylin, Mary... where are you all?!?!  I can't believe we didn't snap even one photo! 

Here's the view from my room.  The runways are right there.  You can see the control tower sticking up in the distance on the right.  The weather was cold and gray and drizzly, but I didn't mind one bit.

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This is my favorite photo from the trip.  Me and Marilyn.
I miss you terribly, sweet friend...

Home / Art & Soul (part one)

Goodness, re-entry is rough!  The first day back is always such a hard one for me.  I try to lower my expectations for what I'd like to accomplish, but it's still difficult.

Where to begin?...  I guess I can start by telling you that this past week was one of the best of my life.  It was more wonderful than anything I could have dreamed.  Here's a shot of the Embassy Suites as taken from just outside my room.  It looks just like a mini city to me.

I didn't blog as much as I would have liked because every single solitary minute was filled to the brim with friends, art and fun.  Not to mention it was ten bucks per day to use the hotel's wireless service.  If it makes you feel any better, I only worked out once despite my best intentions there, too.  There was simply too much fun to be had.

ALL of my classes were AWESOME!  Here's a shot of two pieces I started in Michael deMeng's "Assemblage Retratos" class.  Keep in mind, they're far from finished.  This is just the first layer of paint, but you get the idea.

I also had class with Misty Mawn and DJ Pettitt.  Both of those were equally fantastic as well. I'll post photos of what I did there perhaps tomorrow or later this week.

I apologize for what seems to me a choppy and somewhat forced post.  I'm in that post-retreat funk right now.  I used to feel this way in school as a theatre major.  Every time a show ended its run, I slipped into this mini depression over the loss of such a magical experience.  It's like I have to mourn and grieve the end.  That's how I feel about these retreats... especially this one because it was so wonderful.  I can't even begin to put into words how much it meant to me to be there this weekend and to be a part of Art & Soul.  There just is nothing better than being surrounded by several hundred people who really get you.  It's a feeling of acceptance and understanding so complete, I've rarely found it's parallel.  I miss it already so much it hurts my heart.

At the same time, I'm terribly happy to be home.  (Don't worry, Steve... I'm not going to run away to live at "the embassy"!)  The thing I don't like is that all of my work from before the trip has just piled up.  This morning I'm feeling daunted at the task of even beginning.  So much new information has occupied my brain since I've been away that I don't even know where I left off.  Then there's the laundry, the cleaning, the putting away of all of the supplies I so carefully packed.  Oh, and the piles that still occupy my living room.

I do have good news on that front though.  While I was away, Steve saved an ad from this store near our house that we had never visited.  He took me there yesterday and it was a gold mine!  Filled to the brim with PRECISELY the type of furniture/storage I've been searching for!  I can't tell you the relief!  It's called Bella Venezia, if you're interested in taking a peek.  We bought three cabinets - two for my art space and another for our master bathroom.  We may go back to buy a third, depending on how the storage works out.  They're being delivered Friday and I'll be sure to take pictures once I get everything put away.

Thanks for listening this morning.  I feel like I've done such an inadequate job of putting my emotions into words.  But that's the best I can do right now...

I'm Here!

Perhaps more unbelievable than the fact that I'm here is the fact that I actually figured out how to get online!  Woo hoo!

It was a delightful day of travel today.  I don't think I've ever experienced a series of transportation connections that smooth, ever.  I met up with Mary Stanley and some other Art & Soul folks in the line for the shuttle.  It was good to catch up with Mary, even if just for a few moments.

I've unpacked my supplies and am enjoying some quiet time in my LOVELY room right now.  I feel so pampered being in a suite all by myself!  This time away is a luxury for me, to be sure. 

Not much else to report at the moment.  My first class is with Michael deMeng tomorrow.  I can't wait!

Santa Barbara Artwalk 2007

My, what a glorious weekend we had!  The setting couldn't have been more picturesque and the weather was absolutely perfect.  Here's a shot of my tent with the new french wall addition.

And when sitting in our back yard (ie. behind the tent),
this was my view...

See what I mean?  Could this have been any prettier?!?!  The entire show was set amongst the gardens, trails and pathways of the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum.  It was a lovely little show.  I also met two new artist friends - Cindy Bolin and Gina Garoogian.  Both are very talented ladies.  Gina makes some of the most beautiful, organic feeling pottery.  I don't believe Cindy has a website, but she sells some really awesome handcrafted jewelry.  She was diggin' my art as well, so we did my first-ever trade.  That was cool and made me fell so good.  Now I have a pair of her lovely earrings.  I'll take a photo to show you later.  Syd and Colleen also stopped by, which was a treat, as did my friend Lisa and her adorable family.  Thank you, guys!

Now I have a day to unpack, do laundry, and repack before leaving for Art & Soul tomorrow.  Oh yes, and I have about a million other things to do as well.  The stress is simmering and I'm doing my very best to not allow it to boil over.  We'll see how that goes!

I am bringing my laptop to Art & Soul and I do plan to try to blog from there - perhaps once or twice.  But don't hold me to it.  I often have trouble connecting to the internet when "on location."  (This is, I'm sure, due to my own technological failings rather than any fault of the wireless connection.)  Moreover, if I'm having way too much fun to stop and deal with my computer, well... I know you'll understand.  Talk to you soon, everyone!