Shari Beaubien

Anniversary Page

Here's a piece I did on watercolor paper recently...

It was my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary and my cousins put together a scrapbook of memories for them.  This was my contribution.  I wish I could have been there when they opened it.  Despite the distance that separates us, my aunt and uncle have been very special forces in my life and it was a joy to create this page for them.  (I think you may be able to click on the image to get a closer view, if you so desire.)

So what's up with all of you out there in blogland lately?  My stats tell me you're stopping by but it's awful quiet around here.  Don't be afraid to chime in - I love to share your worlds...

Back in the Groove

Here's a shot of my work table yesterday...

Many of you requested more pictures of work in progress as well.  Ask and ye shall receive!  Here's a shot of the latest in my Soul Sketches series, midway through...

I received a really poetic comment from Kel yesterday in response to Monday's post.  She writes, "...I was thinking about how we must create in rhythms like the earth.  It isn't possible for us just to create, we must also receive and also rest."  I think she says it better than I ever could.  Isn't that the truth?  May we all accept and celebrate those seemingly "dry" spells for what they are - the yin to output's yong.

A Change Is in the Air

Here's a shot of Mr. Montgomery...

Do you think he could be any more comfortable?  We call this his "Gummy nest".

Well, the sun is shining this morning after a week of grayness and the little birds have discovered the new bird feeder I placed outside my computer window.  How can such little beings consume so darned much food?  Wish I had their metabolism. 

It's funny how my desire to paint is so closely related to what the weather is doing.  It's as if the sun's light and energy is an essential ingredient to my creativity.  I think the clouds and rain serve to give me a gestation period (as I was discussing recently with a dear friend), and then once the sun bursts forth, I'm ready to let the ideas tumble out.  No... I'm more than ready.  I'm energized.  Enthusiastic.  Romanced.  Like a sprinter at the starting blocks, I've been waiting for the gun to go off.  Now it has and I'll race to get my brushes wet.  Let's hope that's the case, anyway!  Perhaps it won't be long before you see some art photos rather than pictures of my undeniably adorable little cat.  It's going to be a good day...

I Am Enough

This post from Kelly Rae Roberts really caught my attention this week, particularly the second paragraph.  If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you already know that achieving BALANCE is something I struggle with as well.  Perhaps in this battle there is no perfection to be attained?  Maybe increments of progress would amount to a better goal.

I like how Kelly Rae describes her various commitments:  "creative life (actually creating), business life (all the ins ands outs of this), personal life (self care), marriage (nourishment), and community (friends + family)..."  I suspect these things are common to all of us.

My question and reason for posting is this:  Why do I sometimes feel like I have to explain myself to people?  Like I have to create a verbal accounting of where every bit of my time goes?  Why do I sometimes feel that no matter what I do or what I'm able to give, it isn't enough?  I'm tired of feeling lousy and inept.  Why can't who I am - right now, at this very moment - be enough?

It's not easy to juggle a full life.  The speed at which the 21st century is happening only compounds the issue.  I'll answer my own question by saying this:  Of course I am enough.  Right now and at this very moment.  I am enough, and I always have been. 

Where does the answer lie?  I think it's so important - critically important, actually - that we surround ourselves with only those people and things that nourish us.  Obviously, we must return the favor and be every bit as nourishing right back.  But when your needs are simpatico with everything around you, the individual can do nothing but flourish.  Everything else can just fade away...

I'm Published!

The new issue of "Artful Blogging" is out and yours truly is featured on pages 100-104.  I'm thrilled that the folks at Stampington chose to include my little blog in this issue.  If you're interested in ordering your own copy, you can do so here.  A handful of stores are carrying them as well - like The ARTbar, for instance.

 

One of my pieces can also be found in the latest issue of Pasticcio Quartz.  This issue actually came out in December, but it took me a while to order my copy.  My painting "73" is shown in the "Palais du Art" section.  The lovely Sarah Fishburn and Angela Cartwright distribute this zine and ordering can be done from either of them or by title here.  Thanks for including me, ladies!

I don't know about you, but whether I have these particular publications or any other, perusing photographs of other artist's work is immensely inspiring.  Why not carve out 15 minutes today, pull your favorite art book/magazine from the shelf, and treat yourself to a romp through its pages?

A New Work

I'm so excited to share my latest artistic endeavor with you...

"Wishes of Grandeur"
30" x 40"

I've been working on this painting for what seems like forever, but I'm really proud of the end result.  (Remember how long ago I was painting and repainting the earth, Linda?)  I believe it's the first in a new series.  I'm still working on a name for this series.  I know what I want to say but I can't seem to get it out in a way that sweeps me off my feet.  When I know, you'll know... I promise you that.  I'd love to hear what you think of this piece.  The little sign hanging down from the cloud says "wishes".  Here are some other detail shots...

And I don't know what I was thinking, but the ebay auction I posted about below doesn't end until tonight.  Sorry!  If you're interested in "Acrylic Revolution", the link is here.

Acrylic Revolution by Nancy Reyner

... Just wanted to share with you a link to an ebay auction I'm holding.  It's for the book "Acrylic Revolution" by Nancy Reyner and I thought some of you might be interested.  The auction ends Monday night and the link is here.

Have a happy President's Day weekend, everyone!

And the Winner Is...

Stephanie Anderson!

*** woo hoo, Stephanie!! ***

Out of an incredible 74 comments (72 here and 2 via my web email), I had Steve select a number randomly.  He chose number 64, so that's you, Stephanie!  Email me with your addy and I'll get this little painting on its way home.

Thank you so much to everyone who participated.  The response was overwhelming and your comments about my work made me feel so validated.  I WILL be hosting other contests in the future, so do visit me often.  Again, thank you so, so much for your enthusiastic participation.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!!

A Heist

I'm sure you've all heard of this news story by now.  In case you haven't, three masked men stole four masterpieces from a museum in Zurich.  The lost paintings are works by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Degas.

This makes me furious.  And tremendously sad.  Those men didn't just steal from that museum.  They robbed the world - you and me - of artwork that belongs to the collection of humanity.  Will those thieves store these works properly, paying careful attention to things like humidity and lighting?  I doubt it.  And who would be willing to buy something so obviously stolen?  A billionaire who wants to hold private audience for the rest of his/her life?  What greed - on both parts.  It makes me sick and it makes me sad.

I pray that those paintings are returned to us.  True, unfiltered genius doesn't come through on canvas every day.  I, for one, would like to see it.

Valentine's Day Giveaway!

Before I forget, I want to tell you all to take a peek at my newly renovated Etsy Shop!  I worked all weekend long on it and even managed to get a nifty little widget installed on my right sidebar.  The shop's filled with a lot of new goodies, plus a few you may have seen before but at reduced prices.  I'd love it if you stopped by for a visit!

Okay, now onto the focus of this post.  I'm jumping on the One World-One Heart bandwagon!  You can read the full details of this wonderful idea here.  But in short, it's a Valentine's Day giveaway!

Just leave a comment to this post and you'll be entered in the drawing.  You have until Wednesday at midnight to play.  I'll select the winner on Thursday, February 14 in a random drawing and announce it here.  The contest is open to anyone, just so long as you leave a comment to this post.

What's up for grabs, you might ask?  Well, here's what I'd like to share...

This is an original painting of mine.  It's acrylic, collage, and pencil on canvas.  It measures 6" x 8" and is 3/4" deep.  The sides are painted a rich brown and it's ready to hang.  The slightly obscured text at the bottom reads "yesterday", which is also this sweet little painting's title.  I hope you enjoy playing, and good luck!

The Business of Art

Here's a shot of one of my favorite vignettes in our house.  Each element was added at a different point and the entire thing sort of evolved over time without any specific intention.  The ceramic corgi was hand-painted from an artist on ebay from a miriad of pictures I sent along of Bentley.  The vintage frame in the back came from an antique store here in LA.  It was too pretty empty to bother filling.  The heart filagree?  Well, you know I can't resist a heart.  There's a twig wreath leaning up against the frame.  I like the negative spaces created by those three elements.  And the vintage photo came from the Rose Bowl swap meet a few months back.  "Ruth 8" is handwritten in pencil at the bottom.  I had fully intended to add her to my collection of photographs, but she ended up on the mantle and there she has stayed.  We affectionately refer to her as "Little Ruth".  I love the evolution of this display and it makes me smile every day.  What collections of things have you amassed and placed on shelves and in nooks and crannies in your home?

As an aside, you might not be fooled by my diversionary tactics here...  You may very well be wondering why there hasn't been much art posted this week?  Well, there's a good reason for that.  I've been up to my eyeballs in art fair and art show applications.  Those of you who know me understand how I loathe the business/paperwork side of being an artist.  But I can procrastinate no longer.  Deadlines are looming and submissions must be made.  I've worked my way through four of the six applications so far, along with completing a miriad of other office-type updating details.  I hope to return to our regularly scheduled art programming next week, but there still might be one or two more days of computer in my future before that dream becomes a reality.  Poor Steve, I keep urging him to try to work this weekend just so that I can have an extra day!  Have a good weekend, everyone!!

Nature's Majesty

I took this shot during the recent rainstorms we had...

This is a part of the view from our backyard.  Beautiful, huh?  Even though those mountains pose a fire danger in the drier weather, they are stunning.

"The Ride"

Remember my snippets from this post?
Well, here's the finished piece...

"The Ride"
22" x 28"

I hope you like it.  I've tried my darnedest to get the colors to appear true in this image, but I'm afraid they're still a bit off.  The real piece is not quite so saturated and the green has more yellow in it.  It's "Green Gold" from Golden, if that helps you at all.  At any rate, the bicycle rider was inspired by my visit to the Salvador Dali exhibit at LACMA recently.  The clock is an homage to him as well.  The rest of it just sort of fell into place without a lot of thought or examination on my part.  I love it when that happens.

Hope you're all having a good week!

I'm So Excited I Could Scream!

Look what I did in my art journal yesterday...

And here's a close-up shot...

Now, you may be thinking... "Uh, yeah... so you painted an elephant.  Big whoop."  But this is a HUGE turning point for me.  I've been really struggling with wanting my artistic efforts to manifest themselves as more painterly and loose.  It's been an all-out war between this desire and my ingrained anal/perfectionist nature.  Today, for the very first time, the total freedom side won!  Woo hoo!

I began by doing a rough sketch using my paintbrush and some burnt umber fluid acrylic.  (Normally I would complete a meticulous outline in pencil - with at least ten erasures along the way.)  Next I painted the elephant and THEN the background.  (I usually spend a lot of time creating the background first and then when it comes time to add my focal point, there's so much anxiety about ruining what I've already done that my subsequent brush strokes come out too contained and controlled.)  The last thing I did was to add the flowers and white dots.

I realize it's no masterpiece, but I am thrilled beyond belief with what I've done here.  I feel like it may be the beginning of a major shift in my work.  And none of this would have ever happened if I hadn't committed myself so fully to simply painting.  Thanks for listening and for sharing in my mini-celebration.  It means a lot to know you're out there.