Shari Beaubien

A New Work

 

"Empowered"
10" x 20"

I finished this piece last week, before the Topanga show.  I just got it scanned into the computer yesterday, however.  While it's difficult to see online, there is antique silver vintage glass glitter sprinkled over the swirl.  The light catches it beautifully in person.  What do you think of my latest Soul Sketch?

You may remember this piece entitled "Precarious" from a few months ago.  Well, "Empowered" is sort of the companion to "Precarious".  I saw these long canvases at Dick Blick one fateful afternoon and fell in love with them.  I wanted to challenge myself to create one composition in the vertical format and one in the horizontal.  It was a lot of fun pushing myself to fill such a non-traditional space.  Mission accomplished!

The Power of "Start"

Here's, in part, what I managed to accomplish yesterday... Got all of these canvases prepped with gesso.  I apply the gesso quite liberally, so I like to give them a full day to dry in the sun whenever possible.  I'm enjoying the way the canvases echo the stepping stones in this picture.  The largest are 22" x 28" and the smallest are 6" x 6".

It's pretty incredible to me how much better this makes me feel.  Even though these are still blank by all intents and purposes, just knowing they are ready for the next step makes me breathe a little easier.  Like I'm moving right along.  Goes to show you how important it is to just START, huh?

Picture This...

I live in Southern California and it's nearly June.  I spent all three days of the Topanga art fair wearing a T-shirt and jeans, my winter sweater, not one but TWO coats, AND a scarf.  And I was STILL freezing!  It was cold and windy and rainy.  Crazy weather!  But despite the elements, it was a great show.  Thank you to everyone who braved the freeze and visited me in my booth.  It always means so much to me to know that people connect with my work.  Your enthusiastic feedback makes me want to work so hard every day at becoming a better artist.

Here's a shot of that canvas I've been working on based on the letters I wrote to my little girl.  (View it in its infancy stages here.)  This one is purely for me, so that's part of the reason it's taking me so long to finish.  I've just been working on it when time allows and the spirit moves me.  But stay tuned - I'll continue to show it's progressions.

This week promises to be a hectic one as well.  I have the Montrose show not this coming weekend but the next and I have sold nearly all of my large inventory!  It's a wonderful problem to have, to be sure, but it's left me slightly stressed.  I simply cannot prep a large canvas, paint/collage it, varnish it, and photograph it all before Montrose.  Or maybe I could if I really pushed myself, but I don't want to see what would result from such a place of stress. 

My plan is this:
1. Take things one day at a time.
2. Be as productive as I possibly can with my time.
3. Trust that everything will work out for the best.
     (because it always does...)

Voila!

 

"Complete"
12" x 16"

I finished this piece and wanted to share it with you before I go into crazy-art-fair-mode.  I've never painted my girl from the front before... I always render her in profile, so this was a nice challenge for me.  This is also the first time I've actually painted her face versus simply drawing her features with a fine point pen.  I'm really pleased with the results.  Believe it or not, the idea for this Soul Sketch came to me while Steve and I were in Vegas.

I'm off this morning to set-up for Topanga Days.  I hear the music is quite something, so it should be a lot of fun.  As always, I'd love to see you if you're inclined to visit.  Have a great Memorial Day weekend, everyone, and I'll catch you in blogland next week!

Did I Mention Life's Been Busy?

I know you're probably sick to death of hearing me talk about my crazy schedule as of late.  But that's my life and since this blog is about my life, well... it is what it is...

One of the things vying for my attention lately has been school.  I started an Art Business class with the Pasadena City College a few weeks ago.  It's been great.  Much of what we've covered so far has really forced me to think about things I usually don't - like developing a business plan, for example.  It's been nice to meet some other local artists as well.

I have a three-day art fair this weekend in Topanga, so I've also been occupied with preparations for that event.  I've been trying to squeeze in some painting time wherever I can, in addition to making sure my prints, gift cards, journals, etc. are stocked and ready to go. 

I guess I'm a little stressed because I have an art fair in Montrose just two weeks after Topanga.  I've never had this many all at once before and my sales have been good.  I know it's a wonderful problem to have, but I'm worried about not having enough inventory to fill my booth space.  After Montrose I do have a long break though, so I can breathe a little easier and paint like mad.

That about sums up my week...  Oh yeah, and then there's "Dancing with the Stars"!  Going to the taping pretty much soaked up all of Monday, although I wouldn't trade that experience for the world.  Did you watch the results show?  I have to admit, I was rooting for either of my boys to take the trophy...

It's True...

I am an artist, a wife, a mother (to our four-legged menagerie), a friend, a believer, and yes, folks... it's true... I am also a "Dancing with the Stars" fan.

Last night Steve and I had the opportunity to be there LIVE!  Oh my gosh, it was so much fun!  You wouldn't believe the effort involved if I told you, but it was sure worth it just to do once.  Living in Los Angeles does have its perks, on occasion.

The whole atmosphere is different in person.  For example, right before they come back from each commercial break, they start the smoke machines up again.  Guess that gives it more of a night club-type feel.  And the costumes!  Oh my gosh, the colors and the sparkle are just infinitely better in real life!  I think my favorite palette has to be the one Cristian and Cheryl often use.  They wear fiery fuschias and lime with the occasional tangerine or brilliant turquoise.  Very hot and sizzling.  (And I'm talking about the clothes AND the dancers!)  I just might have to try a page in my art journal based on my experience.

The coveted mirror ball trophy sat on a pedestal below the judges for the entire show.  Even though no one touched it or even breathed on it, a stage hand faithfully rushed in to polish it during every commercial break.  I thought that was priceless.  Wouldn't it be great if your job was to polish the mirror ball?

You can watch to see which couple is crowned Dancing with the Stars Champion tonight!

Weekend Bliss

Here's a close-up of my latest Soul Sketch.  As you can see, I've started to paint in the central figure.  Things are moving right along on this piece, despite my hectic schedule.

But here's the really exciting news...  You might remember me mentioning that the "Dreams on Canvas" charity benefit was this weekend?  Well, guess what!?!?... 

BOTH
OF MY PAINTINGS SOLD!!!    
(You can see them
here and here.) 

Oh my gosh, I'm so excited!!  What a terrific show, too!  Steve and I were really impressed by the variety of art as well as the space.  The primary party and fundraiser was Saturday night, and it looked like it was quite the shebang.   Apparently there was dinner, wine, a live auction, and artwork.  Cocktail attire required.  What fun!  And one more cool thing for those of us immersed in Hollywood-land:  I can now say I've been in a show with Jane Seymour.  Pretty cool, huh?

Sometimes I Hate Making Up Blog Post Titles...

Here's that same canvas I posted Wednesday, a little bit further along.  The earth is too dark for my taste, so I need to do something about that.  Otherwise though, I like how it's developing...

I'm off this morning to deliver two pieces to the Circle of Care Foundation.  They are hosting a benefit this weekend at the City Art Gallery in Van Nuys called "Dreams on Canvas".  Proceeds benefit COCF and its programs at the Grossman Burn Center, The Circle of Care Leeza's Place, and S+AGE at Sherman Oaks Hospital.  I believe the sale is only open to the public on Sunday.  If you are at all inclined, do stop by!  What a terrific way to add some art to your walls and support a great cause all at the same time!

Now I'll leave you with a few shots of some journal pages I've been working on recently...

This one is sort of a study for that piece I've been playing around with on and off that involves a letter I wrote to my inner little girl.  You might remember it here.   Geez, I just realized that was back in January!  Time to get crankin' on that piece!!  At any rate, I've since added some writing to the journal page above using a soft grey souffle pen.

I wish I could take credit for this marvelous eye/hot air balloon, but I can't.  It's an image that I immediately fell in love with and tore out of an art magazine.  I wish I could remember the artist's name to share with you...  I did, however, integrate the piece into the background.

And this page is one of my old palettes glued in with a bit of collage.  The colors are so wonderful and the whole thing is so spontaneous, I just knew it needed a permanent home in my journal as opposed to the trash.

And that's what I've been up to...  Hope you've enjoyed it!

My Sometime Lover

... Thought that title would grab your interest!

Here's a canvas I started work on yesterday.  This month is such a crazy one that I figured if I was going to get ANY painting done at all, I'd better just check my critic at the door and get in there and do it! 

I'm not sure I like the frantic nature of my schedule lately.  I do enjoy being busy because that's when I feel the most productive, but this is overkill.  I've been feeling  constantly off-balance and out of control.  It's not a nice place to dwell. 

Achieving balance seems to be a recurrent theme in my life.  It's almost as if balance is a stranger comprised of nothing more than vapor.  I long for him like a lost lover.  Every fiber of my being yearns to feel him next to me.  Sometimes, he slips into my home unannounced and brushes against my skin.  I sigh deeply and contentedly from somewhere down in my very bones.  Being with him feels soooo good.  But then I open my eyes and in a flash, he vanishes.   The sunlight streams through my  open window and with it, a host of familiar stressors.

Such is the nature of my search for balance.  Anyone else ever feel that way?  The best thing I can do for myself at these times, I suppose, is to give myself the room necessary to protect my needs.  You know, like the way a mother tiger would protect her cubs?  Creativity and inspiration are no less fragile.  Sometimes we have to operate from that place and just hope the rest of the world understands and will love us anyway...

Finished!

"A King's Promise"
30" x 30"

We had beautiful weather this weekend, so art photography went pretty smoothly.  I'm really pleased with this piece and am excited to share it with you.  I think you can click to enlarge the photo but just in case, the text to the right of the roof reads: 

"It shall stay with you as long as you live
and you shall want for nothing," the kind promised.

I found the quote ala Katie-Kendrick-style.  I just opened my Red Fairy Book from the swap meet and this was the first page and first line that I saw.  Serendipity is a marvelous thing, isn't it?  I don't think anything else could fit more perfectly...

In other exciting news,

I WAS ACCEPTED INTO WOMEN PAINTERS WEST !!!!!!!!!

Woo hoo!  I found out Friday evening, and I am so supremely overjoyed.  They're hosting a dinner on June 12 where new members will be presented.  They've requested that I bring along "The Gift" and that I be prepared to speak about it and myself in front of everyone.  That's more than a bit nerve-wracking, but it will be good practice, I suppose.

Happy Friday!

Aren't these roses beautiful?  While the sunlight has washed them out a bit in this photo, they are colored with just the loveliest shade of pale pink.  They're climbing up into our wisteria-covered gazebo in our back yard.  Things are blooming everywhere and the weather's been absolutely perfect.  I'm itching to do some planting this weekend if I can.

There hasn't been much, if any, painting going on this week...  although I did gesso a new canvas yesterday.  Art fairs pretty much wipe me out and I know that.  I just try to honor the part of my soul that says, "You need to rest now, little one.  The creativity will come back in due time."

I have been busy re-stocking my print inventory and working on custom orders I received both prior to the show and during the show.  Then there's all the paperwork involved with tracking inventory sold, recording income, updating mailing lists, etc. etc.  Not very glamorous, but necessary nonetheless.

Right before the show, I finished and varnished that large canvas I've been working on with the house and the hearts.  I hope to photograph it this weekend so that I can show it to you properly early next week.  I'm really thrilled with the final piece.

I'll leave you with a close-up photo of one of the roses from above.  Even though our yard is the typically minuscule LA-size, I love having a little slice of earth all my own.  Nothing refuels me during a resting period like being a part of nature... however small it may be.

Check It Out (again)!

Guess what?!?!  I also have a piece published in the Summer 2008 issue of Art Doll Quarterly.  And even better, my work graces the very last page!  How cool is that?  I didn't even realize I'd have the last page until the issue arrived in my mailbox.

Now, I don't really consider myself an art doll artist in any shape or form.  I actually set out to create an assemblage (which I do from time to time when I need a break from painting).  But if the wonderful folks at Stampington want to put my creation in their art doll magazine, well... then... who am I to argue?

Here's what my doll/assemblage looks like:

Check It Out!

I have not one, but TWO articles in the May/June issue
of Cloth Paper Scissors!

The first article is called "Straight from My Soul" and 
features an in-depth look at several works
from my Soul Sketches series.
The article discusses not only how this series was born,
but it also reveals my process for creating them.

The second article is entitled "Living with Art". 
It showcases a plethora of photos from my studio space.

Both were written by yours truly.  Eight pages in all!  I'm so very, very proud.  I hope you'll check out this gorgeous magazine if you haven't had the chance to already.  (And I'm not just saying that because I'm in it!!)  The editors of Cloth Paper Scissors do an outstanding job on each and every issue.  I'd also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who already wrote to say they enjoyed my contribution!  It means a lot that you noticed me...

Wow! What a Weekend!

Calabasas was nothing short of FANTASTIC!  I'd like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who stopped by my booth to visit me.  Your enthusiasm for my work has left me glowing from the inside out this morning.  I feel so validated and so supremely happy. 

One adorable little girl (with her dad's help) purchased one of my original art pendants.  She proudly announced that she'd looked at all of the artwork in the show and deemed mine to be her favorite of all.  Oh my gosh!  ...Talk about melting my heart! 

It's moments like these that complete me as an artist.  It's the precise place whereby things come full circle.  I spend each day wrapped in the quiet of my studio.  I paint.  I create.  Each artwork that comes into being carries with it a piece of my soul.  But let's face it, folks... You pour the very best of yourself into your work, but there's no guarantee what anyone else will think.  It's a risk.

But oh, when someone connects with what you've done and really "gets" you...  That's a feeling like no other!  It IS being completed.  Yes, sir... C-O-M-P-L-E-T-E.  That little feeling makes an already charmed life feel one thousand times sweeter.  And this weekend was filled with such moments.  *Sigh* 

Staying Busy

The live jurying drop-off and pick-up went as well as could be expected yesterday.  And for the most part, the traffic gods were on my side.  Boy, there were a lot of people there!  Many more than I anticipated.  (*gulp*)  Now the waiting begins...  I'll let you know when I hear anything.

The highlight of my day, however, was meeting Christine Mason Miller for lunch.  What a treat that was!  We'd only emailed up until this point and it was really special for me to be able to hang out with her in person.  (Christine interviewed me on her Sparkletopia blog a few months back.)  She is every bit as warm and as inspirational as I knew she would be.  Thanks, Christine!! 

Tonight Steve and I go out to Calabasas to set up for the show this weekend.  I have a lot of prep work to do today, so I'm not sure I'll get much painting done.  And that's okay.  If you're in the area, come on out to see me this weekend!  It was a SUPER event last year, and I'm really looking forward to being there again...