Shall we? Happy Thursday! To read more about this project click here ....
Binoculars on a vintage scale. What are you up to today? To read more about this project click here ....
Today is a day for saying yes.  I say no a lot to opportunities and get really hesitant to go outside of my comfort zone. At times I will just jump in with out thinking about it but when it matters then the doubt creeps in and I over think it.  I have been putting a lot of thought into saying yes more and be open to new things. What's the worst that can happen? Today and tomorrow is for saying yes. To read more about this project click here ....
A swan song. Currently I am reading the book, The Morning Miracle by Hal Elrod. It's a book about adjusting your schedule to becoming more of a morning person in order to get more "success" and productivity out of your day. I am only about 3/4s of the way through the book and the biggest change that has influenced me is to not stay up at night but to wake up early and be more productive during the day. I am a night owl at heart. I am one of those people who can stay up until all hours of the night with out a problem. The problem is that I am getting work done but I am dragging through the day until the kids nap time. or everyones nap time. It just didn't feel healthy- spiritually, mentally, and physically. We are all busy. We are.  I am busy with making art, being a mom and a wife and it's difficult to try and try and be the best at everything. The biggest thing about just having a baby or any life change, I always feel the need to get back on track and ge...
It takes a village. Weekends seem more busier than the weekdays. Just breath Erika. Just breath. To Read more about this project click here ....
Stopping to smell the sun soaked roses today. Sometimes I fall victim to over complicating and over thinking my work. I wanted to paint something more impressionistic, simple and more about the movement of the brush.  I crave a lot of structure and lines in my artwork, but sometimes I need the opposite, which flowers provide a relief. Weekends are meant for simplifying aren't they? To read more about this project click here ....
Have a wonderful friday friends! To read more about this project click here ....
I have been currently obsessing over listening to podcasts during my kid free morning and studio time. When I say kid free morning time, it's before my kids wake up and that means the crack of dawn.  I'm trying a little experiment of instead of staying up really late, doing artwork, and then dragging the rest of the day because I am such a night owl.  I am waking up a couple of hours earlier to get my work done in the morning.  I'm only a week into waking up early versus staying up late and so far I am feeling like I have a lot more alert and energy through out the day. Back to podcasts! So part of my morning routine has been listening to podcasts.  Podcasts have been giving me that extra nudge of creativity and you can do it attitude.  Something I especially need in the morning. Let's be honest being a creative is really hard and a lot of hard work. and those voices of self doubt are huge and sometimes can feel enormous. I've been starting my morning with a litt...
Kiehl's sent me the most terrific care package. Kiehls is a beauty brand specializing in high quality skin care and hair products.  It started in 1851 in an apothecary in New York City and it evolved into a pharmacy then specializing more into beauty products. I have a specific routine in taking care of my skin because I plan on being young forever. (or at least at heart).  I can't wait to try out all of the little lotions, face masks and serums! They are opening a new location and having their opening ceremony tomorrow at their new Tigard location. They are giving away free goodie bags to their first 50 patrons, free facials, and free gifts with purchase. Details Opening Date: April 24, 2015 @ 4:00 pm Address: Washington Square, 9585 SW Washington Square Road, Tigard, OR ...
CHEEEESE! A day at the lake. To read more about this project click here ....
Becoming and being an artist is not and never easy.  There are so many ups, downs and a ton of choices. I am constantly learning new things everyday but being an artist is more like climbing a never ending mountain.  So here are some of my tips that will help you on your journey. 1. Wear black (at least when you make art).  Artists wear black because you don't want the reflection of color on your art work. If you wear a bright red shirt, that red sheen will reflect onto your palette and canvas. Photographers know this trick too! Artists generally work in color and in order to keep the colors pure, it's the easiest tip to insure the color you have planned is the same on the canvas. 2. Upgrade your materials.  Quality materials is important. I used to buy the cheapest paint. I did! It's actually sort of embarrassing because I thought the quality of my work would shine through the crappy materials. I have learned that you don't have to have the most expensive materia...
pink telephone. I'm reminded how much fun it is to paint today. I don't think I could ever get sick of oil painting. like ever. the smell. the texture. the quality. There is something so luxurious about dipping the brush into the paint and developing the layers of color. To read more about this project click here....
Breakfast French Radishes I am constantly reminding myself that creativity goes in waves or maybe more like a roller coaster. and it's not just the creativity, its making what's in mind into a reality. I needed to paint something simple today in my sketchbook, since I am working on client work. It's finny how ones mind craves a level of simplicity when working on more complicated things. Happy Sunday friends. To read more about this project click here ....
Portland house shooting laser beams. This house looked tacky enough when I saw it, and I can only imagine what's going on inside. I'm in love with making art today. I have a pile of work, and I couldn't be happier. Making Art Everyday has turned into me wanting to complete a sketch book page everyday. It's been a great seeing how quickly I have to make something.  I am usually a pretty slow creative and put a ton of time into a piece.  I's been freeing not to worry about the details or knowing what details I have to include. What makes a sketchbook special? It's seeing the idea and the journey through the marks and the scribbles. To read more about this project click here....
Razzle Dazzle. TGIF. It's supposed to be extremely beautiful weather here this weekend.  I think we are going to take the kiddos to the farmers market and visit my favorite crepe stand. yum! What are you up to this weekend? To read more about this project click here....
Colds have invaded our house, and it makes me so sad to see little Everett sneeze and cough.  Everett has been a little cuddle bug, and hasn't been getting much rest. Nora on the other hand is not letting a little cold slow her down.  She has been running all over the house and playing hide and seek with the dogs. Well she hides and the dogs follow her around. Have a wonderful Thursday. To read more about this project click here....
My thoughts today are filled with going on an adventure. I would love to just load up the car and go to a new place. I used to travel a ton before having kids or what I like to refer to is my past life. You know the life before kids. Kids is a totally new, excited and lots of unexpected surprises every day. I wouldn't give any of it up.  I often think about the day I get to show Nora Paris or when Everett is old enough to feed the monkeys in Bali. I can't wait to show them all of my favorite places near and far, but for now my adventures are of going to the park and on a really crazy day, the zoo. I love slowing down and having a new very domestic life, but it's ok to miss the fun things before kiddos right?  To read more about this project click here ....
I have so many projects coming up, that its exciting and terrifying. I'm not sure exactly how I will do it all, and still get at least a few hours of sleep a night. I'm just barely managing getting 5-6 hours a sleep a night and then maybe 1-2 hours at nap time.  I know I really should be getting more sleep.  Maybe it's selfish of me but I want it all, I want to make art and be a mommy too.  I am on this never ending quest of finding achievable balance. Maybe the best work will happen when you push through the challenges? and I don't mean just art work. Have a wonderful Tuesday. To read more about this project click here. ...
Today has been a really tough day as a parent. Nora is now two and half, and I have to start discipling her. I hate the word discipline. Hate it. I know you have to teach your children to do the right thing and to be the best person they can be. But being the non-cool, disciplinary parent is hard. Nora is a very curious and full of life child.  She loves to make messes and be involved in everything. She tore up a library book, and it was beyond repair.  The book ended up in tiny pieces.  Packing tape would not salvage this book.  I really want both my kiddos to love to read and love the library. So we took the library book back to the library and I made her apologize to the librarian.  I know I am doing the right thing by teaching her to be kind to other peoples things and that library books are meant for everyone. Maybe I am being sensitive, but it makes me feel horrible being the grown up sometimes and not just letting her get away with it. I know it's the ground work, but...
Oh my gosh! I have made is 100 days! eek!  I can't believe it.  The more that I am in this project, the more that it feels right.  I should be creating and making things everyday.  I don't love what I make everyday but I look back and love what I made. Walrus in an 80's sweater. Yes, you love it. To read more about this project click here ....
Portrait practice. Will portraits ever get easier? I some how doubt it. I love and hate the challenge all at the same time. Happy Saturday friends. To read more about this project click here....
I love the whole idea of jumping off a dock into water or even being around a body of water. So happy for the weekend? Doing anything fun? To read more about this project click here....
Portland, Oregon is my city.  I was born here and have lived here my whole life.  I got married here, gotten drunk here, hitch hiked here (not recommended), went to my first concert here (it was Cherry Poppin Daddies), visited my first art museum, and both my kiddos were even born at the same hospital I was born in. This city holds so many special memories for me, but I am always learning and doing new things in it. I have been wanting to do a city guide for quite some time but Portland has so many wonderful things to offer. I started making lists of all the most stop locations in Portland, and there were just too many for one blog post. So much, that it's almost over whelming how awesome of a place Portland really is. So this is a start of a new little series highlighting Portland and the places around the Pacific Northwest that I truly love and recommend.  I have also met so many people that have moved here and have fallen in love with this city because lets just say th...
Hot Dog.  Buildings like this make me smile. Have a wonderful wednesday! To read more about this project click here....
I know it's cliche but I love getting flowers and could look at them all day. They make me happy. Another lesson I have learned a long the way in this art journey, is that my work gives me so much joy.  I can't really put into words how much, because I could just make art all day long if I could. To read more about this project click here ....
Number 7 and Number 2. Makes me wish I was there. To read more about this project click here....
Happy Easter! I took Nora to one of my favorite thrift store and we saw this darling vintage rocking horse. Nora immediately clutched my hand and said - Mommy, Pony mine.  It didn't end well, and we left the store empty handed. I did promise, I would draw her a picture in my sketchbook. Hopefully that made up for it a little bit. To read more about this project click here ....
Portrait practice. Happy Saturday. To read more about this project click here ....
- sloth I have been learning so many lessons by doing this project. I am about a quarter away through this journey and I have a lot of unexpected lessons. I am learning so much about my art work and doing an artist check in everyday on this blog. An artist check in is where you check in and see how your inner artist is doing and acknowledging that she's there. Checking in has made me accountable and not giving up. I worry that I will give up, and just one day stop and then one day turns into two and so on. I don't want to give up because I love it so much. I think one of the biggest surprises is what I am choosing to focus on.  Its been a really eye opening experience to see what I am choosing to work on or what I find interesting.  It's the power of an idea and what can happen with an idea. TGIF. To read more about this project click here ....
So snazzy! It's been really fun to play sort of dress up in my painting of suburbia homes. I just love bedazzling and making them a little obnoxious.  Since I grew up and I still live in the suburbs, everything is very cookie cutter.  Everything from the manicured lawn, to the perfect sidewalks, kids tossing balls, and in the distance you can hear a dog bark, but every now and then you see a house that is a little different than the rest. I love knowing even in the ordinary there is something extraordinary. To read more about this project click here ....
Afternoon tea. Afternoon tea is a big deal in lots of different parts of the world but not so much here in Oregon. Nora and I have started have doing little afternoon tea parties. She lines up her teddies to take sips of tea and nibbles of cake. The poor bears are drenched in tea and covered in icing by the time the tea is over. It's pretty adorable. We usually do camomile or peppermint tea since it's caffeine free but it's one of my most favorite times of the day. To read more about this project click here....