Narwhals and Bearded Ladies

Why, hello there.

I'm busily making plans and preparations for perhaps some shows this year (I'm still undecided on whether or not to do a farmer's market and perhaps one large arts/craft show...or if I should skip the farmer's market idea and do maybe three big shows and call it good). Decisions, decisions. We shall see, I s'pose. I'm really excited about some new project ideas, though. Including...screenprinted totes? I'm looking into that possibility at the moment (so far, it's looking like a "go"!). If they do happen, you guys will be the first to know! I'm sketching out the design as I type, and I'm super thrilled with it. They should be quite the show-stopping little numbers.

Anyway, a new painting eeked it's way into the shop earlier this week (a bit sneaky of me, I admit)...

Narwhals! A *black* narwhal! This idea had been flitting about in my sketchbook for a while now. For some reason, the very thought of a unique black narwhal sent me into a frenzy. I have no idea if this has ever happened in real life (or if it's even possible), but seriously. How cool would that be?

And this is what's on the painting table at the moment...

Uh-huh. A bearded lady *and* gold leaf (composite gold leaf, actually--the real stuf is hard to come by around here and heftily priced at that). I'm so excited about this piece. So excited. She's quite teeny as well--5x7" on canvas panel. And I have the perfect frame for when she's all done.I had been studying an old textbook I still have from college Art History days on the Northern Renaissance and gawking at those freaky-talented Flemish painters (seriously--Van der Weyden, Campin, Van Eyck... what planet did these guys fall from?). Jan van Eyck is by far one of my all-time favorite old school painters. His pieces are *perfect*. And when you see his works in person, your jaw drops--they're so small for all those teensy details and perfectly painted figures. It's humbling, really. So, I guess you can say that's what inspired this lil' number (though, as far as I know, Van Eyck wasn't really well-known for painting bearded ladies).

Off for a quick coffee! Happy Valentines Day, everyone! I think it goes without saying, I love you all deeply. Enjoy your week!

--PS: Just a wee reminder that if you've been pondering over it, this Valentine Special on the narwhal & white sperm whale prints will end at midnight tomorrow, so hop over there and snag one before then. :)