Snowy Thursday

We received a couple of inches of snow overnight, and more is forecast! It's a perfect day to stay in and make art. 

I'd like to encourage you to consider buying from artists this holiday season. We pour our hearts into our creations, be they handmade garments, jewelry, household items, paintings, sculpture, or other forms of artistic expression. We would love for our creations to find their way into your life or into the lives of your loved ones.

Buying from artists, especially ones living in your locale, helps to build the local economy in ways that big box stores cannot. Go ahead and do the black Friday sales, if that is your thing! But please shop small business and local art in addition to whatever the big box is offering. You'll be helping local artisans to put bread on their table and goodies in the childrens' stockings, even as you find treasures for the loved ones in your life.

Have a wonderful day!

Art in Monument tonight!

The reception for my show at Bella Art and Frame in Monument is TONIGHT from 5-8. Stop in and say hello!

Old Colorado City Artwalk

Looking for something to do this evening? The weather will be perfect for Artwalk in Old Colorado City tonight from 5 to 8. I'll be at Joanne Lavender's studio in the Second Floor Art Studios above Michael Garman's. Stop by and say "hello!"

Do something that scares you

Have you done anything lately that scares you? I don't mean things like trying to jump your car over a washed-out bridge, or attempting some other feat that might cause your life-insurance company to drop you as a client. I mean things like taking a creative risk, taking a stand, trying something new, thinking outside the box, or doing something outside your comfort zone. Sometimes life forces you to do the scary thing. Other times you are the one who consciously chooses to do something scary. Either way, you have the potential to emerge stronger and more confident.

I am currently in the midst of both scenarios. The one that is out of my control is pushing me in a new direction, but I am choosing to believe that it will work out for the good. I will be able to share more about this scenario at a later date. The other scenario was a choice I made recently to take a workshop about painting florals. This was scary, because it was unfamiliar, and out of my typical comfort zone. Guess what...I loved it! I was really pleased with my results, and it has me excited to do more. 

I'm including an image of one of my new works so you can get a taste of things to come! Let me know what you think.

Tough times

Hi, everyone. I am watching the images of the Black Forest Fire with sadness and apprehension...because we are some of the people who are evacuated. I hope our neighborhood and our house are ok.  We are also praying for our forested community.

We are holed up in our RV with an excited dog (who thinks this is an interesting vacation) and our scared cat, who would rather crawl into a dark corner and become invisible. We are fortunate to be at my brother's house, even as he is working 12-hour shifts in support of the firefighting efforts. All in all, it could be worse. I am praying that they will be able to gain ground against the fire over the next 12-24 hours so that we may be able to go home.

At some point I may be able to process all this into artwork, much like last year's "Firestorm" painting. Time will tell. Ironically, there is an artists' reception at Front Range Alliance Church this coming Friday for an art show commemorating the 1 year anniversary of the Waldo Canyon Fire. I don't know if I'll be able to attend. I hope so.

Not one of my more upbeat posts...but that's just life sometimes.

Friday Artwalk in Old Colorado City

Hi everyone! I hope your summer is off to a good start. I have an opportunity to show my work tomorrow, Friday, June 7 during Old Colorado City's Artwalk! Look for me at Joanne Lavender's studio, located in the second floor artist studios above Michael Garman Gallery. The entrance faces Bancroft Park. 

Hey everyone, how have you been? I've been invited to participate in several art shows this spring and I'd sure like to see YOU at the receptions. This Friday evening (May 3) the annual Art Exhibition at First Presbyterian Church opens with a reception from 5:30 pm to 8 pm.

Open house this evening!

There will be an open house THIS EVENING at Monument Microderm, from 4-8 PM. Stop by if you have a chance!

New venue!

Announcing: a new venue to see (and purchase) my work! The show goes up on March 20th or 21st, 2013.

Signs of Spring

Here along the Palmer Divide (Pikes Peak region) we are digging out from not-one-but-two recent blizzards. It was a beautiful day today and a lot of melting occurred. Our long driveway is rapidly moving from snowpacked and icy to a combination of mud and gravel.  The day was warm (50s; warm for Colorado in March) and it really feels like spring. Soon daffodil and grape hyacinth shoots will be poking up through the snowy patches that remain. In celebration, I've been cleaning the studio, exploring new color palettes, and starting new pieces. It's a time to put away the things of winter; the cold, the solitude, the remembrance of winter seasons, and to move forward. I'm excited! I'm looking forward to sharing new artworks with you! The image below is a new piece, one of a series of four. Keep an eye on my website, because I will be publishing a number of new works soon.

One of a series of 4 new pieces! Each will be 11x14, framed.

Goals

I started this year with several goals in mind, including "paint more" and "simplify." Whenever I attempt goals like this, my natural tendency to have too many ideas takes over, and I go off track. Before I know it I'm off on some rabbit trail. So far this year, the rabbit trails have been named "Downton Abbey," "oooh, look at the pretty beads," and "let's redesign the website."

Fortunately I have a very understanding family that knows when to intervene and when to enable. My dear husband, for example, has just enabled my "Downton Abbey" fix by finding a means for me to stream Season Two (which I missed). He has quietly ignored my "pretty bead" fixation.

And, my dear daughter-in-love, intervened by listening to my website woes, and has undertaken the website redesign. At long last, social media is linked up, my blog is connected to the website (www.juliamevans.com), and we will be setting up a shopping cart option. This website is a work in progress, but is becoming a thing of beauty. (If you need a website "intervention" of your own, let me know. I will hook you up.) Thank You Chris!

Not worrying about the website enables me to paint more (if I can limit my time playing in the beads). And I'll try to save Downton Abbey season two for viewing only when I am working out on the Elliptical.

Simple, right?