new, new and more new

Well, I ponied up and built an actual website! 

I'm moving the blog and my portfolio over there, so please come visit!

One more new piece- done for a fundraising event in early February. I got to work all day with five other fun artists ~ we each scrambled to finish a piece in eight hours, with the results being donated to an auction for a local arts center. Eight hours is not too outside the normal number of hours a piece takes for me, I guess, but I'm definitely used to stretching that time out over a few days, letting things dry and ideas percolate. In the end, the pressure and excitement, as well as artist camaraderie, must have been good for me: this is one of my favorite pieces in a long time!

homecoming

Here are a few quick shots of pieces I finished in the new Studio last month. Now that I'm all settled in, I'm working on trying to relax and just play a little. I find that I still want to express the same sorts of things: the layers of moments that make up our experiences - I'm just seeing the work evolve in slightly different, more abstract ways.

Group show at MOWA

Well, wow. I take myself out of circulation for over 18 months, then decide to rent a studio- and before I even get my feet in the water or brush in the paint, another favorite piece of mine has been accepted into a juried group show:

New Dream

This piece will be hanging at The Museum of Wisconsin Art, in the Cedarburg Artists Guild's group show in the State Gallery. I am so honored to be included- the Guild is made up of some amazingly talented artists, so the whole show is guaranteed to be stellar. If you're in the area, come check us out- the opening reception is Sunday, January 31st and the show hangs until March 29th. The whole Museum is so worth a visit if you haven't already been.

So the next post will be from my new studio. Super scary exciting!

revisiting

Well, yes, I've been gone for quite a while. For nearly the last two years I've been working in event planning, and I had a great time focusing on the 'project manager' parts of me that needed to exercise. It felt good, letting the art-making go fallow or a while…and now I am getting ready to come back and see what kinds of new things are ready to grow.

Kicking me off is the honor of having a piece accepted in a January group show at the Frank Juarez Gallery:

So glad to be showing with such a great group of artists. And honestly, I'm feeling for the very first time that I can comfortably call myself the same. Something about deciding to come back after this break. Something about turning 40, maybe. I've just decided that I am, indeed, an artist. Even possibly, a great one.

I am not, however, a great blogger. Nor do I want to be. Blogging, I found, made me look at every move I made under the lens of a very judgmental microscope. I've decided that this space will now just function as a spot to share work I want to share, and post events and shows in which I'll be participating. There: Just like that, no more microscope.

Show Opens Tomorrow!

Nothing like a last minute post, right?

I dropped off over 45 pieces at Anaba Tea Room last week, and they're hanging them right now! I'm very excited to see how they put the collection together...it's always cool to see how someone else sees your work. The show opens with a reception tomorrow evening (thursday, May 2) from 5-7pm, so if you're a local friend, please stop by and say hello!

Anaba Tea Room 

May 2- June 30

back to the birds

Here's a little work in progress shot. I'm getting the last few things ready for a solo show that has to be ready by April 26th. Eeek! It's really barreling down on me. I'll post more details soon, but if you're a local friend, mark Thursday, May 2 on your calendar and come visit me at The Anaba Tea Room during the opening!

a few stories to tell

Hello! I was lucky enough to have a friend shoot some of my newer work, and she's amazingly talented in all things, so the shots came out just beautifully ~ I'm so thankful.

So thanks to Erika, here's a sneak peek at some of the pieces that will be in a show I'm doing in May:

Holiday Art Fair this weekend!

I'm all set for the Cedarburg Artists Guild's Holiday Art Fair this weekend. Set up is tonight, and the show is Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Whew ~ it's always exhausting, but also a blast. I share a booth with my friend Kelley and together we, and the other artists participating, have tons of great stuff for Holiday shoppers! Here's a peek at just some of the things I'll have on hand:

Cedarburg is a great town in general and the weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend, so I highly recommend checking it out. If you decide to come to the show, stop by booth #14 and say Hi!

Cedarburg Artists Guild

Holiday Art Fair

Friday: 10am - 8pm

Saturday: 10am - 5pm

Sunday: 11am - 4pm

Cedarburg Community Center Gym

W63 N641 Washington Ave, Downtown Cedarburg

gallery night

Isn't this guy great? I'm loving working with old photos in these new pieces. I grab shots in antique stores that seem to want to tell a story. I hope I'm getting it right for them.

It's not the best shot...these pieces are fairly dimensional- so they go in a custom made shadow box my fabulous husband helps me build. Since the glass is built into the frame, there's no way I can get a shot of a finished piece without the glass, and I have no idea what to do to diminish glare. Hopefully it's enough to give you an idea of what I'm up to these days.

If you're in Milwaukee, come visit me tonight in the Third Ward for Gallery night! I'll be showing with a group at Kindness Architecture and Planning on Menomonee, from 6 til 9. 

That said, time to get the last few pieces wired up. Thanks for stopping!

forward ho

Is that a real phrase? Whatever~ it's September, we're back in a routine, and I've uncovered my studio. Here's proof:

fearless

I'll be back in a few days with details on some fall shows I've got lined up. I'm off to enjoy the swirling winds and crisp, clear air. I love autumn the mostest.

done for a while

So, obviously I've not been a very consistent blogger this summer. I don't make a lot of art in the summer...the kids and I hang and do summer in the summer. I have had a few wonderful shows this season though- made some great sales and some new friends. Thanks so much to any of you who are stopping by because I shoved my business card at you and said "visit my blog!!"

I think, though, that I'm going to officially take a break from the ol' blog for a while. It's occurred to me more and more that I just don't really want to be a "blogger". So I've decided it's time for me to honor that. Otherwise, I find that I'm really critical of myself when I don't post enough.

I'm going to be making art though, so I'll put it up here when I do!

Have a happy summer!
xo
Megan

flora and fauna

(i know the trend is over, but these mushrooms are just fun to make)

Hello! Long time no post ~ summer does that to me!

I've been finishing up a few new pieces to prepare for my next show. Two shows in one season...I must be getting serious about this stuff.

This weekend I'm participating in a one day show in Bay View, WI. Come say hi if you're in the area:

South Shore Frolics Festival of Art

Sunday, July 15

10am - 5pm

South Shore Park, Bay View, WI

confidence (bit of vintage picture-frame molding attached on bottom)

show prep

here now

new tags and notecards

DIY grab-bags of vintage ephemera

making labels

So, I've been busy lately- really busy- getting ready for the Hawthorne Hill Farm show I'm doing next weekend. I have no idea what to expect in terms of sales- there's such a great mix of art, craft and antiques and vintage treasures at these shows that I know I'll fit in aesthetically, but it's always hard to guess how much people will actually buy, or what they're going to be in the mood for when they're out poking around. 

It's been fun to prepare though- my awesome husband built me some new booth walls, I've worked up several new paintings and lots and lots of new paper-goods. I've also decided to share the wealth in terms of my ever-growing collection of vintage ephemera by putting together grab-bags filled with a whole slew of fun materials that would be great for journalling, scrapbooking and art-making. All in all, I feel like my booth will be fun to look through, even if (as we tell the kids) "it's not a buying day" for everyone. 

I don't do a ton of shows- so my set up and prep is maybe not as efficient as the veterans, but I love creating a display, and I really love chatting with people who come out to look around. So if you're in the area, please stop by and say hi!

Hawthorne Hill Farm Shopping Market

"Rust, Ruffles, Restore!"

June 22, 23, 24

10am - 5pm

looking out (or in?)

untitled

I've got a busy two weeks coming up, but wanted to post this latest piece before I disappeared. I haven't been able to title it just yet...I feel like there's definitely a story going on here, I just don't know what it is. Feel free to offer up your own interpretations.

If you're in my neck of the woods, you should consider checking out the upcoming show at Hawthorne Hill Farm, running May 18, 19 & 20. I'll be in their next show: June 22, 23 & 24...so by all means, put that on your calendar too!

making up for lost time

I had a bit of a kink in my neck that made pitch-forking the garden and planting potatoes yesterday not so fun. Fortunately, it didn't hinder me in the studio. So here I am- a month of blog-silence, and now two posts in as many days!

The kink is feeling better today, so back outside I go...but first I'm going to ask you all for a little constructive criticism of this piece- I'm feeling like it might need some fine-tuning, but maybe not? Obviously, I am not quite sure. Your thoughts?

April post- just in time

foundation

At last, a new painting finished. It's been a busy April, I'm glad I finally got myself into the studio to work for a while. This image may be a little brighter than the original- the real thing is quite springy, but maybe not so acid-green. (insert "I am not a photographer" disclaimer here)

I've been working hard on lots and lots of notecards and stationary products in the last few weeks...I'll get a shot of them for next week- and tell you all about the show they're being made up for. In the meantime, I'm going to go turn up the garden and get some potatoes in the ground!

new approach

capable

Here's a quick shot of a new piece. I decided this time to use a bird image of my own creation. Until now I've used images pulled from vintage birding books, in keeping with the use of vintage ephemera. I also love the very precise style of the ink drawings I've found. But using actual images from actual books means I'm limited in terms of sizing and orientation...and once they're used, they're gone until I find another book. In part, I like that limitation, but I realize I also want to be able to keep working without limitations on material.

I drew this bird on the end-leaf of an old book, and I'm quite proud of it, technically speaking. The drawing gives a very different feel here, though, compared to the my other works and I'm not sure how I feel about it.  I'd love your input- hearing other perspectives always helps.

Next week I'll post some new cards and gift tags I've been working on for a show coming up in June. Have a great weekend!

spring is visiting

It is going to be 50 degrees out today!

We have not had much of a winter here this year...at least not by typical Wisconsin standards. I've been disappointed at the lack of snow- especially with a Christmas present of new cross country skis which I've yet to be able to debut- but the weather today is making me long for spring. We'll have another go at winter next year, it's time to throw in the towel.

new sky

This is a piece I just finished in time for a 1:00 deadline at the Main Street Gallery in Cedarburg. If you're a local, Cedarburg is always nice to visit in the spring- be sure to stop by the gallery (in the Cultural Center) if you're in town.

Also, I know I said I'd post about my son's Harry Potter birthday party- I must say, it was a huge success in most respects. In others- not so much: we suffered multiple camera fails throughout the day. This, my friends, is why I don't blog events. Paintings sit still and wait while your memory card spazzes out or your other camera's batteries die. 6 and 7 year olds playing Quidditch in the basement...not so much. C'est la vie.

standing guard

sentinel

Hello! Here's a little piece I finished up this week. I found a wonderful old book about mushrooms...I always think these guys have so much personality- must be the early influence of Fantasia when I was a kid.

No real time to post, I'm afraid- I'm knee deep in clean up and final prep for a birthday weekend. I may have taken on a little much in the detail-department for the Harry Potter party. I finally admitted this to myself while whittling ten wands from sticks collected on walks. Be that as it may, I'm having fun - here's hoping the kiddos have fun too!