N.Y. City set

Well~ here is a little peek at the set that I have been painting. So~ the show is ~ Tick, Tick....Boom. A musical by Jonathan Larson~ the guy who wrote Rent. And~ this is his story, about choosing to be a New York artist.
Here you see plaster walls with brick. This is a roof top. But~ it also gets used as different scenes in the play. This is a very neat little corner of the set. First I painted the wall to look like old plaster, then painted the brick, here & there. Then went back over parts with more plaster/painting.
~The set designer is a friend of mine~ I love painting her sets for her, we work very well together.~
~ That very beautiful window you see up top is going to have a scrim (a black mesh type of curtain) hung behind it. Then it will have lights, Christmas lights, that will look like stars.

~Philip (my hubby) did a beautiful job building this set. That window is so well built, that it could actually hang in someones home. He was not willing to fudge things, he never is, if he is going to build something, than he is going to do it right. ~ You know that is what he does, he is a cabinetmaker. The building company he works for is small, but, they work on some of the most beautiful homes here in Richmond.~

Anyway~ I think this is going to be am amazing production. Very exciting.
Next~ I will show you how I paint the wood floors.

~Amy~

~VOTE~ :)

Last night I was at the~
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds~ Last Chance for Change Concert, held at the Siegel Center at V.C.U.~ it was a fabulous concert. Leaning towards being mellow. Acoustic Guitar Artistry really~ Both Dave & Tim were clearly enjoying themselves, as they played for 2 1/2 hours. Tim did not say a word~ but Dave delivered, what I can only describe as the most charming campaign messages, for Obama or any political message, for that matter, that I have ever heard.~"I'm well-compensated for doing what I love to do so go ahead and tax me heavy so someone else can take a little break."~

6,000 attended this free concert.~ Last Saturday morning, my friend Leslie called~ saying, I am on my way to get you~ they are giving away free tickets to a Dave Mathews concert at the Marshall Street Obama Campaign Office. So, Leslie, Rowan & I stood in line for about an hour & a half, chatting with the other folks in line, really a very pleasant morning. Got our two tickets each. And~ last night had a very lovely evening. I took Hannah~ this was her first real concert. Leslie brought her daughter Maria. It was all very good~

So~ I have been "crazy busy"~ working on the set. I took pictures today, to share with you. And~ show you a few of the painting techniques I use. But~ I left my camera at the theatre. Thats o.k.~ I'll post them toomario~ :)
~Amy~

~~~WELCOME !~~~

Today is the day! The day that the Magical Vanessa over at A Fanciful Twist is hosting her Halloween Party~~
SO LETS HAVE FUN!!!!

AND ~~~ ~ GIVE YOUR FAVORITE SCARECROW
A BIG HUG & KISS FOR ME ~~~~



~I have made these Sweet Pumpkin Earrings
in celebration of this very Pumkinney Season~

~They will be available in my etsy shoppy~


NOW~ I am off to the Halloween Party!~

~~AMY~~

Birthday Boy & More

I can hardly believe I haven't posted in over a week~
I have started painting a set for a new theatre in town! ~ I am so very excited about this new little theatre. It is a part of the dance studio ~ Shuffles~ where Rowan takes her dance classes.
The owner, Peggy, of the of Shuffles ~ decided last year to spread her creative realm and add a black box theatre to her dance studio. Really amazing~ the space is perfect~ seating 99. The stage is a wonderful size. She brought on board, as Artistic Director, a young man, named Chase~ I have known him for years~ he worked at Theatre lV . Anyway~ Chase was pretty much raised in the theatre. He knows theatre inside & out.And~ because of this he can gather an amazing pool of talent, who are more than happy to be a part of this new theatre. I am totally blown away by how everything is coming together.
So~ the show is ~ Tick, Tick....Boom. A very cool musical by Jonathan Larson~ the guy who wrote Rent. So~ this is his story, about choosing to be a New York artist.

My husband built the sets~ now I am painting them. Good Fun!

Next~ Above, you see my new/old angel. While cleaning out the closet~ there she was. One of the Angels that Philip cut out for me years ago. Unpainted.~~~~Remember me saying that my Angel painting was pretty spontaneous, morning of a baby shower, morning of the Christmas party. Anyway~ poor Philip was never given much notice. So~ he did catch on & started cutting out stacks of Angels, instead of one, as needed. ( love having a cabinetmaker for a husband)

So~ she is not done yet. But~ I was so happy to find her. I want to make her very special.

Next ~ & ~ most important~ Ian turned 16 on Oct. 13~
Unbelievable~ 16~ my darling little fellow. When he was born, he had the biggest brown eyes.
He was my tiniest baby. Oh so precious. Today he is still darling, kind, smart. Ian is cuddly,
he is very comfortable with himself.~ He has decided that he will be a Ferrior & shoe houses.
And he will. Like his father his hands are gifted.


Pumpkin pie~ instead of cake~ for Ian Gerard Sullivan !




Recognize this picture?~
This is the photo that inspired the pastel painting you see over to the side of my blog.
This is my curly headed boy, playing in the bird bath~ I was always finding his little toys there.





The moment Ian saw his first horse~ there was a natural connection.~ Neither Philip or I are horse people. I have never been on a horse!~ Truly, it is amazing to watch him around these beautiful creatures. Look at him~ on his 3rd. Birthday~
We lived in the country & a friend who owned horses lived just down the dirt road.I would take the kids for a daily walk & we always ended there. Ian was shown where the apples were kept, so he would run get one and feed the horses. I have seen him share an apple with this very horse. Look how small he is on that big horse.~ Beautiful!~

O.K.~ That all for now~See you soon with more art~ Amy~

Well~

Well~ I didn't sell any prints in my "big sale".
So~ I have decided to extend , the buy one~ get one free sale ~till Monday, Oct.6~
or maybe longer ;D
This selling your artwork stuff is hard~

But~ I have wonderful news about the show I was in , in Sept. ~ I sold 5 of the 7 pieces I sent.
And this little Angel just sold last night on ebay.

And something else, really Sweet, has happened~ Paz, from the Cooking Adventures of Chef Paz
asked me to post a recipe on her cooking blog. Paz is truly one of the dearest people here in bloggyland. ~ She also has another blog, Paz's New York Minute~
there she shares her view of New York City. And~ these are not just photographs, there is something more~ the something more is the way she sees the world around her. She makes it all so beautiful.~~~~ So~ visit Paz in N.Y. ~ then try my Italian Prune Plum recipe~
well it isn't mine, but, my darling Mother-in-laws~& it is very yummy!

Have the Loveliest of Days~Amy~

New Angel & A Print SALE!

A new Angel Painting for ebay & a PRINT SALE in my ETSY SHOP!

1st.~ Here is my new angel painting~


I call her "October Angel",she is the first in my new monthly angel collection.Next month, of course, will be November & so on, ending with September of next year.And, she is on Ebay
right now~

After each original angel painting sells, I will make prints
of them & offer them in my etsy shop.


~And Now~ about the PRINT SALE!!!~
Over the past week or so, I have been adding prints
of my Angel Paintings, to my etsy shop.

AND so to get things going (gosh darn-it)!

For the next 3 DAYS~
I will be having a BUY one print & get the second
one, of equal or lesser value FREE SALE !!!
~All prints are included in the SALE~
This sale ends on MONDAY @ MIDNIGHT


Just remember to wait for an invoice from me before paying.


So~ yes~ go peek in my little shop!
&
~Thank you, for doing so~

~Amy~

Neptune Festival

About two months ago my Bestest Girlfriend, Leslie asked me if I wanted to join her at the Neptune Festival in Virginia Beach & enter the annual sand sculpting contest. I said~Sure~

I have known Leslie since we were freshmen at V.C.U.~ hmmm 1979~ we have been friends for 29 years. We were in the art school, we are both little petite lady's. In fact that is the first thing she ever said to me, we were standing in the elevator going up to our rooms~ me all arty, with my gauzy shirts and my Leslie all preppy looking, (she was from Charlettsville) . Anyway~ she looks at me & says, "Hey, do you like being short?" ~ I am like~ what ever, little girl in your plaid pants & matching headband. ~~ Not two long after that there was a situation involving a fellow named Fred~ who apparently liked petite girls. Because one evening Leslie came to my room to let me know that he had asked her out, we were talking about him~ when poor Fred knocked on my door...what a shock for him & the rest is history. ;) Poor, Poor Fred.
Leslie & I have been best friends ever since.~ Our friendship has grown & changed as we have gone about our lives~ but~ we are always there for each other. As you get older corny sayings like "always there for each other" don't seem so corny.

So~ about the contest~ we didn't win~ but we didn't go to win. We went to have fun. Really we did. It was Les's ideal, she has an amazing talent for wipping out sand cat sculptures. She has been making them for years. Les's only daughter Maria, is all 23 years old , so Les gets to jet off to Jamaica and different beaches on her vacations. So, this is the first time I saw her in action. ~ My job was to do the lettering. Virginia is for Lovers.~ But, right beside the Lovers, leslie sculpted a cat~ So, & people did get it~ it reads, Virginia is for cat Lovers. It was so much fun.
I had never carved letters in the sand, but, I just went for it & I think we did fabulously!

We have decided that we will do it again next year.
~~~~~~~
Oh~ & Leslie did lose the plaid , like 28 1/2 years ago.She really wasn't preppy at all ;)

Back

I am still having computer woes~ but I am learning how to use Gabriel's laptop.Thank you son!
Anyway~ I have missed blogging so much.~ This laptop is so sensitive. I make lots of mistakes & have to start over. But~ I can't be picky.
So~ this is a little angel I painted last night as a donation for a fund raiser that will take place tomorrow night in Washington D.C.~the money is being raised for battered women.~ I wanted this little angel to remind people of Christmas & winter. He is called the "Winter Angel". I know same pose~ but, I love this little angel.
~~~Little Miss Rowan has been sick this weekend & today. She has had a high fever. Poor little baby. It is so sad when the "Little Girl" is sick. You miss all her "busy~ness".
Well that's all for now~ I am going to go take a quick look around & catch up with all my bloggy friends. ~Amy~

Computer Woes~

I am using my son's laptop at the moment.
So~ I have no pictures, :(
But~ I have been getting lots done.:)
And~ Katie May gave me the Art Y Pico Award~:)
I don't think I can pass it on till this weekend.
This laptop seems so strange to me.
I feel lost using it.And~ it does n't have all my info on it.

It is only Wednesday~Feels like Friday~
but~ I am glad it isn't, there is still so much to do.
The weather is getting that wonderful fall, crisp mornings &
cool evenings, ~ Thank goodness.
I feel renewed at this time of year.
More energy~
o.k.~ have good thoughts for my computer~
I feel so lost~but~I am getting lots done. ~But~ I feel so lost.
I"m o.k.~ No~ really I am~ don't worry about me, I can handle this ~
this, no computer thing~ I am enjoying the crisp weather~fresh~
And~getting, SOO much done!~ it really is a good thing.~
This no computer thing~ a good thing~so, don't worry about me,~
I am fine~ Do you believe me?~
oooo~Amy~

the Same~ But, Not~ the Same

~click for close up~

A wonderful thing happened. A lovely lady bought one of my Angels on ebay~ and then a lovely friend of hers saw it and wanted~ not one~ but~ three Angels. One for herself~ And the other two for her children.~But, she was in love with the Angel that her friend had. She liked the way he was looking up.~So, she asked if I could make another one. ~~At first I have to say~ I was not sure~ and~ the fun part of these Angels, is that they are all differant, each, one of a kind.~~But, she was loving the Angel so much & I wanted her to have one. I agreed, and asked if I could make the next two differant. But~ the looking up part had to stay. ~Deal~
I loved painting these Angels so much. She will be peeking at them tonight, she is in Boston.
~Very Cool!~
I don't know ~ but~ Something wonderful is happening.
And~ how many years has my freinds & family told me to offer these Angels? ~ Oh , like~ forever!!! ~ All, I know is that I am loving this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So~ other than that~ I am still working on the portrait that I can't show because it is presant.

~Amy~

Paint Pants

All dressed up & ready to go. See how well my shoes match my pants? And ~I have lots of shirts that bring the whole look together. :) Most of my jeans look like this~ I love them.I wear them most everyday. I feel very comfortable & ready to work.
I just last week met a follow artist~ she was wearing a very similar pair of pants~ can you believe it? :) ~ If she were not wearing her paint pants, I may not have noticed her. But, now I have a new art friend.
~O.K.~ have a lovely Monday~Amy~

Rain

~ I love the Blue Popsicle tongue~

I was so happy to wake to the rainy morning yesterday. After such a crazy~busy & way to fast
last week, the wonderful sound of rain was music to my ears and soul. A much needed brake was had by all, in the Sullivan home. Rain ~says~ it's o.k. snuggle up & relax. So, I spent the day on the couch with my daughters & sketch book, popping my Anne of Green Gables movies into the VHS player. I don't have them on DVD yet. I have had my copys so long that I have had to use masking tape to mend their boxes. But~ I love them. I guess someday I may have to brake down & get the DVD's, but not yet. My copys are very comforting to me, many, many hours have been spent watching them , I guess Gabriel was just a very little guy when Philip got them for me as a Christmas gift. And, now here he is 18~ so, it is quite safe to say that I have spent many hours holding my 4 babys while watching my Anne, with an e.

So~ fantastic news~ one of the pieces that I sent to the art show in Illinois has already sold !
I am very sad to say that I was doing everything so quickly, that I did not take pictures of my pieces. Can you believe it? I can't. But~ I have been told that pictures will be taken & sent to me.

The very coolest thing is that my cousin Clare is the Executive Director - of this Imagine Foundation. I really had not grasped all the amazing things that she does , until, well until now.
This was a Gallery Hop, so she was curator to 5 different spaces that show art. My art is at the
Inner Harmony Day Spa. Now~ I am thinking this will be a wonderful place to show art. 4 original Angels were painted for the show & 2 or 3 prints were made.Then I sent several older pieces. Clare says the space is beautiful.I want to go to the Inner Harmony Day Spa! ~So~ Thank You Dear Sweet Cousin~I Love You~& am so very blown away by all you do~
~Amy~

Sept. 3~1960

So~ I just delivered my paintings to my brother-in-law, who is going to leave tomorrow morning
for Illinois. And~ help hang this show, his fabulous art will also be in the show.It is part of the Gallery Hop in Jacksonville Ill. at the the Imagine Foundation . So~ if you live near there ~ check it out. I wish I could be there , but , not this time.
This has been a very busy week & it is only Wednesday...Rowans birthday was on Monday~ the first day of school was Tuesday & last night into this morning I worked on getting my paintings ready for this show. AND~~ Oh Yah !!!~~ Today is my Birthday! I am 48 years old !
~o~O~o~0~o~0~o~0~o~0~o~0~o~0~o~0~o~0~o~0~o~0~o~0~o~0~
Yeah Me ! Right now~ it is 5:20 & I am pooped ! But~ feeling quite satisfied. I am going to go lay down & rest my eyes for a little bit.
~~Amy~~

Remembering

Remembering ~ That, I took part in this ~ I sculpted the head of this Goddess of Liberty.
It was summer, 1989~ I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1984, BFA~
I was asked to sculpt her head.~ It really was an amazing moment. I say moment~ because, it was that fast. The V.C.U. Art students & graduates wanted & felt they needed to do something to honor the Art Students that had lost their lives in the Tiananmen Square Tragedy.
It was a very crazy ~ yet very organized two days.(click)
Now~ Please remember~ that I am ~ the Mom who sent her oldest son to China last summer.
And~ the really amazing thing is ~ that I was only weeks , pregnant with Gabriel at the time that I took part in this.
I have my own pictures of this day.The best are the pictures of how this very large & beautiful lady was lifted.
People ~ stopped their cars & got out & helped her get lifted up. She was on long, strong steal
rope and had to be pulled up to standing.

I have to say~ it was~ really beautiful to watch.
I remember how I felt. ~Amy~

Show

I am getting some pieces together to send to Illinois to an art show. I need a few more that will be for sale.~ So, I have been steady working on them. I will also be sending about two portraits, that I don't want to sale, because they are of my children. But, they will serve as examples of my children portraits and hopefully send some commissions my way.
And~ School starts next Tuesday~ I better be able to post @ least two finished pieces by tomorrow evening.~ Boy, I wish I were able to stay up at night & work. But~ I become completely wrecked. I am an "Early Bird". But~ those "Night Owls" seem to be super productive. ~Amy~
p.s.~ and I finally started my pallet knife painting , that I said I would try, while watching Susan Carlin do one of her painting demos. She was doing a portrait with a pallet knife . And~ I am making a fine mess of it. It is 11"x14"~ it actually looks better in this photo, than real life.

~Shelty Sullivan~1994~Aug.24,2008~

I wanted to thank everyone for the loving thoughts & prayers
that were sent to me & our Shelty Boy. I also wanted to share
this puppy picture of our handsome boy.
All I can say is,~ as hard as it was to let go of him~ he,
in his usual loving & watchful style, made it as easy on us as he could.
He died here in our home, he closed his eyes for the last time at
10:15 Sunday night. ~ We buried him in a lovely pine box that my
husband made, on a tree farm that my brother-in-law owns.
~o~
If it seems like this may not have been the best summer for our
family ~ you are so right! ~ I feel worn out. You know things have
been hard, if you are wondering if it is o.k. to be happy again.~
~ I say ENOUGH !~ I am very ready for things to lighten up!~
The last song they sang in mass on Sunday~ as Rowan & I were
leaving was~ City of God~. "He can turn tears into dancing"~
"Night into day."
I took that song home with me. I needed those words.~o~
Then today I wandered over to Pen Hallow Street"s blog &

found this quote~~ "God does not look so much at the magnitude of anything we do as at the love with which we do it."~ St. Teresa of Avila~

I always find something inspiring there.~ I took that quote with me
as I left. In fact I put it in my sidebar. ~ So, I have been going around
collecting what I need to feel better. ~~ My family has been beautiful & so
full of compassion. I am so proud of my children. I have been filling my pockets & heart
with as many wonderful thoughts & prayers as I can. So, I can smile at them & they
will know that everything is O.K.! :) ~Amy~

Best Boy

Well, I had written earlier that our boy Shelty was not doing well. He has not been feeling well this week. And, this morning I took him to the vet and she confirmed what I/we already felt.
Shelty is in his last doggy days.He is 14.~ So, we will be by his side and keeping him comfortable and loving on him. He really is the best boy ever.~Amy~

Day Trips

We did not get to go away for a vacation this summer. So, we took little day-trips.
This is at Lewis Ginter Garden, here in Richmond. 40 acres of beautiful gardens.
It is not a day trip, in fact it is walking distance from my house.
~~~ Doesn't this look fun?~ Rowan you are so lucky!~~~
This sprinkler fun happens in the children' s garden. They are built in sprinklers, coming up from the ground and overhead.




We have been visiting at least twice a week. We walk around, sit and talk. And then, I draw,
Hannah reads & Rowan splashes. These are little minnows nibbling at our toes, they tickled.
Not every time, but, sometimes, we treat ourselves to lunch
in the the Cafe. A very refreshing time. ~Amy~

Summer's End

Look at what I saw when I walked into my kitchen. From our garden & neighbors gardens. I made that plum jam. It is yummy. There was a plum tree across the street from my sisters house, heavy with plums. She made jam, I think everyone on the street collected plums from
that tree. Rowan & I went and returned home with baskets of plums. That is summer. Summer setting on my kitchen counter. Tomato sandwiches. Plum jam. Squash casserole.
I will freeze most of these tomato's for the winter.

Here is a little Angel I just finished. I really enjoyed painting him. I love his little hand in his pocket. I am not sure why I decided to give him a pocket. But, I like it & seems to suit him. He has such a gentle calm about him. He will be on ebay by tonight. Setting & painting these Angels in the evening has made my so happy.
I am also working on a portrait. I don't think I should post it, because it is a gift.I don't want to spoil anything.
~~~Amy~~~

Focus

Well, I sure have been a busy girl lately. I wanted thank everyone for all the sweet comments
on my posts lately. And, especially for the encouraging words on my little Angel paintings.
I am going to keep on doing them. And, still work on my portraits.
I have over the past couple of weeks received very kind emails from my arty, bloggy friends
and....they really have helped me put some thoughts together that have been buzzing around my mind. Thoughts about all things ,Art, that I do. Does that make since? Where to put my focus.
Susan Carlan, has posted a real list of her goals as an artist. And, I looked at it and thought
"Eureka !"....... Please don't laugh. (o.k. laugh) But, I realize that I leave to much of my artist life up to fate. Like a bumble bee, buzzing from one project to another. Working really hard on each one, but, no real direction. I love each thing that I do. But, I often feel scattered.
Susan was kind enough to write me, my very own email. In it she pretty much said, "Amy if it makes you happy, do it." "Eureka" , again.
So, I am busy writing out my goals, but not just goals, but actual ways of reaching them.
I am putting lots of thought into it. So, hopefully in the very near future, I will post them.

And, on that note I say to you all Thank You, again, &
Good Night, Sleep Tight &
May Your Guardian Angels Watch After You!
~Amy~