~11 Days Later~

~the Mother Mary~ painted to look like a stained glass window~

~the actors changing the set~ see the Mary painting peeking out, over the bed.~
~back stage~ before the painting was hung~

~3 of the 6 panels painted~
~Just look at my beautiful new look !~ What a pretty new banner & background~
~And look~ i have 3 columns~ I have had "3 column envy" for sometime now~
~But~ I didn't know how to make it happen.~
~I have the amazing Annette, at Huckleberry Arts to thank for all of it.~~~Annette, is so very talented with computer design~ I was completely amazed by how quickly she put all this together for me.~But~ more than that~ she has incredible instincts about the person she is designing for~ Annette took the time to get the right feeling for my blog.~ All I did was send her pictures of my art.~Told her the colors I loved and she took it from there.~I can't believe how well she read my personality & style.~ When I first saw my new look~ I was "~oh my~ this is so me~" Thank you Annette~ Thank you so much~ you very clever lady!~~~So, if you are looking to have your bloggy revamped & don't know where to start~ I have to tell you~ Go, ask the lovely Annette~at Huckleberry Arts~~~

~I have had my lovely new look for more than a week now~~~and~~~again I was to busy to sit down & make this post~~~I know I promised to be a better blogger~~~But~ "Tis the season of theatre openings~ I have gone from one show to the next~ with no "down time" between.~

~The pictures I have posted are of an Italian opera that opens tonight.~ Actually, two one acts~ The first is a very sad opera, called "Suor Angelica" ~I painted the Mother Mary for that opera~ she was painted to look like a stained glass window~ I didn't get a picture of her up yet~but,I saw her up last night~ they lit her from behind & she looked so pretty~ like real stained glass~
~The second one act opera is called~"Gianni Schicchi"~ a comedy~ so, they make you cry, then make you laugh.~ For that opera I hand stamped the fabric you see here. ~60 feet of it, it is 4' 6" wide.~ the fabric was hung as bed curtains ,around that big canopy bed.~
~the set had to be designed to work for both operas~ w/ a quick switch in the furnishings at intermission.

~the next show will be "Willy Wonka & the Chocolet Factory".~

~But~ oh so thankfully~ I will have the next week to, to do all the other stuff that I do.~ before stating that show~
:)
~amy~

~Normal~

~Here is the set to the musical ~Normal~on stage now at, Stage 1 Theatre Company~ Richmond Va.~
~All white walls~gray floors~windows and these happy family portraits done on plexy glass.~
~A simple set for a very emotional play.~
~The story is about a once "normal happy" family turned dysfunctional~ then their struggle to pull themselves back together, when they learn that their teenage daughter has an eating disorder.~
~Pretty heavy stuff~ and a subject that has touched many lives.~ In the end they do manage to succeed.~~"Normal is a contemporary rock musical that offers ultimate hope in an uncertain world."~~ It has been receiving excellent reviews.~
and if you are in the Richmond area~ you should see it~ But, bring tissues.~

I am ~ hopefully~ adding a clip from the play.(i have never added a video)
~Just showing you the "plain" set without the lights , the music and the actors. ~Well~ dull~
~So, watch this set come to life~ the actors in the play are incredible.~

~Happy Easter~

~Look its my bloggy!~ and where has that Amy Sullivan been ?~ Does she think that this poor little blog can create its own posts all by its self?~Silly Amy~ What were you thinking?~ A blog needs love & attention.~ It can't survive here in bloggyland all by itself.~ Poor, poor bloggy.~ Sad, really.~ Just look at the dust !~ ~ "Who's going to clean up this mess?"~~
~
~I will~ "and who are you ?"~~~ I am Amy Sullivan~~~"Oh, well where have you been?"~~ just look at this blog !~~~you can't just abandone your bloggy like this & exspect your friends to come here~~ what,, your last post was like...March the 27th~~~and, you have dear friends still dropping by and for what??~ Shame on you Amy !~~~
~~~I am sorry~ really I am~~~ can you ever forgive me?~~ I have just had so much going on.....good stuff, not so good stuff.~~ all of it needing my attention.~~~I promise, I will do better !!!~Really, I will !~~~~

~What~ do you think your the only blogger out there with a busy life?~ What~ about all those blogs you love reading?~ they are busy too ~ and yet, they find time for their blogs~ What if all bloggers were like you?~ Then where would bloggyland be?~
~~Well, alright~ we will give you one more chance~ and, you had better come up with some *REAL* nice posts~ or your out of here!!~~~

~~Thank you, thank you ,,I will be a better blogger~ really I will !!~

~so, what are you going to blog about today?~

~Well~ Gabriel(my son), took my camera to the beach w/ him this weekend~
~so, I can't upload any pictures of the set I just finished painting.~ or~ the etching I have been working on~~~
~But~ hey, I can photo shop a cute picture of Rowan that is already on my computer.~~~And~

~Wish Everyone, A Happy & Blessed Easter !!!~~

~well, I guess since it is Easter~ a very Blessed and Beautiful time of year, And a time for New Beginnings~ that would be lovely ~ but, you better be back here on Monday, with some really good stuff~~~~

~A Lovely Visit ~

~Rowan, getting her hair cut~ March 14, 2008
~Rowan's hair cut 2 years ago~

~I can't believe its been 10 days since my last post ! I have been a busy "little nut-burger"~ I don't know where to start.~
~But, I think I will start with the pictures I have posted here of my little Ms. Rowan.~ on March 14, she got her 2nd. real hair cut.~ The first was 2 years ago almost to the day.~ As you can see I documented the hair cut.~ I took pictures of the 1st. time too.~ They look pretty much the same as these.~ Same beautician too.~ Well, the very lovely thing about Rowan cutting her hair is that she donates it to Locks of Love. The 1st. cut harvested 12" of hair and this time she was able to give 11". ~ That's 23" at the age of 8.~ I am so proud of her.~ Look closely at the 3rd. picture & you can see her happy face reflected in the mirror.~ ~ She told me as we were leaving the salon~~
" I'm going to do this every time~you know~ grow my hair~ cut it~ and give it to the children that need it.~again & again.~ :) ~Nadia, Rowan and Hannah~ Maymount Park~

~ This past weekend ~ I had a wonderful visit from Paula, a friend I had not seen in 25 years !!!~ She lives in N.C. and owns a restaurant with her husband, called the 501 Diner. She brought her 13 year old daughter Nadia, my Hannah is 14, so that worked out nicely.~ It was a 2 night sleep over. ~ So, much fun, visiting, remembering, eating.~ Funny , how when you get together with old girlfriends, its like you never were apart.~
~ We drove out to Leslie's house in the country Sat. evening for more yummy food. Leslie, Paula & I were all at V.C.U together studying art.~

~Sunday we visited Maymont Park and fed the baby goats. Just, so cute !~

~These sweet little baby's are a sure sign of "SPRING !" ~ Their little tails wag so happily as they nurse~

~Happy St. Patrick's Day~

~Irish love & Blessings to you & yours~

;0)
~Amy~

~Etchings~

~My mind has just been full of ideals lately~ all of these fun images keep dancing around up there, in my" little ol noggin". And, I am so excited that this last set is done & the show is up & running. I was painting on the set over these past few weeks~Narnia~ it opened on Friday.
~yeah~ so now I am pulling out the etching press that I bought for myself~Oh, about this time last year. I love etchings, but, it has been about 15 years since I have made one. Truth be told, I have all, but forgotten the process. But, I have been reteaching myself. Anyway~ once you are set up & get the necessary materials together, than, well you are good to go. ~I have decided to not use the acid bath process, here at home, for obvious reasons. But, you can still get a very nice print just using dry point~that is when you are actually drawing on a zinc plate with a metal styles(not sure if I spelled that right).
I will be sure to show you the process once I am set up.
The painting here is a water color~ but, the line work, done with pen & ink, are very much like what you will get with an etching.Oh, and the piece that I posted for Valentines Day of my son, is an etching. Actually it was the last etching I made. Time fly's~
~So, I am off to buy my ink & lovely cotton paper.
~have a wonderful Tuesday~
~Amy~

~Monday, Monday~

~Bridget in the movie~"Iron Jawed Angels"~
~My maid of honor & sister, Bridget, on my wedding day~ I love this picture of us.

~Monday,Monday, wish in heart in was Sunday~
~Drinking buttermilk all the week.~
~Whiskey on a Sunday.~
~That was a little Irish "ditty" that my dad used to sing.~It seems very appropriate for today. On this first Monday of "Springing forward". I was very much asleep & having a nice dream when 6:00a.m. came this morning.~
~It is hard to believe that just last Monday it was all a winter wonderland & we had three snow days.~And, this weekend, we enjoyed the loveliness of spring weather.~
Today is my sister Bridget's 50th birthday. Yesterday she had a wonderful celebration. Her house was filled to the brim with loving friends & family.I could not help but look around and feel so very proud of just how loved my big sister is. But, not at all surprised. Bridget or her full name~Anna Bridget Kathleen Bernadette Gethins Leach~ for real, that is her full name. Anyway, she is one of those people who light up the room with her spirit. A true lover of life, she is an actress and a writer. She is always working on a project.
~Yesterday, her home was wall to wall with wonderful people, mostly theatre folks and artists. Everyone brought yummy food, they also brought their, love & laughter. It was a day to treasure.
~Happy Birthday Sister~
you & Barbie ROCK !
love~Amy~

~SNOW~

~Just a quick note~ Sunday, March the 1, 2009~

~Note~ We have SnOw!!!!~We are SOOOO ExCiTeD !!~
~I know that lots of my bloggy friends have had~Mountains of Snow~
~But~ here in Richmond Virginia~ we have not~
~Rowan, has never had a Snow Day from school~ the last time it snowed around
here, really well~ was like, 4 years ago~
~I am completely in love this Snow~

~BiG SmiLe~
~Amy~

~Long Week~

~Do I look tired?~I am, but~in a good way~
~there is a difference~This is not what I would call a "good"picture of me.~But, there is something I like about it~no make-up & all~~~~I am finding it hard to believe that I am posting this picture~but, I think it is a honest photo of what I look like, most of the time~this is what I look like today~~~~Never mind what I looked like yesterday~this who I am now~
~I am 481/2 (Sept.3 is my B-Day)
~I am the mom of 4 children ,ages 19,16,14 & 8 (Rowan,my 8 year old, was born 2 days
before my 40th B-Day)
~I am very much in love with my husband.
~I have very curly hair(that needs to be dyed, sorry, I am not ready to be gray yet)
~I am 4'10" tall~~I am going to be a VERY tiny, little old lady~~someday
~I have a very big laugh~thankfully, people enjoy hearing~William Wegman actually made a video of me, back in 1983, I was 22~ he loved my laugh~he was a guest artist(& instructor) at V.C.U.~Man Ray had just died& he didn't have his dog to photograph anymore~Now, I see him all the time on Sesame St.~with Fay & all his new doggy's teaching children the A.B.C.'s&1.2.3.'s~
~I can be very absent minded.:(
~I think about art~~~~ALL THE TIME~~~~
~I keep colors & images in my head~ & even when I am not physically making art~
~I am making it in my mind, I love that~I am learning to write them down~So~~~~when I am able to sit down & work~I know what I want to do~
~I am an imperfect - perfectionist
~I struggle ~ but, can still feel happiness while doing it~ Thank You God~
~I do stop & smell the roses~sometimes to a long
~As I get older, I understand my needs better~not that confusion has completely disappeared~
~And, I feel like things have finally come back around again for me~
~Because~ I truly have been feeling lost~art wise~

AND~ finally~I am not so sure how & why I started writing this~but, I did~& I am, so sure I could write more~
When I sat down here~ I was all ready to tell, all about me busy week~
~But~I wrote this instead~
~Part of me wants to delete it~
~But~ I am going with the part that says~ "let it stay"~

~have a lovely weekend~
~Amy~

~Eggstravaganza~

~Hi ~I hope you are all enjoying your weekend~
~Yesterday, I donated an egg to the Easter Seals "Eggstravaganza"~that takes place here in Richmond, every Easter.
~Artists create a piece of artwork with an "egg" theme~ it can be 2 or 3 dimensional~Then there is an "egg art show" displaying the donated egg art~ later, closer to Easter, there is a ball~ featuring a silent auction for the egg art.~Proceeds from the ball & the auction are donated to Easter Seals.
~Here is the egg that I made~it is about 9" tall~ I used a styro foam egg shape~ and covered it with paper clay~ & painted it ~ then put a water based clear coat on top.~
~I love paper clay~ it is wonderful to use~

~I am also showing you a pitcher that I made years ago with clay~glazed~ then fired~
~I really don't see a difference in the end result~ BUT, the paper clay is not water proof~
~I was still able to get the same texture with the paper clay, that I got with the real clay~
~Since PC air drys, I was able to complete my egg in just a couple of days~
~I really enjoyed this little project~
And might even find time to make a few more eggs & put them in my esty shop~

~Amy~

~Sweet Diana~

~Diana, our darling cat ,visits our fishes daily~ just to say ~"HI"~ and enjoy a sip of water~

:)
~Amy~

~HappY VaLenTines DaY~

~an etching of Gabriel~I did when he was a baby~I photo shopped the heart in for today~:)
~On this very day~19 years ago~ I had my first baby~ Gabriel Gethins Sullivan~9lb.5oz.~
~Never in my life had I ever felt such a feeling of overwhelming love~I can hardly believe that he is 19~& 6'3"~ when really it was just yesterday that I held him in my arms ~ so beautiful~ that I could not stop looking at him~
~I still feel that way when he walks into the room~He is such a wonderful young man~ I am so very blessed~ This is the 1st. birthday that Gabriel is away from home~ he & some of his friends are at an Annimae (?) Convention in Washington D.C.~this is about the 3rd. convention they have gone to in the past few years~ They plan it all out months ahead of time~ hotel rooms~everything~~~~~I am blown away be how organized they are~
~And~ at this convention there will be a Valentines Ball tonight~ So, Gabriel got out his tux, dress shoes & black tie. ~Although he did ask me to pre~tie his tie for him, before he lift~
~Thank Goodness~

~HAPPY BIRTHDAY~ my handsome boy!!!~

~ God Bless you & may your Guardian Angels watch after you~
and
~I Love You !~

~Children's Letters to God~

~All right~ so here is the set for "Children's Letters to God"~
~It opened on Saturday Night~ I have not gone to see it yet~ But, it has already gotten wonderful reviews~ It is a musical starring 5 amazingly talented children~ And~ they are asking their questions to God in song~ in the second photo you see the director~ Chase~ he is a super talented young man~
~So, the ideal here, in the set, is this beautiful sky~I used a Wagner Sprayer~ and the floor was painted as if it had been colored in Crayons by children~during the show~ childrens drawings are projected onto the sky~ and with lighting ~that sky is a wonderful backdrop~that can be changed to fit the mood of the song being sung~
~I am going to see it on Thursday night~and am looking forward to it~very much~

~Thank you~ to everyone who responded to my "cry" in my last post~ Cry~ is a good description~
~Now, I feel like a big baby~anyway, I think I do feel a little better, after my, boohoo, poor me~
shout out~ I will just keep doing what I do and hopefully "all will be revealed"~:)
~One thing is for sure~ A girls gotta work~ and I am grateful that I am able to work in the arts~
~And~ in this day~ no job can be turned down~


~FUN & BEAUTIFUL~

~Here is a give-away hosted by Patrick of The Cre8or's Touch that you REALLY do not want to miss.~He's celebrating his 100th post by giving away this beautiful bunny doll~!~

~Amy~
:0)

~I am here~

~I am here~ I haven't been away~ I have just been painting a set~And, when I paint sets, well~
they wear me out.~ I love painting them, but they are a very physical form of art.~You are going up & down ladders, over & over. You move a lot. You paint standing up. You are picking up buckets of paint.You are rolling out paint.You are on your knees, then you are standing up.You are bending over, mixing large amounts of paint.Climbing the ladder again & again.You are measuring on a scale ruler~making little ones into big ones~1 inch = 1 foot~You are using the sprayer(not always, but for this show~yes).~What else~ oh~you are standing back & looking at a BIG picture~(what the audience sees)~then caring about the little details~that make all the difference, ~(even if it is only for your own gratification).Oh & I can't forget, that you are working to please the~ a.designer(person who designed the set) and~ b. the director~You are the person who is making their vision, ideals,thoughts,hopes,drawings,notes & so on...A physical reality. It can be pretty darn nutty.~It is ~Theatre~ and magic does happen. It all has to be DONE,Complete,to the Best you can make it~ at a certain point~TECH WEEK~when things should be as done, as can be~for the actors, the lighting guys, the director~they need to know how everything looks because ~ Hey, that is why you do this, it is for the director,actors & designer ~it really IS all about them~ it is showcasing the director & actors~ and I think they deserve the best~ CUZ, I sure could't stand in front of an audience & do what they do.~I am most definitely a behind the scenes kinda girl and "The Show Must Go On !!"~


~So, that is where I have been. I will post pictures soon. It really was a very cool set. The show is
Children's Letters to God~ Big sky~I sprayed that with a Wagner Sprayer~very pretty~.
Anyway~ I am not sure if any of you have painted sets before, but, I can tell you~ it really is allot of hard work, but wonderful in the end.

~O.K.~ I have posted above~ my most popular print in my etsy shop~in fact I have sold 6 prints ~2 times~the buyer choose the ~Curly Girl print & it's true mate~Truffles or Gold~
~All the angel prints that I have available~ were originally sold on ebay, as originals~ not one was ever left unsold.~Only one has sold as a print.~

Anyway~I as an artist have been having a terrible time identifying myself.~
~Here I have been telling of being a set painter~scenic~
~then I am selling prints~
~then I am getting portrait commissions~
~then I love doing little ornaments~
~then I design pillows~you haven't seen those yet~yet, you will~
~Then I am painting my angels~I have more I haven't posted yet~
~then I am doing murals~
~then I love crafting~knitting, needlepoint,crochet~(my personal pleasure)

~So, right now, ~I am going nuts, trying to figure out, who I am as an artist!~

~I look at all my friends in my bloggy world & they have their beautiful style & focus.
I feel that I am to hard to identify~I am all over the place~
~But, I can say~ that when you look at all my work, as a group~there is~thankfully~a common touch, my hand, I believe, a mark that I make that is uniquely mine.~
~But, I am so troubled these days~
~because, I spread myself around so much~to the point that I don't know what I love doing the best.~I most definitely need to make money~being an artist~is my job~
~Oh Pooh~I feel confused~ and it makes me tired~
~if any of my friends have gone thru this, comment or offer me any advice~

p.s.
~I know the~" do what you love~the rest will follow"~
~problem~I love all the forms of art I do~am I nuts ?~

~have a lovely weekend~
~Amy~

~I just listed this very romantic angel in my etsy shop~
~Her dress is collaged with a beautiful handmade paper~that I just had to buy~when I saw it~
~It really felt like a fabric~very soft~
~on her heart it says~"How Do I Love Thee?"~She is painted on wood , that I had my husband cut out for me~ and is ready to hang on the wall~
I think she is so pretty.

~Gabriel & I are will be checking out the Art Institute of Washington tomorrow morning~
It is time for that fellow to go to college~ He can't wait!~

~Have a lovely weekend~
~Amy~

~Welcome President Obama~

~Happy Inauguration Day !~ Welcome President Obama !~

~What an amazing Day~ What a Very Wonderful Day~
~ I sat in my living room today watching history being made~ in real time~
~ I, of cause was not alone~ we as a nation~ were watching~
~ I really got a lump in my throat, as our President Elect Obama~ became~ Our, President Obama~

~ I started this painting of President Obama early this morning~ as I began to watch the celebration.~ What a day~ I will never forget this one!~ Anyway, I felt a part of it all as I sat there working on this portrait~
~ I feel that he is pretty much done~ but, I can see things that I need to work on~ his left eye is not quite there yet~ & a few this & that's ~ & I am not sure about the writing that I put on the bottom~
~What do you think?~ any suggestions?~

~But~ most importantly~ I very much wanted to post this painting ~Today!~

~On This Day !~

:O)
~Amy~

Portraits

~Mike & Shelty~you need to click on this one~ this picture is abit fuzzy~close-up, you can see his face better.
~Reagan at the Farm~

~Two more pictures of portraits that I did for Christmas~
~The cute baby boy pastel painting was a commission~ my darling nephew Chris, had me do it as a gift for his wife. I loved this pose.
~And, the top pencil sketch was a gift from me to my sister-in-law Nancy~ it is a portrait of her husband Mike, my husbands oldest brother. Mike died from pancreatic cancer in July. Mike was just truly one of the most wonderful men I have ever known. He was an engineer & worked for the government for many years, he did cool things ,like help send the first satellites up into space back in the 60's. He was an artist also(in his spare time). He would do things like decide to design & create a large stained glass window for his church, but he had never done stained glass before~ no matter~ he learned, & finished his project. A beautiful large, round window above the alter, blues & greens, a cross in the middle & a white dove over to the side~ Breathtaking!~ He really was a genius, a very kind person. He loved his family, two sons, now fully grown handsome kind fellows with their own beautiful family's.(so these two portraits are grandfather & grandson) And his beautiful Nancy, who this gift was for.

~Amy~

~Craving the Pencil~

~I am craving simple pencil drawings~ like this one~ line, gesture. I love just drawing~ good paper, nice pencils~ That's what I am doing now~
~Have a lovely weekend~
~Amy~

~The New Year~&~Garrison Keillor~

~The kids are back in school~
~And~~~~I guess it is time to get back to work~ It was such a wonderful holiday~

But~ I have lots of creative ideals for this new year~ Here are just two of the Christmas commissions that were unwrapped on Christmas morning~

~ I am thinking of ways that I can "shake up" my art~ & my art world~~~~~I know that I soon will be busy, working on a new theatre set~ actually~ I believe I will be working on two different sets~ being a free lance scenic has been working very nicely for me~

~I have angels to paint too~ my goodness, I started working on commissions in Nov. ~ so my personal art was set aside~

~I am ready to go~ it is time to pull out all my art supplies & get messy again~I cleaned everything up about 4 days before Christmas and I must say ,It has been real nice to see the top of my dinning room table~ oh well~

~I have to share with you my Big Surprise Gift from my oldest child~Gabriel~
~I was completely over joyed~ when I opened an envelope that he handed to me on Christmas morning~ A TICKET ~ a Ticket to see GARRISON KEILLOR(click) at the Landmark Theatre(click)~ right here in Richmond~ ~~~I have been a Prairie Home Companion fan, for ~so many years~ I can't count~ listening to the wonderful story telling voice & dry wit of Garrison on N.P.R ., Saturdays & Sundays~~~~~~~~Anyway~ Gabriel & I were driving somewhere back in the beginning of Dec.~listening to N.P.R. ~when they announced that Garrison was coming to Richmond~ my heart lept~it would be like seeing the Rolling Stones for me!~But~ with Christmas & our tight budget~ I knew there was No Way~ "oh well", I thought~

~But~ my darling boy~ went on line and made one of his moms dreams come true~
~I still can't believe it!~" I get to go see Garrison Keillor~ I get to go see Garrison Keillor!"~(in a sing song voice)~
~Thank You Gabriel~ You have made your mom so happy~

~Amy~