News: Arborist in West Seattle, as art object & gift

Modified notebooks of various sizes

Now that we're solidly into the rainy season in Seattle, I'm slowing down as far as productivity goes. While I can usually work 4 days a week, in the fall I'm lucky to work 3. It's a bugger and I hate it, but I am still able to do some things...

• Remind you to reserve your copy of FibroShark Hungry
• Appear for a couple of hours at the opening of the Arborist show this week
• Paint a few notebooks all pretty so you can buy them for yourself or someone else you love
• Occasionally load or unload the dishwasher
• And the rest is sleeping

Right now I'm actually flaring pretty hard (I slept for 15 of the last 18 hours), my shoulders are taped on & I've got pain-relief patches on both wrists that aren't really doing a whole lot of good. I also have a wicked craving for some warm, fresh-from-the-oven baked goods (gluten free, of course), & some cuddling. The only reason I'm writing this post right now is because I want to make sure it gets done so people come to the show this week. 

❤❤R

Come and see the show!

"Arborist Mortem"

Arborist is ready to go up at West Seattle Cellars, & it opens on Thursday! I'll be there for a couple of hours, hopefully talking to people about my work, my process, & the importance of this work. I love the world I'm creating with this series, & I absolutely dig how much better I am at painting because of it. 

I don't know if you get out to a lot of art shows, or if you've come across much art that moves you, but if this does that excites me to no end. Being able to reach into my brain & pull out something that can be big enough to reach into others' hearts is quite an accomplishment. 

And while I mostly paint because I pretty much can't stop myself, having the opportunity to talk about my work with others is a pretty good reason to get out of bed too. So, come & see the show! 

Art objects & gifts

The fog one is my favorite...

This last week I've spent time making or modifying notebooks so they're special & pretty rather than simply mass-produced paper-product that's going to get scribbled in & thrown away. There are 3 sizes: 3"x4.5", 5"x7", & 8"x10", but I don't want to encourage anyone to be too precious with them so they're only $15, $20, & $25 respectively. The small ones are completed, & I should get to completing the medium ones this week, if I eschew everything else... & honestly, I might.

These are lined notebooks, (blank sketchbooks will come later, I promise - but you can always commission one too), so if you have ideas that necessitate writing-down or know someone who would benefit from having one of these beauties, let me know. 

A bit of reality

Any time something triggers an immune response in my body (&/or if I try to have fun), my body responds with a resounding FUCK YOU!!! that can be heard for about 4 days. This is especially prevalent this time of year. I know a lot of people think that living with a chronic illness is a luxurious life filled with rest & relaxation, but the reality is that being in so much pain you can hardly move is super boring. Wanting to work, but not having the physical strength to do so is depressing. Spending so much time with Netflix that it asks if you're still watching, is not fun. 

Often it means friends don't come 'round to play or whatever, because they think you don't want them cuz you'd rather sleep. It means getting frustrated with your dog because he's the only person in the house with any energy. It means having a messy house, but no energy to do laundry.

I know you don't want to read about my problems, but I just have to drop a little reality, lest anyone think that my life is super glamorous because I'm a Real Working Artist. This art thing is happening because I literally can't do anything else, & if I had to give up art too, I'd die of boredom.

Chronic illness sucks. So, be nice to people who are stuck with it. Thanks.