So, here I am, writing to you from this, ahem, warm place. Little bits of magic have been happening here and there…
I was very busy in the studio these passed few days. So you will find the following sweeties in my, A Fanciful Twist, Etsy Shop.
The following painting is titled Pan's Widow. I was listening to the most amazing music and totally disappeared into this painting during its creation.
The most bizarre things happened with this painting. As I was painting her, I knew she would be Pan's Widow. It was a resonating thought. As I was painting, I was reading some of the dictionary pages and I saw so many interesting words that brought the whole thing together. It will be a treasure word hunt for the owner. But, a hint is that Pan is in there, as well as other things that tie in magically.
The next painting makes me want to jump right in…It is titled, "Late, Late – In the woods."
I am addicted to making these dresses now. It happened as an accident and now I am smitten. Becasue of it, I had to construct another gown….
She is titled, "The Puppeteer's Daughter." I want to be her…
The background, including the blue color are layers and layers of all kinds of papers. That created the most haunting texture. I now understand why collage artists LOVE creating. It is mind blowing fun!!
There are a few other originals and new cards too… I am having way too much fun creating my own graphics and such. I also had to take the plunge and purchase some commercial usable fonts. I couldn't handle the stress of waiting and waiting for font creators to respond and/or accept payment for use of their fonts.
How did all the weekend creating start you ask? Seeing as how I have been a miserable twit lately. Wellll, it all started with us being graced with a teeny tiny spurt of rain. The clouds rolled in, as did the lightning. I needed the clouds. Even if just for a brief moment…
I peeked out the window, stunned that clouds had brought with them a sepia tone that was quite unusual…
As it got darker, the lightning got bright. I could only get one shot for you… You didn't want me to get electricuted did you?
With the rain, all sorts of little critters have been peeking out. Giant toads, lots of them. A very unusual thing indeed. Not unusual, for you humid place people. But here, toads and such only happen during monsoon season. In my whole 7 years in Catalina, I have only seen one toad every summer.
Now, beware, I am going to show a bit of toadly risque photos. National Geographic quality. So if little sweeties like Micah are reading, well, you might want to make them turn a cheek. Unless of course, you want to use this as a perfect, Birds and the Bees, jumping off point.
So, there I was, minding my own business. When I heard a loud kind of wounded lambish sound. I could hear a lot of rustling in the bushes. I was alone. I was scared. I thought it was coming closer. I ran inside for a knife, a camera and a flashlight. Perfect "dumb girl in scary movie" moves.
I got closer, and closer. I saw what it was and gasped. I know, it is silly, but I had never seen the act, face to face… I guess my prince found someone else to ummmm. Nevermind. Anyhow, here they are…
The sad news is.. They almost killed themselves. You see, they got stuck in the spokes. It was not a pretty sight. And I have to ask, "What on earth were they thinking???"
I turned around to leave them in their privacy and I squeeled…
Tarantula!!!
I turn again to move away and go up onto the porch (mind you, there was lightning sparking everywhere and loud thunder, and I am alone, with a knife and a flashlight and a camera). I see another toad! Aggghhhhhhh!
Right on the walkway…
I couldn't wait for Mr. Lovee to get home so I could share all of these happenings. I have to confess, there is also a video of the frogs in action. I know. Sick. But funny. Poor things…
Wait for it though, it gets better. The next morning I decide I am going to watch this. I am in the parking lot at the movies. I do not do well with large crowds and enclosed places, but I put on my ruffles and brave the insanity. All of a sudden (you'd think I would have taken this as a sign??) I hear this loud horrible sound and feel a pain in my teeth. I look up. Lightning had just struck the palm trees right by where I was parking???!!?? Why didn't I leave? What about the whole superstition thing??
As I was going into the movies the fire dept. arrived and was taking care of the 3 palm tree lightning fire.
Once in the movie theater I "forced" my friend Dino to sit for a photo. What a good sport!!
The movie was great and the evening brought us more clouds!
I am waiting with breath that is bated, to see what this evening might bring…
Oh, and I learned a very important thing about myself this weekend. I am ashamed to share that if faced with a scary movie scenario, I would not fare well. You see, I would be the girl who would hear a noise and voices and see Freddy Kruger's shadow in my basement, and still peek my head down and ask "hello, is anyone down there?" I would then proceed to grab a knife, a flashlight, and a camera and go down into the deep dark basement. Yes. I am the girl you all scream at and say, "You dummy! Don't go in there!!!"
Hello, anyone in there? Okay, here I come. I am just over 5 feet tall and I have a knife….
This photo came from scareo.com (hey Lou curiosa, want to go peeking around in there with moi? Seeing as how you like ghosts and all??? Anyone else??)
I love coming here!
Holy friggin guacamole – Vanessa – I love you completely and totally – how can I not – oh – these paintings and your stories – and Boone loves you too (like one of those crazy aunts – he says – you understand) – but my darling…
I am…
needing to get ready for those 4 very special children (and they all are… special)
tomorrow…
why is there so much to do –
and such delightful wonder
in the world –
and…
what always seems
like time to go to bed
and I do love to sleep
but – I rather cavort
WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
xox – eb.
Right out of a faity tale today….fantasy….the prince….and the scary brothers Grimm….love those paintings!!!!
Oh yes isn’t it wonderful that the monsoons are knocking on our door?! We have a resident tarantula but no toads, alas. I love your use of collage–I have stacks and stacks of cookbook pages–I might have to try something like that myself. (Do you want any cookbook pages?!) 🙂
Oh My Gosh! Ok First off I love the dresses.”The Puppeteer’s Daughter.” is my favorite! Very cool! I live with a ton of frogs/toads here in the Willamette Valley, and I have never seen that!LOL Lightning OHH that close, not fun! Beautiful sky! And I would be the one that tells everyone that there is nothing there, and nothing to be afraid of. The next thing you see is a door open and something quickly grabbing me, and you just hear me scream. You know fools rush in kinda thing.
Love your new creations! And you had a toad weekend too! What’s going on? We found 8 frogs and a small toad in our garden while mowing th e lawn on Saturday. I’ve never seen so many all at once! Hope you got my order from your Etsy shop of wonders.
Goodness what a weekend, toads tarantula’s, lightning sounds just like Willow House these past few weeks – yes we have a tarantula, a pet one.
LOve the dresses on those girls and now have this crazy desire to go and get all messed up with the pva glue trying to make one myself but oh dear it’s MOnday morning and work beckons …..
Vanessa, the paintings are fantastic! I especially like Pan’s Widow and the Puppeteer’s Daughter. If only my walls had room for them all! I may need to open a Paris branch of the Vanessa Valencia gallery! As for the toads, tarantula, lightning strike, etc. – very freaky! And it’s thundering and lightning here as I write this, so had better unplug my computer. xo
oooh..can I come!….I’m 5 feet and 5 inches and I have a blanket to hide under….so stand back ghosties!
And now I am coveting your delicate newsprint gowns!!
Pure utter pleasure to read my dear, such events, such skies (who would think that continents apart and with such different landmasses and weather we would have the same skies, your sunset skies match the ones we usually get over our hill here).
I too would have video’d the toads! I tried to video our lightening but my wee digi camera’s frames aren’t fast enough to capture it sadly.
Your paintings are wonderful, I love Pan’s Widow best cause it looks like me, well, a much younger much thinner me, but the setting, the hair and the little fishy below, very me. I love that you are getting into the collage groove, all your wonderful imagery AND texture, brilliant.
I’m still in a cleaning groove. The whyole house smells of vinegar, including my hair which has finally had it’s 1st sunny day cut of the year. I was so keen to get it outside to dry before the clouds came that I didn’t rinse the vinegar properly so now I smell like a salad. Better than saying I smell like fish ‘n’ chips, which is more accurate!
And never fear my lovely, you are one of my most regular visitors, never neglectful at all. In fact, the less time you spend on comments the more time you have not only for art, but for these great adventures of yours – lightning strikes and palm tree fires, jeesh, you wouldn’t have had all that if you were inside reading blogs. I love that you LIVE your life.
I’m off out to do the same, but in a less dramatic fashion… I am walking the long way to the farm shop with Lucy and in my hand I’ll be carry flower seeds gathered this morning to sprinkle over the fences of the people who never do anything with their gardens.
It’s so exciting each spring when I pass a garden that was weeds and see delicate tiny geraniums coming through. I even managed to get fennel growing up the side of the abandoned brick building and so far no-one has tried to pull it out, hee hee, happy me, off I go with my handful of seeds…
I screamed when I saw the tarantula!!!
I loved your pan’s widow piece, no wonder it sold right away it is breathtaking!!!!
You’re on a roll girl and I love it! I only had time to look at your work now, I’ll be back later to read.
Have a fun one, and again your work looks FABULOUS! just like you.
i am smitten with those BIG skirts…they are so full of adventure…one day i will possess one…blessings, rebecca
I think the first set of toads were just toads, but I think the second toad was actually your prince and he was all, “Hey baby. Can I rock your world?”
you never disappoint with all you incredible adventures!!! 🙂 The lightening is so scary!
The skirts…..so beautiful! All your new pieces are beautiful! I am now obsessively thinking of how to create that effect with fabric somehow….crackly crinkly paper tutus are dancing in my head this morning.
You should write a screen play and design the set too. I love all your “off-the-wall” creativity. You know that’s a compliment, especially since you are fully aware of just how silly you are. I mean you live in “nutville” for goodness sakes! 🙂
I love the art and I am anxious to try mixed media. It does sound fun and all the texture . . . . . aawwwww.
xo
O Vanessa I looooove Pan’s Window. I love all of this new work. & I feel so bad but I was laughing my butt off about the frogs who almost died for love.
Well. girl..You came back to Bloggerville with a BANG! You are the best story teller ever! I LOVE Pan’s Window! THe romantic Frogs..The tarantula…heh heh! such is desert dwelling~! We don’t have scary creatures here..well that is , if you don’t count scary Touristas!!
Since I have been looking at and for art dresses I have found so many!! Iron, paper, honey bees, glass. Now both you and Art Tea Life are making paper dresses!!! Love it! There is also this site that you should check out for more paper dresses….
Oh….I cannot find the link, I will forward when I find it.
love all the froggie stuff, I seem to be into pumpkin sex these days:)
You art is FANTASTIC….I especially found myself drawn to “The Puppeteers Daughter”. Your art of storytelling is as great as your art and I found myself reading, laughing imagining, reading then screeching a moment(I have a FEAR of spiders). Reading and thinking I would definitely be the person yelling “NOOOOOO, don’t go DOWN there!”.
I have a whole new respect for using book pages and phone book pages seeing your work….so I was scared, tickled and taught all from one post!! Not bad!
Oh,…I love the toads..I used to have a pet cockatiel (small parrot) and I would give him a small head of broccoli to eat..well, one day I saw him romance the broccoli and do what your toads were doing…I was shocked, and then just laughed my butt off over it…animals are so funny. I love the new artwork too…
Oh,…I love the toads..I used to have a pet cockatiel (small parrot) and I would give him a small head of broccoli to eat..well, one day I saw him romance the broccoli and do what your toads were doing…I was shocked, and then just laughed my butt off over it…animals are so funny. I love the new artwork too…
your dresses rock the hizzy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I read so much and it was all so cool! I can’t remember it to comment…lemme see…the art with the layers of paper is like the best ever! Frogs doing the wild thing in public..what WERE they thinking?!
And the lightining…wow! Ratatooey…I have to go see that!!!
I love your new artwork, especially the dictionary dress girls, they are so pretty (and I love how you incorporate word searches into your pieces, so that one can explore in detail and be surprised) 🙂
LOL on your prince going off with ‘someone else to ummmm’! You are too much of a delight, makes me smile everytime I visit. I can’t believe you do the knife / flashlight / camera thing, you’re mad!! I am designing the basement, what nasties do you think I should include?
i love ghosts! (did i ever tell you i make a graveyard at halloween?!) but i am more scared of that spider than ghosts! :O i also LOVE those new paintings. my favorite is the pan’s widow one! beautiful! vanessa, you are getting the rain, and we are supposed to get nearly 100 degrees today! (i’m off now to buy a baby pool! hmm, i am wondering if it will fit in a mustang!?) lol!
Oh my…what an adventurous time…you know, the monsoons just bring it out don’t they? There’s been a lot of bunny action around here too…and I worry about loosing Rich to a sweet bunny he has his eye on (only he tells me that they are friends…he likes her ears you see…how can one compete with that?) We have no um…bunny porn on video however.
What fun! I love the frogs (I hope they were okay?) and that you videotaped it. Awesome. And the dresses are spectactular. I haven’t painted or done any art in ages and ages and you make me want to start painting again. Maybe I should. I’m with you on enclosed spaces and crowds, by the way. And I also had to say that I’d never heard the name “Dino” before a few years ago, and your friend is only the 2nd person I’ve heard of with it. My husband’s best friend in high school was named Dino. Odd. ~A 🙂
Oh no way! I am loving those skirtsin your latest pieces!!!! I would so wear those, heh heh! Ok, maybe not in the rain, but in the sun? Yes!
I’ve missed you, you beautiful, creative, strange mystical creature!!
What a delight! Visiting you is so much better than anything on TV or in the theaters! Your stories have me on the edge of my seat! Toads… lightening… ghosts… flashlights… lordy girl!
Love your paintings… and the song… oh how lovely!
You are one rockin’ sockin’ force in this world!
Have you ever read the children’s book… oh what’s it called… oh yeah…
Jennifer Murdley’s Toad… you should…. toads, magic… kissing… fabulous book!
Girl, you can tell a story! I don’t know what I loved the most, the gorgeous paintings with their lovely dresses, the frog porn or the movie fire! Hysterical! I have missed you!
Just chiming in to say I love those paper dresses as well. Just lovely.
i love these paintings! and those dresses…just beautiful!
it hasn’t rained here seems like in forever and i miss it!
Wow… what a wonderful naturistic experience you’ve had lately! The photos of the sky are so beautiful!