What I actually do…

It is a rainy day in Catalina.  A very uncommon event, waking up to gloomy rainy weather.  Catalina is a little town in the mountains 30 minutes North of Tucson, Arizona, just at the base of the Western slope of  the Santa Catalina Mountains.

    

   

7 years ago a very special someone (everyone knows him as lovee, the upright bass player and outrageously knowledgeable commercial Realtor) introduced me to his charming and truly magical retreat in Catalina.  Since then I have had my working studio there for 7 years,

  and I turned a canning shed into an art Gallery/shop

  3 years ago.  The gallery is open by appointment, and also open to the public during the Catalina Artists Studio Tour.  We are a non-profit organization of 30 or so artists.

What I do…My creative endeavors as a child began with piano playing and painting.  They have grown to incorporate jewelry making, doll making, mask making and all kinds of "clay stuff."  I am a potter at the Tucson Museum of Art’s " Romero House Potters Studio."  I have been a part of that creative place for about 5 years now…Time flies…I still paint all the time, and right now we are having a break at Romero House until the end of January. 

I do have a "real job" but I am also self employed and it allows me the freedom to do art.  I graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in International Retailing and Consumer Studies and a minor in Photography(the center for creative photography is outrageous).  I studied textiles, visuals, business aspects etc. etc. but decided that "The Devil Wears Prada," the book, was not the world I wanted. So, I stayed in Tucson and put the real estate license, which I acquired one summer during college, to good use.  Boy, it has been a treasure trove.  It has allowed me to be free and do what I love.  The goal is to be able to do what I love full-time…

The amazing women I do pottery with and the women from the real estate world are also very active in my annual witches festival.They get all

decked out and congregate at my home in Tucson for a witches only night of fun food and pleasure! It is so much fun!!  I am already working on ideas for next year!! Ideas, anyone??

   

 

      

Although I have a home in town (my sis lives there too) I have spent the better part of 7 years in Catalina.  I miss my home sometimes, but the major focus in life is my art.  Creating is where I found the utmost fulfillment.

Because I spend so much time in Catalina, I have my very own little loftish space.  I have a private room attached to my studio attached to an office which will have a very fabulous bathroom as soon as construction is complete on that side.  On my side, the room is done(almost) and it is wonderful!!!  I have so many windows and high ceilings…It is charming…and..

The reason for this whole explanation is to tell you how I got here, to where I am today.  (ps: it just started snowing, a major wild happening in Tucson/Catalina!!!) Today I am searching for inspiration.  I took 4 weeks off from painting to have 3 jewelry shows, an artsy/crafty show

and

the big Catalina Artists studio tour.  My creative vibe is on fire and I spent the morning walking around, inspiring myself…Loving my Wendy Addison  Magic sign ( I got mine at Bon in Tucson-google map- but you can also order on-line at Bayberrycove, check link for Wendy Addison) hanging above that phenomenal John Derian plate of Adam and Eve ( I have a John Derian collection that I have been acquiring over the years, purchased at Bon, a fantastic Tucson shoppe). It has to stay up, I think for a while at least.

So, a few of Today’s Inspirations…

From wonderful old mannequins with bustles and caged mermaids to James Ensor and Bosch…(ps:  I love to collect other artists work and photographs so you will see a bit of my own art , my antique treasures, including a life size mermaid and dolls from religious processions in the Philippines and a special picture of my grandmother as well as fantastic works of other artists.) The reflection in the mirror that I am trying to photograph is by Anna Bronwyn and The "woman in her drawers" is a cupboard by Luon St. Pierre & Liz Vaughn, I own a few of Luon’s pieces, from mirrors to the adventures of Lulu and Dick Bench.  These items were discovered at one of my favorite places in Tucson called Bohemia. The next treasure to be purchased will live amongst the chaos if I can ever get my hands on one of Emily’s Black Apple originals!!

   

 

I am so excited to start getting some comments and interacting with you all!  So many of my friends have been awaiting this blog!  The Banner art will change, but it was to the point where I just had to do it!! And, fix the rest later!! I promise I won’t ramble on so much in the future.