I've been away for awhile working like crazy with my full time job with the mouse so it's been kind of hard to get back into this. You know, standing for 8 hours a day in the hot burning sun of Southern California really drains your body. What I've learned from this job for the past two years, I seriously can't believe I've been living in SoCal for two years already...simply cray, is to apply sunscreen(highest SPF possibly), and drink water like it's going out of style. Seriously, stay hydrated it's important.
Over the past two weeks however I was on vacation back home in Maryland and during that time I had a possible cancer scare with a sun spot that had been getting weird over the past year(WEAR SUNSCREEN PEOPLE, IT'S NOT WORTH IT) that the dermatologist wanted gone, gone, gone! Due to the placement of the scar I'm not allowed to lift heavy objects, be out in the sun for long periods of time, or move the upper part of my body in drastic ways. Oops. That's kind of what my job entails and my doctor now hates my job. Thanks Doc, I know. Due to this, I have now been out of work for two.five weeks. Real fun. I'm literally going stir crazy in my apartment. What I've done so far this past week? I will tell you...
1. watched the entire first season of Girl Meets World on Netflix
2. got to season 3 of Friends on Netflix
3. cleaned my apartment from top to bottom...twice
and finally....
5. started my new little business that I've been wanting to start since forever!
During college I took a couple painting classes, one was required and the second one was for an elective. I went to an art school full of creative people all around which interested me even more in all these different forms of art. I didn't want to stop. It was during the first painting class where I fell deeply and madly in love with the art; the strokes, the mixing of the colored oil based mud, and the way it felt to touch the brush to the canvas to make something your own and create something beautiful.
I majored in Photography in college and sometimes deep inside of me I wish I had also majored, or even minored in, painting. Both are my passions and both are what I plan to create to sell in my new Esty shop,
tides. Growing up in Maryland I had a passion for all things Nautical. I guess growing up on the Chesapeake Bay will do the to a gal like me. Any moment I could, I would be out on the water doing something. Fishing, boating, going out to Dobbins Island with a group of my friends were what the summers were all about. The days were spent on the water and the nights were sitting around the picnic table eating crabs and drinking Natty Bohs.
My inspiration for my paintings come from the days in Maryland that I will forever cherish for the rest of my life.
Here are a little bit closer looks into my paintings! Take a look see and maybe you too will remember the moments you spent a long the coast!
Even though I didn't see many of these little stars growing in the waters in the Chesapeake, I did see them at the Baltimore Aquarium. When it was way way way too hot or a rainy day, some of the time we got to go to the Aquarium in Baltimore! One of my favorite things to see there, besides the dolphins, was go to the touch tank(I think it's still called that)and go play and hold the starfish. Such a strange feeling to get the first touch is kind of amazing.
As the saying goes, "I'm kind of pissed I'm not a mermaid", is something a lot a girls can kind of relate to. I mean, how awesome would it be to be a mermaid for even the day?? To swim about with the fish and to always have such amazing hair. I wish my hair looked gorgeous after a swim in the river. Every time you look at these scales, just imagine yourself swimming with a beautiful and shimmering tail!
The pineapple in some cases is a symbol of "Welcoming" welcoming someone to a new place or home. I remember going into the city of Baltimore when I was younger and always remembering this pineapple sculpture on top of a building for a graphics company I believe. Correct me if I'm wrong. I've never really been a big fan of eating the fruit but recently I have been seeing a lot more pineapples in home decorating which drew me to paint my little pineapple. Maybe the craze is because pineapples are a symbol of welcome so decorating with them is welcoming people into their home.
(comes in both 4x6 and 8x10)
Blue Crabs. Oh Blue Crabs. Ever since I can remember, I have been eating blue crabs with my family out on the picnic table during the summer time. We never had to buy the crabs because we had traps on the end of out pier. Thank goodness though cause, crabs came at a wealthy price and I can see why! They were delicious. You learn how to pick a crab at a very young age, before you can remember, and you never really stop knowing how to pick one because it's kind of like riding a bike. You know which parts of the crab are the best(the back fin will always my favorite dipped in a little bit of apple cider vinegar, to the parts where it's a big no no to eat because it's the "devils fingers" aka lungs. These paintings are of the amazing crabs devoured sitting by gorgeous sunsets a long the Magothy River.
(comes in a 4x6 and 8x10)
I was never really into eating oysters until about five or so years ago. They always kind of grossed me out because they were slimy and weirdly textured. Then I believe one day I just kind of got up the nerve to try them again and I fell in love. I'm not sure what it was about them that made me fall in love with them but I did. Maybe it was the fact that I was trying something new and they tasted like seafood, which they are, and that's something that I need in my diet at least once a month. I have tried numerous amounts of oysters over the years from up the east and west coast and ones from New Zealand, some of the prettiest oyster shells I've ever seen! The World is Your Oyster saying is one of my favorites. I have it on my phone case to always remind me that anything can happen and you can make it happen if you want it bad enough. It's a crazy world and it's even crazier in LA. Whenever you are feeling something isn't right in the work place or in your personal life, make that change to make it better for your well being.
Sorry for this super long written post but I haven't written in a while and sometimes the best thing to do for yourself is just getting it out of your system and writing it all down. I hope you enjoy looking in my new shop and possibly picking out a few pieces you love and add to your home(or gallery wall).
