Archive for September, 2011
Part of the great studio clean up I embraced the other day uncovered all my matted original paintings from my first solo trip to New York City over the summer. Uncovering them brought back all my warm fuzzy feelings for wandering the streets for world renowned art galleries, stuffing my face with food made by angels in heaven, and of course painting in my 10 foot by 10 foot cell, er…pod…I mean hotel room.
The paintings are gradually getting listed for sale in my Etsy store. And I’m completely torn about that. I am not sure I want to sell them. But I want them to be “out there” so up they go slowly but surely.
What are you doing today? I hope your weather is pleasant and you’re enjoying something good…tell me about it!
I cleaned my desk last night and what did I find? An old memory card from a camera. On it was a bunch of old pictures of my dog. AND this great photo-tutorial I created a long time ago for an adult watercolor class. I was trying to teach the process of layering – which as you can tell by the 16 or so photos that you really do need a lot of layers of paint in watercolor to build up that certain richness (yet somehow maintain that light and airy feeling). Or something like that. I hope looking at the photos shows you a little bit about how the painting process works. If you have questions leave me a comment and I’ll try to come up with a coherent answer.
For years I have proudly waved my “small is better” banner and only painted things that fit nicely on my computer’s scanner bed. But something came over me this weekend that caused me to throw caution to the wind and purchase this gigantic white canvas. I don’t know what got into me. I have no idea what I am going to paint on it. For the last several years I have been creating artwork that is good enough to hang in your child’s nursery, your kitchen, and/or my personal favorite; your bathroom. Perhaps now I will paint something worthy of your hotel room? I don’t know…the pressure is on!
Something is wrong with me. I brought my Boo home from the vet today after two days without her since her knee surgery on Thursday. She’s pitiful. She’s breaking my heart. And she has to wear that “cone of shame” for 10 days. We have to rehab her over the next 6 weeks. She’ll get stitches out in 10 days. I’m a little wrecked by her condition. She was hopping along on three legs for weeks before but now she barely moves at all. Just looks at me with her sad confused eyes. I keep telling myself she’ll get better and I am trying not to upset her with my concern. But I won’t be right until my baby’s alright again.
Because if you don’t it could stop working. If you’re with someone that says they feel bad, sick to their stomach, like no other feeling they’ve had before, if their jaw is hurting, if they are pale or short of breath, if they are driving like a maniac (or just acting out of character)….stop. Call 911 or go the the ER as fast as you can. If I didn’t drive my husband to the ER 4 years ago tonight he would have died at home in front of me.
His heart stopped on a bed in the ER, the best possible place for a heart to stop. People came in seconds and shocked him back. Within minutes he was given 3 stents that night and 1 more within a week. Fortunately he’s “fine” now except for the looming fear of sudden death. It’s a little haunting. But on the bright side it’s a reminder to stay healthy. Stay aware of your body. Stay in touch with friends and be honest and not take things for granted. Him and me both.
Lauren Alexander 2011 1 Inch Mix Digital Collage
Rain, leaves, and waffles. Fall start-up checklist complete. What are you looking forward to for fall?
Jason Isbell is no angel kind of man. He and his band the 400 Unit put on a hell of a show. I was lucky to go out with some friends and see him perform at Kansas City’s “Cowboy Bar” called Knuckleheads. I feel lucky just to leave the house on a Friday night past 9 o clock. So this was a special kind of treat. Seeing this guy in person who I’ve spent a lot of time with over the last couple years; walking, listening to music, singing, crying, it’s practically a marriage.
But I should stop referring to Jason as my other husband because people who don’t really know me get the wrong idea. I’m in love with the music. His newest record is Here We Rest and it’s kind of a quiet little thing but has plenty of beautiful soul-shattering songs. When I got to the show a friend asked what song I really like from the new album and of course I said “Codiene” and she clutched her heart and sank in her seat a little saying “I know!” and I suddenly realized that it isn’t just me – my marriage is an open one – and I’m thrilled to share my love, “our” songs, with my friends, and a hundred or so other strangers in the bar.
And that’s the beauty of live music. You spend some time with music alone. You laugh and cry and get all personally connected and think the person who made the song has some kind of secret window to your brain. Then you get out there in the world and realize there’s a lot of people who’ve connected with the songs too. And you’re like one big family. Complete with those one or two family members who annoy the heck out of you (I’m thinking of you, man with fringed suede jacket tied to your waist who kept shouting to the stage).
The show was Friday night – the perfect end to a long work week. I almost didn’t go. But my real husband reminded me that going out can be just what the doctor ordered to soothe the over-worked soul. And I’m glad he did because my other husband proved him right.
First the bad news. The postal service is in terrible desperate conditions. They are under staffed and over-worked and I’d bet my life that they’re under-paid. After my extra long work days I can’t get there in time to beat the rush before closing. I nearly lost my mind today waiting about 30 minutes to move inch by inch. The only time I need to actually go in to the post office is if I have international mail. Unfortunately my full time work schedule is forcing me to change my policy and let all my international customers know that I will ship all your items to you on Saturdays only. I’m sorry to have to do that.
In other bad news I will not be accepting any custom painting requests this fall/winter. I am too busy with work. Sorry about that too.
Okay let’s hear the good news!
If you’ve bought something from me before you know that I always try to put a little something extra in your package for you – the cherry on the top – a little something sweet just because. I’m talking about my colorful whimsical stickers, of course. Those are back in and ready to fill your envelopes with small happy pleasures. It’s the little things you know.
Speaking of little things – my calendars are coming back! Look for 2012 desk calendars in the shop by Halloween. They sell fast so put your name on the list asap to make sure you get one.
Anddddd…..magnets are coming back too.
It’s going to be happy holiday shopping here in Lauren Alexander Land.
Ring Ring! Okay, I don’t have a bell (yet) on my new old bike but I am so excited about my new ride that I had to share. This bike and I go way back. It belonged originally to my grandparents and was passed along to me around the time that I got my first apartment – what was I…19 or 20….anywho I’m 30 now and the old bike has been hanging out in my mom’s garage for the better part of 10 or so years. It was dusty and flat but in relatively good condition for being so elderly. I put some new tires on and had the wheel tension thingies fixed and all is well. I even bought a helmet.
Is this thing on right? I have no idea. I grew up riding bikes but never ever had to wear a helmet. And why is the picture in black and white? Because I find that the beyond 30 version of myself simply looks better in grayscale. I grew some major crows feet over the last year. Ugh. Aging is not for sissys. So tomorrow I will defy aging and thrust myself onto a real bicycle in the morning instead of my usual 15 minutes on a stationary bike catching up on my DVR. I will go into the world – boldly going where I have not gone before (one two wheels). Wish me luck.
UPDATE:
I woke up 15 minutes early and got out there, more or less in my pajamas with a sweatshirt. It was 60 degrees and a nearly full moon. It was beautiful. And my brakes work. There’s a lot of hills in my neighborhood that I never noticed until I found myself sailing down the road at the speed of light. It’s a very good thing not too many cars are up and out in the wee hours.
