I'm a cheapskate, okay?

 

I've decided that I love to paint and that it cost's too much. With this discovery I went to my favorite place (okay, favorite might be a strong word), Deseret Industries, and picked out some nice big fat ugly pictures in pretty rustic frames for five whole dollars and just went nuts and painting over those ugly old pictures. Aaron was out of town on a business training trip all week and it was spring break so I had a lot of time on my hands. Of course I couldn't very well paint my assignment on the very holy spring break, so I did a couple of procrastination paintings instead. The first one just started out as a willy nilly color smash and kind of evolved into looking landscape-esque. I guess I'm not quite comfortable with full on abstract art just yet. The second one I decided to paint my wedding temple, Logan. I have this great picture in my house of it with a pretty flowering bush and some tree's and figured that was as good a subject as any out there. Anyhow, enjoy, I know I did.

Monet - The Master

 

I am taking an introductory oil painting class this semester and it has quickly become an obsession. I have always loved the idea of painting and I have always been terrified of it. Each new day when I pick up a brush I shake in my boots for a few minutes before I get up the courage to just do it. I love it! The most recent project was for us to find a master impressionist and try to copy their work. It is easy to look at a beautiful painting and say to yourself that it would be so easy to create it but the Masters are called that for a reason. I chose Monet partially because he uses color so wonderfully and also because he is one of the few of his time that didn't just love women in their birthday suits. I had a lot of fun doing this piece but it was also way more frustrating than my first painting because I was trying so hard to duplicate this amazing thing. I don't think I could ever be done trying to make it perfect if it weren't for due dates and all that nonsense. I have a much greater appreciation for the amazing impressionist painters out there, new and old. Now enjoy a few quotes from our good friend, Claude Monet.

"People discuss my art and pretend to understand as if it were necessary to understand, when it's simply necessary to love." 

"Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment."

Family Portrait Project: Sister Keni Hill

This one is for dear sweet Sister Keni Hill who is serving a Latter Day Saint mission in Cusco, Peru! One of my favorite things about drawing people versus giraffes or bowls of fruit is that I stare at someone for long periods of time (in a non creepy way) so I get to really enjoy what is special about them. I don't know how well I captured her likeness but I did see a lot of family resemblance with her and my younger sister Olivia. All of my sisters have really similar noses except for Olivia and I just could never pin who she got that from. The answer is someone on my Dad's side of the family because Miss Keni here has the same nose!

Family Portrait Project: Fab Gab

 I don't know what it is about these Rowley girls but they are just too photogenic. Why is everyone getting old so quickly? For some reason Gabby is forever 6 in my mind but she seems to be getting older anyhow. What gives her the right I ask!? Now just look at her, gorgeous and rockin' the braid crown. I figured a high contrast monochromatic piece would be nice since I burnt up a bunch of my color on sunbursts recently.

 

Family Portrait Project: Becca and the Bump

 



 

Britney and Becca are both due in February! I looove babies and pregnancy seems to be in the air. This is my way of drawing a baby by proxy, cute pregnant ladies!  Not only that but it was fun to try my hand at drawing sunbursts....I need some practice...but it was a lot of fun. I love color almost as much as I love babies so sunbursts are just a blast. When I think about it color doesn't wear diapers and cry so maybe I should rethink my love priorities.

 

Merry Everything!

Tis the season to get way too excited about buying gifts and then sit in a pile of receipts, cup of eggnog in hand, and wonder where all of your money went. I LOVE to give gifts and I'm a sucker for Aaron, so once a year I go all out. Being the starving college student that I am sometimes I have to be very sneaky in order to get Aaron's gifts because when one of your two dollars goes missing your husband is bound to notice. The question every year is "what do I get him now"? Last year I splurged and got him a fly fishing float tube, the year before I splurged and got him hiking boots and a pack, the year before I splurged and got him a "zombie survival kit". Noticing a pattern? I splurge. This year we are trying to be debt free. We are SO close that splurging feels a little too naughty. So what do you get a man with expensive taste? Oh man, I could use some help with this one. Merriest of everything to you and yours.

Food Love, meet List Love

I'm in a serious relationship with food. Sometimes I feel like I would die without our love but sometimes food doesn't treat me so well. It's a love hate relationship. But seriously people, have you ever gone to the store hangry? I usually end up at the grocery store in this mode and end up with $1,000 worth of chocolate chip cookies and macaroni and cheese which I try to juggle instead of just getting a cart like a normal human being. I've started using these great grocery lists to plan out my shopping and meals and it saves me money as well as ensures I have healthy food in the fridge instead of just many blocks of fancy cheeses (I currently have 3 year aged Irish Sharp Cheddar, Smoked Gouda, and Habanero Mozzarella, mnmnmn). Try it out! My Momma gets these 5.5"x8.5" in a pad and slaps a magnet on the back so it's easy access on the fridge. Happy Listing. Happy Eating.