There are stars among us

There are stars among us, originally uploaded by AmyMarieWillis.

A little doodle I came up with recently.


Hope your 2010 has started off healthy and happy.

Amy

New work in prog

New take on a stagnant piece I've had sitting around since early Spring. I'm much happier with it now and my time invested on it doesn't seem so ill spent.

The holidays are so close I can taste them! Or maybe that's just the lingering chai spices wafting through my house. Holidays spent in places with no snow is a really odd time. The last 2 years in Astoria, there was snow. It was lovely, and I am not really a big fan of snow. One of the reasons I moved here was the awesome weather (rain included!). But I have to admit being seasonally spoiled by ol' Jack Frost last year. I believe Christmas is in four days! I managed to make things look festive, but there's something missing. It just doesn't feel like Christmas. I am certain it has to do with not being closer to my family. My fam has had several traditions for years. There's Christmas, Christmas eve eve, Christmas dinner, Christmas morning breakfast, Christmas eve with the entire family... we love our gatherings. My family is big on hand made gifts. This year I was inspired to make my gifts, still unsent, for my family. I drew some little holiday themed doodles and hoped to make them into ornaments. No dice, they turned out just awful. After nearly giving up, I somehow came up with these:



I call them "Howls" (Holiday+Owls)

They were fun and frustrating to make, as I am not in tune with my sewing machine. But I kind of like them with flaws, aka "character".

Happy Holidays. Love Amy in Astoria.

RIP Strong Love Souls

RIP Strong Love Souls, originally uploaded by AmyMarieWillis.

I'm not sure what's going on... but while taking stroll through my Flickr page, I noticed that this drawing has had 109 views since I added it to my page.! That's nuts! I guess because the rest are all in the 0-17 range. Heck, I'm always appreciative of any audience. So to see a number like 109... well, I'm surprised and happy.
Thanks!
Another odd thing about this, is that this one hardly ever receives comments on or inquires about it. There are certain peices that everyone mentions and loves, and I am always truly flattered. This has never been one of them.
I love this piece though, because it humbles me. It reminds me on any given day of realities for others that get forgotten about. I didn't grow up in the midst of a war around me. I didn't fall asleep at night listening to bombs and explosives. I am truly lucky.
At one time all of us, no matter our location, race, religion, political affiliation, etc... at one time we were all children.
And I really believe we all wanted the same thing... to be happy and loved. I wish we all wanted the same thing now.

Be safe and stay warm this Holiday Season.

Amy

autumncrush

autumncrush, originally uploaded by AmyMarieWillis.

Playing with pastels.

houseboat

houseboat, originally uploaded by AmyMarieWillis.

I recently had a little bug and with being so achy, all I could think about was living in my claw foot bathtub.

Whoooo are you?

I hope you all had a great Halloween.
Mine was perfect! I met some amazing people from the area and a few new connections from Portland. I made owl masks for my friend Casey and I, since the event I was going to was in a barn. Seemed appropriate. Only a buck 49 spent on costume supplies!
It's cold. Really cold, November doesn't mess around! So far I have stayed far away from any cold, flu, sinus infection and I am thrilled. (knocking on wood as we speak) It's full moon time again, and the weather is going to be Winterized before we know it. It's dark so early and it makes me want to sleep at 8:30PM! Ahhh well, it is what it is.
I haven't been working on too much. I have another bird vs jellyfish piece drawing in the works, but I am taking a little hibernation break. I had guests for 2 weeks, and I loved every minute of it, but, I need some Amy time. So far that's included lots of warm beverages, cuddling up in blankets with the dog and movies, movies and more movies.

Happy November friends.
Keep warm and take your vitamins. And seriously, if you are sick, stay home!

Amy

Frustration.

Too much going on and only one Amy. I need to find a new show prospect...

Just because

I am in good spirits today. A visit with my dad and step mother was much needed and I am getting ready for my friend from LA to arrive. No rest for the wicked!
I am enjoying my favorite time of the day. Early morning. The house is quiet, my coffee is the perfect temp and my tummy is satisfied with fruit and protein. The sunrise was lovely today. A quiet mixture of gray and pink.

I've had a lot on my plate as of late and a lot to think about. But saying that kind of makes me laugh. When do I not have lots to think about?

The new space is proving to be good for my soul. I have my own separate floor. It's nice, and I am in love with the art studio. It's so spacious and well lit. It allows me plenty of space for yoga and for awesome hooping sessions. With a window facing the sunset, it's been so nice to work out while watching the day put on a heck of a morning display. I feel peaceful. I am sure that change is in the air, life has plans for me and I can feel something stirring. But I am at peace with where I am and at peace with who I have become and at peace with where I've been. I feel lucky right now, or more so, blessed. Maybe it's all luck or maybe hard work finally paid off. Regardless, I am enjoying this time for what it is. "Living in the now" as it were.
I'm excited...

Happy Friday.



Amy

Peacock

New work. Almost done. I have a stack of used canvas that I am working on right now. Either used by me in the past, or used by others and found by me. Peacock is something that just blossomed last week.
What used to be old and faded is now lush and shiny.

Happy Day.


Amy

Girl in a Box, in a frame

Girl in a Box


Just wanted to post a photo of a mixed media piece I worked on from 2008-2009. I finally framed it and love love love the way it turned out. I've been so busy with the show, family visits and moving that I really have lagged on blogging and finishing my etsy shop. Soooon. Where there's a Willis, ther's a way. (Muahaaa)

I love working on cardboard. There's something very unique about the texture and working with a surface that isn't perfect and isn't white. I am able to do what I am comfortable with, and explore new ideas and terrain.

My friend Elle Seven (aka Loriann Hernandez) will be here in a week! I am thrilled. She is one of my best friends and we haven't even met yet. Technology never ceases to amaze me. It's going to be a blast!
She is attending a conference in Portland, so I will be joining her in PDX for a few days. Yay! I'll be taking photos of her skating, as long as the weather cooperates. She is the operator of Urban Canvas, Los Angeles. Something I am involved with now and then. I'm excited to have her here for many reasons, art related- I am going to pick her curating brain. :) Looking forward to it, for sure.

That's all I got for now. This art studio isn't going to arrange itself... or is it? Sometimes I wonder....

Be well~

...and then it was October. In Astoria.

Autumn. October. How I love October. For being a Spring baby, I am sure a Fall being. Maybe a case of Polar Opposite Love. (*painting idea!)

So here I am in Astoria. Not relocating to Portland, for now. I am happy about staying here. As much as I miss the city, I love Astoria. It's a beautiful sunny Wednesday and I am in Godfather's using the wi-fi until my service at the new pad is connected.

Speaking of new pad (clever segue, yes?) The new space is awesome. Nothing short of unique and bright.

I have my own studio space and I hope to invent a live-work studio while I am here. Winter is sneaking up on Fall and I hope that this space will provide just what I need to keep feverishly creating all Winter long. I've included a few 'early studio' photos and a few of my newer, smallish pieces of work on wood. Always exploring.

I will have more photos soon of new works in prog and le studio on 4th. :)

Be well and Happy Autumn,

Amy

The Story of a Certain Blue Jay

Well... I sold my Blue Jay painting and I couldn't be happier with where it's going.

I painted that piece in honor of my Grandmother, Verda.
Growing up I spend plenty of time at Grandma's house. She was a huge bird enthusiast and I spent what seemed like hours going through her bird books. I was (and am) completely fascinated with birds.
Some time after she passed away last year, I was suddenly thrown into a frenzy of creative bird making.
I drew a Blue Jay with Oil Pastel on paper. It sat around for a while, waiting to become something more. Eventually I just went to town on a piece of cardboard and added it to a mixed media piece. It was an amazing process and it was the first time I had used so many different items in one piece.
It hung on my wall for months until my current show.
I've had 2 people offer to purchase it and then back out. It's been really frustrating because it means so much to me, I really want someone to love it just as much as the love I put into it.

Well... I just heard Buddy out front greeting the Post Lady. She's really nice and we've had plenty of conversations. I invited her to take a look at my show, and as it turns out, she delivers mail there, too.
As I grabbed my mail I heard "Amy, I love my Jay!" I didn't get what she was saying... "huh?"
"Oh, you don't even know yet..." She walked down the sidewalk to me and told me she had purchased the "Blue Jay" painting and she loved it.
I was thrilled because she's so sweet and I really dig her vibe, I knew she would appreciate the story behind it, so I quickly explained what it meant to me... getting misty eyed along the way.
She gave me a hug and asked if I wanted to hear why it meant so much to her.
"Oh yes, of course I do!"
As it turns out, her cat Ollie passed away last week. She has been having a hard time, as anybody would after losing a family member. She said that Ollie used to beg and beg and beg for food. He would "bitch at her", as she put it. Well, shortly after Ollie died a Blue Jay started to appear in a tree, in her yard. She used to feed the birds, but had stopped because of the raccoon issue. Well, this Blue Jay started to "bitch and bitch and bitch" at her every time she would go into her yard. She started feeding it. Eventually, the bird, which she calls the "Ollie Reincarnate" had made friends with a little squirrel. The Blue Jay and the Raccoon actually eat together like a little family.

One thing about birds and losing loved ones.... it seems that there's always a healing moment involving a bird, if you are open to it. A weird "did you see that???" moment with a bird soaring, a song coming from a lovely singing bird, or when you can hear the little peeps and chatter in the woods while hiking or camping, or the chance at viewing an amazing bird formation flying through the desert sunset...
Birds are sacred, there's no doubt about it.

This whole exchange happened 20 minutes ago. I couldn't be happier to help her feel connection and healing through my artwork.
Blue Jay has found a very good home.

Month long Mixed Media show!

Everything is up at Three Cups Coffee House and I am very pleased with how it looks. The lighting in the building is wonderful and the people who work there are great!

Three Cups is also Columbia River Coffee Roasters, and is located under the legendary Astoria-Megler Bridge in the old Finnish Meat Market. Great location for this change of seasons show.

There will be a Meet the Artist event September 12 @ 2PM, where I will have my smaller drawings available as prints and also some cards and whatnots. Fun stuff!

I hope the show is a great success and I believe it will be a happy ending chapter to my two years living in Astoria. It's a tough and beautiful place to live. I will miss it while in Portland, and I know it's only a quick drive away, but getting away will be easier said than done after school starts on September 21st. I love this area and will miss it deeply, I bet when I least expect it.

Anyhow, all is well in the land of fog horns and mixed media.

Be well friends and remember to enjoy life!~

Amy