"Those fishing lures thrown in the cold and clean..."

Sometimes I just walk into a space and think;
I want to put art here.

I want to tell the story of this place, these people, this energy.

It doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes I'm asked to put art somewhere and when I walk in,
I just know its not the vibe I want.

Asheville Adventure Rentals has a GREAT vibe, GREAT energy...I only wish that going into this art project I had personally had more time to use their services and get on the water with them. There is, however, only so much time in the day and I'm grateful that I am as slammed as I have been. I will never complain about this being my work.

So, River Link in Asheville is a big reason why AAR was able to get the funding to get their business up and going. River Link "is a regional non-profit spearheading the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River and its tributaries as a place to live, work and play."

http://www.riverlink.org/

This is the reason why I decided to use 1. Found wood, materials, and "doors" as visuals in the artwork. River Link has opened many doors for the area and for businesses on the French Broad.

That's a pretty great story to tell in art.

2. Dictonary pages for me are always about the value of words. "Choose your words impeccably", speak honestly, mean what you say. The pages chosen for this body of work will tell the story of what it is AAR is doing on the water. Adventure. River. Stream. etc...

3. Inspiration: the inspiration for me for this body of work came from the past month that I spent studying and sketching the way the birds swoop into the valley. The invisible lines they make in the sky. The way they gracefully soar and trail. I fell in love with the movement of it and decided to use it in this body of work.

Still havent decided on a song. I have been listening to A LOT of music hoping it hits me. I think I'm just stuck on the Iron and Wine song Flightless Bird, American Mouth. I'm just not 100% convinced I don't want to use it because of what it means to me, personally, vs finding a song that tells a bigger story about the artwork.
"Now I'm a fat house cat
Nursing my sore blunt tongue
Watching the warm poison rats
Curl through the wide fence cracks
Pissing on magazine photos
Those fishing lures thrown in the cold and clean
Blood of Christ mountain stream"

 It will happen. No reason to force it. I keep wishing Bob Dylan would give me something. Talula loves Bob Dylan. That's on the side of one of my artworks out in the world somewhere. So great. xo

 Suggestions always welcomed and appreciated. xo. Back to work.

Time to pick a song...any ideas?

Time to pick a song.

I've been avoiding this.

The song, in regards to a body of work, always tells the real story of where I am.

Echoes was the first song for my very first collection. It was during probably the hardest time in my life...and these lyrics:

"And no one showed us to the land
And no one knows the where's or why's
But something stirs and something tries
And starts to climb towards the light"

My art was the light..and in all of it; I knew that if I kept towards it - I would succeed.

That same summer I was given my first solo exhibition. I was also gifted a cash register that I was disassembling and using as the assemblage portion of my show. The song was "Cash Money" by The Beautiful Girls (who sadly just played their last gig together last night in AUS.). The song represented
a lot of things that I was going thru at that time...I was just starting to do my art full time. I was single, living alone, putting myself out there and fronting as the artist/person I really was. The real me.

"Cash money,
aint got no use for you.
Unless you can buy me true love.
And it's funny,
how many time's they've proved,
that the only true fortune you can save,
is the truth."

I titled my show "True Fortune" and to this day it is still a collection that I strive to measure up to with all "themed" shows there after.


Valentines Day rolled around and even though I'm not a big fan or celebrator of consumer generated holidays. I thought that having a show around this one would give people an alternative option for something to do. "Cant Help Falling in Love" was the Elvis song that I choose because 1. I was trying to appeal to a larger clientele, and  2. because of this lyric; "Darling, so it Goes"...So it goes; such meaning and history with those words. This was a time in my life when I was letting go...and still celebrating loves that I had had..without regret.

The next show was titled "Lost and Found" and the song was Echo and the Bunnymen
"Lost and Found"

"She will tell you her cathedral
has no windows and no doors
and you know she doesn't need you
and that's why you want her more...

As your heart melts down
you are lost not found"

The windows and doors theme is prevalent in my work and as I approach this new collection for Asheville; I am relying heavily on these visuals for inspiration. This was a body of work where I was trying to distract the viewers with color and whimsy...but also emotionally depict the moment in time that something is lost...and the same in the moment that you find something. A split second that weighs heavy on us.

Moving to North Carolina...I was gifted with new visuals - I finally surrendered completely (on my knees) to my art. This was it; no turning back. My first show was titled "Circles" and the Tori Amos song "Cloud on my Tongue" constantly stuck in my head while I was painting this collection.

"Someone's knocking on my kitchen door, leave the wood outside, what,
All the girls here are freezing cold.
You can go now, you can go now, you can go now, you can go now."

Ok..I'm going to start to pull this together so it makes more sense: Consistency is key and the art, lyrics, words, subject all tell a story. I always hope the art is as good as the music that inspires it. That it tells as story..that the story is personal yet universal in many ways. Intimate, evoking yet spirited.


At the Cloud on my Tongue period I was really wanting to be left alone. I just wanted to paint, and work and just...leave the wood outside, - you can go. The reoccuring theme of doors, windows, etc is evident here...
and throughout each collection and each of these songs inspired the next two shows.


Sinew, Fiber, Heart.
I still suck air when I say that. My second (now) annual Valentines Day show.
The song was "Desperado". The lyrics "Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate"

Its hard to believe this was less than a year ago.  Its hard to believe that I'm still the same person...
that this artist has won; she is steady. She is strong. She believes.
This collection was about the things that hold us down in regards to our heart.

Moving on to July, my summer show. "Black". If you could see me right now you would know that I have shaken my head in the realization of how heavy this all weighs on me. The lyrics, "Oh, and twisted thoughts that spin round my head, I'm spinning, oh,
I'm spinning, how quick the sun can drop away"

Mermaid Down. Is she still down? if it's true that the song and the art tells my story - what will this next collection say? Where am I? I'll tell you where I am right now...

I'm still avoiding picking a song.

The original idea was all about the swoop. The way the birds swooped into the valley. The body of work needs to tell the story of the rivers, and the movement in them. Undulation. Sway.

The opposite of static. 

Originally I was leaning towards Iron and Wine, Flightless Bird...Maybe tomorrow when I start throwing around this wood it will come to me....

..you tinge my spark.

There is A LOT going on in Talula's world.

In gratitude.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to create art. I am equally appreciative in being able to
share this art, and to do this as my  work. I am dedicated. I am focused. I am excited to do this for a long time coming. I would not be able to do this without the constant support of my clients, friends, and family.

Thank you.

Tomorrow is the ribbon cutting ceremony for The Sleepy Dog and The Artful Dog at The Soapy Dog in The River Arts District! The end of this month is the ribbon cutting ceremony for Asheville Adventure Rentals. I am lucky enough to be creating a body of work specifically for their location that vibes off of the River Community here in Asheville. I am dedicating every moment for the rest of this month to creating that artwork.

The holidays are right around the corner. I am booking up quickly and expect to be happily painting non-stop the entire month of November into December to complete orders for clients to gift to their loved one's for Christmas.

I have fallen in love. Finally.

I heart art. You are my surrender. You are my soul. You are the one and only thing that I count on. You wake me up each morning with a smile on my face. You tire me enough that I fall asleep soundly. You gift me freedom of choice. You decorate my palette, you tinge my spark. 

Dog! Dog! Dogs!!! xo

I realized I hadn't had a full on DOG! session on Talula's Terradoodles!

Years ago I wanted to move to Park City and become a dog portrait artist. Even before having my own dogs (CJ, Chester and Moxie)... I knew in my heart that it was something I wanted to do. To be able to connect with an animal and tell their story thru their eyes (insert Sarah McLaughlin song here) would be such a joy in my life!!!  

Fast forward to North Carolina, about 10 years later, and imagine a springtime, afternoon lawn party... My friend Laura had just purchased a river raft and she was so excited she sat in the frame of it, on a cooler (Filled with Natty Lights or PBR's???), in the grass.

Laura was in the throws of opening The Sleepy Dog, and extension of the already successful Soapy Dog in the River Arts District of Asheville. Laura was talking about how she was going to use the raft to take the dogs down the river....

This perked my inner artist. The visual, the memory of my Park City dream...and the need to find a niche here in Asheville.

The Soapy and Sleepy Dog present: The Artful Dog! A progressive idea that ties in an already successful, staple business in the RAD, with a signature service to the clients and community.

Not to mention reasonably priced, really good, dog portraits.

In the past 5 months the above artworks are the first dogs of The Artful Dog. October 9th is the ribbon cutting ceremony; look for your invites via email. xo.

Much thanks to everyone who has made this possible. Being able to work as an artist is such a gift. I am so grateful!!!

"So I'm packing my bags for the Misty Mountains"

Photo Credit
Maryanne Pappano
Impersonating Kate Facenda
Silly Talulas.

Good Morning Asheville.

I was told that if you are supposed to be in Asheville it either accepts you with open arms or pretty much spits you back out pretty quickly.

Ashevilles arms have been holding me tight since I arrived.

THERE IS SO MUCH GREAT ENERGY HERE!

I'm house sitting for these fabulous people, with this great house, and
(as seen above) this amazing view!!!! I feel blessed. I feel majestic. I feel like
I can't WAIT TO PAINT!!!

I remember when I moved to California I only let myself draw for a while. Pencils, ink etc...to try to retrain myself and to be disciplined. I'm still in the process of trying to figure out what I'm going to start off with here, in Asheville; now that I am a more schooled (but never educated enough) artist.

One thing I have decided is to try to see things like Kate. Kate (Talula Vague) and I became friends because I saw, via her photography, what an amazing eye she had!!! I
am so inspired by photography!!! I am so lucky to have it surrounding me here as well since I am the privileged guest of an amazing photographer!!!

Which - leads me to believe that (since thanks to a good friend of mine) I've recently been re-birthed back into technology and am all tumblr'd and Instagrammed up I'm going to combine these things and see what happens. I've never been much of a photographer and I caught myself saying "I'm a terrible photographer.."I can't" take a picture to save my life" one too many times recently and TALULA doesn't fare well with the I cant's...and well...

Talula's in charge. That we know for sure.

"If you go down in the streets today, Baby, you better,
You better open your eyes.
Folk down there really don't care, really don't care, don't care, really don't
Which, which way the pressure lies,
So I've decided what I'm gonna do now.
So I'm packing my bags for the Misty Mountains
Where the spirits go now,
Over the hills where the spirits fly, ooh.
I really don't know.

Misty Mountain Hop
Led Zeppelin

Surrender is my strength

There's just something about the North Carolina sky...
So wide open and inviting.
California was always a skosh too yellow for me.
It suited me better than Southern New Jersey;
however New Jersey is where I am from.
It is the reason why I am
the artist that I am.






I spent my childhood opening boxes of treasures. How fabulous is that?
To each their own treasure. That is what I wish for you.

The above bell on the artwork is one of those treasures. After holding onto
it for years and years I finally found a home for it...
and then a friend of mine, found a home for that artwork.

This is how amazing my world is. I am so lucky. I am so grateful.

As I transition into my mountain life...I am realizing the kindness of
strangers, the excitement of newness, and the great influence it will have
on my work. May I stumble upon boxes of treasures to share with all of my new
strangers.

My Mom and Dad sent me off with cash and tears. I wouldn't be where I am if it
wasn't for them. My Dad's love for the randomness of "stuff" is what drives me. It is
my biggest inspiration. My Mom's ability to support me in my "randomness" without putting questions or limitations on my sometimes recklessness...is what gives me the strength to take risks. Thank you. I love you. I miss you already!!!

I am so excited and grateful for the opportunities that are in front of me. I have no interest in the past. ONLY the present. I surrendered to my art a long time ago now...the surrender of it is my strength.

How wonderful is it that I can say that?

Surrender is my strength. Wow.

I look forward to learning, creating and expanding as an artist. I can't wait to
tell your story. I can't wait to look at Asheville through this new lens.
I can't wait to be in the arms of true love.

What is your true love?