AlishaVernon.com

Ever since I’ve started babysitting on a regular basis, I’ve noticed that one of the things I get most excited about are kids art projects. I plan an art/craft project each time I go to babysit (as long they’re old enough) and I really love seeing what each kid comes up with and how they all differ, given the same materials and instructions.  Even before I got back into babysitting, this idea of kids and art has always been so interesting to me.

I’ve thought that I would love to run some sort of art school for toddlers and gradeschoolers at some point in my life.  Just learning about different project ideas makes me giddy.  I think, really, it brings me back to a time when life was simpler, and art had very little rules and expectations, and I could spend all day making a “racoon hat” with paper and crayons or a “dinosaur land” with sticks, without ever asking myself “Why am I doing this?  What will I use it for?” “Man, how much do these supplies cost?” or “I wonder how much money I could make from selling these?”   (…and yes, I really did do those aforementioned projects as a kid)

Creativity was so much more pure and innocent back then.

[I bought the above book at Borders.  I seriously want to collect books like this.  There are so many of them!]

…… I just got a great idea.  I should post photos of some of the work my kids (that I babysit) come up with.  I don’t know why, but I think it would be cool.

I realize that I’ve really put this site, as well as art, on the back burner for awhile.  My original plan was to use this blog to record my year long journey of finding my place as an Artist.  I guess I was a little disappointed when I realized that the year had come and gone and I had not emerged victoriously….as I had envisioned.  In all honesty, it’s pretty obvious that I didn’t put very much into this whole process.  I did get distracted quite a bit. I’ve had times where I’ve been sure that painting is my calling, and even an inescapable destiny.  Other times I’ve been sure that I should escape.  But here I am, at 25 years old, with this odd feeling that there is more to it all than I know and this strange feeling that a paintbrush and canvas will always be able to call me back, no matter how old I am.  I think it will all fall in to place when it’s supposed to.

Lately, however, I’ve noticed quite an interest in, shall we say, less glamorous art forms.  Ones that are simple and even quaint….like beeswax candle making, calligraphy, bookbinding, and sewing.  Speaking of sewing, I’ll leave you with my first major sewing project.  (Let it be known that I bought my dogs’ costume)

The Bee Family on Halloween

Serious Bee “…why did my wife make me dress like a freakin’ bee?”

Goofy Bee “…buzz buzz, look at my wings”

Mama and baby bee

Here are some flower sketches I’ve been working on lately. Not quite sure where I’m going with this, but they just kinda flow from me. I love that messy sketchy look too. (actual size of each drawing is about 8″ x10″)

Of all of my quirky interests, lately, one of them has been unique and interesting, as well as health promoting beverages. I’ve even thought of ambitious endeavours such as compiling a recipe book or opening an organic coffee/tea/juice bar (with a mini art gallery of course).

For now, however, I think I will just write this blog called “Delightful Drinks.” It’s going to be a sort of collection and review of noteworthy beverages. You’re welcome to check it out and subscribe.

It’s at: www.DelightfulDrinks.blogspot.com

Here’s a taste of what I’ve been having fun with lately. I remember asking Noelle Dass about how she found her style and she said something to the effect that it’s just what she would draw when she wasn’t really paying attention. Ya know, like the things you doodle while sitting in class.  It just comes from deep within. Well, I always doodle different kinds of flowers like this. I remember being a little bummed when I realized that flower doodles is what comes from deep within me. It just didn’t seem amazing enough. …but the truth is I really do enjoy making them.

These are sketched with various thicknesses of charcoal, sealed, sketched again with marker, and the color is an acrylic wash. They are done on a thick cold pressed watercolor paper. I really like how they look in a frame that holds 4 5×7’s horizontally. Also, I think they make really cute note cards. Perhaps I see a series in the future. What do you think?

One of my goals for this new year was to remember birthdays. You know, send a card, a gift, give a phone call and do it on time. My dear friend Jessica, is amazing at this. Since we graduated from high school 7 years ago, and all went our separate ways, she has, without fail, always sent a birthday card and even remembered things like my wedding anniversaries, valentines day,….I think their may have been a St. Patrick’s day card somewhere in the mix. It always makes me feel very loved.

Anyway, despite my good intentions, I have already forgot to call my niece on her birthday, I sent her present late and totally forgot one of my best friends’ birthdays. I did however, make my mom a hand painted card 2 weeks in advance, and then her birthday just sorta snuck up on me, and it got there a week late. Oh dear.

I can do this!
I know I can.
Any advice?

Today I was a featured Artist on “Autonomous Artisans.”

Click purple box below to view my feature interview.

So what have I been up to lately?  Well,…..not contributing to this blog, that’s for sure.

I just moved last week, into a different house; a nicer house.  As lot of you know, if your house full of stuff, it can be quite a process.  I’m not very good at unpacking right away either, so I’m hoping this weekend I’ll finish up.

Also I’ve been working on my business Sweet & Spunky.  It’s been pretty fun.  Definitely, there’s a sense of satisfaction after each onesie is wrapped up and shipped.  It’s exciting to know that some little bundle of miracle is going to be wearing this little piece of art that I just made.  …and getting an order is also quite flattering…like “wow, it’s not just my mom ordering, to make me feel good.  These are real life people who genuinely like my idea.”

I’ve decided to finish my Bachelors degree, and Monday was the first day of school.  I’m doing an Applied Psychology major at OIT.  I was a little…..ok REALLY hesitant for a while.   I think I was burnt out on the ‘big school” college life.  I’m so glad I decided to do it, because I seriously LOVE  OIT.  Who knew that a tech school, that is perfect for my honey, has such a great Psych program for me.  But what about my Art Major, you ask?  (Ok, so maybe you didn’t ask)  Well, I actually was thinking about changing my major to Psychology while we were in Eugene.  It was the whole reason that I moved there, 5 years ago, in the 1st place.  It’s been between Art and Psych. for a while now.  Some of the reasons are:  1.  I want to use my brain again.  I love my art classes but, after a while a certain part of my brain starts screaming “Don’t forget about me!”  2.  Upper division art classes started getting too weird for me.  3.  Psychology is my other love.  I would like to be a counselor of some sort.

….and I’ve been volunteering for SMART.  I read with elementary school students. More on that later.

And I just realized that I have an assignment due in 2 hours for my 1 online class. …great.

Peace.

Today I found that I am a featured artist on this blog.

Here’s the direct link.—> {Click here to view}

Sweet and Spunky.com is officially up and running!  I can’t believe it.   I want to thank my dear husband for supporting me, like he does with all of my crazy ideas, and I couldn’t have done it with out all of his patient computer help either.  Also, thank you Allison for the photos of your beautiful baby girl!    …and of course, my sister Ashley, for patiently sitting through countless conversations starting with “Ok, so what do you think about this idea…..”

www.SweetandSpunky.com 

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