Happy Halloween!!!!

This is my favorite little pumpkin. Isn't my niece the cutest! I just love her and I'm so glad she came to all of us - life is a miracle. And if I could make a suggestion for a guaranteed spirit lifter - go hug a baby then eat a couple of peanut butter cups - mmmmm. To see more pictures of this fabulous little soul you can visit here.

Pansies

Winter pansies survive the cold and in my case the crazy squirrel that digs daily in my little planter. Clearly he's not intimidated by the fluffy clawless fat cat that sits on my porch. So I cut a few and painted this little painting. Then, framed it using a map from one I bought in Paris 7 years ago and printed it on this great banana paper that makes everything look old that's printed on it. I'm very pleased with the end product (price and size in for here).I had been working for several weeks on this large watercolor collage commission of some of the historical homes surrounding Lafayette Square. So these little pansies were lots of fun. Commissions always stress me out - love 'em, need 'em, but am extremely concerned with the final product and that is very inhibiting as an artist. You would think after all these years, I would find a place of ease and peace with painting - but I certainly struggle with that little critic in my head that says "Come one Amy, really... you're an artist?" He's a sneaky little bugger too. Anne LaMott wrote a great book called Bird by Bird (a writer's classic) on the art and act of writing and the challenges a writer faces. It's a fun read and certainly can be applied to any artist. I think I need to dig my copy out.

So back to Lafayette square - BEEEEautiful. I really really really hope to live in that part of town one day. I love the tall majestic French brownstones. After New Orleans, this place screams French. And when you walk along the old brick sidewalks for a minute there you might think you are in France. Needless to say, it's a great place to walk around and even better place to paint. I have several paintings in the works, but haven't finished them ...yet.

100th post!!!!

Can you believe it!?! I actually have written 100 posts. The funny thing is that when Jen(the woman who designed my website, www.GerAmyum.com) was setting up my site she told me about blogging and wanted to know if I wanted to set up a link to a blog. I shook my head and thought I would have no interest in blogging and certainly didn't want to put the time toward "writing in space". I mean, on some level blogging is just a mystery - I really have no idea who reads my blog or how they find it. But I have to say, I REALLY have enjoyed writing and posting my paintings. And I've received some of the loveliest comments from people all over the world. WOW! I'm blown away! When I started blogging I decided that my blog would be about what makes me happy and inspires me as an artist and in turn I hoped to inspire others to find the creative spark in them - because we all have creativity stirring with in us. And, most importantly I would try hard not to be too whiney... because BOY can I whine.
So if you've been reading my blog - thank you! And in celebration and thankfulness for this blog and the people that take the time to read it and comment, I'm going to to have a little giveaway of this original geranium watercolor painting (7"x8"). So if you want to enter in the drawing please e-mail me your name and address, I will write it on a piece of paper and put it in a jar. Then on Friday, November 7 I will draw a name and send it to the winner the next day. Exciting, huh? You can only enter once, I will confirm that I got your info. You can enter by e-mailing me at amy@geramyum.com. Can't wait to see who wins!!!!

Aware

The AIM of life
is to live,
and to LIVE means
to be AWARE
joyously
drunkenly
serenely
divinely
AWARE

- Henry Miller

A Settling In

You can't go outside without a jacket now. The leaves are showing their colors, finally. And I expect next weekend to be nature's Fall Festival. I need a second blanket on the bed, however I'm determined not to turn on the heat until November 1st. The air and light tells me change is coming and winter is inevitable. It's time to settle in and prepare for the cold months of cozy indoor living ahead. This will be my first FULL winter in nearly 7 years and there is a sense of dread, uncertainty even. Heck, I'm a flower painter - there just aren't many flowers in winter. Perhaps this will push me into areas I've not explored before. I am interested in loosening up and not painting so tightly. I recently met a fabulous artist here in St. Louis - Marlene Lewis. Her work is so full of life, color and freedom. That's where I would like to travel as an artist. I'm hoping to push those limits within myself soon, maybe this winter. I just might not have a choice...

It's been a rough week not just for me, but most of my friends - jobs, health, matters of the heart... I've had a hard time painting this week, and I think everyone who does any craft has a hard time creating when life doesn't seem to be cooperating with your plans, hopes and dreams. After all, when you create you are saying, "look something from nothing!" And quite frankly I've been wondering what can redeem this nothing, these losses, these questions and uncertain times. Press on! Do just a little! I finished this fall still life this week. With very little hearts and even less hope. But still, it was an act of hope and faith which dried up my tears and helped me start a new project.

"42"

Want more information about this 4x6 inch original watercolor?
Click HERE

Just watching, waiting but hoping????

I've run out of words today. Both in my ability to hear them and say them. Sometimes pictures will just have to do when words just can't seem to take care of pain or express joy or even ask the questions.
Several years ago I bought a fish for BabyKitty to entertain her. But mostly she was just enchanted by this little fish. She liked to watch it not sure what to think of it all. I gave this painting to a friend in Los Angeles last year for her birthday. For some reason, this was her favorite and I wanted her to have it. This woman has an amazing sense of style, a great sense of humor and has really gone through some hard life situations. I was just flattered that she liked it. Currently she's going through some health issues - which are really "life" issues. What next? What should she do? How? When? But forget about the "why" question because that will never be answered with any satisfaction. This picture kind of reaches in and like my cat and the fish, all we can do is watch to see what happens next. What else is there left to do?

Saturday Nights Online

It's Saturday night and I just got home from celebrating a friend's 40th birthday. I'm usually not a night time blogger. I'm more of a morning writer, but my mind is heavy with lots of thoughts and even worries. Lots of political and economical discussion tonight and I felt a bit guilty even eating out with the complete uncertainty of what's ahead for us here in the U.S.A. Are we stumbling or is this a fall? I purposefully have not watched much news or even the debates - yes, how very ostrich of me. All this just makes me worry and being of the artist mentality does not help during these uncertain times either. As one friend said to me when we were talking about the Meyers Briggs personality tests, "You're an off the charts 'feeler', Amy". Great...

So upon my return from the night's "festivities" I looked at my blog and noticed the jump in visitors and I realized that there are probably lots of people searching on the internet for understanding, answers, hope or maybe just plain distraction from all the buzz. Here we all are wanting some hope, some beauty, something other than the questions. So I offer you this... CREATIVITY... and that takes many, many forms - not just in art but in math, in economics, in psychology and I thank God above for the diversity of creativity. Just when I don't think I can paint any better or learn something new, I'm always surprised at what comes out. So yes, it looks rather bleak right now, but just know that there are many creative souls at work in this world for the good - how it works I don't know, but I believe it does. My part remains the same, I still paint because it's what I know to do. I would do it if no one ever saw a single one of my paintings or if I never sold one either. I paint, I remember, I hope...

This is my latest painting of the "feet" of the Eiffel Tower. I would love to be in Paris again - this would be the perfect time of year. But for now this is what I have and it will do.The "Feet" of the Eiffel Tower