SPRING IS WHERE EXACTLY . . . ?

I don't know how it is where you are, but I woke up to snow this morning.  Not much, but enough that the grass was white and the puddles from the rain yesterday were covered with ice.  Not what you would expect from the 3rd week in April.  Of course, I am back in Northern Idaho  (this week!) so it is a little cooler here than over in Wenatchee where my husband is enjoying warmer temperatures and a little more sun.  

It has been a crazy month to say the least.  Last I wrote we had (unexpectedly) sold the house.  I know, you put your house on the market  ~ isn't that what you want to happen?!  But we just thought for sure it would take a lot longer than it did.  Wrong.  But we did manage to find a 'little' apartment in Wallace, Idaho, which is not too far from our property.  By little I mean that, besides the apartment, we have 2 more storage units filled to the brim with most of our furniture and belongings.  The apartment is comfy, and I think you could even say 'cozy'.  But, this at least gave me a place to set up my studio.  :)  So, for now, we are both taking turns commuting back and forth between Wallace and Wenatchee (the W's).  This is my week in Wallace.  Next week I'll be in Wenatchee for a small show I have opening on Friday, May 2nd showcasing my Jewelry.  

   

Wallace is a place of Beautiful old Doors with lots of leaded Glass  . . .

and also just 'old doors'  :)

            A little bit of trivia . . . Wallace is where the movie 'Dante's Peak' (with Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton) was filmed.

In between the packing, moving, partially unpacking, and setting up of my Studio, we also had to go back over to Wenatchee and dismantle my Studio.Gallery in Cashmere.  I hated to have to do that.  I wasn't there that long, but I did make some nice Friends while there.  Of course, how do you not make friends when the Businesses all around you are hosting Wine Tastings all day long!  

Once I got my Studio set up I started working on pieces for Entree Gallery in Nordman, Idaho.  They will be opening for the Season on Mothers Day weekend and my work is due up there this Friday.  On Saturday I will start working on some new Jewelry pieces for my Show.  I don't have any Jewelry to show on this Blog but should have some new pieces by the beginning of the week.

This is one of the new pieces that will be heading to Entree Gallery . . .

Sharing the Bench

14 x 14 Mixed Media Collage on Cradled Wood Panel

Sides are finished and comes ready to hang.

For more information on this piece Please Click Here

I think the Gallery situation in Wallace is somewhat . . . how can I best describe it  . . . 'creative?'  :)

  Happy April!

I THINK THE ELVES HAVE BEEN PARTYING TOO MUCH !!

Either someone has started celebrating the wearing o' the Green a little early, or my husband and I REALLY don't plan things very well!  Sad to say I'm pretty sure it's the latter . . .   We put our House up for sale and thought it would take quite a while to sell since we're in an 'Adult Neighborhood' with lots of rules, regulations, covenants and short dogs (One of the rules is that dogs can't be over 18" high ~ don't ask us what we were thinking when we bought here ~ it all seemed workable at the time).  We thought most of our potential Buyers would be 'snow-birding' it until sometime in April.  We never thought that the first people through the house would make an offer, we would accept, and that we have to be out in 30 days (now down to 17!)  With. no. place. to. go.   We can't even start building our new place until July.  The snow is still several feet high!  So now we are in the throes of packing, storing AND looking for a temporary place to live.  Not so easy in these days of 'a minimum years lease' in order to rent a place.  Life has become very interesting to say the least and the garage on our new property is becoming quite full! 

This Trailer is filled with Patio furniture and yard goodies

And this little Trailer is filled with Garage 'stuff'!

And, even after 3 trips to Idaho, most of the House is still in the House . . .

In between, I have been still trying to work (concentration at this point is almost non existent) because I have an upcoming Gallery due date of April 15th.  Remember, my Painting Studio is in my home . . . so that of course will be the very last thing packed.  And, it will be the very first thing unpacked.  We just don't know where yet!  

I have managed to get a few new pieces done even with all this going on.  Yes, there have been a few very late nights!  

Sisters.  Friends.  Secret Keepers.

To get more information on this piece Please Click Here.

There are also a few more that I showed in my last Newsletter and if interested you can Click  HERE, and HERE,  to see them.  

Olivia

That's a beautiful shade of Green Line Jasper along with New Jade, African Trade Beads and Brass Heishi.

For more information on Olivia Please Click HERE

I have 2 more paintings in process which I should have ready for my next Newsletter which I hope to have out the beginning of next week.  

For those of you in the area, I have temporarily closed my Cashmere Studio.Gallery (I design my Jewelry there, the Paintings are done here at home)  ~ at least until after move at the end of this month.  After that, we'll have to see where all this takes us.  :)

In the meantime,  Happy St. Patricks Day to you all!  And remember, as you are out there looking for those Four Leaf Clovers, 'Luck, is all about believing you are Lucky'  ~ Tennessee Williams

And, so it goes . . .

If you received this Post ~ I apologize.  My Blog is telling me this wasn't published.  It seems that there are some problems with Internet Explorer and publishing Blogs.  In researching I found I wasn't the only one having this problem and it was suggested I switch to Google Chrome to be able to publish.  So . . . I'm now on Google Chrome and giving this another shot!

Since I missed Valentines Day do I start early and say 'Happy St. Patricks Day!'  ??  :)  Just a little over 3 weeks and we'll be thinking Green and . . . hopefully Spring.  I did manage to get a post done on Facebook though to welcome in the 'Year of the Horse'  This is a Collage I did of 4 of my Horse 'Collages' :) that are shown on my website. . .

I've fallen behind in everything due to the fact that I'm trying to pack, work AND keep the House neat and clean simultaneously.   Having your Home up for sale is never fun since you don't know when you might get 'the call'.  "We have someone interested in seeing your home ~ would we be able to come over this morning?"  In other words ~ "We'll be there in an hour, please be gone ~ take the pets with you, have the house spotless, all the lights on, cookies in the oven, Pet bowls hidden, and the family pictures stuffed in drawers.  My husband is a day sleeper so we get to throw that into the equation just for laughs.  And that . . . can be very amusing! : / 

Actually, our Realtor is very professional and easy to work with.  That does make the whole process so much easier.  But still, I have had to do quite a bit of early packing to 'simplify' the house (I REFUSE to say de-clutter because I do not believe all my 'stuff' is clutter, but that seems to be the current term used for sterilizing your home so it looks good to the potential buyers.)  How did they ever sell a house before all this 'de-cluttering' was done?!  I will admit, we did take 2 small trailer loads up to store in our garage on the new property and, quite honestly, more could go.  I'm just not sure how much more I am willing to part with at the moment.  After all, we could be here quite a bit longer.  It is amazing though, how much one can accumulate in such a short time.  For all of my married life I've averaged a move every 3.5 years and it amazes me each time I go to pack, just how much we have managed to accumulate . . . again.  But, the good thing is, I've moved so often that all my boxes now know how to unpack, and put themselves away.  It at least makes that part easier.  :)

I do need to catch up on my work so I just think more packing is going to have to wait a while. Unfortunately the boxes haven't learned how to do that part yet.

One of my Necklaces recently finished:

Smolder

That's a carved Clay Focal in the middle and it really stands out nicely on this piece in real life.  Simple but striking.  For more information on this piece please Click Here

I recently made two of my Little Sisters pieces into NoteCards which can also be found on my Website HERE

  

I just finished two larger Collages which could be hung singularly or as a diptych.  I have to get my February Newsletter out in the next day or two so will probably show those there.  If you haven't signed up for my Newsletter you can do so HERE.

And, just for fun . . .

Down by Mulligans Creek

5" x 7" Acrylic on Wood panel.

For more information on this please Click Here

OK.  Need to get to work.  We had our first official showing this morning (No, no feedback yet...) so we had to vacate for a couple of hours.  Yes, did take the dog but no, didn't bake the Cookies.  I cheated and lit a Vanilla Caramel Candle (it really did smell yummy!) for a while before we left.  :)

Have a great Week!

Charleen

'CONTEMPLATE . . . WHAT ?' Mixed Media Collage from the Studio of Charleen Martin

 

 

 

'CONTEMPLATE . . . WHAT?'

 

14 x 14" Mixed Media Collage on cradled Ampersand.

Acrylic, Paper, Gold Leaf

 

For more information on this Please Click Here

 

This is my Day 29 entry in the '30 Paintings in 30 Day Challenge'  This took me more than a day to complete so I worked on it along with smaller pieces for the Challenge.  I came away from the Challenge knowing that I will NOT participate in another one.  For some reason I found out that my brain goes into overload on something like that  :/  Should be simple but . . .  

 

I wrote more about the 'why not' in my Monthly Newsletter that just went out today.  If you are interested in reading my thoughts, and don't already receive my Newsletter, you can click HERE to go to todays letter..

 

I'm just going to post 2 small Abstracts that I did as part of the  Challenge.  The first one is another little 4 x 4" entitled  'Little Mesa' 

 

 

LITTLE MESA

 

This comes with a small Black Bamboo style easel for Display.  For more information on this piece Please Click Here.

 

 

This next one is a little larger at 6 x 9"  . . .

 

 

'THE PASSION OF FIRE AND WATER'

 

This comes framed in a nice Matte Black 1.5" deep Metal Frame all ready to hang.  (It looks much better in person.  Here it looks like the Texture just gets in the way but in reality it really enhances the deep Colors.)

 

For more information Please Click Here.

 

 

 

 

These are two new pieces I also included in my Newsletter.  I'm just going to refer you HERE for more information.  I've been at the computer all day and my eyes are about to go on strike!  This will give you information on these two pieces plus several more new ones.

 

Thanks for following my work and . . . my ramblings!

Charleen

 

Sign up to receive my Monthly Newsletter Here.  :)

 

 

 

www.charleenmartin.com

THE END OF WEEK TWO . . .

Actually, we are on Day 16 in the '30 in 30' Day Challenge.  So far I've only missed one day ~ we were out of town over one weekend.  We drove 4.5 hours from cold and sunny to this:

  

 

We (very) recently purchased property back in North Idaho with the plan of building and eventually moving back there.  The only thing on the property at the moment (besides the snow) is this old, pale green garage which is in very sad shape.  So sad that it doesn't even have a front garage door anymore. :(   So . . .  the trailer you see has the 'necessities' in it to at least put a temporary fix up until the weather warms up and we can start to give this old guy a second shot at life.  Under normal winter conditions there actually should be a couple of feet more of snow by now.   The winter has been so mild here in the Northwest though that snow is at a premium.  We have a little more snow on our property than the neighbors because the City Plow Trucks have scooted all the street snow onto two sides of our property because there is no house on it.  :(  That, of course, means that it will just take us a little longer to actually get on to our property in early Spring . . .

 

 

 

I Feel Like I'm being Followed

4" x 4" Acrylic on Wood Panel with Display Easel

For more information on this piece Please Click Here

 

 

 

We finished week two a couple of days ago.  I knew I had the missing day but when I went back to see what I had posted on what days, I found that I posted the same piece twice on 2 different days  : /  OK . . . I know I have a few cracks in the old brain cement starting to edge their way in, I just didn't realize I was getting THAT bad!  I guess that's what happens though when you paint a couple of pieces ahead (allowed) and then can't remember what you posted when.  I do have to say that what I have found with this challenge is, that while the discipline of getting into the Studio everyday is great, I'm not necessarily painting my best.  (Did I just say that out loud?)  :/  Oh well . . . maybe it's good therapy!  :)  Instead of doing what I like to do, and letting the ideas come naturally, I feel like I'm forcing myself to come up with 'something' everyday.  Something that will take me just a little while, so I can then get back to doing 'what I like to do.'  Part of it too, is probably the 4" format that I chose to work on for the challenge.  I feel like I immediately limited myself to what I could do.  I could change the format and go a little larger but I'm not sure that would solve 'my' problem.  The main part of the challenge was to just get into the Studio, paint and have fun so . . . I made the decision to paint everyday but not necessarily strive to finish any one piece.  Whew!  Pressure off!  :)

 

Below is what I worked on today.  I had the background complete and the chalk drawing done.  I inked in the drawing just a bit ago and will start on the flowers when I am done here.  I need to get a January Newsletter out soon and hope to have this done to include.

 

 

 as yet, untitled . . .

 

Here's a new Necklace recently done :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mojito  (14006)

Blue Jade (dyed), Vinyl Heishi (Kenya), Aluminum (Kenya), Hand-painted Recycled Krobo Glass (Ghana), and African 'White Heart' Beads.  Fastens with an easy to open/close Toggle Clasp.  For more information on this piece Please Click Here.

 

 

(I did try to enlarge the last two photos but for some reason either Blogger or my computer won't let it happen . . .  )

 

 

 

"I must have a prodigious quantity of mind;

it takes me as much as a week sometimes to make it up."

              ~  Mark Twain

 

 

Have a great week!

Charleen

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

We had a tiny, little baby snow here last night.  Almost embarrassed to say it snowed compared to what is going on over in the Midwest and East Coast. I grew up in New York (in the city and then on Long Island and then back to the city when I got married) and we always had 'Snow days' (no school) when I was growing up there.  Winters with lots of snow seemed to be the norm then.   My parents bought a house out on Long Island in a development of all the same houses.  The floor plans were the same in every house but you could make a few changes to make them 'your own'.  My Parents opted for a Gable roof instead of the 'comes with' Mansard roof which was so popular then.  They also put in a Fireplace which was an extra.  That Fireplace kept 3 families warm during a Blizzard we had one year when the power went out for almost a week.  A huge Sleepover (a total of seven children and 6 adults) and no school for 4 days.  By the time it was all over I'm sure the other two families were wishing they had thought to add fireplaces when building . . . and I'm sure my Father was thinking the same thing! :)

I signed up to do Leslie Saeta's '30 Paintings in 30 days' Challenge again.  This time I hope to be able to keep up a wee bit better than last time. So far I am right on.  Below are a few pieces that I've done for the challenge.  These are all just tiny paintings ~ 4" x 4".  I thought that would be easiest since I still need time to work on my larger Collages/Paintings and my Jewelry.  These all come with a nice Black, Bamboo Style Easel for Display.  I'll show one on an Easel. 

The Peace Rose

4 x 4" Acrylic on panel with Stand

 

Day One: I started off with a Collage the first day.  I did one the second day too and then switched over to painting.  Decided I might like that better for such a small format.  Although, I had a Greeting card company for years and all the designs (3-dimensional Collage) had to fit in to a 4 x 5" area so you would think I would be use to that format. : /

 

 

 

A Few Stems

SOLD

 

Day Three:  I love Geraniums and had recently done another small piece to show in my Studio.Gallery.  That one had quite a few more stems.  That sold right away so decided to do another for this Challenge.  I posted it on to the main Challenge page which allows you to also post to Facebook at the same time.  It wasn't on there an hour when I was notified that it had sold.   And actually, the person that bought it is a friend I have not seen for many years.  She saw it come through on Facebook and knew she had to have it!   It was such a treat to get the notification that 'A Few Stems' had sold and then see her name attached to the purchase.  :)

 

 

 

 

One Tree Hill

4 x 4" Acrylic on Wood Panel

 

Day Eight:  This is todays entry for the Challenge.   A little more abstract and a little more color.  :)  I'm not going to put all eight on here.  If you want to see any of the others or get more information on these three pieces just Click here to go to my Website.  

 

If you would like to see some of the other work by Artists in the Challenge just Click Here.

 

I've also managed to get a few new Necklaces done since my last Blog.  Below are two pieces recently finished.

 

 

KAYA  (14002)

 

 

 

Mossy Agate with Pyrite, Antique Pewter Spacers and Pewter Focal. 

Closes with an easy to open/close Toggle Clasp.       

For more information you can Click Here     

 

and

 

 

 

By the Stream  (14001)

 

Matte Wild Horse Jasper, African Trade Beads, and Brass Heishi.  

Closes with an easy to open/close Toggle Clasp.     Because the Stones are matte, this is a very striking, but subtle piece.  

For more information you can Click Here.

 

 

I've also managed to get a few backgrounds done for larger paintings.  And, that's exactly where I am going now . . . into the Studio to work on them!

 

 

The Best of Health and Good Wishes to you all in this coming year. 

 

Thank you for your support and Good Wishes and being part of my life.  I appreciate being part  of yours even if it is just you taking the time to read my Blog or my Newsletter (or both!)  As many of you know, as an Artist, even the slightest bit of support can make a major difference in what we do.  Actually, I guess that holds true for all of us in everything we do . . .

 

Charleen

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Little Color for these Gray Gloomy Days . . .

Unfortunately, that's how it is in this neck of the woods . . .  But maybe this will brighten things up!

 

 

 

'Still Life with a Happy Attitude'

 

12 x 24" on 1.5" deep Cradled Board

 

This is the new Collage I mentioned in my last Blog.  It's been done, just hadn't had a chance to get it on here.   This was a fun piece to do, and kind of a take-off on a piece I did many years ago.  That piece was called 'Still Life with Attitude' and it is now in my card line and is one of the more popular Birthday cards I have.  I'll show a picture of that below so you can see the similarities (and not!). 

 

For more information on the above piece Please Click Here

 

'Still Life with Attitude'

 

(The 'Happy Birthday' was not on the original, just the card face)

 

Below is a new Necklace I just finished ~ which I wore the day after I finished it because I didn't have the tag done yet for display, and it was bought right off my neck!  Actually that's happened twice in the last couple of weeks.  :)

 

 

'Cat's in the Cradle'

 

SOLD  ~ Thank you!

(you can see more information on this piece by Clicking Here)

 

Have a Great Weekend!

 

                                                   Charleen