painting » The Daily Muse - The digital sketch book of designer Sierra Bailey

10 Things that made me impossibly happy this week…

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Mar 172011

1. Having daylight into the evening hours.

2. Open windows in my apartment...Faye likes them too!

3. Running into a group of 4 year olds who were looking through the village for signs of spring...and that they found so many!

4. Pink toenail polish.

5. Putting the furniture out on the porch.

6. Storing away the boots, hats & coats of winter.

7. Talking Faye on long walks.

8. Open sunroof in my car.

9. Making really fun plans for the month ahead.

10. That I FINALLY finished the painting on my easel...ok, that was last week, but it makes me REALLY happy!

Miracles happen…

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Jul 222010

Image from Elle Espana April 2010

There are two activities in life that my sanity depends on. Exercise and Painting. Both prevent my extremely over thinking brain from not blowing up. Exercise is easier as I walk my dog, so by default I am at least moving around, although until about three weeks ago I had a really hard time since my last move finding the regular time slot for my addiction to work out videos. But I finally decided I should just suck it up and try the 10pm spot, and you know what, it works and my sanity improved a bit.

With that hurdle overcome I decided to attack the more difficult key to mental stability...the creative outlet I have that is not commercial, never has to be viewed or judged by anyone, that I can just do what I want and let myself go. In my last apartment I had a painting studio/library set up for about 9 months and I think painted for about an hour one day. When I moved, I set up the same room and its been five months and nada. I have paints, canvas, stretchers, brushes...everything I need...well except I need to stretch some canvases, slap on some a few coats of gesso and off I can go. Well, last week I was FINALLY going to sit down and build a few canvases...I was so excited until I opened the primer...and wtf?!?!?!?

I had apparenty, and not noticed for two years, bought a gallon of heavy gloss instead of gesso. Crap. Well, never one to let a little thing stand in my way of doing something I set out to do, I scooped up handfuls of the gloss, slapped it on a big sheet of plywood and played around. About an hour later I decided to research what the hell gloss is used for and realized it was an improved upon medium for the gesso base I used in my mixed media, tissue paper, water color series I did a few years back. I dragged out the tissue (still ripped up from that series!), tubes of water color and got to town. It felt good. Really good. I had plans I had to attend to, so I cleaned up and swore I'd return...and you know what, I did.

I'm not ready to share anything, but it feels magnificent to be painting again...I have a hard time at this stage of my work obsessed life doing something that is not towards the goal of building an empire and painting in a way allows me to do as it I can think "well, I always COULD try and sell them, if I wanted to". Sick, I know.

Eh whatever, I'm painting...I'm doing step aerobics...I COOKED MYSELF DINNER the other night...life is truly full of miracles...

Even though I think New Years Resolutions are Bulls*#t…

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Dec 182009

The Goal (Image from Crash #50)

I used to be a big believer in New Years Resolutions, but in the last few years have come to realize that if I want to get something done, I should just focus on it and get right to it rather then put the pressure of the new year on it. Although, I do love a new beginning...being a long time lover of Mondays and September after all. This year however I got to thinking...well, I always get a bit dark and introspective as the year ends and I tend to sum up what's been going on. Getting knocked on my butt by strep throat this past week has provided plenty of time for deep thoughts as I have had little energy to do anything else. The most distressing thing I realized was that in an effort to provide myself more room to paint by creating a whole room for it, I have effectively stopped myself from painting, and that sucks. I miss the days when I would unleash my crazy amount of energy on canvases *sigh*. So I am basically promising myself to get back to the state above...really any way I can find a reason to hang around the house naked more often is fine by me...and its easier to clean paint off of me then my clothes as well!

January Smiles

friends, inspiration, jewelry, painting, Ramblings 1 Response »

Jan 142009

I am trying to see January this year as something to appreciate instead of the month that I want to spend under the covers with a pile of books, movies and a boy toy. I start the year out wanting to rush ahead to spring...which I love so dearly and never take advantage of the slower business in both jobs by hanging with friends and relaxing...so this week I have allowed myself some down time and spent my evenings catching up with good friends. I can't go to many pre holiday gatherings with the holiday shopping at Manic Trout, so I consider this time to see everyone, and the best part is that as its the slowest going out month of the year, most everyone is available sit around and act silly with me for a night.

Tomorrow however I planned my favorite Thursday night activity...big bags of candy and designing jewelry all night, I am really excited! Oh, aaaand I started a new painting!!!!!

Photo by Tony Duran

This may get me painting again

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Nov 062008

I have mentioned from time to time that pure laziness about preparing canvases is the main factor in my not painting more often...and well, I think that's kind of lame...so I have been trying to break that nasty habit and get a brush in my hand. I think though that the painting in this photo may just be the kick in the pants that I have needed...

The colors, the way the painting is used...even the circles...it all makes me want to get a fresh canvas on that monster sized ease taking up precious space in my studio...

Lookie What I Made!

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Sep 232008

So I was playing around online instead of making jewelry or working last night, and I designed some shoes! I have been told more then once to that it would be cool to incorporate my paintings into jewelry, and I am working on that...but until then you can own my paintings on your shoes!

Pleasure of My Company

I think Keds is trying to catch up on the DIY movement, and although I am a die hard, old school Vans fan...they won't let me put my painting on them...so I may switch over.
Complexities of Intimacy

If you go check them, please give them a nice rating as I'm curious to see what happens if the word spreads...

Back to School Gift Guide of Goodies!

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Aug 122008

Have you been looking for that perfect gift for your favorite gal to wear when she returns to school? Be it her first day of kindergarten, her last year of high school or her leaving the nest for college, you'll find the perfect bauble to brighten her day and make her special this fall! Go visit the Gift Guide!

On the easel

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Jul 082008

I have been trying to paint again, for some reason I have not been doing much of it and that is wrong on so many levels. Perhaps I have stopped as they never really leave the studio, or because I was uninspired, or I was stuck on this last one...although I have changed it it for the 4th time now...I am finally happy with the direction I am going with it. I have wanted to combine the tissue paper aspect with oils for awhile now, so I am happy with it on a few levels...

Now I just have to gesso those canvases and then I can proceed from there...

Paintings + Jewelry

jewelry, painting, studio news 3 Responses »

Jul 022008

For a long time I have been playing around with the idea of combining my paintings with my jewelry designs...its always in the back of my mind somewhere. Recently, my friend Bryan has been urging me to make jewelry that he can wear...guys often ask me, but Bryan is a bit more fashion forward and styley so I have been actually really trying hard to think of something he would wear.

So I was sitting at me jewelry desk making some more I'm A Flirt Earrings and I started to brainstorm. I have been playing around with fabric and ribbons and working them into designs recently and being a long fan of fabric, vinyl and leather snap close cuffs I started thinking that they would work for guys. I was seized by a fit of design urgency, grabbed a painting off the wall, removed it from the stretchers and started cutting...as last summer I started embroidering on my canvases it did not freak me out so much to do this...which I was amazed at.

Anyway...I started at the top, which is pink and added a few snaps and voila!

This particular painting is actually tissue paper, gesso and water color on canvas so they can't get wet, which is kind of bad...but I have my eye on an oil to rip into next...now I just have to make Bryan be my test subject to see how tehy wear and tear...

Any thoughts? I love some feedback...

Man I wish I had a bigger studio!

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May 082008

I have mentioned before that I not only love to paint big, but I bought a small truckload of stretcher bars and canvas in order to do so about 18 months ago...well, what with all the jewelry making going and packages being prepared, I simply am not left with the room to actually paint all of these canvases. *sigh*

Then I was on Decor8 today and saw this from the Australian Vogue Living:

My oh my these are beautiful!

Ok, I don't have enough ceilings to even store canvases this high, which is why I need a big industrial studio space...or a barn..but still...I keep joking that on sunny days I should just haul my easel outside and paint in the driveway...well its starting to sound like a good idea...