the sky

Come Celebrate Day of the Dead at Latino Cultural Center

 October 27^th through November 3^rd

My painting "Be Present  Calavera" will be at the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas for ONE WEEK ONLY!!!!

Come see my painting and the wonderful of other area DFW artists this Saturday, October 27^th from 11 a.m.- 4 a.m. 

There will be Dancing, Sugar Skulls, Face Piainting, Dancing Skeletons, Cigar box altars and a lot of family friendly fun!

 4 p.m

sneak peak

I have been working on this piece all day long. ALL DAY LONG!.....sometimes i just can't seem to juggle everything the way i would really like to. If i had my "Drothers" this piece would have been done a few weeks ago. But that is life in my studio. For example, in order to complete this piece, i had to work on the floor of the living room before the youngest woke up and my other two guys had left for their days...then after the youngest woke up, i had to work on the kitchen table while she ate breakfast, and ended up having to give her her own supplies as well (she loves to paint).  Then, we went and played in the back yard, me with this piece on the makeshift table created from a wood pallet. Once outside did not hold the youngest's attention, we moved into the den for some much needed learning related video time...today we worked on colors. ( figured that was appropriate)  Next came lunch, and then nap time...which, considering that nap time has been ellusive for the last few weeks, imagine the chorus of angels i heard when youngest actually did take a much needed nap...admit it, you can totally hear the angels...this gave me a solid two hours to work on this project...

TWO GLORIOUS HOURS OF SILENCE....

UNINTERRUPTED FOCUS TIME...

NOTHING BUT ART TIME....

you heard them again, didn't you? (angel chorus!)

You would think in that time i would move to a better work area...nope...i stuck to the kitchen...in fact, at one point the 24x24 painting was on top of my stove...perfect height to work on this size...once all of the painting was done, i sat in the middle of the kitchen floor to do the tiny details...

yup! you guessed it...

ANGEL CHORUS!

anyway, i finished it...now, to figure out how i am going to get it where it needs to be by tomorrow...good intentions meant for it to be where it is supposed to be TODAY!...Last night was my intended studio time, because normally that is the only time i can work without the fear of distraction and little hands and feet ending up in my work. But,upset stomach last night made me work on it today instead...and well, you know the rest...

Tomorrow, HOPEFULLY, I will have more full shots of the piece and where it will be displayed.

Smoke and Mirrors Garage Art Sale

Garage Art

The Best of Dallas' Rest!

Sunday, October 14th 4-8pm

 

Smoke and Mirrors Gallery

406 South Haskell Ave. Dallas, TX 75226

 

 

Once again, some of Dallas' best artists are clearing out their unsold works at Smoke and Mirrors' "Garage Art Show." The event is free and all art is priced $200 or less, with most under $100. There are over 10 artists participating, with no shortage of eclectic works, with diverse mediums, sizes, and styles.  DJ Hammertimez will be setting the mood for us again as we enjoy the great weather in the courtyard, and as always, there will be refreshments. 

 

FEATURED ARTIST:

 

CLAY STINNETT

 

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL ARTISTS:

 

ALISON WELSH
CHRISTIAN CASSIDY

JACKIE DUNN SMITH
CHRISTOPHER TRANQUINO
ISAIAH PERKINS
DIANA ALMAND
KIMBERLY MEADOWS
KRIS SWENSON
SARAH ZAMORA
LANNY QUARLES
JUDAH HOAG
JUNKIE BRAND

keep it simple silly

When i work on new pieces, the process goes through many stages...artwork transforms and evolves from where it begins until i finally feel like it is complete...

Sometimes, works are very complex...
Other times...i have to remind myself that complexity is not always necessary...in fact, sometimes complexity just makes things more confusing...and when this happens...i go with the reminder that keeping it simple is OK....

As an artist, I think there is a certain amount of over thinking that happens...at least for myself...and for several others that i have talked to...over thinking colors...ideas...processes...the artistic possibilities are endless...

sometimes  i find that i could have several paintings on top of one canvas....it is quite ridiculous at times really...
And when this happens...here is what i do...

1. Take a break: getting some fresh air and clearing the mind is a great way to to gain some perspective.

2. Clear the clutter: i put away excess supplies, ad limit my color pallet..i find that by giving myself a limit makes it much easier to stay on track and focus

3. Choose 1 idea: write the rest down...focus on ONE idea...and the rest will come together...

Looking inside

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens. -Carl Jung

Today i am trying to figure out what life lessons i have been missing...it is a "groundhog day" kind of day...

dia de los muertos

I am a little obsessed with Calaveras and Dia de los Muertos....

it's true... 

I have done work for and about this particular observation for several years...I have collected various pieces as well...and in fact decorate my home in calaveras...which, to some may seem a little...well, ...

weird...

but, eh, what else is new...? 

I have at least three shows i am participating in that is about the theme of Dia de los Muertos. 

I love it!

So, here are a few batches I am working on RIGHT NOW!

Some of these babies are 2x2 inches and great as fridge magnets! Others are 4x4 and perfect for shelves or niches that need a pop of color. These will be availble both in the Etsy shop and at local venues and shows.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/bradshawmeadows?section_id=12286416

Beginner Block Printing Workshop!

Have you signed up yet?

                              

What are you waiting for?

I am so excited! I will be teaching a workshop October 20th at MidTown Arts Academy October 20th!

This is an adult art class  and runs from 1-4.  I love printmaking! I love making my own block prints, and stamps. And I can't wait to share this with others! If you are interested, please sign up right away! 

here's your link!

Beginner Block Printing Class October 20th, 1-4

self portrait

   

                                 Working on self portraits is just weird....

There,I said it...

Spending all that time thinking about what you look like...

That's just weird...

 eh...ok...

Who am I kidding...

That is all that artists do...

even when we aren't drawing pictures of our faces...

All of our work is a type of self portrait...

Especially when we aren't trying for it to be so...the symbolism we use, the colors, the textures, the backgrounds, the foregrounds, all of our choices in the creation process is simply the application or building of a self portrait...