www.citygirlstudios.com

[ Post Your Comments ]

nice site! - hey there crystal! it has been nice to meander around your website and read your blogs... *sigh* i so wish i had... Posted by: lulubellart

10-4-08

It's early to post this picture but I am so not a Halloween person so this makes me feel happy. :)

I cannot believe it is so close to the holidays. It seems like time is passing by so quickly. Especially since we have a child. I had always heard that was true but now I can say that with experience.

I was in Micheals the other day restocking supplies and could not believe that the Christmas ornaments are out. At first I was irritated because it was a reminder that cold weather is right around the corner. I hate cold weather. I feel like my bones are frozen and completely useless to the world. LOL. However, I decided to look at it as exciting. It will be time to paint some fresh whimsical christmas stuff and decorate my house with bright colors. I have decided this years theme for my own house is "Whimsical Chistmas". I will show pics as I get it decorated. My friends always tease me because I put our tree up the day after "Thanksgiving" and take it down the day after "New Years". It prolongs the celebration for us. Then I have to look forward to blah blah blah January and Febuary so I might as well take advantage of the holidays. Does anyone else feel this way or is just me?

My family is in a transition right now that is pretty tough. About 3 weeks ago we found out officially that "Lagrange Guardian Automotive" was shutting it's doors for good the end of December. We were not really surprised and it did confirm to us that Steve does not need to be there. DUH!!! Anyway, it is kinda scary because the job market is rough. Steve has been applying several places but it is taking more time than we feel comfortable with. There is one particular company we would love for him to be a part and he has had his first interview with them but again it is taking awhile. Steve has been working torwards this job for 3 years. We are in need of prayer becuase there are very discouraging days when we feel panic on what are we going to do if he does not get a job before the plant closes. However, we are keeping our faith that God is in control and sees the bigger picture. As for now that is all we can do. This is a time in all our lives we need to support each other put our differences aside and love one another. I miss all my friends who I never get to see and hope all is well with you. I pray for you all because I know you too are going through your own ups and downs.

Sending love,

Crystal

9-28-08

I was really honored to be asked to paint a "Book Store" sign for out local library. It is a great opportunity to show my work. I really appreciate Jimmy and Valerie from Newnan Library for believing in me.

7-7-08

WOW, did we have a great 4th of July. My friend Tonya and I shared a tent for the 4th of July show in Marietta Ga. We sold lots of stuff and laughed all day. Our husbands seemed to have kept busy. Raine was there (Tonya and Kent's 8 year old). She was a big help. Although we did not get to be with Emma we still had a lot of fun. It would have been really late for her and I could not have kept up with a 3 year old. With all the foot traffic in our tent we had plenty to do to keep us busy. We got to meet such nice people and enjoyed the fire works before take down. I must admit it didn't feel like the 4th because we weren't sharing it with family (especially Emma) but again it was a blast. It was really hot and so we were all sticky and stinky and none of us got home before midnight but we are still thinking about doing this show again next year.

Here are a few pics of the day! We did not get many because we were so busy plus when we had down time none of us wanted to move. :)

One of the only moments we had to sit and have a picture taken.

Two of my windows going to their new home. They were such a nice family.

That is me standing outside the tent off to the side. We were so tired and we wanted to see the fireworks. Kent is sitting inside the tent and Steve is taking our pictures.

This was taken by Steve right above my tent. Isn't it pretty!

6-4-08

These two wood pieces of my work are being displayed and sold at "Gypsy Folk Art Gallery" in North Carolina. If you are in the area you should stop by and check out all the artists work. The web site is http://www.ahipgypsysart.com/

Kitty with Flowers on Wood Bloom Where You Are Planted

Address to the gallery is : Gypsy's Folk Art Gallery

443 N. Main Street

Hendersonville, NC 28791 Studio 1

5-27-08

It has been an exciting month. On saturday Steve, Emma and I loaded up in the CRV and headed to Chattanooga TN to see WHO Fest. It is a folk art show that used to be held here in Atlanta but was moved to TN. It was so much fun. We saw so many amazing artists and I got to meet many of my myspace folk art buddies. Some of them I met a few weeks before at HOB in Myrtle Beach but it was so exciting to see them again. We are planning on trying to get into WHO next year. Although we have to wait a whole year that gives me plenty of time to get lots of work done and ready for the big event. I could not believe how helpful and wonderful the people were there. Everyone helps each other out. There was jazzy music and this huge hill that kids and adults were sliding down. I finally got to meet Reba Cambell from Conyers in person. Her display was awesome and she is a hoot to be around. She took Emma up the WHO hill with a big piece of card board and they slid down giggling. Emma liked it so much she started up the steep hill on her own with the card board. Her daddy told her she could not do that by herself so he took her for a ride. The first slide down hill went smoothly but the second trip up the hill was a wipe out for Emma. Poor baby wiped her face with the grass sliding down the hill. It was scary at first but she was a champ and decided to do it again. My little trooper. Way to get back on the hill baby girl! I took pictures of Reba and Gypsy sliding down giggling like school girls and decided that next year they were not going to leave me out. I was not able to slide down this time because of recent back issues but I will be ready for next year. Being a part of the folk world is awesome. Such amazing artists and such a relaxed atmosphere. I can't wait!!! Everyone should experience WHO!

This picture does not do WHO hill justice. I do not know what I was thinking letting my husband take Emma up there. Trust me, I must have lost my mind.

What does she think she is doing? Going up there alone? Again did I lose my mind?

Look at my babies face!!!

Girls will be girls! Gypsy and Reba.

Gypsy and me. Look at her work. I swear that girl is awesome.

5-16-08

I am so excited about my news. Even though it is a year off it is opening a lot of opportunities for me!

"House of Blues" in Myrtle Beach S.C. Oh yeah and B.B. King was playing that night but we couldn't afford the tickets this time. Wow would that have been cool!
This weekend me and my husband and little girl went to Myrtle Beach to check out the "House of Blues Folk Art Show". I got to meet amazing artists and such interesting people. What was so exciting is that I got to meet the retail manager who said she would love to have me next year in the show. She said that if I brought anything with me I could have set up right then. She told me I was in for next year. This is an opportunity for me as an artist to get my foot in the door and do more art shows which will gain me exposure. I finally got to meet some of my myspace friends who were artists at the show. They gave me so much encouragement and let me know that they had been where I am now. They are truly inspiring people. So creative and friendly. I am so glad to be a part of the folk art world and can't wait to see where I go with it.

This is Kim she is an awesome artist and person. I can't wait to do a show with her and all the others. I love my flower! It is in my living room on the mantle.

I am planning on trying to get into the "House Of Blues Folk Art Show in Orlando" for this coming November. It is a harder show to get into because you have to know someone but I am going to give it a shot anyway. If it doesn't work out for me this year I will try for next year. I have said it before and I will say it again, anything can happen!

Check out this guy! He was so funny driving really slow down the beach strip. The music that was coming from his whatchamacallit was "Row Row Row Your Boat" and Emma was singing along. It was so funny.

5-5-08

Hey all,

We had a great show this past weekend. We stayed with some friends from Acworth, Ga. Retired Pastor Joe and his wife Charlotte Bellamy from Los Angeles Ca. They knew me when I was Emma's age. Every morning they had a first class breakfast made for Steve and I and we ate till we were stuffed. I swear it was better than any hotel. Saturday night after our show we ate dinner out and then they drove us around to show us down town Acworth. When we got back to their house Joe made us the biggest bowls of ice cream and he did not slight us on the Oreo cookies either.

Sunday evening to top off a very successful show we went out to eat at the Marietta Diner with the Bellamy's my parents and Emma Blue. It was great food! There was so much food that we had to take doggie bags home for later.

At the show I sold out on my windows. Two of them are headed to Fort Walton Beach Florida. A really cool Preacher named Dave bought my "Fish" and "No Vacancy" windows for his beach house. He is supposed to send me some pics to show me where he put them. As he was leaving he said he wondered what his wife and daughter were going to say. I just hope they love them. :)

The other two windows sold to a family in Marietta who were going to hang one in their daughters bedroom and the other in their kitchen. All I can say is AWESOME!!!

I sold a big wood purple flower to a new friend of mine named Kristen. She makes jewelry and is a fellow crafter. She is hanging the flower in her living room. Gotta love that!

I met some really cool people and hope to be long time friends. Emma loved the butterfly wand my new friend Charith gave her.

Thanks to all of you who purchased something. I hope you enjoy it and keep checking my events page on my web site to see where I will be next. Who knows (to those of you from out of state) maybe I will be in your area someday!!!

Keep smiling and know God is Love!!

3-10-08

This weekend I recieved a really nice email from a stay at home mom asking me how I got started and if she was capable to paint if she felt it was inside her. This was my responce.

I am a self taught artist. The only education in art is Graphic arts or visual communications. Oh yeah and art class all through school. I have always expressed myself through some form of creating whether it was drawing, writing, painting or even drama classes. I feel like art comes in so many forms and it is a blessing for me because it is my outlet.

I am a stay at home mom with a 2 year old and planning at least one more in the future. I think as a stay at home mom you need your own outlet. We get so caught up in our children that my fear is when my children are gone what will I do with myself. This is why I love what I do. I am building myself a foundation for my own future.

Anyone who loves to create and has the inspiration can do it. I personally would not read books accept if you are looking for techniques. I went to school (like I said before) for graphic arts. I had a very successful teacher who for some reason did not think I had what it takes. He and I did not get along. He told me that he thought I should give up the class, I would never make it, and he would do what it took to make me unhappy so I would quit. I finished anyway and struggled the whole time with the moron but I am a successful artist working out of my own home and being a mom loving my life. He was right; I would not make it as a graphic artist. I am too attached to my work and everything I create has meaning or a story behind it. When you work for an ad agency your designs become theirs. You work long hours and it is hard to have a family. Especially for a woman.

I tell you this because it is my testimony as an artist. You can do it. I believe if you have your ideas bubbling inside like I do than the first thing to do is write the idea out and draw a sketch. If you are not comfortable with painting right away start by drawing the idea out. I know so many artists that can sit down with just a brush and paint and an idea takes off. They may start out with a small idea but as they paint they go in a completely different direction. I have done work like that but I am mostly a planner. I paint most of the time but I go through spells where I am stumped creatively. It sometimes will take me weeks before I get over it and then the ideas flow like water.

The quote "Painting is freeing your mind of clutter" came to me because it so describes me. I struggled all through school. I was considered A.D.D. I know why now. I was meant to learn in hands on style but at the time school squashed that. I would spend my study hour or sometimes my lunch hour in my art class working on something to ease the stress of my day. It was a release for me.

I have rambled on. I think you are very capable to paint. Practice, but do not be afraid of making a mistake. One struggle of mine that I am learning by is messing up a piece and it not being what was in my head. A good friend of mine who is an artist told me "Crystal, its just paint!" Think about it. I laugh because I can hear her now and she is so right. It isn't the end of the world.

I hope that I have answered your questions.

Paint to your hearts content!!!!

2-22-08

I finally have my new web site up and running. Yeah!! It is so exciting to actually see my stuff up for sale. I am however a computer dummy so be patient but keep checking back for more stuff to come. I will keep everyone posted on my shows by my myspace and events page. Maybe someday I will be in your area.

After my shows I will post pictures of them here on my blog and my myspace blog. You can see all the beautiful places and maybe even see some of my new friends. I am hoping with some of the new shows I am going to be trying this year that I will meet some really cool artists and artist lovers. However I have met some wonderful artists in the past. Maybe I will get to do some shows with them again. Right now I feel like anything is possible!!!