The Bee's Serenade

The Bee's Serenade 8x10

Everyone loves a serenade and who better to provide one than a bee. If it's ever seemed like a busy little bee has hummed as they fly past, well that's because they can't get this song out of their head. Perhaps this tiny fellow hopped up on an empty stage at a carnival and belted out a serenade to a sweet little honeybee.

He's all bundled up for a nighttime ballad with a black pea coat and 'boggin hat. In two hands this gentleman bee caresses his vintage microphone, whilst the other two beat cymbals to help him keep his time. I suppose a whole world of multitasking possibilities open up with 6 arms (or legs)!

This painting is a beginning to a new series I will be doing, all themed around bees, bears with a sweet tooth, and a certain sweet sticky nectar. 

I'm just buzzing with excitement!
By the way, prints of this little guy are now available in the shop.

The Beehive

The Beehive 8x10

This original painting concept I came up with and finished whipping together in the wee hours of the night is now available in the shop. I love so much about it! It is now available in the shop. A spindly honeybee tree growing though and bursting from a drum was a fun thought I had. The tangled vines engulf around and are supporting a very spiffy bee skep. 

The little bees with their tiny feet are especially sweet (just like the honey they are all swarming back to).

A Happy Easter

Maybe I never grew up, maybe I just love the smell of vinegar wafting through the air, or maybe I just love the excuse to paint on hard boiled eggs all day without any eyebrows being raised.

Whatever the reason, I love dyed and painted eggs. I would love to thank whoever started the custom of decorating eggs for Easter in person. But seeing as that won't be happening any time soon, I'll have to settle for sharing a few of our tributes to the inventor. Here are a few of the delightful little eggs that emerged from our house yesterday. Mama and I had ourselves an egg-cellent time. 

And I had so much fun spending the day with this little 'fella...

I couldn't resist painting a dapper little Easter Bunny.

Wishing a Happy Easter to all of you little-chocolate-rabbit-eaters out there! Remember to start with the ears first- it's just better somehow.

Hinterland

Hinterland is officially available today!

Thirty Steps to Forward is the name of my musical outlet that I pursue, along with my brother Seth. Hinterland is our second full-length album. (My art's footsteps can also be see throughout Thirty Steps to Forward as well!) Our latest endeavor Hinterland is a collection of songs revolving around the tangled wilderness of human frailty.

"Composing "Hinterland" was an experience that at times led us through honey, briers, and late night sessions in a cozy dimly lit room. The twelve songs have a slight theme to them, on man and nature and how they have more in common than they might think. Along the way we fell in love with these songs, and we know that there are those of you who will see them in the same light we do."

  

Hop on over and have yourself a listen or grab a copy for your very own!

A Home(page) for Hinterland

In honor of our new album Hinterland being released in just two days, we have updated our website for Thirty Steps to Forward to match the the feel of our latest endeavor. All of the artwork for it was done by myself! 

I had so much fun building this hubbub of a little home. What with banners flying out the windows, a squirrel sending a letter through the post by owl. Mr. Rabbit is busy hanging signs with his miniature hammer. It seems like it would be exactly the sort of home you would find deep, deep in the woods away from human eyes. 

I'm in a tizzy with excitement over the album's release! 
And I'm pleased as punch with how the artwork turned out.

Iris Fox

Iris Fox 8x10

I'm proud to introduce Iris Fox to all of you! The companion painting to Fergus Fox, she's exactly the sister I always pictured Fergus to have. She and her doll are off to meet up with her brother. She'd like to introduce you to her little fox doll Sally, but Iris' very particular that your hands are clean when you pick her up. So Fergus hardly ever gets to touch her, since his paws are always a fright.  Her doll Sally's socks were such fun to paint! I happen to have quite the collection of socks myself and I'm still jealous of hers. 

Once she and Fergus meet up they will most likely spend the day playing in the Highland hills that are pictured behind her. You can even see the trodden down path leading from where they often travel to their favorite spot. Her dress is such a sweet peach pink, with delicate lace. Oh I hope she doesn't get it dirty romping through the hills with Fergus.

But both being from a respectable Scottish family of Vulpes vulpes, after their play day, you can count on them both being home in time for their supper.

A Tweet Valentines Treat

I haven't made a birdseed pine-cone since I was a little girl. So for our valentine present to nature today Mum and I made a yummy treat for the special birds in our lives. 

all that's required is:

1. a pine-cone

2. peanut butter

3. birdseed

4. natural twine

5. wax paper (optional, but it makes clean up time much nicer)

...it's messy but oh what fun!

Hang it up in a tree and wait for your feathered friends to flock.

Later tonight I plan on treating myself by curling up with some chocolate and watching a film about a quirky hopeless love story. Wishing a Happy Valentines Day to all you romantics out there!

Hinterland Album Cover Art

Here's a little sneak peek of the official cover art for our album Hinterland! 

The mighty bear and lion being gentle long enough to play a tune on their little instruments tells a very interesting story I think. I have always felt that music soothes the savage beast. I'll admit I was a bit taken by surprise when I discovered that the bear's upright bass, with its f-holes, has become my favorite part about the whole painting. And of course, what better trees to fill the background of Hinterland other than the haunting, lonely pine.

 It's actually been done for quite a while so it's been a real temptation not to post it long before now. It's one of my favorite pieces, and I plan on making prints of it available as well.

Hinterland's release date is set for March 7th, so mark your calendars!
I can't wait to be holding the album in my own two hands!

Jack Frost at Work

The Big Secret Project Revealed

Alright, so I have been keeping all of you in the dark as to my recent endeavors towards The-Big-Secret-Project that has been consuming me for the past few months. It's been so hard for me not to let the cat out of the bag all this time.

So.. It's time to reveal my secret identity.

I have been sneaking off to a little cozy room to write and record songs for a full-length album that was completely finished two days ago. Hurrah! My musical-crony Seth (who doubles as my big brother) and I, roam the streets as ordinary citizens during the day but at night we dust off our guitars, the trusty tools of our trade, and hit the stage as folk duo Thirty Steps to Forward. So it was thus that our new album Hinterland was born.

Banjos, ukuleles, cellos, and pianos, oh my! All of these can be found in our latest release, the follow-up to our debut album "The Bird and The Fool". We're so proud of it and feel that it speaks more closely to the heart of our recent style.

I feel like I've been living two separate lives, one as a painter and one as a folk musician. So it's nice to finally merge the two. Two different mediums, both art. Of course, I've done the two hand in hand from the beginning and it's always worked really nice for me.

  

What a Happy Thursday this is indeed!

I'll be sharing the cover art, that I painted for the album, with you all shortly.