what's up Wednesday

The ReachingUp Monkey, (or Celebrating Monkey) has been painted twice since I last posted. I am adding the color as I do the last refinements making the color part of the process not a separate thing. I am still not sure what color he will end up.

The new one, Twin Towers Totem is coming along. I have been holding off using the cardboard tubes for a large scale bust. But A few weeks back I started working it into a totem and as world events took off the art followed. Unconsciously that is. I finally recognized what I was doing and named the work accordingly. The little monkey on the top is cutting off the head of the snake.

I have so much to do! I better get back to work!

Onward Monkeys!

One less hole in Bella

Frankenstein is letting me know it is time to cut the lawn!



The big news is the final hole has closed on Bella's side. She is officially healed, healthy and ready for action.



The Murps waiting for me to come back in the yard.

It seemed like forever going through Bella's cancer, surgery and long recovery, but she is all healed! She hasn't quite been with us a year yet, but has earned her place in the family and in our hearts. Long live Miss Belly Bella and her trusty companion Sir Frankenstein!

Onward Monkey faced dogs..and other monkeys!

what's up Wednesday

I am in the studio working on the reaching up monkey and his pals.



The roofers came by yesterday and put on the new roof. Check out our new hammock, yay!




If you look closely you can see where I have outlined the new bigger front flower garden.



Irises in full bloom!

Progress is slow but, ever moving forward. I know in photos it doesn't look like much, but each new layer of paper and flour bring more life and character to the reaching up monkey.

onward monkeys!

Nest building an art

Inspiration from some really awesome builders.

Onwards Monkeys!

Back!

My 6 year old friend came by to give me a gift she made for me. It was a Valentines gift that got delivered just when I needed it most. She is awesome!


I wasted no time getting back to work in the studio. It took me one full day to give the Reaching up Monkey a layer of paper mache. He is coming along.



My first Monkey using shells from Sanibel Island Beach, is the guy up front with shell eyes, shell ears and shell penis. I worked on every monkey on my work table!



This is how it looked when I reopened the studio. I cleaned off the table, scarped all the clay and wax off and got to work!



Here are all the shells I brought home with me. It is funny how different they feel off the beach and in the studio.

We faced cancer, the recovery from the cancer operation. A limb impaled our home. Took a trip out of town and now I am back! It feels so good to be working again. The best was walking in the studio and being greeted by the Reaching Up Monkey, we did a high 5-double hands and I got down to work!

Onward Monkeys!!

Again with the falling limbs

Our home was impaled by a limb from our big oak



somehow it missed the painting, my head, the lamp and just poked though the wall



It snapped off this large Maple in our yard



When we returned from Florida another limb had cracked off, this time hitting nothing but grass



How cute is Mr.Eleven!

There was a huge limb waiting for us when we returned from our trip to Florida. Another huge limb cracked off the old Maple. Miraculously, it hit nothing. We conceder ourselves very lucky. But we wasted no time calling our favorite tree guys. The expert said, Maples rot from the inside and it is almost impossible to tell from the outside. They will be here in a week or so to give the beautiful old tree a major trim. Until then I am keeping my eye on it when the wind blows.

We are working things out with the contractors and insurance company over the damage from the first limb incident. We just picked a new roof color! A new bedroom color is next. Never a dull moment!

Onward Monkeys!

Belly, Frankentiny, and Trubee!

The hardest part about going away was leaving Frankenstein, Bella and Truman. We found the best pet sitter in David. He stayed with them, washed out Bella's incision and gave Truman a shower each day. It was great coming home and seeing the dogs sit next to him and show me they were happy with my choice. Truman went a wondering the day before we came home. We got a call from David saying he couldn't find her. I knew just where she would be and found her within moments of arriving home. Everyone is safe and sound. Bella seems to be healing. We will know more after a trip to the Vet later today.

I really struggled with this decision, but the print to help pay off her vet bills will have to be put off for a while. First of all she is still not 100% and the vet visits have not stopped (cha-ching). The more selfish reason is once again art related. I am working towards a show in Oct. (Oct. 14th to be exact) a date that gets closer each day. I have a habit of throwing myself off track with side projects, before dead lines. I identified this as just one of those projects. I can't afford to give up anymore time. My Monkeys need every moment I can find.

There will be prints and I will do them when I can give my full attention to them. Believe me the need will still be there. Most importantly I am looking forward to having a place to land once this Monkey show is up in the Gallery.

Onward Monkeys!