A Wealth of Artists

Cincinnati is beautifully grungy. Every area of the city is at a different level of creation, deterioration, and restoration. Old buildings once grand, then abandoned, and forgotten, then found, loved, and restored. I think that's what draws artists to this city. We find beauty and inspiration in that whole process. (Like I said here)


Today I got to check out one of those beautifully run down spaces---an abandoned church building that's now home to a few local artists, artists who laugh in the face of peeling lead paint and near freezing indoor temperatures for the sake of their art : )


Artists like my photographer friend Daniel Smyth


He invited me to be a part of a portrait series he is working on, taking pictures of artists through panes of glass they painted/collaged/drew on.


The man, the legend : )


It was a fun little project! And I may have developed a crush on wood grain contact paper


I couldn't throw the scraps away and my brain has started churning out some more contact paper art ideas. This might be the start of a beautiful relationship : )


Arian : )

These Melancholy Days

These grey, cold, post-Christmas, pre-spring days are good for a few things---


coffee shops


lattes


deep conversations


and sketches of often melancholy characters.





We're also day dreaming...day dreaming about what big love stories to tell next.


And day dreaming about travels. Where will spring take us? Where will summer take us? What adventures are next in store?


My introverted heart doesn't mind this melancholy season at all. I feel at home here. Quite at home : )

Arian : )

Adventure Day

Daniel doesn't travel for work TOO often. But when he does, it's to some pretty awesome places. City views. Mountain views. Dolphins jumping out of clear tropic ocean views. He works hard on these trips, but still...there are dolphins. Like today he's working hard on a fun creative project in a cabin on top of a mountain somewhere. Not. Too. Shabby.




I won't lie. Sometimes I struggle with that " love does not envy" thing. I mean, who wrote that anyways? : ) But this time I decided to change the story a little bit. Instead of the "daddy leave home to go on fun adventures while we try to survive without him" story, I decided that we should go on fun adventures too! Why just survive when you can thrive!




So yesterday we packed a suitcase and set out on some impromptu adventures of our own!




And we invited family to come along.




There were slides and inflatable jump houses involved.
















Sweat. Sugar. And laughing.




And we ate more than our fair share of junk food. Daniel is not a fan of White Castles (crazy, right?!) so we took advantage of our opportunity. You're welcome sons. : )




Then we checked into a local hotel.




And got our swim on!




Looking good, Eli, looking good.




It was pretty much awesome.




Then we ordered pizza and watched cartoons in the cozy hotel beds.




And enjoyed the view of our own city. Pretty, isn't she.




We woke up bright and early to get Hudson to school. I pulled into the driveway at home, stopped, then pulled right back out. I wasn't ready for the adventure to be over. So we headed out for some breakfast. And we drew pictures of some of our favorite memories of our adventure day.
This is the giant inflatable Batman jump house and Jude riding down the slide. Nailed it.




I don't like when Daniel leaves. But from now on, when he does, we'll be sure to have fun stories of our own to share with him when he gets back.
The day inspired me. Whenever I find myself in a story I'm not too fond of, I'm going to do my best to change it.
Arian : )

Success!

 (photo courtesy of Levi Bethune)

Our Love Stories art show opening was a huge success! It was a packed house the whole night. A lot of love in one small space : )  The music was great. The coffee was delicious. The company was beautiful. The art was very well received! We couldn't have been happier about it.

My sister, btw, has a new EP out. It is awesome. And she is currently selling it to raise money for her upcoming medical missions trip to South Africa. So do yourself and South Africans a favor and download it!

The whole process was sweet -- late nights of creating art together, the lack of sleep, the abundance of coffee, the mountains of laundry that accumulated during the final week push to get ready for the show, getting to see so many good friends. It was all good. I'm very grateful.

(The happy artists! Jason, me, Daniel)

I'm working hard to fulfill print orders and get all the new art up in my Etsy shop and Society 6 shop.

Cincinnati locals can stop into Fort Thomas Coffee to see the art in person through the rest of the month!

Check back soon for more!

Arian : )

Hard at Work!

We've been spending most of our weekends and evenings creating more art for next week's show (whoa, NEXT week!)


I never mind an excuse to make lots of trips to my favorite little downtown art store


I'm having a lot of fun with the materials I've chosen for this show--masonite, acrylic, felt,


and lettering from my new label maker.





And the guys are slaving away at their Cintiqs making beautiful things with digital paints and pens.





The little boys are working on their pieces for the show too! A whole family affair!


Better get back to work!

Arian : )

In progress...

We're hard at work on our first family art show!



Sickness has tried its best to hold us down but we're pushing forward, stealing every moment we can to work on our projects!



We set up two desks in the living room for Daniel and Jason to create their digital magic.




And I've taken over the dining room table with tubes if paint and scraps of felt.








There's a LOT left to do but we are loving doing it!




If you're local or feel like making a road trip, then come on by!
Arian : )