Laura K Maxwell
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thanks

10/29/2015

2 Comments

 
I'm past the point of furiously unpacking and have finally had some time to create this past week.  It's been so nice. 
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Before
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The house is feeling cozy and comfy. 
Last time I mentioned a winter bird I was working on. 
You can see I've since finished with the detailing, and then added color using Pixelmator.  You can do a lot more fancy things with Photoshop, but Pixelmator is more intuitive and simple for me and usually it's all I need to get the job done.

Well now this little guy is available to buy on BoomBoom Prints.
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It's so nice to have a successful little drawing that I complete in a day or two.  Most of my drawings takes weeks if not months.  Like this Oregon illustration.  I began awhile back when I had barely started packing.  Then I paused it to work on other more pressing projects (and to move houses).  Yesterday I pulled it out and I would love to finish it soon.
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I'm excited about it!  And so are other people, which leads to me being more excited.  Seriously, thanks for all of you out there who encourage me.  Whether it's just "liking" a progress pic I put on facebook, or leaving an encouraging comment, or buying some of my art, or encouraging me in person--its really helps to keep me creating.  I don't want to rely on others approval, but man it means a lot just the same.  So thank you for that!
On that note, as we are approaching the Christmas season, and you contemplate what gifts to buy for your loved ones, please consider this...
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If you live in Portland, you can buy all sorts of gifts made by local artists (including myself) at Artistic Portland.  If you don't, seek a place like that out locally--either a permanent place or an art fair.  Or try Etsy--you can search by where things are made,so just search your hometown and see what comes up.  I'm at Driftwood Coffee right now and there are tons of cute handmade things here to buy as well.  Really, you have no excuse.....

So now I have to practice what I preach, right?

Wow, this blog post really took on a life of its own.  I had no idea I'd end up here!
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In Progress

10/15/2015

4 Comments

 
It's been quiet on here for a while because we moved almost two weeks ago (!) into our new house.  Our new old house.  It was built in 1915!
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Don't worry, it doesn't still look like that.  But it isn't too far removed... I'm not quite ready yet to show you "after" pictures.  Maybe next week.

If you get bored while you're waiting for that, you should color this sugar skull!
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It's hanging out over in my Etsy shop as a digital download.  I would love to see what you do with it!  (The wording is on there to protect my work, it won't be there when you get the download)

Even though it's in the mid 70's outside, I took a break from unpacking today and  started a little winter birdie.
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That's how it looked when I still liked it.  I've since filled in the body and I'm not as much of a fan.  But I have a hard time giving up on drawings.  I'll keep working on it until I feel good about it.  Doesn't mean I have to share it with you yet though.

So lots of things are in progress--my house, my winter birdie, and other bigger drawing projects I haven't touched since we moved....  But I will always be in the process of completing something.... And we are all works in progress ourselves....
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I can rest assured in that. 

Oh, and that reminds me of a line from a novel I'm reading.  I underlined it today.  "She had a job to do.  The fact that she didn't understand it didn't stop her from acknowledging that she had to try to accomplish it.  She simply hoped that she'd know what to do when the time came." (That's from p. 646 of The Well of Ascension, the second book in the Mistborn trilogy) I liked that.

Back to work.
4 Comments

Happy October

10/1/2015

1 Comment

 
I should be packing, because in two days we are moving into our new home.  But I wanted a share a few things with you first.  Mainly because I'm happy it's October!  In honor of that, I've added a few new things to my Boom Boom Prints shop. Each design is available as a variety of products, but I'm just sharing one of each on the blog.  (click on the images to find more)
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"Pumpkin" (here as a toddler tee)
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"Golden Spider" (here as a wrapped canvas print)
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My latest drawing, "Sugar Skull" (here as a tote bag).
In case you were wondering, sugar skulls are traditionally eaten during Mexico's Day of the Dead, which is a time to honor and pray for loved ones who have passed away. They are made out of cane sugar and brightly decorated with items such as icing, feathers, colored foil, and beads.
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You can see why they are so fun to draw and color.  I painted one on a pumpkin last year. (I prefer painting pumpkins to carving them.  Much less messy).
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My original Sugar Skull and Golden Spider drawings are available for sale locally at Artistic Portland.

Ok, that's all I have time to share.  I need to do some serious packing.  Can't wait to be settled in our new house and have more time to create.  The past few weeks have been packed--with good things.
1 Comment

    Laura

    A place to share the process. A space to be honest about the triumphs and trials of my daily life as an artist and mama. Writing motivates and refreshes me.

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    Laura is currently reading..

    Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling
    Devotional Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups
    Longbourn
    The Complete Sherlock Holmes


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