Art and life. Lifestyle articles and posts by Eibhlin, reflecting her creative life and interests.
As 2022 winds down, we’re recognizing that our recent move didn’t go as planned. (For many people, I think “unplanned” and “unexpected” describe recent years.) Oh, we love New England. There is no place in the U.S. where we find so many chatty, happy, people that are eager to be helpful if they can. They …
For the past few years, I’ve regularly featured art on the front door to our home. I’m not sure how many people actually see it, but it’s my way of adding original art to a world that sometimes lacks originality. I believe that art has an authenticity that’s only appreciated when it can be viewed, …
This year, we chose some real, alternative Christmas tree options. We had two trees in our living room. (I’ve always preferred to have more than one tree for the holiday season.) One “tree” was actually a bunch of small branches, arranged in a large glass jar, so they looked like a small Christmas tree. I’d …
One of the best things about being an artist is the beauty I see everywhere I look. When I was cleaning one of my palettes this past week, the running colors were so gorgeous, I had to capture them with a photo. (Note: I paint with water-soluble oil paints, so I can clean them in …
Before renewing my love affair with pen & ink illustration, I needed a new rapidograph. Since childhood, I’ve always loved black-and-white illustration, and my drawings are a mix of contour-style line drawings accented with cross-hatch (etc.) shadows. My “people” have always been silly looking things with large noses that often extend directly from the hairline, …
Disneyland is celebrating its 55th anniversary. I grew up surrounded by Disney art, figures, and I watched the Mickey Mouse Club every time it was on. I’m commemorating Disneyland’s anniversary with an artistamp. It features art by my mother, Muriel Joan Bernier (1919 – 2010). Click on the image to download a PDF copy of …
I re-learned a valuable artistic lesson this week. It’s about energy and the creative process, when I’m not working in flow. This is a difficult time for me. My mother – who is ordinarily very strong and healthy – is in the hospital. I’m continuing to work as much as I can, but some days …
Last night, I was re-reading Finding Your Visual Voice. It’s a book that steadily inspires me. The opening line of the book is, “Artists paint to discover the truth.” That really resonates with my views. There is a truth — an essence — in everything. It’s that essence that inspires the artist; something in what …
I love this little guy, and he’s only partly finished. He’s created from a single sock. The stripes are woven into this cotton sock; they’re not just printed on the fabric. That can make a big difference when designing a sock doll… though I’ll admit that the printed-on designs offer more creative inspiration, at times! …
A couple of weeks ago, I looked at how stress was affecting my work. It’s straight out of The War of Art book. (I should at least browse that book once a week. It is brilliant.) This situation was a Catch-22 in a way: I needed to complete a commission… to feel free of the …
This painting is my second attempt at a landscape including someone’s house. I tried to rush the original painting, since the (well-meaning) client kept asking, “Is it done yet?” and the pressure was driving me up the wall. Heavy hints hadn’t deterred the client from being pushy. Saying, outright, “That’s not helpful,” seemed to get …
In 1991, I designed and made this quilted wall hanging for a challenge in Salt Lake City, Utah. The challenge fabric was the floral that is in the Baby’s Blocks section, as well as bordering the top and bottom sections (not the actual border, which is black). I thought that the challenge fabric was insipid. …