Timidity Enters the Maze
acrylic, varnish, and glitter on canvas
28" x 22"
2008

In honor of the fact that I just mailed this painting off to Denver, CO, I thought I'd write about it today. It was made in 2008, close to when I graduated from college.

The idea for this painting had been in the works for quite some time.

Over the years leading up to the it, I became obsessed with this night time scene on a journal that someone gave me years before (it's the second image when you follow the link.) I loved it, but art school pushed me to make a different type of artwork, so it wasn't until after college that I gave it a try.

I was listening to a lot of Smashing Pumpkins back then, too. The image on the journal and their music put me in a similar mood- melancholy, pensive.

The maze in the image also made me think of the scene in The Sound of Music, when Maria dances with the Captain out in the garden. It's long been one of my most favorite cinematic scenes, and it is most directly tied to the composition of the painting.

So in 2008, all of these things came together at a time when I was very worried about where my life was heading- career-wise, in my friendships, relationships, mentally, spiritually. So I made this painting as a reminder to move forward into the unknown, in spite of my timidity.

***

If you like this painting, I have prints of it, and they are for sale here. Let me know if you'd like another size, and I can make it happen. Don't be timid.

I'm sitting in a room that is 8 x 22 feet, drinking a lemon Sanpellegrino leftover from last week's FIXIT Clinic. There are two drawings of me pinned on the wall in front of me, made by two young sisters. One portrays me as very round, the other is more forgiving, both sport bright yellow hair.

On my desk is a printer, an empty PBR can, labeled manila folders and hanging files, photos, pens, duct tape, application forms, a measuring tape. Beside me- papers, drawings, a sewing machine, a bulletin board of ideas. Behind me, extending to the back wall, wood, windows, frames, canvases, papers, paint, tools, boxes, my easel.

There is music (The Beatles) playing down the hall. Moments ago, my friend Amelia walked by my door and said she had to run an errand but that she'd be right back. She also asked if I had any candy.

"No," I laughed. "Is there any cake left in the fridge?" There isn't.

Carri just walked up the stairs, and we chatted for a bit about our weekend and how we meant to get here sooner today. Now, I can hear her working with her staple gun in the other room.

Where am I? No, it's not heaven.

***

I co-manage an artist work space with a couple of friends. It's called 17th Street Studios and this is where we make work. We began this project last May by ripping up carpet and painting walls. We are located on the second floor of the west wing of Redeemer Church, a space that wasn't being utilized prior to our moving in. Now, we provide (extremely) affordable work space to 13 artists working in sculpture, paintings, installation work, film, graffiti, printmaking, graphic design, ceramics, etc. Without advertising, we have a waiting list.
















I adjusted my schedule a few months ago so that I can be here during the day. Sometimes, I can be here all day, which is my favorite. It's then I feel the freedom to relax, to walk down the street for a meal with fellow studio mates, to take my time with working.

There are common spaces to spread out if needed. There are people to help straighten out thoughts and who will listen to ideas. They share their own as well as their tools.

It's a glimmer of a dream fulfilled.

I dropped off the Mason Jars for Folk Fest at Yee-Haw today. I wish them well.

Here are some photos.


























































































































For this batch, I even tried a little something different with my signature on the back. I thought of this a while back but had never written it out. OMG! So presh and fitting.



Now that I've completed this and that, I have another deadline coming up.

I'm showing work at Kate Moore Creative and Jennie Andrews Photography Studio located at 123 South Gay Street (in Knoxville) next month. The opening is September 2, so if you're around for First Friday, please come see me and the work that does not exist now, but will very soon.

I just finished a commissioned painting today that I've been working on for entirely too long. I've written before about my issues with commissioned artwork. Even though the "patron" said to enjoy myself, it still stressed me out, hence why it took me a while to complete.

So this particular lady found a very large canvas (62 x 42" to be exact) at a thrift store and decided she wanted me to paint the lyrics to You are My Sunshine on it. She has sung the song to her daughter every night for, I'm guessing the past decade, and she wanted to give the painting to her daughter for her birthday.

I found some images online of other paintings I've seen with the same lyrics. We discussed colors and style. Basically, she wanted it to be "old timey" looking with greys, blues, and maybe greens. She also wanted the text to look hand-written. Got it.

I found a couple of fonts online to use and decided to interchange them and also make certain words larger than others. I spent several days drawing out the letters with charcoal, referencing my computer in the very beginning and then making it up the rest of the way.

I took the painting to the lady today, and cringed as I waited for her reaction. I didn't have to cringe long before she exclaimed, "I LOVE IT!" and gave me a huge hug.

But that's not all. She actually began to tear up, and then proceeded to hug me several more times. Granted, she's been having to deal with some difficult things in her life recently, which probably explains the response, but hands down, the most surprising and best reaction to date.

And now I expect nothing less from future clients. I'm gonna need tears, people.






















 And to give you an idea of the size:

Living in Knoxville is pretty spectacular. I'm a big fan, you can ask anybody, but there are fleeting moments when I get a little antsy here.

It helps, in these moments, to focus on the things that make Knoxville great, the natural beauty, the people, the local businesses. One such business on this list that I've always admired is Yee-Haw Industrial Letterpress.





When Julie Belcher and Kevin Bradley joined forces in 1996 to create Yee-Haw, they were pioneers in reviving the practice of Industrial Letterpress. To see their shop thrive on Gay Street for the decade I've been in Knoxville, to know they create and sell artwork in a city that doesn't sustain its artists, to me, it's so exciting. Their work as creative entrepreneurs is impressive and has always made me a little starstruck.

With that said, I'm pleased to share (giddy, in fact) that Yee-Haw has recently asked me to be in an art exhibition with them. I'm one of four artists to show work alongside their prints this coming weekend, August 19-21, at the Slotin Folk Fest in Norcross, GA, just outside of Atlanta. Folk Fest is the world's largest folk art show and sale.



They've asked for twenty of my Mason Jar paintings, and so at this very moment, I'm in my studio busting them out. After I make these, I'll have a few more to make to reach my goal of 100, and then I'll be done.

If you've been thinking about purchasing one, you still have a chance to do so via Etsy, the Market Square Farmer's this Saturday from 9-2pm, or by emailing me at beth@bethmeadows.com. 

My parents' 35th(ish?) anniversary was in late June and so my sisters asked me to make a painting of their house to celebrate. I've been extra busy the past couple of months so it's taken me a second to get to it, but that only means it will be even more of a surprise when they receive it a month and a half after their anniversary (I'm looking at the bright side).

I don't typically share photos of my paintings in progress only because I work in layers and things change so much throughout the process. It's nerve-racking for me to show someone something that will look completely different in the end, BUT, I'm making an exception today.

Below is the photo I'm using. A winter time photo shows more of the house.



I drew it out last week and began painting it yesterday. At this point, it sort of looks like a 5 year old got their hands on it, but hopefully in the end, it will be nice and whimsical, happy, folksy and bright... or at least something they will enjoy.



As I make this painting, I have images in my head of two paintings my parents own of the Memphis homes I grew up in. They are by the same artist. Mine is the same size as those, but it won't share the same style. Hers are watercolor on paper and mine is acrylic on panel. Mine will end up looking a lot like this.

I'll post a photo once I'm done, for sure. In the meantime, if you speak with my parents, please don't mention this. And, parents, if you are reading this, I commend you for your savvy computer skills.

Today, I'm featuring a painting I made about my favorite M. Ward song because I just found out I'm going to see him for the first time in September at the Bijou. I'm very excited.
















Long Distance Phone
2011
acrylic and latex on salvaged wood, framed
approximately 6"x12"
$55 {you may purchase this painting here*}

I wanted the painting to have a similar feel to the song- folksy, nostalgic, simple.

*a portion of the proceeds from this painting goes to Knox Heritage