art = love = life

done

2012-02-20T08:20:00.003-06:00

"The Braid Undone"
Watercolor and color pencil on paper

quick note!

2012-02-09T17:42:00.004-06:00

Hello internets!

I just thought you might like to know that if you click and sign up here:
OhNo!Doom Prevew List!!!
You can get a looky ~tomorrow~ at all the amazing work that's been created for Super Button Mashers! I've seen it and trust me, it's amazeballs!!
By signing up there you'll receive an email tomorrow afternoon (Friday) with opportunity to purchase a piece before the live opening.

Both of my pieces will be available for purchase!

Yay! Happy Thursday!
xoxo

1up

2012-02-06T23:52:00.003-06:00

Hey!

I made a tiny friend to go with my Yoshi piece for Super Button Mashers!

A strange and whispy 1up mushroom

You can see more photos Over Here!

Alright. That's enough of that. Back to paintin'!
See you Saturday night, kids!

xoxox

DONE!

2012-02-02T15:58:00.002-06:00

YOSHI!!!

Soft-sculpture: wool felt and wire

I put the finishing details on him last night:

If I haven’t said it enough,
Yoshi was created for Super Button Mashers!

Opening Friday, February 11th at OhNo!Doom in Chicago

You can see other amazing work, interviews with artists, and miscellaneous sneak peeks at the show at the Tumblr of Doom:
http://ohnodoomcollective.tumblr.com/

xoxox

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR

2012-01-31T08:23:00.004-06:00

OGOD YOSHI!
He's almost done! ~For Super Button Mashers!~
OhNo!Doom Tumblr!

I believe Yoshi will also be joined by some small friends.

Things I doodle while eating bagels and hanging out.

Also, don't forget tomorrow is Hourly Comic Day! Are you doing it??

xoxo

WHAT IT IS!

2012-01-27T17:35:00.001-06:00

You're gonna wanna come to this show, frealz.

www.ohnodoom.com

stitchin'

2012-01-24T15:16:00.001-06:00

last one

2012-01-23T09:06:00.002-06:00

Hey, look what I found.

Quick Little Update

2012-01-21T14:54:00.002-06:00

Hey!

There are little monster watercolors happening!

And old friends as well!

In the SHOP right now!

Slowly but surely. It's good to be back, internet.

xoxox

I been busy

2012-01-19T20:45:00.003-06:00

Working and driving and working some more. Sorry, internets, not a lot of time for writing.

Super Button Mashers is coming! There's posts and pictures of the work starting to pop up and it's very exciting. I'm not telling you what I'm making. But I'll be there at the opening, February 11th, so come drink a beer with me and see all the fun stuff!

Working on a little series of little watercolors of little monsters.

Hello! These little guys should be in the shop this weekend. Also, I don't know if you know, but there's a plush monster in my other shop too.

This one is almost done. The hair is taking longer than planned because I am being more persnickety about it than planned.

Last night I sat and stared at this thing until it made sense to me, and now I'm very excited about it.

Not much else to tell you. I work a lot, but you knew that already. I'm learning my way around the city and spending a good deal of time there. I like Chicago.

This is all an adventure.

BTW, check over to the left of the screen there, under "See Also" - I'm once again taking over the internet. Bwa ha ha. And, you can find me on Instagram (melissasuestanley) if you have a phone that does that sort of thing.

xoxo

coming soon

2012-01-10T16:01:00.003-06:00

Here's a thing that's happening that you're going to wanna know about.
More on that soon!
ohno!doom

Also

I think there's an Etsy Shop update in the near future.

And

What Midnight on Monday looks like around here.

wee little sketchbook monster

2012-01-09T20:50:00.000-06:00

Life in Instagram

2012-01-06T00:07:00.002-06:00

In progress, beginning stages, hope to be done Saturday morning, maybe.

Beth and I made a house.
You can read more about that and other edible delights over at my Food Blog. Yep. That's happening.

I spend my early early mornings working on these critters - I started them years ago and now just getting to wrapping them up. Hooray for 5am.

I spent Christmas with my kid brother, who I haven't seen in forever, happy happy.

Lots of stuff in the sketchbook waiting to get out.

Speaking of 5am, it's coming soon, so that's it for tonight. January has a lot of work to get done in it, so stay tuned. Giant watercolors, tiny watercolors, embroideries, maybe an amigurumi or two, and some art-show-stuff.

xoxox

brb!

2011-12-27T21:45:00.002-06:00

busy! christmas! new years! makin' stuff! eating too much!

I'll update in about week!

Fun new art stuff and paintings and all that. Lots of work.

Happy Holidays and New Year, internet!
xoxo

hey monday

2011-12-12T22:40:00.001-06:00

draw draw draw

happy wednesday!

2011-12-07T23:12:00.003-06:00

I didn't have time to finish my portrait at tonight's dpal session - this is about 1/2 done. Still happy with what I've got so far tho'.

The watercolor I'm doing right now is a re-work of an older idea. This is the little rough sketch for it. I'll talk more about this piece next week :)

work work work!
<3

The Message

2011-12-04T22:46:00.003-06:00

I use photographs as reference for a lot of my work, and for this portrait of JoeV I used a photo by the very talented Lucy Jodlowska. Her work is lovely and it's interesting to use a photo for reference that didn't come off of my cell phone.

The Message, Watercolor on paper, 30 x 40 cm

The task of the Cicadas is to watch humans to report who honors the Muses and who does not.

figure class

2011-12-01T22:27:00.003-06:00

So TONIGHT I went to see my buddy Gary's painting on display at the local college faculty show, and then stayed for cookies and coffee and figure drawing. I did a quick color study of the model using my pencils again:

Gary is a great painter and beer-&-bluegrass buddy, and also a pretty fantastic teacher. I always pick up a few good bits of info and ideas when hanging out in his class. And, he's good at giving me shit about loosening up and making more of a mess. Which is something I've always struggled with in my sketching and life drawing. I do enjoy making detailed portraits and watercolors, but it's good to remember to let the paint fly and get dirty. This weekend I should finish my painting of Joe and the Cicada, and probably another Strawberry Bird or two for the Etsy shop. And then I think it's time to make a mess.

wednesday nights

2011-11-30T22:25:00.003-06:00

So, tonight the Cowboy was back at the League! I had the same view to draw from, so I went with color pencils. I haven't done a color pencil portrait in four years and it was fun remembering how to layer and hatch.

workin'

2011-11-29T23:30:00.002-06:00

So this is about half done. Should be finished this weekend!

Strawberry Bird

2011-11-28T22:53:00.002-06:00

Strawberry Birds are super sweet but slightly creepy little creatures.

And this one is in my just-re-opened Etsy Shop!
www.melissasuefineart.etsy.com
Check it out.

HI!

2011-11-21T20:15:00.002-06:00

Been workin' a lot. Here's what's on the desk today. Joe and a cicada having a friendly conversation.

Also, desk-job is going well. The holidays are always a fun time at desk-job. Sometimes I get to go on glamorous business trips too.

Desk-job road-trippin'. Love it.

Two nights ago I spent the evening hanging out at (and with!) OhNo!Doom in Chicago. Super fun and a ton of laughs. Check the gallery / space / collective out.

I think I might have more to write about, but I really have to get back to painting.

You can get more regular/daily updates over at my Twitters.

Happy Monday, xoxox

eat it, wednesday!

2011-11-16T22:46:00.002-06:00

Today I had about 3,000 tiny reasons to not go to the League to draw. Right up to, and including, "I left my EFFING PAPER at home.".

But dammit, I went anyway. And the model was dressed as a cowboy. And I drew a picture of him.

Because loving what you do means you go do it even when you don't bloody want to.

Also, still listening to this.

Happy Wednesday, internet!

hey there

2011-11-09T22:18:00.005-06:00

I've gotta start getting to the league earlier so I can get a different angle to draw from.

I've started planning my next show, and it's going well.

November is full of a lot of really exciting things. This is my 'happy about november' face.

slowly now.

2011-10-13T20:59:00.001-06:00

oh, hello

2011-09-11T16:08:00.001-06:00

"If we live truly, we shall see truly"

"Trust thyself. Every heart vibrates to that iron string"
~Emerson

Dear Internets,
I've been pondering what to write to you for a week or so now. I mean, I've been blogging with you since at least 2005. I feel like some sort of update on what's happening is in order. And your emails and support and thoughts have all been wonderful lately. Thanks for thinking of me.

Well, of the last six weeks of my life, I'm not going to say anything. Maybe in a year or two (or maybe ten, or maybe never) I can write about it. It's been more difficult than I can actually explain right now.

For today, here's all you really need to know:

I live in the suburbs of Chicago

I got my old job back. You may recall, it looks something like this:

I'm a brunette now

I will be getting back to work - art work - this week. So stay tuned for that. If you're waiting for an email or an update from me, it'll come by Tuesday. Commissions should be open in time for the Holidays. Etc. I'm excited for the new paintings and I think you will also enjoy them.

Again, thanks for your thoughts and support. Don't worry: I got a big smile and a big heart and a big pile of work to do.
I bounce.

xoxox
melissa sue

New Painting!

2011-08-10T07:15:00.000-06:00

The Eggplant on the Alp

Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, 15cm x 19cm.
Hey look you can buy it if you want

2011-08-01T17:24:00.002-06:00

Dear Internet,

Taking a break. See you in a couple months or so.

xoxo
melissa sue

the gods are leaving us

2011-07-21T14:42:00.001-06:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/22/arts/lucian-freud-adept-portraiture-artist-dies-at-88.html

sigh.

2011-07-20T05:17:00.001-06:00

2011-07-19T05:55:00.003-06:00

ETA: I should say: Hans Peter is my neighbor, co-worker, drinking buddy, good friend.

2011-07-18T04:38:00.001-06:00

what the what

2011-07-14T09:28:00.002-06:00

internets, you've seen most of this stuff before. but hombrechtikon has not, and they will! next week! just framing and getting ready. tonight more drawing and painting.

i promise to talk more about these things later. right now i just have a few more *new new* pieces i really want to get done in time for the show. drawpaintdrawpaintdraw.
and i still need to watch this week's true blood, omfg.
i might even wear my sookie stackhouse 'merlotte's bar' uniform when i do that.
I AM DORK. RAAR.

hey there!

2011-07-01T02:13:00.001-06:00

I should post more pics and do a food blog and talk a little more about my trip to Chicago. However,

^this is pretty much all I'm doing right now.

Details are on my website!
www.melissasuestanley.net

study practice doodle stuff

2011-05-16T08:39:00.001-06:00

it's miller time.
because 'it's feldschlösschen time' just doesn't quite roll off the tongue.

calm

2011-05-10T07:28:00.000-06:00

here we go

what?

2011-05-09T14:09:00.001-06:00

Really I just want to watch Star Trek*.

*We've been burning through the movies. Besides glimpses I've caught on HBO as a kid (Mom was a fan, right? It's fuzzy) I've -never- watched ST. So now I'm catching up and there's a strange trend emerging....

omg, logic. very cute logic.

rock and roll

2011-05-06T12:11:00.001-06:00

The last few wild months of my 20's. I did this all day. Now I'm going to watch Star Trek. Tomorrow I'm going fishing, but I'm probably going to bring my pochade and do that while the boys yank poor bastard trouts out of the lake. Then I will eat trout.

blabla working bla

2011-05-05T16:01:00.001-06:00

hey look it's one of my desks!

doodle doodle

2011-05-03T07:51:00.002-06:00

bla bla bla

2011-05-02T13:20:00.001-06:00

hey let's draw oregano

Have I told you today how much I love my little Italian neighbor? I went to say hello and he presented me with a gorgeous bouquet of fresh garden-grown lettuce. Some men, they just get it.

bla bla bla

2011-05-01T07:12:00.001-06:00

doodlin'

2011-04-19T07:11:00.001-06:00

sketching inside today
bonk bonk

ooooooooooh

2011-04-19T04:07:00.001-06:00

FedEx just dropped this off:

Dorky girl rant: I've been bag shopping for about six months. My last bag was very special to me - it's been all over the world and holds everything and is quite sentimental. But it's starting to fall apart and it smells like a dead hobo.

I saw this gem on Etsy last week and knew it was the one for me.

Smells much better than a dead hobo. Awesome.

Pochade - day one

2011-04-18T14:07:00.001-06:00

I'm a generally shy person. Painting outside, in "public", ooof.

But it was one of my goals for this Spring, and today was the day. The husband was out the door, the dog was walked, the groceries were bought, the house was cleaned, the German was studied, and the yoga was yoga'd. 11:30 AM came a-tick-tock'in and so, with no further excuses, I packed my little bitty backpack and grabbed the dog and went outside.
Day one, check.
Day two, tomorrow.
And so on.

2011-04-12T07:06:00.001-06:00

Hey I brought you a radish.

Eat it.

Hey look over there.

So! I have new shoes, but no information on exploding snowmen heads. I postponed my Zuri trip until thursday - and then we're all going to the Kino! (movie theater) I haven't been to a movie in a theater in over a year, so I'm pretty excited.
It's springtime-raining outside and I need to clean my art studio. Heave ho back to work.

2011-04-11T02:41:00.001-06:00

blue wonder

i brought you a radish

Fresh From the Wilderness

2011-04-08T03:44:00.002-06:00

Unlike their American cousins, these amigurumi drink schnapps and yodel and grow beards

done and done

2011-03-14T08:36:00.001-06:00

another hoch ybrig sketch

2011-02-02T04:12:00.000-06:00

Swiss girl in the clouds.

Really trying to paint faster and not niggle about the details so much. Soon I'll be outside in the sun and wind, trying to do these things en plein air and I won't have time for screwing around. Leo bought me my first Pochade Box (amazing) and it gets here next week or so. I'm extremely excited.

right here

sunday

2011-01-30T07:47:00.001-06:00

I gotta find a better way to photograph these little bastards. Maybe I need a scanner.

michelle

2011-01-27T08:07:00.001-06:00

face face face

doodley doo doo doo

2011-01-26T07:19:00.001-06:00

bonk bonk

first

2011-01-20T05:02:00.000-06:00

My very first day in Switzerland was in June 2009. Leo picked me up at the airport and brought me to Tellsplate for lunch. We sat so long in the sun on the restaurant's terrace that I got a sunburn. Then we went for a walk on this little path that led past cow pasture and orchards. I thought about moving to Europe.

in the shop

Also,

It's winter again.

beard

2011-01-19T02:15:00.000-06:00

Yesterday's Amigurumi post reminded me of this (probably my favorite Zach Galifinakis bit ever)

Manchmal

2011-01-18T11:18:00.002-06:00

First new Amigurumi ~~for my shop~~*, since November 2009

I like him.

He likes you.

*nevermind he's a gift now.

hoch ybrig wanderweg 2

2011-01-12T07:07:00.001-06:00

Somewhere Around Hoch Ybrig

2011-01-10T05:37:00.002-06:00

Landscape painting and I have never gotten along. I'm trying to fix that.

little watercolor

2011-01-07T16:40:00.000-06:00

you remember this guy.

I met him on This Day.

He said he'd take a photo with me if I gave him a kiss. We both got what we wanted, and then we drank coffee-schnapps. There was yodeling. It was a good time.

just sayin'

2011-01-05T02:59:00.000-06:00

I'm still trying to sell some of this crap.

doodle

2011-01-04T16:39:00.001-06:00

2010-12-26T13:10:00.000-06:00

I did two portraits for a friend of mine

sisters

i'm super happy with how they turned out

cross hatching is fun

i could do little hair details like this all day

Attention Internet Shoppers

2010-12-19T08:19:00.001-06:00

This

and

This

are currently on sale Right Here in the Part 2 of 2 section.

That's all.

2010-12-02T05:38:00.001-06:00

two little paintings

2010-11-30T08:28:00.001-06:00

Christmastime in Zurich

SmallPlace is going out of business, so I painted this for Moni.

note to internets

2010-11-23T03:38:00.002-06:00

Havana Cola

2010-11-16T11:01:00.002-06:00

Getting better at German means that I can now talk to people that I couldn't talk to months ago. Like, for example, Fonzie.

Luv-able Monsters

2010-11-10T07:01:00.001-06:00

Off to New York with you little bastards!

They're miniature pendant / charm things

They'll be available at Gallery Hanahou next month for the Luv-able Hug-able show. Details on that stuff later!

portraits

2010-11-09T12:40:00.001-06:00

I dunno how many more of these I'm going to do... I mean the portraits from portraits... they kinda make me crazy and I'm never happy with the result. I like working from my own bizarre photographs, or pictures I steal off the internets (example and example), but these drawings that are based on glamor-shot posed smiles make my eyeballs hurt. I don't wanna do them anymore. I wanna work on my giant portrait painting series (oh yes, it's coming) and exhibit it in the spring. And write my first book, and start doing whatever it is you do to make it into an actual book. And cook those pumpkins in the kitchen, and make biscuits tonight. These are all good plans.

sometimes

2010-11-04T14:27:00.001-06:00

Have a beer and watch an old favorite movie and make an evil strawberry. If we're not having fun then what's the freaking point.

itty bitty teeny tiny

2010-10-28T03:44:00.001-06:00

baba yaga things in progress. coming soon to NYC.

cranky

2010-10-25T04:12:00.000-06:00

available

mystery and myth

2010-10-22T14:30:00.000-06:00

When I am stitching them up, my creatures often tell me stories. One of my favorite stories that I've heard from them goes like this: Back in the Old Land there is a hill that moves. In the middle of the night, it hitches up its peat and scuttles about on skinny legs - much to the agitation of cartographers, travelers, and especially the little herder who lives on it. Now that I live in the small town of Hombrechtikon, Switzerland, I can easily imagine one of the many hills around me moving like this, creeping around at night, confusing me when I walk my dog in the morning.

right here buddy

also

2010-10-22T07:51:00.001-06:00

Remember

2010-10-22T06:39:00.001-06:00

monster monster

i like him, and his little face.

He's right here

busy

2010-10-22T02:13:00.000-06:00

Lots of little things to write about, but I'm trying to save it for sleepy Saturday. Until then look at this picture.

The Harvest Nymph

2010-09-28T04:04:00.001-06:00

work work

2010-09-22T14:02:00.001-06:00

this week is insane.

2010-09-21T05:33:00.001-06:00

cross hatch hatch hatch

2010-09-19T02:03:00.001-06:00

autumn mess

2010-09-04T02:47:00.001-06:00

gonna watercolor it up tomorrow
(Hein and Bob's Bar, Saigon)

Still haven't hung the pictures. Putting holes in these swiss walls is a chore.

Tootsie Monster V

2010-08-31T07:12:00.002-06:00

Oh Hai I'm Gonna Eat You

EAT YOU!

Raaaar Tootsie Monster

ETA: Now Available HERE
------
This is no.5, see:

2010-08-30T03:16:00.001-06:00

here

tiny

2010-08-29T04:23:00.000-06:00

here

fortune cookie

2010-08-27T04:32:00.001-06:00

2010-08-26T07:47:00.003-06:00

(available HERE)

2010-08-22T08:32:00.001-06:00

been busy.

Grow

2010-08-17T07:10:00.001-06:00

Right Here, Buddy

Gather

2010-08-17T06:49:00.001-06:00

get him

new

2010-08-03T06:50:00.001-06:00

Little Swiss Home

Oh So

2010-07-31T03:33:00.001-06:00

This is happening, but I don't know for how long. August, definitely. Beyond? We'll see how it goes.

Second ETSY SHOP open and running.

Also, I've got a desk full of monsters, ready to come out and play.

And, a couple new paintings.

I don't have to report for bar-tending duty until September 1, so here's to kicking August in the ass and getting everything done.

thank you for everything.

2010-07-12T10:13:00.000-06:00

heaven is a swap meet full of dirty old records. have fun, old man.

Lost and Found

2010-07-05T07:01:00.001-06:00

This piece, created for the Lost at Sea show earlier this year, is now In The Shop

angie

2010-06-29T08:57:00.001-06:00

2010-06-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

2010-06-23T05:04:00.000-06:00

by the by

2010-06-16T03:07:00.000-06:00

CLICK HERE if you're interested in my Monsters, Embroideries, Crochet, Etsy Shop

well

2010-05-27T13:34:00.000-06:00

not a great photo.

but, the customer was very happy. so. what can u do. next.

welp

2010-05-20T09:04:00.001-06:00

this one is done.

hmm.

meh

2010-05-15T04:43:00.001-06:00