Curious Beasts!

I've got some new monsters and creepy faces on display now at 

Clutter Gallery

Check it out in person if you're in NY - or online 

here!

Everyone's work in the show is amazing - worth a peek!

"Her Name Was Forgotten"

Who was she, before she left for the woods?  Before her chicken-legged-hut was full-grown, and before the stories were heard in whispers through the village at night?

(Portrait of Baba Yaga as a Maiden)

Watercolor and Colored Pencil on paper

14.5” x 7.5”

Available!  Either framed or unframed.  Drop me a message if interested.  

This one was a lot of fun to put together and paint.  It does look a wee bit like a self-portrait, but it wasn't intended to be one.  I needed a reference photo, and I was the only person in the room!  I think my chin and forehead came through the most.  

Details:

Bundled Up

As I'm sure you're aware, Chicago's got a case of th' Weathers at the moment. 

Nevertheless!

Late last week, as what became known as #chiberia began, I managed to get all the snow off the car and then drove (very slowly) to Platform for figure drawing.  A couple hours of hot coffee and good company later, I felt I had a good start to 2014:

Friday I stayed in, and kept busy with a couple sticks of charcoal and an 18"x24" pad of newsprint.

I've come back to this image of Jaime a few times now.  The original photograph is actually an Instagram selfie she posted a long while back.  I'm still not sure what my final take will be on it.  I think one more go, maybe with gouache.

The cold crept in over the weekend and, for the most part, I spent my time nested up at home.  Max got an interesting new stylus recently (Sensū), and I hijacked it to try digital painting for the first time.  

The first attempt was a sort of merpy made-up face, just trying to get the feel for the colors and brushstrokes and all that.

After that, I got down to trying an actual portrait with the thing:

The likeness started to get away from me - but I'm happy with the overall experiment.  It's addictive as real painting - except it's easier to do on the couch bundled in blankets.  

As fun as sketching digitally is, I think I'll stick with the real oils.  Must be something about the smelly messiness.  I'm hoping to get those out and moving around in a week or so - still roughing out the 2014 goals and work.

Shifting focus, or maybe just sharpening focus.  

xo

December!

December has kept me 

b u s y

A major change was that at the beginning of the month, I got a brand-spankin-new day-job gig

And getting used to a brand-spankin-new day-job always seems to take up time.  A new field to learn about!  Public transportation adventures!  Working on Michigan Ave!  All this and more.  

Meanwhile

I'm very excited to have work right now in this show at Clutter Gallery in NY.  If you haven't checked out the show and all the amazing work - you should!  Just click here.

I had two pieces on display.  This piece is sold already:

However, you can still give ol' Pokey Nose a good home:

He's available here through Clutter.  He's also one of the last monsters that'll be available this year, before I go on a little sewing hiatus.

Why a sewing hiatus?  Well:

I just finished an epic sewing-marathon to get ready for the Revolution Brewery Holiday Craft Show! 

It was last weekend, and a whole ton of beer-fueled fun.

I've never done a Craft Show before, and this was a great first experience.  Huge thanks to everyone who showed up!

The hot item for me was the Chicago Bird, which I'm sold out of at the moment

But there will be more after Christmas!

If you're interested in getting on the mailing list for these, just shoot me an email

melissasueart@yahoo.com

Oh! And finally

Australia!  In this month's issue of Australian Homespun magazine there's a nifty little feature on me and how I work.  The whole magazine is really great - pick up a copy!

Alright, just a little bit more work left in this month.  Back at it!

xoxox

Pokey

A little rusty pokey nose!




His hoop is about 3" across, and he sticks out about 4" from the wall.  As usual, he's hand sewn from soft wool felt, with beaded details and shiny black button eyes.  And his arms are wired and poseable, so he doesn't always need to look quite so pensive.

He's in the Shop now!

From the Wild

 



 

 

 

I really don't know where they get these radishy things from, but I'm not eating one.

 

This whiskery fellow is about 5.5" x 7", made of wool felt, wire, and shiny button eyes.

(sold)

 

 

www.melissasuestanley.net



 



New!

Hey there!

There's a new beardy friend over in my Etsy Shop!

He's a big fellow!

And he's got some friends too:

Three little birds

melissasue.etsy.com

xoxox