art festival

I just wanted to thank so many of you for coming out this weekend! The art show was fabulous this year, blazing hot as usual, but still so good. I grew up in Lincoln and got to see many people from my past including a handful of long-legged girls I used to babysit when their voices were squeaky and their legs were much shorter. :) Now they've all grown up and are just so precious. I always feel an overwhelming sense of support from this little community, and I want you to know how much I truly appreciate it!

*Last two photos taken by the very funny and always entertaining Michael Gowin of me with fellow artist Kerry Rolewicz and my little sister who helped me during the show.

let there be lights!

After about a year of subtle begging, my studio lights have been officially installed!

No more squinting or ducking out of the way of my own shadow!

It's amazing what a couple of little switches can do in a girl's life.

"Let there be light!" she says, drunk with power.

Like I needed more incentive to hide away in my studio...

But look how clean it is!  Geesh, I could use a hardy pat on the back after cleaning and packing all day yesterday.  Doesn't it feel so good (and incredibly exhausting) to clean all day?

Well, time to switch those calendars.  My "June" features one of my favorite paintings of all time...

John Waterhouse's The Soul of the Rose

I think that's a sign that it's going to be a good month...

2 shows back to back starting this weekend.  Click the "Shows" tab if you'd like to maybe visit me at one of them.  I downloaded this album for my car ride up to the city tomorrow.  I really love it so much.

If you'd like to see more pictures that aren't on the blog, follow me on Instagram @TheArtofMichelle or on Twitter @ArtofMichelleS.

See you next week!

Hello Autumn! and my last show...

I woke up yesterday morning and finally realized IT'S SEPTEMBER!

I know.  It's a bit late to be realizing this...but it just hit me.

I drove to work and it seemed like overnight God just took

His giant golden paintbrush and swept it over the whole earth...

Golden fields stretch for miles and miles and accompany me as I make my way through the countryside to work.

It's so pretty.  It makes me happy.

And that's how I know that Autumn is officially here!

Which brings me to...

my LAST art festival of the season!

And what a great note to go out on...

hayrides, grape stomping, wine tasting, pumpkin painting, and ART!

All in a beautiful vinyard in Galena, Illinois. 

Do you remember me talking about Galena?

These pictures are from my last show there and are of the absolutely gorgeous vineyard Corrie and I visited one evening.  I'm so excited to set up my booth among the grapes!

Once this show is over, I really hope and pray my life can calm down a bit.

It's been pretty stressful to be working so much.

So here are a few things I'm looking forward to being able to do:

Isn't it nice when we can finally get around to doing the things we long to do?