Anne Leuck Feldhaus Adventures & Art

October 2009, what I didn't have time to blog about...

 

It's been mostly work the last 3 months but we have managed to sneak in a little bit of R&R. Labor day weekend, Rich bought us an old Schwinn Twinn Tandem bicycle on Craig's List, we've only been able to take it out on 4 occasions but every time it's been great fun and a challenge! We have to go out to the suburbs to the forest preserves to ride, it's too tricky with all the intersections in the city...so we had some beautiful fall days, these photos were from early October. (I told Rich it was one of the most romantic gestures he's made in our 18 years together...that he would want to share a bike and ride that close to me after all these years!) We are going up to the Racine area to ride tomorrow...good reason to work so hard today.

My dear friend Kate Strong came under the darkness of night a few weeks back and generously planted these perennials outside my shop so I will have them next spring...hope this means I get to stay for a 2nd year! (Kate had been planning to do this since June as a "studio warming gift" she is the busiest artist that I know - she does shows nearly every weekend between April and December and production in between. She still insisted on doing it..I'm grateful and look forward to seeing them next April or May).

And my clay class is already half over. This is Shorty...it's great to be back in class with all those amazing women. We have a great time on Monday nights at Lill Street.

And my dear old Izzy is slowing down, it's heartbreaking. This past week has been especially difficult for her to get going in the mornings...just doing our best to be patient and keep her comfortable, she gets lots of massaging. She's still eating well and excited for treats but getting around is getting harder and I'm afraid the sparkle in her eye is waning.

Alice on the other hand is still our comic relief. She is very compassionate and patient with Izzy. Her chest has grown enormous in the last 2 years, I like to think it's because her heart has grown bigger.

 

These last two weeks have been so incredibly beautiful with all the fall leaves, it is my absolute favorite time of the year. But as of today the trees are getting bare and daylight savings time is here...so mixed emotions, the good part is I will be closer to the time zone my body works best in. (In a perfect world I would live in Pacific Time).

So good by October and Happy Halloween to you!  

Shop for Schools!

 We are open here at the shop today from 10am-8pm to support the neighborhood schools. The school of your choice* will recieve 20% of your purchase here and at other participating shops in Roscoe Village. (*see participating schools and businesses listed above) Have a great day!!

A colorful weekend....

It was a gorgeous and fun filled weekend at the Lakeview East Art Fair. With my pals Eva & Barbara (Weenerware) - all sporting our favorite Eva May hats! Good weather, lots of people and steady sales!

Heading home after a wonderful reception provided by the Chamber of Commerce...they really know how to make artists happy!

My lovely customer Jane with her fancy bird, they match my art perfectly!

...heading to Norcross, Georgia in just a few days for the last outdoor show of the season!

My too short...long weekend

It was way too short, I flew out to Seattle late Thursday and was back in Chicago by 3pm on Monday...a beautiful windy weekend up in the mountains with lots of fun and good food and wine...kayaking, hiking (even a 5 mile jaunt on a hilly mountain road is a hike for a flatlander like me!) drawing, playing with my new nephew Edgar (the furry one) and hanging out with my dear brother Carl and his wife, Linda. A colony of bees, also visiting for the weekend, didn't even spoil the fun. Sweetest pick on Highway 2: a peanut butter malt with extra malt powder from the 59er Diner...a photo would not have done it justice!

Cutting the ribbon...

Well it's now official...had a fun little ribbon cutting photo op yesterday with the Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce yesterday morning following their board meeting, which I hosted.

Executive Director Mary Markarian arriving with the big scissors!

I'm flying to Seattle tonight to visit my brother for a weekend of hiking, kayaking and fun in the mountains...I can't wait! Amanda of Whirleygirl Designs will be minding the shop for me, so stop in and say hello if you are in the neighborhood. I hope you have a wonderful weekend wherever you are!

Ziggy - Cutest Dog of the Day at Retro on Roscoe...

very sweet...young pup!

30 Miles, 70 SPF on 7/5/09

Rich & I did our little day trip to Indiana on Sunday...we biked the Calumet Trail which runs 18 miles roundtrip along the railroad tracks in blazing hot sun...so the other 11 miles were forays down tree shady roads trying to get over to the beach and lake, we did succeed. Please note the cooling tower in the background - I thought they only came in pairs...not pretty, but I like to paint them. That's Rich's shiny Workman's Bike...and a cool old VW Bus below.

 
The trail...

RIP Currents! no we did not swim : (  we had another 10 miles to ride.This was not the trail, just a lovely tree lined road we used to get to the beach.

 

There were beautiful cat tails all along the trail, and I saw 2 snakes! ack!

 

Before the Rain Came...

 

Have I mentioned I love weather...? I really do, especially storms, I was loving those clouds as I was driving home this morning and grateful I beat the rain and the hail, especially trying to deliver a painting. Coming to the shop in the dark at noon amid torrential rain and small ponds in the middle of city streets was a little eerie. Of course I wish we could have storms without the destruction and all the flooding, so many basements in Chicago are going to be really wet today...

Friday Musings...

Lots of folks stopping in the shop today with the sun finally shining! This is Sarka & Zoe with their owner Marcela in the photo, they came in last night in spite of the cold (they just moved here from San Francisco) very sweet pups..siblings. I'm thinking evenings are my 'prime time' here in the shop and of course I'm a night person so that works all the better for me. My posted hours are Noon-7pm on Thursdays & Fridays but if my schedule allows and folks are out and about I'll stay until 9 or 10pm. Same for Saturday (posted noon-5pm)...and you'll probably find me here Sunday-Wednesday too even though I do not have posted hours those days. Just knock..I may answer!

I visited Barker & Meowsky the other day to see their space, they have invited me to be their featured artist next Friday, June 19th for Tasteful Art on the Avenue which benefits Children's Memorial Hospital. I will be there with many of my canine canvases from 6-9pm...if you live in Lincoln Park please come by: 1003 West Armitage.

Okay...time to paint, I think...it's a challenge staying on track here. Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

I spy

A sweet blue pick-up...saw this gem on the Kennedy this morning on the way to Dick Blick. It's nearly the same color as my shop.

More photos coming tomorrow, met a wonderful jeweler from California who I'll introduce you to and will be featuring more of my friends here in Chicago who exhibited at the 57th Street shows over the weekend...

The Key...to my future!

It's been a crazy week, I knew I might get the keys to the space early but had no indication of when. On Monday afternoon Sarah of Sacred Art called and said she was all moved to the new location and ready to hand them over. Very generous of her since the lease does not start until the 1st. So I have been busy cleaning and meeting with people to get quotes for the work I need done. Floors, weather stripping, face-lifting the front window bays, patching the ceiling and adding more track lights. I'll be doing most of the painting - it's so many different colors right now that I need to just get a white base coat on everything and then I'll be able to see it clearly and choose the color(s) going forward. So many details..arranging alarm system, gas, electric, phone and internet, insurance, city business license.... and my current cell phone gets zero to very little reception, so it looks like I'll be switching wireless carriers too. My Angie's List membership has really come in handy for finding the best companies to work with, as well as recommendations from friends. 

I sold the print above on Etsy yesterday, and personalized it for the buyer. I was a little leary, markers are permanent and it's not like I could just paint over it if I messed it up..it looks pretty good. Next time it's an extra charge (anxiety fee). Okay, time to get all the commissions wrapped up that I was supposed to be working on during the week, and then hopefully painting in the space this afternoon. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Fear...

Fear is what has motivated me most of my life....I just realized the other day that I have finally made a shift in my thinking when I saw these words:

Fear Regret, Not Failure.

It was actually the fear of not facing fear and making a change that pushed me to take this new risk/opportunity/challenge and that translates to fear of regret. Life had gotten a little too predictable. I want to connect with and be more a part of the community bringing my love of art and people and pet advocacy all together. I've worked with many different rescue groups over the years but really at arms length, donating artwork for fundraisers and designing posters & t-shirts for events but not being present and interacting directly at the events. I want to use this space to make art and to publicly connect and help support these groups - hosting adoption events, etc. as well as share my art process and possibly even teach kids to do their own pet portraits. 

The Adventure Continues....

I alluded to some news awhile back, here it is: On April 1st I get the keys to my new studio storefront at 2040 West Roscoe, in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago! I have been talking about making this move for quite awhile, back in January the stars aligned and I learned that the perfect spot would soon be available only 1.5 miles from our house in a lovely neighborhood surrounded by shops and restaurants and other businesses. This space has been the home of Sacred Art for almost 3 years, Sarah is moving her store to Lincoln Square so it's only fitting that we keep art in this location. It has a tree and a park bench right outside the door. I mocked up this photo I found on-line as a vision board exercise while I waited to see if my offer would be accepted, and it worked! (A tool my good friend Eva May used to seal the deal with her storefront on Ashland back in 2007).

I'll be using future blog posts to show the progress and to get your advice and feedback on things I'd like to do with the space, I hope to be open for business by mid-April. In the meantime, being the sentimental gal that I am, I did a video tour of my work space here at home (2 weeks ago) so you could see it before I took all the paintings down for my show in Cedarburg. Please excuse my 'and's and 'um's and jerky camera, it's so hard to hear my own voice but I decided to get over it and share with you.

Welcoming 42 on Highway 43

I'm only sharing a few photos from my Birthday Trip to WI because my iphoto keeps crashing, among many other applications. I've done all the mac software updates...what's going on?! I am so dependent on this machine - it's made for a very unproductive 2 days....but enough of that...

I made my way to Cedarburg on Saturday driving through torrential rain on 43, but was greeted by the loveliest little town: shops and boutiques, a winery, and All that Pizzazz: I was able to park and load directly in from the back which made things very easy. I hung A LOT of work, filling an entire room. This shop is big and full of such fun, whimsical art. I'll be going back for my reception April 4th from 3-7pm, so please if you live in the area come and see me! If you can't make it they are open 7 days a week so go check out my works and all the other treasures in Carole's shop!

                                                                                                                                                             Erica surprised me with this beautiful birthday cake complete with butterflies, swirly candles and my favorite colors blue and green. The kicker was the cake pedestal, it rotated and had blinking lights and a woman singing Happy Birthday in an eerie nostalgic voice! It was a wonderful day and evening with good friends and great food and lots of canines and kitties. I left early on Sunday as a snowstorm was moving in and freezing rain to the south, I made it safely back driving through a crazy amount of rain and home to Rich and the pups for a cozy night at home watching movies. Happy, memorable 42!

"Ann-Erica" we joke that we are a continent, she to the north in Wisconsin and me to the south in Chicago, Milwaukee is our equator. Yes, we are a little silly.

 

Sweet Plato, Erica's brother's dog

Tulips & Traveling

I wanted to share these beautiful tulips with you...they seem to be ushering in spring, it's been in the 60's the last two days in Chicago, after 20's over the weekend! I'm preparing for a trip to WI this weekend, I'm hanging a show in Cedarburg at All That Pizzazz Gallery tomorrow and from there I'm going to spend the night at my good friend Erica's house north of Sheboygan...this is my 6th annual birthday get away ...premise: wake up or go to sleep somewhere I have not been on my birthday...always makes it memorable and an adventure. How do you like to spend your birthday?

Strange things done in the midnight sun...

I recently found this great newspaper clipping of my dad performing "The Cremation of Sam McGee" on stage. Growing up I heard him recite this poem around numerous campfires on dark starry nights on the sand bars of the Mississippi River. Every time it was like the first time...He had us all mesmerized and hanging on his every word. He also led the sing alongs playing his guitar with wonderful hits by Johnny Cash, The Kingston Trio and so many more. It was a magical time in my childhood - I treasure those memories and my Dad who turned 66 today...Happy Birthday Dad!

If you are not familiar with Robert Service's poem "The Cremation of Sam McGee" follow the link, you must read it! (Imagine a sinister sounding narrator, who at lighter moments broke into very jovial tone..and the back...read it to the end!)

Hello 2009...learning to write the unthinkable

Happy New Year! I had grand plans for a wrap up post of 2008 and my hopes for '09 but was struck by a nasty cold that Airborne couldn't stave off. So I spent the last few days in bed..in hopes I could still attend "Writing the Unthinkable" with Lynda Barry, (yes Lynda Barry the comic!) this weekend. Armed with a 5" stack of kleenex, liquids, cough drops and required materials (fun pens & pencils and a 3 ring binder with 150 sheets of ruled paper) I made it...(thanks to Rich, he's taken such good care of me!) It was a very entertaining day, as I knew it would be. Lynda is just so present and remarkable and hilarious and inspiring. She had us writing and reading our writing to a class full of people we did not know within the first 2 hours. This was only possible because she has really good rules. I can't share any of my writing with you or look at it myself until 5:01pm on Sunday, and honestly I don't know if I'll still be feeling gutsy so we'll see. In the meantime this is one of my scribble sheets from today, I have several. These are part of the rules. If you are still reading I apologize for going on there is no great reward at the end here except to confess that I'm afraid you'll all expect me to be a better blogger after this class but it's really not about that...so I should probably stick to pretty pictures...and books, picture books that's what I'm hoping for. Also want to use these techniques in my 2d work. She said the method is based on that of her college painting professor Marilyn Frasca so now I'm even more psyched. Going to bed now, I'm exhausted and still a little sick but smiling!

Unexpected Gift #2

I guess I should say Unexpected Gift #3 if I include that great Kong Care Package we received last week...So this one came from the east coast...from Art Licensing Artist & Maven Carol Eldridge...she recently blogged about creating all these fun holiday decorations complete with very well thought out merchandising package. So it was also the gift of a little lesson in product development, licensing design, and packaging! Thanks so much Carol..I love my happy little Blue Bird and fun pins! As always you are a wealth of knowledge.

Unexpected Gifts...

I received 2 lovely and very unexpected packages in the mail today! Michelle Allen, an incredible artist and blog-o-sphere pal sent me this wonderful handmade snow man ornament complete with vintage bingo card (he is sporting a bingo chip) and other fanciful details, and a greeting card with magnet art attached. I can't believe it because when I read her blog and post about making these I immediately wanted one (and secretly wished I was there helping to make them)...she posted a few in her etsy store but of course they were gone by the time I checked it out. Suddenly I have one, thank you so much Michelle! ...and the whole presentation with vintage bingo card...so cool...and all so thoughtful.

I'll tell you about the second gift that arrived in my next post...

Kongs for Christmas!

I recently sold 2 paintings to a wonderful new customer who happens to work for the Kong Company. As many of you know I've included Kongs in my dog paintings for many years now so I was thrilled to connect with Laura. Ironically, the day the UPS man came to pick up the painting I was shipping to her, he handed me a big box first. It was Canine Christmas here...a box filled with all kinds of Kong products and treats, some we had not seen before like the Wubba, which unfortunately is now over the fence in the neighbor's yard (probably until spring)! The best part was seeing Izzy so excited and engaged with her new Senior Kong and Treats for inside...Thank you Laura!!!  xo Izzy & Alice

these girls love UPS delivery surprises...this is the best they ever received

notice Izzy licking the box of treats in the bottom right photo

Sugar & Spice...

My favorite holiday memories growing up included a whole weekend baking a variety of wonderful treats with my Mom which we would give to neighbors and friends. I only see her every other Christmas (we swap Christmas & Thanksgiving holidays with Rich's family) so in 2004 I decided I would have my own little holiday baking party every other year, then on the years that I am with Mom, we bake gingerbread houses.

2004 my first holiday baking extravaganza in my tiny (but very cute) little kitchen (on a workbench from Home Depot for extra counter space, with a mosaic in the background that I did right on the drywall). We knew one day that house was coming down...and it did!

Alice with a cookie cutter from my childhood (she was about 6 months here).

2006 in my much bigger kitchen...when we were kids my Mom gave Carl & I white frosting and food coloring and let us mix our own colors for the cut out cookies. I really think my painting color palette developed around this baking & frosting activity. Thanks Mom!

So now it's 2008 and I should be baking up a storm but ran out of time and decided to just do one cookie this year. It's not even a traditional holiday one for me...it's Grandma Leuck's Ginger Snaps. I thought it would be nice to send some to my Dad & brother along with the recipe. She died in 1978 when I was in 5th grade. The taste of these cookies takes me back, we made these at home quite often too. So I didn't take pictures baking but my Mom came through and found a photo for me to include on the recipe of me and Grandma Leuck...Calverna, isn't that a great name? She always called us her cute little monkeys...happy holiday baking to all of you kindred spirits out there!

Tuesday Set up...

Rich & I headed down to the Merchandise Mart yesterday morning to set up for my show which starts tomorrow. It was nice to have today to catch up...and I've still got work to do tonight but I should relax a tiny bit as the hard part is done. Some photos from the day:

 
 
 

The entrance into the underworld of the Merchandise Mart from Kinzie Street.

It was so dark I couldn't get a good photo so I desaturated it...it's remarkable how much freight goes in & out of this building in an average day. We have 500+ exhibitors for our event alone setting up over 2 days...you pull in, unload and they take your work up on giant dolleys. You then go park your truck and by the time you get upstairs: your work is in your booth! wah-la!

 
so before...
 
and after...

Will put more goodies and the magnets out tomorrow...okay..now I'm excited, I needed that visual reminder that I am really set up and pretty much ready. This really is an amazing event with lots of good energy and shoppers...and it's always so fun to catch up with my artist friends from all over the country! (and to trade with them! stay tuned..hopefully I'll have new treasures to share in a few days.)

Tagged: 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Me

I was tagged by Natasha Westcoat for "Seven Things..." here goes from my childhood:

1. I was a Barbie Doll fanatic, I built a Barbie city in my basement, creating homes and furniture out of boxes. I even confiscated by brother's G.I. Joes' to add to the mix.

2. I was not a baby sitter, I was a lawn mower.

3. My early drawings were of Snoopy, Ziggy, Holly Hobby and models in the Sears & JC Penny catalogs.

4. I was a Brownie but not a Girl Scout: I was afraid to leave home to go to camp.

5. My favorite place to be in the summer was in the water, I swam at the pool three times a day and on weekends my family boated and camped on the sandbars of the Mississippi.
6. My CB handle was "The Mississippi Cat". (I had many cats over the years: Kelly, Koko, Frisky, Brooke, Mandy and Katy)
7. I spent countless Sunday mornings sitting in a Catholic Church mesmerized by the stained glass windows...I only recently realized what a strong effect this had on my painting style.

I'm tagging:
Kathy Frey and Susan Hinckley

If you love color...

Try out the MultiColr Search Lab. You can select up to 10 hues, it then collects images from Flickr that contain those hues creating a cool photo mosaic in the color(s) of your choice...you know, for those of us with lots of extra time on our hands. You will find this in the "Visually Stimulating Time Wasting" Chapter of my soon to be released Procrastinator's Handbook...

Red + White + Blue

No Passing, RWB:  My only patriotically hued painting.
  Embrace YOUR FREEDOM = Exercise your right to VOTE today!