Well, last time I was here I was telling you all about my new life as a full-time artmom, and it’s only the start of March and already it’s busy with art - the best, right? This weekend is the opening for two Omaha shows that I have pieces in. The first, “Totems,” opened last night at Hot Shops downtown. The second is the “Celebration of Watercolor” show at Smiling Turtle, which opens on Sunday. Both shows were open calls for art and include a TON of great work by area artists in all mediums. Check them out through the month of March. Brad and I already purchased art last night… seriously! I can’t wait to show you when we pick it up later this month. 

Last month the adorable shop The Faintest Breeze opened in Papillion and I’m thrilled to be one of their artists. Owner and maker Lindsay is incredible to work with and has curated a really fun collection of handmade gifts, furniture - you name it. In addition to the cuteness of the shop, she offers a variety of art classes and I’m excited to be teaching a basic, intro to watercolor class in April. Here’s a link to all of those classes so you can check them out.

gesso prep!

::breathe:: and don’t look behind you at the disorder…

Aside of that, I’m gearing up for Spring! I have a jillion ideas (as always), so consider me on fire right now, like Katniss without all of the impending death and doom. I got word yesterday that I’m participating in the Handmade Omaha Spring Market, so my goal is to have fresh work ready for that, including new paintings - particularly the forest girl series I’ve been collecting, wooden jewelry (Do you see the rings?! Think moths… and trees.. ahh!), and abstract acrylic canvases. It will be glorious.

Glory aside, my studio is absolute CHAOS right now. No joke. I have little corners of sanity and flowers to try to keep my head from exploding. I’ve been talking about taking out the carpet for a year now (Yes… I paint above carpet. Not good) and both times that sort of fell through. I even moved everything out once and moved it all back in. Ha. But this time, it’s for real. The goal is to have my studio repainted and re-floored by mid-April, using the extra wood laminate floor from Ren’s nursery and a LOT of white paint. And I’m telling you so that you can hold me to it. I’ll share before and after pics here so you can see!

Now - I need to use some of this nap time for art, so I’m off! Enjoy the weekend.  

Here’s one of my forest ladies that you haven’t seen yet. Her wintry sister is out at Smiling Turtle for the show.

Lucy helping me plan renovations.

Hello! With all of the new home time, I’m constantly playing music. Because I hear more than my share of “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” and dance tunes (I love you Bruno Mars, but good Lord), I’m usually ready for something mellow by the time I reach for the paints. Before January runs out, I thought I’d share a wintry mix on Spotify for you. I’ll try to do this more often! Curating playlists appeals to my not-so-inner nerd. Psst. There’s a Ren playlist too, if you’re interested in some DTN.

It’s called Studio Mix 1 - January and I’m username Ashley Pearson DeVrieze. 

One of the hardest things for me to grasp when it comes to my art is referring to myself as an artist. Maybe because I came into it by way of hobby, or maybe it’s just from fear of pressure or expectation, or because the things I make are often pretty lighthearted, but for whatever reason the “a” word has been really difficult for me. I’ve been good with crafter, maker, and even painter, but ARTIST. That seemed pretty real. Well folks, it just got real(er). At the end of 2015 I made the difficult, but very important and also exciting decision to leave my job and stay at home with Mister Ren. The first month of that was really spent in the swell of the holidays, but now that we’ve sort of surfaced from those things, I’m finally realizing what I look like as a person without a normal day-job.  So far it has included a lot more dancing, “whee-os” (cars), “Let it Go,” and library story times. I’ve spent a fair amount of time cuddling, reading, chasing, rocking, diapering, and making snacks. In addition to that, I’ve stayed up a little later, slept a little longer, happily nursed cup-after-cup-after-cup of coffee by the window, and actually filled the bird feeder.  My dude is a serious napper (like a wake-him-up-at-4:30-or-he’ll-never-sleep-tonight napper), which brings me to the artist part. That also just got real(er).

Painting has been a weekend/evening thing for a while now, and suddenly it’s much more than that. Now I’m spending nap-time after nap-time making new art, acting on ideas, and expanding my business plans. Each afternoon brings a little window of quiet when I can get my adult on, and during evenings and weekends I am more willing to step away and let Ren have ‘just daddy’ time because I’m not starving for him like I was or filled with guilt if I walk away. This feels pretty good. Even more, coloring and painting together has become a special time for me, and I love seeing him exploring paints and crayons (on paper and arms) right next to me.

So I’m a full-time MOM now and a full-time ARTIST. Bring on the Cheerios, scribbled-on bathroom doors, hugs, and robot-walking. And also bring on the coffee, slippers, and lots and lots of art. Every. Day. 

Sorry about the blur. Tiny fingers always reach for buttons.

P.S. The old blog lives on, but new posts will all take place over here.