Art by Shano

Fashion Illustration Boot Camp

2011-08-05T00:55:00.001-07:00

Fashion Illustration Boot Camp with Shano – Learn the basics of drawing the fashion figure, poses, how clothing drapes around the body, as well as makeup and facial details. Great for anybody interested in creating their own designs, future fashion designers, building your portfolio, or just for fun. Perfect for those ages 13 to 113! Dates: August 8, 9, 10, 11. Time: 11 to 1pm. Four-Day Fashion Illustration Boot Camp Cost: $125 - includes materials. Class sizes are limited- Please reserve your spot today! Classes held at Gallery by the Bay, Stanwood, WA – 360.629.4297 (www.gallerybythebay.com) Instructor is Shano artbyshano@gmail.com (http://www.artbyshano.com/)

Once Upon a time . . .

2011-03-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

I had a blog.

Oh wait! Here it is!

So, now that after many a life's changes (no, not menopause for Christ's sake). I am getting ready to get back into the swing of things and LIVE my life and post to my blog.

Baby steps.

Purty paintings I conjured up which may or may not reflect my mood:

The Femme Fatale Series.

Yeah, there's no way

2010-05-05T21:48:00.001-07:00

I said I was going to blog more, and in my head I had a daily thing going on.

Not going to happen.

I'm a twitter sorta girl and keep it under 40 characters, Hello ADHD. But wait! I don't only twitter. I Tweetdeck. Which means that my twitters go out to FaceBook, MySpace, and Twitter . . . They could also go out to LinkedIn, but that would just be weird.

For me, a blog is like a crack-addict on crack. 40 characters at a time- How, when, and where do I stop? Do I stop? It's almost easier not to start.

I'm trying to balance painting, family, horses, dogs (my OTHER job), a social life, run (re-introduction into cardo since my treadmill bit the dust) and trying to find ME time which includes charity work, reading, oh . . . housework. Because God knows how much I ADORE housework ($%&*#*) AND COOKING! LET US NOT FORGET HOW MUCH I LOVE COOKING!! In other words, the plate runneth over. But, that's my personality to overachieve and then to not live up to my own expectations. (FAIL).

So hopefully this is a diving board into my life back into the blogging world. I hope so . . . But right now I'm getting ready for the the Mother's Day Tour (FOCUS. FOCUS)

And then on to the Portland show at Benjamin Benjamin's premier in Portland:

1720 NW Lovejoy # 102 Portland, OR 97209. Phone: 503.208.4236

Actually . . . My daughter has been running a fever for 5 days now. I am beside myself with worry. This blog distraction has been nice. Thank you Blogger.

My cPanel

2010-04-28T22:04:00.000-07:00

Beth of ChicGalleria.com Finally inspired me to refind my cPanel (does that just sound dirty, or is it just me?) and see where my stats were coming from. (Okay, yeah. Um. DEFINITELY dirty.) If you ever lose your cPanel info with your hosting info (For you computer savvy people that DON'T have your minds in the gutter), you might as well go looking for the Easter Bunny. My computer(s) have crashed so many times that I had given up all hope, but this time, thanks to Beth I was determined. It's been one of those nagging little things driving me crazy.

And I feel badly. All these sites were showing the love, and I turned my unknowing back to them.

Starting now. Blogging more. Again. I saw the move "Julie & Julia" (gag). I AM A NEW PERSON.

(Yeah. We'll see how that goes.)

Holy Crap

2010-04-15T19:33:00.000-07:00

August 6, 2009 was my last post? Where does the time go? What a flippin' slacker! But this time of year is always superDEEduper busy and if you read on, I'll tell you all about it and that I may or may not have a very good excuse for not posting more often.

Let's start with if you're in the Fremont area of Seattle. My work can be seen in the Fremont Space until April 30th.

And then on May 7th it's on to the "Blue Ribbon" Show at Benjamin Benjamin in Hood River, OR

Meanwhile, I will have work in the Seagrass Gallery for the Mother's Day tour on Camano Island, WA (natch).

And making me giddy with anticipation is the Special Mother's Day Blend by Dusty Cellars Winery featuring the art of yours truly. 14.4% alcohol yo. And so far, they haven't produced a red that I haven't absolutely LOVED.

Next up . . . The clothing and accessories line. But I'll save that for next week. Want to be in the know, and probably receive a little TMI? Join me on Facebook or Twitter.

Sleepyhead

2009-08-05T23:53:00.001-07:00

This would be a sneak peak into the making of this piece entitled "Sleepyhead": I worked with 4 different colors of paint. There was beige, burnt sienna, dark brown, and calypso orange. THIS WAS A FIRST. Typically I work with colors complement each other on the color wheel, or still with those that typically have a good working relationship with each other. But yet I wanted to stick to neutrals.

Currently, as in right this moment, there is a full moon and my body is feeling the strong emotional pull of autumn. Soft, quiet, soothing, misty, brooding, mysterious. I enjoy this piece because she is sensually calm. Should you approach, you would feel the heat and passion put into the artwork. When the object d'force is the bed and a half-dressed woman, one must beware the sleepy temptress. She's highly unpredictable in this state of half/sleep.

WTH

2009-06-26T21:40:00.000-07:00

Where have I been?

Here in Western Washington, also known as the Seattle area there is a great phenomenon known as the sun. When it very seldom chooses to show itself, the entire population goes missing from the Internet. I am no exception. It's been sunny. I've been MIA.

Also, I have been moving from my static desktop to the portable laptop. I have a new sense of freedom. However, moving important docs, pics, and programs has been far more consuming than ever imagined. Namely forgotten passwords and Vista having a strong distaste for anything vintage.

We are getting ready to take a big road trip from WA State to Michigan. This is also quite time consuming. Today was spent researching which class trailer hitch I have on my vehicle, adjustable ball hitches (hee), tongue weights (hee), and round bar weight distributors, also known as sway bars. Sadly, I now know what all this means. Makes me almost want to be a dude and grow a pair. Okay. Not really. In actuality it makes me want to run to my shoe pile and jewelry collection and hug and kiss each and every one and give them names which end in a "y".

I have been riding my horses a lot more. In fact, I am covered in a protective layer of horse dirt. I really want to wash it off. There's really nothing magical about it.

I haven't been painting so much because I am a bit distracted with the sun, our trip, and purty horses and the such. Oh, and two litters of puppies within weeks of each other really takes up a LOT of time.

But if you want to see my latest originals and more artwork it can be seen here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=99376

and here: http://shano-studio.com/originalart.html

And exciting news! My art will be on the cover of the not yet released album: Cathryn Beeks Ordeal!

I'm going to have to call it a night now. Sweet dreams!

PS Speaking of which- I purchased Jewel's new Lullaby album which, I know. To each their own, but I am thinking that this is the prettiest music next to Enya that I have EVER heard.

Quick Update!

2009-05-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day Tour - Camano Island
Will you be attending the annual Mother's Day Studio Tour on Camano Island this weekend? If so, be sure to stop by Seagrass Gallery (http://seagrassgallery.com/) to view original art and prints by Shano.

Next stop- Wine tasting at Dusty Cellars Winery (http://www.dustycellars.net/) where you can purchase prints and limited edition signed flasks featuring Shano's newest images. *Some of which are not yet available in print!

Art Collectors? Just a head's up! There are still a few Original Artwork Pieces Left! Cleaning out the studio and over HALF the original art MUST GO! Huge paintings, small paintings, and everything in between- All one of a kind and priced starting as low as $100!

To view ALL the art click here:
http://shano-studio.com/originalart.html

To view the art on SALE click here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=99376
(click on the original art category)

Keep up to date with Shano via social networking:
http://www.shano-studio.com
http://www.artbyshano.etsy.com
http://www.myspace.com/artbyshano
http://twitter.com/artbyshano
http://www.linkedin.com/in/artbyshano

Forbearance

2009-04-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished another painting in the Forbearance series. Why I decided to do something so large (18" x 24") in red is beyond me. One thing that digital cameras hate is red and purple, and this little doozy was far too large to scan. So therefore, hours were spent adjusting color, contrast, saturation, and exposure. Oy vey.

Here's the finished product:

Here's the trauma I endured:

Those smaller prints are artist's proofs. Want to know how much I spent on archival papers and inks? Yeah. I don't either.

Wanna know what else I had to endure this weekend? A bunch of crap movies. How often do I watch movies? Rarely. VERY rarely do I dedicate 2 hours at a time of sitting, and 4 hours of my weekend were wasted on brain melting stupidness that I'll never get back. Okay, yeah. The stupidness will come back to me in gobfuls, but I won't be sitting for it that long. I can almost guarantee it will be random, and it will involve public humiliation.

So first runner up in dumb movies du jour was the remake of Amityville Horror (although I fully appreciated Ryan Reynolds soaking wet and flexing his muscles.) All is not lost if you simply save your time and do a google search on screen shots of Ryan in the rain.

Winner of the Raspberry Awards was "Death at a Funeral". I think it was supposed to be funny. It wasn't. Trust me. I don't think I felt a flicker of amusement. My lips were never inclined to head North. Not even a smirk. Grimace, oh yeah. There was a poop of the face scene. That's the closest I came to smiling.

Ending it on a happy note is Ryan san shirt. He isn't wet here, but sweaty, angry, and wielding an ax. And that's hawt.

Easter 2009

2009-04-12T18:28:00.000-07:00

Wake up
View Show and Tell of what the Easter Bunny brought
Call out of state family
Do barn chores
Pick up Easter "grass"
Eat breakfast
Drink coffee
Pick up Easter "grass"
Do yoga
Take shower
Pick up Easter "grass"
Cook Easter dinner
Pass out "Honey Do List"
Clean house
Pick up Easter "grass"
Drink wine
Entertain and feed guests
Clean up
Pick up Easter "grass"
Make "To Go" plates
Worm puppies and give vaccinations
Say goodbye to guests
Pick up Easter "grass"
Worm horses
Wait for horses to dry from the rain
Put the horse blankets back on.
Pick up Easter "grass"

It's now 6:30 pm PST. Time to digest mass quantities of ham and potatoes.

*yawn*

Don't want to jinx it but . . .

2009-04-08T20:41:00.000-07:00

House is clean
Barn is tidy
Yard is acceptable
Orders have been sent
Updated the Original Art Page
Studio is organized
Family is healthy
Friends are well
Dogs are brushed
Animals are fed
Bills are paid
Food in the cupboards
Laundry is going
Dishes are being washed
Life is good.

PS A special rhanks Tarah for posting about my art to the Seattle PI blog! http://blog.seattlepi.com/urbanfashionnetwork. SWEET.

HUGE Art by Shano SALE

2009-04-07T20:39:00.001-07:00

ORIGINAL ART MUST GO to make room for the new!

Cleaning out the studio and over HALF the original art MUST GO! Huge paintings, small paintings, and everything in between- All one of a kind and priced starting as low as $60!

To view ALL the art click here:
http://shano-studio.com/originalart.html

To view the art on SALE click here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=99376 (click on the original art category)

NEW Website
The website is currently under construction, but still enabled and fully functional. To see the direction in which the http://www.shano-studio.com website is going, please take a peek. Now categorized are the Top 75 selling prints, plus all the other top selling prints. You would think it would be easy to narrow it down to 75, but not at all! Simply click on Purchase and then Limited and Open Edition Prints.
Keep up to date with Shano via social networking:

http://www.shano-studio.com
http://www.artbyshano.etsy.com
http://www.myspace.com/artbyshano
http://artbyshano.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/artbyshano
http://www.linkedin.com/in/artbyshano

Stoopid is as stoopid does

2009-04-06T21:43:00.001-07:00

WARNING before you read.

If you read my blog, you know that I don't waste my time worrying about fragmented or run-on sentences, prepositions, improper grammar, or verb tenses staying in one format, or any of that other crap that I had to actually think about when writing a term paper. If I did bother myself with such annoyances, I would never have anything to say. But rest assured, the spell check has been hit. So what if the occasional word is missing? Fill in the blanks. Your guess is as good as mine as to what I was trying to say in the first place. Point is, I was once educated, but partied too hard to retain any of the knowledge and now I'm just too tired and lazy to be bothered.

It seems that most artists post FAR more frequently than me. And although I have a lot to say, I don't always have the time to say it, or can configure any of my many random thoughts I have at any given moment in to a coherent sentence. But I'm gonna try even if it means Twitter status blogging.

And I'm going to start by blogging about nothing in regard to artwork. Why? Because I'm compiling all my existing pieces together to list for sale on Etsy or Artfire or even eBay. And because I am so completely overwhelmed by it all, I'm going to have to deal with it another time. Probably not tomorrow, but maybe Wednesday and that will be like a TON of bricks released from my chest. So, get ready because the sale amount that I sell them for is not as important is GETTING them out of my studio. Not because I don't like the paintings or they aren't worthy, but because I'm not letting myself create new paintings until I sell what I have, and that is VR VR hard. Imagine a brain artistically imploding. And now that I have a CLEAN art studio with electricity and lights, I'm absolutely Jones'ing to get in there!

So .. . On Twitter the other day I wrote a one-liner stating that I have stupid goats. Surprisingly, I received a ton of hate letters because of it. To goat-lovers: I have stupid horses some days. Stupid dogs other days. My chickens (rather John's chickens) are ALWAYS stupid. God knows, I'm the first to admit that I have stupid days. Where are the emails stating that I'm misunderstood and not stupid?! Stupid is a great adjective and noun. IMO, everybody, goat, human, or the like, is stupid some days, in some ways. Want to know how many times I followed a stupid human driving a vehicle that probably had an IQ of 150? Get over it. You are stupid to waste your time and typing fingers telling me goats are not stupid. Hey- I'm stupid for spending the time typing this to tell you that goats and other life forms can be stupid. It's all hella stupid.

On another note, I gotta go veg and be stupid because it's late and that's the only way I can get to sleep at night. I bet my goats are sleeping well though.

Definition: not intelligent; irresponsible
Synonyms: brainless, dazed, deficient, dense, dim, doltish, dopey*, dull, dumb, dummy*, foolish, futile, gullible, half-baked*, half-witted*, idiotic, ill-advised, imbecilic, inane, indiscreet, insensate, irrelevant, laughable, loser*, ludicrous, meaningless, mindless, moronic, naive, nonsensical, obtuse, out to lunch, pointless, puerile, rash, senseless, shortsighted, simple, simpleminded, slow, sluggish, stolid, stupefied, thick, thick-headed, trivial, unintelligent, unthinking, witless
Notes: stupid refers to lack of ability while ignorant refers to lack of knowledge

Safe Horses Charity Event

2009-04-01T13:33:00.001-07:00

"Wild Mares" Original Art painting for auction

Save A Forgotten Equine presents...
HeART of the Horse, an Art Show & Auction to benefit Equine Rescue
http://www.safehorses.org/

Sunday, April 5th, 2009
exhibit 2-7pm ~ silent auction 4-6pm

Abbey Ballroom
1902 South Fawcett Street
Tacoma WA 98003

Hors d'oeurves will be served and beer & wine will be available for purchase

Come support local artists & photograhpers for an afternoon of Art, Photography, Music, Food and FUNd-Raising to benefit Save A Forgotten Equine (S.A.F.E.)

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=46891659725

Unclad Art Show 2009

2009-03-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

Patron's Party http://www.uncladart.com/- Opening Night Gala (Click on photos to enlarge)

From left to right: Gayle Picken (Art Show Curator and owner of Gallery by the Bay - (http://www.gallerybythebay.com/), Jamie, Jack Gunter (http://www.jackgunterart.com/), Teri, Tom Jensen (http://www.tomjensenart.com/), Alison.

Teri, Alison, myself, Jamie - I'm showing off the "red dot" on the mermaid painting, Fluidity. Yay!

Jack Gunter (http://www.jackgunterart.com/), myself, Tom Jensen (http://www.tomjensenart.com/)

Shannon Kirby (http://www.shannonkirbyart.com/), myself, Liana Bennett (http://www.lianabennett.com/)

Coylinda purchased my purse to give to her daughter. Her husband in the background is artist John Vistaunet (http://www.vistaunet.com/)

Me and Jack Gunter. I love this photo because I have no recollection of what is going on or what is being said but the body language cracks me up.

Afterwards at Amigo's Restaurant with the girls (and apparently the restaurant owner?)

Heaven & Hell

2009-03-15T22:09:00.000-07:00

Today's Heaven:

An hour nap on Sunday
A windstorm with windchimes
Netflix
Telephone calls from all your favorite girlfriends
Horses running
The ability to run on the treadmill
A new and improved ass from running on the treadmill (which really doesn't say a whole lot)
Wallflowers from Bath and Body Works
Gas prices
A full bottle of wine
Memory foam mattress
Watching and Interacting with kids during an episode of Survivor
Orders packaged and ready to go
A clean house
An hour long pedicure
Facebook
Dogs that come when you call them
Crocuses

Sunday's Hell:

2 week old puppy smells inside the house
under-achievement/Over-achievement (always)
Fat pics
Back porch junkyard
Mentioning how awesome somebody is only to have them completely suck the next day
Tax deadline
Plethora of drama (wtf?)
stomach ache
Belly fat
Laundry
Having to wake early

Good outweighs the bad. Good vs. Evil. Glass is half full.

Too much of nothing

2009-02-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

Some days, okay most days, I want to do everything. I become so engrossed in everything that I do nothing. For example I just signed up to DIGG. Right now I really have no idea what that means other than I like a story or article. Same with StumbleUpon. I like it, I told somebody out there that I like it. Who I am telling this to, or sharing with is really unknown to me. Of course I could read the FAQ's, but I get spun around. I have a good sense of direction, but my ADD rears it's ugly head and I find I'm learning only bits and pieces of a whole. So I spend time exploring these technology vortexes in hopes that someday I'll know exactly what I'm doing while actually DOING it. It is a series of tangly spider webs with too many directions to venture off in, and inevitably I choose the wrong path further sidetracking me from what I was doing. Information Highway? No. It's downtown LA in rush hour with a 5 car pile up.

The Internet is so vast with knowledge that honestly my brain can't handle it. I want to learn PhotoShop and do all the things that the kewl kids are doing. Did you know you can take free tutorials on YouTube? You can pay a monthly fee to learn just about anything at http://www.lynda.com/ (It took me 10 minutes to remember the name of this site thus adding further frustration in my quest for knowledge.)

Right now I am still trying to figure out shipping on my shopping cart and I am completely over-thinking the tables and scales mixed with *GASP* International shipping to boot. My brain is swimming. Don't even get me started on marketing, small business, and being a WAHM, as well as an artist. Just the information sites pointing to other information sites completely overwhelm me. The Internet is crack. Why can't I quit you?

Oh, how ironic!

2009-01-28T23:48:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I posted my "25 Random things" and quite honestly most of my Chatty Cathy girlfriends haven't responded and I'm assuming it is because of my #22.

22. It's retarded to refer to yourself as a MILF. Let other people decide that.

So I am reading book number 4 of Megan McCafferty's series titled Fourth Comings. I absolutely was enthralled by her first two books. Number three was a little emo and whiny, and not nearly enough hot sex, but it goes with the age of the character of the time. Nonetheless, book number 4 so far is right on track. I truly appreciate the numerous references to pop culture. Megan even goes as far to refer to Dooce whom I have been quasi-following back when Heather had maybe 3 to 10 comments a day. However, being a lurker doesn't gain me any status or popularity in the Dooce world.

So, I just read page 111 (Page 109 had me CRACKING up. I mean, ROFL at her snark comment. Buy the book. Only you MUST start with Sloppy Firsts.)

So thank you Megan for your witty and snarky pop culture observances. I am right on board.

From page 109 that had me belly laughing- As spoken from Jessica, the main character:

"She was still dead serious. This reveals an elemental cause of all our miscommunications. I am fluent in snark. Bethany only notices snark when snarks grabs her off the sidewalk, throws her in the back of a sketchy van with tinted windows, drives to the middle of the Meadowlands in the dead of night, and uses a heavy blunt instrument to smack her repeadly about the head as it screams, "I'M SNARK. DO YOU FUCKING HEAR ME? I'M SNARKY SNARKY SNARK!" And even then she's like, "Ohhhhh? Snark? Is that you?"

From page 111:

"I couldn't expect someone like my sister to understand why the DONUT HO' promotion was just another pathetic example of "feminism" gone wrong. She has soared, swooped, and glided through life on the gilded wings of her golden good looks. I mean, it's one thing to be a MILF and have other people refer to you as such in private. "Now there's a mom I'd like to fuck." But it is quite another to unapologetically and unironically refer to yourself and your circle of friends as MILFs, as my sister and her friends do."

This is why I read so much. Way better than the boob tube, ya'll.

I was tagged for "25 Things"

2009-01-27T19:54:00.000-08:00

1. I love the smell of horses, cinnamon and clove, my husband, and Narsico Rodriguez perfume.

2. I wear make up and fix my hair every day regardless if I leave the house.

3. I collect colorful goblets from the 70's and use them as our every day drinking glasses. If you see one at a thrift store, pick one up for me.

4. Listening to other people chew drives me batshit crazy.

5. Pretentious people are the WORST.

6. I must drink coffee every morning.

7. A microbrew with a tiny bit of bloody mary mix is the best drink EVER.

8. No wait, red wine is the best drink EVER.

9. I am obsessed with horses and my weight. Not necessarily in that order.

10. I am extraordinarily blessed for my family.

11. I love getting dressed up and wearing heels.

12. Nothing makes my eyes happier than sparkly jewelry or a cute handbag.

13. I always drive 5 mph over the speed limit.

14. An untidy house can cause me to go mentally insane.

15. I dislike cooking immensely. Loathe it really.

16. My hair won't grow but at least it hasn't gone gray yet *knock on wood*

17. I rarely get cold. My daughter is the same way.

18. I am a chronic insomniac and live like a vampire.

19. I read at least a couple books a week.

20. I like my handwriting cuz it's spazzy like me.

21. I have self-diagnosed myself with Adult Onset ADD.

22. It's retarded to refer to yourself as a MILF. Let other people decide that.

23. Race, age, political, or religious beliefs do not matter to me. If I like you, I like you. Just don't try to change me.

24. I swear like a trucker when my kids aren't around.

25. I really dig reality TV

The problem with dogs

2009-01-23T21:01:00.000-08:00

So last night, Thursday, I was dead tired at 8 pm. It was a long day, but regardless, I am NEVER tired at 8 pm. Eight o'clock is my happy time. It's in the hours of 4 - 9 pm when I am the most awake. So when I was plopping down to read at 8 pm, I thought to myself, "Oh good. Maybe I'll be in bed at a normal time for once! Yay me for being normal for once!"

So I start reading. And before you know it my ADHD sets in and I'm reading the same chapter over and over. Crap. Reading is SO not working. I'm getting MORE and MORE awake by the second. TV is a distraction but I keep pausing the TIVO to do laundry, dishes, sweeping, whatever. I swear I am not any any sort of stimulant other than coffee and I cut myself off hours and hours ago. In fact, my coffee maker beeps after 2 hours to let me know I've been cut off. Coffee maker closing time was a VR VR long time ago.

So the dork in me suggests dancing around the living room in an attempt to drain energy. Everybody is asleep, but I am widefuckingawake. Dancing is stupid. I can't dance and there isn't enough room to do a flying stag or salchow if I wanted to. So I get the brilliant idea at 11pm to take "a couple" of my dogs on a walk.

On many occasion I have taken my two male dogs Maverick and Joey on walks during the sunnier months. Being two intact males they do well if I, the alpha, is always there to monitor them. I have a single leash that attaches multiple leashes so that I can walk a zillion dogs at once if I so desired. Apparently I felt the need to walk a zillion dogs. Admittedly, the ADHD mind REALLY wasn't thinking or considering consequences to its full potential.

Maverick in a past life was a sled dog. The guy is young and scrappy and can make me walk at least 10 mph faster than my legs could normally go. Joey is big and beefy but has lived with me his full 5 years and knows that I will choke him to death if he pulls. Joey is half my body weight. Maverick really doesn't seem to notice or care that oxygen is important so wheezing and coughing doesn't slow him down in the slightest. I can yank, jerk, verbally commmand him to chill out to no avail. So basically, the two of them together is manageable.

My wide awake brain THEN thinks it's a good idea to take two of the females on a walk as well considering that the two males are so easy.

So Dixie whom is really well leash-trained but have been having a HUGE issue with in regard to loyalty, keeps running off the SECOND I turn my back, decide that she needs the mental stimulation and bonding time. Can I find her choke chain and leash? No. So she gets a regular ole collar and is hooked up to the boys' leash, which makes three of them on a single leash. The problem with collies is that their necks are bigger than their heads. Any resistance or stopping and said collar just pops off. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I also decide that Athena would be great to expose to more walks given her limited view of the outside world. She's a couple weeks pregnant so I thought some exercise and excitement might do her some good. Okay. Yeah. Bringing Athena was retarded. Not only am I now out of leashes but out of collars. Being on a ranch there is an overabundance of baling twine. Oh yeah. Hello, White Trash with the noose as not only a collar but a leash. It's 11 pm on a teeny tiny island who the heck is going to notice?

So I have all 4 dogs and I'm ready to go! The thing is with dogs in general is that the males want to lead me and the girls want to follow me. Already a clusterfuck of collie dogs and we haven't made it from the barn to the top of the driveway. So at first it was funny and I'm laughing until Dixie's collar repeatedly pops off and she's heading for the hills like the disloyal bitch that she is. So trade Athena's homemade deal for Dixie's collar. Same thing. So while I'm getting them all straightened out, the males would encircle me literally entangling me like a spider's web.

Why I persevered THIS far is beyond me other than the boundless amount of energy that I had. Plus, I NEVER back down to a challenge. So after a few minutes of stepping in and out of spider webs and putting Dixie back in the regular collar a zillion times, we actually made it to the housing development that I had originally intended to take a walk in. It took me at least 8x's as long as it would have had I just taken the boys.

And then there were the other dogs. Dogs left free to roam said housing development because they are big fat lab dogs that don't leave the yard, and then there's the barkers behind fences that BARK BARK BARK at people and dogs passing by. It was all way too much for my ADD intact male dogs. They were pulling. They were circling. This wasn't their turf, but they assumed that all of the island was their turf. Tails were flagged, they were barking back ready to fight. The girls got in a panic and were every which way. All I know is that there were multiple leashes and binder twine EVERYWHERE encircling my legs, midriff, feet, and arms. For the life of me I felt like a roped calf. Seriously, throw both your hands up and call for time, Cowboy. Naturally Dixie is off the collar again and headed to for the hills or to fight or impregnate herself with a big fat lab. I gathered myself, I gathered my dogs, and I retreated home.

For some odd reason "home" made sense to them. "Home" was one collie mind working together and that was in complete agreement that they were the Alaskan Bob Sledding Team. Unfortunately I don't own a bob sled. There isn't even snow if I did.

So all 4 dogs who now greatly outweigh me have me walking them at a 70 degree angle at 30 MPH. Then for some reason Athena spazzes out, trips me with her baling twine, and I'm in the rocky ditch clawing to escape. There are no street lamps. It's me at one with my bob sledding team that lacks any sort of compassion for the person that feeds them. This would be a photo of being drug through a ditch by 4 collie dogs.

Don't attempt this at home.

Oh. It gets better.

So I limp back home at approximately 30 MPH now uphill and am immediately entangled by dogs again. I just start unclipping and un-noosing. I stand erect and both of the male dogs are in a full blown war literally trying to rip each other's necks out. So you know how you're never supposed to try to break up a dog fight right, right? You're supposed to hose them down. So suppose for the sake of argument you don't want to run in the barn, hook up the hose, open the barn doors, and drag the hose out, spray them down because really? What would be the point? In this amount of time one or both of them is dead. So, you do what any sensible farm girl would do. You start kicking at the aggressor. Only for arguments sake you were denied soccer as a child/teen and your kick lacks impact. You have no aim and basically you are kicking at air and screaming like a Banshee.

Sadly, you are kicking WAY too hard than you imagined physically possible. All too soon you realize that your kick was something only a Rockette or Dallas cheerleader could do and you feel and HEAR the snap. That snap would be your ass to leg muscle. Well played.

Apparently male dogs hear, see, or feel your pain and stop fighting. You limp them slowly to their designated area and go back inside the house and just lay on the couch starring at the ceiling until WAY after midnight.

For the love of GOD, if you can't sleep on a Must See TV day, just stay in and watch The Office.

PS. The 2 parallel scars above the barrel racing scar would be my first time shaving my legs. At 10-years-old I imagined that the peach fuzz covering my legs would take quite some time, heft, and pressure from Dad's razor. I bled like a stuck pig for seemingly forever but didn't say anything to my Mom who said that I was not allowed to shave my legs at the tender age of ten. In my excuse for the bloody trail, I told her I slipped on a coat hanger.

Riding Couture & Illustration Friday

2009-01-23T12:01:00.000-08:00

I work a lot with Melonie at Riding Couture. The woman is so dang focused and perilous in getting what she wants. I admire her drive and hella good taste in everything that is blingable. So for her new website main page she had me create an image for her. The woman may as well have held my Wacom pen or channeled the digital image directly into my brain. I have to give her huge kudos for having a vision and making me see it EXACTLY they way she did. I love working with her because she quite often makes me think outside the box. I have no doubt in my mind that Riding Couture is GOING PLACES.

This week's theme at Illustration Friday is "Climbing". So here are my little social climbers. Meet Je Ne Sai Quoi

Two birds one stone

2009-01-16T11:03:00.000-08:00

The last and final nude for an upcoming show. Yay. And guess what? She's pale. No tan around here! Thus, I am submitting her into Illustration Friday's theme of "PALE".

"Nude in Big Hat" Do you like the oh so clever title? Makes you think outside the box, eh? Really gets the brain juices flowing. "What does she MEAN, Nude in Big Hat? I just don't GET it!" Don't worry. It'll come to you eventually.

Lil Miss Godiva

2009-01-14T17:48:00.000-08:00

Okay. So this little ole painting took me hours longer than most of my paintings. It's actually a small painting (9" x 12") that I created on paper. Why I don't create more paintings on paper is beyond me, because it is unbelievably forgiving. There must be 4 paintings under this and I don't know how many times I redid her face and head- tilted it this way and that way, re-sized it, you name it I did it to her. She was a certifiable head case. Oh. And the horse? He changed colors at least three times. (A horse of many colors! Ha!)

Typically when I have to fight with a painting so much, I either ditch it or end up hating it. But I always tell myself, if the composition is there, STICK with IT. So I did and I'm glad. She's cute, right? And I'll admit that I don't always like the paintings I create, but that doesn't stop me from selling them off to collectors. But then I am incredibly hard on myself painting-wise and other.

Now that you have Lil Miss Godiva's full history, I will share this troublesome and difficult little diva with you.

Flirty Catwoman

2009-01-13T20:21:00.000-08:00

So, in an effort to get caught up on one of the very few shows that I do each year, I have been creating paintings to be juried into the Unclad show.

OMG. It feels soooooo good to be painting again. It's like swimming in the Pacific ocean in August, or riding full blast at a gallop, or sleeping 10 hours with vivid dreams, or a full tissue back massage, or really good sex (sorry Mum), or like the BEST fresh gourmet creme brulle to hit your pallet. It's like I forgot to breathe and then the oxygen hit me at 90 mph and stimulated every cell of my being. Am I being dramatic? Perhaps, but then us artistic folk tend to hyper-sensationalize. But rest assured that I am very sincere in my description.

The first two paintings I have done this year flew on to the canvas. The third one . . . Not so much. (I'll share that one in another post. TBA.) So, I'd like to introduce "Flirty Catwoman" (Oh yeah. Running out of creativity on titles for the catwoman series. SERIOUSLY.)

She is on a confusing very to computers metallic gold background. She hopes to be a part of an upcoming nudie art show. I'll give more info if she will be able to grace herself at that particular soiree. Please stay tuned. (Stay tuned. That's funny. Good thing I'm hear to crack myself up.)

Illustration Friday "CONTAINTED"

2009-01-10T17:22:00.000-08:00

Oh. I SO needed to paint. I can't believe it took me so long to find the time to arrange to have my art gear and setup brought inside the house. WAY too long. It was like holding my breath. Fasting. Being a nun. Living in the suburbs. I really, really, really needed to paint.

I was given this itty bitty canvas of 6" x 6" from www.canvasplace.com (Waaaayyyy back when I used to be a regular and painted on a regular basis). This was YEARS ago now. At the time I thought, oh how cute! But square. I had great hopes for the itty bitty canvas, but there it waited for me about 5 years until I decided to take it up on it's challenge of painting on it . . . being all square like it was.

Well, I'm glad I waited because it finally occurred to me that the best composition for a square canvas would be round composition. I know! Like fitting a square peg into a round hole! Good thing I can think outside the box because that little itty bitty canvas would be waiting another 5 years.

Anyway, I'm blabbering on for no apparent reason. Apparently my fingers are anxious and love the clickity clack of keys. (Did you know that all to often, and WAY more than I like to admit to myself, I will repeat conversations in my head and be mentally typing them at the same time?! I'm like your own personal secretary or transcriptionist but only in my head! Either there is some strange compulsion to multitask or I'm like the Rainman of keyboards. Either way, admittedly, it's just plain weird. And yeah, a little TMI.)

So without further ado, here is this week's theme of "Contained" for Illustration Friday. Meet "Fluidity" the painting.

Why contained? Well, for obvious reasons water needs to be contained. And for another, I was contained by my preference of triangular compositions. I was contained in my thinking. Dangerous things happen when I allow my brain to run amok.

Completely Random Pissiness

2009-01-05T20:20:00.000-08:00

Pissy things inside my head:

Deadlines first and foremost. Always with the deadlines. (insert choice cussing before "deadlines") Professional, financial, and personal deadlines. In that order.

The Christmas tree and all reminders of Christmas are gone. I am now officially The Grinch for wanting it all down in a most eager and violent way. I like to imagine Edward Scissorhands as my ultimate professor in Ornament Removal 101. (Could have something to do with the deadlines.)

I started running again. This is good and this is bad. I love running. My brain shuts off (for effin' once!) and all is quiet in my head while I run. The endorphins kick in and my body feels nothing. Almost like it doesn't belong to myself. Of course, it's still really hard to get motivated to actually DO IT. But God love Nike for that saying, just DO IT because it is a really powerful quote. Just do it. Just get up off your fat ass. Just put the potato chips down. Set the remote down. Just DO IT. However, my bad knee(s) will surely undermine this and I will be pissy and fat (again/still) in no time. Did I mention I run on a treadmill in front of my TV? Yeah. Nike can only get SO far inside my head.

Speaking of fat. I am in a zone where my clothes are no longer fitting me comfortably or attractively. This also makes me REALLY pissy. I'm considering investing in my own line of Mom jeans and/or replacing my regular jeans and inserting elastic at the back of the waist band. Like a low-rise Mom jeans. Cool, huh? Or . . . I could continue to wear out the one pair of track pants I have. Once those start getting tight, I'm meeting up with Carnie Wilson for advice. Or hit her up for money for lap band surgery. Too bad we're not friends or even acquaintances. Because that's kind of weird, isn't it? I would confer with Star Jones about it but she's kinda batshit crazy.

I finished the 4th book of the Twilight series. Seriously? No, seriously. I'm in mourning that there are going to be NO MORE Twilight books. No more Edward, Bella, or Jacob. I am honest to God sad. And yes, I realize how completely geeked out I sound. I am strong enough to admit that I'm geek enough. Oh, and that I can read.

Good Lord. I knew I was cranky, but I had no idea I was THAT pissy until this post. What is my antidote? How do I get out of this funk? Do you think that the cougar in me I should go chasing poor Rob Pattinson around confusing him for Edward Cullen? I'm totally cool with stalking. What do you think Rob would think of Mom jeans? Hot, right?

My Secret Santa

2008-12-15T16:37:00.000-08:00

The good thing about Secret Santas is that one day, in your mailbox, quite unexpectedly, you get REALLY cool things. Better yet, it's uber cool if your SS is a jewelry designer. Now you've all heard me rave about Coleenabobeena and how much I love her stuff. But this year thanks to the crappy economy, I have been scooping on up some FANTASTIC deals. And let me tell you, these ladies don't scrimp. We are talking GORGEOUS hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind, pass down to your heirs type of jewelry.

But first! I received these AWESOME earrings from Bella Jolie AKA Secret Santa. (Hi Trisha! Love the baubbles! You ROCK. How did you know I was wearing a red sweatshirt today? You are amazing.)

And then a few months back I got STUNNING jewlery from Elements by Dawn. So delicate and sparkly it makes my eyes tear to look at them.

AND THEN we have the earrings that make every fashionista envious with the girlie girl wearable art from On A String Designs. Oh, did I mention the sparkle? Oh yeah. They SPARKLE.

So what are you waiting for? Christmas is coming (hint. hint certain blog-readers). Go out there and support artists and their craft. Etsy is just screaming your name.

Seriously.

2008-12-13T18:27:00.000-08:00

OMG. I have dedicated WAY too many hours trying to get comments back with the new blog. It is driving me absolutely insane (you thought I was going to say "fucking crazy", didn't you? Well, I didn't because I'm trying to keep control of my cyber potty mouth). At any rate, I have tried everything. Reverting back to old blogger style, adding halogen comments, all to no avail. I swear there is some little effing troll inside my computer just messing with me. I have bruises on my forehead from repeatedly slamming my head against the monitor.

Again with my favorite gif:

Anybody wanna help? I can bribe you with artwork. Christmas is coming. Oh, and because there is no EFFING comments you will have to email me at artbyshano (at) gmail dot com. Added bonus if I can have my motha . . . If I can have my blog titles back for posts that would be GREAT.

Illustration Friday "RAMBUNCTIOUS"

2008-12-12T17:30:00.000-08:00

This week's theme at Illustration Friday is Rambunctious. Because pretty much all of the women and animals that I illustration are a bit on the rambunctious side, I have gone with one that has the most suiting title of "Whoa". Hold on to those reins, girlie.

"WHOA" image can be found here.

We all eat mysterious things

2008-12-05T21:24:00.000-08:00

I have a kitten that eats potatoes. I found that my stash of potatoes had been broken into after discovering Misty carrying around a mysterious object in her mouth. Mostly afraid to investigate suspicious object, I was relieved to find that it was merely a half-eaten potato. I didn't know kittens ate potatoes, or were aware of the food pyramid. However, when I tried to take object in question away from said kitten, there was a blatant refusal. Only after attempting to take contraband from kitten in question, did kitten abscond with starch food group where thereafter continued to nom nom nom the potato.

Dictionary.com. I miss the old version. You know how much I hate it when I don't understand big words.

Mack Daddy of all blogging websites. The Holy Grail of ALL blogs . . . http://www.blogs.com/topten/ You know where I will be for the next Top 10 years.

My studio is deemed too cold to create in by the National Weather Forecast. Therefore, I have been taking a million tutorials on Photoshop. And yes, my half-ass website will probably stay mostly black on some pages while pink on others. A girl has the prerogative to be fickle, and I believe my website showcases that quite well. If creating a shopping cart wasn't so damn hard, it would be uniform in color by now. But whatev. I'm very busy ~~stalking~~ collecting online photos of Robert Pattinson to care about such details at the moment.

Holy crap. Um. Edited to add. I guess I have a "type". Here's a photo of my husband (cira 1992-1993) shortly before we were married. Notice any strong resemblances? Tall, dark, handsome, and PALE as all hell. Not to mention the Phwoofy hair, square jawline, cleft chin, and come hither stare. OMG. Wouldn't that be SO cool if I married a vampire?! I think I'm on to something. It would explain SO much!

Food Crack

2008-11-29T20:06:00.000-08:00

I have certain foods that I do not allow inside my house because I am addicted, and addictions are never pretty. The following is my list of food is crack which is banned from my home. Ironically, most of them were ~~smuggled~~ brought in as gifts this past week/weekend:

Sourdough bread
Pringles
Cashews
Salt and Vinegar Potato chips
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal cookies
CheezIts
Goldfish Crackers
Krispy Creme Donuts

And I must say that I have been many years clean on the No-Bake cookies, Cheezits, Goldfish crackers, and any kind of donut. Seriously. I have avoided them for YEARS. However, the last month or so has reunited me with my demons and I'm afraid I fell off the wagon.

The treadmill is making up for it. Vegas trip is coming up and I don't want to waddle into the airport, or have fear that my pants might explode at any given moment. Crap. Damn you carbs!!!

So what is your food crack? And no, don't email me. Put it here in comment form for the world to see. The first step is admitting that you have a problem. Let the world know that you are not invincible to food crack! Stand up for yourself!! Be heard. We say NO to CRACK. Crack is whack!!

Yet more cool things . . .

2008-11-27T18:14:00.000-08:00

Again. Clients hire me to do a service, I create an image to their specifications, and then they go and take my illustrations and artwork one step further. It's simply amazing. I'm honored and amazed.

Check out what Melonie of Riding Couture has done. Know any dressage riders? Hit the ring with one of Melonie's creations and you don't have to SAY it out loud, but trust me, you saddle up to one of your frienemies, and you may as well shout out, "What up, BEEYATCH. Do my horse and myself not sparkle and shine? Oh, well. We don't MEAN to. It's just our natural glow of good taste and class."

You may recognize the Stiletto boot . . . only in wearable BLING:

The image created in her and her horse's favor (Trust me, she and her horse are even prettier in person although she's so humble she would adamantly oppose, I'm sure!):

So, if you're a dressage equestrian and you NEED to keep up on all that is FAB, check out Riding Couture. PS. I don't even ride dressage (but I have the tack, natch!) I would be SO VERY willing to lie, cheat, steal, and name my first born after the brow bands Riding Couture has on sale.

Russ and Martin

2008-11-25T21:29:00.000-08:00

Sometimes some people do some fascinating things with my artwork. I am honored to be a part of the gift baskets created by Russ and Martin. Take a peak at their great website based in the San Fran area! FAB.

Letter to the Editor

2008-11-15T21:57:00.000-08:00

Dear Gayle Butler,

I would like to preface this letter/email by stating that I had a BH&G magazine subscription for years. I am an obsessed magazine subscriber and can't get enough magazines packed into my mail box. Two years ago, your mag and I had a wonderful relationship. Loved it! So so imaginative, colorful, and useful. Helpful little tidbits that I saved for future reference. Although not everything was my taste, I could still find at least one imaginative idea to pick from. Ya'll mixed it up. There were glue guns involved, ribbon, fabric, thrift store finds, antiques, and the likes. So fast forward a year or two after NOT having a subscription, I missed my BH&G and signed up for more.

I should also mention that my PR rep suggested sitting down with y'all at Meredith Group at some point and time to discuss my art for your magazines. I'm sure she would love to remain anonymous at this point, but being the kinda gal I am, I take my magazine subscriptions seriously. I am a city girl that happens to preside in the country. I look forward to things in my mailbox. I simply MUST say something. If not for my sake, then yours. I have my issues, and apparently you have your November issue.

Ms. Butler, my Mama never told me if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it. Good thing those words never came out of her mouth.

So what exactly happened to your magazine, namely your November 2008 issue? If I wanted a health magazine to learn about diabetes, you think I'm going to pick up an issue of BH&G? No, that's what Prevention magazine is for (I think.) If I wanted to do sit ups on a body ball, think I'm going to wait for page 268 to learn how to do that? If I wanted 30+ fabulous recipes do you think I'd buy a copy of BH&G? No, I'd watch the Food Network or buy Woman's Day or something. I'm even told that there's this Rachel-somebody-famous with her own magazine out now. My idea of cooking is opening up a box of CheezIts and saving the Box Top for Education serial code. Or, if I really need to turn on the oven for my family's nutritional sake, I would choose a 10 minute recipe off a Campbell's Soup label. Hey, I'm not knocking the occasional kick-ass recipe, but when I think Better Homes and Gardens, I'm thinking about my Home. And my Garden. Not my food. Not my health. Not my exercise regiment.

However, you can be rest assured that if I were colorblind and could only see monochromatic color schemes, you sure as heck bet that I would buy November's issue of BH&G. But there lies the problem. I happen to have a special gift that allows me to see more than cremes and neutral colors, as I'm sure most of your readers do as well. And your creative idea of art is to cut up a map and put it in a frame? Whoa. Look out MOMA. It takes a special talent to work a blade knife and a ruler.

Page 174 and 175 photos of ornamental corn. TWO FULL PAGES of ornamental corn. I can see that at my local Piggly Wiggly. Page 176. Granted that the carnival glass vase is to die for, but I can find paintings JUST like this painted by some lovely retiree who created their first watercolor masterpiece at any given thrift store. And page 177 of an unpainted basket with apples and decorative pumpkins? Did you actually pay a photographer to take these shots? Wow. Come on over to my house and I've got some impressive shots for you. I'll charge you like 50 bucks or something of my fruit basket with tiny white pumpkins. I'll even throw in a tomato and some bananas (Make it $60 if they're ripe). If it's unpainted weaved baskets you're after, have I got the laundry basket for you! (Complete with laundry, natch.) Seriously. Call me. We'll make a deal.

Worst of all, if you were to put me in ANY of the rooms showcased this month's magazine, and I would walk back out wondering how these people got such huge ramrods shoved up their tight little butts. A little color and life never hurt anybody and might just stir the pot and jazz people up a bit. It would literally brighten their day. I can't say that I would recommend November's issue of BH&G to any of my manic-depressive friends because surely it would do them in. It's that boring. It's THAT uptight. But way to go on all the advertisements!! Couldn't get enough of those suckers! Oh, and for the record, I didn't miss the crazee splashes of pale ocean blue you had as an accent color throughout. WOW. Brace yourself for the wildness there!! It's almost like I'm having color-induced seizures.

Here's my suggestion for you to keep in mind for your next issue:

We are not all little ole women that held on to those "retro" pieces of 1970's furniture. Some of us grew up in the 70's and if we have to see one more retro piece, we'll actually throw up a little bit in our mouth. Oh, and we actually like to SIT on furniture.

Neutral colors and a splash of pale ocean blue are NOT the only colors in style. Does Avocado Green and Mustard Yellow ring a bell? DING. DING. DING. (That's the bell going off in my retro mind. You can still see said color schemes in low-income rental homes across the US quite similar to the photo ops you have this month, only TONED down. How is it even possible that ya'll toned down the 70's and we don't even get to benefit from the illicit drugs, indoor cigarette smoking, cocktail Tupperware parties at 11 am, and free sex? But hey, thanks for saving us from those nasty STD's. I'm sure we'll make up for it in Lithium.)

There are many many other styles of homes other than those possessing white walls and stained wood. For example you have your farm houses, chateaus, cabins, urban lofts, bungalows, and artistic colorful homes. Back in the day, say 2 years ago, I seem to remember stripes, patterns, wallpaper, and even BOWS in previous issues. What girl couldn't use the occasional bow? It's not like I'm asking you to bring back sky-blue wall borders with white silhouettes of geese wearing bonnets. And if you're going to do the retro thing, why not go all out and feature crocheted dolls holding toilet paper under their skirts, or hanging macreme' owl plant holders?

Things I would not spend $3.49 on in November: BH&G's November issue. Seriously. Flip through November's issue and the most colorful thing I saw was on page 30 where four different swatches of plum are showcased. In case you hadn't noticed, we can find these same exact paint swatches at any given hardware store for FREE. But thanks for pointing out that they actually exist, because if I were to go on this month's version of BH&G I would have plum forgot.

Sincerely,
Shano

*Edited to add Gayle's response*

Dear Shano—

I love when people tell me exactly what they think, even if we don’t agree. So thank you, sincerely, for taking the time to let me know that the November issue did not please you and why. Seeing your studio name, I visited your Web site—vibrant and fun—and I can see why the subdued colors in November didn’t do it for you.

I hope you’ll be happier with issues to come, especially the upcoming February color issue.

Again, I hope we’ll please you more over time. Thanks for feedback.

Best,
Gayle Goodson Butler
Editor in Chief

Huh. Doesn't even sound like she wants to stab me.

Pop Rocks and Coke

2008-11-11T20:44:00.000-08:00

Crap. Why didn't ya'll tell me that the www.artbyshano.com link isn't working? Um. And hasn't been for QUITE some time? I have been so immersed in adding a shopping cart, and so determined to do it myself that my working braincells have been sucked into a vortex of codes; HTLM, CSS, JAVA, PHP, SQRL, and all kinds of other computer mumbo-jumbo that I would rather forget about. And truthfully, already have. I would just assume that the few and precious remaining brain cells function for the finer things in life such as breathing. And laundry. Mustn't forget laundry.

So, needless to say, website is STILL at a standstill. Thankfully, my head has been filled with the likes of orders, paintings, and skull-crushing ideas that will likely land me in the same muddy pond as a shopping cart that lets you choose various methods of payment AND lets you get to see what is your shopping cart. I have so many ideas in my head that I equate them to the simile of Pop Rocks- Powerful, shocking, colorful, but very VERY short-lived. And you wouldn't want to mix them with Diet Coke. Oh no. You could totally die. And we all know that caffeine and artificial sugars are at the top of the pyramid food chart in my world.

Instead of a live-in nanny or housekeeper, I would prefer a live-in computer geek. And Hellya, it would be UBER cool if said live-in geek not only did flippin' shopping carts, but knew their way around vacuums and other powerful cleaning tools like the the dishwasher.

Okay, it is late and I'm off to watch Housewives of Atlanta (on TIVO, natch) to be reminded of how truly inferior I really am as a human being.

Designer of the Week

2008-11-05T11:45:00.000-08:00

Check it out. I'm Designer of the Week at www.Freecroquis.com

Clubbing Baby Seals

2008-10-28T22:34:00.001-07:00

I realize that posting on my bl*g at this time of night is SO not a good thing. But it's been so crazy and chaotic that I really need to focus on what has been happening in my life. First, I would like to give a shout out to Autumn! Autumn, you ROCK! And no, Autumn is not a person, it is a season. Like as in Fall. I love fall. I like chilly weather, leaves changing color, the crisp clean smell in the air, and the overall NEWNESS of it all. They say spring is the beginning, but I don't really feel spring. Spring is moody, unpredictable, and temperamental. I like calm, breezy and colorful. Just like me *snort*.

So I have been spending much of my time at charities, parties, poker rides, soccer games, time in the studio, and at the computer. However, it seems as though a majority of it is cleaning up after 18 puppies and the amount of waste they can create in one day. Wanna hear more? I BETTA YA DO! I could go into full detail, but first I want to remind you of just how glamorous my ranch life is and to rub it in your face. I clean puppy poo in a full-length mink coat. Not only a mink coat, but I also have my baby seal fur jacket(That I clubbed myself) that I save for those extra poop days!

In fact, just tonight one of our chickens was injured and for the life of me, I couldn't find my equine antifungal, antiseptic spray. So I had to doctor said chicken in hydrogen peroxide and Athlete's foot spray. Our little hen smells quite fresh and lovely now and is free to roam barefoot in most communal gym lockers without fear of fungal contamination.

Okay, so yeah, it's been busy. Yeah, I'm still addicted to Facebook but haven't had any time to contribute or even keep tabs on what is being said by my so-called blackmailing friends, but the best thing EVAH?! My email box is completely empty for the first time in at least 6 years. And you know what? I can't wait for it to fill back up, but yet the sense of accomplishment is GRAND.

I also did this painting titled "Le Secret". It's French for "The Secret" for all you who couldn't figure that out. Love ya! xo's ~Shano

Can you share a little?

2008-10-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

Chic Galleria did an interview earlier this month. Check it out:
http://chicgalleria.com/women/2008/10/can-you-share-a-little.php

Cash problem solved

2008-10-14T20:51:00.001-07:00

So I have been thinking to myself, "How the heck am I going to spend this overflow of cash that I have?" All this cash has been plaguing me and I simply have more money than I know what to do with. Than BAM, it hits me! Have husband go on strike! Lose all medical benefits, and major source of reliable income. And then I have the best idea in the entire world! Create national economic crisis!! Problem with TOO much money solved. Am brilliant.

So now that we have that little money issue out of the way, what else has been hurting my little brain? Lack of sleep? No. Been there done that. Been complaining about THAT for years. Overhaul of website? Nope. Have already been through that and am doing it again as self-punishment for having too much cash. (Oooh! Speaking of which, check out how the NEW website is headed here: www.shano-studio.com)

So I guess that just leaves the most obvious and major problem which is my addiction to Facebook. Ya'll, I had no idea that Facebook was NOT Myspace. My ignorance was blissful. I simply didn't know any better. It's like going from BonBons to crack. Yeah. It's THAT good. While admittedly, I have never actually done crack, I'm assuming it's fantastic stuff. Just look at how Amy Winehouse and Whitney Houston turned out. If only somebody had pointed them in the direction of Facebook, I'm sure they'd have a WHOLE different outlook on life. But then I happen to to find batshit crazy women very entertaining. An intervention from me won't be coming any time soon.

Speaking of which, my Facebook time is going to be UBER limited. I am cracking down (cracking down! Funny me!) on time spent on FB and concentrating on new fabulous website so people can merrily spend their Holiday shopping on my website. Life is grand and I have it all figured out.

Look at what crack makes you do to your hair. Facebook claims no craziness on outer portions of head.

Amy:

Whitney:

You know, they just don't make pointy metallic hair dangle pretties for the forehead like they used to. This makes me sad.

Overhaul

2008-10-02T23:40:00.000-07:00

I am in the midst of doing a complete website overhaul. First, I would like to announce that I have more payment options which according to some of you makes you as giddy as a schoolgirl - even the dudes. The only "thing" is that in 8 years of painting, I have one heckava portfolio and what stays and what goes is going to be hard. It seems that the top sellers have been the top sellers for almost that many years. They bore me. I'm sick of them. They were done a lifetime ago and I'm wishing them a restful peace in Internet Heaven because I know they will never go away and some brainiac will find them and say, "Oh, where did such and such go? Because I cannot continue on without that piece!" Only they won't have the title of the work. Only a description and I will have 50 matches and we will have lively on-going corespondence for weeks upon weeks. Oh yes. I look forward to those conversations now.

I only wish I could be like DVF and say, "You want more silk jersey wrap dresses? I'll give you some more M'effin' silk wrap jersey dresses!" Although I'm pretty sure that Diane probably never referred to her fab dresses as M' effin', but I can only imagine that she was mighty preoccupied in learning the techniques of 1980's pancake makeup, shoulder pads, and etiquette lessons from Coco Chanel, all the while rolling around in massive piles of cash to give a rat's ass regarding ONE more pattern of silk jersey wrap dresses.

And to the point. I am so not rolling in dough. Not even applying pancake makeup (as of 10/02/2008). However, how many "Multitaskers" and "Warmbloods" can I do before ya'll say STOP IT NOW?! I might just become the Thomas Kincaid of "diva" art where I have other people tweaking my existing art and signing it under my direction and name. Now WTF didn't I think of that first?

Oh yeah. Control freak thing. I paint my own paintings.

So bare with me. My blog and facebook is kept most recent, but yeah. Not always so punctual. Let me count the ways I suck. Better yet, do it for me. Extra credit for mispelled words or improper grammar. It's late and Diane and I are going to work on pancake make up techniques. Mainly blue eyeshadow.

Peace out.

Land of 1000 emails

2008-09-17T23:47:00.001-07:00

Today was one of those days where my ass never gets up from the puter. Ever heard of secretary's spread? I obtained it in 2 days.

So on the art front. New painting which will be part of a series at the AAUW show this weekend:

And then there's the puppy front:

and the OTHER puppy front:

Oh! And the drama with Rusty and Joey?! (Horse and dog, respectfully.) Turns out both of the owners before the owner that I bought these creatures from were emotionally harmed in some way by the previous owners to no fault of my own. The uncanniness of it all is that I found out about it on the SAME DAY. Legally, everything is dandy. But shitolordy, do I need this? Hella no.

When I began recalling the story to tell my husband, he's, "So basically you bought drama". Statement. Not question.

WTF? I buy drama by the pound? No! If I were to go into it, even I would get confused. Must. Visit. Distracting. Entertaining. Websites.

Illustration Tour 2008

2008-09-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

So check out this great online zine by Design This Design That with a fantastic array of artwork. I only wish that I would have had the time to answer the interview sent to me so that it could have been included with my artwork (pg. 169)

http://issuu.com/designthisdesignthat/docs/issue2

Apparently I'm a two-faced hater

2008-09-10T22:01:00.000-07:00

I've always considered those who use a MAC to be the enemy. I'm not sure why, but I've always been a hater and considered MAC lovers inferior primarily because they considered me, a PC lover, to be inferior. You MAC people- always so smug since I can remember. Like 2001 or so. None of your software worked yet you were always bragging. You were dumb. I was a hater.

And then Windows Vista came along. Seriously? It's like going from free-love to POW camp. Every time I click to do anything I am warned I'm doing something worthy of a public flogging. Hello? Mr. laptop PC made by the Amish? I am an adult and I click where I want to click. (Envision head side to side with a hand up like "Oh no, you didnit") I also know that every website I visit and everything I download is not evil. Thanks for having my back, paranoid. So annoying, yes. Still a big fan of ole skool Windows XP.

Then my PC-so-called-lovin' girlfriend, Stacy, got this MAC (traitor!!) and she MADE the hubby and I look at all the things her MAC could do. I have to admit that I could have stayed for hours watching and learning what this superdeeduperooohlala machine could do. I think we all spent just a half an hour alone just making funny faces into the built in camera. Okay, yeah, so tequila might have been involved, but still. The point is, I kinda liked her leopard MAC.

So then my husband receives a super DELUXE Mac Book Pro.

It arrived today and quite honestly . . . I'm thinking of running off with the Mac and leaving my husband and family. I can tell it feels the same way about me. It set up a POP3 email account, no questions asked, no tutorial walk-throughs . . . Just, I'll take care of it, honey attitude. Which to me says it is totally enamored. It doesn't ask if I am aware that every site I visit is unwholesome and untrustworthy. I think it trusts my better judgment since I'm not visiting porn and hacker sites (are there really hacker sites? Maybe I do need a Windows Vista to protect my unassuming ass.)

Best of all, it doesn't act like a used cars salesman- "Are you SURE you don't want AOL? Seriously? AOL does everything. It can practically wipe your butt! And wait there's more! We can spam you to death with every proprietary program known to mankind! It's just a click away on your desktop! You thought Windows MS was bad? Not only can we can OWN you, we can slow and clog your computer down with McAfee and monitor every site you visit on Internet Explorer! What's not to like??!!"

And this all lovingly typed from my DELL PC with Windows XP. xoxo's - You know you love me! Or until I trade your sorry ass up or Bill Gates pulls his head out his ass (Stop outsourcing to third-world countries!) Whichever comes first.

PS Microsoft is a huge corporation which resides primarily in the Pacific Northwest (AKA where I live). Please continue your support and buy as many PC's as possible because it keeps our economy stable. Thank you. PC's rock when not under the influence of Windows Vista. The first step is to admitting there is a problem. Become one of our Support Systems. Think of all the venting and hating you could do! Nothing feels better than releasing your anger yelling at a computer! Come on! I know you feel me!

Starting September Off with a Bang

2008-09-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

Well, my weekend certainly started out with a bang.

Friday morning woke up to the sound of puppy mews. (They mew. It is the sweetest noise known to mankind.) Fast forward to afternoon, and we have 10 puppies.

8 pm rolls around and it is official. My husband is on strike. (Boeing strike) And I love how this happens. My kids go to school for exactly one week, the hubby is off to work, and then BAM. Said hubby is home with me. Spending quality time together. Time where I would usually be sad, lonely and bored. Without a thing to do. Oh, it's SO good that he's here with me. Not bringing in any money.

So then Saturday when the alarm goes off, it's an hour and half drive to my daughter's soccer game where our girls had their asses handed to them by professional 11-year old players. Seriously. I think David Beckham was their coach.

After getting home I rode both my horses. My therapy for an already slammin' good weekend.

Sunday we spent all day picking rocks. Now there's a whole buncha hella fun. Why, it's one of the best things about owning a ranch. Each year rocks pop up from the horses making it unsightly, dangerous, and one less spot for a blade of grass to grow. And each year we get a couple truckloads of rocks to dump. See what I'm saying? Ranch work is high glam. I pick rocks in an evening gown sipping on champagne. It's THAT glamorous!

I'm off. The hair and make up people are here so I'd better get running.

Wickedly Chic

2008-09-05T12:04:00.001-07:00

Received a lovely email from Liz of Wickedly Chic this morning telling me to take a looksie. Check out the Today's Pick!

Are you like me?

2008-09-04T19:17:00.001-07:00

Okay, so all of August was slamming busy. And then it got busier. Crazy. Out of control. Drama where there needed to be none. So much on my plate that I got completely overwhelmed. And when things get like this here is what I typically do:

I walk from one room to the other not remembering what I was doing but since I was in that room, I might as well take care of PROBLEM A. Meanwhile while walking into other room not remembering what I was doing, I take care of PROBLEM B. So what was I doing again? Oh right! Problem C which was a priority that I forgot all about! So problem A? Oh man, what did I do with problem A?? Where the hell did I put it? So room to room I roam. And well, you get the gist of it because it went to PROBLEM W or X or something.

So how did I handle it? By dicking around the computer, natch. It seems that every problem, question, or answer I had was on the computer which sidetracked me even more. So yeah, can I dick around like nobody's business browsing the Internet? Apparently so. And did I get all my issues addressed? Almost, except for the ones that will never go away no matter how many rooms I walk into or how many entertaining websites I visit. Did I answer any emails? *sigh* It's just that I have to answer the icky ones before the fun ones (and you know who you are!) And truthfully, I just can't think any more. I need the people of the Internet to do it for me. Those of you with entertaining websites, I need you to keep my mind fluffy and fresh.

And craigslist? Oh, I love you craigslist with your never ending temptations of things that I can buy or barter for cheap, cheap, cheap. And let us not forget the complete morons that sell stuff and keep me jolly happy with excruciatingly bad grammar and hideous photos (WHAT is that exactly?! Do I need to tilt my head sideways?) My favorites are the people selling horses. Here's the deal. PEOPLE ARE GIVING AWAY HORSES right now. Swear to GOD. Nice ones with good breeding, no issues, and photos are posted of said horses! If they aren't free, they are hella cheap. (PLEASE for the love of GOD, don't go out and get yourself a horse if you don't know jack squat about horses just because they are free or affordable. Trust me, it takes more time, energy, knowledge, and money to care for them than to purchase them!) But then there's the marketing geniuses who want $10,0000 for their fantastic horse that they don't even take a photo of or mention any criteria like say, the horse's age, height, breed, etc. (Hey yo. It's craiglist. People are going to start mixing up zeros and adding decimals and calling you at 10 pm asking if your horse is good for a beginner rider or can fit in the back of their van.)

LOVES ME SOME CRAIGSLIST.

Once emails are answered, the hard and not so hard topics that involve actual brain activity, I'm moving on to painting for the AAUW show. If I still remember how to paint that is. In fact, I actually have quite a few painting projects that I'm pretty excited to get started on.

The Archives

2008-08-29T17:58:00.000-07:00

Illustration Friday "MEMORIES"

2008-08-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

This week's theme at Illustration Friday is Memories. One of my favorite memories was racing my sisters on horseback. This painting titled "Fast Girls" was a gift to my parents a year or so ago as it depicts myself and two sisters on our horses- My Bars, Go Go, and Spirit. And just last week my littlest sis on Rusty.

2008-08-25T22:50:00.000-07:00

(Oh good Lord. I wish I could say that I was drunk when I posted this last evening, but I wasn't. Apparently I needed to be. EDITED 24 hours later.)

Every time I get a humorous thought in my head it is quickly outnumbered and bullied by the proverbial "To do" list. In a war of words, humor is getting it's ass handed to it by a list that packs quite a punch.

So let me quickly mention that Fresh Paint was a huge success. I really enjoyed most of it, especially the people who kept me entertained to no end, whether it was intentional or not. (Sunday brunch + champagne and shopping = conversation I only wish I recorded) However, staying in a 10' x 10' space for entire weekend was quite challenging being the free soul that I am. I have great plans to join every animal rights movement and thus free every known creature from captivity. Except for the nasty-ass rodents that eat hundreds of dollars worth of tack and wiring in my barn each year. May you die a slow and painful death and I will watch you writhe and wither. When and if I ever catch you, bastards. OMG. So not PETA, is it?

The most interesting thing about Fresh Paint was the amount of people that came up and took pictures of me and/or my paintings without asking and then WALK away. If you really wanted some good shots you should have been there during break down when it got really windy and I was wearing a little flouncy dress. I'm happy to say that I flashed everybody in the vicinity and didn't receive a dime. Yeah. Good times. Enjoyed that tremendously.

Then Lil Sis from Cali came for a visit and of course it rained. Naturally. It's Seattle. Can't disappoint.

Luckily, us Pacific Northwesterners have a back up plan such as the Seattle Aquarium (this tiny crab photo was taken on Camano Island State Park. Outdoors. Like fresh salt water air. 4 real.)

Then the hubby and I had our 14 year reunion. With dinner. And flowers. A card. Just the two of us. Trip out like 1994.

And THEN we go camping in the wee tent trailer. I'm sure that I was not borne and bred and camp, but I make a go of it once a year. If there wasn't so much dirt and campfire smoke and better sleeping arrangements I'm sure I would TOTALLY dig it. I am all about the whole bonding family thing but being at the mercy of every morons' sleep habits wears a little on me. I swear to GAWD there was some kid/adult/drunk screaming about hotdogs at midnight. Little uncanny/werewolf-ish if you ask me.

And then I got back. To the never-ending list of To-Do's. First up Soccer. Soccer and more soccer. Soccer up the @ss. 5 x's a week soccer. I'm not sure what fragment of my body says "Soccer Mom" but certifiably, I am one. Where some Mums complain about having to drive 5 x's a week and secretly love it, me and a few of my friends really, truly abhor it. In mathematical terms, I pay approximately $4 a gallon to drive at least 10 miles daily ONE WAY. I usually complete the first draft of a painting in 8 hours. You do the math. However, since my car accident in March, I will pay whatever it takes to keep me and my little eggs (children) safe while driving my gas-guzzling eco-unfriendly SUV. Somebody's got to pull that horse trailer while driving 8 people up a ice-capped unpaved dirt road that we live on.

Gotta go. Fuckity if it isn't my new bedtime. Will proofread this tomorrow. Forgive me if it's all messed up in the meantime. (And it was. Can't save it at this point. I've already damaged your retinas.)

Fresh Paint

2008-08-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for my only outdoor show this weekend. Oh my. I will have gobs of stuff not offered on the website. Stop by and say hello! (Saturday August 16th and Sunday August 17th from 11 am - 5pm)

FRESH PAINT

Newest painting (Le Lune et Chat):

Illustration Friday "SAIL"

2008-08-08T09:38:00.000-07:00

Wow. This week's theme of "sail" over at Illustration Friday was a difficult one for me but thankfully I can think outside the box and show ya'll an image with a SAIL boat in it. Brilliant!

Also found here: http://www.shano-studio.com/sanjuanvixen.html

Vegas Baby

2008-08-04T18:03:00.000-07:00

My trip to Vegas was quite lovely albeit too short. And the extreme temperatures? Up here where I live in Washington State, if it reaches 80 degrees everybody is saying how hot it is. Yeah. Try 110 and see what your T-zone complexion looks like. Like let's say like

THIS:
(The "BEFORE" massive-makeup photo that I cannot for the life of me believe I'm sharing with the world. But in my defense, it was "Grandma's coming! Grandma's coming!" Much like Paul Revere warning that the British are coming only CLEAN UP THIS PLACE! Never mind makeup! Where are your priorities? A nasty T-zone?! Blonde eyelashes and eyebrows? Pahshaw.)

Sweat much? (I'm the one of the right. The lovely lady on the right is my 91 year-old grandma. Isn't she cute?? She loves me just for my blazingly shiny forehead. Rudolf calls in sick one year, Santa, I got your back.)

But then again the good thing about Vegas (other than losing tons of money) is that you can quite literally make yourself 6' tall. I'm wearing 6" heels that only the great feminist minds of Kimora Lee Simmons of Baby Phat could conjure up. Add fake eye lashes, a foot or so of clip on hair extensions, gobs of self tanner, take away the Hep C and store-bought floating chest devices, and I knew what Pam Anderson must feel like.

I'm not sure how much makeup it would have taken to get rid of that shiny forehead, but then again I'm not sure there actually IS enough makeup. Anywhere. But look at my now cancer-free Dad. We had much fun at La Reve that evening!

Damn. Forgot the Pam Anderson acrylic nails. But let us not forget the wonderfully ghettolicious stilettos that I actually have OUT as decor in my bedroom. They positively ROCK.

Geekdom

2008-08-01T17:40:00.001-07:00

Hypothetical question: If I'm in Las Vegas on vacation and I take time out to make a post on my bl*g, does that make me Queen Geek or Goddess of all that is Lame? The thing is, I head back home tomorrow and half of me is savoring my final hours before slavery to "the man" starts back up, and the other half is here in Sin City waiting until I can Pam Anderson-ize myself (semi-fake tan, fake hair, fake eye lashes, little dress, and stiletto heels) for the La Reve show tonight. Photos to come. 4-shore.

To the people I rode with today . . .

2008-07-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

Right off the island were we reside is a lovely trail farm just for horses. It is a half hour drive for us with miles of trails filled with creeks, bridges, hills, sand, logging roads and everything that a trail riding equestrian could hope for. To my experience at the Pilchuck Tree Farm today:

Melissa,
Thank you for going out riding with me today on that 3-hour ride. My horses Rusty and Felix really needed the exposure to trail riding and I'm thankful that you were brave enough to be my horsey guinea pig their first time out. I do admit that the last time we were cantering, okay, it was a seemingly Mock-9 gallop- You know, where I had little to no control over Felix? Did freak me out a bit. We need to do it again soon. Seriously.

To the Mom with 3 teenage daughters,
I have to admit Mom, when we heard you yelling across the way a few trailers down, it did give Melissa and I reason to glance at each other wide-eyed . . . However, we had no idea it was at 3 teenage girls (ages approx 12 - 15) with enormous AND high-strung breed horses (Arabian and Saddlebred or Standardbred? We can't tell the difference) I'm sorry we were quick to judge. If I were in your place, I'd be scheduling a multiple lobotomy after the A) All the teenage hormones co-existed harmoniously B) Gas money to pay for a huge ass truck to pull 4 massively large horses C) The tack involved for the 4 massively large horses. D) Keeping 3 teenage girls, their horses, and self alive during a trail ride.

And I simply cannot phathom your feed, grocery, clothing and kotex bill you have on a monthly basis. I'm most definite when I say that I would be the poster child of road rage put in your place, yet you were seemingly apologetic.

Oh yeah. Did I mention that I am the oldest of three girls? And we all had high strung horses growing up? Hm. Thanks Mom and Dad! You are the best! I am just now getting how lovely our teenage years must have been on you.

To the nurse/doctor that Melissa knew,
I'm sure the woman with the broken ribs from her fall was greatly comforted by your expertise and calm nature. You also helped me cross what was probably the great Bering Sea to Felix, but was a mere creek to your lovely palomino. I would still be on the North bank of the ranging river had it not been for you and your horse coaxing my schizo Arabian cross the 3' deep x 20' creek.

To the 4 women we passed by:
WTF? All horse people like each other. We are kindred spirit. I don't care if you ride English, Western, Dressage, Side Saddle, or Lady Godiva for that matter. But I have to admit that I NEVER wear a helmet but I took Melissa's brilliant and life-preserving lead by wearing one. Yes, I am self-conscious (ridiculously so, admittedly because I somehow feel like less of a cowgirl). I didn't realize there was a junior high riding academy for middle-aged women and the silent treatment was an added middle school bonus. We are however, perplexed by cold shoulder after ya'll we're burning up the forest with your laughter, yet literally were all eyeballs when we stood aside to let you pass. BTW, I couldn't help but notice that one or two of ya had poofy/bleached/permed/feathered 1980's Rodeo Queen hair. I'd rather wear a helmet. Or same thing in your case.

To the man riding the Appaloosa in the rope halter that was far too sexy for say . . . a BRIDLE:
Dude. We guestimated you to be in your 70's. We agreed on one thing- You rock. I hope to take your amazing example when I'm your age. Even though you're obviously male and not female, may I share this bit of inspiration with you? http://www.americancowgirl.com/film.htm

Rusty and Felix (Not gay, but are free to express their boy love):

Aaaaahhhhhh

2008-07-20T23:49:00.000-07:00

Monday. FINALLY a break in the schedule. I don't have to do a thing but:

Barn Chores
Shower
Bring in orders to post office

I have been waiting ALL summer for this day to come. A day where there is blissfully not an effin' thing written on the calendar.

Please don't let their be anything that I've overlooked . . . which may include but not limited to: Keeping kids alive (Fed, bathed, etc.), keeping a tidy house, laundry, dishes, business contracts/emails and things that my brain cannot conjure up at the moment. (Unsubconscious denial is highly underrated.)

Random

2008-07-18T19:19:00.000-07:00

Tis the Netflix season because there's nothing good on with a few exceptions. My obsessions have been:

Firefly
Wonderfalls
Dead Like Me

Oh yeah. In a bad fate of Karma - All discontinued.

Illustration Friday "ENOUGH"

2008-07-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

My newest painting, "Family Jewels" depicts two women showing their bling (click on the enlarged version and you can see that they have swarovski crystals as earrings and ring). Because really, a girl can never have quite ENOUGH diamonds.

Illustration Friday.

Illustration Friday "FIERCE"

2008-06-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

This week's theme at Illustration Friday is "Fierce". Can't you just imagine Tyra pulling off this pose?

Chrysalis

2008-06-11T21:16:00.000-07:00

So this is one of the newest paintings. I would be painting more but life seems to keep me quite occupied in other directions. "Occupied" being code for clusterf*ck of disorganization, drama, and excitement. So there you have it.

Please comment. Please email. I welcome the much needed distraction. Seriously, I could entertain you for days on the upheaval in my life . . . But at this point, I wouldn't know where to start. Soap Operas 'aint got nottin' on me- Other than of course infidelity, teen pregnancies, and actors playing doctor. Because I don't have that. Yet. Don't rule it out though, the night is still young.

Femme et Cheval

2008-06-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

"Femme et Cheval" Original art soon to be added to the website

Why I have so many durn animals

2008-06-01T22:03:00.000-07:00

I live on a ranch. Sometimes I wonder why because it is a helluva lotta work. But then just today, all within a matter of minutes, I took all these photos. Question answered.

Joey eats Sugar's head but Sugar's head does not have sugar flavor.

Billy Goat Gruff Goat says you must pay toll to enter dog shelter - especially collies.

They say we remind them of Ellen and Portia, but personally we just don't see it.

Paparazzi Horse up in 'yo grill

Brokeback Mountain Romantic setting - Equine Style

I see dead horses

Gimme all your grain money!!

Pick me. Choose me. Love ME.

Sup brotha from anotha motha?

Bit naughty, no? How can zee tell?

We may be just a few weeks old but together we can poop a mean rainbow.

I'm too sexy for this ground.

Every Day

2008-05-23T21:55:00.000-07:00

Every day, no SERIOUSLY. EVERY day I think I should be posting to my blog. Obviously that hasn't happened in quite some time. A little background on me: I'm the epitome of the oldest child syndrome- the classic overachiever. Yet somehow I never quite overachieve. I fill my life with obligations that are ludicrous and the proverbial plate always filleth over.

One thing I have been meaning to address is the "Wife Swap" thing. To refresh your memory (because mine often needs to be and I am presumptuous in thinking that we are SO much alike) is that I was asked to participate in the show by the producers of Wife Swap. After talking with my family, they were all about it although skeptical (Okay, the adults were skeptical - 50% to be exact). And after filling out mass paperwork and interviews that made me feel like an escaped convict distributing resumes as a panty DNA tester at the FBI, I never heard back from them. I take this as a very good sign in that my family is simply too normal to be a part of the show (So I tell myself.) So there you have it. Occasionally I am rereminded by the good people with sufficient and functioning memories to recall such details that I was asked to participate in the FIRST place.

So, 'sup wit me? I have been SUPERBLY busy with life. Not only art with galleries, boutiques, shows, retail/wholesale orders, and logos . . . but with puppies, life, kids, volunteering, horses, ranch life. And most importantly- that big pink girlicious shack where the biggest spiders in all of Washington State have come to die every winter has been gutted and cleaned. This means my creative space (art studio) is back. I have so many more original paintings to share!!!

So let me start by sharing my Etsy page: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=99376. I hope to add my one of a kind dog tag necklaces there very soon. ("very soon" being quite interpretive, especially in dog years). The thing about Etsy is that frequently I have killer deals on products that beg for a life without spiders and/or pink girliciousness.

Another- studio photos. Painting images soon! (horses, fairies, mermaids, etc.) I have a a number of upcoming local shows coming up that I'm trying to get enough pieces for. There's just never enough time for it all. Yet because I love you and respect you SO much, I am sacrificing the time to do a blog entry because I know how important it is to you (Are you gagging yet? Little bit of throw-up in your throat?)

Without further ado:

2008-04-26T18:36:00.000-07:00

Once again, it's been nearly a zillion years since I've posted. But I wanted to share my latest painting because suddenly I find myself painting something that I would have painted a few years ago - Bold colors, folk art yet contemporary with a surreal moodiness. No angst with the spontaneous paint splatters or faux urban sirens that are the epitomy of confidence.

I've had the epiphany that my earlier paintings made me calm and introspective and I mean I COMPLETELY lose myself in the painting. Hours can pass and I don't remember a single thing or thought the entire time. I've found that the newer sexier pieces from the last year or so inspire a more social and invigorating aspect to my life. Life imitating art? Or art imitating MY life? (Whooo boy. That introspective thing kinda hurts my brain.)

So I like that I'm switching back in forth. Nobody likes predictable and boring.

Do they?

"Stargazers"

Seagrass Gallery GRAND OPENING

2008-04-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

Seagrass Gallery GRAND OPENING
April 19th 1:30 - 4pm
Meet the Artists, Enjoy the food and music!
Camano Island, WA
360.387.8300

Illustration Friday "SAVE"

2008-04-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

If you save all your money you too can be JUST like Paris Hilton.

www.illustrationfriday.com

Interview

2008-03-31T08:41:00.000-07:00

Aw shucks.

They did an interview with litt'l ole me at the international site http://www.fragrantica.com/

Read about here:
http://www.fragrantica.com/news/Dream-Ladies-220.html

Illustration Friday "HOMAGE"

2008-03-28T12:57:00.001-07:00

My submission for this week's theme at Illustration Friday is a painting I created in homage to my mother, a wonderful wonderful woman.

The print can be purchased at http://www.shano-studio.com/mymothersdreams.html

Illustration Friday "LEAP"

2008-02-29T11:49:00.001-08:00

My submission for this week's Illustration Friday theme of "Leap" is an older piece that I created many years ago. There was a time in my life (many, many blue moons ago) that my sisters and I would sneak out in our nightgowns to ride our horses bareback and without bridles in the dark. We would push our horses into a full gallop. We would have no idea where they would go and just trusted that they were surefooted and safe. Of course, my middle sister did end up with a head concussion and a super fun night in the hospital. But still, it makes for lovely memories.

This print can be found here: http://www.shano-studio.com/ifwisheswerehorses.html

Illustration Friday "Multiple"

2008-02-25T08:54:00.000-08:00

So many ways to view this as "multiple" our theme at Illustration Friday this week.

Available in print at: http://www.shano-studio.com/burlesque.html

Illustration Friday "BLANKET"

2008-02-01T08:39:00.000-08:00

Admittedly, it has been forever and a day since I have contributed to Illustration Friday. And it has been a loooooonnnngggg time since I have posted anything on my blog. It will get better soon, I'm sure! Any day now I will blind you with my literary genius and astound you with my quick wit and humor.

Yep. Any day now.

In the meantime, here is my submission for Illustration Friday's theme of "blanket":

This can be purchased as a print here- http://www.shano-studio.com/sofasleepers.html

Tag. I'm it.

2008-01-03T21:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, I've been tagged a zillion times and I have probably NEVER gone through with doing what I'm told to. Mainly because I'm stubborn and have issues. So here's the deal. Coleen asked me to do this before Christmas and I'm just now reading the email. Let us count the ways on how badly I suck as a friend.

The Rules:

Mention the person who tagged you and create a link back to them.

Pick your month of birth.

Copy-paste the traits for all the twelve months (see below).

Highlight the traits that apply to you and if you would like write some wit or not.

Tag 12 people and let them know by visiting their blogs and leaving a comment for them. (I cannot tag people. I am always "IT". You mustn't forget how I've spared you the inhumanities.)

Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve done it! (K, Coleen, I've done it!!)

****************************

JULY

Fun to be with. (Only if you like people with Adult onset A.D.D. that will never remember your name or what you told them. I'll ask the same things numerous times and it will slowly come back to me as you RETELL the story. And, I'll probably tell you the same story two or three times because I can't remember who the Hell I told it to in the first place. Yay. Fun. Me! I'm like Groundhog's Day all mixed into a few minutes!)

Secretive. (I am actually bordering the TMI "too much information" realm.)

Difficult to fathom and to be understood. (My husband would have his own cheerleading team for this one. But really. I might just have my own special "twin language" only without the twin.)

Quiet unless excited or tensed. (Not quiet. Ever.)

Takes pride in oneself. (So what if I don't leave the house without make up and my hair done? Do you want me to end up like Britney Spears?! When is the last time that poor girl passed a mirror? Or a drug test?)

Easily consoled. (Wave sparklies in front of my face and I am happy as a clam.)

Concerned about people’s feelings. (Feelings. Nothing more than feelings . . . )

Tactful. (Rarely. Completely filterless from brain to mouth.)

Witty and sparkly. (Witty? Sparkly? I doth protest!)

Forgiving but never forgets. (Like a big dumb doofus with adult onset A.D.D.)

Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. (Come to my house which is lovingly dubbed 'Ye Ole Curiousity Shop.)

Caring and loving. (I care for and love sparklies.)

Wary and sharp. (Dumb as a doornail.)

Judges people through observations. (Or emails. Or telephone calls. I can't discriminate how how I judge people.)

Hardworking. (Not really. Got the art thing, the dog breeding gig, two Elementary-aged kids, a house AND a barn to clean daily, sport practices, charity events, laundry, cooking, deadlines, Bon Bons to eat, TIVO to watch, jokes to forward. The list just keeps growing!)

No difficulties in studying. (Yeah, except for the adult onset ADD . . . )

Homely person. (Oooooooh boy am I HOMELEE! U-G-L-Y. I ain't got no alibi. I's ugly. I's ugly.)

Waits for friends. (Yeah, and then I'll berate you for it for hours.)

Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. (My stomach's problem is that it can digest battery acid and seek and destroy the carbs and carefully place them in a nice fatty layer around my gut.)

Loves to be loved. (Ew. Being loved is icky.)

3 things to keep you busy

2007-12-16T21:26:00.000-08:00

Ever think, hey- I'm bored and I need something to do? Yeah, me neither. If you ever do find yourself with nothing to do, you can either do this or buy this:

Adopt a horse from a shelter. Make sure they are fabulous like this guy (Key is to make sure you have an ill-fitting pink sweatshirt. Nothing reeks of fun and excitement more than human marshmallows!):

Paint a new Cowgirl painting:

"Let's Ride"

Make sure you have plenty of stylish flasks on hand:

Where to buy? Let me lead the way: http://www.shano-studio.com/flasks.html
Take a moment to reflect on the upcoming days. Have you truly considered what you're encroaching upon this Holiday season? (Yep, crazy old Uncle George will be there with his exceptionally fabricated stories . . . as well as 15-year-old Cousin Roach with the Mohawk, piercings- and basically hours upon hours of entire evenings filled with painfully forced conversations.) Therefore, my friend, you deserve a cocktail in your back pocket, handbag, or hey . . . Out in the open because you are one stylish fashionista.

Just in case the top three just don't cut it and you REALLY need a FOURTH thing to keep you busy (and stressed!), have a pregnant dog that is 5 days overdue to have puppies, therefore basically chaining you to your house. You will be forced to do domesticated things like cleaning, laundry, and Christmas cards.

So go out and enjoy your Walmart Holiday shopping. Bask in the traffic. Visit the ATM and see how much money you REALLY have in your account. Max out and overextend your credit card and buy things for people who are truly ungrateful. Live it up, already!!

Poor Nameless Painting WINNER

2007-11-14T21:42:00.000-08:00

I gave you two and a half days to come up with an awesome title to the nameless painting, and another two and a half days to vote for your favorite title. And after a 120 votes and sixteen painting titles, ya'll have decided that the painting should be named "Cardinal Elegance". A special thank you to Regine of Easton, PA - The clevah name-giver! Yay!

And as rozydhy has asked, what do the voters win? Well, Rozy (can I call you Rozy?) you have won a special place in my heart as well as the knowledge that you helped save this painting from having a really stupid and uninspiring title.

Thank you to all of you who submitted title ideas! Thank you to all voters! Ya'll rock!

Cardinal Elegance the Painting

The Poor Nameless Painting

2007-11-11T10:05:00.000-08:00

Wow. I am completely blown away by the responses and creativity of people. I would hire ya'll as full time name-givers. Many of you came up with "Bird in the Hand". Ha. I'm one step ahead of you. I did a painting with this title a few years ago, so unfortunately that one is out. But don't you fret, you're still brilliant and beautiful and ya'll are so vr vr clevah! I think maybe I'll have to make this a voting thing. So, with no further ado VOTE NOW!

Vote only once please. Vote more than once and I'll tell Santa.

NAMELESS PAINTING - A Contest!

2007-11-08T13:48:00.000-08:00

This original painting of the woman and bird needs a title or name. Have any suggestions? The winner who gives this nameless painting a title will receive a PRICELESS artist's proof print. Why priceless you ask? Well, only a very small number of test prints are made of this image to get the color correct. The artist proof you will receive will be ONE of a kind, signed, dated, titled, and marked as an "artist proof". Enter the contest by email: artbyshano (AT) gmail (dot) com, or by submitting your idea in the form of a comment. (Be sure I have your email addy if you are the most gifted name-giver of all!)

Obsession

2007-10-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

This is Felix and me. I received a riding arena for my birthday (in JULY). Oh sure, most people would go to Europe or the Bahamas or something but I wanted to ride around in circles. I honestly couldn't be happier. Money does buy happiness. I have proof:

I had to run circles around and around my husband for the delay flash to work on the camera.

For anybody that knows anything about riding, this photo is going to drive most of you nuts. I don't have him collected up on the bit and my equitation seat is half dressage, half Western, half half-ass, but the sand is really deep in this area and he breaks into trot so I had to give him his head (excuses, excuses). For those of you who have NO idea what I'm talking about that's okay. Click on the larger image and see how cool it is that my left arm is sticking out of my abdomen. Rad, huh?

It's not all about art. Horses (and sparkly pretties) are my life blood and inspiration.

October Art STUFF

2007-10-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

New Paintings * New Prints * Charity Events * Galleries

2 New Paintings are in Gallery in the Loft - Camano Island, WA

Musical Mermaid and Femme et Bicyclette

You can also find purses, necklaces, prints, checkbook covers and more at Blooming Hearts Gallery in Snohomish, WA

New Prints
There are THIRTEEN new prints available at www.shano-studio.com

To view the entire collection start at the NEWS link at www.shano-studio.com/news.html

Charity - PAWSLA
Want to mingle with celebrities in Hollywood? Shano has two pieces up for auction at the PAWSLA Pet Art 9 on November 4TH. Ana Ortiz of the hit show Ugly Betty is celebrity host.

Original Art
To view ALL the NEW original art paintings:
ORIGINAL ART BY SHANO

http://www.shano-studio.com

New Stuff - October 2007

2007-10-14T21:56:00.000-07:00

I simply cannot believe how fast time has been flying by lately. It seems as though I have a few million fingers in a zillion different pots. Unfortunately for me, I was only born with ten digits. I suppose I could use my toes, but nobody really wants to envision that, do they? I'm really not THAT flexible anyway contrary to those spiteful bathroom writings in the stalls at Denny's.

So what is new with art? Well, my art is in a few more shops, another local gallery, and have a couple more shows coming up. Next week will be the AAUW show at:

The Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center
27108 102nd Ave NW
Stanwood, WA

I will be in attendance at the Patron’s Party if you want to shell out $15, drink wine, and schmooze with me and other artist folk: Friday, October 19, 6:00-9:00pm

or the bargain venues in which I won't be in attendance for:

Free Art Show: Saturday, October 20, 10:00am-5:00pm

Free Art Show: Sunday, October 21, 11am – 5pm

And just a teaser, a sneak peek if you will, at one of the newest pieces which will be in attendance:

"Warmbloods (Grey)"

And the best part? A huge chunk of the proceeds goes to charity! Hurray! What the charity is for I can't really remember (or perhaps never knew. Shhh. I like to think of myself as a brilliant philanthropist), but I'm sure it is for a VERY good cause. Charity is always very, very good. What I do know for sure is that it is always packed full of people and the food there is extraordinarily yummy.

*Edited to add: The American Association of University (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.

(I think they should have started with me.)

PS. I no longer have VONAGE. After a few years of complaining of how they sucked donkey wangs, I FINALLY did something about it. Yeah. Thought you'd be glad to hear it.

Illustration Friday "Open"

2007-10-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

Wow. It has been forever and a day since I have posted an Illustration Friday submission, or even posted ANYTHING for that matter. So here goes it. Did I mention their having a contest? How exciting is that? Be a dear and vote for mine, okay? I'll be your best friend.

The door is OPEN. Come on in!

Twenty-Two Doors

2007-08-31T15:24:00.001-07:00

It's Friday. Labor Day weekend. Raining in Seattle. Traffic. Road Rage. Drunk drivers. I will not be at 22 Doors this evening as planned. Instead, I am sharing a picture of my big boy Nick. Enjoy your holiday weekend.

Summertime Fun?

2007-08-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

Once again it has been a gazillion and a half years since I have posted. Ya'll, it has been the world's fastest summer in all the land. I can't believe this weekend is Labor Day weekend.

Anyway, I decided to do a pro and con of my summer and sum things up in an eggshell. I'll try and add them in the order in which they transpired.

The bad news:
My Dad came down with a bout of colon cancer.
The good news:
He's done with radiation, almost done with chemo, and appears to be cancer free.

The bad news:
My Dad has cancer
The good news:
I spent many days in Las Vegas with my family during this time.

The bad news:
I came down with a bout of pneumonia.
The good news:
Got to watch TV for a week straight which included renting seasons of House, Weeds, 24, and months and months worth of saved Tivo programs.

The bad news:
Day of said pneumonia diagnosis, my husband decides he is going to tear off the roof and replace the whole damn thing. Himself.
The good news:
My dining room needed to be mopped with fresh rain water at 5 am.

*Switching things up a bit and starting with the GOOD news*

The good news:
My sister got married
The bad news:
Too many bridezillas. Yes, bridezillas. Plural.

The good news:
Got to spend 8 days in beautiful big beach house at Sunset Beach with family.
The bad news:
Me and my daughter's see-through Irish skin got sunburned. Badly. Check out the burn lines. I'm the beefy corn-fed farm girl in the middle:

Look at those skinny bitches. I'm going to take up smoking.

The good news:
I had my first outdoor art show.
The bad news:
It was so windy (And drizzly! And cold!) that I left at noon the second day.

The good news:
I had my second outdoor art show. Met many people that I have had email correspondence with. Nice to put an email name with a real person.
The bad news:
It rained the second day until mid afternoon. None of my neighbors showed up. I was the lone tent outside of Anthony's.

The good news:
My girlfriend Jen moved to Camano Island from California with her family. We live 5.6 miles away from each other now.
The bad news:
We've been having too much fun.

The Sierra Mist is just for show (left behind by the seven children in attendance). There was tequila shortly after this photo. There are photos but I am saving them for blackmailing purposes.

Tomorrow (Friday August 31) I hope to be at 22 Doors for the end of show reception (i.e. drinking wine, eating good food). Hope to see you there!

WINNERS!

2007-07-02T16:23:00.000-07:00

Okay. So we have some winners for the Independent Artist Wish List Sweepstakes hosted by www.Coleenabobeena.com.

Drum roll . . .

Winners are:
Rosalind G. of Metairie, LA
Michelle H. of Cleveland, OH
Tammy K. of - hm. I don't have her addy. (I'm sooper-dooper blonde today.)

It's Monday. I'll leave it at that!

Thanks to all to entering the drawing! Winners, you can expect your prizes this week! Tammy K., yours might be awhile. (Kidding. I'll email!)

x's
Shano

To Do List

2007-06-18T15:16:00.000-07:00

Is this not the handwriting of a serial killer? Or perhaps somebody who is just very tired of going around in circles finding herself in rooms ready to reach for something all the while mumbling the mantra "What was I doing? WHAT was I doing?!" Or hypothetically, it could be a person who finds herself banging on the computer monitor when the puter freezes or gives the ever popular message of "connection timed out" even though you pay good money for DSL. Hypothetically speaking of course. And we'll just say (for good times' sake) that you have Vonage and just about every call you make doesn't go through or gets dropped mid-conversation.

So, okay. This is my life in between emails, orders, returning phone calls, and laundry. Happy Monday.

*Not included on list:
Bank/Costco charged my debit card THREE times for one order thus giving us a negative balance. Good times abound when you get to talk to a REAL person after maneuvering your way through automated options with bank AND Costco.
Hair appointment to reinstate "sun-kissed" look rather than trailer park look.
Paint Polyurethane on cigar box purses (Emits highly toxic fumes, yet fun!)
Pay bills (Really rather challenging considering negative balance due to Bank/Costco error).
Type in entry in blog. Natch.

(The casting producer of Wife Swap contacted ME asking if I would be interested in doing their show. Hee. Bring it on Wife Swap. Bring it on.)

Illustration Friday "REJECTION"

2007-06-16T16:52:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's theme of "Rejection" in my latest painting that I have created for a local show. The title is "Red Light" but it was almost titled "Lola" . . . as in "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets", the great song by Sarah Vaughan. Lola knows no rejection.

Illustration Friday "CARS"

2007-05-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

I am on a roll! Two submissions for Illustration Friday within mere hours of each other! Ha! Shun you nonbelievers. Shun.

Illustration Friday "SIGNS"

2007-05-24T21:58:00.001-07:00

So I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed. It started when I went away for a week and to come back to being permanently signed out of my freebie image host. For the life of me, I can't sign back into Flickr. So, Photobucket? Oh sure. Why not? So what if it's a hurkin' life-sized image?! Bigger is better, right? The only problem is I'm like Rainman when it comes to changing things. Can you envision me hitting myself upside the head? Well do. Because Photobucket is no Flickr. ANYWAY. Here is my post for Illustration Friday's theme of SIGNS. No explanation necessary unless you are hitting yourself upside the head. Then you might need further direction. Email me if so. I will promptly respond in a few days or so. You should have a mild concussion by then and the doctor will order you Vicodin. It's a win-win situation. You get drugs. I get to put off answering a psychotic email.

If you can't get enough of "New Orleans" she can be purchased here here.

Illustration Friday "NEIGHBOR"

2007-05-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

Ugh. SO very far behind. Yet, I really, really wanted to do this week's theme of "neighbor" at Illustration Friday. I love participating in the weekly challenge. However, I wish I REALLY had a chance to explore ALL of the other submissions, especially my favorite artists that I have a history or report with. I have such a great time viewing the other entries- Not to mention catching up with all my artist friends' newest art. I find them all so inspirational- Surprisingly enough most of these exceptionally talented people are approachable, kind, and complimentary. I always find it to be great motivation to receive compliments and feel a certain acclamation from fellow artists.

So, a special thank you to my artist friends who always leave their footprints and courteous homage. I wish you the best in your artistic endeavors. It is the good people like you who will succeed with your art.

Or, if you just feel nice, leave a message. Either way I feel the love and want you to feel the love.

"Je Ne Sai Quoi" is my submission for this week. Are you feeling the "neighborly" vibe?

EBSQ Featured Artist

2007-05-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

As you may know, EBSQart.com is one of the largest and most popular art groups, art website, and art webzine out there. I am honored and pleased to announce that I have been chosen to be this month's featured artist. Check out my new art and interview on the EBSQ homepage.

Cheers!
~Shano

Sweepstakes
It's not too late to enter Independent artists sweepstakes hosted by Coleenabobeena! Win art and product by Shano. Check it out at:

http://blog.coleenabobeena.com
(Copy and Paste link into your browser window).

Be sure to check out the gorgeous jewelry as well at www.coleenabobeena.com

Illustration Friday "POLAR"

2007-04-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

This week's theme at Illustration Friday is "Polar". Here is my submission of "polar opposites".

Illustration Friday "FORTUNE"

2007-04-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

I recently created this image for a client. It literally costs a FORTUNE to own a warmblood sport horse . . . They start at 5-figures and can reach over a million for a stud horse. Here is my illo of a diva and her warmblood:

So, that said- This would be my contribution for Illustration Friday's theme of "fortune".

Illustration Friday "GREEN"

2007-04-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

ACK. My website has been down for 2 days now. I am SO irritated with the server. I guess that means I'll be spending hours uploading to the www.artbyshano.com site . . . Which isn't complete and relied on the www.shano-studio.com website. (Did you get or understand any of that?) At any rate, here is my submission for Illustration Friday's theme of "GREEN". This is an image created for Celebrity Dirty Laundry:

Stuff I am Digging

2007-04-05T21:28:00.000-07:00

I have my obsessions . . . Things that I just can't get enough of. Like that one year that I had to have Cream of Wheat for breakfast, lunch and dinner . . . Only this time I've expanded my horizons. Here is my current list of things I REALLY dig and I think you will as well. (Click on the links for a peek on more)

Amy Winehouse - Okay. So everybody is talking about Amy. But have you seen her My Space page? Love, love, lurve her but it pains me to see her tweaking so bad in her top video interview. I want to take the red-eye to England and fix her up a nice strong drink of charcoal, Benadryl, and Gatorade. A sandwich probably wouldn't hurt either. But listen to "You Know I'm No Good". You will have to agree that songs about carpet burn have never been sexier.

Link Popularity Check - Wonder why you're not making a million dollars selling those patchwork crocheted hankies with smiling pigs? (Although I would totally buy one!) Here's why! Nobody knows you exist and you're not popular! Kinda like high school! (This free download is fantastic, but the site to download it from is often down. Good luck with that.)

Yves Roche Line of Pro-Rentinol 100% Vegetal line. I SWEAR this stuff has erased fine lines and wrinkles. SWEAR it. It is better than anything you can buy in the United States. Why THIS isn't advertised, coveted, and fought over like an Xbox in After-Holiday Sales in Walmart is beyond me. Better yet? Sign up for the newsletter and get 10% off your order. EVEN BETTER? Buy something get a FREEBIE. And guess what? Their night cream in this line is offered as a freebie. FABulous.

Bistro Candles in Persian Amber. Trust me when I say this is the BEST scent in the whole wide world. And being a candle connoisseur, I can honestly say that these are the best that the universe has to offer. And being that they are soy- they last forever and a day.

Summer Dresses. YAY! Dresses are back in style!! I'm beyond excited. And by Old Navy standards, $25 is a lot of money. I've tried and purchased this one, and very much worth every penny and then some. And the good thing about this sassy little number? Hit that summertime keg as much as you want. Bloat and feel good about it, because you will be hot, my friend. Smokin'. I purchased both of the colors they offer. And they aren't hideous and shocking like the online photo. Think soft and has been washed and passed from friend to friend a million times. (But only loved and cherished like a vintage piece would be- Not all stained and wrinkled like that one roommate you had.)

Anything with Frank's Red Hot Sauce. Seriously. A couple dashes on popcorn is a nightly staple for me. Plus you can get it on pretzels (Costco!) Add to eggs, hashbrowns, chili - Or any dinner or meal you can/think or cook up. Spice up your boring old life already. There's really no excuse any more.

If you didn't already realize it before, I love Coleen Young. (See previous post). I have had this pair of earrings for about 3 years and have worn them EVERY SINGLE DAY since I've had them. Of course I've lost one of them a gazillion times (they always show up. Very loyal, these earrings), and have taken them out for special occasions, but these are the most FAB "every day diva" earrings a girl can have. I sleep, eat, breathe, and do nasty things (like yard work!) in them for goodness sake.

Men in Trees. Please don't let kooky Anne Heche scare you away. You will like her. You WILL. Just think about the time they took away Sex in The City, Twin Peaks,and Friends. Imagine someone snatching your US Weekly, Grey's Anatomy, or Gilmore Girls away from you! How would you feel? Pretty damn lousy I'd imagine. For Gawd's sake they've brought back Jericho- They can make Men in Trees stick around. I need my PG-13 rated sex on television, people. Take a stand with me. Like you have anything better to do on Friday nights. At least your TIVO doesn't.

Steve. Madden. Pony. Hair. Platform. Pumps. I'm dying. If I were to live my life as a shoe it would be these. Please let me die and come back as a Steve Madden shoe.

So what are you obsessions? What are you diggin'? Share! (And I know that some . . . okay, many . . . prefer to share this with me via email instead of to 25,000+ people (see Link Popularity Check above). It's alllll good. I REALLY want to hear from you. Indulge me. Or us.

ENTER to win PLUS - NEW art

2007-04-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

"Gypsies" Original Art Painting

Enter to WIN products of YOUR choice at the Independent Artists Sweepstakes

Coleenabobeena is hosting yet another fantastic opportunity to win products from independent artists. Check it out at:
http://blog.coleenabobeena.com/?p=62

Be sure to check out her jewelry as well at: http://www.coleenabobeena.com

NEW Paintings!
Check out the newest paintings (Divas, Horses, and even a Mermaid) at:
http://www.shano-studio.com/purchase_originalart.html

Keep abreast all the NEW happenings!
Keep posted at:
http://www.shano-studio.com/news.html

http://www.shano-studio.com

My Tarot Card

2007-03-29T09:42:00.000-07:00

You are The Star

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Star is one of the great cards of faith, dreams realised

The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future. They might say you're a dreamer, but you're not the only one.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Illustration Friday "I SPY " and stuff

2007-03-25T13:39:00.000-07:00

I spy with my little eye:

Something small and shiny. Yay!

I have also been doing busy work . . . Getting organized. I have been so overwhelmed by office and packaging supplies that I could no longer think. Here's the revamped space that I work in. The studio is now as pink and womb-cushy as humanly possible. But before you peek, imagine sweet pea incense and growly-voiced female vocalists- because that is a part of the ambiance.

Click to see the studio and office.

Unclad Show March 2007

2007-03-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

This photo was taken at the Unclad show last night:

But then you notice what was REALLY going on.

It was vr fun until I noticed that I was being attached by the art. Check out the Unclad show here.

Illustration Friday "HIDE"

2007-03-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

This week's theme at Illustration Friday is "hide". My submission for this week may need to do a little 'splaining. See, at one time she had two arms. But compositionally it was better that she had one arm. I thought it better that she "hide" the other for just a bit- for safe keeping - or for when it can be better utilized.

This girl was actually inspired by Manko, one of the Suicide Girls. (She has blue hair on her My Space page.) I have never sought out other people as muses . . . Well strangers actually. I do it for clients and friends quite a bit. But never artistically stalked anyone. This is a first.

Anyway, if you like the print, she can be found here: Goth Girl

Illustration Friday "COMMUNICATION"

2007-02-23T20:45:00.000-08:00

Multitasker (Two Cats) is my contribution for this week's theme of Communication at Illustration Friday. Obviously, my diva in red is WAY better at multitasking AND communications . . . And most of you are probably aware of this because of the fact that I am terrible, hideous, even HEINOUS at returning phone calls and emails. Even smoke-signals. I am REALLY bad at those.

But on a cheerier, brighter, more task-efficient note, I finally. FINALLY. Added bookmarks and handbags (and checkbook covers!) to my repertoire.

And because you are special, I am offering a special blog sale (because I'm special. So special. Sung in true Chrissy Hines manner . . . Okay. Not really. But I'm trying. You may not want to imagine that.) Any order over $15 gets a free bookmark. Just add the word "BLOG" to the Additional Comments section during checkout.

Tootles and Ta-Ta. Or Tootles and Ta-Ta's. Whatever your preference.

The Story of Camano Island

2007-02-18T22:36:00.000-08:00

Flashback May 2001 and my husband and I are on a Mother's Day Tour of Camano Island. Camano Island has a wonderful community of artists whom host a Mother's Day tour every year on . . . duh. Mother's Day. My husband and I living a mere 2 ½ hours away at the time, decide to take the trek up North to visit this quaint little island. We ended up taking one or two of the studio tours and my husband develops one of his infamous migraines. I asked if he wouldn't mind if he just kick back and I drive around the island since we took the long drive up. He says no and reclines the passenger seat all the way back. I look over and his eyes are closed. So I'm driving around the island (it goes full-circle) and just enjoying the views. It's so green! And water! Views of the Puget Sound at every turn! And pastures of horses! Oh! How wonderful it would be to live here! So peaceful! And look- A woman riding her horse on the side of the road! So lovely . . . Yet sadly, my husband's eyes aren't open to appreciate the lovely countryside.

We're driving and driving and we're passing by real estate sign after real estate sign of homes for sale and I'm just chomping at the bit to do a drive by . . . Not gansta style shooting of crips or bloods, Eastside/Westside, but more a lookie-loo-take-a-peek sorta way. But my poor husband is in pain and he is suffering long enough for me to drive around the island (15 miles long? 2 miles across? Or something like that. For goodness sake, google it if you're that inclined) Anyway, we pass yet another sign on a long gravel road that says, "home on acreage" and I'm just about beside myself. (I am SUCH a good wife.) My husband with both eyes closed, says . . . "Why don't you turn around? It said, "home on acreage".

I would say that the rest is history. But five and a half effin' years later, I know better. History is one long-ass lesson and I never received better than a C+ grade.

We drive up this long gravel drive, come to a private little ranch and we see rolling hills, two cute red barns (for horses!) a wrap around porch, views of the Puget Sound, and on a dead end? Only slightly out of our price range? Does life get any better? We called up the realtor, he rushed up (Red Flag #1) and we made an offer within an hour. A few months later, we were living in our dream home.

But I'm WAY ahead of myself. First, to get financing on our "dream home", I had to get mortgage insurance for a 1965 home with a flat roof. Good Lord. A flat roof in the Seattle area where it rains a LOT is just . . . asinine. (Red Flag #2) This took weeks and a bit of sleepless nights to accomplish. And then there was the home inspection to qualify for a mortgage loan. Apparently there's this like little LAW as to where they won't give you money for a home that sits directly on the dirt, and an 18" crawl space has to be dug out under the house. Huh? (Red Flag #3)

But horses! Water! Countryside! Green grass! Rolling hills! Wrap around porches! Not one, but TWO barns! Yippee!!

So dumb following dumber, we STILL wanted to move up here. And we did. Do you honestly think any of this would deter us? Two parents with two young children under the age of 5 . . . . scared? Run away? I think not! So what if we knew nobody- Had no family or support team. We had each other and our little ranch. Hubris! Ignorance. Whatever. It was sunny! And quiet! I could have horses! A long gravel road! A bit of a water view! (Can't swim in it because it's too damn cold, but hey. Horses!) And so what if our 1965 home had shag carpet, dark wall paneling, drop styrofoam grid ceilings, and itty bitty windows that probably weren't up to fire codes even in 1965, it was after all the Age of Aquarius . . . We HAD EACH OTHER. And did I mention the countryside? And horses? Water?

So we moved up here and admittedly, I was a bit sad that I had to give up a cute suburban home with the upgrades and local amenities for a home with shag carpeting and the aforementioned, but yeah. Yeah. Horses. Water. Whoopee. I was coming down from my fresh air high and in the middle of flippin' nowhere with two children not even in freakin' preschool or Kindergarten yet, with SHAG carpet AND wall paneling. But I did buy a horse and this made me vr vr happy. And then I got a second horse. And a pony. They quickly chomped down all of the rolling green hills only to enlighten me on the fact that pretty much all of the 20 year + fences needed to be replaced and repaired.

Three months after living on our cute little ranch, winter hit and our flat roof home . . . flooded. A day or two after Thanksgiving. You know- right before Christmas. I was awakened to my three-year-old son doing a re-enactment of water pouring through a vent in the ceiling and into the living room. I rushed out to find that my living room, laundry room and bathroom (with cobalt blue indoor/outdoor carpeting) were an inch under water. Panic set in. What do you do when your roof is draining a gallon per minute blocking your view from teletubbies? Seriously. I didn't have enough towels and rags to deal (and I tried- At which I became the butt of the contractor's joke who came to my rescue.) So, 3 months later, a FREEZING cold winter (the main heat source came from the living room), $25K of insurance claims, numerous flooding nightmares, and one crappy Christmas, I can say that I no longer have shag carpets and wall paneling in my living room. (My husband and I had a PLAN. Flooding at the time complicated things GREATLY, yet simplified things in the long run, as I'm sure you can imagine. Hindsight was NOT 20/20 for a VR VR long time.)

And folks. It doesn't end there. In 1965 homes nothing is straight or even. Adding new flooring takes somebody with a calculus or P.H.D. math degree because in 1965, apparently square angles weren't mainstream enough to be used in erecting houses. When say, you replace the dirt ground with like . . . 18" of no ground . . . The house tends to bow. And when you perk up the bowed parts with new beams- doorways and walls in particular . . . crack. And doors don't always close/open any more. And don't even get me started on 1965 plumbing (of which I'm sure MANY of you are VR familiar with. Hee.) Or 1965 electrical which is quite tasty and OH so yummy to field mice . . .

So sometimes I don't post. And it's not because I'm busy. It's merely because I am simply a robotic shell of the sparkly, magnetic personality that I once was 5½ years ago before this little ranch turned me into a blob of adult onset ADD. As it seems, my living the high life of non-wall paneling walls and high-maintenance needs are an acquired taste. So what if I didn't play Chutes and Ladders every day with my kids on the shag carpet floors? I gave them woods to play in, fresh air, ponies (which they have NEVER had any interest in) and a long country road to catch the school bus on every day . . . They were blessed with a special Mommy who could turn green, spew vomit, and make her head spin completely around.

I wouldn't change a thing ...

But winning the lottery would be SO sweet. After all, Momma needs a new non-flat roof. But please God, no more shag carpeting, wall paneling, or living room floods. And while I'm making my pleads . . . Can you do something about this 1980's fashion comeback thing? I'm just so not ready yet. And don't think I'm not on to you with this whole Pergo/Laminate flooring thing. You think you can just get rid of wall paneling, snaz it up a bit, throw it on the floor . . . AND NOBODY IS GONNA NOTICE? I know where wall paneling goes when it dies. Even Hell didn't want it.

Illustration Friday "CRASH"

2007-02-10T10:40:00.000-08:00

this is my submission for this week's theme of "crash" . . . Obviously crash has turned to crashed. My "Sofa Sleepers" print/tote bag/mouse pad can be found here.

On another note, I am very excited about getting my images on more products! I am -->THIS<-- close to having my images on purses and jewelry . . . and I already have 10 images available on checkbook covers and bookmarks (bookmark images coming soon). Hurray!