News & Updates
| November 1, 2009|
Check out my new kickstarter project! I think it speaks for itself!
Oh, yeah, and I'm now addicted to making videos with iMovie. For example, this next video:
| October 13, 2009|
Wow. This summer was intense. And now, this fall is already intense! Why?
Well, first, today marks the official release of Ah Holly Fam'ly's new album, "Reservoir". I've been listening to it a lot in the car lately, as I've been rounding around on errands, and I have to say: Without a doubt, this is wonderful, exciting, perfect album. I'm very proud to be apart of it. So, please, please buy a copy from Lucky Madison. It's even out on vinyl! I will not cease to be excited about this.
Secondly, Jeff and I have created a kickstarter project for the biography that we are trying to write, about Thomas S. Buechner. I've been so excited and wrapped up with other people's projects on the site (currently, I am backing 5 projects), that I am tickled pink to be on the other side. So, please, become a backer!!
| July 23, 2009|
So, in the past 10 days, I have been working like mad to prepare for the Areyoumadatme?s short cross-country tour and show in Corning, NY. On top of that, Ah Holly Fam'ly has a couple of shows - one tonight at Holocene and then one on Sunday, July 26th at high noon at Rotture for the PDX Pop Now 2009 compilation extravaganza!
I'm getting a little exhausted, but my excitement for the road trip and to officiate my sister's wedding (that's right I'm officially ordained through the Universal Life Church) is rejuvenating me. Please come out and see me at The ARTS of the Southern Finger Lakes on August 6th for a book signing and a mini-performance from The Areyoumadatme?s. And for the love of pete, come say howdy!!
| July 6, 2009 |
Ahoy there! I'm updating from Sandpoint, ID whilst enjoying some well deserved vacation time at Jeff's family's lakeside property on Lake Pend D'Oreille in northern Idaho. I watched 6 different fireworks shows from the cliffy point on said property, and it was awesome. Lots of good times with his family.
The sketchbook release went well. Thank you to all of you who came out! And now, the sketchbooks are for sale at Reading Frenzy, so check them out there, too!
| June 23, 2009|
A week from today, I will be down at Valentine's in Portland (on Ankeny & 3rd) with my newly published volume II of my sketchbook best of collection. I just got them all shiny and new today, and they look awesome. They are more dense with more stuff from my wanderings all over the globe. I'm pretty happy with them.
Plus, The Areyoumadatme?s will have a performance (our debut public appearance!) with a brand new EP. Saw Whet will also play, which is always a treat. Beautiful music!
It all begins at 9pm/showtime. Sketchbooks volume I & II will be available for sale for $15 each, or $25 together. For artist friends that I know are strictly bohemian, I'll give you a deal of $10 each, or $17 together plus one hug.
For those of you who are not in Portland, there will be a book signing at the ARTS of the Southern Finger Lakes in Corning, NY on August 6th with a special performance from The Areyoumadatme?s.
And for those of you who won't be able to make either event, you can buy them online. OR, contact me specially, and we'll make arrangements otherwise.
| June 17, 2009 |
| May 27, 2009 |
Just wanted to draw attention to the fact that I have finally put some of my weird paint can lid clocks up on Etsy.
| May 20, 2009 |
I feel like the period of time that has passed since my last post may be a new record. But! But! But! I have been, as I prefaced in the last post, VERY BUSY. So, here we go again, one thing at a time:
Ah Holly Fam'ly spent 14 straight 7+ hour days recording the new album, Reservoir with the greatest guy ever, Skyler, at Miracle Lake in Camas, WA. It was intense, to say the least. But, words cannot describe the excitement that I have to contain all the way until this fall for the album's official release. We still have a few more things to tweak, but 97% of it is done.Then we went on our first mini-tour with Horse Feathers and played a show with Laura Gibson in the midst of that. PLUS, more excitingly, every year, one of the major papers in Portland lists the top 10 best new bands. We made No. 7!! So, so, so awesome! You can scroll down and read all about us here.
I've also moved again. Yeah, I know. I move around too much. But I'm now the fifth lady in a house of very awesome ladies: the Magikhaus, I've deemed it. I have a pretty big basement room with a little area for painting right outside its door, which is great. The yard is epic with a zen garden, fountain, veggie garden and two chickens! I actually have chicken duty this week, which is fun. Oh, and a sauna. That's right.
Lastly, I have some huge news on the art front. I applied to a couple of highly-rad art ateliers (one in Seattle and one in Sweden), thinking that the portfolio that I had to offer this spring was rather lacking. BUT, AU CONTRAIRE, I am now on a waiting list for a spot at the one in SWEDEN!!! (I proceed to jump for joy, up and down several times, smiling profusely) I probably won't go until Winter 2010, but that will work better for me anyway in terms of Ah Holly Fam'ly album release & tour(?).
Oh, and one more thing: I am publishing my sketchbook again this summer. I simply cannot wait to start working on it, which will probably happen tomorrow or the next day. So stay posted for developments on that front.
| February 10, 2009 |
Happy New Year! And what a year it's been already!! Holy Moly! I'm going to take a deep breath and then go over everything as best as possible as quickly as possible. Here we go...
- Ah Holly Fam'ly got signed to Lucky Madison Records, propelling us into stardom! Or the glimmer of possibility of stardom... So far, however, it's been pretty rad. We opened for Talk Demonic at the Doug Fir on Saturday to a sold-out venue. Whoa. It was a bit intense, and my nerves were going a little overboard for a second. But, when I stepped out on that stage in front of 200+ people (I have no idea how many people were there, actually), I got into my miraculous cool-as-a-cucumber groove lickity-split and played an awesome show.
- Tomorrow, we're playing with Horse Feathers in Seattle. Should be a fun overnight trip. Rad and rad. Things are really taking off. We're planning on recording an album in late March/early April and then touring for the spring and summer... hopefully.
- THEN, Jeffrey and I have a side project called The Areyoumadatme?s. We debuted our brand new act at his birthday party with success and positive feedback, which was a huge relief. It's not just music... we incorporated drama, dance, poetry, and strobe lights, too. So it's a little schizophrenic, but really rad.
- So, basically, when I'm not rehearsing with one of 3 bands, I'm translating or resting or volunteering at Reading Frenzy. Super busy. Then, Jeff and I go to Hawaii for two weeks for the rest of February. Not bad. So yeah, thanks for staying tuned. More later!
| Boxing Day, 2008 |
I hope everyone had a very lovely holiday with friends and family. Due to the crazy amounts of snow in Portland, Jeff and I had to stay in town instead of venturing to Northern Idaho as previously planned. But that's cool. We have work over the holidays anyway. Plus, I have more time to actually paint: I started a portrait of Rostopovich for Jeff's Christmas present. And will finally get to my black-on-black series. Hooray!
| December 1, 2008 |
So I have the last of the paint can lid series in Reading Frenzy's 13th Annual Cheap Art & Craft Show. There will be a reception on First Thursday on December 4 from 6 - 9 pm.
Also, I'm singing with Ah Holly Fam'ly as well as Galveston (for the first time) at an upcoming show on Friday, Dec 5, at the Waypost on Williams St., that doubles as a going-away party for a dear friend and brilliant writer, Mr. James Vicotry Yeary. He has decided to go work and write in Alaska until the summer, and everyone is very supportive/sad about this decision.
Portland just won't be the same without James.
| November 22, 2008 |
Whoa. I "finished" my self portait today. And by "finished" I mean I've decided to stop messing with it. So, below is an image of it and it's also on my artwork page.
Also, I want to let folks know that some friends and I will be selling our wares at the Lower Fremont Winterfest (between 12th and 14th st.) on December 12 & 13. So please come buy stuff!
| November 15, 2008 |
Hey hey hey! Really quickly, Jeffrey and I have a duet art show up at Lorenzo's on Mississippi St. through the 1st of December, so you should really check it out. (Between Failing & Beech). We had the same show at Madrona Hill Cafe in October, so I'm happy to say that I've been able to keep my art on the walls-- and even then, it looks like I'll have some things in the Reading Frenzy 13th Annual Cheap Art & Craft show. So that would make it 3 months in a row of shows!
Sorry to have neglected October. Jeff and I were on vacation for a couple weeks in New York (city & state), so I was pretty busy. Yes, very busy in fact. One other piece of news is that I am now officially in oil painting mode. It's been a very long time since I've done this, and it feels really good.
| September 18, 2008 |
What a month so far! For the love of Pete, I vow to upload more pictures and videos one of these days. I mean it. But, singing with Parenthetical Girls and then Au for PICA's T:BA:08 at the Left Bank was AWESOME. Plus, I've been working away at creating the Ah Holly Fam'ly website which I highly encourage you to check out. We had a couple of good shows, one at the Waypost and then last night at the Alien Boy Film Benefit at the Wonder Ballroom with Calvin Johnson and Tender Forever. Pretty crazy stuff.
Next on the Agenda is an artshow for Myself and my handsome, Jeffrey Diteman, at the Madrona Hill Cafe. More info to come on that show, but, it opens on October 1st (coming up quickly) and we hope to have a nice opening for that. So stay tuned!
| September 1, 2008 |
Rabbit rabbit, once again... Ah, but here I am with another post! I'm matching my personal record.
I'd like to say a little bit about some work I will be having at a fundraiser art show for an organization called, >Pocket Change<. The opening takes place during First Thursday in the Pearl on September 4th at the Art Institute of Portland. Here are my favorites out of 25 pieces priced at $25 that I will be contributing to the show:
 |  |  |
| Valda Erret | Emelina Giesler | Desmond Wiggins |
I also have work at >Tender Loving Empire< on Lovejoy & 17th. It's an >awesome little show with Aidan Koch and Jennifer Lee<. >Click here< to look at their photostream.
| August 31, 2008|
This has been the summeriest-summer I have experienced (since my childhood). Since I last wrote, I've gone camping in 6 different places, took 2 week-long vacations in Idaho, went to the ocean 3 times, visited Vancouver, BC, performed in 9 musical shows, took an old master painting technique class (see below), went swimming in rivers bunches of times, and moved into yet another place. I actually got a tan this year. I think this is the second time I've ever been able to say that in my life.
Well, a host of things are coming up for me. I think I'm actually going to try to make new posts for each one that are a little more detailed. But for now, I want to post a few pictures from my summer. Enjoy.
 |  |
| Me and Becky @ Three Pools, Oregon | Me and Oregon |
 |  |
| Detail from copy of Titian's portrait of Daniela Barbaro | In process copy of Caravaggio's David & Goliath; group painting featuring Jeff, Ben, Nine and myself (I did Goliath's head) |