WELCOME ARTOMATIC PATRONS!!!

I’m so glad you’re here!

If you want to purchase a piece from the show click HERE or go to the ARTOMATIC TAB in my Shop!

If you don’t see the artwork you’re interested in or have any questions send me an email at obscuragirl@gmail.com or DM me on IG @obscuragirl! :)

Since all works will be in the show and unavailable until after April 29th once payment is received all orders will be finalized via email confirmation to coordinate delivery/pick up.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me and thank you so much for being here!!!

WELCOME ARTOMATIC PATRONS!!!

I’m so glad you’re here!

If you want to purchase a piece from the show click HERE or go to the ARTOMATIC TAB in my Shop!

If you don’t see the artwork you’re interested in or have any questions send me an email at obscuragirl@gmail.com or DM me on IG @obscuragirl! :)

Since all works will be in the show and unavailable until after April 29th once payment is received all orders will be finalized via email confirmation to coordinate delivery/pick up.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me and thank you so much for being here!!!

Artomatic and why you might see me laying down in a coffee shop.

Welp, I just spent an hour writing this newsletter only to discard it by accident with the push of a button! So here I am, rewriting what I thought was going to be a pretty meaty post but what will now be a short update on what’s happening, which is kind of a lot!

I’m prepping a bunch of pieces for the ARTOMATIC show in DC happening from March 8th to April 28th. I have my site selection this Saturday which will then determine what I’m including and how to display it. Plans are cooking! I also found out I did not get selected for a residency I applied for last month but it’s ok. Frankly there was a little relief after I found out because now I know where to focus my energy as I plan the next few months. But I’m getting closer and that’s progress.

I’m also participating in The #100 Day Project again and highly recommend it to anyone seeking a way to develop a new habit or creative practice. The image above is from my collection I did in 2017 that you can revisit HERE. It changed the game for me and helped me hone in on my practice by helping me see my progress. Any progress is important and counts. Somedays progress looks like sitting at the computer all morning skipping lunch till 2pm and getting shit done. Other days it’s just staring out the window at my favorite coffeeshop recovering from physical therapy nursing a coffee while I listen to my ambient playlist and fighting the urge to not to completely lay down flat in the booth! Both work and both matter. I think I’m getting closer to the balance I’m looking for which is the most important progress of all.

Thanks for being here~




Some epiphanies I've had & what I've been up to

I hope everyone had a peaceful holiday season and that 2024 has been kind to you thus far. It’s a snowy January day here and I’ve been working steadily on putting new systems into place to manage a lot of goals I’ve got for this year. I’ve learned that my spicy brain needs a structure, but freedom within that structure. Which leads to one of the epiphanies I’ve had recently about work and focus.

My 2024 Planner Journal

During my career as a teacher I was in a constant state of hypervigilance because I had to pay attention to so much going on around me all at once which made focusing very difficult. And when I did eventually carve out time to focus on my own work I was rushing myself to get things done out of fear I’d be interrupted and have to start all over again. Needless to say a state of flow was hard to come by and the drag on my nervous system was not sustainable. I’m definitely a big picture person so focusing has always been difficult for me. But my intention for this new phase of life wasn’t to continue to grind. It was to find my flow again and I think I’m on the right track. I’ve created a streamlined planner for myself that I use to help me plan my days better as well as my ipad for long term project planning. I’ve also dug back into my Skillshare account and found some resources that broke down the marketing piece I was struggling with. It’s coming together. And it does take time..but the catch is all this planning means nothing if I’m not patient and realistic about how much time things really take to get done and how important my time really is. If anyone is interested in how I’m planning these days (and why I take time to design the cover specifically for the energy I want to draw in for the year. :) maybe I could make some videos about it. Yes? Let me know if you’re interested in the comments or reach out on Instagram!

Scanned Pinhole Composite ABS 2023

To that I’ve been looking at how and where I want to spend my time this year. I’ve happily been digging back into my darkroom photo practice and have had the most fun using my Pinsta Camera. The image above is a composite of two shots I took in December down at Jones Point Park here in Alexandria. I scanned them and edited them in Photoshop. This camera is a remarkable thing that is so well designed and is basically a miniature darkroom. I’ve submitted some of the images I’ve taken so far to a pinhole exhibition with the NJ Pinhole Club and Unique Photo in honor of Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day. They’ve accepted all submissions for a digital exhibition but I also requested to be juried in for my work to be printed and displayed so more on that outcome soon. I’ve also submitted work to several exhibitions and residencies local and in various parts of the country so lot’s of irons in the fire currently. Hope to have news on things soon but in the meantime I’ll be posting on my Instagram more frequently this month in preparation for The 100 Day Project that starts in February. More on that soon as well! That’s all for now until I know more and get deeper in the swing of things now that one chunk of applications have been completed. Thanks for being here!

Year end wrap up and looking ahead

One more month of 2023 and honestly, I’m ok with it. As we close this year out I am making this last newsletter short and sweet with just some info about the new items that are available for sale on my site and a sincere thank you.

I’ve taken the leap and have uploaded a bunch of items in my online shop and while it’s been a pretty wild learning curve, I’m excited and motivated to keep building. I have original pieces, notecards, canvas patches, an original tshirt design and tote bag that are printed and shipped right to you.

I did have some prints I was going to sell through an outside vendor but upon getting the samples which were great quality, the fact that they come rolled isn’t what I wanted and I’d rather wait to find a better method of delivery for people.

I want to take a minute to thank everyone who has joined me on this year as I navigate this transition from my full time job to being a working artist. I am still in the early days of learning new systems and just how vulnerable I want to be on this machine! But it’s been so amazing to see the work I’ve been able to put into it pay off with new connections and slow but steady habits forming. I’m hooked! I hope you’ll stick around to see what’s next!

I hope everyone has a peaceful holiday season and sinks into these colder darker days and just takes time to pause and rest. Thank you for being here~

Pause for station identification

I’m “I know what this phrase means” old. :) If you know you know! Now that it’s November I’m able to come out of a wicked busy stretch. I feel stretched too. I did the things, posted, shared, reposted, blasted, commented, and with just 2 months left of the year, I’ve got just a few more things to tidy up and I’m done for 2023. And that feels right.

Square collage of 9 square images of photo mandala designs in blues, purples, gold, black, red and pink with white strips of paper in the center of each with a typed quote.

“Inner Compass” - 6” x 6” prints mounted on wood, embellished with paint, ink, graphite and cut paper quote.

I’ve finally posted these pieces for sale here on my site! They’re in the Available Works tab and will be shipped starting November 10th. This is my first time utilizing this feature on my site, so you’re patience is greatly appreciated! I’m happy to answer any questions if you need, just DM me on IG or shoot me an email.

I will have more items posted in the next few weeks including some gift cards, journals and some canvas patches. Again, all new endeavor so I appreciate your understanding for the learning curve!

I’ll be posting on IG when these items will be up so keep an eye on that feed.

For now, I’m trying to take a breath, re-calibrate my days with some new routines including diving back into The Artist Way by Julia Cameron, or rather the workbook and Morning Pages. (More on that to come!) I’m also planning some things for 2024 that I want to make space for including some photography adventures with a new camera I’ve purchased, (low-fi pinhole magic!) and which I hope to document. I’m hardly able to say the word, “Content” but fundamentally that’s what might be happening, might be, maybe..we’ll see! Suffice it to say, if I can’t edit it on my phone, it’s not happening! LOL! Famous last words, eh?

For now, I’ll leave you with some cool images I created from a random photo walk I took yesterday. I love to find textures and manipulate them into something inexplicable. These were fun to mess with and I want to print them and work back into them soon. Until then, thanks for being here and again, if you have any questions about the work for sale don’t hesitate to get in touch. Cheers~

Updates and stuff

So I’ve got some very cool news. My image for the exhibition at The Anthenaeum in Alexandria has been chosen to be used both on the Anthenaeum site to advertise the show, but it was also chosen by East City Arts to represent the show on their site too. I’m thrilled! The show opens Friday 10/21 and runs until 11/16. The opening reception for this exhibit is Sunday 10/22 from 4-6,

“Flat White”

16” x 16” Digital Photograph mounted on wood cradle board.



The exhibition I’m in this Friday and Saturday is an amazing gathering of friends I’ve worked with as an Art Teacher for years. This talented lot comes together each year coordinated by the mega talented artist and teacher, Elaine Florimonte . Each artist will have their work for sale with a portion of the proceeds to go to the American Cancer Society, a cause close to all of us.



New work & a little story.

In 2017 I did the 100 Day Project. (See them here!) & it really changed the way I approach my work. These pieces became so poignant by making the collages and finding the words to help me process so much that was happening in life. They were touchstones to help me heal from losing my mom and my seemingly never ending grief. I have found since making them that the imagery and words offer others a moment of healing too. This hasn’t left me & I’ve felt strongly that my work has important purpose that being to bring about some clarity and perhaps a moment of healing for the viewer no matter the imagery.

I created a series of digital collages last year using photographs taken while on my daily walks during lockdown thru the pandemic. I had to teach from home for a year and I live by myself. So my daily walks, often multiple were vital to my health all around. Because like many of us I was on my computer all day as well as having to rely on screens for both entertainment and communication I needed nature and the sky & trees to give me and my brain something else to focus on. I was also meditating daily (still do!) and the use of visualizations helped me manage thoughts that can pop in your head. I often use mandalas for these visualizations as they are a common symbols used for this practice. Because I was taking so many photos I started to play with how they might become healing images for my meditation practice and for a moment of peace away from screens inspired by nature. By digitally manipulating them I created what I call, “Inner Compasses” for the journey one takes inward during meditation. These pieces are digitally printed and mounted on wood cradle board with typed words of inspiration and hand painted embellishments. I’ll have these one of a kind pieces at my upcoming shows as well as smaller prints all of which will be available on this site next month!!! I’m new at selling online so it’s all very exciting and scary! But it’s time and I’m very excited. Thanks for being here~

Upcoming Shows & life update!

It’s September 1st and the air has changed…finally. There’s a freshness to the breeze that helps my shoulders drop a bit, and actually exhale. This is something that I haven’t really done yet but welcome fully as 2023 ticks towards Fall because it’s been….a year hasn’t it.

Much like many I’ve had some major life changes this year. I decided after 31 years it was time to end my teaching career. I was fortunate enough to have 26 years in Fairfax County Public Schools which allowed me to retire early but it still was a heavy lift to finally decide. I’ve known for a while now that I needed to make a change and restructure my life to bring in more balance and joy. And this decision felt like the gateway to that path. I was at my current school for 20 years so the excavation of those years was going to be a heavy lift. But once I decided the plan was to take the Spring to start offloading it all. Silly me.

Unfortunately my dad was admitted to the hospital the beginning of March and was in for 6 weeks. I traveled up to NY 3 times between March and April to be with him for whatever time we had left. My dad was amazing & I was lucky. We lost him Easter morning. I could go on about grief and family and caregiving…but for now I’ll just say…everyone is dealing with something so while I’m trying to be kind to myself I’m also trying to extend that to others. And also grief sucks.

Needless to say the remainder of the school year was a blur. I managed somehow return to school knowing I only had a few months to contend with made it bearable and easier to start to let go especially with way less in my tank. I also managed to crowbar all the crap I’d accumulated (er, I mean collected!) into my car, and then into my storage unit. The storage unit I also had been loading up with all the mementos I’d inherited from my parents house. It’s hard to let things go. But I’ve finally come to realize how stuck I really was.

We cannot plan anything. I mean, we can but doesn’t the Universe laugh or something? Well, the intention is to keep building my art practice and see where it takes me. It’s still cooking but I’m optimistic it’s going to be delicious once ready. Somethings take time in the oven and this is no exception. I’ve had the most incredible support from family and friends and I couldn’t have managed this year without them (Shout out to my people!) I’ve had opportunities fall in my lap that have been wonderful ways to expand and connect with people and my community that I wouldn’t have otherwise pursued because I didn’t have the time or mental bandwidth. And when you’re grieving, reaching out is vital.

So here I am, reaching out to you all and sharing the good and the exciting that’s happening in my life that I am so incredibly grateful for. To start I’ll be participating in the HalloWIERD Art Market at DelRay Artisans on Saturday September 23rd from 10 to 4 pm. It’s a spooky-halloween-fall themed event and there will be some cool stuff happening! Since I will not be participating in Art On The Avenue this year I hope to have a pretty full booth with as much as I would at AOTA so if you can make it it’d be amazing!!!

In October I will also be participating in the RECENT WORKS Exhibition at the Fairfax Railroad Museum on the 20th & 21st. This is an amazing collection of talented artists who I am lucky to also call friends. A percentage of each sale goes to the American Cancer Association and it’s a great event for a fall weekend.

I’ve also had a photograph chosen to be included in the upcoming Street Photography Exhibition, FLEETING MOMENTS at The Anthenaeum in Old Town Alexandria in October. Participating in a show at this gallery has been a goal of mine for a while so this is really exciting news!

In between I might also be selling my condo and moving….so no big! I’m staying local but it’s time to expand into more space. Until next month, I’ll be over on Instagram so don’t be a stranger! And thanks for subscribing if you’re getting this in your email…I greatly appreciate it!

Cheers~

Amy

Getting things ready

I’m excited to share more work here in the coming months and please also check my Instagram feed for day to day updates. I’m working hard on something big and will be posting more work here soon to make room for the new new coming later in the Spring! I’m participating in the 100 Day Project again this year and my daily goal is to create more videos that both record my processes and also capture my day to day doings as I start to shift a few things in my world. Can you guess what’s happening? It’s very exciting! OH, and also…if you’re interested in updates join my email list at THIS LINK at my linktr.ee on Instagram! My goal is only once a month updates with most of my day to day posted on socials so NO WORRIES! I won’t invade your inbox, promise! :) I should probably clean mine out come to think of it. Anyway! Thanks so much for being here. <3 Here’s some things I’m working on below including some patch designs and mini journals in the works with canvas covers. Thanks so much for being here~ <3

Here’s a sneak peak!

Wait, it's December? :)

Well, that Fall FLEW by! It’s officially December and we are rounding 3rd towards 2023 sort of speak…and unbelievably. What is time, right? Anyway, I just wanted to post a quick update.

So I had a great time at the Recent Works show and I’m so happy to have seen so many great friends come by and visit. It literally refills the well. These works will be available VERY SOON here on the site!

I also had a WONDERFUL time at Art On The Avenue as well. It was a lot of hard work that I frankly, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to pull off…you’re girl is getting old! But it was all amazing and thanks to some very good friends (you know who you are!) I was able to really have an amazing day, and introduced some new things at the show I’ll have for sale here as well. You can take a peek below!

ART ON THE AVENUE UPDATE & RECENT WORKS SHOW!!!

Oh, thank God it’s SWEATAH WEATHAH!!! :) After a way too humid classroom because we started school in AUGUST!!! (Don’t get me started) I’m finally feeling like I can exhale a little bit. Reason? I finally have a little bit of a pace going at school so it’s not so overwhelming. (Mental Health, ya’ll!) But because of the intensity that the start of the school year brings, especially after the past few years of chaos, the plans I have for my site updates have been a littttttle delayed…eeek! I’ve got SO MUCH WORK TO SHARE WITH YOU!!! Just need some more time to get things ready as I’m actually learning how to do this in between the full time gig until THIS becomes my fulltime gig. Hopefully soon.

Until then, I’ll be continuing to use Instagram & Facebook as a means of sharing my work and happenings. I have a linktree in my bio that sends you to all the places so check it out when you can.

UPDATE #1! So, the other news that’s up is that Art On The Avenue was POSTPONED due to Hurricane Ian rolling in and possibly soaking us and/or blowing us away. It was a crappy wknd so a good decision on part of the organizers. The rescheduled date is planned for SATURDAY NOVEMEBER 12TH FROM 10-6PM. I’ll be posting reminders as we get close again, but for now mark you calendars again…and maybe find your mittens too! :) I’ll be at booth W20 & if you’re interested in getting a coupon for a free gift CLICK HERE!

UPDATE #2! I am happy to be participating in the RECENT WORKS Exhibit again at the Fairfax Railroad Museum next wknd. The opening reception is Friday, October 14th from 4pm to 8pm and then all day Saturday October 15th from 12 to 7pm. I’ll be there Saturday at 1pm till close so hope to see any local peeps there! There are several new artist joining and it’s going to be an amazing show!

It hasn't been a year yet! LOL!

Yep, it’s still here! This blog thing I have…amazing. One minute they’re “In”, then they’re “Out” now apparently they’re having a renaissance and are somehow cool again, who knew. And frankly who can keep up! I’m thinking we need a term for the cognitive whiplash we have all been in the midst of over the past few years with how much life as we know it has changed. I’m taking suggestions.

In the meantime, I’ve also been plugging away at this mother….site in between pandemic teaching and bobbing & weaving around Covid! It’s summer thank GOD and I’m finally off from school…a place where it’s starting to resemble the Wild Wild West. There isn’t any benefit to rehashing the chaos that was this past school year but suffice it to say I’m glad it’s over. I did manage to accomplish a few things in between recovering from the days including participating in 2 shows ( Click HERE & HERE to see the details! :), accomplishing the 100 Day Project again, and getting my sh*t together enough to actually, wait for it, SELL MY WORK HERE!!! Yes, you heard it right. The learning curve is a LOT, mostly because I’m just so dang tired of looking at a computer screen after so much about teaching got shifted to screens. But I’m just starting with one thing here on the site and plan to beta-test items on my Instagram Page as well.

Fun fact, I am also participating in Art On The Avenue this year! It’s been about an 8 year hiatus from that fair and I’m both excited and pre-exhausted at the thought of it. (Yeah, being over 50 is about energy management isn’t it? LOL!) But I am working on a bunch of new (and reworked old) things to have at this in-person show happening in Del Ray on Saturday October 1st! Well definitely be posting more as the time approaches and as more work gets loaded into here. For now, don’t hesitate to drop by my Instagram where I’m posting most days. I’ll be gathering emails at some point too but for now, just saying hi feels like enough.

Here’s some current stuff I’m playing with. More soon!!! :)



Is this thing on?

Welp, where do I begin? Um, yeah. 2020 is a blur. Kept my job. Pro. Taught from home for 11 months alone in my condo. Con. Was able to see family, some friends & safely participate in the Recent Works Show again in the Fall. Pro. Had my neighborhood put in lockdown because of proximity to the Capital the day it was attacked. Con. Didn’t lose anyone one. Pro. And the list keeps going. All I’ll say to anyone who is here reading this, I’m so happy you’re here, on the other side of oh so much. Oh.So.Much.

One of the few things that helped me get thru it all (besides zooms with my family & daily/hourly texts from friends who were teaching online along with me!) was being creative. I had to take walks just to get up and away from the computer but and my human brain in chaos always looks for patterns where there aren’t any. So I made them in the form of photo collages I call digital mandalas, or my personal favorite, Digital Granny Squares. I’m working on getting these formed into some cool stuff that will be available on my Etsy store soon!

I didn’t write a novel, or bake bread (rather ate a lot though!) I took pictures. The documentation of it all helps me process & I think it helps others too to see some thing familiar when in crisis especially. Not sure what will come of them but for now I’ll share a sneak peek of the “Quilt”. That may be all I I get done in the next bit of time, I have no idea how fast or slow I can get anything done anymore because frankly I feel like my brain is still a bit mushy from all of it. Going steadily along & not pressuring myself to crank as hard as I did ( well, as we all did!) before.

May you continue to be well as we relearn it all. And thanks for being here.

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Recent Works show & minor updates.

I’m thrilled to be a part of a new show put on by my fellow Art Educator and Artist friend, Elaine Florimonte. This weekend, Friday & Saturday a group of 7 of us will be showing our work at the Fairfax Railroad Museum in Fairfax, Virginia. In line with Elaine’s amazing philanthropy, %15 of all sales will go to the American Cancer Society. Hope to share this will many

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I am also in the process of clearing out and updating things around here as time and energy allow.

I’m not much of a blogger anymore as social media has really been an easier route to show people what I’m doing. So do check out my IG account as I post there often.

I have also been working on a few baby Google sites that I’m playing around with. I have some ideas for turning some drawings I’ve been doing into something. Will report back when that develops.

I’m thankfully on the other side of a lot of things now….including an unexpected gallbladder and hernia surgery this past summer that certainly didn’t speed up and website updates, that’s for sure! But whether or not I update daily, or yearly…life is still happening and I’m still around, doing stuff. Taking photo’s, sketching, messing with scraps and paint and found objects and of course, my journals. I’m doing it all the time. Just because it’s not broadcast daily doesn’t mean it’s not happening. And I wanted to say that for all those out there who are also doing all the things without a camera on them all the time either. It's ok. It’s actually normal. I’m good with popping in and out of someones feed when I have something significant. That’s my goal moving forward. More updates and uploads here that’s relevant to where my work is going. I’m not even sure. I manage this site all myself so it’s going to be small changes at a time. But I’m still here, and that’s what matters. We matter…all that we do, daily. Thank you for being here.

Cheers~

Amy

Image Transfers and cool weather, FINALLY!

The air is finally getting cool. Finally. It’s a welcome reprieve from a lot.of.hot.air swirling around everywhere. Everywhere. Yesterday and today it became overcast and cooler and I absolutely love it. I needed it. We all did. I know this season helps to ground me in a lot of ways. It’s my busy season with school starting but I’m learning to balance that with walks outside and quiet time making stuff. I think that balance is going to work well this year because it leaves space for spontaneous fun stuff!

Saturday morning have turned out being a main time for making time. I’ve managed to hone in on a good set up in my work space that definitely gets me pumped to get to it! So I have a bunch of different projects I’m lining up to work on this season and want to start sharing more and more. Today I tested some image transfers using pages from a magazine and packaging tape. I made a little video of the process for you! I will post what this turns into if anything in the coming days…I’m thinking a journal entry or journal cover…we shall see. All of this is getting me primed for the release of this years 21 Secrets Paper,Glue,Scissors on October 29th! (Click here to pre-order!!!) I’m hopeful to be able to connect with people on the FB page and see what everyone is up to! Until then, enjoy and find your balance this wknd. xo~

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