Spring!

Spring is in the air. Last week I planted rose bushes and I have flowers on the brain. And on the doll. Each little flower was hand made and then attached. Butterflies and flowers and birds and bees all buzzing around my studio.

She's still wet green clay. Slowly drying. 

Painting Butterflies

I am on spring break and that means studio time. This morning I was painting this girl covered with monarch butterflies.

I built her the night the cast was taken off my leg. What a good feeling walking again. Slowly getting better. Below is when she was green. (unfired and just built).

I am still enjoying illustrating the dolls. I don't get to paint that much and it's just so nice to sculpt and paint.

Sea Legs

As some of you may know for the past 6 weeks I have been hobbling on crutches with a cast on my leg. Use crutches and you might realize how weak your arms really are (I did). Clip clopping and being immobile was horrible. Normally I never sit still. Of course like any artist I had to make a few pieces based on my experience. Notice these girls have no legs or feet and some have no arms. And they don't mind holding still.

 This is Clip Clop. Her legs are like the bottom of my crutches.

 This is Crab Cakes. 

And this little lady is Squid. And lately I've got an ocean thing going on.

Artist Proposals: Palm Beach State Art Gallery: Lake Worth

If you're an artist and make really nice work then I want to hear from you. As you may know I am a  Professor at Palm Beach State College. Recently I was asked to take over the art gallery on our Lake Worth Campus. I am so excited to help develop the arts in South Florida. So excited! And if you're an artist in South Florida and you would the opportunity to exhibit your work in a gallery please contact me (at work). And yes I work in a really cool building. So great telling people "look for the building with the big purple triangle".

And if you're saying "awww, I don't live in South Florida" don't despair! If you think you'd be able to ship work, safely and easily. That's cool too. But I do know local can be easier setting up. We artists have to look out for one another.

 

Exhibition Opportunity: South Florida Artists

The Gallery at Lake Worth, Palm Beach State is accepting artist submissions to exhibit in the gallery. Solo and group exhibitions. Email digital submissions to Victoria Martin: MartinV@palmbeachstate.edu. Please include Art Gallery or Artist Submission in the subject line.

Or snail-mail: Victoria Martin
4200 Congress Ave., MS# 15,  Lake Worth, FL 33461.

Florida Craft Art Shipment

I have sent a whole lot of artwork to Florida Craft Art in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. They were down to a couple of figures so the new babies arrived just in time. If you're in the neighborhood stop by and visit the kids.

On my Foot

Today I got so tired of sitting in bed so I dragged myself on crutches into the studio for a little while. I got really tired so I worked

fast. Foot propped up on a stool and inspired by my recent injury and feeling like a total donkey was the inspiration. Note the donkey ears.

The hoof on the left foot? The wrapped leg. If you can't laugh at yourself... I am giving her wings

because I wish I could fly and not have to clip clop around. And frankly, I was too tired and lazy to make arms and all those tiny fingers needed.

Take Care of Yourself

Well, you know how everyone makes resolutions at the New Year? And snarky me is always "hell no resolutions are so lame!"Well, I sort of have a resolution; to listen to my body. Here's a picture of my left leg and foot. (and an old doll on my bedroom wall)

Notice the cast? Remember those races I ran this year? It seems some of them were run on a stress fractured heel bone. And if you keep jogging on a fractured bone terrible things will happen. I was busy with work and didn't have the time to schedule a doctor's visit. Sound familiar?

A large lump developed below the ankle and that's what finally got me to the doctor. And I couldn't walk anymore. I had surgery last Friday and here I am. May I add, CRUTCHES SUCK!

 If you have something that hurts, is lumpy or just isn't right please just go see a doctor. And if it lasts longer than a few weeks, it probably won't go away on its own. The moral of the story? You are worth more than you know. Watch for dolls with foot issues.