Craftmonkeys

Urban Sketchers hit the streets of Brooklyn

I was honored when France Belleville-Van Stone invited me to join in (read: invited myself) on this amazing sketch crawl with the legendary Lapin of Barcelona and Stephan Gardener. For sketchers, the musical equivalent would be like hanging out with Elvis Costello, Patti Smith and John Lennon for the day. And to top it all off they graciously hauled it all the way out to my Brooklyn neighborhood. Of course, the real icing on the cake was having Lapin's insanely adorable daughter, Louise, join us (special thanks to Isabelle). 

Sketch by Lapin

Sketch by Stephen

Sketch by France

Sketch by Amanda

Lapin's Louise joins in

Sketchers hard at work on my favorite barber shop

The Sketchers of Cortelyou Road

Beautiful France by Lapin

Lapin in love with a 1960 Buick Invicta

France approves

An Illustrated Journey

I was thrilled to contribute a few spreads to Danny Gregory's new book "An Illustrated Journey" which just arrived today, hot off the presses. The book includes work from 34 artist's travel journals. Just skimming through the book makes me want to grab my moleskine and book a flight back to Italy.

10 new paintings

Headed to Nahcotta's Enormous Tiny Art show opening on Feb 1.

4.75" x  4.75" oil on Arches paper

 

 

annual sale

Happy Holidays everyone!

For anyone who's interested, I've posted some new (and not so new) paintings and prints over at my Etsy site. I hope to get a fresh start and spend much more time in my studio in 2013. 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/arkdesignstudio

teeny tinies

Playing around with new Arches Oil Paper.

Thank You Saltaire

Thanks to everyone who showed up this past Saturday who either bought a painting or just offered support at the Saltaire Art and Music Festival in Fire Island. I was blown away by the response and delighted to see most of the paintings find new homes. Here are most of the works from the fair, and a few that will be available soon for sale through my Etsy shop. There are also a couple that are still in the works and I will post those soon. If you'd like to contact me about a specific piece, or to discuss a commission, please email me at: amanda@arkdesignstudio.com. THANK YOU!

 

Sold:

 

Still Available:

 

 

 

Final paintings for Nahcotta group show

24" x 24" oil on canvas

please visit www.Nahcotta.com for more information

new work

First of 4 new paintings for Nahcotta group show next month. 24"x24" oil on canvas.

Lonelyville storm

more from Procreate

more Procreate and ipad

Inspired by this beautiful photo by Magic Fly Paula:

 

more ipad sketches

This time using the Procreate App. 

iphone sketches

Brushes app

 

Paper 53

I can't help feeling like I'm cheating on Steve Sprang (developer of 'Brushes') when I download other drawing apps, but I've been hearing such good things about Paper 53 I thought I should give it a try. The pencil has a great, natural feel to it--I'll give it that. But the tools and palette are too limited. And the upcharge for each individual brush makes me grumpy. I don't like being nickled and dimed. I get enough of that at the muni meter. In the meantime, I'll continue my love affair with Steve...even if he doesn't know I exist anymore.

Lonelyville

I'm back on track. Here's the new plan: crank out 40,000 tiny watercolors--sell them @ $15 a pop--buy my beloved house on Fire Island--spend the rest of my life painting tiny watercoiors. Who wants the first one? 

Enormous Tiny Art Show 11

 

I'm happy to be participating again with a great group of people. Show opens February 1st in Portsmouth NH. 

2 more for Nahcotta

new paintings for Nahcotta's Enormous Tiny Art show

6"x6" oil on wood

drawing board

My winter 'studio'. Tucked into the corner of our cozy tv room is this magnificent inlay desk that was handmade for my great (great?) grandfather by a German cabinet maker. It sat unused and neglected for my entire childhood. After my mother passed away, I adopted it and had it completely restored (including new skeleton keys). I'm happy to report the drawers are now filled with all sorts of painting materials and it's starting to take on the smell of linseed oil.

On the desk are the beginnings of a new series.

new work

working on three new small pieces

6"x6" oil on panel

grey sea

in progress

oil on canvas  24" x 24"