Celestial Folk Art Series - Canis Major

Last week I felt a little "off"...just a little tired and I suspected a bit of a tickle in my throat. Next thing I know I'm exhausted and unable to do no more than cough and whine. Being sick sucks. Having a cold is kinda like running at 60% at all times. Not quite sick enough to spend all your time in bed, but still trying to do everyday things and using up your energy in no time. 

Plus, I feel immensely guilty when I try to take some time off for myself. I mean, what's up with that?  I have to figure out a way to learn that it's okay to let those messages sit in my inbox just a wee bit longer. It's okay to not want to make dinner. It's okay to just be sick. 

Oh well. I think I'm on the way out of this sickness. I've worked on some new paintings lately and here's the latest.

First progress shots. Just filling in background colors.

Then adding little bits of color here and there. 

And then:

This painting is based off the constellation Canis Major, or the Greater Dog. It's one of the newer constellations I've been able to recogize above my house. The largest star in Canis Major is Sirius, located in the dog's chest. 

Weee look at that tail!

The official title is "Laika: Modern Day Canis Major". Laika is the name of the first dog in space. It's a heart-breaking story if you're wanting to read more about her. I wanted to pay homage to her and her short life. I do believe she is a Canis Major!

24" x 36" acrylic on canvas.

"Your Heart is a Muscle"

During our New Year travels, I picked up this mannequin hand at an artist's studio. There were more available for purchase, but I bought only one. It seemed like an odd purchase at the time but I knew I had to have it for a project. I've had the line "Your heart is a muscle the size of a fist" stuck in my head and when I saw this hand, I knew I could make it into something more.

It sat in my studio for a couple of weeks, just waiting for me to get an idea and the time. After having a very sad week, just full of sad news and feeling like I was carrying the weight of the world, I knew I had to make something or else just wallow in my own feelings. Wallowing is a bit of a waste of time, don't you think?

So I spray painted it with glitter. Lots and lots of glitter.

And then started constructing a shadow box for it.

The rest of the process wasn't photographed. Mostly because I worked on it an entire evening and just didn't think about the camera. I just had to work. Just keep my mind off of stuff. 

And here it is. The opening is 4" x 6" and the frame around it is about 6" x 8". I used whatever little trinkets I found a the art store earlier that day and supplies I had around the studio. 

I wanted it to look aged, so the sides were lightly sanded. 

The words are from a Ramshackle Glory song, "Your Heart is a Muscle".

Your heart is a muscle the size of your fist,
Keep on loving. Keep on fighting.
And hold on, hold on,
Hold on for your life.

Definitely influenced by little nichos. I'm starting to think that just mexican folk art in general has become a HUGE influence in my work lately. 

This piece sold within a few hours of posting it on my Facebook. Super, super glad to be able to share my work with everyone!