Geri Shields

Out and About: Craft Menagerie

2012-02-22T09:01:00.000-08:00

I'll be setting up shop at Craft Menagerie taking place at Arnold's Bar & Grill on Saturday, March 3, 2012. Arnold's is located at 210 East Eighth Street, Cincinnati, OH. The craft show will be from 11am-4pm. My table should be right inside the front door. Stop in and say hi if you can! There will some amazing artists there.

In the Studio: Chihuahua

2012-02-17T10:41:00.000-08:00

I've been busy designing a T-shirt for a special client. I don't want to give away the entire thing, so I thought I'd share a little part of the sketch. Yes. It's a feisty little chihuahua. Ain't it cute?

Feline Friday: In search of a home

2012-02-17T07:28:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, another cat was dropped off in the parking lot of my office. The story is a little odd. It was dropped of here months ago as part of a spay/neuter/release program. Shortly thereafter, the cat was picked back up and taken to a foster home and was put up for adoption. Apparently the foster situation was not ideal and she was unfortunately brought back to live in the outskirts of the parking lot. I feel just awful for the little thing. She's been through so much change over the last several months and needs some consistency in her life. I'm currently searching for a permanent and loving home for this little girl.

She's a very healthy looking black and white cat with white whiskers. Her pink nose has a black spot on it and her eyes are a curious, bright chartreuse. She's quite loveable and desperately craves human affection. She's been spayed and her left ear has been clipped. She enjoys long petting sessions and doesn't mind being picked up.

As I have mentioned before, I'm at maximum cat capacity in my humble apartment dwelling, otherwise I would happily bring her home. So, if you, or anyone you know, are looking for a darling feline companion and live in the greater Cincinnati area, please send me an email to gerileighshields@gmail.com. Also, if you can, pass along the information about this lovely little creature. In the mean time, she does have a little makeshift shelter set up outside and I will continue to feed, water and give her lots of much needed love.

Happy Friday!

Feline Friday: Mr. E and Aglamesis

2012-02-10T06:33:00.000-08:00

I was looking through some old photos a few nights ago when I ran across some of Mr. E as a kitten. He's such a monstrosity now that I forget that he once fit into one of my hands. Even during the first few weeks of our relationship he was very much involved in my creative process. Below is one of my favorite photos from this time. I use to work exclusively on the floor, for whatever reason. This gave Mr. E ample opportunity to "help." Here here I was trying to draw a sign for Aglamesis Bros. when little Mr. E discovered his love for pencils. I did a series of hand-painted signs for them. This one was for some specialty drinks. Some of these signs are still hanging behind the old-fashioned soda fountain. Ahh, memories.

I found this short video about Aglamesis Bros. If you watch closely, you can see some of the signs when they pan past the soda fountain. The signs are for cones, shakes, sodas and a sundae called the basin street.

When Mr. E got a bit older, I was getting ready to go to work at Aglamesis Bros., but I couldn't find the visor to complete my uniform. I looked everywhere, then I realized that someone else was already wearing it.

Seriously. He did that to himself. It's strapped around his tummy.

Happy Friday!

Out and About: The BonBonerie

2012-02-04T12:02:00.000-08:00

It was brought to my attention a few weeks ago by a friend that some of my paintings were on display at The BonBonerie, a delightful bakery here in Cincinnati. I was curious to see which paintings were there so I stopped by on my way home yesterday. I had a feeling it was the paintings that involved baked goods, and I was right! I knew those two had sold during the "Little Conversations" show, but I didn't know where they ended up. I do have to say they are perfect fit in the bakery. I love that they are displayed on cake plates. ADORABLE! Needless to say, I was excited, and although the shop was crowded with hungry customers, I was able to snap a couple of pictures, with Zach's help.

I absolutely love The Bonbonerie, and because I have a huge sweet tooth, I couldn't help but get something scrumptious to take home with me. I ended up getting an Opera Cream cupcake. I believe that the bakery is known for their Opera Cream Torte, or at least that's what I know them for, and I was thrilled to see that they had it in cupcake form. If you're not familiar with opera cream, it is a decadent white cream made with fresh cream, milk, and butter. I first encountered it while working at Aglamesis Bros., which is known for their opera cream candies. Anyway, after dinner I treated myself to my Opera Cream cupcake. It was a little piece of heaven. The light cream offset the dark chocolate cake and ganache perfectly. Seriously. The last bite was probably the best thing I've eaten in a long time. It was a nice way to end the evening. And, as you can see, Mr. F was jealous.

Feline Friday: the slightly blurry edition

2012-02-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

Mr. E gets very involved in my paintings. At least he likes to check things out during the process. I guess you could say he's kind of like my manager, constantly making sure that I'm on task. About every 5 minutes he likes to pop onto the desk and survey the progress. In this picture he has giving me his two cents on the new painting. Yes, he may look angry, but he's actually just shocked that I'm finally painting a cat that looks more like him! He gets very upset when I paint orange cats. He usually snubs those paintings. This one got his sniff of approval. Happy Friday!

In the Studio: Painting in progress

2012-02-03T11:01:00.000-08:00

Last week I posted a sketch for another "flying kitty" painting. I thought this week I would post an in progress snapshot of the painting. The finished product will be on display in the Be Happy. Dammit. show at Museum Gallery/Gallery Museum, opening this Saturday, February 4. Also, just for fun, I took some pictures of my palette. I haven't cleaned it off in a few years. It's starting to look like a world of it's own, don't you think? My favorite part is the blue "crater."

Feline Friday

2012-01-27T09:03:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a new addition to my ongoing flying kitties series. I started the painting last night. Below is a rough sketch for the new piece, and yes, the cat is wearing a bow tie. I'm excited about that little detail. Happy Friday!

Mission Completed: Inside Recess

2012-01-25T09:34:00.000-08:00

Per Eric's request, here is the Inside Recess shirt design that I did for him. This was completed well before Christmas, but since it was suppose to be a surprise, it was kept secret til then. I'm just now getting around to sharing it with you. Sorry for such a long delay in the unveiling. It turned out WAY better than I was hoping. Yay me!

P.S. - if you have one of these "limited edition" shirts, send me a pic of you sportin' this bad boy, that is, if you wouldn't mind me posting the pics on the blog.

Out and About: New Merch and Show

2012-01-25T09:21:00.000-08:00

My little fox and octopus note cards (posted here) are now available at Fabricate! If you're in the area, stop in and check 'em out.

In other news, I will be showing some pieces in a group show at the Museum Gallery/Gallery Museum in February. The show, Be Happy. Dammit., will be having it's opening reception on Friday, February 4, 2012 from 7pm-10pm. The gallery is located at 2161 Central Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Check here for more details. It should be a swell time, so mark your calendars!

-G

Feline Friday

2012-01-20T09:05:00.000-08:00

Last night I was sitting, contemplating what to draw, for what seemed to be an endless amount of time. Nothing came to mind. It had become that hour before feeding when Mr. E is at his most insistent. He had positioned himself on the trunk in front of me and began his stare. I mentioned this a few weeks ago when I completed a cartoon of Mr. E doing this exact thing. He became like a statue, unblinking and motionless, and I figured if he was going to do this, and be here for this long hour, I might as well put the circumstance to some use. I began sketching. I mean, really sketching, not doodling. It's been a while since I've done any realistic drawing and found it kind of freeing. I started with his eyes since I have always found them to be intense. He turned out to be a perfect model, with only an occasional meow interrupting the stillness of his pose. I'm quite rusty at "sketching," it seems, but I do think I got a fairly good likeness of my little companion, especially in the eyes and nose. Below is a detail of the sketch. Happy Friday!

Mr. E

Feline Friday

2012-01-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

For those of you that don't know, I currently have a furry office companion named Marlo. I briefly mentioned her in this post while discussing the painting "Don't Stop." She's a little gray stripey stray cat that lives in a makeshift "cat house" on the side of the office building where I work. At the moment I cannot remember when she first showed up, but I do remember it snowing. Since it is currently snowing outside, I'd say we've been acquainted for a year, or a little less. It was awkward at first. She was living under a shed at the back of the parking lot, but with my persistence and attention, she eventually warmed up to me and we have since become good friends. To my surprise, my boss gave the ok to let her come inside. That too was a bit of a struggle at first. Marlo was hesitant, but now is a welcomed guest in my office each day that I am here. I do have to put her back outside at the end of the day, but she does get to warm up inside and eat a good meal during the day. I, with the help of some wonderful ladies, have put together a little insulated house on the side of the building. I think she is comfortable there. At least I know she has a somewhat safe place to stay at night.

Since coming into my life, I have become very close with Marlo and would love to make her a new addition to my household, but alas, I still rent and am at the cat limit for the apartment. Although I adore having her at my desk during the week, I have been trying endlessly to find her a permanent and loving home. I do have one lead right now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

The other day I did purchase a little bed for Marlo. I felt bad that she didn't have any real comfy place to sleep on my desk. I brought it to work yesterday. After her breakfast, Marlo went to investigate the new bed. She settled right in! So, for this Feline Friday, I'm finally introducing you to my wonderful office mate, Marlo, testing out her new bed!

Marlo, mid yawn.

Shop Update: Valentine's Note Cards!

2012-01-12T11:08:00.000-08:00

I now have blank note cards featuring two of my lovely illustrations available in my shop! It's about time. Here's a peek.

Mission Completed: Valentine

2012-01-10T09:05:00.000-08:00

This is my first official piece of the new year! Simple and cute. Just the way I like it. Prints are available in my shop. Cards to come soon!

Feline Friday...on Saturday

2012-01-07T08:36:00.000-08:00

I've decided to add a new weekly post to the blog to help keep myself in the habit of posting. During the holidays I get a bit distracted and neglectful of both my creativity and this site. The new feature will hopefully remedy this. I can't promise that I won't miss a day now and then. I mean, I am starting the first post a day late, but I will try my best to keep it up. I'm currently feeling under the weather and I did not manage to get the post completed yesterday, so I'm finishing now. Better late than never. Next week I will hopefully be feeling better and back on track.

Anyway, every Friday I plan on posting a painting, digital illustration, photo or quick doodle that in some way involves a cat. This week I have a little drawing featuring my cat Mr. E to share with you. I had to pick up his food after work on Friday. Instead of just writing a note to help me remember this errand, I drew a picture of Mr. E with the "death stare" on his face. I sat the drawing on my desk so he could glare at me all day. The trick worked like a charm and I promptly picked up his food on the way home.

Mr. E's death stare:
About an hour before feeding time Mr. E situates himself directly in front of me, no matter where I am in the house, and just stares at me. Seriously. He doesn't blink. Try winding down after a day at work with a giant black cat staring at you with it's pupils fully dilated, not moving, not blinking, occasionally howling at you. It's a little unsettling, but I love the big, little guy! He doesn't stop until I move toward the kitchen and open the cabinet containing his beloved food.

I guess I should explain the flame on his tail. In the past month he has managed to catch the tip of his tail on fire, twice. He's fine. His tail is never aflame for more than a second or two and his fur is so long that he doesn't even notice that it's on fire. His only injury is a small clump of slightly singed fur. He is apparently unaware of the activity of his tail. I am now extremely careful of where I place candles, and very aware of the whereabouts of Mr. E while they are lit.

Hope you enjoyed the first installment of Feline Friday, even if it is on the wrong day. Remember to check back next week!

Mission Completed: Winter Prints!

2011-11-18T10:30:00.001-08:00

We had our first "snow" of the season a week or two ago. It wasn't anything big. It basically just made the ground wet, but was a very strange snow. It was evening and I had to make a quick run to the store. By "run" I mean drive. Anyway, it had been kind of windy most of the night and I do recall seeing a slight chance of a "single" snowflake in the forecast, but it wasn't anything to be concerned with. So, I put on my coat and headed out the door. As soon as I stepped onto the porch I noticed HUGE snowflakes whipping about. "How nice," I thought. I got into the car and headed for the store. By the time I got on the main road, those HUGE, fat snowflakes were falling harder and faster. It almost seemed like a bizzard. The snow was coming down so "thickly" that I couldn't see to drive. It was actually kind of scary. I did make it to the store without incident. When I got out of the car, the ground was just wet, like it had been raining, not snowing, but the snow was still falling heavily. Before walking into the store, I took a few minutes to just stand in the parking lot and look up at the snow filled sky. It was refreshing, and kind of magical. It almost felt like standing in a snow globe. What a nice start to...fall?

Being inspired by the first snow, I came up with some winter illustrations to try and transition myself from Halloween to the winter holidays. I hope you enjoy them! Prints are available in my shop.

Mission Completed: What I've been up to lately

2011-11-18T10:13:00.001-08:00

It's been dry in the painting department lately. I decided to take a break and concentrate on some personal and household projects. Aside from the non-art related projects, I have been fairly busy at the computer. I've been working on some designs for a dear friend. He asked me to come up with some shirt designs for the first and second grade classes at some local elementary schools (Welch and Struble). The first grade shirt was to say "First Grade is FROGtastic!" and the second grade shirt was to say "When it comes to reading, Second Grade doesn't monkey around!" I was very happy with what I came up with (especially the for the monkey shirt) and apparently the kids were as well!

Thanks, Eric, for giving the opportunity to design these shirts! It was a lot of fun, and I'm glad they were so well received!

Halloween: A quick recap

2011-11-18T07:22:00.001-08:00

Seems like I'm always trying to play catch up on here, but I'm trying to get better. Halloween has come and gone and I am sad to see it go. I had a lot of fun this year. Though I seemed very busy with the party preparations and taking down the "Little Conversations" show, I did manage to make some time for pumpkin carving with Zach. This year we set up a table in the kitchen and watched The Howling 2 while we gutted the pumpkins. I was pretty pleased with the way my pumpkin turned out.

This year, my costume was Canary Yellow from Rainbow Brite. It might seem a little obscure to do one of the Color Kids and not Rainbow Brite, but it was part of a "group" costume. Earlier this year I went to Dragon Con in Atlanta with some friends. Our group costume was Rainbow Brite characters, and my character was the yellow one. My friend was Rainbow Brite. Sadly, I live about 4 hours away from them, so the rest of the bunch wasn't at the Halloween party, but I still rocked my yellow outfit. I made Mr. E my sprite. Mr. F was not happy with the antennae, so he didn't have a costume this year. He was more than happy with that outcome.

Zach was a werewolf. Can you tell? He likes his costumes to be "minimal."

I tried a few new recipes for the party this year. The homemade potato soup was a big hit. I've made it about 3-4 times since the party. It's definitely getting to be soup weather. Cupcakes always make an appearance, and this year I made chocolate toffee crunch cupcakes with caramel frosting. I thought they were amazing.

To top of the holiday, a friend of mine snapped a shot of my Halloween prints on display in the window at Fabricate. Don't they look awesome! Thanks to Diane for sending me the pic!

All-in-all, I had a great Halloween, and I hope you did too! Now, on to the rest of the holidays...

Halloween: A Friendly Hello

2011-10-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

Mr. E wanted to wish everyone a great Halloween season! It really should be a season, shouldn't it.

Now Showing: Little Conversations

2011-10-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

i've been absent for a little bit, but that is to be expected for October. i did think it would be nice to check in and update you on the show opening of "Little Conversations." It was a great evening with a surprising crowd. There was a pretty steady flow of people coming through the gallery, which was exciting. Some sales were made, some conversations were had and some cupcakes were eaten. Actually, a great deal of cupcakes were eaten, and not all by me. All in all, a pretty good evening. Thanks to everyone that came out. I had a blast!

i didn't get that many pictures during the show. i was a little busy working the room and networking. Actually, that's entirely false. i was busy being the little introvert that i am and trying to blend in with the wall. It's terrible, i know. i did manage to get a couple of good shots of the crowd late in the evening.

i only got one picture of myself, and of course it was blurry. That's usually how it goes. i thought i'd share it anyway, because i like the composition, and i like the moment that it captures. Thanks to Zach for trying to get a picture!

Yep, that's me (in the yellow dress) and my good friend and sometimes roadie, Shannon. If you're wondering what we are doing, well, we're talking about cats, because that's what we do. Actually, we are talking about cats and she's showing me pictures of cats on her phone. Perfect.

i know not everyone was able to make down to the gallery for the opening. For those that wanted to make it, but couldn't, i thought i would post some of the images of the actual paintings on display. Now, i can't post them all because there are far too many, so i narrowed it down to just the newest pieces.

This one was the absolute last painting i did before dropping all the artwork off at the gallery. Even though it was the last piece finished, it is the sketch for this piece that gave me the idea for the title of the show.

Can You Hear Them, acrylic on canvas, 12"x12"

Are You Ready to Bumble?, acrylic on canvas, 6"x6"

i love this next one, mainly because mountain goats are pretty sweet, and also because the background is a little different than what i'm used to doing for backgrounds (when they are more than just a single color). It was a little bit of an experiment for me and i was pleased with the results. i will be honest, i was a little irritated by the painting most of the time i was working on it, but it all seemed to come together at the end when i added the accent lines to the background.

Rock Steady, acrylic on canvas, 11"x14"

Ok, so "Don't Stop" is a continuation of my flying cats series of paintings. It holds a special place in my heart. i think the whole cat with a balloon tied around it is kind of popular "thing" right now. i say this only because i ran across this necklace over on Modcloth.com and almost died (not literally). Anyway, i fell in love immediately, though i did not make the purchase and sadly it is no longer available. The reason i loved the necklace so much was because it reminded me of one of my favorite children's books, "The Little Kitten." It was about a little orange stripey cat that lived on a farm and kept getting lost in the tall grass. In order to remedy this problem, it's owner, a little girl, tied a balloon around its waist so she could know where it was at all times. HAS ANYONE ELSE READ THIS BOOK???????? If you haven't, and you love cats, you obviously need to. i absolutely loved it, and thinking about now makes me tear up and smile a little. i actually just did a quick search and found it on amazon. i might have to get it. i no longer have my original book that i adored so much. it was almost like an autobiography (again, this is stretching the truth). i grew up on my grandparent's farm, and they had several little orange stripey cats, though i never tied a balloon to any of them. They were apparently my grandmother's favorite kind of cat. i find that strange, and a little endearing now. i mean, if someone asks you what your favorite kind of cat is, the usual response is something like a Persian, Siamese, Norwegian Forest Cat (or is that last one just me?). i never expect to hear "a little orange stripey cat is my favorite kind of cat." It's an adorable answer from an adorable grandmother. Maybe i should have made the cat in my painting a little orange stripey cat. Oh well. There's always next time!

In addition to the above information, "Don't Stop" is also special to me because i painted the cat to resemble, somewhat, my new office mate. She's a little gray tabby that has taken up residence in a shed next to my office building. i've named her Marlo and she has become a great office companion, but i would love to find her a permanent and loving home. i'll have more on her later, so stay tuned. So, here's "Don't Stop," a painting about a certain cat's never ending search for love.

Don't Stop, acrylic on board, 8"x10"

Also in addition to the flying cats is "Let's Go." My favorite part of this painting is the grass. It reminds me of warm and windy summer days hanging out in the fields of the farm mentioned earlier. Although, i do have to say that the tall grass did make it hard to see those darn cow pies.

Let's Go, acrylic on board, 8"x10"

i posted "in progress" photos of this bat painting earlier. i couldn't be more happy with the finished product. i still think this is my favorite of the new pieces.

Night, acrylic on canvas, 12"x12"

And, finally...the largest of the new paintings! It, by far, took the most time to paint. i was in love with the way the owl turned out, but the part that still makes me more proud than anything is the snake's rattle. Probably one of the smallest elements of the painting, but it is still the area that i spend most time looking at.

Vs., acrylic on canvas, 13"x20"

Again, i wanted to thank everyone that was able to make it out to the opening. It was an amazing turn out! And i wanted to give a big thanks to Lily of 1305 Gallery for giving me this amazing opportunity. It couldn't have been better!

The entire show will be on display at 1305 Gallery in Cincinnati til October 22, 2011. If you have the time and want to stop in before the show closes, the gallery's hours are Thursday-Sunday 12-4pm. For prices and inquiries on the paintings shown above, and all paintings in the show, contact 1305 Gallery. You can find the contact info here.

Happy Halloween Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

And the winner is....Sherry Lykins! Congratulations Sherry! i'll be contacting you shortly to make the shipping arrangements for your new print!

Thank you to everyone that entered. i enjoyed seeing everyone's favorite scary movies. There were some classics listed and some that i haven't seen yet. My "to watch" list for this year just got a little longer.

This giveaway was fun, and i plan on doing more in the future, so keep your eyes peeled for the next one!

Also, if you didn't win but still wanted a print, they are available in my etsy store, or if you're local, just send me an email (gerileighshields@gmail.com) with your order.

And, if you were wondering how i chose the winner, i used the random number generator at www.random.org.

Thanks!
-G

Giveaway: Happy Halloween!

2011-09-19T11:53:00.000-07:00

Because Halloween is right around the corner, sort of, i've been thinking a lot about my favorite Halloween traditions. i love baking pumpkin bread, going to haunted houses, eating candy and coming up with the perfect costume. i also adore watching scary movies. i watch them throughout the year, but there's something special about watching them on a cool fall evening surrounded by Halloween decorations and dimmed lights with a cat on your lap for protection. It somehow makes the movies more scary.

It's hard for me to say what my favorite "scary" movie is. There is a list of movies that i, without fail, will watch every year during the fall. Obviously, the first Halloween is on there. Others include Sleepy Hollow, Carnival of Souls, Cabin Fever, The Howling 2: Your Sister is a Werewolf, and Psycho. Newly added to the list this year is House of the Devil. I just watched it over the weekend with Zach and it instantly had classic written all over it, for me at least. Thanks to our friends Shannon and Trevor for recommending it.

Anyway...on to the giveaway.

In honor of my favorite season and holiday, i will be giving away an 8"x10" print of my new "Happy Halloween" illustration.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling me your name, email address (so i can contact you if you win), and favorite "scary" movie. You have until Friday, September 30, 2011 to enter. i'll choose the winner at random and the winner will be announced the first week of October! Good Luck!

-G

Mission Completed: Halloween

2011-09-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

We are now approaching my favorite season, fall, and my favorite holiday, Halloween. i've already started thinking about all i want to do for Halloween this year, like what i'm going to put in the treat bags for my niece and nephew, what i'm going to dress Mr. E and Mr. F up as, what food i'm going to make for the annual Halloween party, and what movies i'm going to watch. There's so much i want to accomplish, and i've already gotten a head start on completing my list! i have already finished a new set of Halloween illustrations and i'm happy to share them with you now! The prints are already available in my store, and yes, the kitties in the illustrations are Mr. E and Mr. F. i couldn't help myself.

Claire of Nothing Happens Unless We Dream featured the "Happy Halloween" print in her recent "Cat Crazy Saturday" post. You can check out the post with all her cute finds here.

-G

Out & About: Art in the Park

2011-08-31T20:26:00.000-07:00

Hey doodles! Just wanted to do a quick update to let you know that in September i will be setting up shop at Art in the Park at Bellevue Beach Park in Bellevue, KY. It will be on Saturday, September 10th from 11am - 5pm. i'll be sharing a booth with Zach Kestermann, once again. It should be a good day. There will be over 90 other artists, music, food and a nice view of the Ohio River.

Catching Up: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and a few boats)

2011-08-31T14:32:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying “i’m in love, i’m in love, i’m in love and i don’t care who knows it!” As i mentioned earlier, Zach and i recently took a trip to Norway. i didn’t think it was possible to fall head over heels for a place, but it happened. The trip was more than i ever expected and Norway is by far the most intriguing place i’ve ever been. It was love at first sight.

After sifting through the hundreds of photos we took, i have whittled them down to my favorite snapshots so i can share part of the experience with you. Be warned, though, it is still a lot of photos.

We landed at the Oslo airport and from there took a train into the city. While watching the countryside roll by, i realized what was so striking about our first moments in this country. It was quiet. The airport, train platform, and train car were all quiet. There were peple around, but there was very little background noise. It was strange, but calming. i liked it.

One of the first things i saw when departing the train station was this GIANT tiger. You have no idea how happy this made me. There were hoards of children climbing all over it, sitting on it’s tail and posing for pictures. i had to wait a looong time, but i was finally able to get a photo with it.

We kept pretty busy in Oslo. There were so many things we wanted to see. On the top of the list was the Viking Ship Museum. We woke up bright and early to catch the boat over to the museum. It was a good thing we did. It was an intimate museum, and there was no crowd when we first entered. This gave us space to wander and time to truly appreciate the ships. They were delicately lit, and created striking shadows on the stark white walls. By the time we left, all the empty spaces were filled with eager tourists and the atmosphere felt frantic. i guess we had good timing.

Stave church at the Norwegian Folk Museum.

Though we saw many great things, my favorite place in Oslo ended up being the Vigeland sculpture garden at Frogner Park. I was astonished by the amount of sculptures it had. It made me feel a little bit lazy, artistically.

This was my favorite sculpture around the fountain.

From Oslo we took a series of trains and a boat to the town of Balestrand. It made for another long day of travel, but the scenery was well worth it.

The view from our room in Balestrand.

The waterfront, Balestrand.

The first night in Balestrand we took a stroll around town. This is when we made friends with one of the locals. It was a cat, of course. He was hanging out around the viking burial mounds (yeah, really). We played with him for a while and took some pictures. i think he enjoyed our company almost as much as we enjoyed his.

While in Balestrand, we took a day trip to see the glaciers. This was one of the things we were most eager to see. The ferry weaved through the fjords and low lying clouds to a small town at the foot of the glaciers. We were taken to two arms of the glacier formation. It was epic. The second of the arms came with a glacial lake. There were pieces of ice floating in the water. There were active farms surrounding the glacier sites. You could hear the sounds of bells from cows grazing in the distance.

On the ferry to visit the glaciers.

It doesn't look like it in this picture, but this piece of the glacier is massive.

The two parts of the glacier in this picture were connected about 30 years ago.

The glaciers were breathtaking, but i do have to say my favorite part of the entire trip was the day in Balestrand that we didn’t have anything planned. We decided to take a short ferry ride to the town of Vik. The main reason was to see the Hopperstad stave church, but we discovered that there was a stone church from roughly the same time period also located in the village.

i love the dragon heads!

We spent a few hours visiting the churches and walking down the winding roads and fields of the farming town. i believe this is where my heart officially melted. i have never seen a place more idyllically set and could not have asked for more perfect weather. It was such a tranquil place. The clouds were like cotton floating in the bluest sky, the grass was the richest green and the air was crisp and invirgorating. It was like visiting a postcard.

Vik.

Upon returning to Balestrand, we had a picnic next to the water and then headed into the forest for a hike. It was an unexpected treasure. Most everything was covered in moss making the entire forest feel ancient and untouched.

During the hike, we came across a small waterfall. It seemed like a splendid place to take a break.

i know. i need to invest in some hiking shoes.

i can't believe my little camera took this!

This is one of the bridges we crossed. It was a little scary, but it looks awesome.

Towards the end of the hike it began to rain. Not a hard rain, just a misting. Enough to cool things off a bit. i had my handy dandy raincoat with me, so all was good. Because of the rain, we did get to see a rainbow. A freaking rainbow in such a wondrous setting! Who wouldn’t love that? It was nothing short of magic. It was the best possible ending to the most perfect day ever. From now on, if i need cheering up, i will think of this day.

Bergen was our final destination. It took four long hours on a boat to get there from Balestrand. By the time we arrived, we were completely exhausted. However, we did muster up the energy to have a grand time. This is where i had the BEST salmon i’ve ever eaten. i would go back just so i could order it again. Superb. This is also where we did most of our shopping, and where Zach made a complete mess of a tasty ice cream cone. Sadly, i just have the before photo.

Bergen.

The trip to Norway was incredible. It almost seemed too good to be true. There isn’t anything that i would change and i can’t wait to go back. For now i’ll just have to settle for the memories and photos. I will return, one day.

A Big Thanks!

2011-08-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Zach and I took a trip to Norway. Yeah, really (i'll have more on that later). BUT WHAT ABOUT THE KITTIES??? Our good friend Mike took care of the little fuzz balls while we were away. He stopped in a couple of times a day to give them food and some much needed attention. Apparently, Mr. E was a bit of a trouble maker, and a glutton, but that's nothing new.

In order to show my gratitude, i put together a little thank you card for Mike. He's already got it, so now i can share it with you! This design is what i used the kitty portraits for. Don't they look super stoked.

Thanks again, Mike!

In the Studio: My Kitties

2011-08-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

i have a couple of tuxedo cats. These little dudes are very fancy and look very much alike. There is a difference in size, but their patterning is almost identical with the exception of their faces. i do get them confused sometimes if they aren't together and i can only see their backs, especially if they are curled up in little balls with all the white patches concealed. But, there is no mistaking their faces. Mr. E has a black face and nose and a white chin, and one ear that is partially folded over due to surgery he had a few years ago. He also has this cute pink stripe on his lip, kind of like Queen Amidala. Mr. F has a pink nose with a black dot, a white chin with a small black patch, and a big white patch perfectly placed in the middle of his black face. Each also has their own distinctive meow, personality and play style.

Anyway, i was working on a personal project and i decided to incorporate their faces. It was a lot of fun working on their digital portraits. These will eventually be added to the project i'm working on, but for now, i thought i'd share them with you. So, without further adieu, i present Mr. E & Mr. F.

-G

In the Studio: Batty

2011-08-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

Since things have been kind of dry in the sketching department, i've been doing a lot of cleaning around the house to get my mind off of things. In addition to the cleaning, i did go ahead and start painting the bat sketch i posted a few weeks ago. The painting too, is coming along slowly, but i am liking how it's turning out. i'm pleased thus far with the bat's wings and the lightning bug, especially the sky behind the lightning bug. Here's some quick pics:

For whatever reason, lightning bugs have always fascinated me. As a kid, i always loved sitting on the back steps at night with my dog and watching the lighting bugs dot the darkened fields of the farm with brilliant, dancing light. The farm was my play ground, my entire world. The glow of the lightning bugs made it seem that much more magical. Kind of the same way that little white Christmas lights can make anything seem more special. And bats. Well, they are just amazing. They are little furry critters with wings that eat bugs. What could be better? Going back to when i was kid (yeah, yeah. i know, but it's hard to come back after going down nostalgia road), i do have fond memories of watching bats dart and dive at dusk in the parking lot of my brother's apartment. He would throw pebbles up into the air (not at the bats, just straight up) and we would watch the bats chase the pebbles back to the ground and then, at the last second, dash in another direction. I just always thought that was sooooooo cool. When i moved away for college, if i was feeling a little lonely, or just needed to think, i would walk over to the hill next to my apartment and watch the bats feast. Good times, good times.

Out & About: New Merch at Fabricate

2011-08-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

Hey doodles! Just wanted to check in for a quick little update. i dropped off new merch at Fabricate over the weekend. Yes! i finally restocked! There's new button sets, prints from Party Animals, and Croc of Love t-shirts. Sooooo, if you're in the area, stop in and check it out.

-G

In the Studio: Drought

2011-07-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

Things have been kind of slow around here in the creative department. i'm having a show in September at 1305 Gallery and i wanted to have some new stuff to show, but i'm in the midst of a mental blockage. The sketching part isn't coming very easily right now, but i have managed to come up with a few good things. In order to take a break from the pencil and paper, i thought i'd share my favorite sketch thus far.

That's all for now. i'll be heading back into the cave soon to continue sketching and preparing canvases. Wish me luck!

Mission Completed: Foodies

2011-07-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

i've been working on these food characters off and on for a while now. Finally, i have two sets completed: veggies and sweets. The veggies have already been made into button and magnet sets (available online soon) and the sweets will be following shortly. Maybe, just maybe, there will be some recipe card sets in their future as well.

i love every food contained in these sets, but i have to say that i do play favorites. In the veggies, i adore eggplant. i don't cook with it at all, but i love eating. Sadly though, it is not my favorite. Strangely enough, i have found a new obsession with broccoli. A nice serving of broccoli, noodles and cheese is just amazing.

i have a major sweet tooth. i blame this on my father who, more times than not, would end dinner with an impromptu dessert, and my grandmother who, in my eyes, was a phenomenal baker. Now, that said, it is safe to say that i would pretty much eat any of the sweets below. But, one does stand out. i do love a cupcake, but ice cream will always win. i guess i'm biased. i have a lot of good memories tied to ice cream. Whenever my dad would pick me up from school, which was not often, he would take me out for ice cream. Also, i worked at a fabulous, old-fashioned ice cream parlor for a long time. So, yeah. i LOVE ice cream. i also do like a good sorbet. Preferably lemon.

Catching Up: Beach, Boats, Birthdays and Booths.

2011-07-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

If it has been a bit on the quiet side around here, it's because i've been on the go, A LOT. It's all been good, but i guess it is time to play a little catch up.

i took a mini vacation a few weeks ago with some pretty rad people. i absolutely love the little town we stayed in. It's ridiculously cute and is close to the beach. It was my second year staying there, and hopefully there will be plenty more summer days spent there in the years to come.

Zach and i beachin' it up!

Check out my old lady hat. Isn't it awesome!

When we weren't at the beach, we were walking around the historic district of town, eating some amazing food and gawking at the palmetto bugs. We did also find some time to tour the battleship housed on the river that runs through the town. It was pretty sweet. My favorite parts were the kitchen area and the caged area in which they kept the ice cream, go figure. Going to see the ship reminded me of being on vacation with my parents, specifically my dad. If it were up to him, every vacation would have included a stop at some kind of U.S. military ship, anything relating to the Civil War or a cemetery. My mom voted for a beach every time. Basically, the entire vacation reminded me of the good times i had while on vacation with my parents. It made me miss them more than usual.

inside

the anchor

Over the last month, there have been a lot of birthdays among my group of friends. Though i do love them all and hope they each had a wonderful birthday, the most important birthday for me was Zach's! We had a quiet night at home. Well, it was quiet for me. i spent most of my time in the kitchen baking his favorite pie. He had rousing evening playing Call of Duty, of course.

YES! It's a birthday PIE!

do you see the xbox controller in his lap?

The pie was super yummy, as usual.

After vacation and birthday fun, it was back to work. Zach and i had a booth at Roebling Fest in Covington, KY. It is the first real art/craft fair i've done outside my involvement with The Flying Cat. i do have to say it was very encouraging! i got a lot of good feedback and interest from the shoppers. i did pretty well in the sales department as well. To be honest, i was a bit shocked by that. Sooooo, since things went so well at Roebling Fest, i am absolutely going to do more of these events! Don't worry, i'll keep you posted on when and where i'll be setting up shop.

Here we are at our humble little table.

My "roadie," Shannon, tagged along to lend a hand. You can see her head popping up behind some of Zach's paintings in this picture.

Shannon kept the table looking nice and tidy, and provided some much needed entertainment throughout the long day. Here she is modeling a custom made bow featuring one of my characters. It's totally adorable, and so is she! Thanks for helping, Shannon!

i've been busy, busy, busy but have enjoyed every minute. i think the next couple of months are going to be pretty busy as well, and i can't wait! Thanks for stopping by, and check back soon!

-G

Out & About: June 25th

2011-06-22T06:43:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, June 25th, is a slightly big day. i will have a booth at Roebling Fest in Covington, KY. i will have smaller paintings, prints, buttons, shirts (yes, the croc of love shirts, and yes i do realize i have failed to get them up on etsy. just hang in there. they will be up soon.) and some other goodies. Sooooooo, if you are looking for something fun to do this weekend, stop by and check out the booth, and the other artists that are participating. Check out the event site for more info and a schedule of bands that will be playing. My booth will only be up til 6pm.

Also, June 25th is the last day to view "Party Animals" at The Flying Cat, also located in Covington (713 Main Street). So, if you missed the opening, stop in and check out the artwork!

Now Showing: Party Animals

2011-06-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

The opening reception of Party Animals was amazing! i want to thank everyone that came out to the show. i'm so happy to be surrounded by very supportive and all around great people. It meant a lot to see everyone last night. Thank you so much. LOVE YOU GUYS!

For those that couldn't make it out, here are some pictures of the show, and the work. i honestly didn't get very many pictures. i was super busy, which was a good thing. i wish i had gotten more pictures of people actually at the show. It was pretty crowded. i was impressed. Yay me! Yay Zach!

my little paintings

my little drawings

paintings by Zach Kestermann

Below are better images of my creations. Enjoy!

Beaver Fever, acrylic on canvas, 8"x8" - SOLD

Familiar, acrylic on canvas, 8"x8"

Splish Splash, acrylic on canvas. 8"x8"

Party Fowl, acrylic on canvas, 8"x8"

Deer Paw, acrylic on canvas, 8"x8"

Rush, acrylic on canvas, 8"x8"

Dip, pencil on paper, 9"x12"

Satisfaction, pencil on paper, 9"x12" - SOLD

Aftertaste, pencil on paper, 9"x12" - SOLD

Now Showing: PARTY ANIMALS

2011-06-03T06:09:00.000-07:00

DON'T FORGET! The opening of Party Animals is tonight, Friday, June 3! It features new works by yours truly and Zach Kestermann. Festivities are from 6-10pm with complementary beverages and snackies. New prints, shirts and other goodies will be available for purchase! It should be a great evening.

PARTY ANIMALS:
New works by Zach Kestermann & Geri Shields
Opening Reception: Friday, June 3, 2011 - 6-10pm
at
The Flying Cat gallery & boutique
713 Main Street, Covington KY

Just In: SHIRTS!!!!!!!

2011-06-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

The "Croc of Love" shirts are in! I don't have any pics at the moment, but they are super awesome! They will be avaiable tomorrow night (Friday, June 3) at the opening reception of "Party Animals" at The Flying Cat (713 Main Street, Covington, KY). The show starts at 6pm. The shirts will also be available online within the next week. CAN'T WAIT!

Out and About: Roebling Fest

2011-05-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

i have been pretty productive lately. Last night i finished up the last pieces for the "Party Animals" show with Zach Kestermann. It's only a couple of weeks away, and it's refreshing to be ahead of schedule.

Also, i will be sharing a booth with Zach at the Roebling Fest Art/Craft Show. It will be Saturday, June 25th from 11-6pm in Covington, KY at Roebling Point (Park Street between Court Street and Scott Street).

Now Showing: Main Street Window Gallery

2011-05-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

Got the show hung last Friday. Zach Kestermann was a big help with the set up!! If you get a chance, stop by and see it. Here are some pictures to hold you over. Sadly, I did not get a picture of the windows at night. The artwork looks amazing all lit up at night. I will definitely need to make another trip down just get snap a picture!

Yep. That's me doing some hammerin'. Zach actually did most of the work, but I helped.

Now Showing: Main Street Window-Gallery

2011-05-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

Tonight i will be setting up a show at Main Street Window-Gallery. i'm putting up some oldies, but goodies. If you missed a previous show, now is your chance to see the paintings in person. The gallery is located at 12th & Main in Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati. The paintings will be displayed in the actual windows of the building, so you can view them 24/7. Stop by anytime! They'll be up all month!

Shirts!

2011-05-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

I'm finally getting around to having shirts printed. The first one ever will be the "Croc of Love" shirt. I'm currently waiting on proofs, then hopefully it won't be long til i receive the first run of the shirts. I'm excited! Here's a little sneak peek of what they'll look like.

Design Stuff: A Change of Pace

2011-04-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

i was recently asked to do an illustration/poster design for my friends in Army Coach for their upcoming release show. They wanted something a little less cute and i was more than ready to take a break from furry animals to create something awesome for them.

Now Showing: Party Animals

2011-04-25T14:16:00.000-07:00

I'm in the midst of preparing for my next show with Zach Kestermann in June at The Flying Cat in Covington, KY. I'm working on some new drawing and paintings. I finally got the promo done! The top image is Zach's and the bottom is mine. Take a look and mark your calendars. June 3rd will be here before we know it.

Mission Completed: Bunnies

2011-04-13T18:19:00.000-07:00

Got these little ditties finished in time for easter. i am making these into cards for my niece and nephew, but you can get prints in my store!

In the Studio: Canvas!

2011-03-30T21:17:00.000-07:00

i don't usually work on canvas. i much prefer working on a hard surface like wood or illustration board. But, as i mentioned before, i have this lonely roll of canvas sitting in the corner of my studio just waiting to be used. i have had the thing for years. i really can't remember the last time i made a canvas. i did challenge myself this time by making my own stretchers instead of using the precut ones from the art supply store. So i bought some 1x2's and quarter round, broke out my little mitre box and set out to make a special little canvas of my very own.

Like i said, it's been a while since i made a canvas so it probably took me a little longer than it should have, but i think it came out pretty good. after a few coats of gesso, it is now the home of a curious little beaver and is ready for paint!

Sketchbook: it's a little bit bunny

2011-03-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

i guess the short burst of warm weather has me thinking spring, so of course i've been doodling my fair share of bunnies. Just couldn't help myself.

MISSION COMPLETED: Tooth

2011-03-09T14:41:00.000-08:00

i have never really been big on sending greeting cards. i do, however, enjoy looking at them, especially the ones for kids. In the past few years i have started sending cards to my niece and nephew for the holidays and occasions that i don't get to see them just to let them know i am thinking about them. Lately, instead of buying the cards, i have put my "artistic" skills to good use and started making my own cards to send to them. Below is the most recent one, specifically made for my niece that lost her first tooth a couple of weeks ago. i even included the date (i hope i got it right) that the tooth came out. Obviously, i am the greatest aunt ever.

Slacking

2011-03-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

Yes, i have been slacking a bit. It's actually what i do best. The weather may have something to do with it. Nothing really got accomplished this week, but i have been setting a few things in motion. i got materials to make my own canvases (1x2's and quarter round). normally i prefer to paint on wood, but i have a giant roll of canvas just hanging out in the studio and i figured it was about time i put it to use. i'll keep you updated on how the canvas stretching goes.

i've also been working through a book about starting your own business. It's had me doing a lot of list making, which i adore. i love lists.

In addition to the above preparations, i've also been getting quotes for t-shirts. i'm hoping to get some printed in the next few weeks.

No actual artwork to show you this week (i'm keeping my sketches from this week under wraps for now), but foundations are being laid. i guess for a "slack" week, that's not too shabby.

Design Stuff: Nara Logo

2011-02-22T20:18:00.000-08:00

Just finished up a "sweet" logo for a wonderful baker and crafter here in Cincy. Her crafty goodness can currently be found at The Flying Cat in Covington, KY.

Sketchbook: tongues?

2011-02-22T11:45:00.000-08:00

I've been coming up with some sketches for my upcoming shows. For some reason, my favorites have their tongues sticking out.

In the Studio: Product Photos

2011-02-16T10:31:00.000-08:00

The other night I set up a little photo shoot for some of my merch so I could figure out the proper settings on my camera to get that money shot. Well, it was going pretty smoothly, til a certain kitty decided to crash the party. He just really needed to sniff that green tape.

The little buttons in the bottom right corner of the picture were what I was trying to photograph. Luckily, the kitty didn't stay too long and I was able to get the right settings and a couple of good photos. Here's a sample:

I think it looks pret-ty, pretty good. I only have a few good product photos right now. I used them for some applications for various craft fairs I'm hoping to get a spot at this Spring/Summer. I'll have more product photos soon so I can finally add more than just prints to my etsy store.

Mission Completed: Space Puppy

2011-02-08T18:19:00.000-08:00

It seems that I have been pretty productive lately.

Mission Completed: Heffie!

2011-02-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

Finished the painting of Heffie, my friend Kate's gypsy horse. I'll be hand delivering it to her tonight. Can't wait to see her reaction in person!

Mission Completed: Couldn't get enough

2011-01-26T20:19:00.000-08:00

I was kind of on a roll with these little creatures, so I took a break from painting this evening to finish them. Prints will be available in my shop shortly. I just need to think of names for them.

Mission Completed: Lucy

2011-01-25T18:53:00.000-08:00

Whipped this little cutie up today, in time for Valentine's! Her name is Lucy and she is quite lovely. She's available in my shop!

Sketchbook: Feeling a little squirrely

2011-01-23T21:45:00.000-08:00

It's easy to see by the following sketches that I don't normally draw in a typical bound sketchbook. I find that I forget to take the bigger sketchbooks with me when I go out and I usually lose the smaller ones, or end up filling them with recipes and lists instead of drawings. I do tend to keep at least one notepad with me at all times. For some reason I can keep up with those more easily. Maybe it's because of the constant list making, and the fact I can shove them in my pocket. Whatever the case, I do end up doing a lot of sketching on torn out pages of these notepads, or scrap paper that I keep handy at my desk. I do have a "real" sketchbook and I do use it from time to time, but mainly its for working out ideas for bigger projects.

Anyway, on to the sketches...

Not sure what I'm going to do with the lion cub. I just liked it.

I'm thinking of making the squirrel into a Valentine card. I haven't decided how I'm going to finish it. I either want to make a more finished drawing of it, or do small watercolor painting. I haven't used watercolors in a long time. I'm kind of itching to try them again.

Out & About: Fabricate

2011-01-12T18:47:00.000-08:00

My prints, button sets and other goodies can now be found at Fabricate! It's a pretty awesome store/gallery located in Northside featuring hand-made goods by local artists. Actually, I've had things there for about a month, I just forgot to mention it. Oops! So, if you are in the area, stop in and check it out.

In the Studio: Rethinking

2011-01-10T19:42:00.000-08:00

I started out this evening trying to get started on some paintings. It was not happening, so instead, I took a breather and started trying to figure out what to do with my studio space. I know that studios are not the most organized places. My studio especially. It is where the mess happens. I have found, though, I don't really enjoy being in here when the mess gets out of control, which is often. I need some way of taming it. It is time to reorganize and hopefully come up with a better functioning space that will not drive me crazy.

My studio is in my home. It's a weird set up. I have to walk through it to get from the bedroom to the rest of the apartment. It's definitely not the first thing I like to see in the morning or the last thing I see at night, but it is what it is. I'm thinking if I can make the space more ORGANIZED and more like a room instead of a space with piles of crap and unfinished artwork, then maybe it won't be so irritating to walk through. Also, if it feels more inviting and less intimidating, then hopefully I'd be more inclined to spend more time in the studio, which would be a good thing.

Just to let you know where I'm coming from, here is a little tour of my humble studio space.

THE BEFORE:

This is the main area, the desk. This is where I do most of my work, including painting. I'm beginning to think that I need to invest in an easel so I can work on bigger pieces.

These are my paint bins. All of my paint tubes are grouped according to color and then placed accordingly into the boxes. The boxes are kept next to my work surface so my paints are always at arms reach. This is probably the only area that is organized. I'm assuming the easy accessibility is the main reason the paints get put away.

Here are my "random" bins. They were suppose to help control the clutter, but now I think they just add to it.

And this is where I was going to organize the papers (sketches, transfers, etc.) for current projects, but I really couldn't tell you what is there now.

This is my amazing closet. It holds most of my tools, some of my fabric, my tv as well as records and a non-functioning stereo. My bad, the stereo acts as a bookend for the records. I think a big problem in my studio is that my supplies are not grouped together in the same location. My fabric, for instance, is kept in the closet, over by the desk and in another storage unit on the opposite side of the room. I need to fix that. I also need to move the records somewhere else.

Here is the other side of the studio. It too is a dumping ground. Here you can see my exercise ball as well as clean laundry, that probably won't get put up any time soon, and a cat tunnel that is much loved by both of my companions.

This is the inside of that storage unit. Like I said, some of my fabric is in here. My sewing machine is buried somewhere in there. Also, it has, yet again, a bunch of random stuff that I didn't know what to do with so I shoved it out of sight. Awesome.

I'm hoping I can create a comfortable, inspiring and organized space. I'm planning a trip to Ikea soon. I just need to locate a truck. I'm expecting to come home with a couple of pieces of furniture that will help in my studio transformation. I can't wait. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Sketchbook: a horse for Katie

2011-01-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

A while ago, my friend Katie helped me update my website. It turned out better than I had expected. In order to repay her for doing such an excellent job, I am doing a painting of her gypsy horse, Heffie. I finally finished the drawing for it! She said she wanted it to be super cute. I hope this meets her expectations.

I prepared my surface last night, so I am set to start painting this, as well as the puppy in space piece, sometime this weekend. So far, I am on a roll this year.

Sketchbook: Puppy in Space

2011-01-02T18:39:00.000-08:00

I have a couple of projects I will be working on this month. Both will end up as paintings, but for now, I am still in the drawing phase. The drawing pictured is almost ready to be transferred to my painting surface, which still needs to be primed (boo! I dislike priming.) I love the space ship. Kind of wish I had one. Don't you?

New Year, New Things

2011-01-02T18:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas, my birthday and New Year's celebrations have come and gone and it is time for me to set my sights on the things I want to accomplish in this grand year of 2011. I have a long list of things to do before my next birthday. Some are just for fun, like planning a trip to Europe and taking more bike rides, and some are big goals I have set for my artwork, like having another show and basically being more productive. I am excited to start getting things done and checking things off my grand to-do list!

To welcome in 2011, here are a couple of pics of my New Year's escorts and I.

Happy New Year!

Transistor

2010-11-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated in a while. I was keeping busy with Halloween preparations. I did make a pretty awesome welcome sign for the front door. If I think of it, I'll post a picture of it. I was more than happy with it. I think I ended up making way too many cupcakes this year for the party, but I'm not complaining. As always, the more cupcakes the better.

Aside from trying to make this year's Halloween spectacular, I was able to carve out some time to create a personalized tattoo design for a lovely new friend, Lyndsy. I think the dog is my favorite part. The words are lyrics from "Transistor Radio" by the Methadones. Here are the pencil and color sketches. Can't wait to see the final product!

Opening Night

2010-09-08T11:05:00.000-07:00

The Hybrid Moments opening was a great success! There was a good crowd, good treats, and good times had by all. My brother and his family came, which was a pleasant surprise. I really appreciate everyone coming out and showing support!

If you were unable to make it to the show opening, don't worry. The show is up for the rest of September. Plus, The Flying Ca t is now open on Wednesday's, 3-7pm, so you have more chances to stop in and see the artwork. If, for some reason, you can't make it on a Wednesday night or Saturday, but would still like to stop into the store, email me and I'll see about setting up a private viewing.

Here's some photo's from the show. They are kind of limited. Once again, my camera batteries were dead, and I didn't have my charger. I have had to scavenge other people's pics to come up with these. Enjoy!

View more images here.

Opening Tonight!

2010-09-03T06:25:00.000-07:00

Well, the show is up and ready for the gallery opening tonight, Friday, September 3. I have 5 new pieces on exhibit at The Flying Cat, along with new pieces by Zach Kestermann. In addition to our paintings, we will also have prints for sale! There will also be complimentary brownies, lemon bars, and snickerdoodles, all baked by ME! They are sure to be a hit. I've already sampled each, and they are quite delightful.

It'll be a fun night. Hope to see you there!

Hybrid Moments
New works by Geri Shields & Zach Kestermann
at
The Flying Cat
713 Main Street
Covington, KY
6pm-10pm

Show poster

2010-08-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

Just need to get it printed!

The Beast

2010-07-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

Finally, this beast of a painting is done! For some reason it was such a struggle to get it completed. I think my patience is just shot.

Here's a couple of weird angle shots for you guys!

Backgrounds

2010-07-21T06:48:00.000-07:00

I do not love painting backgrounds. Usually I am too excited over the main subject of a painting to fool with any elaborate background. Lately, though, I have been trying to put my characters into some kind of setting. I've spent a lot of time working on the background of my latest painting for the Hybrid Moments show in September. Most of the time was spent pondering over how I wanted the background to look, feel, and what techniques to try to make it interesting for me. Last night I put the finishing touches on the background and am quite pleased with the results. Actually, I'm excited! So, I thought I would share a few photos of the work in progress. Tonight I will be working on the character, Codzilla. I can't wait to get started! And yes, the final piece will include a beam of atomic fire breath. Please excuse the sub par photos.

Background early stage:

Completed background!

Flying Cats...

2010-07-21T06:33:00.000-07:00

This painting was suppose to be included in the last installment of the Flying Cats show at The Flying Cat. Unfortunately, the gallery & boutique will be closed from now through most of August for some much needed renovations, so the exhibition has come to a close early. Because of this, I decided to share the new painting here. ENJOY! The title has yet to be decided. The painting can be found at The Flying Cat for a short time when the store opens back up, and will be available for purchase!

If you don't live in the area and are interested in the painting, just shoot me an email for pricing. (contact info back at my website)

Coming Soon...

2010-06-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

I will be exhibiting new works, along side Zach Kestermann, in our Hybrid Moments show in September. Our cast of hybrid animals will be on display at The Flying Cat during the entire month. The opening reception will be the first Friday in September.

This my Narwhallaby, still in sketch form. I'll be starting the painting shortly.

Reworking

2010-06-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

I completed this painting a while ago, but was never happy with the way the land looked. Finally, I stopped kicking myself and decided to go back into the painting, which I NEVER do. It work, though! Now, I'm thoroughly pleased with the painting. No further reworking will be necessary.

In a Pinch

2010-06-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

During May, I had a collection of photography on exhibit at The Flying Cat. Here's a small sampling.

KITTIES

2010-06-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

These are my kitty caricatures of the art co-op members at The Flying Cat (yes, I'm the one with the pigtails). These adorable faces can be seen on The Cat's website!

The Tattle Tales

2010-06-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

I was asked to do a poster and t-shirt design for The Tattle Tales!
The poster was for their Moon Glasses EP release show.
Here is the "Mustaine" shirt design.

Updating

2010-06-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

It's been a while. The past few months have not been the most productive. My attention was needed elsewhere. Now that I have my time a little freed up, I'm going to attempt to update this thing.

I did manage to pull off an art show last October with Zach Kestermann. This is our postcard for the "HALLOW THERE!" show opening.

My paintings from this show can be seen under the heading "Hallow There" in my painting section on my website.

Meth & Hot Dogs II

2009-06-29T07:04:00.000-07:00

These are my lovely paintings that will be on display during the Meth & Hot Dogs show. The first is my favorite. All were inspired by my own cat's ordeal with his cone after ear surgery...awww. He goes back to the vet today, and my guess is at least another week with the cone.

Meth & Hot Dogs

2009-06-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

My cat has been wearing a cone for the past 2 weeks and will probably be wearing it for 2 more. The only good things to come out of his predicament are a few humorous moments and inspiration for the paintings I just finished for the Meth & Hot Dogs show in St. Louis. If you are going to be in the area, you should probably check it out. Here is the show info...

bike show

2009-04-30T20:24:00.000-07:00

my painting made it into the bike show at red tree gallery. yay! the opening is going to be Friday, May 8th from 6-9pm.

Redtree Art Gallery & Coffee Shop
3210 Madison Road (Oakley)
Cincinnati, OH 45209
513.321.Tree (8733)

you should probably go.

more info: http://www.redtreegallery.net/events

biking

2009-04-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

I finished a new painting for the bike show at the Red Tree Gallery. I dropped it off Friday, but i won't know til next weekend if I actually make it into the show. Oh, well. I'm more than satisfied with the piece. It came out much better than I anticipated, so yay me. My favorite parts are the suitcase and flag. Here's a little peek...

I haven't been too creative since turning the piece in. I've mainly concentrated on reorganizing my studio. It was getting way out of control, but now I have a handle on things, a better layout and a much happier me, so hopefully the mess doesn't return and I can concentrate on painting some more cuties.

first

2009-03-25T20:01:00.000-07:00

I am finding it a bit difficult to get things done tonight with a cat sitting in my lap, giving me the death stare. Regardless of that, I did manage to add the final touches to a new painting. This one in particular is going to be entered in the Magnitude 7 show at the Manifest Gallery. Entries are due late April, so I'm ahead of schedule, which is a first.

Also, other good news, I'll be participating in the Meth & Hot Dogs show at Cranky Yellow in St. Louis. Show is a few months away, so I better get crackin' on some new characters!