life is good.

Happy Thursday!!
Life has been great lately. I got an amazing new job, I have a solo art show this Saturday in South Philadelphia at a cute store called Nice Things Handmade and my mother will be coming this weekend for the show.
I created 24 8"x8" paintings, the show is called Color & Shelter. It is a collection of colorful villages around the world. I am very excited to show these pieces. This has been a year in the making. Will post pictures to follow.

working

Lazy bones. I've been that at updating my blog lately, I know. I've started a new series that could potentially turn into another solo show but I'm not going to disclose that until it's set in stone, but it's in the talks for now. 

This piece is from my Mexican culture series from April this year, it's entitled "Guadalajara Village" and it sold to the owner of the hair salon/art gallery where I had my show. This piece will be available on my Etsy shop as a Giclee print for $25-$30 soon. I had it priced at $80, low for an oil painting I know but it was a good price and I ended up selling 10 paintings out of 14. I am now working on a series that is an offshoot of this piece. A series of 15-20, 8x8 wood panel paintings focusing on colorful buildings from around the world. My first one is Stockholm, Sweden and that is the underline. The next one will probably be Rio Maggiore, Italy. 

red wine and mexican chocolate

Today it rained, which was the perfect opportunity for me to create some more pieces for my Etsy shop. I did add 3 new paintings so check them out. 

I ran to the store in the rain and purchased some Mexican chocolate made in Oaxaca. It's delicious, it has a spicy taste to it. I have been enjoying it with a glass of red wine. 

I spent most of the day in my studio, painting and watching films on Netflix. Yesterday I was pleasantly surprised of discovering a new artist that WHYY was interviewing on the radio. Her name is Dom La Nena, and her album is called Ela. Here is her video. Her music is amazing, she sings in Portugese. If you like worldly music, I would also recommend listening to Bomba Estereo. 

my favorite escape

This is my favorite place to escape to and spend all day creating new paintings, and to vent all the ideas from my head. I couldn't imagine what I would do without my studio space (and I am lucky enough to have it in our apartment). 

I am currently creating more small paintings for my Etsy shop, and will be starting my 6 piece series hopefully in a week. To anyone reading - where is your favorite escape? 

Etsy

Today has been such a beautiful day. I have been staying productive with finishing paintings and my Etsy store is finally up! Here is the link http://www.etsy.com/shop/BirchTea and I will be adding more paintings continuously but also for cheaper prices. I am also going to be selling a run of limited Giclee prints of my popular painting from my solo exhibit and pieces that did not sell during the show will be up there. I am working on a 6 piece series of colorful villages for my next project and they will be up for sale on there as well. 

I wish you all the best weekend! I will be working but enjoying it of course. 

mother's day

This past weekend was one of the best ones I have had in a long time. My mother Leena came to visit me from Saturday until this morning. We had so much fun! We ate a beautiful lunch outside at Bistrot La Minette which is close to where I live, and it's authentic French food. After, we walked around and looked at shops. I went in to Aids Thrift which is one of my favorite thrift stores (I have an unhealthy obsession with going there and scouting Mexican goods). Anyway, to my surprise Sean's mom Kate had gone to the thrift store near where they live in New Jersey called Village Thrift and picked up some really awesome Mexican things for us. The first set of 2 items are what I found for $7 and the rest is what I got from Kate. The last picture is of my mom and I after our lunch date. 

The perfect Friday

So today I had a haircut appointment at 3. I got it done, and then went food shopping for our taco night for dinner tonight and spent about one hour and 20 minutes at New Wave Cafe, the neighborhood bar on our corner for two beers to enjoy this warm day we have had. I really enjoyed just sitting at the bar alone, drinking slowly from each beer and feeling the warm breeze that was coming in though the entrance. If you live nearby the Philadelphia area, I highly suggest going to this place. I'll leave you with this lovely picture below. Happy weekend to you all! 

unbreakable spirit

Last summer, I was invited to make a piece for an all female artists show called "Lady-like" at Paradigm Gallery in Philadelphia. The first idea that came to mind was I wanted to paint myself as Frida Kahlo. I feel like our lives are similar, and she changed the art world for women artists. I have posted about this piece before since it was included in an article in the Philadelphia Weekly. I wanted the painting to speak for itself, but it was important for me to include a hint of my life struggles in this piece. It's entitled "Unbreakable Spirit" for the same reason as the blue awareness bracelet for O.I. that I wear every day and has that same phrase printed on it. You can buy them for $3 each at www.oif.org. 

washed out

My favorite music ever is Washed Out. This video was made by someone using the best song "Feel it All Around" and I think it is so nice to watch. I have seen Washed Out live about 4 years ago. It is just one guy making music and he is really good at what he does. The music is great to paint to, walk to, dream to, just about everything. Enjoy life, because that's all there is. 

lisa congdon.

I am a huge fan of anything folk art. Lisa Congdon's work is just that. I love her work, and she inspires me to be myself within my work. Sometimes as an artist, you feel like you have to be a certain way to be this great artist. But when you go back to what you enjoy painting and how you want to portray your work, you realize you can't be anything but yourself. I enjoy going through her website which is http://lisacongdon.com/ and watch this amazing video of her at http://vimeo.com/57649462 So check out her work and get inspired! 

project Etsy

This is my newest project that I have started for my Etsy store, which isn't open yet, but will be soon. I am doing a series of Swedish summer cabins and row homes from Philly on wood with edged bark. This is one of the Swedish cabin ones and it only has the pencil lines down, with clear primer. I will post pictures of the finished product. 

postcard surprise

Today has been a day of relaxing with Sean. We slept late, I made us a nice brunch at home, we listened to Beethoven's 6th on vinyl, went food shopping to make our pork stew in the slow cooker we got from his parents and now I am drinking a glass of red wine. I am about to make gluten-free bread in our bread maker.

To my surprise, I received these lovely artsy postcards originally from Austin, Texas from my friend Emily when she visited there. She sent these to me because she loves everything I post and write about and thought I would like them! So sweet. I am framing these and hanging them throughout our apartment. It made my day <3 

a lovely wednesday

Today is a beautiful day! I took advantage by running my errands to the post office and going to my favorite food store Essene. It's 74 degrees, sunny and warm. I decided to go to the park across the street from our apartment and sit under a tree in the grass. They usually have the grass area closed during the fall and winter months so it's finally open again. The rest of my day will consist of painting pieces for my Etsy store which will also be called Birch Tea. I am trying to get it up and running very soon. Hope you are all enjoying your Wednesday. <3 

home is where the art is

I wanted to share a more updated post of pictures of our apartment. It has taken us a year and a half to get it this filled with furniture and make it our personalities put together. Luckily, Sean and I have very similar tastes. Our living room is tree themed, which is perfect because we have plenty of trees on our street which I love. The more south ward you go in Philadelphia, the less trees there are. Growing up in Sweden, I've always had a love for nature and trees. They bring a sense of peace to an atmosphere. 

my art show

So last Saturday, I finally had my art show opening. I had 14 paintings hung, and I was just going in with a completely open mind. What I can tell you made me the happiest person ever, because I sold 9 paintings during the opening. I had 3 sold prior to the show, but then I sold 6 more! I got so much good feedback, all positive, and I am speechless. I want to post pictures of some of the paintings, but I am afraid of someone stealing it and putting it on their Pinterest or weheartit. So, I am going to make some watermarks for each of them and post them soon. The picture in the middle is of me and my amazing mother, Leena. She was such a good support through this entire process leading up to the show. The picture below it is of me and my boyfriend Sean. He has also been such an amazing support through this for me. The last picture is of me and my frequent customers from the store I work at, Era*Atomica which is just next door to this salon. This show has definitely changed me in a humble way, and has helped inspire new paintings for me to create now. I will have my Etsy store up and running hopefully by the end of this week. I hope you all had a nice weekend! 

thrift store finds

I went to my favorite thrift store called Aids Thrift (all proceeds go to the aids foundation) in Philly this morning with my good friend Julie. We both had stuff to donate, and usually I go in with an open mind, but usually in the mindset that I probably won't find anything. Today I was lucky! I came across a really artistic hand painted coaster set influenced by India, a Mexican style tiled mirror, and an original Mexican painting with the artist's name signed. I only spent $18 and these items are all going into our Mexican themed kitchen. I can't wait to hang them up! 

longwood gardens

This past Monday I was invited to join Sean's parents to Longwood Gardens in PA. It was in honor of Sean's mother Kate's birthday. I had never been, but it was the most gorgeous place I've ever been to. And so calming with all the flowers, water fountains, greenhouses, ponds and arrangements. I took a liking to all the Mexican plants (of course) and to some really colorful plants and flowers. Here are some pictures from our visit. 

margaret kilgallen.

Her artwork is my favorite. I love everything about it. She made a huge impact and changed a lot for other artists. She died from breast cancer in 2001. She was married to Barry McGee, another amazing artist and collaborator. "In the Sweet Bye & Bye" is the title of her book. I have yet to purchase it, but I am aching to get it as soon as I can. Looking at her work has inspired me to move into Folk Art. My current series has a lot to do with traditional Mexican folk art, but it has also let me experiment with my style in a way I haven't yet. 

I am sitting in my studio waiting for the acrylic matte medium to dry so I can finish my last two paintings for my solo exhibit, which is only 2 weeks away. I just ordered my business cards. It feels so official. So exciting! I have 14 paintings done, even though I wanted to have 15, but still, I am happy with how they all turned out. 

My boyfriend and I are heading out tonight for a friends' DJ event playing old Jamaican reggae and soul, it's called Moonshot. Very excited. I hope you are all having a nice Friday. 

20 things

1. I recently kicked my nail biting habit. Only took me 28 years. 
2. I was on a Japanese game show when I was 13.
3. I get told I look like Carey Mulligan (the actress) more than I can count.
4. I have been mistaken for the waitress from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia twice.
5. I remember all my dreams everyday. I don't even have to write them down. 
6. I have had short hair for 12 years. Never going back to long.
7. I used to be REALLY shy. Now I am really social. I can be friends with anyone.
8. I have an old soul.
9. Swedish chocolate Marabou is my favorite. 
10. I always have at least one bottle of red wine at home. I love red wine! 

11. I have never worn heels. Nor will I ever want to. I'm a flats kind of girl.
12. I have sold 11 paintings so far. One to a famous artist Isaiah Zagar in Philadelphia. He has it hanging in his gallery space.
13. I truly believe that I will be famous for my artwork one day. 
14. I don't look like my age. I get carded for EVERYTHING.
15. I think I am the only person in the world who doesn't own an iPhone.
16. I have a custom painted "cupcake themed" bicycle that I ride. 
17. I saw Michael Jackson in concert when we lived in Japan at Tokyo Dome in 1996. I still remember it. 
18. My favorite movie is When Harry Met Sally.
19. I have terrible circulation. I'm either freezing or sweating like a beast.
20. I laugh at my own jokes. 

Painting, painting and more painting.

Currently, I am prepping and painting up a storm for my Mexican culture series solo show which is on April 13th. I am beyond excited, because it has been about 4 years since my last solo art show. This time, I am focusing mainly on bright colors, landscapes, and interiors. I want to evoke the feeling of being there while you look at the painting, even though you haven't been to Mexico. 

I am planning to have 15 paintings done by that date, so far I have about 7 more to finish, but I work fast when I am close to a deadline. It's more thrilling, and my brain works better in these situations. 

I wanted to post a picture of my self portrait that I did for a women's group show called "Ladylike" back in September. It ended up in the Philadelphia Weekly, and my friend took a picture of it because I had no idea it was in the paper. Mine is the one with the daisy. I painted myself as Frida Kahlo, of course. 

I am feeling at my happiest when I paint. I only work 3 days a week, so this gives me the rest of the week to work on my art. With that, it works out so well for me and I am lucky because not many artists have time to even spend making their art. I will post pictures of my series as soon as they are hung up. 

I hope you are all having a wonderful day, and Happy Valentine's Day to you <3