My little lucky ellie is HUGE in NYC!

photo by Stefanie Renee

A few friends tweeted me photos* recently of my lucky elephant art displayed in NYC on Pier 1's windows! I never thought that when I started making art that I would have my art sprawled across several windows in Manhattan! Wow!

photo by Stefanie Renee

Than the other day my husband Hugh was shopping for a basket at Pier 1 and said, "Wait, that's my wife's art all over the gift cards!". Yay! He brought one home for me to see! I love how it folds open and the actual gift cards have my ellies on them as well.

*If anyone out there lives in NYC or is visiting and can take a higher quality photo, please, please, please do! I'll send you some love in the form of art. Thank you!

Dream Lab with Mondo Beyondo & Brene Brown

I'm writing this quickly all fuzzy with an ear ache... because I truly believe this class is going to be incredible and potentially life changing, actually most likely it will change your life for the better.

Both Mondo Beyondo and Brene have absolutely changed mine. I took the first class of MB over a year ago and so many of my big fat scary dreams have come true with doing the dream work.

Brene's book "The Gifts of Imperfection" is a must read.

Listen to her Ted talk too, so good....

It starts tomorrow! Sign up for the class with me! Click on Dream Lab 2011!!!!

nourishment

photo credit

after much thought, i finally decided on my "word of the year"= nourishment! last year (well mid-year really) i chose abundance and i feel it really happened in every aspect of my life, including dress size unfortunately;)

i feel sick for the 3rd time with a cold this winter, which makes me stop and think about what lesson am i learning? well first to slow down and take measures to boost my health... which led me to nourishment of my mind, body and soul.

v nourish [ˈnariʃ, (American ) ˈnə:-]

to cause or help to grow, become healthy etc.

adj nourishing

giving the body what is necessary for health and growth

an alphabetized (bc i'm funny like that) list of what nourishes me that i want to bring into 2011...

*acceptance

*accountability

*art

*clean

*cozy

*ease

*friendships

*gardening

*gratitude

*green

photo credit

*health

*letter writing

*love

*order

*quality

*reading

*rest

Paola Navone's summer refuge on the Greek island of Serifos (a feature in Elle Decoration, August 2010 via Poppytalk

*running

*self-care

*smoothies

*soaking

photo credit

*soup

*sun

*support

*yoga

xxoxo

mati rose

ps- what are your words of the year if you have one?

pps- all these photos are from my pinterest! love!

humbly seeking imagery

me in ttv by andrea

did i tell you about taking pictures like elephants in the rain at the laundry mat? we looked at the images upside and backwards and tiny like herds of humble elephants bowed down with long trunks as the rain pitter pattered on our hands. hula taught us a ttv class after her show recently and it was AMAZING. i took a bunch of photos, but have only processed two thus far.

one of katrina (love her beret, scarf, ring and rarely captured pensive stare):

and another of ms jen and her mister bob (mustaches at the curiosity shoppe!):

all of it makes me so, so, so very excited for our upcoming joy retreat with polaroids, painting and cooking! there may still be some spots left...

i wrote about kindness over here. and hula wrote about my new painting series on one of my fave design blogs~ poppytalk. there are still some treasure seekers originals in the shop too.

be well,

mati

fun and easy= flow

my sweet, wise, beautiful very pregnant superhero friend andrea led some friends and i through a core values exercise a few years back... mine was, no surprise here, that i'm a treasure seeker. i wasn't really sure what that meant to live that out at the time, but as i paint it, it's coming into focus.

i believe dear kelly rae's core values phrase was brave in sadness and brave in love. i borrow this sometimes personally too to help me. i think she's shared this sentiment on her blog before and don't think she'd mind me telling you ;)

and andrea's i believe was fun and easy. i am just starting to understand how this can apply to my life more fully too.

andrea recently shared this in her interview that i linked to a while back. i love this concept she explains below:

MK: How do you nurture your creative spirit within the boundaries of the “do more with less” mentality of minimalism?

AS: I try to live by the law the buddhists call “The law of least effort.” This basically means
that more effort does not equal more results, but right effort equals right results.

I don’t like to pain over my work… write when it’s not coming, sit for many hours
at the computer trying to wring something out of myself when I really just need to fill the well and be replenished.

I listen closely to my intuition, live my real life as much as possible, and write in bursts
from the richness of my actual life. This is how I nurture my creative spirit. I listen for when there is a story that wants to be told.

i had a skype conversation with my brilliant smart agent/mentor Lilla recently about how can i "step things up"? and she basically said i'm doing everything right (thank you) and that i should paint things that are fun and easy for me~ smooshy color, line and what comes naturally to ME, not to others-- that's where your authentic voice lives.

it was a very big A HA moment. paint what is easy to me? wait, i don't have to WORK at it? make it perfect? make it like math? i can keep it mysterious and evocative and fun? i can play with color and paint and go off on little painting explorations? love. it.

thank you for helping me piece together these puzzle pieces friends.

intermixed are close-ups that my friend bob lake (the fantastic jen lake's mister... if you're in the bay and need a photog-- hit him up!) took of my recent treasure seeker series, which means, high quality prints soon y'all!

smooch,

mati

a long post on cultivating happiness & perfect protest!

I had the thought recently that i work very hard to be happy. How happiness does not always arrive when i wake up (i'm quite often a grumpy morning riser). It's a "wicked pissah" to use east coast jargon, when I have to wake up super early and don't have time to be sloooow, piddle and drink caffeine.

This thought occurred to me because I hope I put out there in the world my happiness. My paintings are happy (maybe some are dark or have a twinge of sadness too) and I use a lot of exclamation points sometimes to communicate excitement!!!! For those of you who don't know me personally or know my life story, you may think i'm super. happy. all. the. time! Not so. I consciously work at it. Not by denying the sh**t in life, but by looking at it and working to transform it and connect with others around it in a healing way.

I've been reading Brene's "Gifts of Imperfection" since I got it a couple of days ago. I've underlined the heck out of it! one of the things she wrote that spoke to me was the idea that we are " ...worthy now; right this minute. Worthiness doesn't have prerequisites."

These were some examples that spoke to me:

* I'll be worthy when I lose 20 lbs.

* I'll be worthy when I can make a living selling my art.

and this one really got me thinking...

* I'll be worthy when I can do it all and look like I'm not even trying.

Um, how many of us have had that thought? That the things that matter most to us, we often want them to look effortless and like the opportunities fell in our laps!

To be real... when I lose weight, it's because I've been diligently cutting back and exercising A LOT. Right now I'm enjoying food A LOT and exercising occasionally, and if I were to lose weight I would brush it off like it was no big deal, when it would mean 100's of hours of exercise and willpower devoted to it.

The 2nd example is HUGELY pertinent around feeling worthy for me: when I can make a living as an artist... and not just a meager living, but one where I have stability, savings and comfort and ABUNDANCE. I work so hard trying to make a living as an artist, and yet don't share here my horrifying to-do lists and energy spent making my art look EASY. Nope.

Not to mention the years of torment deciding to follow this path and believing I could, years building my portfolio, many thousands and thousands of dollars going back to art school and the years upon years of living rent check to rent check as an artist couple buying supplies and paying for a studio space to create. Oh my, I could go on, couldn't I? As all you artists know, it ain't easy, yet we may make it look like it is and perhaps that's a disservice. I obviously love making art and it is my passion, but it is absolutely not easy and has required a whole lot of sweat and tears and dedication. It's been totally worth it, but not easy!!

The other aspect of my life that I pretend is effortless is being happy. People, I have therapist(s), an acupuncturist, a creative coach, a supportive art agent, and a ton of creative support groups and friends that I regularly attend to keep me sane/happy and I work very hard being intentional and looking for happiness in all the ordinary spaces. Plus I have a regular practice of gratitude here and in my journals.

Recently I wrote a list of tragic things that I have experienced in my life (we all have them) and it filled a page and it was ugly. Then I remembered I have dozens of gratitude journals filled to the brim. Mixed in with sketches and venting, but I have so much gratitude for it all. All of it. I'm especially proud of the hard work it's taken on my path to be happy, healthy and whole.

here's a Perfect Protest pic of me and my AWESOME intern fanny (who um MET THE AVETT BROS this weekend!!). we realized after painting this giant canvas with our fave collective color turquoise, that oops, it's backwards in the iphoto :) alas... to imperfections!!! we are too busy writing backwards to be perfect!



translation: we're too busy getting our paint on to be perfect and too busy having fun to be perfect!

(don't fanny and i look a little like sisters here?)

XOXO

Mati

The Creative Life....

Oh man, It's full with highs and lows and dreams come true and ego attacks.... I commend you all out there for keeping on and taking breaks when you need it, and for enjoying the ride!

During this past week off-line and stepping away I've felt extremely grateful for so much lately, especially the supportive folks that i've connected with who share my woes and celebrations equally. My mom said something to the effect of when times are hard people either fight or flight or women tend to FLOCK. I love that. I see a painting coming with that one!

Gratitude list:
*all of you who bought my original art!
*dahlia season

*my children's book critique group

*my rockstar intern tiffany aka crafty fanny
*my tres early monday morning ladies biz group

*helping out at an awesome boutique
*my dentist who said today "my job is to help you love your teeth!" (a gentle reframing of "not to make you feel guilty for not flossing")
*andrea's minimalist knitting interview on minimalism and passion... YES!

*a collaboration with lisa congdon to come and her "don't stop believin' " sign below

*my new organic long sleeved mandala shirts from Patagonia above-- gonna try to get some for my shop too!

*turquoise paint... turquoise anything really!

*baby feet and well babies in general

*farmer's market saturdays with jen and shash
*lemon curd chocolate pies (with lemons from our meyer lemon tree out back)

*kelly's belly

*planning a FUN art retreat in the spring

*veronica mars marathon! now that i'm caught up with friday night lights :)

*tracey clark's luminous interview on the creative life with jaimie ridler

*helping to plan an SF art show and photo class for hula... deets to come!!

*one more weekish of our show up at Rare Device-- go see!

happy tuesday to you :)

mati rose

THANK YOU :-)

Quickly peeking out from my blog break to say THANK YOU for the art sales!
I let my newsletter readers know first, that I'm having a 40-50% off sale on ORIGINAL ART right now! I'm making room in my studio for some new work!
xooxx
mati

unplugging and smelling the flowers

flowers from my new awesome intern!! i've hit the jackpot in the intern department every time!


and who doesn't love a squash party?

i know now to anticipate the post-show blues. last week was rough! it reminded me again, in my quest for balance, that i need some time off-line and to dive into some big exciting projects i've had on my plate for a while. and to experience REAL time. so i'm taking a week off the internets. no blog, facebook or twitter or flickr till next week.

time to:
regroup
reflect
create
dig deep
be outside
ride my bike (i'm back on it!)
go apple picking
bake pies
see friends
sit on my porch and drink my coffee
and smell the flowers!

oh and please sign up for my newsletter if you want to hear more about exciting projects to come!

till next week xxoxo
mati

i love my bike

my lovely bike- photo by adam aufdencamp

thank you all for getting my earlier post. i'm sitting here grateful for my bike and my physical body. i fell really hard today on my bike and strained my right arm (my drawing, painting... i had no idea how much i relied on it arm!). after all my freaking out earlier and late nights in the studio i feel reminded to slow down and remember what's important. deadlines will come and go and i'll do the best i can, but i need to breathe and appreciate the now.

if i'm not getting back to you... it's because i'm icing my arm every 20 minutes and watching "mad men".

be well and ride safe!

mati

Teatime

Taken on our friend's Olive Farm in Tuscany

I'm disappearing into paintland for 2 upcoming shows and an exciting collaboration to unveiled soon with my good friend Lisa Congdon. In the meantime I'm trying to post daily with a quick painting and hello from me. I realize how quickly I'm moving these days-- I totally just re-read and corrected what I wrote yesterday because I had written it so fast it was illegible. So I'm going to try to focus and sloooow down and make time for tea and treats. I wish the same for you all!

I just got a sweet text from a new friend about how she was inspired by my "gentle spirit and movements towards abundance... and that it reminded her that it was not only ok, but absolutely necessary to usher in that abundance". I am likewise really inspired by her witnessing and acknowledging this for herself. YES, I think part of this abundance talk is to encourage others to do the same. I also really appreciate that she noticed how I was gently ushering it in. It's easy to think you have to be aggressively hunting it down and go against your true nature. And I can't help, but think A Bun Dance like a reader pointed out!

If you haven't read Kelly's post on this topic, it's powerful.

Another thing I wanted to share is this great poem and video about being alone.


As an artist I spend a lot of time alone and crave it when I don't. Yet also really love my friends and am in the complete middle of the introvert/extrovert on Myers Briggs, but if I had to choose I think solitude fuels me... INFP case you wondered. hee.

And you, any Tuesday news, thoughts on Abundance, solitude or your Myer Briggs results?
xoxox

soaking it in & integrating

i just got back from nearly a week with dear friends on the oregon coast. i'm trying to catch up with everything that feels backlogged and simultaneously savor the lessons learned during rest and play and loving friendships. i started out my day emailing and prioritizing my day + week and then felt my achy shoulders from the flight and late night coming home and decided i needed a bath (you don't have time my gremlin protested!). then blending up a peach smoothie was in the works (the day is slipping by she yelled!). then i needed to answer more emails, but decided to take my pillows and laptop out to the sunny porch. i'm giving myself a pass to work & play together= it's really good, people. i'm resolved to be a better boss to myself and try to slow down & listen and be more like miss millie.

all my emails are bouncing back

and it's nearing 10 pm and i'm still working... time to call it a day! soon my friends, i'll be back with more paintings.

here's a shot of outside my studio taken earlier with my iphone. i love it here.

extreme gratitude

sea bloom measures 10x10 and is available here
SOLD

i am feeling extreme gratitude this week for all of the on-line art support from my amazing customers who continue to support my art! thank you. i could not do any of this with out you.

i am very excited that by putting a painting a day out there for just 4 days... that 3 out of the 4 originals have sold! WOW! thank you! it helps me keep going in every way. also every order you've ever made from my etsy shop has meant the world to me. every small magnet order, repeat customer and kind thing you say about how happy and (fill in the blank) having my art in your house touches me deeply.

much love to you all & happy independence day!
xoxoxo
mati

Artful Blogging

I'm flattered to be included in the latest issue of Artful Blogging with photos, art and an article written by me that shares my story of being an artist and blogger. It is beautifully printed and in good company with talented artists like Shari and Abby to name two.

Here's a sneak peek! Available on newstands in bookstores or on-line.

34 really good things that happened this year.

Inspired by my friend Hula and extreme love of lists I want to share 34 good things (one for every year so far!)

This year, I...

1. turned 34 years this December and celebrated so much goodness....

2. am now represented by my dream art agency~ Lilla Rogers Studio!
more on this later! :)

3. have a line of art canvases with a wonderful company called Oopsy Daisy
(more on this too!)

4. met a really lovely, sassy and inspiring British lady who loves her polas, like this one with Mr. Pickle below....


Photo by Susannah Conway

5. spent a summer month of lounging and painting in Maine near my family.

6. painted on a mannequin for an amazing group show in LA, which I now use for my necklaces.


Photo by Kelly Rae

7. collaborated on the characters of a board game with Hugh which we played this with some friends!


Photo by Bob Lake

...and more friends!


8. made a lot of enormous tiny art.

9. had a show with my good pal Lisa at the Curiosity Shoppe.

10. went to the farmer's market weekly with Jen and Shash and sometimes Diana.

11. visited Seattle and my best childhood friend Bekah and Kelly and painted together.

12. taught painting at a lovely nest in Utah.

13. took an amazing on-line class where I dreamed big.

14. had a show with Hugh in Albuquerque where we painted a giant monster.


Photo by Jessie Rogers

15. participated in the summer and winter Renegades.


Photo by Bob Lake

16. had a show with Hugh in SF called little vagabonds and another at the SF mini-bar

17. worked and learned alongside Jenny and Caitlin~ my 2 incredible and very talented interns.

18. was featured in several magazines... one all the way to Denmark.

19. wandered the Mission streets with Hula as she snapped photos and saw my hood anew.

20. watched my nieces and nephews grow and celebrated their birthdays... with nearly a zoo!



21. modeled a dress project!

22. ran a 1/2 marathon! with my darling friend Kate & encouragement of Kathleen-- thank you!

23. went to my 15th high school reunion and had fun!

24. partook in a Squam Artstream show with some lovelies.

25. was featured in 2 coloring books.

26. indulged in a spa goddess day with Andrea & Kelly ;)

27. flea marketed and inspiration gathered with some dear ones...


Photo by Kelly Rae

28. collaborated with my mom on pillows (she sewed them!) with fabric designed by me-- 5 left!



29. witnessed a beautiful wedding with Iranian & Mexican influences of dear folks.




30. celebrated my friend tavie's 23rd birthday (who i used to babysit!)



31. threw 3 baby showers on our rooftop and fell in love with those babes~ Zada, Toby and Holden; not to mention Caelan... and went to a one year birthday!



32. collaborated on these baubled beauties.

33. made a cd, poster, t-shirt with hugh for our friend's band and won some design awards for it!

34. was part of an awesome book called the handmade marketplace that will be out soon!

hello 2010, i'm ready for you!

xoxoxo