Anthea

I wanted to paint about a beautiful chaotic life. Yes, Anthea has landscaping on her head. Anthea actually means flowery. Her beautiful, thriving greenery is manicured, yet it still contains a bit of wildness. A dove (peace) has landed there. There are eggs, flowers, ribbons and who knows what else in there as well.

She holds a wreath to her heart, maybe from flowers that she grew.

The show has been shipped to Heritage Gallery. I'm headed out there on Friday. I hope it all goes well. The weather looks perfect for Cannon Beach!

Mary Magdalene

I was invited to do a painting for, Art of the Restoration, a show now hanging at the Museum of Church History and Art in Salt Lake City.

I wrote the following about the painting:

I have envisioned the scene and wondered about Mary Magdalene at the tomb, following her conversation with the resurrected Savior. I picture Mary in thoughtful relief.

The different elements represented in this painting all have symbolic meaning.

From the dogwood tree, the cross was constructed. The white dogwood blossoms fall around the figure to symbolize the suffering that is past. Ivy symbolizes where Christ walked. Primula is a flower of compassion and a symbol of resurrection. The crocus represents of the resurrection and heavenly bliss. A chrysanthemum present when Christ was laid in the tomb. Easter Lilies a symbolize of the pure soul’s resurrection and the oriental poppy symbolise Christ’s blood. The passionflower that Mary holds represents Christ’s wounds or the suffering of Christ and the begonia symbolizes the heart of Jesus.
The Egg that hangs in the tree denotes a story about Mary and Emperor Tiberius.
One tradition concerning Mary Magdalene says that following the death and resurrection of Jesus, she used her position to gain an invitation to a banquet given by Emperor Tiberius. When she met him, she held a plain egg in her hand and exclaimed "Christ is risen!" Caesar laughed, and said that Christ rising from the dead was as likely as the egg in her hand turning red while she held it. Before he finished speaking, the egg in her hand turned a bright red, and she continued proclaiming the Gospel to the entire imperial house.[35] (Wikipedia)

You're the Girl in the Painting

Have you ever looked at a sixteenth century portrait of a queen and wished that you had the necklace that she was wearing? Ever been sorely disappointed when the museum gift shop didn't have an affordable knockoff? I totally have. I'm serious, I have!

This fall when I was visiting with my soul-sista Angela Henrie, we had an idea. We could collaborate and create a series of six or seven portraits wearing Angela's necklaces. Then have frames built that have a little drawer in them which holds the very necklace in the painting. I love the idea of interacting with the painting, like becoming the portrait when you wear the necklace.

When I got Angela's necklaces in the mail, I almost hyperventilated. They are so cool I want to keep every one. She has the nice balance of sophisticated and funky. They seriously make me weak! I haven't seen anything like them, and that's amazing in itself. I pretty much always wear one of her jewelry pieces. Right now my favorite is a bracelet that has "love is a battlefield" stamped into it. I sing it out and grin every morning when I put it on.

This set of paintings and necklaces will be on display one night only at Repartee Gallery in Fort Union (1110 East Fort Union BLVD,Midvale, UT) Saturday, February 12 · 6:00pm - 8:00pm I'll post the finished paintings soon along with the frames. If you are interested in any of the pieces and can't make it to the show, contact Allison Dawson at (801)352-2569 or allison@reparteegallery.com

I Heart Art

Organisation is of the utmost importance in the studio right now. There are paintings and drawings in different designated areas of the studio for eight different shows. Some of those shows have several pieces, some only one big one and some are drawings. I've added extra painting hours to my regular daily work schedule and I do research at night. I can't keep up this pace forever but oh how I enjoy it!

Sanctuary

On February 18th at Art Access, Big Eyed Women opens in SLC. This show has some pretty amazing artists participating. We have a blog for the show, bigeyedwomen.blogspot.com.

Three Graces

I was surprised and excited that Greenwich Workshop is printing a limited edition giclee of Three Graces. I was surprised because it's not a new painting and excited because I love it and it looks good in print. I painted it in a series inspired by Boticelli's painting, Primavera.

The first figure is Faith with a little seed growing from her heart. Faith is like a little seed...get it? Then Pandora has a box at her side which of course contains hope. Last there is Charity, wearing her apron, ready to get to work.

Now I hope what I am about to write doesn't ruin the painting for anyone but I have to admit that when my dad saw it he said, "who t.p.ed (toilet papered) Faith, Hope and Charity?"
The white ribbons, not toilet paper, symbolize, like a white flag, surrender. I wanted to communicate the idea of surrendering to faith, hope and charity and thus finding happiness.

Ya, I'm pretty deep. Sometimes it's easier to explain than other times. Sometimes it also comes across easier than other times.
I do think the print is lovely and I want one to hang in my house.

Little Lambs

I was going to title this painting, "Little Lamb" but when told my dad what I thought it was about, he said it should be "Little Lambs."

I've been working on this painting for a long time. Dan Barney said that every time I worked on it I repaint the whole thing and lose a beautiful painting in the process. Sometimes that happens and what was good is destroyed in the process of finding something better...or something like that.

This painting evolved into what I am currently feeling. It's about wanting to protect my little lambs and needing to be protected as well. It's about comforting and being comforted.

With the process of repainting comes layers of color and luscious texture. I love that.

After visiting the downtown Salt Lake Deseret Book, I thought that it would be an appropriate place to display this painting, along with Be Where Your Feet Are.

(write to me for contact information if interested)

Family Tree

This month the Greenwich Workshop will have a series of ExVotos available for purchase. I have been pushing for this because I love these paintings and everyone should have some.

The paintings in this series are from stories that many of us share. I want to add to the collection and will be interested in ideas sent to me from readers like you... Right now I am painting about Charity and Gratitude and if you have a story to share please send it right away to cassandrabarney@gmail.com

Harvest

It was like Millet's The Gleaners. Well, we weren't actually the marginalized poor harvesting the leftovers, we were harvesting our crops for canning.

This year's harvest wasn't as extensive as last year's but it felt impressive when we put it all together.

Out tomatoes were luscious and so, so good. I can't think of anything better than eating a tomato that is so fresh it's hot from the sun.

Paintings I'll be bringing to Heritage Gallery in Cannon Beach, Oregon next week.

The Artist's Garden
This painting is a self-portrait of sorts. I was thinking about the contentment I feel in my studio. It's a safe little womb where I'm free to contemplate and create. In the studio, the rest of life seems a little removed, thus her lovely little house painted in the background. The red immediately surrounding her is warm and passionate. I wrote about grapevines being a personal symbol of my family somewhere, way back on this blog. I like the way she gently holds her paint brushes.

Paladin
The word 'paladin' means any worthy defender or advocate of a worthy cause. My kittens are the most worthy cause I can think of. Like mothers everywhere, I will fight to protect them in any way I can think of. The figure is struggling to hold on to those three butterflies (another personal symbol representing my three little girls) while the cat watches, waiting for an opportunity to pounce.

Mother's Love
The mother holds her heart as a shield to blanket and protect her child with love. The child wears the horns of a bull which symbolises, like in several of my recent paintings, a challenge. Oh and aren't they that!

Quietly She Sang
I wrote about the idea of a woman's gentle song just a few blog posts back. I think it's a beautiful idea.

These paintings will be shown at Heritage Gallery starting Monday, August 2. I'll be in the gallery Aug. 2-5. If you come to the gallery while I'm there, tell me! I have little treasures to give away.

Girl in a Box

Tonight Kayo Gallery in Salt Lake City is having a fundraiser. Artists submitted cigar box artworks which will be sold to the highest bidder. The starting bid is $30. Contact Shilo if you would like to place a bid. (801) 532-0080

I so enjoyed putting together this little artwork.

Quietly She Sang

August 2-5, I will be at Heritage Gallery in Cannon Beach Oregon for my show, Quietly She Sang. I'm excited to go back to the beach and this time with Dan Barney and our three little kittens. It's been a few years since we've driven from Utah to the Oregon coast. I remember the long car ride with my three little ones, the happy singing times and the baby in a car seat crying times. How will the trip be with two teen kittens, a sweetheart sensitive kitten, a mom who wants everybody to happy and a dad who is confused by it all? Funny, right?

The title of the show, Quietly She Sang, is not so much about singing. It's about the songs that come from the heart. I was thinking about my influence as a woman and as a mother, it's quiet strength. I was thinking about my wishes and prayers. I was thinking about the people I love. I was even thinking about the guy that was in a motorcycle accident the other night and how I prayed and cried for him and for his family, even though I've never met them. I was thinking about my mother's quiet songs and how they sway me, pull me along.
I love my baby kittens so much that I want everything good in life for them. So I talk and talk and try to convince them, as my mother did with me, that if they will do what I say, they'll surely be happy. Only, I know it's not my mother's talking that I listened to and it's not my talking that my kitten's listen to, it's the quiet song we sing.

My Painted Heart

I painted, only for a few minutes but those few minutes were so blissful that when I had to put it away, it was worse than tearing off a band-aid, it was more like saying goodbye to someone I love or like a my pet had died. As I squirted paint out of the tubes, my eyes got a little misty. I wanted time to stop time while I mixed the colors. And then I painted and I was, shall I say....enraptured.
I hurt in the pit of my stomach because I don't know when I'll get to paint next. It seems forever away. I feel tortured like an addict. I am a painting addict, and I have no intention of recovering from this obsession.
Okay, I know that my life is so full of fun, happy things right now, it's one party running into the next and I shouldn't be in mourning over lost studio time, but, sigh... I do love it so. "I miss you painting!"

,

Lovely Stacy

How dreamy would it be if your husband flew you out to Cannon Beach for your birthday weekend? Then, when you walked in to a gallery to see the show of an artist who's work you collect, she says she wants to show you something and unveils an artwork that is a painting of YOU. And everyone who happens to be in the gallery at the time shares in this great moment, tearing up and cheering.

It really happened. It was just like a movie. Rick and Stacy should, in my opinion, replace Ken and Barbie. They are that perfect.

300 Plates

Dan's piece for the Art Access 300 Plates show is, as usual, stunning! I love how he incorporates the fortune cookie's fortunes.

And you know, I have found good company and I am enjoying. It's so fun to be in a show with him once in a while. I am a fan. His paintings are so different from mine and I so admire his skills and style. Oh Dan Barney!

The back of my plates look kind of cool. It's a nice way to finish the paintings.

May 20 at Art Access

This year, a chance to purchase a plate depends on your wristband color. Read about that here.

Listen For It


Dance

Passion

Growing

Memory