a bit of poetry

Some of the latest work from Abigail.

First Grade

by Abigail Riggins

I'm glad

I'm in first grade.

I love 

friends.

I love

reading books.

I love science

and math

and drama.

Summer

by Abigail Riggins

Summer is a great season!

Play outside.

Go to the pool.

Shining sun.

Bees going flower to flower.

Taking walks with my sister

in the summer.

nothing eventful

I have not written or painted since last Saturday. The surge of creativity I have had seems to have left with the troubles with the daughters. The daughter issues are resolving themselves, but my lingering lack of creativity has left me a bit rattled. The passionate energy has just disappeared.  I am sure (hopeful)  time will bring it back, but I have to make myself work now, and doing so without the passion is a terrible way to do it. 

Back to work then.

boxes no more

A update to the web site. The annoying blue and purple boxes that surrounded all of the thumbnails have gone away. 

Joy.

clear, with a chance of clouds

It is only Wednesday, but it feels as though this week has gone on far too long. The last few days have been the type, that you want to take your kids up to the counter and demand a refund. 

I know - think rationally, be patient. 

Story of my life. 

Things do seem brighter today, the middle one woke happy and headed off to her early morning class like a new person after days of moping, but the days brightness will really depend on the oldest and the choices she is going to make. I'm sitting here waiting for the phone to ring letting me know that it is another one of those mornings.

We shall see how it goes.

A quick update. The call did come, the storm was brewing - but did pass. A wise choice seems to have been made.

and we're up

The new site is up and running. It can be viewed here. 

There will always be things that I can tweak, but it is done, and I am going to stop thinking about it for a while.

absent minded

I have been deep in projects lately, and in turn have not been sleeping right. When I do sleep, I am thinking about my work, and so, not getting much rest. It's good that I'm on a high ramped creative bender, but it's not good for remembering the small thing. Things like, going to look for the paper that I have already brought in only a few minutes away. Losing my coffee constantly. Misplacing my keys three times in a very small window of time. I was sure there was more, but I can't remember now.

What I am remembering is due dates. They are sitting on my back, whispering in my ear. By next week, they will not be whispers anymore, they will have turned into full fledged screams, helpfully reminding me that the due dates are near, and I best have things all ready to go, or I might as well just flush it all down the toilet.

Deep breath. 

Back to work.

more mabel

Here is another little bit from Mabel and Bear. I am going to be posting more illustrations as I get them done. I am also creating a page on my site (under construction, but close to launching) that will feature all of my concept work for the book as well as current updates.

seeds and castles

Yesterday, we did our early garden work. We have the seeds on the warmers, and they are now happily in their soil. In one container we have, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. In the other, we have different herbs and lettuce. Paige and Penny did a container each. Abby had a fever and stayed on the couch, feeling miserable. The night before, she and I had made a tremendous stone castle though.

Coraline

What a fantastic movie. We went to see Coraline last night and in was fabulous. It is a wonderful adaptation of Neil Gaimans' book. I am always a bit apprehensive about movies made about books that I love. Typically, the movie fails to live up to the writing and it is a sad shadow of what it could have been. This movie on the other hand stands by itself as a beautiful work. The few changes that were made, added to the story telling without taking anything away. There were also enough changes from the book, that you didn't find yourself knowing exactly what would happen next. The creative direction and production design was humbling to any designer, and it will be some time before it stops haunting me. 

We had spent the week reading Coraline aloud before we saw the movie. I wanted the girls to have there own images of the story in their minds before they saw it. Having so recently heard the story, everyone was very excited by the visuals, and Abigail was especially captured by it. 

a late start

Overslept today. Woke up not having any idea where I was for a few minutes. Slowly the world began to present itself before me in familiar forms. Trudged off to make coffee. 

Of all days, coffee is not tasting good. Very disappointed that my caffeinated friend has let me down. Keep feeling as though I am forgetting to do something.

Headed into the studio, knocked out two proposals that have been sitting on my desk. Still feel like I'm forgetting something.

Received news last night that my sister is having twin girls - congratulations all around!

Still feel like I'm forgetting something.

out of the archives

This one is fairly old. I came across it the other day while archiving my work. Acrylic on paper.

a bit of robot

Just a small, odd little robot. Gouache on cardboard.

a little baking

The two younger girls decided to do some baking yesterday. They ended up making some wonderful brownies. The oldest spent the afternoon curled up in her favorite chair reading. We spent quite a bit of the day at the park - the snow that was predicted never came, so we took advantage of the beautiful weather. 

a post from my email

Trying posting from email now...

just a test

Just a test to see if I can post from my blackberry.

more archiving of paintings

another look

Here's the revised style for Mabel - for the Mabel & Bear book. 

a nice show

Had a wonderful time last night at an art opening for Peter Kiss. He is doing some pretty innovative things with paint and found objects. His show is continuing for a few weeks at Hapa Sushi on Pearl Street in Boulder, and everyone should check it out. 

Now that we are passed the scare with Penny, I desperately need to get back to my painting and get some of the pieces mounted so they can be hung. The weather has turned surprisingly spring-like. This might not make it easy to stay in the studio and get work done.

More kids for the school: 

Great News!

After many tests and many doctors, the good people at Children's Hospital (a fantastic place by the way) have ruled out all of the scary scenarios that involved Penny's vision. They have decided to treat her symptoms with glasses that have serious power in the left eye, as well as some drops. We will have a check in four months to check her progress. They think with the new glasses she will be able to see like never before, in fact they are not sure she has ever seen well out of her left eye and never knew any different.

Very happy.

Paige has also had a much better day today and rallied all though she did not feel well.

Very proud.

a nervous day

This afternoon is the appointment for Penny at Children's Hospital, and I am writing this with a great sense of anxiety. I hope we find some answers, but at the same time, I am nervous of what we might find out. Paige has had an utter breakdown this morning with her grandmother heading home. I can't say that I am surprised, but I had hoped she would have pulled it together.

Not the case.

So, I write this irritated as well as worried. In the end everything will work out, I know, but right now, the unknown is sitting heavily.