Saturday, January 31, 2009

Gerald and Linda Preferred to be at Home with Their Cats and Their Books and there was No Sound More Dreaded than the Ringing of a Telephone


My latest painting inspired by all my internet friends who share my dread of a ringing telephone! You would all be proud to know that I survived making two (2) outgoing calls today to schedule an appointment with a new eye doctor and to the store where Matte bought me a great "new" pair of vintage glasses. I can't wait to get them!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Resisting Temptation

collage

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Rabbit, Rest in Peace


I'm so sad that John Updike has passed away yesterday. I had read "Rabbit, Run" almost 20 years ago and recently re-read it, then "Rabbit Redux" and am about to begin "Rabbit is Rich". Some have considered him to be a misogynist but I don't see him that way, much for the reason I don't consider Charles Bukowski to be one either. I underline words and phrases as I read and decided to randomly open the book and choose whichever phrase had really struck a chord with me while reading: "the woman's face a hatchet of smoke in the square shadow. Tall coffin lined with hair clopping along to the tune of a dying horse." What I loved most about Updike other than his wonderful writing was that he wrote about regular people in real situations and was able to make them sound beautiful even when in actuality the human existence is rather an ugly thing. One more beautiful phrase very apt for the end "As he closes the door he feels he has spent his whole life opening and closing this door."

16 random things about me


1. I don't do ANYTHING until I've had my morning coffee.
2. My dreams are so real and vivid it sometimes takes a few hours to shake them.
3. Plants are not safe in my care.
4. I love air hockey and ping pong.
5. When I play those games, I become horribly obnoxious and competitive and can't seem to help it.
6. I have really skinny ankles and doubled jointed elbows.
7. I secretly want to be a rock & roll girl like Joan Jett.
8. Animals follow me home. That's why we have 6 cats.
9. I'm considered color blind, I can see primary colors but can't distinguish shades of grey, green, brown or purple.
10. I love sardines and pickled herring but despise oysters.
11. I don't like to answer the phone unless I know who it is.
12. I like food so spicy it makes some people sweat.
13. My first car was a 1973 Mach I Mustang, black with black interior. I wish I still had it.
14. I think I'm bigger and stronger than I actually am.
15. I used to sporadically color my hair in extreme colors - black, red and peroxide blonde.
16. I can't watch scary or suspense films, they make me nauseous.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Victoria Always Loved the Feeling of Promise that Came with Springtime

latest piece for etsy.

If you live in NYC, I'll be a part of the Forget Me Not Show at Gallery Hanahou February 6th-27th. Please drop in!

http://www.galleryhanahou.com/

Friday, January 23, 2009

Antoine Does His Best to Impress Babette

first embroidered piece for my etsy shop

Thursday, January 22, 2009

No Turning Back


No Turning Back
Originally uploaded by viviennestrauss
collage for trade at www.scrapiteria.blogspot.com

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Harriet Had Reached the Point Where One Could No Longer Dispute that She Was in Fact a "Cat Lady"

gouache on illustration board, available at www.vivstrauss.etsy.com

Once I started painting cats, I couldn't stop!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Monday, January 19, 2009

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Bells on my Running Shoes


I was reprimanded while running again today. It is hard to stay motivated to run OR do my weight training and then yoga to try and stretch out everything again on a regular basis. I started keeping an exercise journal at the end of December when I really fell off the wagon and kept putting it off until "tomorrow". So far it has really helped. I always dread the run at the beginning but after the first mile (which is about 80% uphill) I really start to enjoy it. I have a regular route that I run, half of which is on a winding trail through the woods. At least once or twice a week I seem to startle someone as I come up behind and pass them. I always make a point to get as far to the left of them as possible and feel like I'm making plenty of noise. I can hear my breathing and my feet hitting the pavement. I feel much like I imagine a rhinoseros charging through the Serengeti would feel. I've even added a throat clearing or coughing so people will hear me. I've had people complain that their dog didn't even hear me coming and that I had also scared their dog. Today I startled a woman and when I slowed down and turned to apologize, she stated that "runners should wear bells on their running shoes". I thought about that during the rest of my run. I already feel a little self conscious when I run, I wear my iPod and between Courtney Love screaming through my ear buds, my heart pounding and the nice woman on the Nike iPod chip informing me of my distance and pace, I can feel safe in my own world. But would I want to run 15-20 miles a week with bells on my shoes? NO WAY! Why not throw in some green velvet short pants, a ruffled blouse and a little velvet cap that matches. I could look like an elf eternally chasing after an unseen Santa. Maybe I'll just start talking to myself while I come up behind someone, I bet THAT would get their attention, they may even move off the path for me to pass by...

Martha & George Go Abroad to Celebrate 25 Years of Wedded Bliss

I'm really happy with this second piece for the Forget Me Not Show at Gallery Hanahou.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Her Name is Lola She was a Showgirl

I think it is time to take a break and get outside before it gets dark!

15 hours of Leave it to Beaver


Ever since Netflix instant watch became available for MAC users I've been watching things I wouldn't normally "waste" on a movie rental. I started a really involved embroidery project last week and in the course of 4-5 days I have watched all of season 2 of Leave it to Beaver, 38 episodes X 25 minutes = 15 hours of the Beaver!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Love Declared


Love Declared
Originally uploaded by viviennestrauss
I'm participating in a show at Gallery Hanahou in February, this is the first "completed" piece.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

My fortune at dinner the other night

One of my better fortunes. I'll never forget the day I got "The road to hell is paved with good intentions".

Friday, January 09, 2009

Blog Interview with Scrapatorium

full interview can be read here http://scrapatorium.typepad.com/. Happy Friday everyone!!

Thursday, January 08, 2009

She Had Cameras for Hands

collage on french paper, some ink

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

I Love Bette Davis!


I just watched "Dead Ringer" where Bette plays dual roles of twin sisters, neither of whom are all that nice. Lots of great twists and turns in this picture, just when I thought I had guessed what was going to happen (several times) the plot took another unexpected turn. A bit over the top cheesy at times but overall just loved it!

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Marcel and Antoine Enjoy Some Sweets

Silly, I know, but I have wanted to do this one for a while! Gouache on illustration board.

Resurrection Fern Interview

a very nice interview! http://www.resurrectionfern.typepad.com/

Monday, January 05, 2009

Alice Prescott at home with Pretty Miss Kitty

gouache on illustration board, available at www.vivstrauss.etsy.com

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Prudence Merivale of West Hartford, Connecticut, New Years Day, 1931

first painting of 2009!

How I Rang in 2009


This is been a year with lots of big changes, a move from Birmingham, Alabama to Portland, Oregon this past April. A total career change and I survived turning 40. We had a very quiet New Years Eve, my husband, myself and our 6 cats in bed watching Funny Face. I love this movie and always forget how much until I see it again! So far so good, haven't broken any resolutions yet (exercised this morning and ate a healthy lunch).

Well, off to a good start anyway!