The Empress

Finished up this card.  I'd had her inked for a while, but I had my watercolors out for another project and just decided to go all in and finish her.  

Still slowly working on this tarot deck in my spare time.

Behold!  The Empress.

Buck and Florals

Been VERY busy with art shows!   But here's a buck.  Getting back into serious times watercolors.

New Summer Fabric Samples

Here we are!  Some proofs for my deer and canine track fabrics.

http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/hootbark

Fabric in Action!

Lauren Koch of OCKbaby uses my Deer Track fabrics in adorable baby gear!  I've just sent off for proofs for some new colors, so check her stuff out to see when the new pink deer tracks arrive.

OCKBaby Handcrafted Gifts 

Deer Track Fabric from my Spoonflower Shop

If you use any of my fabric or other products to make your goodies, contact me at meganmerz@gmail.com so I can give you proper recognition!

Fun with Fabric

Admittedly, I have been working on projects other than fabric.  That's a shame, because I love to do it!   I checked in recently and had a few color requests for my Deer Track fabric, so those are now in the works.  I've ordered samples, and the new colors should be available shortly.

Good Friends, Bones, Peroxide

You know you have good friends when they will happily assist your weird hobbies.  

I LOVE bones.  So pretty!   I take a lot of rides in my cabin-neighbor’s dog transport van, and if she sees a plant or anything else she wants on the side of the road, we pull over and bag it. 

This time, we were out and she saw a new flower she wanted for her garden.  Out of the van we leapt... and right by her new plant was a very worn down deer carcass.   We spotted this jawbone, and I lamented that I’d have to come back later to grab it.  And she, like any good friend, handed me a plastic bag.  

Later that evening she brought over just what I needed: the sketchbook I’d left on her deck and some peroxide.  The picture of the jawbone is its current state.  It will be in the 50/50 water/peroxide mixture for the rest of the week.  I look forward to using it as part of a still life composition.  

October Owl

Ohhh, autumn is upon us!  Have some lovely owl goodness. 

Digital owl layout... might make this a real painting, not sure.  And by real, I mean acrylic.  Maybe in time for Halloween.

Antelope

Not quite sure what this fellow is.  He was a taxidermy mount at a museum.

Not sure what to do with this guy, he may end up on a notebook of some kind.  

Also, if you do enjoy tumblr, feel free to follow me there!  Hootbark.tumblr.com

Tumblr Antlers

I'm having an art identity crisis.  I'm never sure what to actually brand myself as.   Anyway, here are some antlers.   Did you know I have a tumblr?   It's hootbark.tumblr.com, should you be inclined.

This is an in progress piece, about 2/3 of the way done.   I think it will look nice with 5-6 more antlers to the right.

My Art To Be Shown in Las Lagunas Gallery

Two of my pieces will be in the "Animal Fairy Tales, Fables, Fact Or Fiction" show at Las Lagunas Gallery (http://www.laslagunagallery.com) from December 5th to the 21st.  

The pieces that got in are:

Coveting
Acrylic
14x18"

 












Deer in Bell Jar
Watercolor
6x8"














They are both framed up and look gorgeous!  I will try to snap a picture of them before I ship them out on Monday.  

Doe Painting Progress

Sort of working on this... I think I need to put some treasure in the dirt pile, or show different layers of dirt. Bones? Shiny rocks? What shall I put in...

Deer Progress

Here's this little lady with about two more hours behind her...

Doe In Progress

This little lady has had it, and is storming off.  In progress, about 90 minutes in. 

Fabric Palooza!

So, I've been making a ton of fabric!  Check out my lovely Spoonflower shop to peruse!

I am ordering proofs of my newest set, so soon everything should be purchasable. 

Fabric Adventures!

In progress, more deer, of course.  Hoofprints and more on the way.

The "Haunting Show" is up!

Linus Gallery's "Haunting" show is up now, and my piece "Spirit Board" is featured.

 

Check it out!

http://linusgallery.com/juried-exhibitions/haunting-artist-megan-merz-spirit-board-southern-california-art-gallery/

Artist Megan Merz

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Spirit Board

Watercolor

Artist Statement

“Never use a Ouija board!” people would warn, always citing some dramatic tale of possession or poltergeist. Growing up, I heard those words more than once from adults or fellow kids. Almost everyone had the standard Hasbro Ouija Board tucked away in an attic, ready to be used at sleepovers or Halloween.

My best friend and I used a Ouija board during our college years, always ending up with stories forged by ghostly letters. We were fueled by curiosity and what would happen next. It didn’t matter if we were subconsciously pushing the planchette or being visited by otherworldly entities. A good time was had by all ? at least, those among the living. The spirits never seemed to complain.

As a tribute to the small adventures carried out in basements and dorm rooms, I made this spirit board. I find deer to be haunting on their own. Historically, they’ve been the messengers of the spirit world, the mounts of the fae, and animals of high significance, so it seemed appropriate to blend the two traditions of the otherworld together.

More Durrs!

Here are some deer for my next fabric!  I think I'll actually drop the background colors and keep it more subtle.

Spirit Board Painting is Going to be in a Show!

Hooray!  I was so glad this one made it in, it's one of my fave pieces this year.

Putting together my Artist Statement today.  This is an online show, but it means that Spirit Board is in the running for a live show, so I will be framing her up this coming week just in case.

Here's the link about it:

Haunting Accepted Artwork

Deer Fabric

Fabric I'll be printing!   Featuring our happy little fawns.

Fawns

Eventually, this will be fabric!  Just messing around with the sketches, but may ink and color these. Not sure yet.