And Some Monsters

I am still drawing and painting monsters. Not just the little ones, but bigger ones too. This is a snapshot of a detail from one that is 12 x 16". i need to properly scan it. I am thinking of making prints or posters with the image. What do you think?

I am working on several other monster paintings of large and medium sizes. I've got some more ideas, so we will see where this ends up going… Also, for those of you who have been following my blog for a while, you know that I used to publish zines. I am reprinting 3 of my classic zines:

They will be available at Exterminator City in Seattle, April 5th. After that there will be some in my etsy shop. If your want to make sure you get one, you can always Email me. I will also have a NEW zine with recent work, and a NEW coloring folio available! Happy Creating!

Watercolors in the naiad color palette & Special Offer on Etsy

Watercolors in the naiad color palette., a photo by megan_n_smith_99 on Flickr.

This was an experiment I did a few months ago where I limited myself to a specific color palette and created several paintings. Thinking back I think I used:
Indigo, Cobalt Blue, Quinacridone Magenta, Phthalo Turquoise, and a bit of flesh color on one of them. I also used some white ink and white colored pencils on some of them. I was really happy with the cool colors. I used one of them on my own holiday card - I wanted something that felt wintery without being overtly in support of one winter holiday over another!

A couple of these have some but two are still in my Etsy Shop.

In other news - Thru Sunday March 23rd, spend $75 or more in my etsy shop and mention this offer, & get a free unframed mini painting . ( I can also sell you a frame at cost if desired.) this will be a new mini, not one of ones already on etsy - though I can take requests for colors, etc. pass the word! The minis are ~3x3".

octopus ascending

octopus ascending, a photo by megan_n_smith_99 on Flickr.

This is a watercolor I finished recently. It is 9x12". It was inspired by some of H. P. Lovecraft's stories, with a lot of input from my own imagination. The architecture is inspired by Islamic architecture, run through an Arabian Nights filter.

I guess when you are an artist, you are making creative soup all day long. Your ingredients go in, what you chose to look at, read, explore... But you never quite know what is going to come out. I don't think I am done with this idea yet, so don't be surprised if you see some more sea creatures emerging from my watercolors.

Fox Shaman

I started doing small animal paintings earlier this year. I think partly because I had been working on some really large paintings earlier this year and it was a nice little change. I actually am almost done with one of the large paintings - I think It will be done later today and I can show you soon! It's watercolor & ink. This little fox shaman is watercolor & ink and he is 4 x 6"

I will always want to use autumn colors and paint autumn themes, not just in fall. It seemed appropriate for this fiery little guy. I have been collecting these elaborate frames and creating artwork specifically with them in mind. So I think my elaborate little worlds work inside these baroque borders or fringes. The fox is available on Etsy. And now, I have made a cup of black tea with half and half & maple sugar ..back to the art supplies!

Mini monsters.

Mini monsters., a photo by megan_n_smith_99 on Flickr.

do feel badly about how neglected this poor little blog is. I have not stopped making art, or talking about art, or thinking about art. I've just been keeping it mostly to myself, I guess.

Early in the year I started working on some larger pieces to use in future shows - though one sold already. Which was actually kind of nice. I still have 1 watercolor in the works which is about 11 x 17 or so - huge for me. I hope to get it done soon.

And I've done some pen and ink work - started a new pen & ink sketch journal & have done some work on a new comic.

And more recently I've been painting some miniature watercolors to go in these great frames I've found. They are a lot of fun to paint. Painting them is like eating potato chips. The two square ones shown here are 3x4". to give you an idea of the size. and i use tiny little size 0 brushes to do the details.

so much art! so little time. i have so many lists of ideas for more things i want to make. And I also work full time. So I do my best to do as much art as I can by not having much of a social life and not keeping as tidy a house as martha stewart. and i don't even get to read as much as i would like, though i do listen to a lot of audio books while i am painting!

Two of these little guys are available in my Etsy Shop.

More news, here is an event coming up that I will be at - please come and join me at

Exterminator City.

What do you think of my little guys?

2013 Book List

Artwork, a photo by megan_n_smith_99 on Flickr.

Books read 2013

1) 11/22/63 by Stephen King
2) A Magnificent Obsession: Victoria, Albert, and the Death That Changed the British Monarchy by Helen Rappaport
3) Maneater: And Other True Stories of a Life in Infectious Disease by Pamela Nagami
4) Modern American Memoirs: 1917--1992 ed. by Annie Dillard
5) Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Letham
6) Fairy Tale by Raymond Fiest
6) King Solomon's Carpet by Ruth Rendell
7) The House of Stairs by Ruth Rendell
8) The Chimney Sweeper's Boy by Ruth Rendell
9) A Dark-Adapted Eye by Ruth Rendell
10) A Fatal Inversion by Ruth Rendell
11)The Child's Child by Ruth Rendell
12) The Blood Doctor by Ruth Rendell
13) The Birthday Present by Ruth Rendell
14) The Brimstone Wedding by Ruth Rendell
15) Asta's Book by Ruth Rendell
16) Grasshopper by Ruth Rendell
17) Darwin's Radio by Greg Bear
18) Darwin's Children by Greg Bear
19) The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
20) Zueglodon by James Blaylock
21) Inside the Outbreaks by Mark Pemdergrast
22) The Deadly Dinner Party and Other Medical Detective Stories by Jonathan A. Edlow
23) Three Cups of Tea by by Greg Mortenson
24) The Aylesford Skull by James Blaylock
25) Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
26) The Paradise War by Stephen Lawhead
27) Fear Collector by Gregg Olsen
28) Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
29) The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
30) Anne Perry: Murder of the Century by Peter Graham
31) E. Nesbit, A Biography by Doris Langley Moore
32) This House of Sky by Ivan Doig
33) The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff
34) The Historian by Elizabeth Kotova
35) Why be Happy When You Could be Normal by Jeanette Winterson
36) The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
37) The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
38) The Magician King by Lev Grossman
39) The Third Gate by Lincoln Child
40) Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

Audio Books:

1) The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
2) Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch
3) Moon over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch
4) Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
5) Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy
6) Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy
7) The Coming Plague by Laurie Garrett
8)The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston
9) Beating Back the Devil by Maryn McKenna
10) The Fatal Strain by Alan Sipress
11) Quantico by Greg Bear
12) Panic in Level Four by Richard Preston
13) The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson
14) Skylight Confessions by Alice Hoffman
15) The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman
16) The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman
17) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
18) the Skin map by Stephen Lawhead
19) The Bone House by Stephen Lawhead
20) The Spirit Well by Stephen Lawhead
21) Bone by Bone by Carol O'Connell
22) Sharp Objects by Gillian Flyn
23) The Digging Leviathan by James Blaylock
24) The Devil and Sherlock Holmes by David Grann
25) Thunderhead by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
26) Brimstone by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
27) Dance of Death by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
28) The Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
29) Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
30) Fever Dream by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
31) Cold Vengence by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
32) The House of Secrets by Chris Columbus & Ned Vizzini
33) The 19th Wife by David Eberschoff
34) The Swan Thief by Elizabeth Kostova
35) Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
36) Two Graves by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
37) The Ice Limit by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
38) The Sword of the Templars by Paul Christopher
39) Maya's Notebook by Isabel Allende
40) Half Magic by Edward Eager
41) The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt
42) Angels and Insects by A.S. Byatt
43) The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron
44) The Templar Cross by Paul Christopher
45) The Diviner's Tale by Bradford Morrow
46) Hannibal by Thomas Harris
47) Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris
48) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
49) Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
50) Sun of a Gun by Justin St. Germain
51) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
52) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
53) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
54) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
55) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
56) My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
57) The Magicians: A Novel by Lev Grossman
58) Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
59) When you are engulfed by Flames by David Sedaris
60) Dress your Family in Corduroy & Denim by David Sedaris
61) Pilgrim's Wilderness by Tom Kizzia
62) Marmee and Louisa by Eva LaPlante
63) Louisa May Alcott by Harriet Reisen

a little note

I have been a terrible blogger, but I have been still creating, and that's the really important thing.  I am back working full-time + a commute and it's taking a lot of energy, something I have never had in excess.  I am trying to create some sort of peaceful feeling by listening to music at work - everyone in my department is glued to headphones and our tasks do not involve interacting with people or answering the phone, etc.  also I try to find something that feels meaningful to me to do on the bus - the zen of knitting or reading a good book. sometimes I read or sketch on my breaks. I notice a lot of people reading on their breaks and it makes me so happy that people still read.  some of them are even reading real paper books! (I like both. ebooks a great to get from the library and perfect for your average paperback, but some books just need to be on-paper.

I recently read The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente. I really enjoy Ms. Valente's work - everything I have read of hers. She is wildly inventive and her work is quite varied and far-reaching.  She's also very prolific yet her work is of such exquisite quality.. I really can't think of anyone else who produces such finely crafted work so quickly - so there is plenty for you to enjoy.  Anyway, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland  is a children's book, or i'd say all ages - very charming - and even better, gorgeous illustrated, so that's a book you want to read on paper.   I highly recommend. Also I love her Orphan's Tales books, and all of the rest.

So, on to the art, the core of lie. Here are some peeks of things I have worked on recently:

Happy Creating!
p.s. some of the work shown here is available in my Etsy Shop:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/meinoel