Needless to say, it's been a while - OVER A YEAR - since my last post.  It was a year of huge personal change, but through these struggles and heartaches, I have hopefully evolved, as a person, as a daughter & sister, and as an artist as well.

I'm still teaching, though my position was reduced to part-time, so I picked up another gig as an adjunct professor at Northern Kentucky University.  Somehow, I'm still managing to make art.

I'm getting ready to have my first show in over a year, so I've been working feverishly on some new pieces.  These drawings for me are a refreshing departure from the heavy graphic lines you get relief printing.  I'm able to get a more delicate and feminine effect.

I'll post the details of my upcoming shows here soon, as well as some documentation from my most recent mural project, completed over the summer.

-elh

I think it's time to share some good news.  Though I haven't yet officially signed the contract, I have been tapped by the good folks at ArtWorks for the biggest commission of my career thus far.  I have been asked by Children's Hospital here in Cincinnati to create 12 custom pieces of artwork to be installed in the newly renovated neurology unit! 

This commission is not only special because of its scope, but because it gives me a chance to make a mark on a place that has made such a difference in my life.  My little cricket has epilepsy, and at one point, her seizures were so out of control that we thought she'd be severely brain damaged or worse.  Children's Hospital saved her life on more than one occasion, and she has been seizure-free for nearly a year and a half.  No number of words or works of art could ever express my gratitude, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try, right?

So I embark on this crazy mission with my cricket in mind.  The theme that Children's has asked for is "Wishes, Hopes and Dreams in Nature."  I've come up with three concepts for their consideration: 

Each concept involves incorporating the actual written dreams, hopes, wishes, and prayers of patients, family and Hospital staff directly into the artworks. 

So which do you like best?

Hot off the press (or vacuum table, if we're going to be specific)! A series of prints called The Gentlemen.  They're printed in a group like pictured above in a limited edition of 10, and printed separately as well.  Last night, I finished the prototype for their plushie forms, and I'm super-excited to see how they'll be received at CraftySupermarket, which is barely over ONE WEEK AWAY!  My bestie will be there, too, helping to peddle my wares, so come see us and say hello, and maybe take a refined young gentleman home with you.  Hope to see you there!