Rachael Rossman: Watercolor Portraits of Man and Beast

Artist, Interrupted

Rachael — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:32:49 +0000

I have been sick for the past week. Suddenly, haltingly, feverishly sick. I’ve done nothing more than sit perfectly motionless watching Downton Abbey, Upstairs Downstairs and Arrested Development on Netflix. And drinking gingerale. Lots and lots of gingerale.

I’m a bit better now, but not quite up to painting. I’ll be posting some portraits I completed before my involuntary hiatus, starting with these two.

And now, back to my gingerale.

Whosagoodboy?

Rachael — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:05:00 +0000

Ever since I painted Martha Stewart’s French Bulldogs, I’ve had a soft spot for Frenchies. This guy was my last painting of 2011: a good one to end on, I think.

Surprises

Rachael — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:00:48 +0000

Here are some more paintings that had their Big Reveal on Christmas morning.

Out of the Bag

Rachael — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:00:56 +0000

Did you get art for Christmas? Some people did. Me? I got the usual bottle of fancy wine and a stocking full of goodies from Bath & Body Works. Oh, and a speedlight so people don’t look like red-eyed demons in my photos anymore.

Here are some paintings that were gifted this season.

Back to the Living

Rachael — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:28:49 +0000

Forgive me, Internet, for I am tardy. It’s been twelve days since my last blog post.

I guess I didn’t realize how much the Holiday Rush affected me this year. I made sure that everyone had all the paintings they had ordered for Christmas, then I just collapsed, in a caffeine-swilling, dough-eating pile, until after the new year.

I pulled myself together long enough to complete my first painting of the new year on January 2, which is also the first official painting for my Kickstarter project.

I’ve not made much progress since. It’s hard to get back into the swing of things.

Blink

Rachael — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:12:26 +0000

Nine days ago, I was apologizing to my daughter for working on her birthday, then furiously wrapping up emails, cleaning off my desk and preparing to leave the office until after the new year.

Eight days ago, I was in a waterpark, listening to my husband declare, “Oh my god, I’m Ricky Bobby,” enjoying a few cocktails with my sister and watching it snow indoors.

Seven days ago I was eating clam chowder and Chex mix, stuffing stockings and setting up a night vision trail cam to catch Santa.

Six days ago I was watching the kids unwrap presents, making individual apple pies in Mason jars and losing twenty bucks in a smoky casino.

Five days ago I was in a car for a long time.

Four days ago I stayed in my pajamas all day and made lentil soup.

Three days ago I saw the movie Hugo and subsequently become obsessed with Edith Piaf.

Two days ago I went to the mall.

Yesterday I made the kids banana-peanut butter canapes and pomegranate seeds for breakfast, started painting again and watched UFC on PPV.

Today I’m getting my hair cut, watching British comedies on OPB and making hopppin’ john.

Tomorrow I will start dreading the end of my vacation.

In two days I will make sure all the laundry is done, the kids’ homework is ready to turn in, plan out the week’s meals and find my briefcase in the closet.

In three days my vacation is over.

The Best Things I Did This Year

Rachael — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:35:21 +0000

Made a calendar. You can still buy one!
Launched a Dia de Los Muertos portrait project on Kickstarter
Painted Amanda Palmer, Neil Gaiman and The Bloggess with skull faces
Was mentioned on Molly Crabapple’s Tumblr page

Made Dooce’s Friday Under Fifty list
Bought a grown-up camera and an iPad
Shipped my artwork to 5 of 7 continents
Inspired a font based on my handwriting

Saw Les Miserables onstage
Discovered Edith Piaf and Kim Boekbinder
Introduced my husband to the work of Neil Gaiman
Watched my kids learn French and pitch a no-hitter

Showed my work in Portland
Was written about in Sunday Statesman Journal, Willamette Valley Life, Creative Humans and Watercolor Artists Magazine
Set up a night vision trail cam to catch Santa Claus

Entered a poster contest for Washington International Horse Show
Became obsessed with Frida Kahlo
Became proficient at Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja
Learned about “the cloud”

Started wearing more dresses
Skipped my 20th high school reunion
Painted over 150 portraits and have 110 more on the books
Plotted and planned for 2012

Watch out, New Year!

Perhaps the Best Idea I’ve Ever Had

Rachael — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:20:19 +0000

Santa Suit + Night Vision Trailcam = Two Kids Who Will Believe in Santa A Little While Longer.

Keywords

Rachael — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:00:41 +0000

I was recently doing some online Christmas shopping for a…um…how shall I put this delicately? A piece of performance gear for cold weather running that is for the exclusive use of gentlemen.

No?

Um, it keeps one’s parts warm while running.

Male parts.

Are we all on the same page here?

The problem was, I couldn’t remember the name of the product, or the company, and I couldn’t come up with concise key words that would result in anything but unseemly suggestions from Google.

No offense to Google. I mean, when you’re searching with keywords like, “men’s cold weather running gear” you get nice safe suggestions like beanie caps and long-sleeved, sweat-wicking shirts. Any more specific – let’s say, references to specific anatomy - and well, you risk seeing things that are a little more unpleasant.

Do NOT do an image search is what I’m saying.

#momfail

Rachael — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:57:55 +0000

Last week was one of those weeks. Dr. Rossman was off running a marathon (and enjoying lovely Arizona weather, I might add), so the chore of getting the kids to school and to their various activities, fell to me.

I emailed my very understanding co-workers on Sunday night warning them of my probability of tardiness. All week. Each morning was a struggle to 1) get my daughter up, fed and dress in a timely fashion (I use an egg timer. She hates it.) and 2) make sure my son had lunch money and his cello, then drop them off at school not too early but not late enough that I miss an entire morning of work.

Then,

The evenings were a race home after staying late at the office to make up for lost time; then Holiday Recitals, dinner-making, homework and decorating for Christmas.

Then,

As my daughter was telling me about her class Christmas party, she said they made ornaments and cards and gingerbread houses, and everyone else’s mom was there.