The Most Beautiful Name

 Bottom.

Yeah, I guess Titania's OK too.

Although, I never had a doll named after the queen of the fairies...When I was a little girl, much younger than this picture, I did have a doll named 'Bottom'. He was a donkey, so obviously, his name was Bottom. Other kids would laugh at his name. I wouldn't get the joke.

From the time I was seven until the time I was seventeen. My grandmother took me and my brother and sister to the Utah Shakespearean festival every. single. year.  So I knew what 'in the round' was when I was still sitting in it to play duck, duck, goose.

The moment I decided that I would for sure be an artist I was sitting in Fred's dream theater. Later when I visited the original in London I truly appreciated those bucket seats ;) I was watching a fantastical production of this very play. From across the stage the line "the object of art is to give life a shape," cut clear to my heart.

For that, I am forever thankful.

*Process note: This is my favorite way to paint, but I usually block myself in, because you know, I'm nothing if not sketchy. Some of what I consider my best work just starts in this loose watercolory way. No form, no function, just water and a color. Later, when I am not running late for job-job, I'll add some ink, add some color and make it 'real', but this is the best way for me to get things to 'weigh' the right weight.