Learning to Fall Gracefully

I haven’t been able to bring myself to write in my blog lately. I’ve been dealing with yet another case of heartbreak. I have never learned to fall gracefully. Is that even possible?

Today I heard a line in a song, “You’ve got to learn how to fall before you learn to fly”. Hmmm? I need to explore that closer.

The tears seem to strike randomly still, though I know this too will pass. Time… Precious time … roll me on through quickly. I cannot bare to shower the backs of my hands and keyboard much longer.

Would someone please say something funny!!! I need to laugh.

Learning to Fall Gracefully

Passion & Poetry Night

Wild Iris Coffeehouse Presents

Coffee, Chocolate & Art Affair to Benefit Eye Research

It’s been 83 years since his passing, yet his masterful impressionistic works of art remain as icons of romance with images of lush gardens and reflective, peaceful ponds. Claude Monet’s artworks and life serve as an inspiration for the Wild Iris Coffeehouse’s first annual “Passion & Poetry Night” Dessert & Fine Art Affaire to benefit Eye Research at the U of A Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science.

Claude Monet is best remembered by his grandiose paintings of his garden, and ponds at Giverny, yet few know of his vision loss and the rare visual defect called xanthopsia that he experienced in his later years, in which objects appear as if they have been overpainted with an unnatural color; In xanthopsia, that color is yellow. In affect, during the last four years of Monet’s life many of his works appear blurred. Two operations helped improve his blurred vision well enough to see his pallette and the brushstrokes but he could no longer check his work by standing back ten or fifteen feet as he was use to doing. As his vision decreased the size of his paintings increased to mural size canvases as a direct response to his need to see his work better.

“Three members of my family suffer with macular degenerative eye disease”, says Julie Gorman, owner of the Wild Iris Coffeehouse. “I have wanted to hold an event like this for a long time, because I know how this disease has affected my family members and I want to do what I can to help raise funds for research. "Our goal is to raise $2,000 to donate for eye research through reserved ticket sales and fine art."

There is a big void in educating the general public about preventative care for the eyes, and treatments for eye disease. Many eye problems can be treated with good results with timely assistance from qualified ophthalmologists. In addition to lack of awareness about the eye, there are many misconceptions and myths. Eye research strives to combat blindness and eye disease every day, while providing support and education for people with impaired vision and total vision loss.

Funding goes toward cutting-edge research to find new treatments and cures for Macular Degeneration. In addition, educational materials are created and distributed with up-to-date, accurate information as well as personalized support for patients.

Studies in large populations show that statistically a person's chance of developing a disease is increased by certain risk factors. Although the cause of age-related macular degeneration is unknown, a number of factors appear to contribute to the development of the disease. Some of them are outside of your control, like family history. Others are related to lifestyle, which can be changed. The risk factors that can be controlled are smoking, High Blood Pressure, Exposure to Harmful Sunlight, and Diet.

This year treat your Special Valentine to a romance filled evening at ““Passion & Poetry Night” at Wild Iris Coffeehouse. Guests can expect to be served at each table a tier of chocolate desserts by Soma Truffles and Wild Iris Coffeehouse, including a choice of coffee or tea to compliment the chocolates.


'Good Morning Latte'
Original oil painting by Melanie Banayat

The Wild Iris Coffee house will be donating 25% of the proceeds to the University of Arizona College of Medicine for the benefit of macular degeneration research in the Department of Ophthalmology.

Live entertainment will include music by Angie Raess (vocals/acoustic guitar), ¡Es Flamenco! Dance Group, including Isabella Dinerman, Sarah Hinson, and Anton Teschner, Poetry by Dan Seaman, and Fine Art inspired by Monet created by members of the A.C.E. Art Group, including the following Prescott artists: Melanie Banayat, Emelina Figueroa, Patricia Carberry, Bill Cramer, and Pamela Dumnire. All of the artwork will be for sale and 25% of the proceeds will be donated to the eye foundation. Visit www.aceartgroup.com to view the artwork in advance, or visit the Grayleaf Galleria next door to the Wild Iris Coffeehouse to see the artwork in person.

Advance tickets are available at Wild Iris Coffeehouse. Date of event is on Valentine’s Day Saturday February 14th. There are two dessert times to choose from: 7p – 8:30p or 9p - 10:30p. Tickets are $28 each or $50 for two, Seating is limited. Contact 928-778-5155 to purchase your tickets today!

Passion & Poetry Night

An Artists Year in Retrospect – 2008

I like to do this in December of every year as my way of acknowledging and giving thanks for the blessings that have come my way, and to look forward to a new year of artful adventures.

Working as a professional artist definitely requires a lot of passion, ingenuity, and plenty of endless energy. This career is not for the weak of heart!! And with some luck all that spent energy lends itself to a good night sleep in order to rejuvenate and start all over again.

A.C.E. Art Group
I started out my year in search of other professional artists to join me in forming a new art group – a different kind of art group. This was a real challenge, because I knew that each of the members of this group would need to have similar goals, high standards of professionalism, and each member’s artwork would need to be completely unique from all the other members. I’m happy to say that the group is now six members strong. We will remain a small group (maximum 12 members). Our goal is to exhibit together in various small venues throughout Arizona. We call our exhibitions “intellectual entertainment” where we partner with corporate businesses and/or charitable organizations for their special events. We also exhibit at "invitation only" parties located in the private homes of art collectors.

This is a fun group of artists, and so far the experience has been great! If you know of any business, organization, or art collector that might be interested in such a group for their next event, please have them contact me, or at the very least encourage them to visit our website at www.AceArtGroup.com


The Launch of my MiliGirl Collection Product Line
This was a dream come true! I have dreamt of having my own greeting card line for many, many years, and 2008 was the year this dream came to fruition. I wanted to create a line of cards that were truly inspirational with deep feeling prose. My MiliGirl Collection card line officially launched this past July when my online store went live. www.MiliGirl.com

It took a lot of work to get this project done, but it was worth every frustrated brain cell to make it happen!

I cannot describe in words the feelings I felt when I discovered that people were buying the cards not only to give away, but also to keep for themselves. I was very surprised when people began to open their hearts to me and share their stories about their own journey through recovery - - recovery from divorce, loss of a loved one, cancer, abuse, addiction, and so on. Also, many parents were surprised to find cards that matched up with each of the personalities of their grown children, “Do you know my kids?” they would ask me. One father bought a dozen cards, explaining to me that he had three daughters in their 20's, a girlfriend and an ex-wife, so he was stocking up for those necessary moments when he needed to communicate with them - he felt my cards might help him. All I can say to him is that I really hope they do! LOL!

So many people come into my booth at art festivals and pause in reflection as they look at the paintings on the walls, then they begin to read my cards. They end up reading each and every card on the rack, and when they finish reading them some feel impressed to come give me a hug, while others find themselves in tears, “This was like therapy!” a few have exclaimed. It humbles me in many ways and brings tears to my eyes knowing that the messages are touching people in all the ways I hoped that they would, and even in ways I never imagined.

I am now set up to sell my cards wholesale to businesses. If you have a business or know of someone with a business that might want to carry my card line please contact me and I will send you wholesale information. Any female oriented type business makes a perfect location: Salon, Day Spa, Yoga Center, Florist, Bookstore, Boutique, Hospital Gift Shop, Coffeehouse, etc.

My Fine Art Collectors
One of the best parts of being a professional artist is connecting with the people who experience a heartfelt connection to my art. It gives purpose to what I do. This year was exceptional in terms of all the new people I have met and the people who have supported the arts by investing in Fine Art.

To all of my art collectors I want to say thank you for choosing to surround your life with the beauty of fine art – particularly my art!! IMAGINE ME WEARING A BIG SMILE! LOL!

My Art Giveaway Winner
I held my first Art Giveaway this past October, and gave away a giclee print on canvas of “Mother & Child”. The winner of the print sent me the following response:

I am so excited that I won your wonderful mother and child print. Thank you so much and I want to keep updated with any future art drawings that you may be doing because I adore your work and would love to have a collection hanging in my home. I do not know if you are famaliar with "The Secret". I used the principles of that teaching philosophy of envisioning that you already have what you want and then basically waiting for the universe to bring it to you. I attached one of your notecards which happened to be the mother and child one, to the wall near where I planned on hanging the print once I received it from you. Every time I walked past it I would thank the universe for the painting that was hanging on my wall in a beautiful black or dark wooden frame (had not decided how to frame it yet) and envisioned that I already had it, just a matter of time until the end of the month. I want to thank you again for creating such beautiful work. As a fellow artist and Graduate of The University Of Arizona with a Bachelor of Fine art, I truly admire that you create what inspires you and follow your dream. I hope to do the same once my children are a little older and I can finally have the time. I eagerly await my print and look forward to future drawings and hope to be able to see your work at a show again soon. Thank you, Heather

I will soon have another art giveaway right here on my blog. Join my RSS Feed (which is a free subscription to my blog) so that you don’t miss my next art giveaway! Just look in the sidebar on my blog where it says, "Subscribe to this blog" and join - it's FREE! My next art giveaway is coming soon!


Grayleaf Galleria
What a blessing to be represented at the Grayleaf Galleria in Prescott Arizona; I joined the gallery in September. Katherine Koenig has truly added a top-notch gallery to the Area, and Jerry Von Schott has done a great job managing the gallery. A total of three new galleries have opened their doors here in Prescott this year and the new Arts Center is scheduled to open this coming Spring on Cortez Avenue, making Prescott a real destination hot spot for visual art with Seventeen different locations to find a wealth of Fine Art right in the heart of Prescott!

New Arts & Entertainment Columnist
Wow! I just started doing some freelance work for a local Prescott Publication, 'Read It News'. The editor was looking for someone to write an insider's viewpoint column on 'The Arts' in the Prescott area. How cool that she chose me! What I love about this column is that I get to interview other professional artists, art consultants, and art collectors – I love it! Check it out online at www.ReadItNews.com

New York, Here I come!?!?!
A great opportunity has presented itself to me just a few short days ago. If all works well I may be headed to the National New York Stationary Show this coming May. This could open the doors to National Distribution of my MiliGirl Collection card line.

Articles, Interviews & Press
I want to thank The Courier, The Monsoon, and Pop Rocket Press for writing about my work in their publications this year! All of this free press has been one of the greatest forms of publicity for my work. Those articles can be found on my www.MiliGirl.com website under ‘Media’.

Oh yeah, Jerry Barrett from www.inklessmagazine.com has recently interviewed me for his online magazine. Watch The Video.

Coffee Table Book
I’ve been encouraged time and time again to write a book, and believe me I have wanted to do a book for a long time as well. But first things first – and of course it all takes time. 2009 just might be the year for my first book. I’ve been working on it in between everything else. We shall see . . .

New Original Art Work
As always, I have a stack of ideas waiting to be immortalized onto canvas. I look forward to creating more inspired works in my art studio and exhibiting them as often as I can, and in as many places as possible. I thoroughly enjoy being able to go out and exhibit my work in person at different venues, because it gives me a chance to connect with art enthusiasts and gain more inspiration from the people I meet.
View some of my latest works


Thank You!
I’m grateful for my health and the gift that I have been given, which is a passion to be a life long expressionist of the human spirit through fine art. I’m grateful for all the people who have fallen in love with my work and to those who spend their hard earned money investing in it. I’m grateful for the roof over my head and the people in my life that love me, lift me, and keep me going. And I thank God for this intriguing and challenging life!

Live an Artful Life!
Peace & Love,
Melanie

MiliGirl Note Cards make unique gifts for women. Find and send the perfect "Just Because" greeting card at the MiliGirl Collection online store.

Please share this post with others - Thanks! Melanie Banayat

An Artists Year in Retrospect – 2008

Nursing Mothers

Quiet Time 36" x 36" oil on canvas by Melanie Banayat
Click on image

Recently I’ve received several emails and comments about my ‘nursing mother’ images – all of which were very positive. Hooray!!!!!


When I began painting these images I knew that some people would be uncomfortable with them, but I also knew that there would be a good number of people that would celebrate them (both women & men). I must say that I was a bit surprised that some gallery owners/managers didn’t feel comfortable exhibiting them. Hmmm?


Savoring Life 36" x 36" oil on canvas by Melanie Banayat
click on image

I will continue to paint more of these images in hopes to some day find a gallery (or some venue) that would be willing to exhibit these lovely images together and make them the focus of the exhibition.


Mother & Child 36" x 36"
oil on canvas by Melanie Banayat
click on image

My opinion is that anybody offended by breastfeeding is staring too hard. ~David Allen

Nursing does not diminish the beauty of a woman's breasts; it enhances their charm by making them look lived in and happy. ~Robert A. Heinlein

There are three reasons for breast-feeding: the milk is always at the right temperature; it comes in attractive containers; and the cat can't get it. ~Irena Chalmers

A baby nursing at a mother's breast... is an undeniable affirmation of our rootedness in nature. ~David Suzuki

Breastfeeding is a mother's gift to herself, her baby and the earth. ~Pamela K. Wiggins

Nursing Mothers

Wild Iris Art Exhibition

Fine Art Gone Latte Wild?

Yes it has ...

Come Celebrate with the Wild Iris Coffeehouse for their one-year anniversary on November 14th and 15th. As part of the celebration the owner of the Wild Iris Coffee House, Julie Gorman, has invited each of the artists from the ACE Art Group (Artists Creating Excellence) to create their own artistic interpretation of 'Latte' in their respective styles and mediums. The Original Artworks will be unveiled at the Wild Iris Coffeehouse on Friday November 14th. Each of the miniature original renderings will be for sale for $200 a piece.

Original Artworks will be unveiled at 6:30 pm at the Wild Iris Coffeehouse.

Artist Reception & Unveiling of Artworks:
Friday November 14th
5 pm - 9 pm
Live music by Shelby Trishler

Saturday Celebration:
November 15
10 am - 3 pm in the Courtyard
The evening party includes live music

The Art Exhibition extends into the Grayleaf Galleria located next door to the Wild Iris Coffeehouse. The Grayleaf Galleria has on exhibit an entire body of original artworks by each of the members in the ACE Art Group. Friday night there will also be poetry readings in the gallery.

On Saturday the Artists from the ACE Art Group will be out on the Wild Iris Coffeehouse Courtyard with a variety of Fine Art gift items perfect for the holiday buyer's gift giving budget.

This is a Fine Art Affair for everyone!
Enjoy Refreshments, Music, Poetry
and a drawing for beautiful Holiday Gift Baskets!

Location: 124 South Granite Street in Prescott, Arizona
1/2 block South of Gurley Street in the Terra Cotta Court
across from the parking garage

Click here for map and directions

Contact Wild Iris Coffeehouse at 928-778-5155.

www.AceArtGroup.com
ACE Art Group members:
Melanie Banayat
Pia Davis
Bill Cramer
Emelina Figueroa
Pamela Dunmire
Patricia Carberry

Wild Iris Art Exhibition

Art Giveaway Winner

And the Winner is . . . .

Woohoo, today is the day that I get to announce the winner of my Art Giveaway. I want to thank everyone who played along. It’s fun to be able to give something away like this; you know, something real, something tangible, something that the winner will hopefully truly appreciate and enjoy for a very long time.

When I think about each person that has participated I wish that each and every one could be the winner. Just keep in mind that if you are not the winner today there is always tomorrow, because there will be more art giveaways in the future.


Ok, enough carryin’ on.

Without further adieu ……….

Drum roll please …………

And the winner is……………

Reaching into my box …………

The winner is……………. Heather Cushman

Congratulations Heather! You get the print of ‘Mother & Child’!


Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family. - Thomas Jefferson

MiliGirl Note Cards make unique gifts for women. Find and send the perfect "Just Because" greeting card at the MiliGirl Collection online store.

Please share this post with others - Thanks! Melanie Banayat

Art Giveaway Winner

Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival

I'm loadin' up the trailer and headed down to the 'Sun Valley' this weekend.

I love the location of the Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival. The names of all the streets in Carefree are so fun -- Ho Hum Rd, Easy Street, Lazy Lane, Rambling Rd., Peaceful Place, Meander Way, Horizon Drive, Rocking Chair Rd. . . makes me want to live there!

The Thunderbird Artists Art Festivals are some of the nicest art festivals out there. You can always count on seeing top notch fine art from all over the United States at these shows. Judi Combs and her daughter, Denise Colter do a great job in the jury selection, and also with their selection of locations for their shows, and their entertainment line-up. It's a real classy show.

I hope you can make it.

Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival Official Website

Directions & map

Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival