work continues

...blocking in the main colors in this new tree painting, shown beside the other tree in progress.

...and then Tony mentioned how it was starting to look like a triptych...

Studio Views of the Famous

I currently have at home an inspiring volume called "Artists at Work: Inside the Studios of Today's Most Celebrated Artists", a photo book by David Seider, who was apparently friendly with all these folk.

It's an inspiring book to look at in the morning over coffee, and make one want to get out there and PAINT.

Top to bottom:
a wall in Joan Mitchell's studio;
Brice Marden's;
Philip Taaffe's;
and Louise Nevelson, sculptor. (I love the combination of colors & shapes in this one.)

trees, more trees

Encouraged by fast-moving progress on the last tree piece, I've jumped into another-- this one twice as large...why not?
6 x 8 feet, shown here in very early 'blocking-in/underpainting' stage. (the golden under-painting tone is likely to change)

yippee!

I'm excited to learn today that I got a couple of good-sized paintings accepted at the Falkirk Center's (San Rafael) Juried Annual, and especially because Donna Seager (you know, of the Donna Seager Gallery) was the juror. Yippee!
(If I can't tell you, who can I tell?)

more on...

my new tree painting, in progress, 4 x 6'.

then suddenly...

a tree painting. Haven't worked on one since the summer, but it's in the winter, when they're bare that I'm most compelled to paint them...










...and this one gets some new blossoms, courtesy of the plum tree blossoming in the yard...

In which we visit Mel & Sue

Long, long ago, Tony & Lisa went to the same high school (although they didn't know each other then). They did however have the same, amazing high school art teacher, and they are, in fact, friends with him (& his family) even still. This past weekend they (we) visited them in their beautiful new home in the Sierras (near Murphys).
After several attempts at retirement, Mel is still teaching-- and we were seriously impressed with some of his students projects which he shared with us.
(left to right: Tony & Sue, Erik, Terry, Mel & Natalie)

Dueling Openings!

Oh, it was a busy day for opening receptions here in Sonoma County yesterday. First, at the fabulous new gallery space on the SRJC campus, the faculty show, where it was great to see what my colleagues have been up to; and secondly, at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, the Multiple Choice Exhibition (works including one or more medium) where one of my pieces received a merit award! 1) at SRJC, Tony & Greer gesticulate over Gina Tecocci's great sculptural installation
2) from left, 2 by Max Hein, Joel Bennett vessels, and very interesting new work by Donna Larsen.
3) My green painting 'in situ' at the Sebastopol Center

4) and one from John Haines, who combines paint on canvas (?) with blacksmithing.

return to red

I've returned to working on this red painting with renewed zeal. (Maybe zeal is over-stating it.) Sometimes taking a break from something for-- a while-- makes it easier to come back and see what needs to be done. And frankly, I think my lessons in photoshop helped change my vision of this a little. I know, a little glow around everything...
(click on image to see it big) 4 x 8 feet. work in progress.

Beatriz Milhazes

So much over-the-top, design-y, colorful exuberance; I've just discovered this Brazilian (?) artist.
Yeah! More here.

Three Art Blog-sites

....to keep you entertained for some time.

I periodically wander through these, and always find something interesting. You'll see.
Lines and Colors,
Drawn! the illustration & cartooning blog, &
Fecal Face.
The last is probably the ultimate guide to the San Francisco 'alternative' gallery scene and its artists, the Juxtapoz crowd.
I'm always finding Tony on this site.

similar, dissimilar

I made a little more progress on the small one last night, and below are sneak previews at detail moments from 2 of Tony's in progress.
Though we've seldom collaborated (except on those monumental Burning Man pieces) its interesting to watch how our work sometimes shares colors, shapes & themes-- and how it differs. When we first got together (10 years ago) our work couldn't have been more different from each other's.



And here's a camellia blooming outside the office window, just posted to the garden blog.

(some) works in progress

(one by one I should be finishing these off rather than starting new ones... right?)

artists' reunion at the Aust's

(below: "The Whole Story", Carol Aust) Last night we had to chance to re-connect with some members of a critique group we were a part of in the East Bay, along with new friends. Many thanks to the Aust family--it was great to visit their home for the first time, visit Carol's studio, see a lot of her work, and re-connect with artist friends. We wish we had taken the camera, but maybe Carol will send some 'studio views' we can post-- in the meantime, visit her website here. Thanks Carol!

new again

After slogging away on that big one for all this while, I felt at last like starting another small one. Something that might be fun. Something easier.

This is what I started, and it IS going pretty quickly.
20 x 20".

'studio view'-- Claire B. Cotts

Claire has posted a studio view!
over on her mostly painting-a-day blog. And as you see here, she's working far more abstractly than she once was.
(I like 'em!)

little red watercolor and friends...

leave for new home. I have an assortment of small works on paper-- from different periods, different styles, which are usually in the 'bins' at open studios and such-- because they often don't get framed.
Today Jan scooped up some treasures, which I know will be much loved.

(Red! what is it with the red, already!?)
Actually, this is from a number of years ago-- I was teaching a watercolor class, though I don't work in it that often-- yet it relates pretty strongly to what I'm doing now.