(nearly) daily small paintings

Yes, I just keep starting more of these small pieces. (acrylic & collage on paper (8 x 10") Recently with photos instead of fabric.

inspired

Today I'm finding these lovely & inspiring-- apparently a collaboration (the original text is in French) between a photographer (Barbara Berrada) & the draw-er/stitcher (Maize) .

Found via the blog "dear ada", a compendium of beautiful things online.

smalls

What I've been working on... more works (in progress) on paper. These, 8 x 10" each (acrylic with bits o' fabric on paper), seen at various stages.



Inspired originally by these small collage pieces by Rex Ray (who talks about them in this post) and the idea of a daily practice of making small pieces somewhat spontaneously and without judgement.

'A' Street's Winterblast, Part Two

More on 'A' Street's Winter-blast, last Saturday.
A sort of "Art Block Party"-- all the art studios, galleries , and little shops along this little strip were open, serving wine, ciders, and refreshments-- and there were small bands playing on every corner, magicians & clowns roving the streets, a rumored fire dancer. Our friend, painter Laura Hoffman, had a beautiful wintry display up-- full of trees-- and of course her wonderful paintings, which, unfortunately don't show up so well in the photos.

Next door, at Tibidabo Photograaphy, Bob Stender is seen photographing the live model in the window, while inside, Becky was photographing a magician with a child.




There's a behind the scenes shot at Mario Uribe's studio;
a shop selling wreaths & greenery;
and some great little german pincushion dolls, new to the collection of Barbara Elliott.


A great band was playing at a newly opened 'Atlas Studios'-- where flyers advertised their 'School of Rock'. (Unfortunately, we don't know the name of the band)


And we ran into people we knew over and over, including Hans & Laurie, seen here holding some sweet little paintings by artist David Rose.

from 'A' Street's Winterblast-- part one

This was our second year going to this Santa Rosa event-- and we DID have a blast. It's a very happening little scene down there on 'A' Street-- and growing. Winterblast is a bit akin to Oakland's Art Murmur, but since its only once a year, and the studios & galleries are in closer proximity-- the goodness is condensed. If we weren't so happy in our own little town/studio-- we'd wish we had studios on A Street too!
This first batch o' photos highlights scenes from the studios of Mary Vaughan, Barbara Elliott, and...(gotta look up the third name!) Their studios adjoin one another, and they recently took over another small space as a gallery.

Two New: on paper, in progress

22 x 30" each, acrylic & collage.

Rex Ray: booksigning tonight in SF

I can't make it-- but maybe you can.
Who is Rex Ray, perhaps you ask?
Here's a post about him from sfgirlbybay, and here's his bio on the Jonathan Adler site; that's where he'll be, tonight (Tuesday, November 13, 5 - 7pm. Jonathan Adler Store, 2133 Fillmore Street, San Francisco)


I have this book already, and I've enjoyed reading the short essays & interview in it-- but mostly, the colorful exuberance (and often, simplicity) of the work taken as whole-- feels liberating and inspiring!

Rex in his own words:


Speaking of sfgirlbybay-- two of my favorite bloggers blogged each other yesterday-- when Victoria (sfgirlbybay) ran an interview/post about Anahata (Inspiration Engine/Papaya!) .

'Stripe' Paintings delivered to the Gardener

The origins of this ongoing series were forest scenes I did back in graduate school.
The trees became progressively simplified, and the format begame a way to explore the changing colors of seasons, the flickering light, distances in space.
For 7 or 8 years I've shown paintings (mostly this series) at The Gardener, in Berkeley-- essentially a high-end home goods store, with an emphasis on an earthy, natural aesthetic.

As I was getting ready to take some of these down to The Gardener, I saw this article in SFGate: The Decor Store as Art Gallery, and well, it just seemed timely. It also inspired me to drop by Relish at Home (mentioned in the piece), right in my old neighborhood in Berkeley, and it really is a sweet little shop.
And one of the other stores mentioned, Rare Device-- is a project of Lisa Congdon's-- whose blog I follow, over there in the links, see?
Haven't gotten there in person, yet, but it's only a matter of time.

out & around & back again

It all began Friday afternoon, when Tony & I drove down to Berkeley to deliver one of his paintings purchased during Open Studios. When we spotted this huge (Patrick Amiot) sculpture in the yard, we felt we must have found the right place.
We enjoyed a lovely bottle of wine with Steven, while watching the sun set over sweeping views of the bay and looking down into their lovely, art-ful & art-filled gardens. (Here's a view of one portion of the garden, called "Take a Chance", laid out like a game board.)

Then it was off to meet up with friends at the Art Murmur.


It was our first visit since Elisa & Travis joined forces with Industrielle on West Grand-- moving Elisa's studio & Travis's 'Kuhl Frame's' into shared space there. So far, so good, it seems. Here Elisa holds up her first foray in acrylics (she took a workshop with friend Claire)-- though generally her work is headed in larger, looser directions.


Then photos from a painting installation at Mama Buzz; paintings I liked by Jenn Shifflet at Chandra Cerrito's new space, above Mercury 20; some small obsessively detailed drawings at Ego Park; and some of Amanda's Hughen's delicate paintings on duraline (holdovers from the last show at Johansson Projects), which I was very happy to get to see in person.

More to come...

Opening Tonight: at Sebastopol Center for the Arts...

Re/Invented: Collage & Asemblage
Nov 1 - Dec 2.
Reception: Thursday, 6-7:30

My recent painting at left, acrylic & collage on canvas, is included in the show.
(and received the Coordinator's Award! --thank you so much!)

still in progress...

work continues on these 16" tall acrylic & collage pieces, on vintage postcard pages.

This first piece seems to be taking a sort of 70's color turn.

May need to adjust that.