Finished! (?) !

Well, pretty darn close anyways. As finished as it's going to get for this weekend, anyways.
Below, Tony does an 'interprative dance' to the movement of the painting... wearing his painting apron. (OK, he's really trying to give me advice) (click to enlarge) copyright Lbeerntsen 06.

finishing, again

Here's another piece that's been really close to finished for some time, but has moved to the top of the 'to-be-finished-this-week' list. On three canvases, the total length is 10 feet long, 4 feet tall. Based on a view up on Coleman Valley Road.
(click image to enlarge)

And Outside the Studio...

As the countdown to Open Studios (one week from today) continues, our showing partner (Patrick Scott) continues to arrive with more sculptures to display in the yard & garden...

a 'dry run'

Tony & I have someone coming to pay us a studio visit this afternoon, to possibly write something about our work in conjunction with the upcoming Art at the Source (open studio). So last night I tried to get things a bit organized, hang a 'show'. (click to enlarge any image)



Now, this isn't exactly how it'll all look 2 weekends from now-- I have some large pieces coming back from other locations, others being framed, but it was good to try to put things together & see what really needs to be done. (Also see my 'Today in the Garden' blog for some of Patrick Scott's work, to be shown in our yard & garden...)

finishing

(1) unfinished last October, still unfinished, 5 x 6')

(2) 4 paintings almost finished-- verrrry close)


It's all about finishing, now.

We'll be receiving visitors for Open Studios two weeks from today, so it's more than time to take a look around the studio at the many 85% finished pieces, and say, which of these can I reasonably expect to have finished in the next 2 weeks? What will I display (on the somewhat limited wall space) ? How will it all look together? How is it different from what was on display the last time people were here, for ArtTrails? ie: what have I accomplished on the past 7-8 months? What was unfinished then, that's STILL unfinished?...

Starting & finishing paintings require very different kinds of energy/focus. In the beginning there's much more excitement-- having an idea and wanting to see how it plays out-- the possibilities are so open. By the end, there are a just a few decisions to be made, and you feel like you have to really be 'on' to get them just right... If it weren't for deadlines and shows, who knows how many paintings would truly get 'resolved'.

I haven't written about this here before, but some of you out there know that I've been having some medical issues over the past couple of months, time consuming with many appointments & tests, but mentally/emotionally distracting as well (and still ongoing)... So, while I certainly haven't accomplished all that I hoped I might by this time (where, after all, IS that website?) I'm trying to cut myself some slack & not stress out too much.

This Friday Evening

This Friday, for those of you in or near Sonoma County , is the Opening Reception for the Preview Exhibit for this year's Art at the Source. Another chance to hobnob with artists while nibbling cheese & sipping wine! It's at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 6780 Depot Street (which can be a little tricky to find the first time-- Depot Street runs paralell to 12 as you're entering Sebastopol fromthe Santa Rosa side).

Here's the Art at the Source link:

Art at the Source

What's Art at the Source?
Well, it's an Open Studios event, with 126 artists opening their studio doors throughout Western County. (It's similar to the October ArTrails Open Studios). Tony & I will be participating for the first time this year.

something else

No, this isn't the garden blog page, I just had to bump that previous post on down the page a bit.
Will write more tomorrow, promise!

pleine aire again

Well, I was back out at Spring Lake with the painting class today (hmmm, getting paid for hanging out all day in a park on a beautiful day-- there might be something to this landscape painting business...). Anyway, I thought it might be time for me to dust off the old french easel and pry off the paint caps and join the the students for a bit.


This has a ways to go, but after several years, it could have been worse!

in progress, again

As elements continue to arrive...

twice more, with feeling

in progress...(click to enlarge)

you may recognize the painting at left as one I began last week. It struck me as a beginning with potential-- more muted & subtle than many recent paintings-- so I decided to lay down a couple more 'beginnings' using the exact same collage materials.. Tony likes to use the musical analogy that this stage is like laying down the 'rhythm track'-- bass & drums. And there have been times when these might have been almost finished. However, I anticipate a melody, maybe lyrics. We'll see.
You'll notice that they've become more colorful already. I can't help myself.

painters 'in the wild'

SRJC painting students take to the great outdoors in our first real day painting 'en pleine aire' at Spring Lake.
Ana

Nichole

Lida & Mark

'First Friday' Artwalk

One more chance for art & wine?
If you missed the 'Pairings' opening at Arches last weekend,
the First Friday of the month in Healdsburg, all of the galleries in town (& there are actually quite a few now) stay open late and have mini-receptions.
I'm guessing that the gallery may be offering tastes of some of those wines which have been paired with paintings in the current show.
Check it out...
5-8pm, maps of particpating galleries available at any gallery in Healdsburg.

the start of something new

oh sure, it doesn't look like much NOW... here's the early stage of something started yesterday (it's about 24 by 36"). I've been gradually amassing a new collection of collage-able materials; this one includes linen napkins, and vintage wallpaper.

Say, would this painting go well with a pinot?

This painting (with painting by Ann Martin Garland on right) was in fact finished in time for last night's 'Pairings' event at Arches Gallery. (see Arches link at right for more info). Gillian Handelman, a wine educator & writer 'MC'd' the event, in a fun & refreshing way, leading visitors through a tasting of delicious wines, paired with artwork, in the manner of popular food & wine pairings. It seemed like everyone had a great time, & I wouldn't be surprised if this became an annual event-- stay tuned!

The wine partner for 'blossom rain' was in fact a Davenport Russian River Pinot Noir, described as follows:
bright red fruit (pomegranate, raspberry & sweet cranberry) aromas & flavors flow out of the glass while shades of rose petal & fresh earth create a vibrant backdrop. this wine is all about purity of fruit, framed by a supple mouthfeel & fine-boned structure. Well-bred, & true to the fruit from whence it came.


...and this painting paired well with a Johannisberg Riesling:
the aromas & flavors of this wine lean toward apricot, slate & lime peel. deceptively simple at first, this wine pulls off a dizzying balancing act between its various elements, tugging your palate in one direction and ending in an entirely different one. a sneakily interesting wine-- the kind you come back to after you've tried all the others.


Thanks Michael & Mylette & Gillian for hosting this very fun evening!

(that's me with Michael Coy)

hello again...

Yes, I've been away from my post for a few days, and came back to a bit of a computer bog-down, but here is a glimpse of what's up:
top: recently, below: earlier.



Trying to finish this one up by later this week.
There are some changes I like; but some which are destined to change some more.
(4 x 5 feet, acrylic & collage on canvas)

this was the kind of day...

that makes people want to become landscape painters!

Here's one from 'Tony's side'...

...and check 'today in the garden' (link) to see sunny photos of botanical delights!

paintings and more paintings

Here's a picture of the studio today...

what the 'kids' are doing

a couple more students (from the painting class I'm teaching Fridays at SRJC) at work:

Nichole on her 3rd self portrait (click to enlarge)

Judy paints Gael.

garden page

Okay, you must have known this was coming.
I've created a separate page to corral all the garden photos that are no doubt going to be pouring in here, if spring actually decides to happen. I'll make a link for it over there on the right--
"today in the garden..." it's called.