Building Things

I just completed a four day printmaking class with Jenny Robinson and my gang of artist friends. This is not one of the pieces that I made, but it's a funny thing the way printmaking and encaustic painting overlap. They each demand humility and a huge capacity to let go. However, in printmaking, once you put the print through the press, or cut the plate - there is no going back. I'm not sure how much of that permanence I can take. I am super excited about combining the two medias and seeing what happens. 

Peaks and Flights

The Middle

Happy New Year Bloggers! It's hard to believe it's the middle of January already. The studio move is slowing morphing into actual progress. I went from a tiny space to a rather large space and I still haven't moved any of my furniture but the new studio is already pretty full. I've been fortunate that I've been able to take my time with the move, but at some point, I'm going to have to haul the big stuff out of Anderson Street, even if it lands on the side walk. In the meantime, I have a twelve foot table to work on and this is one of the pieces I completed in the new space. 

Encaustic Image Transfer - Willow Flycatcher

The success of encaustic carbon image transfers is wildly dependent on ambient temperature. In the new studio I need more lighting so choose flood lights because they are big and bright. They are also hot and affect the cooling of the wax.  In contrast,  I now use an industrial fan to vent the studio and it creates a very cold breeze. I must have tried and failed six times before I was able to complete one piece, too hot and too cold, all at once.  My latest experiment is to heat the water used to peel the paper away and move piece away from the flood light. I'll keep you posted.

Stopping for a Chat

An entire week has passed since my Open Studios - three days of chatting about my work to the public. This year, I really want a do-over.  It takes so much energy to get the work completed and get it up on the walls, clean and organize the space, paint the walls, buy food, get labels and mailing lists, figure out what to serve and by the time it's all over, I am really sad.

And this year, we were competing with "Hardly Strictly Bluegrass," a huge festival in Golden Gate Park so I didn't feel like I had the usual crowds we're accustomed to seeing at 1890 Bryant Street Studios. Also, now it means I need to get back to work, and prepare for the next show. So you see, I want a do-over so I can hang out in that tension and relief of wondering if anyone is going to come, and oh yay, they came, they bought. Now it's over, until spring.

Crescent Street Crow

I've been trying to catch a crow on this electrical poll for years. Every Friday after the garbage trucks roll through Bernal Heights, the crows are picking through the truck's path in hopes of some juicy scraps. They pop up to this poll when cars go by and the fly back down to the street when it's clear. I usually don't have enough patience to wait too long, so catching one really means one happens to be up there when I walk by. Thus, it's taken me years to get the shot.

Heather's Flock

This has been on exhibit at Secession since the beginning of June - it seems I didn't get around to photographing it before the show went up. Heather Robinson is one of the resident artists there and I think I was channeling her when I drew in the pattern - she does cool stuff with patterns and fabrics. If Trish hadn't pointed it out, I might not have made the connection. I feel pretty lucky to be influenced by so many talented local artists, whether it's conscious or not.

Pink Martini Towee

Finally, a success, after three attempts, and three failures - this bird just did not want to stick! Now she's off the Antwerp, Belgium to live with someone who came to Open Studios last month - wish me luck with shipping!

Tea and Sunshine at Saint Mary's Park

December is starting with a bang with three great receptions to attend: the weekend begins with a great party at City Art Gallery on Friday December 3, then on Saturday, December 4, a fundraiser for Visual Aid entitled "Little Gems" at Underglass where the owner of the shop has donated the framing for all of the work, and finally on Sunday afternoon, the seventh anniversary party for Studio Gallery which is exhibiting their annual "Tiny" show. I have a good feeling about the weekend and about the year ending well. Also, if you happen to be up on Potrero Hill, my work is at Collage Gallery on 18th Street (just up from Plow, my new favorite place to have brunch). This is a great exclamation point to a good year!

More Birds on Wires

My friend Rob reminded me that the telephone poles are coming down and being replaced underground and that's why he likes these birds on wires so much - nature and analogue mixing it up. Earlier this month I heard a child point to a television set and ask her Grandma, "what is that?" I suspect one day, we'll hear the same questions about these telephone poles.

Another view of the Brewer's Blackbird