Tiny

I am saying yes to invitations to participate in exhibitions this year. I have a piece in a small venue in North Beach and will be in several shows in November and December, including Open Studios on November 1 & 2. One of the shows will be in a community acupuncture clinic on Valencia Street, an intimate clinic setting. I decided to make tiny pieces for the show. All of my work is small (today I saw an artist at Hunters Point, Randy Bechelheimer whose work averaged 64" x 96". The  pieces I am working on for this show are all 4 x 4. This is the first of a series.

Birthday Birds

It's been a while since I blogged. I continue to spend time in the studio but the process has slowed considerably as I focus on learning a new job and taking good care of myself while I do. I know art is a crucial element of self care and that I will find my way back to a regular routine, but for now, I'm stealing studio time and getting super excited when I do. Here's a fun little surprise that happened last night.

Big Little City (20" x 20")

This is my submission for Art for AIDS this year. I did it using six different image transfers, which I had never done before. I'm amazed they all took, and I didn't have to redo any of them. Reapplying carbon transfers means scraping all the carbon and bits of paper off, re-heating the wax, and applying a new transfer. I'm not sure how well all that would have worked on a multiple, so I was happy I didn't have to learn about it (yet).

Flycatcher for Iselin

Iselin created this piece for her friend. Really. She contacted me and said she wanted Clarky, which has long ago gone to someone's home, or something similar. I don't have anything remotely similar because I haven't used paper like this in a good long while. Ever since I discovered all those bright, groovy fabrics, I've been so obsessed with big and bold, that I forgot all about these gorgeous little mono-print papers. 

I am very happy with how this turned out. Hopefully Iselin's friend will agree.

In Search of Balance 16" x 20"

I have an aluminum Christmas tree with pink lights, pink ribbon, and pink and green bulbs. I nearly squeal with delight every time I see it. I think having a well designed and well dressed tree is something I'll do from now on. I'll keep my collection of mix and match ornaments for now, but I'm ready to toss them all out and start each year with a design challenge and then execute it. I know it's not so "green" but at least my tree will go back in the box and come out again next year.

You may be wondering what that has to do with encaustic painting. Well, it's a challenge to maintain balance in ordinary times, and especially challenging during the holidays. This painting is a little reminder.  Here's to all the big and small efforts.

Old Soul

A couple of years ago we spent the holidays in our friend's home on Westside Road in Guerneville. Trish took photos of trees and grapevines for me. I never used the grapevines until recently - I couldn't quite imagine it working. Now I can't get enough of them.

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.

Winter Clarity

I'm putting up a small show at City Art Gallery today. The Opening Reception is Friday, November 4, from 7 - 10 pm. This will be included in the show, along with other small works that I finished recently. 

Potrero and 17th

November 6th from 2:00 - 6:00 is the opening reception for Studio Gallery's Tiny Show. I have quite a few pieces in the show which runs until December 23. Trish Tunney, Catherine Mackey, Wendy Miller, and many others from 1890 Bryant will have work there. Hope to see you at Studio Gallery!

Analogue Ivy

At some point the power lines will come down and the urban birds will find new places to perch. In this shot, which is a favorite of mine, the ivy has grown around the telephone poll and given them a second option. I went back to Saint Mary's Park to get more images of this scene and the ivy had been cleared away. I wondered by whom. The City gardener? The telephone company? Do they even exist anymore?  Hopefully by the time the world goes entirely digital, I'll have moved on to new subjects. In the mean time, I'm working to capture this urban scenario that I can't seem to get enough of. 

Another view of the Bakery Outlet

The Bakery Outlet at 17th and Bryant is a puzzling relic. I know my years in California, along with my innate tendency to be impressed by healthy foods, fads, and happy cows, have taken me a long way from my Midwestern Wonder bread roots - actually it was Gardner bread in Madison, Wisconsin. So I have to wonder (ha!) how does that bread maker that bakes that yummy smelling "bread" survive in the land of gourmet baguettes and vegan, gluten free pastries? I can smell the bread being baked while in my studio up the street, so I know they're not shipping it in from the Midwest. I guess it's good the squishy white bread lovers of the City still have a place to buy day old bread.

Rusty Respite

ArtSpan's Fall Open Studios is nearly here! I'll be showing at 1890 Bryant Street in Studio 311 October 1 & 2 from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. Our Preview Party is September 30 from 7:00 - 10:00. If you're in town, come by and see over 50 incredible artists, and come up to 311 and see my new studio space! I've wanted to have a studio at 1890 Bryant for a very long time and am very excited that it's finally happening. Hope you can make it!

Bryant Street in the Mission

Come to ArtSpan's Funky Flash Friday Mixer at 1890 Bryant Street next Friday, September 2, at 6:00 pm. Mr. Rogers will be our resident dj along with his groovy bunnymatic and friends artworks. Trish Tunney and I will also be on exhibition, so if you're up for some art, drinks, music, and snacks - this preview to Open Studios is for you!