cleaning the studio...
...and other adventures in artdrawings
I’ve been drawing. I’ve been painting too, but I try to always find some time for drawing.
Here are a few of my recent favorites. All are around 20″ x 30″.
this can’t be good
Encaustic is hard on brushes…
the state of the studio
I’m getting ready for Search for Self, a painting exhibition at Monterey Peninsula College in November/December. I will be in the show with two other Santa Cruz artists, Sefla Joseph and Ursula O’Farrell.
Here is what my studio is looking like now, with some paintings that are being finished for the show.
I’m famous!
The Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County made a short video promoting the upcoming Open Studios and asked me to do an encaustic demo for the video. That’s me in the awful blue-green plaid shirt. (Hey! It’s studio clothing!)
My daughter pointed out that everyone else in the video is delicately and precisely doing their work, but I’m just grabbing for the wax with one hand while I’m inattentively using the heat gun with the other.
In spite of that, that piece I’m working on is now almost finished and looks great.
color! and more!
I’m finishing some paintings for an exhibit in November at Monterey Peninsula College. The exhibit will be with two other Santa Cruz abstract figurative artists. I’ll post more information about the show as I receive it.
Here are some crops from the current paintings. As you can see, color figures prominently. Faces and body language are also of importance to me in my painting.
upcoming exhibits
I have several exhibits opening in the next few weeks. You can see my link on the right sidebar, “Current and Upcoming Events” for details.
Two exhibits are holding receptions on the same day, September 12. I’ll be at Los Pájaros first, which is an exhibit of bird-themed art at PVAC in Watsonville. I have two encaustic pieces and one sculpture in this show.
After that, I’ll go to Cabrillo College for the statewide exhibit California, curated by Ruth Braunstein and Shannon Trimble of the Braunstein/Quay gallery in SF. I have an encaustic piece in this show.
cleaning the studio…
After the flurry of activity finishing the 50 Daily Birds, I really did have to clean the studio. As I cleaned, I was able to clear my head from the last work and think about the next work. Here are some ‘before’ photos.
And, ‘after’…
Now I’m ready to paint!
I have a few larger encaustic pieces to finish up, and some sculpture ideas which are calling to me, but most of my work now will be painting for the next month or two. I have several large paintings that are close to being done, including some for an upcoming show. More about that show soon.
the question of “why birds?”
Better late than never…here’s my statement which was posted next to my Daily Birds at the 50-50 show:
the birds have left the studio
Yes! The Daily Birds are now hanging at the Sanchez Art Center for the upcoming show. See their website for more information about the ticketed preview and the opening reception, next Thursday and Friday, July 29 and 30.
50-50 at sanchez
The 50-50 II Show opens soon! See the Sanchez Art Center website for a list of participating artists, directions to the center, and more.
There is going to be some great work in this show! Around a thousand people came to the opening last year. If you would like to see the show in a more calm atmosphere, come to the ticketed preview. Once the show opens, buyers are welcome to take the pieces with them when they make purchases, so the ticketed preview is the only way to see the show in its entirety.
Ticketed Fundraiser Preview: Thursday, July 29, 7 to 9 pm
Tickets are available for $10.98 at BrownPaperTickets.com, 1-800-838-3006, or $20 at the door.
Opening Reception: Friday, July 30, 6 to 10 pm, free to the public