by Barbara Downs | Dec 18, 2012
In the wake of the Newtown school shootings last Friday, I was at a loss for ideas as I walked into my studio Monday morning. I have a child, and the sheer horror of what happened is unfathomable, unbearable, unimaginable. I’ve long considered using children as...
by Barbara Downs | Sep 19, 2012
I live and work in Santa Cruz, California, on the northern tip of the Monterey Bay, and over the summer I was invited to participate in an upcoming show about the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Thinking back to a previous heron piece I had done, I focused on...
by Barbara Downs | Apr 13, 2012
This weekend is the last chance to see the spectacular encaustic show at the Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery. This show, curated by Wendy Aiken and Daniella Woolf, is certainly a must-see. Hanging right there on the front wall is a piece by yours truly. This piece,...
by Barbara Downs | Jan 30, 2012
A bit late, but here are some photos from my open studios in October, in case you were unable to attend. These are my two favorite walls, showing paintings on one and encaustic and sculpture on another. The chair on the wall is titled “Have a...
by Barbara Downs | Oct 14, 2011
One more weekend of Open Studios, October 15&16, 11am-5pm. I try to not work in my studio between the two weekends of Open Studios because I make such a mess, but I couldn’t resist. I started (and may possibly finish) a small sculpture, horsehair and steel,...
by Barbara Downs | Sep 26, 2011
Coming up very soon is Open Studios 2011: Am I ready? Most certainly not. My studio is a mess, but it is immeasurably more interesting to work on artwork than to work at cleaning the studio. But I will clean it–clean enough for visitors–and I’d love...
