painting every day

more from the studio

2009-06-22T15:34:00.000-07:00

The very thing that makes these paintings luminous is the very thing that makes them the most difficult of models to photograph...
this plum painting is 36x48"

little bird, little bird

2009-06-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

I believe it is true when I say I've never posted these little paintings of mine. They're anywhere between 5x5inches up to 12x12".
A quiet and fun side subject that I started last year, I am a little bit touched every time I sell one. Because I find them charming, I hope others do to.
I hope you enjoy as much as I enjoy painting them.

And now for something a little different...

2009-06-03T18:11:00.000-07:00

I call it:
"Napa River Summer"

each panel is 36" high by 48 inches wide.

more is better

2009-05-22T15:34:00.000-07:00

Less is more?
I snicker.

image for AF

2009-05-13T04:48:00.001-07:00

more updated images of recent work

2009-05-13T04:38:00.000-07:00

Besides this large canvas, I am working on paintings for an event at Beringer Winery in lovely St. Helena.
June 13th: wine, cheese, music, food and over 70 artists in attendance. Should be quite the blow out, eh?

that's why it's not called "a painting a day"

2009-05-01T17:05:00.000-07:00

I said to my friend as they critiqued my blog and questioned it's merits. I work large. The larger the better in my opinion. Working this large means I can't do a "painting a day" as the term has been used by those esteemed artists, usually completing work in one day, usually small, as in, inches.
So, I invited my friend to the studio. The painting as an example is 4'x10' in length. The stretcher bars built by my friend K, who has now begun an addiction in me: Access to large, custom sized stretchers that he delivers to the studio and I cover in canvas, gesso and prime for the next work of art. Did I say addictive? I can't even tell you. All I want is still larger canvas with which to work.
My fabulous studio mate, R is also a size addict. We're bad in that way, always looking for our next big canvas fix. He ordered four, I'm pondering the next "hit", not even close to being finished with the painting that's 10' in length.
But the question I have is this: Anything smaller than ten feet at this point will seem less of a high. Can this be stopped? Do I need it to stop?

gone fishin'

2009-04-27T06:27:00.000-07:00

Does anyone still say that? Or does one have to be of a certain generation and beyond to even understand what that means.
My 19 year old friend A had never heard the words "tract house". I thought that was fairly charming. It falls into the category of what happened to albums, dial phones, and and drive in movies.
I digress. Yes, gone fishing, and not in the way that you might like to think but rather spending too much of my time fishing around these parts on the vast highway of I, reading others' posts of this and that, nothing particularly. E tells me as long as i am not adding more and more sites to my bookmarks I am safe. Good rule of thumb me thinks.
Here's what else I've been doing:
A fellow artist K recently offered to make me custom sized stretcher bars/supports so I quickly satisfied myself by having him build a 10 foot long canvas (four feet wide) and I stretched the canvas, primed and now ready to go with my next painting.
I could go on and on about how happy this canvas makes me, but i won't. Suffice to say, I love working on large format space.
The Gstudio group and I have a show coming up at the Beringer winery in St Helena which is shaping up to be what I anticipate as a fabulous time, with our group having a prime bit of realestate to show our art, right in front of the Mansion, under a massive oak tree.
Life is good.

fears no more?

2009-03-05T20:18:00.000-08:00

So we had a group meeting and L has given us assurances that we all have a safe studio home and all will not be lost.
Back to business at hand. Many things that I'm working on right now: a commissioned painting, participation of Gstudio at a Beringer Winery event in June, The Napa arts council open studio event. Everything is sounding far in advance but in fact, these are the things that for an artist, must be thought out and worked on early. Thoughts must turn to inspiration, inspiration must gel into idea, idea must find it's way to the canvas and paintings must dry. This takes a bit of time.
Here's a painting that I've been working on for a bit. Although I will sell it, it's just a little something I did for me.
Giancomo Puccini (maestro of "Madame Butterly, Tosca, Turandot to name but three.) I put myself in there so you could get a better sense of size. 5'x6'.

the winds of change are a comin'

2009-02-27T18:01:00.000-08:00

That does happen, doesn't it. Just when all is settled, content, comfy cozy... there it is, like it or not.
L of Gstudio is deciding to take her show on the road, so to speak and here we are, 4 artists, biting our nails. What to do, what to do? Was that the white rabbit of Alice in Wonderland lore that uttered those very words?
L happens to be the glue of Gstudio, so it will be an adjustment on us. She promises to return and as I understand it has to due to a solo show she's recently booked for an artist here in Napa.
I'm an addict to change and drama of sorts, but secretly is it my change that I love and not so much the change of others?

teacher! teacher!

2009-02-17T15:32:00.000-08:00

That's right, every first and third Saturday of the month, I'll be teaching an art class at Gstudio. On this Saturdays menu:
palette knife painting. Wha? you say?
Abandoning the paintbrush for the palette knife is what this is. The effect can be smooth, abstract, thick, and chunky.
11am. Be there.

Napa Valley Mustard Festival

2009-01-16T16:02:00.000-08:00

Saturday evening, January 31, you'll find me at the Culinary Institute in St Helena and I won't be cooking dinner.
One of my paintings was chosen for the 2 month long event and the kickoff or "mustard magic" will be held that night.
I know the image was already published in a previous post, but of course must post again to keep all abreast of the actual work selected. Called "Fall Vineyard" it measures 12x24" and is oil paint and gold leaf on canvas. Anyone interested can bid on it at auction at the previously mentioned event. See you there!

signs of spring?

2009-01-13T07:52:00.000-08:00

But isn't it January? Yesterday's high temperature's were in the 80 degree range. Something's wrong with that picture.
Around these parts we're talking Mustard Festival. Don't know much more that that really- I'll have to fill you in later if you'll come back as I find out more about this Napa Valley extravaganza...(say that with a european accent, please) What I do know is that I entered my work in the art competition...stay tuned and here's a sample of what I entered. Wish me luck.

hello again

2009-01-05T22:43:00.000-08:00

A new year makes me so happy. It feeds into everything that makes me smile and enjoy my life. New year, new start, change.
I lerve change. I know this creeps some people out, but I do. Reorganize those closets, change around that filing system, color the hair! Read my horoscope recently and I don't remember the source but according to some genius astrologer, despite the countries economic problems, my year as an artist and a virgo should be booming! Can't wait! Bring it on!
On that note, I'm entering an art competition with the Napa Valley Mustard Festival folks and will likely know by the end of Jan if I'm in or out- wish me luck.

changing of the seasons

2008-12-01T20:32:00.000-08:00

I am really enjoying the time here in the valley, noticing on a daily basis the dramatic changes that the landscape, specifically the vineyards take through the high and low temperatures of napa valley. Of course, in California, the temperatures are what I would call temperate- nothing particularly extreme compared to winters had in other parts of the country, but in this area, the climate so affects the vineyards and specifically the colors of the vineyards. Oh and that sky....cool, grey, quiet.

knock, knock

2008-10-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

Opportunity that is, in the form of art receptions. Two coming up. Same day, different times.
Nothing like art, viewing art, talking about art and drinking wine, talking about wine, about art and wine and yes, wine and art.
You get the picture. . If you're in the neighborhood, come by!

open Studios Weekend two

2008-10-07T08:31:00.001-07:00

Back again...weekend two was as well a success as I met my personal goal of achieving enough in sales that I am officially moved out of my home studio and into G studio- So now I have my own artists space in the same location as open studio which is loft type space shared with four other artists of a variety of disciplines. Can't even express how happy I am about this- which has also allowed me to convert the "loft" in our house back to it's intended residential use, that is to say a playroom, family room of sorts (t.v., books, games, couch )
pics of weekend two............

Open Studios Weekend One

2008-09-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

Overall, I feel like I've taken a long plane trip and still have jet-lag combined with being part of a wedding party and having to stand, talking, smiling, for 7 hours. But, it's all good. Made some very good contacts, sold paintings and overall was a positive experience. My ultimate goal here, because I don't think I've articulated it, is to move my home studio into the studio location where I had open studios this year. It's a terrific, light filled space shared with several other artists and has enough open space to have classes, workshops, what have you.
The small detail of course, is that in order to move into fabulous location, I have to support it (duh) and I need to sell art in order to do just that. So onward to weekend two- good sales and good luck.

Feelin' good

2008-09-12T17:57:00.001-07:00

I do feel good. Granted, I had a few moments this week where I was experiencing the stress/freak-out anxiety of an art show coupled with getting new paintings ready for a gallery in Burlingame.
When it rains, it pours. Just when things were rolling along for open studio and I had a definite plan of what paintings were to be in the show and what I needed to produce to round out the show, I'm contacted by Marilyn Jaeger as well as Art and Soul Gallery asking for new work. (I've had paiintings hanging in both locations for a while now) So, I had to clear out all of my intended paintings for open studio to deliver to M.J. then pull a few more and paint more for the Gallery. Back to the beginning for open studio. I've been in crunch mode for a few weeks, but looking around at what goes where, I'm feeling very good about O.S. and feel prepared and positive.
At the studio in Napa: painting hanging panels that divide the space into sections for each artist- the owner of g Studio clearing all the space, everything goes away and the whole space is masterfully transformed into studio/gallery exhibition space. Already looks terrific. I'll post photos here so you can see the space and show- those of you unable to make it.
bye for now, off to make my fortune in Napa Valley...
k

Four stars

2008-09-06T06:33:00.001-07:00

Last night was the Mumm winery reception up on the Silverado Trail. A terrific event and I continue to be impressed by the organization and support of the arts council of Napa Valley- a relaxed, organized and good humored group of people.
Besides being involved as an artist and having a painting there with the other open studio artists, I was assigned the task of volunteer coordinator. I was told a few weeks ago that the event is "mobbed" and very popular. Boy, were they right- About two hours, half spent just trying to excuse me please through the gallery space.
So, my participation with Open Studios has officially begun- in two weeks begins the studio tours and yes, I will be accepting credit cards...

this and that

2008-08-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

Just sharing really- Feeling pretty good about time spent in the studio. I finished two more bird paintings, started 2 vineyard paintings and worked on some blossom paintings in various stages of completion. The heat here is really working for me. I've got deadlines right now and it's really helping that 24 hours after a painting is started, the paint isn't dry necessarily but rather "set" as in, I can proceed, many times painting more, on top of what I've already started. Which is very helpful when one is trying to work on quite a few things at once.
Art and Soul gallery emailed and wants to switch out paintings to freshen up her inventory, which is always good and I can provide her with smaller works that clients buy more easily than the larger works. Need to pick up paintings from Bistro Yoffi in San Francisco as they are closing. It's been a long run with them: 5 years or so.
Any dropping off to Raymond vineyard a painting this week as they are my partner winery for open studios.
http://www.raymondvineyards.com/ is there link, and you can see my open studios listing plus 71 other selected napa valley artists here- http://www.nvopenstudios.com/

top 10

2008-08-16T21:13:00.000-07:00

10. took boys to kung fu class
9. painted p's room "san francisco blue"
8. painted q's room "fruit punch" (orange, if you must ask)
7. drop off car full of goodwill donations
6. school orientation for P
5. Meet with folks at Raymond Vineyard about winery/artist pairing
4. go to open studio meeting at G studio in Napa
3. get floor estimate for repair
2. watch restoration management men rip up my hardwood floor
1. flood laundry room

Yes, in order of appearance. I suppose backwards. And a little off, but basically ending with a bang, don't you think?

Oops, one more:
1. worked in studio and painted. I did do that.
trying diligently to research information on taking credit cards and the many options. Of course, I'm trying to find the option of paying very little for the simplest and easiest service.

Did feel good this week about painting- got about 4 paintings started and now about 6 being worked on almost simultaneously in the newly moved studio.
1. moved my entire studio upstairs to another room in order to move P and Q into seperate bedrooms.
Almost forgot. That was big.
But a good change because now the studio is better situated with MUCH better light for a longer period.
I believe I'll have about 10 to 15 paintings to show for open studio, besides the work I hang at Mumm for the reception and Raymond Vineyard as part of the winery/artist partnership.

Q starts preschool 3 days a week on monday.
Thank you God.

a little something...

2008-07-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

this is one of the smaller paintings that I'm working on in the studio these days. I'm completely immersed in the use of the metalic leaf as it's very fun to experiment. And since my work tends to focus these days on horticultural themes: trees, fruit, branches, vineyards, orchards, whom should I find perched there? Birds of course.

just checking in...

2008-06-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

I don't want to succumb to what might be known as some type of bloggers block, so I thought I'd just write with a few updates.
The hand has been to p.t. a few times now. Or rather I've taken the hand to p.t. where I am likely to experience in no particular order: ultrasound, massage, pushing/pulling some type of playdough like substance, time in a tank (just the hand) with some hot air and ground up corn husks. There's more but already this sounds weird as I write it so I'm going to move on from here.
Does my hand feel better? Short answer, no. It feels like it felt before surgery. But I accept the fact that it is healing and healing takes time. I just have a habit of wanting things now. Don't we all.

It's a good thing

2008-06-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

people needing paintings, that is. Well, actually it's all good, but I'll stay on message and just speak of my painting.
Everyone knows by now that I'm getting ready for the much anticipated open studios here in Napa valley. I'm a fairly organized person, so I've got it in my head weeks ago what I'd be showing, what still needed to be painted to "round out" what I'm showing with an eye toward a good assortment. ie; easy to buy and put in one's trunk, yes?
Things are going along just fine (ok, with a diversion to surgery on my hand) and then I get an email from an account of mine in SF who needs some older paintings of mine swapped out for new. Great account, absolutely will bring you the paintings you'd like and by the way, will have very few left for open studios.
But this is a good thing, is it not? I remember my grandmother saying "crying all the way to the bank"
So, I'll clean out my inventory, and start anew for the show- which will likely turn out to be the best thing, as I've already got some good ideas in my head of what other work I'd like to do and show that I'd otherwise not gotten to by September.
Onward!