Where's the time gone?

Update on my "masterpiece".   It was sold at the show, by someone whose heart it touched.  i could not ask for more.

My mixed media group is planning a destash tailgate party  First week of May.    Good.    More things can leave my studio.    I'm excited and starting to sort - again.    Trouble is I keep finding things that would make good group projects.   I have to talk people into doing them though, and that is not always easy, as everyone has their own things to work on or their lives to lead that don't necessarily align with my destashing.    LOL       so, they will have first pick, then one of them volunteered to haul the rest away to a donation point - thrift store.     Bless her heart!   she means it too, she isn't hauling it home secretly.    

Here is a picture of Rich Allen take by Frances.    I think I'll paint him.   He is a past president multiple times of the Lodi group, and was chair of the Spring Show. 

Next month is also the month when my friend Jean Janssen will be the featured artist in Lodi, and we are busy making plans for the reception.   Her work is amazing - particularly since she works in watercolor.   some of them are so subtle, but others have wow factors, and since she has been experimenting with new techniques and subject, her work is soaring.    She's in early 80, teaches at local university senior program and also in Lodi for the community senior program.       All that wonderful energy and still learning.    I'm a huge fan.    Here are a couple pieces of her work and the post card designed for her show.   

I hope we have a good turn out and she gets some good sales.     

You've seen this before - Lost in a Memory

Back in October when I posted this picture, I proclaimed it a masterpiece.  Of course that was just my personal opinion, but I had enough faith in it to enter it in the Annual Spring Show at the Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Winery in Acampo.     Judging waa on Monday with a panel of three highly respected judges.    The good news is - they unanimously liked it too, enough to give it a second place in the mixed media division.     I cleaned up the edges, mounted it on white with a buff colored mat and framed in about a 2 inch black wooden frame.   I'm happy. 

   Here is the original post site:    http://bookartsandalteredbooks.blogspot.com/2014/10/my-new-masterpiece.html

What's ahead in March

I posted a long post to the Lodi Art Center blog today, and will just enclose a link rather than reinvent the wheel.    The mixed media group is having a showing of our works, and also my pal Frances is the featured artist.    Here is the link.    http://lodiartcenter.blogspot.com/2015/02/wht.html

Playing art catch up.

Yesterday Frances, Trevor and I went downtown to pick up our work from the Mexican Heritage Center.    Here are some pics of the show in their gallery.

This was the Art Against Violence exhibit.    i was really impressed with the spaciousness, lighting, and the way the show was hung.   they did a great job.     

Our mixed media group has been meeting every week in January and will do the same in Feb.    It's a great way to stay energized as a group and individually.     One of our founding members was able to attend last week, and a new member is now on board.   Another newer member who claims she is not an artist, although she has won several ribbons for her collage work in juried shows - is getting used to us and I think will be a  good addition to our group.
I think we are enjoying the weekly format so much we might go on into March with it as well.

march is our group show at the gallery, and I spent all day today designing the post card announcements, and tying up loose ends with the members.      it's been a long day sitting down, don't ask why I'm back at the computer again.   LOL    

This week I mailed off two  sets of post cards for swaps.  I think it was 26  total.    One of them had to be hand carved, and both were winter themes, so I used the same image for both sets.      Here is the polar bear stamp I carved, stamped over vintage music pages from an old book of hymns.   









Here is the little owl rubber stamp I carved.   

Next I want to show you two post cards I recwieved this week.

The colorful one which was a RAK from my friend and mixed media group member Barbara is so bright and cheery.  Thanks Barbara, it made my day.     Ant it was one of those dreary foggy days! 













This next one is from Beth, one of the CA Art Girls who swapped Winter Themed post cards.   It's done with aluminum duct tape and gesso over shapes that give the texture. .   it's a very cool look.   In fact, it's downright chilly.    Thanks, Beth.

What's new?

I spent three days in a row volunteering at the take in for the photography show that opens on Feb 1st.   It's so much fun to meet the photographers and be the first ones to see the work coming in.    Beautiful photographs, some very traditional, some right on the cutting edge of digital technology, with overlays and manipulations.       Some black and white, lots of color, glorious color.      There were only four categories, 1.  Natural (includes landscapes, animals)  2.  Man made (includes architectural, and photos of anything man made)   3.  Portraits (includes animals, people, faces)    3.   Digitally Created.        These are the ones where the images have been treated as collages, or overlaid, or manipulated in interesting ways.     Judging Day is Saturday, and I'll be there to help.

Tuesday I met with some of my oldest and best friends in Folsom, where we laughed and chatted away while making valentines.   I asked our hostess Char, who had laid out a bunch of wonderful supplies and art matierials to use, if she had any old text pages in her stash - knowing full well, she would have.    She brought some in and I tore up a page, then Pat reached for one and read it.   It was some steamy novel!   Perfect to tear up and use for her husband's card.  They are parents of 7 grown men.     She was sure her hubby would get a kick out of an x rated card.     LOL    It was hilarious reading excerpts to each other while we worked.    

Mixed media meeting today, show and tell.   Last week we did some felting, and more people tried it today.     Lisa created some beautiful cards to sell in the gallery with felted hearts on them.    Sending a hearty welcome to Mary, a new member, and Bobbi a returning member, and Judi who is a very recent member but already seems like one of us.  

I've been working on two mixed media pieces, and using a product for finishing them, a gloss self leveling gel.     It's high gloss and resembles a resin finish but has no odor.      I'll post some pics later.

Today on the way home from dropping Bobbi off in Acampo, Phyllis and I passed a field of short cut grasses.    I don't know what it is, but it is really colorful, even on a foggy overcast day.  Here ares some pics.

I'm anxious to go back and take more pics when the sun is out.  It must be spectacular. 

I'm going to try to capture this in a gelli print.     Or some other medium.     Maybe it would be best with Portfolio oil pastels, or Aquasticks.   Hmmmm....     I'd like to try a plein air work - if it weren't so cold out.   Maybe Saturday will be a better day, think I'll pack my things along and if the sun's out, I'll drive the extra few miles to this site again.    These photos have had no photoshop tricks, or color enhancements.   The striations of color are the way it grows.     I'd like to take more pics from the West end and shoot the stripes lengthwise.      

Art Against Violence Exhibit

"This exhibit showcases area artists' responses to violence and it's impact on our lives. The range of this show, from hopeful to painful, is designed to stimulate thoughtful conversation and positive action."     These are quotes from the post card designed to promote the show.   "Experience the powerful  voices of participating artists who choose to care."    "Art can make a difference."   

It was quite an experience to enter this show.     I had some works that would fit, so I didn't need to think too hard, but I did have to change them so they could be displayed properly.  Changing an altered book to a painting - that was a challenge I had never considered.   But I felt the message was strong and needed to be there.      Being killed or injured in a DUI situation is an act of violence.

The second piece what was based on my reaction to a news report of  Rihianna and Chris Brown's abuse case followed by their reuniting.  

Frances entered a piece based on the Roosevelt's and what they did for the country that helped allay some of the social and financial issues that lead to crime.

We bravely headed off for the very scary downtown area where the Mexican Heritage Center is housed.    It was a bright clear chilly Saturday morning.    The downtown area is dead on Saturday mornings.  None of the office buildings  were open for business or the banks and government offices.    We drove through deserted streets, shaded by the tall buildings,   The only people we saw were homeless people wandering.  We passed streets with torn awnings, boarded up windows and doorways, random graffiti, and few other cars.   My grandson Trevor who used to be a security guard at the big bank building on the Northeast corner across from our destination kept us company and made us feel safe.    We didn't think it would be wise for us to be in that part of town without an escort.   I'm so glad he was with us.

We met two nice ladies who were taking in the art, and got a tour of the gallery space.   It's a wonderful space, rented from the Mason Lodge.     It's clean and well kept up.  But it was sooooo cold we were shivering.     We did not see any other artists bringing in their art, and thought it looked like a very small showing.    Perhaps the time of year was bad, as we were all thinking about the holidays instead of paying much attention to the call for artists that pour into our emails.     Plus - none of my other art friends had or plan to do any works that would fit the theme.        Anyway, we chatted awhile then came home back to the suburbs which seem a million miles from the downtown area which is actually less than 10 miles away.  

I left a post card with the young lady that helps me at Aaron Bros yesterday and she wants to enter something, so I told her to call them and see if she still can.  She has been to the exhibit previous years and thinks it is very important and her work would fit right in.   I hope she follows up and is accepted.    I'd like to see her work.      After the reception , I'll post some pics and let you know how it went.   

Calm after the storm

We didn't blow away. We're still here.   It's been raining for days and our water table is vastly improved.    On days without rain, we have fog because there is so much moisture in the air.     So any time the sun pokes it's way through, I really appreciate and enjoy it.        

Our Monday morning senior group had tables at the annual holiday bazaar/party at the senior center.    I didn't take anything to sell, but sat and drew leaves in the nature journal, and a few people stopped to watch.  Helen, Lillian, Elizabeth, John, and Jean all sold some of their art work.  Celia set up a yard sale kind of table and got rid of a lot of her things at bargain prices.      There were also potters, crochet and knitters, quilters, card makers, and lots more.   the fun part of the day is the games.  Reverse bingo where if they call a number on your card, you are out.     They played this a number of times, and those at our tables were out pretty quickly and had fun rooting for each other.     They also had other games, musical chairs, and raffle prizes.   It was not my lucky day.    

Here's a pic of Jean and Helen setting up the table.

When you don't win.... you don't cry or give up

I didn't take any ribbons at the recently hung small works show.    There was a single judge, a respected academic and fine artist in her own right.     Not everyone can win.   

Last night was art judge critique night at the gallery, and many of us went to hear her presentation and discuss her criteria for judging.     She described some of the elements she looks at, the skill level and subjects.   Behind it all - judging is a subjective response to a particular piece at a particular moment in time.      One of the judges I worked with in the past said if she were to judge at any other time or place, her responses may be different.     You can't use a point system, like so many points for composition, so  many points for use of materials, presentation of subject, color, or any of the other elements of art.     You either like it, or not.  Even at that, there are not enough ribbons to go around for everything the judges like.    They have to make the hard decisions.     They may have a strong emotional response to a piece that lacks in skill or composition, yet it may draw them back to it.     I find this so fascinating.   It also makes me wonder why we try to find judges with good academic credentials if they are just going to throw them out the window and go gaga over any old thing that tugs at their heart strings.   I guess the reason is that they can communicate their decisions and rationale with an air of expertise.      I like that.     It's important for an artist to hear criticism as well as praise.     And praise without an explanation is so empty.     Then it really does seem more like a whim.     This judge explained things well, and was very thoughtful in her critique.  

    Someone asked her to critique one of my gelli prints, and she said she was quite taken by them but didn't quite know what they were, the use of materials was something she had not seen before.   She asked how I accomplished them and I gave a very brief description of the process.     All in all, she like s them, very much liked the sense of space and composition was strong.  She liked the colors. She liked the serenity.   I had such good feedback from the other members and a few in particular who I respect immensely - so much so that I went back to the gallery today and raised my prices.     I really don't want them to sell and will only be happy to sell for a whopping sum.   LOL   I guess the response from the judge and the group gave me a big boost of over-confidence!   LOL    I was already sure I was on to something really special with this new group of works.    I didn't expect to win.   I thought the pieces are so quiet and unassuming, they might go unnoticed - but that is their charm.   They are soothing and peaceful and easy on the eyes.   

I didn't win anything but a good feeling.      I already have a strong emotional response to these pieces because the subjects come from our family photo archives.     I think I needed to hear that they evoked good responses from others without the family connection.    

At the gallery, my three pieces are hung in different areas.  One is in the front window.   One on the featured artist wall, and one in the back room of the gallery.    An artist I respect ( who used to have his  own gallery) said he would have hung them together.   I had to agree that would have been my preference, but our gallery manager does such a good job, I would not ask her to change it now.

Anyhow, if you don't win, you just keep going if you like the direction you are headed.     If not, then perhaps it's time to change directions.     At least it makes us analyze what is working and what isn't.   And the critiques (not always flattering) are learning experiences.     You have to have tough enough skin to face the critics as well as your best friends who only say nice things.....    

Do these pieces remind you of this one I entered a couple years ago that did win, much to my surprise.  

I think the quiet ones are my favorites.   I think there is more than enough noise and confusion in the world.    Quiet places are soothing to the soul.

Art show update

I did a pretty lengthy post about the small works and itty bitty works shows on the Lodi Art Center Blog.    Here is a link if you'd care to check it out.    http://lodiartcenter.blogspot.com/2014/11/sneak-peek-at-small-works-and-itty.html

Entering an art show

There are so many shows, it seems like there are always choices to make.    Where will your art fit the best?   Where might you actually win money and a ribbon?      How do you want to frame your art?      How much should you spend?  What are the entry fees?     D o you really want to drive there and back to enter, for the reception and then to retrieve my piece at the end of the show?   Any way you look at it there are three trips to the location.    Receptions are usually in the evening and that means driving after dark.    

Little by little I watch the older artists dropping off from showing their work for all of the above reasons, and it's a shame.      I see them producing wonderful art, and they show in galleries regularly, but entering competitive shows is so much more complicated, however it's where the prize money is, and where the art gets seen by a wider audience.   Many of the older artists resist the online entry shows, just because it is new and hard for them to deal with.

Most of the larger shows must be entered online, so there is the additional problem of getting good photos and figuring out the entry systems.     Getting photos the right size and quality for uploading.    Getting the lighting right so there are no glares.     Showing enough detail to whet the judges interest.      Three dimensional things are judged based on two or three photographs to enter a show.  Paintings, prints, and wall art - you only get one chance with a single photograph.     Some things just don't look as good in a photograph, you simply cannot see the subtleties in color and texture.      But, this is the way the world of art is going.   The people putting on the shows have found they get many more entries online, each accompanied with a fee for entry, so this system brings in more money.   People can enter from anywhere and then arrange to package, insure and ship their pieces if they are accepted.   To me, this is not worth the work, but if the prize money is high enough, you'd be surprised how many people want the big purse and are willing to do this.    And sometimes it works.      Sometimes not.  

My decision right now is what to enter in the next show in Lodi.  It is the Small Works and Itty Bitty works shows, running simultaneously.     Small works can be no larger than 8 x 10.    Three dimensional no larger than 8 inches in any direction.        Itty Bitty works can be no larger than 3 x 3 inches.

I have quite a few small works ready.   I'm thinking mainly of the gelli prints that are mounted and framed now.  I really love them and have a strong feeling that their simplicity and starkness set them apart.  There is something so straightforward and honest about the images.  And the fact that they are monotypes and cannot be duplicated.    I think I will enter a few of them.    I have a lot of small paintings, but nothing worth showing.     I have to finish the backs of the frames to get them wired and ready to hang.    And do the paperwork.      And write the check for entry.
Guess I'd better get buzy. Friday is the deadline.

 

What's new?

Well, let's see.  The Annual Spring Show is over at the Woodbridge by Mondavi Winery in Acampo.      We took in art, had the pieces judged, moved them by truck and cars to theWinery, unpacked them, hung them and set up the winery for the show.     It is an awesome experience just being in this space.     The winery is such a supporter of the arts, and doesa great job of moving things around so there is room for an art show amongst the curing wine barrels.   They are stacked on racks and the area is quite cool.    We know this ahead of time so wear layers.  They also put upspace heaters in case it is too cold for us.   I did not see them being used this year as we had a rather unusally warm few days.   

 The first night is the gala.      I was in charge of raffle ticket sales, and my pal Phyllis was in charge of setting up the raffle tables and laying out the display.      A few days before we had helped with filling the baskets with donated items, and inventorying the contents of each one.      Someone else did the wrapping and ribboning.      We had 26 baskets, and 12 pieces of hanging art donated.  I think we made a little over $1600 in ticket sales.      We did the drawing and part of my volunteers staff  (including my grandson Trevor who has helped for the last 6 years in several capacities)  helped record winners and post them so those present could check their ticket numbers.      

This was a good year for ticket sales.     Lots of sales in the 100 -300 dollar levels, and a few in the 6oo and up levels.      All that good hard work paid off.    All volunteers, all exhausted.   It took a couple days to unwind and finish up making calls to winners.  Now the art that was not picked up and the prizes are sitting back at the gallery.  

And now, I can get back to making art again.

Out and About

My friends and I finally got away for a few days at the beach.    It was a long time in planning, then colds and life got in the way.     For the first time in months, we had rain.   Just what you want when you get away for the weekend.     LOL     We did more inside things than we normally would.   Here is a peek inside the Santa Cruz Modern Art Museum.     The first group of photos is from the rooftop sculpture garden.   It was one of my favorite places.     

 The next two photos are from the metal sculpture exhibit. They had a station set up for people to try embossing metal sheets.    We had to try it too.

  Next we visited the local history section, which was very nicely and professionally presented.       This old guy was there to greet us.  LOL
At one point there was one of those warping mirrors where I snapped a self portrait.

At the entrance to this section the flooring was etched tile with the map of the monterey bay vicinity.

 Walking back to the car we were amused with the antics of blackbirds eating a piece of bread on the wet sidewalk.      

 This window display caught our eyes.    It is so typically Santa Cruz.   

 Wouldn't this make you want a beret?

Back at the house we enjoyed the kids artwork on the window between family room and kitchen.     The beach house is really set up well for kids activities, and the loving grandparents allow them to express their creativity and help make it their own special place to visit.

 On the way home we went to Sunset beach where we saw our native plant and California state flower, the California Poppy.     It's really early so there were not many out yet.  Hopefully a little more rain and the banks will be covered with them.      

 Along the road to Sunset Beach we spotted this cute little shed that we'll probably be sketching.    

We had planned to go home via Watsonville and Gilroy to stop at the Bosc outlet, but at the last minute we decided to go north up the coast, and stop at Davenport and Pescadero.    The church shown here is in Davenport.    

I had a little camera problem at this point so have no more pics of the trip to share.   It's all okay now though, and I'm ready to roll on again.
We didn't do any sketching or artwork at all. But we cooked and laughed and watched Downton Abbey and some Brit videos of Rosemary and Thyme and Jeeves and Wooster.    It was a fun trip.  The Dogs rode well and enjoyed all the attention.       Now, back to normal life again.    I'm already looking forward to the next trip.   

Membership show in Lodi

July is  only hours away, so it was time to bring in new work to show in the annual membership show.  With a lot of new members, it will be a really interesting show.      There were about 6 of us who volunteered to man the registration tables and move art around.    Some new members came to help and that made it more fun.     They are eager  to learn and to fit into the gallery and are happy to have a local place to show their work.      I'm so glad we are attracting more artists to the new gallery.     

The temperature outside today is over 100 degrees, but the gallery stayed nice and cool.    It's a good thing.  Tomorrow is the second registration day.     I'm sure there will be just as many, if not more art brought in.   Today at 3 we had registered 54 pieces with two hours to go.

Out and about

This is such a good year for finding unexpected art shows and gatherings.   I just keep stumbling across them.     Last weekend in Murphys, there was an outdoor exhibit at a winetasting shop on the southern end of Main Street, downtown Murphys.  It is annual event.    I'll try to get there next year now that I know about it, and maybe I'll go up for Open Studios in the fall to see them again. .

 This is Ruth Morra of Arnold.    Originally my friend Francis introduced us, so it was good to see her again. 

Cate Culver was also showing her work there.   You can see more at www.cateculver.com    I particularly like her paintings of chairs.  They look so inviting, I just want to go sit on one.

   One of the best oil painters I've seen in ages was showing and now I'm a big fan of her work.  Iher name is Janette Jones, and you can see her work at www.janettejones.com      I can't afford to buy it, but I can certainly appreciate it.     She can breathe light and airiness into her oil paintings in a way I only dream of doing.    

Art is where you find it

Yesterday a group of us took off for the foothills, picking up one member of our little group in San Andreas.   Our plan was to drive north up Highway 49 to Sutter Creek and on to Amador City for the annual All American Porch Sale.     When we drove into her senior Mobile home park, we saw a sign o the door to the clubhouse that said ART SHOW TODAY.     Hmmm.... So we checked it out and there were some good artists' work being shown.  All residents.   Several water color painters, one mixed media, two jewelry makers, a quilter who also weaves and does just about anything with fabrics.    Good snacks were provided including a big pitcher of sparkling lemonade.     It was a hot day so it just hit the spot.   What a nice group of people.  Made me want to move there and hang out with them.   

Then we went to the community garden just down the road where signs had gone up - ART SHOW TODAY.    What a hoot.   Only a few artists, one I met before in Lodi who is a good friend of Francis'.   Again, a mixed media artist, a couple watercolorists and a jewelery maker.    The master gardeners were giving lectures and the whole thing was very festive.     But we were in a big rush to get to Amador City to meet up with other friends  for lunch.   

Part of what we planned to do was gallery hop in Sutter Creek but we didn't have time.    The porches and sidewalks  in Amador City were full of bargains, and each of us came home with something.  I got a new sign for my garden that says Bird Sanctuary, hand painted by the artist showing them on the covered sidewalk in front of Sandy's shop "Country  Living".     We've been friends for nearly 40 years.   I used to have a shop there in town too.   She used to teach macrame when it was the hot item.   I feel like I've lived several lives since those days, and here she is, still  successful in her own little town.    The same with the gals in Buffalo Chips sandwich shop.   Family business now being run by the next generation down from the gal that started it. They use the same pie recipes.    I'm a pie person, so appreciate the quality and freshness.   A good pie is a piece of art.  

The first weekend in June appears to be a great time to visit the foothills.   There were yard sales, flea markets, the Italian Festival, and any other number of things that we whizzed past.   There just are not enough hours in a day.      I hope you are having a fun weekend too.  

art in the park

Senior Awareness Day is a great way to show and see art created by seniors.   It is very diverse, both with materials used and subjects.   One of my favorite things today was wire sculptures of cowboys, cowgirls, indians and other humans done by this cowboy.    Here's a pic of me posing with him.  I could not resist, since I had dressed up for the western theme day.

 My friend Phyllis took two ribbons (includes cash prizes) for two of her pieces.  One is an abstract watercolor on Yupo, the other was a manzanita  branch on which she had cleverly painted animal figures that she "saw" in the wood using the knots and bends to inspire her. 

 Congrats Phyllis.   And me.  I'm the one that kept telling her she was ready to show now.   Like Francis pushed me into showing a few years back.   Phyllis did great!    Jean took a ribbon, although she had specified she did not want to be in the competition.  

We walked all around the park looking at the booths and the car show.    It was really fun I've never taken to time to see it all before, as I was stuck with a table display.  Not this year, I was there with my grandson Trevor for the fun.   I'm totally inspired by the color reflections on the metallic paints of the cards.   What a rush!   These cars are awesome.    Can you tell it's my first car show?  

Another of our favorite things was the exhibit by the zoo staff.   There was a cunning pocket sized one eyed owl perched on a stick who kept watch over everything.   There were many skins of mammals and reptiles to marvel over and touch.     This bull frog skeleton was so delicate and precious.    The toes on it's back feet were long, with one toe being much longer than the rest.     Amazing.   I took the photo through a plexiglass case, but you can still see it pretty well.

Look at those toes.    Now I want to make a wire sculpture of a frog skeleton.    Hmmm...   Maybe I can get the cowboy to teach me how.      Hmmm....