Christmas is in the air. Thanksgiving gone! Black Friday is Gone! The month of November gone! Working hard on Christmas gifts which they are all little mini paintings of still life. So thankfully my mother doesn't know how to use the computer very well and won't be able to check my blog with out assistance. I am trying to paint them fast because I am such a slow painter. So quick quick quick.. like a cheetah. I am also continuing working on my series of landscape paintings of places around Oregon- which are coming a long slowly but surely because I am such a slow painter- I think it's because I like to get the balance of details. ..at least that's what I tell myself ;) This week I have to go hang at US Bank on NW 23rd for first Thursday in the pearl. So I am totally excited about it and of course a little nervous. There are also a ton of art shows this week that I need to decide what to go to like first Thursday in the pearl and first Friday over in SE. Have...
So this week I have missed the sun and the warm. It's been gloom and doom weather but with the gloom and doom brings Christmas. With Christmas brings me thinking about my Christmas list and they need to be easy enough things for my husband to go to the store and by all by himself. :) I had my weekly artist group and we went to Everyday Wine on Alberta. This shop was pretty damned adorable. Usually the only thing that I know about wine is if it takes good or if it tastes bad. Beth the owner gives a little education with the pouring of the wine and I actually felt like I learned and retained the information. So the place was pretty fantastic and there was also a pretty smart wine store dog....
Well I just got back from Las Vegas and I recently realized how amazing penny slots are. If you are up a dollar- it is the best thing ever! I even got lucky and played the penny slot for Dukes of Hazard and struck it rich with 60 bucks. In Vegas 60 dollars does not go far when a subway foot long meal costs 14 dollars. I don't think they have the 5 dollar foot long. Haha. I was able to squeeze in going to the Bellagio Fine Art Museum, even though it was small- it was well curated and loved the way it was thought out. Georgia O'keefe was the headliner and seeing up close her work was touching and her buttery strokes amazing. In this mini gallery I was lost but in a completely good way. Christmas is coming and I have started working on Christmas gifts! I am trying to start them early because I want to make sure I am ahead of schedule (so let's all cross our fingers). Also I am going to have to get my paintings in order for December showing at U.S. Bank on 23rd. :) Des...
My painting will be up for another week at the Launch pad gallery. Mine is the little painting with the tree right above the girl with the hat. Today I went to Good Will and got a few items for some still life which I am going to be working on over the next few weeks. I also joined a new creative group which it's first meeting was today and we are going to be doing the Artist Way. I have heard a lot of great things about the book but I have always wanted to do the book with a group and I finally found one. There are a lot of passionate and creative people in the group and I have a great feeling about it. Still waiting for my paintings to dry. Damn you oil paint!...
DREAMS Launch Pad's Sixth Open-call Salon-style, Themed Group show on view October 3-31, 2008 Opening Party First Friday October 3rd 6pm-12am Paintings, Drawings, Photographs, Prints! Sculpture, Video, Interactive Performance! Music! Art! Food! Drink! Conversation! Free! All-ages! Open to Everyone! Featuring Dreamy beats by DJ Doo Doo and DJ Roane a special multimedia set by Nico Luminous at 9:30pm Dusty Santamaria in the loading dock at 10:30pm Lots of new names in this show, and let me tell you, the work is really great! As you might imagine, the response to this theme has been incredibly diverse. With plenty of sexy, scary, sad, mysterious and down right strange work in the show, there is sure to be something intriguing for everyone, so get psyched and come on down to share your dreams! AND FYI... The Dreams show is a FUND RAISER for Launch Pad As we approach our third anniversary this December, the financial realities of keeping Launch Pad open are making it difficult to kee...
Well the Portland Art Open is all over and it was great to meet some new people. Cynthia Mooney was gracious enough to host me over the weekend and she is a local mixed media artist. She has a small studio called the Nest which is a little house in her back yard. She also teaches classes on bookmaking journaling which are pretty amazing. I stopped by the studio of Sarah Kamsler and Nicole Linde at the boxlift studio . These are two extremely talented artists that are completely evolving what Portland Art is today. I would highly recommend anyone going and checking out their websites. Nicole Linde is on the top right and she is a mixed media artist whom mixes digital art with her drawings. She is a creative soul and has work is imaginitative and tought out. Her process between her drawings and digital are pretty amazing. Sarah Kamsler is on the bottom right and the pictures do not do her paintings justice. Her paintings have a lot of depth and movement. There is some...
Portland Art Open is this weekend! September's Portland Art Open is a three day art event & party showcasing the range of talents and styles of Portland's artists. It's your chance to experience art on the most personal level possible – see how each artist envisions their work in their own setting. The Art Open's goal is to both challenge and educate Portland's art voyeurs about all the many things art can be. The event will be 100% free for the public to attend. I will be sharing with Cynthia Mooney at her lovely home on 811 SE 32nd Place, Portland, OR. Cynthia will be showing mono prints and multimedia works on wood, as well as some cards and jewelry. I have a lots of works in progress just trying to wrap them all up is tough for this weekend. :) Wish me luck. E...
Well today is my birthday and I feel a little bit older and wiser. It seems like every birthday I reflect on my life and what I have done with the urge to eat a large amount of cake... preferably chocolate. Today we drove back from Bend, Oregon in which the trip was extremely relaxing. One thing I did learn while I was Bend was that I could not find one art supply store- but I did get a lot of painting done outside while sitting next to the Deschutes River....
This is Rupert the pet owl. Well it's that time of year again- summer is almost over. With summer coming to a close- it's my personal favorite time of year BACK TO SCHOOL SEASON. Even though I haven't been in school years I still have some strange fascination with school supplies. I love strolling down the aisles looking at the pens, pencils, and the best back to school supply of all crayons. When I was growing up I would get so excited for those crayons especially if I could have the biggest box. Portland gets about 2 months of really good weather and it makes you almost forget about the 10 months of really crappy weather. It is absolutely beautiful outside and I don't know almost how to enjoy it. When it's really nice outside all I want to do is sit in the sunshine and think how nice it is and how warm I am. Time to go sit out in the sun ;)...
I am currently obsessed with birds.. especially little plump ones. I don't know what it is about birds.. owls.. or anything that flys- I can just paint them over an over an over.. I finally found my way out to this adorable art store called Muse Art and Design . They have everything from Williamburg's handmade oils to Speedball screenprinting and blockprinting supplies. This shop is pretty adorable and a total mom and pop shop located on Hawthorne. They are also having an artist trading card contest which you can apply as many times as you want and could potentially win an Ipod Nano. I like painting on small surfaces but trading cards totally intimidating!...
31 is gone and over. The blood, sweat, and tears were worth it all in the end. It was a huge success! This event propelled the independent art movement and increased awareness to all different levels of artists. Currently in the works for me is I will be in a show in Manzanita, OR at Gallery Lune for the month of August. It is a group show with me, Sandy and Alex Anderson, Marci K Erspamer, Jolyn Fry, Laura McCluney, Brian Mock, Kelly Neidig, Curtis Settino, Cara Thaya and Louie Van Pattern. This gallery is pretty adorable and amazing. So if you are at the Oregon coast- you should swing by....
It's official! I AM DONE! It has been a tough 31 days of non stop painting madness but I am complete. You can check out all my paintings on my website . Here is the official press release with a list of participating artists. "Thirty-one!" Portland's Affordable Art Extravaganza... OM Tradition Arts 14 NE 10th Ave. (at E. Burnside) Portland, OR Aug. 1st, 2008 3-7pm Preview Show (no sales) 7pm-10pm Sale! (cash only) 3pm-9pm Silent Auction "Hidden Gems" Show (come see what's left) Aug. 3rd, 6-8pm On Aug. 1st, 2008, the follow-up show to last year's overwhelmingly successful "Thirty!" show will take place in central Portland. Appropriately named, "Thirty-one!", this one-night only show will feature thirty-one artists who have created thirty-one paintings in thirty-one days. Each of the 961 paintings will be unveiled and for sale for $31 each, alongside live music, a silent auction and, most likely, another crowd of eager art lovers. ...
Yesterday Tim and I went to the Oregon coast with our puppy children Winston and Yoda. We did stumble across this little gallery and store while we were roaming the streets of Astoria. http://www.lunarboygallery.com/ Lunar Boy Gallery is on one of Astoria's main streets and the art shown in the store has everything from illustration to contemporary art. I enjoyed the art so much because there were so many Portland artists I have recognized and watch for their art. I will completely be stopping in this gallery again when I travel to the Oregon Coast....
Aubrey Paints   Adventures of Jack and Kate KC on the Couch   Michelle Brunner   Noodles and Waffles Quiet Paws Quaint Handmade    Red Handed   The Lazy Designer ...
I just got finished participating in the event 24 at the Pip Gallery. 24 artists doing 24 works of art in a 24 hour time period. It started at 11 am on Wednesday and went until the following day ending at 11 am. 2 large coffees and and about 4 energy drinks later- I made it until I finished all of my 24 paintings. Here I am too the right smiling as happy little clam :). This experience was completely challenging and interesting but worth all the blood sweat and tears. Here is a list of the participating artists: Nic Schaefer, Lynn Yarne, Brett Superstar, Angie Burr, John Larsen, Vicki Wilson, Johnna Wells, Erika Sears, Anna Todaro, Kendra Binney, Ben Pink, Michelle McKay, Katherine Langlands, Brett Bowers, Jackie Avery, Heidie Wirz, Jennifer Conshue, Alisha Wessler, Erin Patterson, Delphine Bedient, Cassie Neth, Ryan Dobrowski The work is only up threw the weekend but it's quite amazing. <3 E...
I have been working on a commission 3 panel piece for a few weeks and it's finally done. Yah! I really found some really great inspiration from New York artist Gary Kuhen. He is a artist whom loves the polka dots like me. <3 E-...