Incubating ideas

Last night I attended my second meeting with the 'Pollinators', kindly hosted by Sidney E.  This is a group she invited me to take part in, where working artists can bring their in-process-work in for feedback and ideas.  As with the first night, the Mode-de-Monstre work that I brought received the best response.  Sculpture keeps coming up as a response when I show my drawings, and Wylie mentioned an iron pour that takes place in Burlington.  My response has been rather giddy.  I got out my roma plastilina clay when I got home, but it's tricky to work with (and my hands stank all night.)  This is something I'll probably need to talk with some other sculptors about.

I'm also halfway through a class with Alyson Stanfield of artbizcoach.com and it's simultaneously overwhelming and energizing.  Tons of "to do's" are threatening to topple over onto me, so thank goodness arkonbey has stepped up to the plate and is, well, washing the plates.  Ladies and Gents, my man makes dinner and he does the dishes. 

15 microseconds of fame!

Well, maybe not fame exactly, but when I checked into Etsy last night, I discovered a friendly little note from bythebead saying that one of my pieces had been picked for a treasury.  Treasuries aren't that rare, it's not like being posted on the main page or anything, but still, nice to see my work in a collection picked by someone else.

Here's the link

So what's YOUR vote for my next Etsy batch, oh internet peeps?  

Should I post more line drawings, or bigger pieces, or what? 

Until then, looking forward to this heat breaking a bit.  It's too stuffy in the studio, and we just found our awesome vintage fan needs an overhaul.  

Cheers

The shop! The shop!

The shop is alive!

Ten original pieces have made their way onto Etsy.  I feel like I've done a technology workout this evening, but it was all worth it.  Here's a few pieces that you'll find there:

Ghost Cat, one of the most recent mini-cat watercolors (1.25 x 1.25 inches) is at the top of the list.  Now that I've blown the image size up here on the screen, I don't know if I can part with him!  Excuse me while I go jack up the price.  Just kidding.

Favorite Book Bug

Celtic Pup, loose in the book of Kells

My imaginatively-named "Bird Number Two" 

At Arkonbey's suggestion, I've set Mondays aside for business-related activities.  Tonight was one of the more rewarding Mondays, even though it overlapped into Tuesday.  Next week should see a few more pieces in the shop.  Till then, Goodnight!

Wrap it up and plant that garden!

Another Open Studio weekend has come and gone.  Before too long, I'll have some new progress shots of new work.  But first, it's time to say thank you.

Thank you one and all, those of you who came to find me specifically, and those of you who just followed signs and happened upon our house.

All in all, I believe we had almost sixty visitors.  Whew!

Special shouts out to:

Mister Brunelle (and many others of you) for describing my work as: 

"Illustrations for a story that doesn't yet exist"

Lorrie, for bringing freshly baked cookies (they were lovingly devoured)

Theresa, for loaning me her display panels, thus saving my walls.

The fearless ladies who conquered our rocky hill on their road bikes, you were awesome!

Marcia & Skip, who saved the eight-foot-tall monster dress drawing after it came loose from the side of the house...

Those of you who came from afar:  Richford, Plainfield & Newport, Vermont;  Connecticut, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, even an artist from New Zealand!

Rick, for helping me with all the last minute set-ups and keeping me sane.  

(And for letting people visit your studio space and see your work too!)

You all gave me great ideas to pursue, other artists to look up, and you all shared some wonderful stories.  THIS, not to mention your wonderful encouragement, is what makes these events worthwhile!

As Sunday drew to a close, we celebrated with home-made sangria, local pizza, and Big Trouble in Little China.  Bernie--our new cat--celebrated his release from the bedroom.  Next year, perhaps he'll be brave enough to greet the guests.

Studio Visit! Open Studio 2010

It's been a long slow start-up to Spring, but here we are:  Memorial Day is right around the corner.
That means it's time for an Open Studio tour!

Our Jericho-Underhill group once again has its hub at the Emile Gruppe Gallery in Jericho Center.  This is a good spot to pick up your maps (both the local and the state-wide) and to view samples of work by our group as you plan your tour.  Also on display at the gallery are photography by Bruce Gilbert-Smith, and watercolors by Kathleen Bergeron. The yellow maps for our local group are very handy, if you need good driving directions.

In previous years, I exhibited my "studio" off-site.  This time, I invite you to visit the studio itself.
Come and see what I keep on hand to inspire me, what materials I use, and more.  Try your hand drawing with walnut ink, or charcoal, or who knows...
Here's a typical painting day for me:  everything at hand!  Everything!!!!

The last few months have been an interesting "germination" period.  Most recently, the week I spent at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson yielded new work:  more "Monster Fashion" drawings (bigger and bigger!) and a self-portrait diptych that is in the very early stages.  These are just two of the many things I've started recently, but yes, there are a few finished pieces as well.  I am looking forward to sharing them with you.

To get you started, here's the map for the local tour!

 

More images for the demo!

Right.  So, if you missed it, this is for the
Acrylic Underpainting Techniques
Free demonstration at Artists' Mediums, Williston, VT
Saturday February 27th, 2010
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 


Okay!  Here are a few more pieces I've prepared for the demonstration.  It's really hard to stop at the underpainting stage on some of these, because I really like what's going on, and want to keep doing it.

That's about all that I have the patience to upload tonight.  The internet is moving at molasses speed, and I want to get back to the paint.  So here's a link to my flickr stream, where you'll find a few more of these pieces.

Diaspora!

Well, this has been a busy week and it's only Tuesday. 

On Sunday I managed to do a quick install of some originals & prints at the Deborah Rawson Library, but lo, the shelving brackets confounded me in my pursuit of a well-balanced display.  Of course I managed to be attempting this when Pete & Karen Sutherland (arguably the most well-known folk musicians in VT) were trying to set up in the same room.  Yikes!  Hopefully I'll have a chance to get back and adjust the shelf this week. 

Yesterday saw the shipping off of "Buzzy Will Guide You" to a friend I've known since at least the first grade, who now resides on the other side of the country. 

And this evening, I hand-delivered "Mode de Monstre" (the original 6 paintings in the series) and "City Wear" (also from the M. d. M. series) to a dear friend who is also an artist. 

Sadly, there are only so many hours to each day.  The advent calendar project has gotten side-lined again, but there may be hope.  And preparations are still underway for this weekend's:

PINE STREET
(arts district) HOLIDAY OPEN STUDIO & SALE! 

(it's hilarious, I think more words are added to the title of this event every time I hear about it from someone!) 
Well, you'll see me there at #4 Howard Street at Studio D-3, once again a guest of Marie Davis & Carol Norton, hurrah!  Fellow Underhiller Anne Linde will also be there with her cards & small sculptures.
The show will run:
Friday December 11th 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
&
Saturday December 12th 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There are some really fine & amazing artists & craftspeople in this district, it's an honor to be invited once again.  Hope to see you there!
(And don't forget to stop into S.P.A.C.E. to see the Small Works show.)

Shows, shows and more shows

Currently Showing, through December: 

The Bryan Gallery is hosting both their annual member's "Small Picture Show," in which I have two pieces (though just one on the wall currently,) and their anniversary show "Hello Dolly, Hello Teddy," to which I was invited by one of the curators.   
The Doll show is appropriate for just about any age,  and just about every taste too:  i.e. when bringing my dolls in for the show, I received both a horrified "oh, that's really weird" and a sweet "these are great" response, just in one hour. 

I contributed eight of the dolls I'd made several years ago, such as The Jolly Queen, Mama had a baby, The Debutante, Soft Frog Robot, and others.   Also on display is my painting of the little bear with the cookie jar.  Remember him?

At the opening I met Beth Robinson, creator of the lovely Gothic Lolitas on display.  Her "Daisy" is one of the dolls on their image gallery for the exhibit.  I've also linked her site "Strange Dolls" here on the blog. These shows are up until the end of December.  I highly recommend checking them out! 


Next up:  Three more exhibits!  How did I ever get so busy?

Small show at S.P.A.C.E.  starts this Friday, December 4th during the First Friday Artwalk.  I've submitted 5 pieces, two of which are "specimen" type drawings for my Mode de Monstre series.  There are also two dark moody water-themed acrylic pieces and one teeny tiny drawing.  The rules for this show were anything 12x12 inches or smaller.  This is a great new venue in the area, and I'm very excited to take part!

Pine Street Studio Holiday Sale is December 11th & 12th!
Many of the galleries and studios along Pine Street will be participating.  You'll find me at the studios of Marie Davis & Carol Norton, on the corner of Pine & Howard.  The last time this show happened, in 2007, it was for only one day.  This year you'll have more chances to get around and see everyone.  I plan on having a studio "clean-out sale," so no matter what your budget, I hope you'll find something you love to take home or to share as a gift.  
The Studio sale starts at 3 p.m. on Friday (running till about 7 p.m. I believe)  and starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, running till about 5 or 6 p.m. 

At the Deborah Rawson Library in Jericho, I'll be exhibiting work in their small display case for the month of December.  Also on view will be work by Joan MacKenzie, so the library will be brimming with weird and wonderful animals all month long.

More news to come, but I think that's enough for now.  Hope to see you at one of these fine events!

Inking away

My poor, neglected acrylic paints.
They think I don't care for them anymore.
This past week it's been all about ink. And more ink.

Arkonbey & I have been following Jake Parker's blog, especially his wonderful execution of an ink drawing a day for the whole month of "Inktober"
(Not only does he post his own fantastic artwork, he also provides extra inspiration via ink illustrations by other artists, some well-known, others new to me)

A few months ago I dug up my old bamboo pen and did a few big ink portraits, as yet un-photographed. But for your viewing pleasure, and also because I wanted to write an entry for the AM Blog, I present to you some new work: portraits of Buzzy (top) and Purple Easter Man (with chair.)
Higgins non-waterproof ink on 11x14 paper, with nibs by Speedball & a new favorite, though vintage: Esterbrook.
More to be seen on the Artists' Mediums Blog!

Other people's creatures

Here's an amazing artist Arkonbey just reminded me about: Patricia Piccinini

You should check her out. Specifically her "The Long Awaited, Foundling" series, it's fabulously creepy and sweet all at the same time. You'll see why I'm attracted to it.

Arkonbey wants me to 'flesh out' some of my creatures this way, or at least in a life-sized drawing. Well.... it would be fun.

art in the garden, or at least the windowboxes

I HAVE A CAMERA!!!
Let's ignore the fact that I barely know how to use it. These are just a few silly shots of a pop-up card I made while trying to learn some basic techniques. That's my lovely basil in the background.





In other garden news, here's Arkonbey listening to the squeaky quality of our peas: