Paintings by Laura Williams
Three Cows, by Kanna Aoki
Colleen Proppé and Artist/Animator, Christina Richard from BC Canada
In the Studio Today... Art on the Farm 2010
June 17, 2010
Paintings by Laura Williams
I just updated the Art on the Farm Blog. This is a great group of artist from around Marin County and the Bay Area that visit Marin Organic farms and paint, photograph and exhibit as a group annually. I am posting a few photos from our group show at the Pt. Reyes Vineyard here. Enjoy! For more info, visit the blog I maintain at www.ArtontheFarmBlog.com We have started up the 2010 painting season, and the website has a schedule of farms we are visiting.
Three Cows, by Kanna Aoki
Colleen Proppé and Artist/Animator, Christina Richard from BC Canada
Paintings by Laura WilliamsThree Cows, by Kanna AokiColleen Proppé and Artist/Animator, Christina Richard from BC Canada
In the Studio Today... The Art of Spring Rolls
May 17-May 18th, 2010
I don't know why, but the day before my 42nd Birthday, I had this intense desire to make my own Vietnamese style spring rolls, with rice paper wraps. I have devoured fresh spring rolls for over a decade in the Bay Area... My first and favorites having been from "Le Soliel" Vietnamese Restaurant on Clement Street near Arguello. I used to go with old friends for dinner, and then walk down to "The Toy Boat" for ice cream dessert. Those were great times, and wonderful memories. Since then, I have had a variety of fresh spring rolls from Thai Restaurants, The Good Earth in Fairfax, and Comforts in San Anselmo. Although good, none of these ever really gave me the original joy and amazing combination of fresh flavors that I first experienced with the Vietnamese rolls from "Le Soliel". There are many different types of Spring Rolls, and wikipedia does a decent job explaining all the different types, from fried to fresh, and with different types of fillings and sauces from different countries.
Perhaps the timely and true reason for my sudden desire to create Vietnamese style Spring Rolls, was the bursting abundance of fresh, healthy mint in our yard after more than our share of rain this Spring. The Vietnamese rolls always had lots of fresh, whole mint leaves, and they served extra, large sprigs of mint alongside almost all the dishes at Le Soliel. My 5th attempt at the rolls this week was the best, because I finally perfected the sauce, and added the rice vermicilli noodles. My ingredients were as follows:
• Spring Roll Skins (made in Viet Nam, sold dry in circular package at Andronico's, San Anselmo)
• Sunflower Sprouts(or other fresh, crunchy sprouts)
• Shredded Carrots (I peeled long strips with a peeler)
• Wildwood Sprouted Tofu (Teriyaki style)
• Maifun Rice Vermicilli Noodles (Dry in package; cook for 2 minutes in boiling water, then run under cold water to cool)
• Green Onions (Scallions, cut in long, thin strips)
• Fresh Mint Leaves
• 1 orange
• "Spicy Vietnamese Sauce"*=combine the following:
• Vietnamese Chili and Garlic Sauce
• Light Sodium Soy Sauce
• Hoisin Sauce
• Fresh Lime Juice
(*Wikipedia states that the traditional, central Vietnamese sauce can be made as follows: Fish sauce, lime, garlic, sugar, small red and green peppers and water. Mince the garlic and peppers. Add the sugar into a bowl of hot water to help dissolve it quickly. Add fish sauce, lime, and the minced garlic and peppers into the sugar water.)
I don't know why, but the day before my 42nd Birthday, I had this intense desire to make my own Vietnamese style spring rolls, with rice paper wraps. I have devoured fresh spring rolls for over a decade in the Bay Area... My first and favorites having been from "Le Soliel" Vietnamese Restaurant on Clement Street near Arguello. I used to go with old friends for dinner, and then walk down to "The Toy Boat" for ice cream dessert. Those were great times, and wonderful memories. Since then, I have had a variety of fresh spring rolls from Thai Restaurants, The Good Earth in Fairfax, and Comforts in San Anselmo. Although good, none of these ever really gave me the original joy and amazing combination of fresh flavors that I first experienced with the Vietnamese rolls from "Le Soliel". There are many different types of Spring Rolls, and wikipedia does a decent job explaining all the different types, from fried to fresh, and with different types of fillings and sauces from different countries.
Perhaps the timely and true reason for my sudden desire to create Vietnamese style Spring Rolls, was the bursting abundance of fresh, healthy mint in our yard after more than our share of rain this Spring. The Vietnamese rolls always had lots of fresh, whole mint leaves, and they served extra, large sprigs of mint alongside almost all the dishes at Le Soliel. My 5th attempt at the rolls this week was the best, because I finally perfected the sauce, and added the rice vermicilli noodles. My ingredients were as follows:
• Spring Roll Skins (made in Viet Nam, sold dry in circular package at Andronico's, San Anselmo)
• Sunflower Sprouts(or other fresh, crunchy sprouts)
• Shredded Carrots (I peeled long strips with a peeler)
• Wildwood Sprouted Tofu (Teriyaki style)
• Maifun Rice Vermicilli Noodles (Dry in package; cook for 2 minutes in boiling water, then run under cold water to cool)
• Green Onions (Scallions, cut in long, thin strips)
• Fresh Mint Leaves
• 1 orange
• "Spicy Vietnamese Sauce"*=combine the following:
• Vietnamese Chili and Garlic Sauce
• Light Sodium Soy Sauce
• Hoisin Sauce
• Fresh Lime Juice
(*Wikipedia states that the traditional, central Vietnamese sauce can be made as follows: Fish sauce, lime, garlic, sugar, small red and green peppers and water. Mince the garlic and peppers. Add the sugar into a bowl of hot water to help dissolve it quickly. Add fish sauce, lime, and the minced garlic and peppers into the sugar water.)
To make the Spring Rolls:
Remove 2 dry skins from the package, and run them each under cool tap water until they are both wet on each side. (I found this much better than soaking them in a bowl of water. They really don't need to soak because they will stay wet on the parchment paper and become more and more pliable the longer they sit on the parchment, as you are putting ingredients on top). Place them each on parchment paper(I use one large piece and fold the edges around a cookie sheet to give me my working surface). Once wet, the skins will stick to almost anything, so parchment paper is your best bet to keep them from sticking like super glue to anything else.
Place sprouts, carrot strips, tofu slices, rice, mint... in the center of one of the skins. Fold bottom up, and wrap the two edges to seal the ingredients inside. Now, here's the trick... Don't worry if the skin breaks here, or if the roll isn't tightly sealed enough. Just close it up the best you can, and then pick this up and plop it down in the center of your 2nd, wet skin that's also on the parchment. Use that second skin to really wrap the roll tighly, and neatly. When you are done, you will not even be able to tell there are 2 skins rolled around it. The skins are so thin and translucent, that the 2nd skin adheres to the first one and like magic, it really tightens up and pulls the whole thing together... Almost like "Spanks"... I guess. : )
My favorite sauces are from "Le Soliel" on Clement in SF, and the spicy sauce that comes with the vegetarian pot stickers at Schechuan Chef aka"Rebecca's" in Fairfax, CA. I think I have managed to create a sauce, above, that is very close to these. Some people like to use a Thai Peanut Sauce on these, but I don't like the combination with the mint. I appreciate the spicy, "kick" the traditional Vietnamese sauces have, with the hot peppers and garlic. This recipe does not use fish sauce, so it is a vegetarian version, for the purists. Oh, and btw, the orange is just to slice and put on the plate for decoration, and I squeeze some into the sauce before I spoon sauce into the rolls. 1-2 rolls and I am super full, and I am pretty sure the calories are user friendly. : )
In the Studio Today..."Land Art" Project;
for Ross Valley Schools YES Fundraiser
April 8, 2010
I am so impressed with the 2nd graders and their amazing job on the "Land Art" project yesterday at their school. 3 classes, of about 20 kids each, created art on the campus surrounding their school. Each class divided into groups of 4-5 students, and had one adult to work with. The parent volunteers and teachers all enjoyed the project almost as much as the kids.
This image(above, entitled "The Window of Color") was created by the group that worked with one of my sons' teachers, Mrs. Olund, who has been teaching for 30 years. What a stunning piece of art! I am so impressed. The groups for the first two classes were given some constraints, such as "Circle", "Square", "Fading Colors", "Heart Shaped", "Insect". The third class to create the work was allowed the freedom to create what they wanted after seeing the 10 other projects that were done in the morning. Their group went more representational, and did things such as "Mother Nature", "Dinosaur", and "Dragon". It was a wonderful Spring day, with 76 degree weather in Marin County. Please click here to view the set of images created by the children (note: There are more images, but I am awaiting the photos from a wonderful parent photographer who assisted me on this project for the first two classes yesterday).
One of the most amazing things to happen yesterday was to witness the children protecting their projects from destruction during recess; One group of kids took turns guarding their "Spring Nest" project. Later, the kids got orange playground cones and marked their art so no one would step on it! The kids loved this project, and some of the older students were very interested in what we were doing as well. "Land Art" was a huge success for the kids, and I want to thank Richard Schilling for his website, "Land Art for Kids", and his book, "The Wheel of Life", which I shared with the children the week prior.
I will be making sets of notecards and envelopes with the kids images on the front, and selling these through the YES Foundation Online Auction to raise funds for the Ross Valley Public Schools Music, Art, PE and Assemblies. Feel free to visit their website in the next week or so and buy some notecards to support our kids!
I am so impressed with the 2nd graders and their amazing job on the "Land Art" project yesterday at their school. 3 classes, of about 20 kids each, created art on the campus surrounding their school. Each class divided into groups of 4-5 students, and had one adult to work with. The parent volunteers and teachers all enjoyed the project almost as much as the kids.
This image(above, entitled "The Window of Color") was created by the group that worked with one of my sons' teachers, Mrs. Olund, who has been teaching for 30 years. What a stunning piece of art! I am so impressed. The groups for the first two classes were given some constraints, such as "Circle", "Square", "Fading Colors", "Heart Shaped", "Insect". The third class to create the work was allowed the freedom to create what they wanted after seeing the 10 other projects that were done in the morning. Their group went more representational, and did things such as "Mother Nature", "Dinosaur", and "Dragon". It was a wonderful Spring day, with 76 degree weather in Marin County. Please click here to view the set of images created by the children (note: There are more images, but I am awaiting the photos from a wonderful parent photographer who assisted me on this project for the first two classes yesterday).
One of the most amazing things to happen yesterday was to witness the children protecting their projects from destruction during recess; One group of kids took turns guarding their "Spring Nest" project. Later, the kids got orange playground cones and marked their art so no one would step on it! The kids loved this project, and some of the older students were very interested in what we were doing as well. "Land Art" was a huge success for the kids, and I want to thank Richard Schilling for his website, "Land Art for Kids", and his book, "The Wheel of Life", which I shared with the children the week prior.
I will be making sets of notecards and envelopes with the kids images on the front, and selling these through the YES Foundation Online Auction to raise funds for the Ross Valley Public Schools Music, Art, PE and Assemblies. Feel free to visit their website in the next week or so and buy some notecards to support our kids!
In the Studio Today... "Land Art"; Ankylosaurus
Made in the backyard this afternoon with my son, who is studying dinosaurs in 2nd grade. This had to be the weirdest weather day ever in Marin; Rain, sun, rain, sun, rain, sun, cold, hot, cold, hot... now it's pouring and windy. When I made this, it was sunny but very windy, and I had to shield it with my body every time the wind blew... As soon as I took the photos, it blew away....
Materials:
Mock Orange Tree leaves (dying yellow, and green)
Red and Orange Leaves from trees outside my son's doctor's office today
1 eucalyptus leaf for the tail
1 Sycamore Seed Pod (tail end) and stick to hold it up
Eucalyptus Seed Pods for spine
1/2 Acorn top for eye, and Mock Orange Seed for eyeball
Patience and ability to enjoy simplicity of things, essential
I also spent some time with 40 second graders today, sharing "What is Land Art?" from Richard Shilling's website landartforkids.com, and they looked at Andy Goldsworthy books. I shared some materials I brought from my yard this morning... petals, berries, vines, seed pods... and they immediately wanted to get started, making things. Our project is set for next week, after Easter. I look forward to seeing what the kids come up with.
In the Studio Today... "Land Art" Leaf Flags
Camelia petals and yellow leaves from a Mock Orange tree in our backyard... inspired by Richard Shilling's work.
Continuing on my effort to create "Land Art", I tried to make some leaf flags, such as those in Richard Shilling's book, but it was really HARD! As I slit the branches to feed the leaves in, they would loosen and the leaves I'd already feed through would move or fall out. Instead of cutting them square and fitting them through two branches, I decided to just go with what was working, which was simply leaving them in the branch where they would rest. It looked pretty just the way it was, so I went with it. Also, Richard uses thorns to seal the branches together, and keep the leaves from falling out. I was happy not to have to use any thorns for this project. : )
Later this month, I will be working with 60 second graders on "Land Art" as part of their YES Foundation Fundraiser, to raise money for art, music and PE at their public school. I have been practicing projects to see what is doable with the kids. This might work, if we have enough time and good light. Our end result will be turned into notecard sets, with photos of the "Land Art" the kids create on the front of the cards. The sale of the notecards will help pay for the kids' school art, music and PE. If you would like to purchase a set of notecards, please contact me and you can help the kids with their fundraising efforts!
In the Studio Today...Photography Workshop with Aperture Academy; Fort Point-Golden Gate Bridge
February 28, 2010
Fort Point-Golden Gate Bridge-San Francisco|Marin 365; Day #52, originally uploaded by cproppe.
Fort Point-Golden Gate Bridge-San Francisco|Marin 365; Day #52, originally uploaded by cproppe.
I enjoyed a full-day photography workshop with Aperture Academy this past Sunday. It was a great learning opportunity for me, as I have always wanted to push myself to better understand my DSLR camera, and all it is capable of doing. We split into two groups of 7 students each, and I worked with instructor, Brian Reub. We spent the entire day shooting in Manual Mode, using tripods, and long exposure shots with a remote control. It was a really rainy and foggy day in San Francisco, so we spent the majority of our time in the covered area of Fort Point, underneath the SF side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Although I had been there before, I had never stepped foot into the Fort itself! I couldn't believe how special it was to tour the old fort, built just before the time of the Civil War. It never saw battle, but it was fully prepared for it. Canons lined the roof top and gun powder and canon balls were stored in the bottom level. You may view my set of photos on Flickr here to see some of the history of Fort Point, and the many colors and textures there. Also, Aperture Academy has a full blog post on our day, with a few photos of me and the other members of our class. It was a really nice group, and I will definitely go back for more.
In the Studio Today... Painting on an iPod;
but wishing for an iPad with Touch Sensitive Pen
February 1, 2010
The announcement of the new iPad coming out by Apple Computer in a couple months has made me very curious about the possibilites of the little app called "Brushes" that currently works on my iPod Touch (or your iPhone). I finally took the time to familiarize myself with it over the weekend, and I just painted this little San Francisco night scene and made a movie of it. Years ago, I used to use "Painter" and "Flash" on my Mac for work, and a Wacom touch sensitive tablet. Those tools were great for painting on a computer, and I loved them. You could also play back your work in those programs... probably still can, but I haven't been keeping up with the software as I'm not at a design studio any more, and I have bigger fish to fry in my own home here with my twins in grade school. As for "Brushes", I think it will be great on the larger iPad, but where is the pressure sensitive aspect of it? It's sooooo frustrating to draw with a tool that can not create a thick-thin line, and drawing with your finger is not so great... It's fun, but I frequently can not get the line to go where I want it to go, and have to "undo" and redraw it. An old friend of mine used to say that "Drawing with a mouse is like trying to draw with your shoe". Drawing with your finger on a screen the size of a business card is kind of similar, I'd say... Silly, almost. It leaves for a sloppy way of doing things. It's a serious challenge. I hope the iPad upgrade and new Brushes software will be much better and really be easier to use. In the meantime, click to watch the video of my first iPod "painting" done in Brushes.
The announcement of the new iPad coming out by Apple Computer in a couple months has made me very curious about the possibilites of the little app called "Brushes" that currently works on my iPod Touch (or your iPhone). I finally took the time to familiarize myself with it over the weekend, and I just painted this little San Francisco night scene and made a movie of it. Years ago, I used to use "Painter" and "Flash" on my Mac for work, and a Wacom touch sensitive tablet. Those tools were great for painting on a computer, and I loved them. You could also play back your work in those programs... probably still can, but I haven't been keeping up with the software as I'm not at a design studio any more, and I have bigger fish to fry in my own home here with my twins in grade school. As for "Brushes", I think it will be great on the larger iPad, but where is the pressure sensitive aspect of it? It's sooooo frustrating to draw with a tool that can not create a thick-thin line, and drawing with your finger is not so great... It's fun, but I frequently can not get the line to go where I want it to go, and have to "undo" and redraw it. An old friend of mine used to say that "Drawing with a mouse is like trying to draw with your shoe". Drawing with your finger on a screen the size of a business card is kind of similar, I'd say... Silly, almost. It leaves for a sloppy way of doing things. It's a serious challenge. I hope the iPad upgrade and new Brushes software will be much better and really be easier to use. In the meantime, click to watch the video of my first iPod "painting" done in Brushes.
In Nature's Studio Today... Land Art #4;
Rich Colors of Winter
January 15, 2010
Land Art #4; Red Sweetspire, Violets, Holly Berries, Sycamore Seed Pod, originally uploaded by cproppe.
Land Art #4; Red Sweetspire, Violets, Holly Berries, Sycamore Seed Pod, originally uploaded by cproppe.
Red sweetspire leaves(I believe), wild purple violets, red holly berries, sycamore seed pod...
My son and I collected the red leaves from the ground at his school today, and the seed pod from the upper playground. The holly berries are from our yard, as well as the wild violets, that just opened this week. It's rain season in Northern California, but there is still color if you look for it. This is our fourth creation in our own "Land Art" series this month. I am hoping to teach a class in the Spring through the Recreation Department. Inspired by the works of Andy Goldsworthy and Richard Shilling. Take a look at Shilling's work, here.
In the Studio Today.... "Land Art" #3;
Sun Sculpture: Ode to First Sun in Days
January 14, 2010
Sun Sculpture; Ode to First Sun in Days. "Land Art" #3, originally uploaded by cproppe.
Sun Sculpture; Ode to First Sun in Days. "Land Art" #3, originally uploaded by cproppe.
I took my other son on my C25K jog/walk today. Today was Week 2, Day 2 of my c25k running program. I was so eager to get outside because today was the first sun we've seen in weeks, and apparently we are due for another weekend and week of rain next week. It was glorious to see the sun today, and I feel so lucky to have been able to get out in it.
I am quickly learning that what is fun for me is also fun for my kids. My son loved running when it was time to run, and walking when it was time to walk (via the iPod Touch/iPhone app that was prompting us). Not only did he love this part of the outing, but he loved and protected our little sculpture we made in our "Land Art" practice series.
In my previous two posts, I have talked about designing a class to run through the San Anselmo Recreation Center in the Spring called "Land Art". Based on the concepts of artists such as Andrew Goldsworthy and Richard Shilling(www.landartforkids.com). My son loved this little "sun sculpture" we made so much that he told the other people on the trail not to harm it! Too cute.
In the Studio Today... "Land Art";
Lady Bug on Sailboat
My son and I made this sailboat today on our rainy walk in the park. We are beginning a series of projects from www.landartforkids.com. It's a kid's version of the kind of art Andrew Goldsworthy creates in the film, "Rivers and Tides". See some clips from "Rivers and Tides" in the video, below...
I hope to teach a class for kids through the San Anselmo Rec. Center in the Spring. There is so much to learn about shape, color, and design from nature, and it's free! For more information on "Land Art for Kids", read my previous post.
In the Studio Today... "Land Art"
The creator of "Land Art" books for kids, website, and blog emailed me today on Flickr to ask if they could use one of my images. My son was doing basic "leaf rubbings" in the photo.
I clicked through the Flickr set "Colors" by Richard Shilling, and was astonished to find a remarkable set of colorful items, made only with items from nature. "Land Art" for kids... It is a great series of "to do" projects you can create with kids of all ages.
I LOVE IT! I am hoping to create a series of these projects with kids in the Spring for our YES Classroom Art Projects, that raise money for the YES Foundation. Stay tuned... and in the meantime, check out the website and the Flickr sets!
In the Studio Today... Joy; A Bounce Flash!
In my effort to become a better photographer for my painting reference photos, I am looking into the Strobist Blog, and dug out an old bounce flash(Sunpak 383) I bought at San Francisco's Adolph Gasser on 2nd Street, before 1995, along with my first, large tripod. The friend that took us there is now a partner at Stimulant in San Francisco, and is also an amazing photographer. While I sit here and try to learn the basics, this guy could create you a theater sized touch screen for your next event. Amazing technology. I hope I can learn 1% of what this old friend knows in 2010. Wish me luck! PS... The ornament in my son's hand, a Nutcracker Soldier, was made in 1990 by my college roommate in Maine. Christmas tree ornaments are such great memorabilia.
New Year's Day 2010: Beginning a Project 365 "Photo a Day" Group in Marin
Today is Day 1 of "Marin 365", a photo group on Flickr that will force me to post a photo a day for the next 365 days. Thanks to my local friend, Michelle Stern, owner of What's Cooking?, we are going to be busy, and learning more about our cameras this year. Thanks, Michelle. If you'd like to teach your kids how to cook, Michelle teaches cooking classes for children in Marin County. Check out her website when you have a minute. The photo here is taken at Lake Lagunitas. It was a very still and peaceful moment, and a great memory of the start of 2010.
In the Studio Today... Interviewed by "MarinMommies.com"!
November 17, 2009
I am delighted to have been interviewed this month by a great, local news source website/blog called, "Marin Mommies"(marinmommies.com). I discovered this site via Twitter, and found that it is a great place to advertise in Marin. Pamela Fox, owner, does a great job, letting parents know about places to go and things to do with your kids in Marin and the SF Bay Area. It's a great wealth of information. Pamela has a series of "Mompreneur" interviews, where she interviews local moms who are working in Marin. To read my "Mompreneur" interview, please click here.
I am delighted to have been interviewed this month by a great, local news source website/blog called, "Marin Mommies"(marinmommies.com). I discovered this site via Twitter, and found that it is a great place to advertise in Marin. Pamela Fox, owner, does a great job, letting parents know about places to go and things to do with your kids in Marin and the SF Bay Area. It's a great wealth of information. Pamela has a series of "Mompreneur" interviews, where she interviews local moms who are working in Marin. To read my "Mompreneur" interview, please click here.
In the Studio Today... Bolinas Gallery Photos
November 13, 2009
*Click to view more Photos of my current show at the Bolinas Gallery.
Above: My parents made it out for the opening, all the way from Connecticut... they brought my "twinado" sons along, hence the wild and crazy photo of us trying to hold them in the shot! Me, pictured on the right... Thanks to watercolor artist, Julia Ross, for capturing the insanity of the moment. Please read the post, below for more information on the show, through November 30th, 2009.
*Click to view more Photos of my current show at the Bolinas Gallery.Above: My parents made it out for the opening, all the way from Connecticut... they brought my "twinado" sons along, hence the wild and crazy photo of us trying to hold them in the shot! Me, pictured on the right... Thanks to watercolor artist, Julia Ross, for capturing the insanity of the moment. Please read the post, below for more information on the show, through November 30th, 2009.
In the Studio Today... Bolinas Gallery Show;
November 7-30th
Opening this Saturday, November 7th at the Bolinas Gallery, 52 Wharf Road. Please come for our reception, 2-5pm to meet the artists, and view new paintings, prints, cards, photography by 26 artists from our group! This is a show not to be missed! As well as my oil paintings, I will be selling prints of my photos taken on Marin Organic Farms for the first time ever, as well as notecards with photos. These photos are less expensive than paintings, and would make great holiday gifts. My painting(below), of the Bolinas Farmstand at Gospel Flat Farm.
In the Studio Today... Art on the Farm Show
Friday, October 23, 2009
This weekend, Sunday, October 25th is the Annual Harvest Celebration of Art on the Farm at the Pt. Reyes Vineyards.
This is the show were everyone involved, well over 100 artists, show up and share their art. Many of the paintings are hung on hay bales! It is really fun and festive to see. I hope we get a lovely day with warm sun shining on the vineyards. I may even paint on Sunday if the weather permits. Hope you will come! For more information, see the website for Art on the Farm at www.artonthefarm.org
This weekend, Sunday, October 25th is the Annual Harvest Celebration of Art on the Farm at the Pt. Reyes Vineyards.
This is the show were everyone involved, well over 100 artists, show up and share their art. Many of the paintings are hung on hay bales! It is really fun and festive to see. I hope we get a lovely day with warm sun shining on the vineyards. I may even paint on Sunday if the weather permits. Hope you will come! For more information, see the website for Art on the Farm at www.artonthefarm.org
In the Studio Today... Family Portrait Commission
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
(18" x 24". Click image, above, to enlarge)
I spent most of the month of September, working on this family portrait commission. It was a combination of 4 photos; all heads composited first in Photoshop, and then a color change to "Cobalt Blue", the recipient's favorite color. This is an 18" x 24" canvas.
I am working on establishing a portion of my website dedicated to family portraits, ballet, and child portraits. I currently do not have much of this on my site, as I have primarily focused on the Marin Landscape, with occassional buildings or cycling figures thrown in. Portraits are very tedious work, and literally back breaking. I was lucky enough to be able to get to a pool to swim today, after a session of 5 hours straight at the canvas to finish the painting.
I hope the family truly enjoys this gift. I am so glad to have reconnected with some of my East Coast friends on Facebook, and how great to be able to do some work for them. I have had two commissions from old High School friends recently, and it is really nice. Friends helping friends. Hope to do more of these paintings in the future. I enjoy getting back to the days when I painted from models for hours. I need to dig out some of my portrait work from College days. That would be fun to share.
(18" x 24". Click image, above, to enlarge)I am working on establishing a portion of my website dedicated to family portraits, ballet, and child portraits. I currently do not have much of this on my site, as I have primarily focused on the Marin Landscape, with occassional buildings or cycling figures thrown in. Portraits are very tedious work, and literally back breaking. I was lucky enough to be able to get to a pool to swim today, after a session of 5 hours straight at the canvas to finish the painting.
I hope the family truly enjoys this gift. I am so glad to have reconnected with some of my East Coast friends on Facebook, and how great to be able to do some work for them. I have had two commissions from old High School friends recently, and it is really nice. Friends helping friends. Hope to do more of these paintings in the future. I enjoy getting back to the days when I painted from models for hours. I need to dig out some of my portrait work from College days. That would be fun to share.
In the Studio Today... Fall Art shows,
Portrait Painting & More...
Thursday, September 17, 2009
My show "Cycling through Landscapes" is still up in Mill Valley for the next 2 weeks, so be sure to get by if you visit the Depot Cafe. This is also the weekend of the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, and I hope to get some foot traffic at my own show through this time. I was very fortunate to be chosen for the Mill Valley Arts Commission's poster advertisement for the "First Tuesday Artwalk" in September. They included me on the front of the gallery guide for the month of September as well. This was a great honor for me(see photos, above). The "Art on the Farm" group has several Fall shows coming up, and I will be at the Pt. Reyes Vineyard show in October.
Now is the time to give me a shout if you are interested in a commissioned portrait to be ready for the Holidays! I have limited calendar space for one more family portrait, or a few individual portraits before the end of the year. I am currently working this month on a family portrait commission. The end result is to be a surprise Birthday gift for one of the family members, so I can not post the work in progress here, but it is coming along. I am looking to do more commissioned portraits, pets, and have a couple of ballerina paintings in the cue. These types of works help when the economy is slower and there have been less immediate sales of other my other paintings. This is across the board for artists in my community; there has been a definite slow down in spending on art, which is really tough for artists who rely soley on their art for income. We need more grants and arts funding, and yet there are less of those opportunities at this time too.
My show "Cycling through Landscapes" is still up in Mill Valley for the next 2 weeks, so be sure to get by if you visit the Depot Cafe. This is also the weekend of the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, and I hope to get some foot traffic at my own show through this time. I was very fortunate to be chosen for the Mill Valley Arts Commission's poster advertisement for the "First Tuesday Artwalk" in September. They included me on the front of the gallery guide for the month of September as well. This was a great honor for me(see photos, above). The "Art on the Farm" group has several Fall shows coming up, and I will be at the Pt. Reyes Vineyard show in October.
Now is the time to give me a shout if you are interested in a commissioned portrait to be ready for the Holidays! I have limited calendar space for one more family portrait, or a few individual portraits before the end of the year. I am currently working this month on a family portrait commission. The end result is to be a surprise Birthday gift for one of the family members, so I can not post the work in progress here, but it is coming along. I am looking to do more commissioned portraits, pets, and have a couple of ballerina paintings in the cue. These types of works help when the economy is slower and there have been less immediate sales of other my other paintings. This is across the board for artists in my community; there has been a definite slow down in spending on art, which is really tough for artists who rely soley on their art for income. We need more grants and arts funding, and yet there are less of those opportunities at this time too.
In the Studio Today... "Ascent"; Final Painting
Monday, August 31
"Ascent" on Ridgecrest Blvd., towards Mt. Tam. 16" x 20".
I just finished this painting moments ago, and will hang my show in Mill Valley TODAY! In 3 hours, I will be at the Mill Valley Depot, hanging the cycling paintings... Hooray! This painting is very simple, but I love the feeling of climbing into the clouds, at the top... It's a great metaphor for finishing a set of paintings and hanging one's show. Hope to see everyone at the reception, tomorrow night.
September 2009
The Depot Bookstore & Cafe
Solo Show of Cycling Paintings
87 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley, CA
Opening Reception; September 1, 6pm to 7pm
"Ascent" on Ridgecrest Blvd., towards Mt. Tam. 16" x 20".September 2009
The Depot Bookstore & Cafe
Solo Show of Cycling Paintings
87 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley, CA
Opening Reception; September 1, 6pm to 7pm
In the Studio Today... "Ascent"; Session #1
Sunday, August 30, 2009
"Ascent" (cyclist on Ridgecrest Blvd., near Mt. Tam) 16" x 20", o/c.
Day 1 on this canvas... I have wanted to paint this one for some time now, but it's been a busy time, getting the kids back to school and looking for additional work. Tomorrow, I hang this show of cycling paintings at the Mill Valley Depot. This one will be the last in the current set, but more are definitely planned. 10 cycling paintings in all for this show. I considered having a couple of my older paintings printed on canvas and stretched to look like paintings, but instead, I started this one today. It has to be finished tonight, or it won't be dry enough to hang tomorrow. I am using Liquin as my medium today, so this should be fine to hang tomorrow.
I hope you will all come out for the reception, Tuesday night, 6-7pm, at the Mill Valley Depot Cafe and Bookstore. We plan to head for dinner afterwards to celebrate a friend's Birthday, so it will be fun. Please stop by! Wine and cheese provided by the Depot.
"Ascent" (cyclist on Ridgecrest Blvd., near Mt. Tam) 16" x 20", o/c. I hope you will all come out for the reception, Tuesday night, 6-7pm, at the Mill Valley Depot Cafe and Bookstore. We plan to head for dinner afterwards to celebrate a friend's Birthday, so it will be fun. Please stop by! Wine and cheese provided by the Depot.
Out in Nature... Gathering Imagery
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Input before output... I am home this week with my kids. Visits to Grandparents are over, Camps have ended, and all the big trips of summer are behind us... but yesterday, I took the boys on a "Staycation" one night camping trip right in our very own Mt. Tamalpais State Park. One of my favorite places to camp locally is Steep Ravine Environmental Campsites, right on the coast, just down from Stinson Beach. The boys and I did it! We arrived at 3pm, set up a tent by ourselves, hiked all our gear into the campsite, and then went out to the coast to explore for the day. It was wonderful, and as the sun was setting, we watched nearby campers on their bikes, riding down into the campsite. I grabbed my camera and snapped a few photos for reference for my next paintings. View photos from our trip on Flickr.
Photo: Cyclist Descending Steep Ravine, by "Shark Fin" Rock(that's what we call it)
You have to get out for input... One of my favorite children's stories is "Frederick", by Leo Lionni. My mom used to read this to me as a child. Frederick was a mouse who didn't help the others gather food much for winter. Instead, he sat staring into the sunset, and looking at the leaves and colors of nature. In the winter, after all the food was gone, and the mice were sitting in their home, bored with nothing to do until Spring, Frederick began telling tales of life, the colors of nature... He was a poet, and he made all the others happy by bringing the colors of life into the darkest times. I think of Frederick when I am out gathering my images for painting. I hope that my images bring happiness and joy to those who end up with them.
Input before output... I am home this week with my kids. Visits to Grandparents are over, Camps have ended, and all the big trips of summer are behind us... but yesterday, I took the boys on a "Staycation" one night camping trip right in our very own Mt. Tamalpais State Park. One of my favorite places to camp locally is Steep Ravine Environmental Campsites, right on the coast, just down from Stinson Beach. The boys and I did it! We arrived at 3pm, set up a tent by ourselves, hiked all our gear into the campsite, and then went out to the coast to explore for the day. It was wonderful, and as the sun was setting, we watched nearby campers on their bikes, riding down into the campsite. I grabbed my camera and snapped a few photos for reference for my next paintings. View photos from our trip on Flickr.
Photo: Cyclist Descending Steep Ravine, by "Shark Fin" Rock(that's what we call it)The Bicycle Works Grand Opening
Monday, August 10, 2009
It was fun to see my paintings in "The Bicycle Works" yesterday, and hear some of the comments by the visitors. This photo shows a few of my paintings up high, with some great black and white paintings by John Hersey. I stopped by at about 5pm and there was a healthy crowd, both indoors and out back, enjoying food donated by Sol Food of San Rafael, and discussing the possibilities of this neighborhood cycling hub. The favorite thought was coffee... all the neighbors want coffee with their bikes. If you'd like to visit the new shop, or see my paintings through August, you can find it here:
or
In the Studio Today...La Coppa Coffee Bikes & Show on Loan to "The Bicycle Works"
Friday, August 7th - Saturday, August 8th
"La Coppa Coffee Bikes", Downtown Mill Valley, California. 16" x 20".
• View Session 2
• View the start of this painting, in the workshop, with Christin Coy
This painting is the 9th in a series of paintings, "Cycling Through Landscapes", that will be available for purchase in September, at the Mill Valley Depot Cafe & Bookstore. A percentage of the sales from paintings sold in September will go to The Bicycle Works, a new, co-op style, community bike shop, opening this Sunday, in San Anselmo, California. To read about this new shop, check out today's article in the Marin IJ. Some of the paintings from my new series will be on loan to the shop for the next few weeks.
We hung part of the series up this evening at The Bicycle Works. Click photo to enlarge... Pictured in the photo, above-left, is Spokey Godfrey, Director. Come out tomorrow for the shop's Grand Opening Celebration, with food by Sol Food of San Rafael, and film "The Triplets of Belleville", provided by Tom Boss of "Film Night in the Park". The paintings give the shop a little color, in contrast to the black and white of the bikes on the stands.
My painting from last year's, Mill Valley Paint Out, with bikes in the bike rack... next to a Breezer commute bike, by local cycling legend, Joe Breeze. Breezer Bikes plans to give a portion of sales from it's bikes at "The Bicycle Works" back to support the new shop and it's mission.
"La Coppa Coffee Bikes", Downtown Mill Valley, California. 16" x 20". • View the start of this painting, in the workshop, with Christin Coy
This painting is the 9th in a series of paintings, "Cycling Through Landscapes", that will be available for purchase in September, at the Mill Valley Depot Cafe & Bookstore. A percentage of the sales from paintings sold in September will go to The Bicycle Works, a new, co-op style, community bike shop, opening this Sunday, in San Anselmo, California. To read about this new shop, check out today's article in the Marin IJ. Some of the paintings from my new series will be on loan to the shop for the next few weeks.
We hung part of the series up this evening at The Bicycle Works. Click photo to enlarge... Pictured in the photo, above-left, is Spokey Godfrey, Director. Come out tomorrow for the shop's Grand Opening Celebration, with food by Sol Food of San Rafael, and film "The Triplets of Belleville", provided by Tom Boss of "Film Night in the Park". The paintings give the shop a little color, in contrast to the black and white of the bikes on the stands.
My painting from last year's, Mill Valley Paint Out, with bikes in the bike rack... next to a Breezer commute bike, by local cycling legend, Joe Breeze. Breezer Bikes plans to give a portion of sales from it's bikes at "The Bicycle Works" back to support the new shop and it's mission.
In the Studio Today... Burley Parade; Day 2
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
"Burley Parade on Shaver Grade", near Phoenix Lake. 24" x 30".
To read about the inspiration for this painting, click here to read my previous post.
"Burley Parade on Shaver Grade", near Phoenix Lake. 24" x 30".
In the Studio Today..."Burley Bike Parade
on Shaver Grade"; Session #1
Monday, August 3, 2009
Day 1; "Burley Parade on Shaver Grade", near Phoenix Lake. 24" x 30". I have been wanting to paint Burley bike trailers into my paintings for a while now, but have had the hardest time coming up with a concept for this. We have pulled our twins in Burley trailers since they were under a year old. They are pretty much beyond Burley's now, at age 7, but we have a very fond appreciation for the great rides we were able to take, with the boys keeping quiet in the trailer, or falling asleep for much of the bike ride. We even pulled them with a tandem mt. bike with string lights all lit up at night. I hope someone will enjoy this painting with memories of transporting their kids as I have. It's a gamble to paint something new and different, but if you don't take the chance, you never grow... right?
Day 1; "Burley Parade on Shaver Grade", near Phoenix Lake. 24" x 30". I have been wanting to paint Burley bike trailers into my paintings for a while now, but have had the hardest time coming up with a concept for this. We have pulled our twins in Burley trailers since they were under a year old. They are pretty much beyond Burley's now, at age 7, but we have a very fond appreciation for the great rides we were able to take, with the boys keeping quiet in the trailer, or falling asleep for much of the bike ride. We even pulled them with a tandem mt. bike with string lights all lit up at night. I hope someone will enjoy this painting with memories of transporting their kids as I have. It's a gamble to paint something new and different, but if you don't take the chance, you never grow... right?
In the Studio Today...Ridgecrest Sunset Cyclist; Final Painting
Friday, July 31, 2009
DETAIL OF HILLS: Sunset Cycle on Ridgecrest.
"Sunset Cycle on Ridgecrest", Ridgecrest Blvd., Mt. Tamalpais State Park,
Marin County, California."2 ft. x 4 ft.", o/c.
DETAIL OF CYCLIST: Sunset Cycle on Ridgecrest.
DETAIL OF HILLS: Sunset Cycle on Ridgecrest.
"Sunset Cycle on Ridgecrest", Ridgecrest Blvd., Mt. Tamalpais State Park,Marin County, California."2 ft. x 4 ft.", o/c.
DETAIL OF CYCLIST: Sunset Cycle on Ridgecrest.Please come see the painting in person, September 1st at a wine and cheese reception in downtown Mill Valley, California. A beautiful place to ride your bike!
September 2009
The Depot Bookstore & Cafe
Solo Show of Cycling Paintings
87 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley, CA
Opening Reception; September 1, 6pm to 7pm
The Depot Bookstore & Cafe
Solo Show of Cycling Paintings
87 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley, CA
Opening Reception; September 1, 6pm to 7pm
In the Studio Today...Sunset Cyclist on Ridgecrest; Day 2, work in progress
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
"Sunset Cycle on Ridgecrest", Ridgecrest Blvd., Mt. Tamalpais State Park, Marin County, California."2 ft. x 4 ft.", o/c. Day 2; work in progress.Fleshed out details on the mountains in background and foreground, as well as light on Bolinas Lagoon and some of the trees. Coming along. Still lots to do.
Painting at the exact same state as above, but inside, with halogen lighting. Colors look much warmer with lights on the painting.
"Sunset Cycle on Ridgecrest", Ridgecrest Blvd., Mt. Tamalpais State Park, Marin County, California."2 ft. x 4 ft.", o/c. Day 2; work in progress.
Painting at the exact same state as above, but inside, with halogen lighting. Colors look much warmer with lights on the painting.
In the Studio Today... Ridgecrest Sunset on Mt. Tam; Panoramic with Cyclist
Monday, July 27, 2009
"Sunset Cycle on Ridgecrest", Ridgecrest Blvd., Mt. Tamalpais National State Park, Marin County, California."2 ft. x 4 ft.", o/c.
I am delighted to be moving into a large canvas today, and back to a landscape. I still have finishing details to do in two other paintings, but I wanted to start this one, as the sunset scene with rolling hills had got me really excited. The big paintings always are fun at a show, and stand out. Smaller, more detailed ones force the viewer to go up to the canvas and look at all the stuff in them, but my big paintings usually do not. The image of the rider is pulled from a shot I took at the Tour de Marin, in Sausalito. He was part of the peloton, going around the Stage in Sausalito for folks to take photos. The image of Tam is from a sunset shot, a week ago with my family. This painting makes me want to go for a ride!
"Sunset Cycle on Ridgecrest", Ridgecrest Blvd., Mt. Tamalpais National State Park, Marin County, California."2 ft. x 4 ft.", o/c.
I am delighted to be moving into a large canvas today, and back to a landscape. I still have finishing details to do in two other paintings, but I wanted to start this one, as the sunset scene with rolling hills had got me really excited. The big paintings always are fun at a show, and stand out. Smaller, more detailed ones force the viewer to go up to the canvas and look at all the stuff in them, but my big paintings usually do not. The image of the rider is pulled from a shot I took at the Tour de Marin, in Sausalito. He was part of the peloton, going around the Stage in Sausalito for folks to take photos. The image of Tam is from a sunset shot, a week ago with my family. This painting makes me want to go for a ride!
Plein Air... Mill Valley Paint Off 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
"Saturday afternoon on Miller & Throckmorton", 16" x 20", o/c.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Models, beside "Miller and Throckmorton Saturday";
16" x 20", o/c. (Click image to enlarge).
The man and dog standing beside my painting showed up about 10 minutes before the end of the paint out, so I asked him to stand by the clock tower, and I painted him and his dog into the scene. It was fun. Most of the people always paint the red awnings of the Depot Cafe, and the last painting here, by Scott Grabowski, won first place and the people's choice award. Mill Valley just loves those awnings.
Above: 1st Place Award to Scott Grabowski
"Saturday afternoon on Miller & Throckmorton", 16" x 20", o/c.Final painting. Started at the Mill Valley Paint Off, 2009, completed in studio.
This is my painting from the Mill Valley Paint Out, 2009... after a second day in the studio. I had originally wanted to paint the scene with the street signs for "Miller" and "Throckmorton", as well as add the lip of the red awning from the Depot Cafe as a repoussoir element. I also added a woman driving a classic mint green convertible in the background, as well as the Cici Gelato bike. Cici sponsored the paint off this year, and sold gelato from Lytton Square during the judging of paintings, and I managed to capture a few shots of the bike and rider, leaving the Depot in his new, burgundy red clogs that matched the bike. I decided to go with the quirkiness that this paint off result produced, and include as many people and bikes as possible. It has a feeling of being a fun, friendly illustration, rather than a work of realism. Below is a detail of the Cici Gelato man and bike.
DETAIL: Cici Gelato Bike from "Saturday afternoon in Mill Valley", 16" x 20", o/c.
DETAIL: Cici Gelato Bike from "Saturday afternoon in Mill Valley", 16" x 20", o/c.Saturday, July 25, 2009
Models, beside "Miller and Throckmorton Saturday";16" x 20", o/c. (Click image to enlarge).
Above: 1st Place Award to Scott GrabowskiPam Gould, of "More Marin", the blog... also visited the event and wrote us up on her blog! Here is the first press I know of about the event: (Mouse over the images to read the artist's names)
"Paint Off in Mill Valley draws enthusastic crowd"
"Paint Off in Mill Valley draws enthusastic crowd"
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