I’m heading to Portland later this week for 5 days of painting with Jesse Reno. This will be an advanced workshop in his studio. I can’t wait! It will be the third workshop I’ve taken with him. I love his teaching style and painting philosophies.
I’m looking forward to posting new work and photos from the trip. See you all soon!
By the way, I will be participating in the Wedgwood Art Festival this year. More on that next week.
I finished this painting Monday, just in time to deliver it to the Shoreline City Hall Gallery (along with 9 other paintings) for a 4-person group show called Creatures and Places that starts today! This painting, Better Watch Out, is 16″ x 20″ on wood. It says “watch out” in Russian on the arm. I really can’t believe where it ended considering its earlier stages, which I’m not sure I want to share… it started out as a goofy looking lion-like creature. I liked parts of it, but… I felt like the images weren’t interacting quite right, the colors weren’t working for me, and frankly, despite the menacing figure in the background, it was just too happy! It got worse when I consulted my daughter, and she encouraged me to add the baby lion in the foreground – which, admittedly, works compositionally.
I love painting with my Open Studio Group, but I only have this opportunity once a week. I find it very helpful being surrounded by the energy of a room full of people creating, even if we are all quietly doing our own thing. Creating in a vacuum is hard, especially when that vacuum includes two children who are constantly up to something, a house that desperately needs tending to, and a husband who is afraid to have an objective opinion regarding anything art related. This is where bravery and going with your gut will get you to finish line. I just started re-drawing, covering up and pulling things forward and pushing them back until I finally felt… not just content, but really pleased with my piece.
The underpainting for this piece was done at Artfest in Jesse Reno’s class, but this is as far as I got before the class was over. I did finish another painting in his class, which you can see here.
I hope you enjoyed seeing the process photos. I wish I’d taken more, but I was too busy attacking my canvas.
There will be a reception at the Shoreline City Hall Gallery (on the 3rd floor) from 5 – 6:30 p.m. If you are in the neighborhood, please stop in and say Hello. The show will be up until July 27th. This show features ten of my darker, macabre and emotional pieces. Unfortunately, due to this being a public space, I was not allowed to include Flightless in the show. Need to find a private gallery for that one…
My other show that is taking place now at Oasis Art Gallery in Wallingford, Seattle is the polar opposite of the one in Shoreline. The Oasis Gallery Show is up until July 7th, and features many bright, playful paintings. Unfortunately, they are closing their doors after our show, so come in while you can!
I’ll leave you with a few photos that my husband, Randy Stewart, took of my work at the Oasis Gallery.
After 3 1/2 days of painting, friends, and parties, I am totally wiped out! It was my first year of attending Artfest, as well as Artfest’s last year of operation. Teesha Moore, the creator of this art retreat, promises something even grander in the works. I can’t even imagine what that might be. I just hope it’s still local!
After a retreat I always feel both completely filled up – with ideas, inspiration, and the emotional charge that comes with connecting with old friends and making new ones, and completely depleted, from giving some blank canvases everything I’ve got, from sharing with friends a lifetime’s worth of crazy inebriated stories, and from knowing I have to say goodbye, even if it’s just ’til next year.
Since my brain is feeling fried, and I’m being subjected to a never-ending loop of Nyan Cat (thanks to my children), the rest of my post will be more pictures, than words. I wish I’d taken more photos, but I was too busy playing!
I painted with Jesse Reno for two days, and miraculously, finished a painting. A second piece is still in the works.
Before:
After:
It says “OPASNA” (oh-pas-na) which means she is dangerous, in Russian. It is my interpretation of an anglerfish. If you can believe it, when I started it kinda looked like Marilyn Monroe. Ha! I wish I’d taken some transition shots, as it went though many stages, but my hands were always covered in paint. By the way, I’m not sure if the title is referring to the painting, or the artist… 🙂
Another work in progress from Jesse’s class. To be finished soon, I hope!
Jesse doing a drawing demo. I love watching people sketch with ease. I always get nervous if I’m too aware of people watching me!!!
Below is a warm-up exercise we did in Jesse’s class. I’d like to play around with it some more.
I took Mindy Lacefield’s class on Saturday, and it was great to share the day with her! I’m so glad that I’ve gotten to know her better over the last two years. I had a blast helping her out at her marketplace table Friday night.
She did some great demos in class. It was fun watching her work. She is a master at cuteness!
I worked on four backgrounds. Can’t wait to play with these more.
The owl and the pussy cat? I did this in class. The owl and cat are made from torn paper. The words say “Ya Teb-ya Lyoob-loo” which means I love you in Russian. I may play with this a bit more, but I like the raw wood showing through.
Two heads are better than one. This other piece is unfinished. It’s a two-headed bird. These birds may get some stripes and crazy legs… not sure yet.
Well, that’s all for now! Friends, old and new, I hope you’ll keep in touch. And ladies, (*ehem* Danielle, Janna…) let’s not forget about our plans for next year!
I’m heading to Fort Worden in Port Townsend, WA next week to attend Artfest. It is the 13th anniversary for Artfest, but my first year participating, and unfortunately, Artfest’s last year of operation. Artfest is 3 days of art workshops, evening events, and mingling with like-minded souls.
Even though I live in nearby Seattle, I don’t know that I would have known anything about Artfest, or met any of the amazing artists that I know now, if it weren’t for an email I received one day that inspired me to be brave…
A few years ago I went to my first art retreat. I’d received a newsletter from artist Mati McDonough that said she was going to be teaching a mixed media art class at An Artful Journey, a retreat down in the mountains of Los Gatos. Mati and I met in a class, years before, back when I still lived in San Francisco. I watched as her art career blossomed; her hard work and success has been a great inspiration for me. When I heard that she was teaching, I felt that it was an invitation that couldn’t be ignored. So I packed my bags, left my kids with the grandparents (Thank you, Mom and Dad!!) and hopped on a plane. At the retreat, Mati was teaching along side Kelly Rae Roberts, who I wasn’t familiar with before the class. Another incredible woman and artist, Kelly Rae has extensive guidance available for anyone interested in turning their art into a career. (Check out her Flying Lessons for art business advice.) Anyway… their class totally rocked. I was blown away by all the creative energy in the class and all the amazing attendees that I met. There were a lot of established artists there. Amazing people! It was like being surrounded by a sea of really friendly art rock stars. I was a bit overwhelmed – and totally hooked.
Mati Rose and Kelly Rae demonstrating their mixed media expertise.
My favorite piece from my first art retreat.
I returned to An Artful Journey the following year to paint with Jesse Reno. If you ever have a chance to take a class with him – DO IT! Jesse is an incredible, intuitive artist, and storyteller. His teachings have influenced my art quite bit. And I am grateful for that. I enjoyed his class so much, that I am taking it again next week at Artfest in Port Townsend, WA. I will also be taking a class taught by the sweetest girl I know, Mindy Lacefield. I love her work!! If you are attending Artfest, stop by Mindy’s table at the marketplace Friday night and say hi – I’ll be helping her out!
Jesse Reno explaining paint magic.
The beginning stage of my paintings in Jesse’s class.
Art retreats are highly addictive. They empower people in amazing ways… being immersed in so much creative energy – people carry it back home with them, harness it, and SOAR! I’ve seen so many fledgling artists really take off, in just the few years since I first met them. With two young children as passengers (or more like co-pilots!), I feel like the wheels are just getting off the runway for me now, but that’s okay. It’s way better than sitting in the airport lobby, just admiring the art from afar.
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