More Eyeballs on my Art

I’m delighted to share with you about three upcoming receptions where my artwork is being showcased so get ready to mark your calendar.

Closing reception at bG Gallery on Saturday, July 1 from 7pm to 9pm. I have three pieces in Spectrum-Gestalt exhibit. It’s fun; it’s a rainbow of color and the work is hung salon-style. If you missed the opening reception, join me at the closing reception. bG Gallery is located at Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., #A-2, in Santa Monica, CA and this exhibit is up until July 5.

Spectrum-Gestalt, the blue section

Aftermath II was selected by juror Kassandra Voyagis, producer and director of LA Art Show and Art Palm Beach, to be included in the group exhibit, Specimen, at Gallery 825/Los Angeles Art Association. The reception is scheduled for Saturday, July 8 from 10am to 5pm. Gallery 825 is located at 825 La Cienega, West Hollywood, CA and this exhibit is up until July 28.

Aftermath II

upRooted is headed to the Brand Library & Art Center with the opening reception also scheduled for Saturday, July 8 from 7pm to 9:30pm. This year’s annual exhibition, Brand 51 Works on Paper, features 98 artworks out of over 1,200 entries from around the country selected by juror Ara Oshagan, curator of ReflectSpace Gallery in Glendale. Brand Library & Art Center is located at 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale, CA. The Brand Library & Art Center is truly a unique public library focused on visual arts and music! The architecture and gardens are stunning and not to be missed. This exhibit, Works on Paper, is up until September 1, 2023.

Notes from My Artist Residency

I had a great experience at Dorland Mountain Arts Colony. I will definitely apply to more residencies and one week was too short. I barely touched my giant roll of watercolor paper as finding wall space that could accommodate a large sheet was close to impossible. Dang it! I completed two new artworks and started a third. I met some lovely people, did a little hiking and enjoyed the sunsets.

New Art Alert

I’m thrilled to announce that Aftermath was selected to be showcased in a group exhibit at Gallery 825/Los Angeles Art Association. This artwork is in response to the atmospheric storm(s). I found intriguing debris in the Salinas River and used it to apply pigment to kozo paper. It’s a diptych – 30” x 60” on 2” cradle boards. The Salinas River, known fondly as the “upside down river,” is the longest underground river in the country, flowing both above and below ground for about 175 miles from its headwaters in the Los Padres National Forest to the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary.

• Exhibition dates: June 3, 2023 through June 30, 2023 with the opening reception on Saturday, June 3 between 10am to 5pm. Let me know if you plan to attend the reception; perhaps we can meet.

• Location: Gallery 825, 825 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA

• Juror for this exhibition: Walter Maciel of Walter Maciel Gallery in Culver City

Exciting Publication News

My work was chosen to be published in Studio Visit magazine – either in volume 53 or 54. Over 1,000 artists entered the competition and I was one of 350 artists invited by the juror, Francine Weiss, Chief Curator at the Newport Art Museum, to participate. Studio Visit magazine, published by Open Studios Press, reaches an audience of 2,000 selected curators and gallerists nationwide, as well as a growing subscriber base of collectors and art enthusiasts. Look out for this publication in the Fall of 2023.

Artist’s Retreat at Dorland Arts Colony

I’m delighted to be attending the residency program at the Dorland Arts Colony. This is a great opportunity to work in a location that is both inspiring and free from the distractions of daily life. I’m bringing the substantial 60” x 4 yds. watercolor paper, an array of new materials along with trusted paints and brushes. Be sure to follow me on social media for photos and updates.

Storytelling and how it helps us connect...

I’m very appreciative of the recent article posted online at VoyageLA. The goal at VoyageLA is to help hard-working, inspiring people tell their stories authentically and in their own words. In case you haven’t read the brief interview, visit the link.

Seeing and listening, all at once

Regarding the movie "Everything, Everywhere, All At Once," it's fascinating how different people can have such varied reactions to the same film. It's interesting to consider how our personal filters and experiences can greatly influence how we interpret and react to art. With this movie, there are two things that stand out for me – the absurd playfulness and the escape vehicle of a creative woman’s mind from the overwhelming responsibilities of daily life.

That said, I am reminded to keep an open mind and be willing to see things in a new light. At a recent visit to a museum, I asked the guard which piece of art was his favorite and his reply was the bronze Hulk, situated behind me. At first glance this is not my cup of tea, but upon further inspection, I appreciated its weight and material in a new way. Bronze is incongruous with the inflatable, comic-book hero. It plays with my psyche. I spent time looking for the flaws; there had to be something plastic on it. And then I laughed at myself.

Moral to the story (see how I’m connecting back to the headline)

Push the pause button. Take a moment to appreciate something from someone else's perspective. I’m reminded it's easy to get caught up in our own opinions and preferences. Take the time to consider other viewpoints that can broaden our understanding and appreciation of the world.

What Was I Thinking...

On Valentine’s Day, I saw an Instagram post from one of the best art supply stores in town, Art Central. The offer was Canson 140lb watercolor paper, 100% cotton, both hot and cold press rolls (60” x 5 yards.) The original price was $259.95; sale price $150. That’s a good deal in itself, however, if I liked, commented and shared this great offer on Instagram, I could purchase the roll for $90.

That was exactly the swift-kick-in-the-pants I needed to work larger. If I fumbled, struggled or botched the paper, the financial impact was minimal. Conversely, the reward could be greater confidence in working on a larger surface. A picture (or video) is worth 1,000 words of me trying to single-handedly hang the mammoth size paper on the wall. I had a conundrum. As you can see below, the desired wall has a shelf and I never measured the space above the shelf to the ceiling. That space alone would not accommodate 60”. After a few attempts, I was exhausted and gave it a rest for a few days. Eventually, I cut the paper to 36” x 60” with the remaining roll at 60” x 4 yards, which is still large. (Note to self: Measure twice; cut once.) Failure? Not at all. I will go to work on this paper and once complete, I’ll cut an even larger piece off the roll and enlist extra hands to hang it on my studio wall.

New work

In response to the atmospheric river which brought serious rainfall to California, I completed Aftermath. It’s a diptych (30” x 60” on a 2” cradle board) and mixed media (acrylic, kozo paper and debris from the Salinas River.) Next step: Schedule professional photographer and submit to select exhibits.

Workshop

On March 11 from 1:00 to 4:00p.m., I’ll be hosting Abstract Explored. This workshop introduces abstract drawing and painting in a fun and shared way. Participants will explore color, texture, shapes and mark making that will improve composition and improvisation. This workshop is designed to expand your ability to enjoy and respond to abstract art. This is the one workshop that requires a minimum of five people so please sign up early by sending me an email. Cost is $75, including materials. Workshop will be held at my friend’s studio in Atascadero.

Mark Your Calendar

I’m pleased to announce that one of my most recent pieces, upRooted, is included in an upcoming exhibition at Blue Line Arts, located at 405 Vernon St., Roseville, CA) This exhibition is a long-standing tradition between Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento and the Kingsley Art Club. The exhibition dates are December 3, 2022 through January 14, 2023 with the opening reception on Saturday, December 17 from 4 – 8 pm. (I have a conflict that day so I will not be attending the reception.) I started this painting in March 2022 when Ukrainians were fleeing for their lives. At the same time, my potted aloe vera plant was blooming. I was having a hard time with the juxtaposition of new growth among the backdrop of failed humanity. It took about five months to complete.

Sketchbook Freedom

As far as I’m concerned, there’s gold in my sketchbooks as I develop new ideas or toss out problems. And the sketchbook is for my eyes only; that’s the best part. Each year, I enjoy hosting a sketchbook workshop either at the tail end of the current year or at the start of the new year. It’s designed for all artists looking to jump-start the daily practice of sketching, or for novices looking to explore sketch booking for the first time. Tips will be provided for starting — and sticking with it as a daily practice. You’ll have a treasure chest of ideas, observations, emotions and more. This workshop is two hours in length and includes a glass of bubbles as we call out and call in the new year. If you’re interested, let me know by sending me an email and I’ll send more specifics as in date, time, location and cost.

Take a Peek Inside Artist’s Studios

Personally, I think visiting artist studios is one of the most fun things to do so I highly recommend. I recall seeing an artist’s WALL of Golden paints; it was amazing.

Visit Brewery Art Walk: Where Art Lives on Saturday and Sunday, November 5 and 6 from 11 am – 6 pm, 2100 N. Main St., Los Angeles. A special shoutout to Emily Halpern, Francine Lecoultre, Guillermo Bert, and Kristine Schomaker/Shoebox Projects.

Also visit Inglewood Open Studios on Saturday and Sunday, November 12 and 13 from noon – 5 pm, 1019 Manchester Ave., Inglewood, CA with a special shoutout to Susan Amorde.

Not to be Missed

Of An Infinite Solitude, a solo exhibition of Joey Feldman’s work continues through November 9, 2022.

Ink, Paper, Stone: Six Women Artists and the Language of Lithography continues at Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena through February 13, 2023.

William Kentridge: In Praise of Shadows continues at The Broad through April 9, 2023. He was born in South Africa and is known for his prints, animated films, drawings and theatre productions. I had the absolute pleasure of seeing a retrospective exhibition at the Zeitz Museum in Cape Town, South Africa in 2019. It was a heartbreaking, self-reflective and intimate. Don’t miss this rare opportunity as he hasn’t had a show like this in Los Angeles for over 20 years.

Special Note

In case you haven’t noticed, our days are getting shorter which means for many of us, we lose an hour this Sunday.