BlogBloghttp://artlife.squarespace.com/blog/2009-10-05T04:03:21ZSquarespaceShow and Tellhttp://artlife.squarespace.com/blog/2009/10/4/show-and-tell.htmlartlife2009-10-05T02:25:27Z2009-10-05T02:25:27ZWe are six weeks into the semester at UNM - I can hardly believe it!  Oil painting class has been both challenging and rewarding.  The first thing I learned to appreciate was just being there.  Really - putting in time in front of the canvas in studio is the most important part of learning how to use this devilish medium.  I would not have put in that sort of time on my own. 

The next challenge was remembering how to draw from still life.  Cripes!  No wonder I do so much abstact work!

We did some monochromatic still life exercises, and just finished a project with an under-painting.  I had been wondering what that was all about.  Well, it really brings things to life, even old bones!  Of course, now that I've tried it, I can see a few dozen things I might have done differently, but you know what they say:  practice, practice, practice!!!!  All in all, I am pretty pleased with my progress dealing with these slippery, smelly little tubes of paint. 

 

]]>Why not try something new?http://artlife.squarespace.com/blog/2009/8/27/why-not-try-something-new.htmlartlife2009-08-27T18:17:37Z2009-08-27T18:17:37ZI'm starting an oil painting class.  Hopefully, my work and gallery schedule will allow me to complete the course - too many absences and I will have to drop out - but it's worth a try!  Nope, I have nothing to show so far except an empty bank account.  I'll post something when I have something to show.  

]]>new colors, new paintingshttp://artlife.squarespace.com/blog/2009/8/23/new-colors-new-paintings.htmlartlife2009-08-24T04:17:42Z2009-08-24T04:17:42ZI'm rushing to get some work done in studio with some new colors I got from Sinopia (namely the yummy reds and yellows you see in this piece).  My schedule is suddenly filling up very quickly and I'm afraid I won't be able to get back to studio for a while, so there's this artistic urgency.  Here is something new I think I'm done with - as soon as I say  a thing like that I'll probably go back and attack it with a scraper, but what the heck.  I'll try to restrain myself and just finish the edges then wire it to hang.

]]>Feeling the heathttp://artlife.squarespace.com/blog/2009/7/31/feeling-the-heat.htmlartlife2009-07-31T18:48:48Z2009-07-31T18:48:48ZSince it is only supposed to get up to 90 degrees today in the Duke City, I'm thinking I'll take some of these encaustic pieces over the The Wooden Cow Gallery.  I have a couple of stops to make on the way and one may take some time.  To avoid a puddle of melted wax and blank plywood panels in my car by the time I'm done, I think I'll try putting them in a cooler full of ice.  Not getting them wet, mind you, but just setting them in there on top of some ice in baggies.  Separated by a towel or something.  Well, famous last words have always been "hey, let's try this", so I'm posting fond portraits of these, my babies, who I will remember well if something goes awry.

]]>Two, count them, TWO series of encaustics going onhttp://artlife.squarespace.com/blog/2009/7/26/two-count-them-two-series-of-encaustics-going-on.htmlartlife2009-07-26T18:41:05Z2009-07-26T18:41:05ZI am having such a good time doing encaustics in my tiny studio that I have been working on two separate series.  The first was the 'Instinct' series, which explores my decision making process.  (I have yet to begin the 'true' piece in that series, reflecting the real way I live my life: serendipity).  

I have started another series I'm calling love/hate.  This one has me looking at those feelings that draw me into  and also away from things and relationships.  Sometimes it's an attraction, sometimes it's a fear.  Sometimes I'm excited over something new.  Sometimes I just get worn out.

So you'll find a new tab on the left of the page for the new series.  There are only a couple of pieces there so far, but I'd love to hear what you think.

]]>Making more artworkshttp://artlife.squarespace.com/blog/2009/7/1/making-more-artworks.htmlartlife2009-07-01T19:12:32Z2009-07-01T19:12:32ZI have been trying to dedicate some time to studio, and am pleased to present the first of a series of encaustic paintings!  I'm calling the series "Instinct" because I let instinct guide me a lot.  I figure if the universe brought something to my path and it's not icky, so be it.  Let's roll.  

And that's what happened with encaustics.  I happened to see some work by Sally Condon in a downtown Albuquerque gallery and fell in love with it.  I had to learn that technique!  So I found a workshop in Santa Fe and learned from one of the best (and nicest) around - Ellen Koment.  I quickly set up my studio and got to work.  All of this despite the fact I have no time between my job and the gallery, have no space - I gave up my out-of-house studio and moved home, and have no money, but plenty of canvas and acrylics.  Instinct told me to do this, and I am loving it!

My new page, encaustics, has photos of the first works of the series.  More to come.

Here's another, larger piece I'm working on.  

 

 

]]>Encaustics!http://artlife.squarespace.com/blog/2009/6/24/encaustics.htmlartlife2009-06-24T17:59:24Z2009-06-24T17:59:24ZLest you think I have absolutely no time to MAKE any art, I will tell about my newest adventure in painting: encaustics.  It involved making a medium with beeswax and resin, then adding pigment to create the 'paint'.  Then the colored wax is heated to liquid form, and you paint with it.  A small blowtorch is used to fuse the layers of wax and color together every few layers.  Yep, you got it, art with hot wax and a blowtorch.  What could be more fun?

I took a workshop from Ellen Koment (love her!) in Santa Fe in May, and have now started my own little wax workshop at home here in Albuquerque.  Ellen is an amazing artist and laid-back instructor.  Her workshop was so much fun, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the medium.

So anyway, here is something I am working on at home.  I'm calling it 'Fiber' today.  Stay tuned for more.

]]>Time Flies Really Fasthttp://artlife.squarespace.com/blog/2009/6/22/time-flies-really-fast.htmlartlife2009-06-22T21:54:24Z2009-06-22T21:54:24Zwhen you have too much to do.  I thought I would write something, ANYthing, before an entire year went by since my last post.  I really can't get over how fast this past year has gone, and even better, how successful the gallery has been.

The Wooden Cow was voted best gallery in Albuquerque by the readers of The Alibi.  Woohoo!  Well, okay, we tied with 516 Gallery, but we will gladly share the honor with them.  Heck, they're funded, and we're a group of starving artists.  We had only been open about 6 months when we received the honor.  And it really is an honor for us, the owner/artists, and all of our very talented New Mexican artists.  

We continue to have great opening receptions, at least once a month, enjoying art, food, and wine with such celebrated guests as Albuquerque's own three-time mayor Marty Chavez and various people involved in the performing arts (you know who you are).  We have begun a series of special guest artists, kicked off by polymer clay guru Kathleen Dustin.  Coming up, a trunk show by Los Angelean glass wizard Liz Marx.

Can you tell I love The Wooden Cow?  Come and see us, you'll love it too.

]]>Life in the Fast Lanehttp://artlife.squarespace.com/blog/2008/7/17/life-in-the-fast-lane.htmlartlife2008-07-17T16:05:04Z2008-07-17T16:05:04ZAnother day, another challenge.  The past couple of months have been flying by.  I've been in the Duke City Renegades' First Annual Fiesta de Frida, which was a blast, another Black Market Goods show at a new location just off Central (Route 66), saw my photos hanging in the New Mexico Meseum of Natural History and Science, and have been completely immersed in setting up The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space. 

Setting up a new business is a lot of work, especially a cooperative.   I'm on tons of committees, in addition to being the treasurer.  There is a lot of excitement, like looking at potential buildings and spaces and imagining what they could look like with us in them, and there are frustrations like worrying about the money and some members not contributing time and effort like others do.  Committee meetings and treasury work can fill every evening of my week, but it is still a lot of fun. 

My art production is slacking, but I did just get a new (to me) Canon Rebel to shoot photos with, and even if I just carry it with me to lunch I can usually find something to shoot and feed that creativity jones.  And I'm trying to find a little balance by going to 30-minute yoga twice a week.  The Agency, an artspace near my office, offers 30-minute sessions at lunchtime and it's nice for me to take that little mental vacation.

So that's how I'm dealing with this hectic pace.  What do you do? 

 

 

]]>Now Showing....http://artlife.squarespace.com/blog/2008/5/30/now-showing.htmlartlife2008-05-30T02:08:38Z2008-05-30T02:08:38ZIt's looking like a busy, artful summer. Yay! I will be participating in the following show and events:

May 31st: Duke City Fix's Porque Burque Art & Craft Show 11 am - 4 pm

June 6th: Mama's Minerals Silent Art Auction 5 - 8 pm

June 28th, 2008: Black Market Goods Art Show 8 pm - 12-ish

July 6th: Frida Kahlo 101st Birthday Show to benefit The Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation - Roosevelt Park, Albuquerque 10a.m.-5p.m.

August 2nd and 3rd: Girls Inc. Art and Crafts Show on the plaza, Santa Fe, NM Sat. Aug. 2nd 9-6 and Sun. Aug. 3rd 9-5

I look forward to seeing you there!

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