Urban Hive :: Second Saturday

Last night was the Preview Party at the Urban Hive for the Second Saturday in Sacramento, CA. I sold my first "Rocket Robot" print to a Sacramento writer! I had the opportunity to talk to her and all the love I put into my work I could feel oozing right out of her pores, as she describes the robot in the rocket with excitingly raised arms. I am showing three prints in a group show put together by Sacramento365. Micah Crandall-Bear is also showing work in the show. This is my very first Second Saturday and first time showing prints. These prints are hand signed and numbered in edition of 50.

If you have not had a chance to check out the Urban Hive, this would be a great opportunity to do so. This is a cool spot that small business owners work at. So there is a sense of community while you work. You do not have to work alone in your home office. Build your community ties and stay focused on your work. This Saturday is the more festive and full reception. So maybe I will see you at the Hive.

Linda Womack :: Portland, OR

I am a lucky painter, I was able to visit the ventilated, art crawling studio of Linda Womack. It is always great to see the work in person. I met Linda, at the 2009 IEA retreat near my old stomping grounds in Carmel Valley. I also attended the 2010 Encaustic Conference, where Linda taught. She is currently teaching online encaustic classes, so if you do not have the chance to head to Portland to take classes in Womack's studio, just click here and let your studio flourish with Linda, where ever you are located. The universe magically opened up an opportunity for me to get to check out Portland and I spent some time in Linda's creative space. She played body moving drum music in her studio as I saturated my eyes with her new work. I recently saw some of Womack's newest work online so I was excited to see this new work up close with a big smile on my face. But first to the galleries! I enjoyed most of the work in all the galleries I visited. My favorite work is currently showing at the Froelick Gallery on Davis Street. Nat Meade is currently showing the work that just had me giggly all over. If you are not in Portland, check out his work and purchase it if you have the opportunity.

Here we are at Linda's studio, surrounded by charm, trees and the crisp Northwestern air.

Thank you Linda for the studio time! 

Portland, I love you. I know my vision of Portland is skewed. No rain, no overcast skies. Sun, magic, good food, great art, Mt. Hood, and Powell's Book Store...what more could a human want?! What a positively amazing experience. Until next time! xo

Portland, Oregon

It has finally happened. I am in Portland, Oregon. No, I have not seen, "Portlandia" but I just watched this clip. I have yet to order any chicken up here. I am staying in John's Landing and went for a walk to JoLa Cafe and the Willamette River and and found Mt. Hood. O yes.

The rabbit below is a newly added piece of public art at the Sacramento International Airport!  Sacramento just added a whole new terminal, it is amazing. It is modern and full of public art. Hurray for the1% for public art!

From California to Portland, OR. I check out a local cafe in John's Landing and walk to the river.

Last night was the "Come To Your Senses" reception for Portland's First Thursdays. It was a very well attended opening with great food and music. I had a great time discussing the work and meeting new people.

Above, two people checking out the work. My seas shell, coastal work sparked a lot of interest and opened up a lot of different topics we could talk about.

I LOVE Portland!

Oregon margO

 We are gearing up for our first adventure to Portland, Oregon! I have the opportunity to get cozy with the Northwest at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts. Below are the four encaustic paintings that are currently showing at the PCPA until mid March.I am excited to check out Portland and I hope you are as well. I know that the 'robots' have been taking the front stage in the studio for the last year or so however, I am excited to have the minimal and abstract work meet 2012. I will be curious to see what the art scene is like in Portland. I have heard so many great things about Portland and the art scene there. Feburary 2nd from 5 to 9pm I will be at PCPA talking art. Will you?

So to Portland or Bust! I have just received some of my postcards and business cards I created for our journey. Just below are two finished paintings I showed you (in process) last week. Take a gander.

I had a dream last month. I was walking out side a typical suburbia home in California and I saw a huge crack in the driveway. I walked over to check it out. As I saw this deep crack I got down on my hands and knees, peering even further into the cracked driveway which reveal a golden and Godly light to another place. All of a sudden I saw all these little coffee beans on the driveway next to my hands. I looked at them. Right before my eyes all the little tiny coffee beans started morphing into little rhinos. As the coffee beans magically turned into rhinos they ran away into the heavenly light. I woke up and one month later painted my friend rhino with her ever faithful bird by her side.

Expanding

The first post for January and we are already 14 days into the new year. This is the 5th year of blogging! The last few weeks I have been working on expanding the robot series. I am excited for the new life they are starting to live. Go ahead, check them out.

Whalebot 4x12in

This is a portrait of Anne. I met Anne a few weeks ago. When I would walk into her home with her two loyal dogs, I heard the most beautiful music that had every cell in my body dancing. Anne rides her bike every where she goes. So here is a painting I did of her and her...dogbots. 

Here is an 'owlbot'. I have been reading, "The Five Love Languages" by Dr. Chapman, this book discusses about how we all have a "love tank" inside of us. As I was working on this little creature I started to think about its "love tank" as it flies around the redwood forest in Bonny Doon.

These two minis are the smallest paintings I have ever created, that is a quarter picture with the work. Below is the continuation of expanding the robots. Fish, monsters, robots in submarines, it is endless. I am happy that I have the love and patience to develop these robots. Since they are so graphic I am working on adding a lot of depth to the work.

Above is the work living in the Santa Cruz studio. Below are two paintings in process. I have been having dreams with rhinos and seeing rhinos everywhere I go. So, here, I am letting rhino live here.

O love birds! If you are in California, stay cool and for you people who actually are getting snow, stay warm! I am gearing up for a group show I am exhibiting in Portland, OR. I will be there the beginning of Feburary.