Tracey Adams

A show I could not miss. Here we are in Carmel, CA at the Winfield Gallery for the opening of "Lumenis" new work by Tracey Adams. I will let the photographs tell the story. There was an amazing turnout and red dots. Everyone buzzing about the new work.

"Lumenis, a show of my recent paintings, opens on Saturday, April 13 at Winfield Gallery, Carmel, CA from 5-7 pm. These paintings are about the places where art and music intersect and overlap. All paintings begin as encaustic monotypes and have thin layers of acrylic added to create a luminous surface." - Tracey Adams

 Look who I found, Allyson Sanburn Malek!

Tracey Adams and David Ligare discuss about the work.

 A creative duo, Renee Balducci and Tracey Adams.

As I left the gallery I exploded with happiness from the art and seeing familiar faces. I wish Tracey much success! Thank you for creating the work and putting together such a great showing!

NLAPW : Nancy Blommer Deussen

This past weekend I had the pleasure to listen to an afternoon of chamber music put on by the San Jose Women's and the National League of American Pen Women(NLAPW), Santa Clara Branch. Nancy Blommer Deussen work was featured during this spring concert. The Sine Nomine Woodwind Quintet, Sereno Saxophone Quartet, and the Messiah Brass Quintet are all amazing! This was a very intimate setting, which really was quite relaxing and sweet. As a member of the NLAPW it was such a treat for me to hear Nancy's work, as she stated before the performance, her work will not reach anyone unless it is played. So it was really great to be a part of this day with all the professional creative women and listen to beautiful music.

Talk at the Sunnyvale Art Club

This past week I was invited to talk to the Sunnyvale Art Club. This is a really great group with a wide range of talent. I was given the opportunity to  give a demo, working in acrylic. I had a great time. There was a lot of laughter, love and inspiration jumping about in the room. If you live in that area, you can check out the group on their Facebook page, here.

Thank you Sunnyvale Art Club!

Santa Cruz Sentinel : Christa Martin writes about Margo Mullen

Writer Christa Martin interviews me for the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

If I had a kid, one of the first things I'd do after discovering artist Margo Mullen would be to redecorate my little one's bedroom. Kids' rooms can run the range from cute to hodgepodge, and Mullen's whimsical robot paintings will spruce up any child's sleeping quarters. But that's just scratching the surface of the talents of this fine artist. Not only do her sweet robot creations jump out, but so does her photography, her acrylic paintings, watercolors, and her encaustics. (Check out her work at studiomargo.com.)

"I work in a variety of mediums depending on which medium will tell the story the best," says Mullen.
But as for her noteworthy "Robot Series," Mullen says it is her inner child. "The work that is created usually comes from an interaction and moment in time I had," she explains. The robots came to her the night of a power outage in Bonny Doon. She put on her headlamp, grabbed her art tools and ended up creating about 50 ink drawings of what would be the foundation of the series.
"Since that time, my robotic friends have grown and taken me to places I dreamed about when I was a little girl. These robots appear in watercolors, acrylic paintings and in public art. The work touches the souls of the people who view it. If my work can put a smile on your face, my heart is full."

History: Our Stories

For some reason I have been drawn to working more figuratively.  I am working on two different portraits, one of my grandmother and I (when I was a little one) sitting in her backyard. The other is of the two time gold winning Olympian, Bob Mathias. These two pieces are very different. I am in the home stretch with Bob, noodling out the finer details and adding more structure to his arms.

I have lost a few people these past few years and some that have stayed alive against all odds. The thoughts of what is a family, what are traditions, why are they important, or are they? This is my second painting of my memories of my Grandma. Painting to remember her and to feel her again, wishing she were here with me, to offer advice and have a relationship with her as an adult.  I absolutely love being a "Mullen" but what does all that really mean? I know for sure that means being creative, no matter what it is you do, just doing that creatively, from singers to doctors, computer programmers and painters. Being kind to others and helping where you can.  I never met Dr. Mullen (my grandfather) and wonder often of his thoughts and ideas for family.

These portraits are taking me to emotional places that I am grateful to feel and have. Tears of joy and sadness have been filling the studio lately. So love your family, you only have them here, for this time. Times change, people die and new generations are born. Placing the past behind you with squabbles and moving on working together to create a strong family unit (whatever you classify that as), remembering traditions and those who have passed  is some of the reason why we are here in this life.

Hug your families and call those who may not be near.

Hopefully the robots come in and check on me, it is getting a little somber in the studio.
Have a great rest of the week!

Feel the Love

Feel the squishy love!

Doug Ross and Margo Mullen @ Cruzioworks

So here we are again at Cruzioworks on 877 Cedar Street in Santa Cruz. This past First Friday was just awesome! I met so many new people, I talked and listened for four hours and I still had an ample amount of energy after it all. I was so excited to meet new people! This First Friday I had three new prints up for sell and they all did so great! I had a great conversation with a beekeeper and met a little girl who really enjoys the robots! This was a super successful event on all counts. If you are in the area, go on by to check out the wall.

Doug Ross (commissioned New York Times artist) and myself (commissioned Oakland Museum of California artist) with our work!