Reunited and it Feels so Nice

After over a week without picking up a brush I finally had some time to get back to it tonight. I've reunited myself with my wood blocks and my colors and it felt SO nice to get myself lost in the little details again.

Here is a little preview taste of what I've got in the works for the upcoming 5x5 show in December.
Oh yes - little jewels of fishy colors = pure painting bliss.

Summer Sippin on By

This summer has just been full full Full!
Between art happenings, busy work weeks and weekends filled with family, friends & travel I just don't know what hit me. One thing recently was the show currently on view at La Familia Gallery. Up through the end of the month are works by Doug Mandt, Brad Strain & James Caudle - including the coolest installations I have seen at the gallery to date. Very worthy of checking out:

A few other things I've been up to include:

Partying it up for the Apex summer party, "Science Friction"

Road tripping with Katie up to the Peninsula

Day in the park to shower the soon to be Coolest Parents Ever. Yes, that is their official title.

A Gorgeous Visual World

Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear from Gabe Askew on Vimeo.

I absolutely had to post this animation by Gab Askew here just so I can remember it. Next time I'm feeling uninspired and blue I want to sink into this beautifully created world. Do yourself a favor and take a few moments to enjoy!

My head and heart are all a tangle these days as I'm filled with a yearning for the next step. A yearning to move on to the New and a practical need for more art space. This is manifesting itself into having to chose between two choices: Moving my studio to a separate studio space, or moving my home out of the co-op to somewhere with a bigger studio. This back and forth has filled me for weeks & weeks now. This weekend I was able to edge closer to the decision by having a series of kismet conversations with friends new & old. Like maybe how certain folks make appearances in your life right when you need them?
For instance I was able to meet and discuss art with the Bay Area artist Susanah Montana Murdoch. Susanah is a lovely soul and truly an inspiring painter. Her bit of advice about the whole thing was to make the push and ride the wave of art momentum when you have it.
I also had the joy and pleasure of spending a day road tripping to the Peninsula with my dearest old pal Katie Sandbom. That girl always has a way of asking the right questions. Not to mention there isn't anything quite like a road trip to help clear your head.
If anyone out there has any oracles up their sleeve I sure would love to see how this all turns out!

Playing Catch UP

You may or may not have noticed (since it is summertime after all), but I've taken a wee bit of a break this past month. Here's the highlights of what I've been up to:

• I traveled to my favorite little spot of the Oregon coast to spend a week reading books, exploring tide pools, painting tide pools, taking naps, taking long walks & eating seafood.
  
  
• I saw the delightful movie UP in 3D
  
  
• I attended a huge family gathering in Yakima Valley to celebrate the 88th birthday of my dear ol' Grandma.
  
  
• Returning from the Valley with a large abundance of peaches I then spent multiple days experiencing "peach facials" with my friend Kirsten while jamming & canning. Can you say mmmm ginger peach marmalade??
  
  
• I began the hunt of seeking out more studio space by touring various houses, co-ops and lofts only to find myself unable to decide between a bigger home space or a separate studio space. The solution may be in the works... more to be divulged soon... mwah ha ha
  
  
• I worked my butt off for my day job. Somehow folks have decided to start buying condos again which has kept me busy busy.
  
  
• I had the pleasure of attending the open house of the new Seattle City Hostel here in Belltown. Each room was painted by local artists some of which were from my gallery. It was a crazy rad evening of local emerging artists. Lanae shot this amazing video of the evening:
  

  City Hostel Opening August 09, Seattle from Scene In Seattle on Vimeo.

  
  
  
• I attended and fell in love with Kate Protage's "XS" show. Returning a week later determined to buy this piece I learned a valuable lesson in art purchasing:
  
• 
  If you love it, buy it before someone else does.
  
  
  
• I attended the Union Celebration of two friends of Andy's which included a bbq, a bonfire, jello shots and the first camping we've done in far too long. Pure summer fun!
  
  
• I started work on a new series for the upcoming 5x5 show in December.
  
  Whew! What a month! Gotta love that sweet sweet summertime.
  

Summer Days Drifting Away

It is 100 degrees in Seattle today. Which somehow made me think of staying late at my office to take advantage of the A/C. (And to finally get around to updating my blog for you of course!)

I spent all of last week on massive Rest Mode. You know how you can only push yourself for so long before either you collapse or something breaks? Well... yeah... that was me. Took it easy... got caught up with friends and my netflix account. So really - you didn't miss much.

I'm back at it this week though. Just had a phone conversation with my gallery manager about taking down the show which made a little sad. It has been such a treat to see everything up and positioned together just they way they were meant to be. All of my pieces above I'll be bidding farewell to as they will be packaged soon for pick up by their new owners. Fortunately many of these lovelies will be going to friends so with luck, I'll get to visit them from time to time.

All good things must come to an end and it's time to move on to the next... which starting next week will be my annual retreat to the Oregon coast to recharge and to begin playing with a few new painting ideas. With this heat we've been having a trip to the coast sounds like just about heaven.

Stay cool & breezy out there dears!

Back from the EDGE

Back from a full week intensive up at Fort Worden - one of my favorite places of all time. The intensive was EDGE Professional Development Training for Artists run by Artist Trust. I can't even begin to describe just how incredible this program is.

I spent my week alongside 18 other artists to study business planning, taxes, grant writing and proposals as well as critiquing one-another's portfolio and artist statements. We encouraged each other. We challenged each other. We ate our meals together. Each day growing more trusting of one another.

The materials presented and the practicing artists, teachers, consultants and business folk were all STELLAR. I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything I have learned. Darn good thing I got sent home with a 10 pound binder as a reminder!

Our syllabus for the week was this:

Sunday - Introduction & Presentations
Monday - Professional Portfolio
Tuesday - More Professional Portfolio, Funding, Exhibition & other Opportunities
Wednesday - More Funding, Exhibition & other Opportunities / Grant writing
Thursday - Communication & Marketing
Friday - Business Concerns - Profit & Loss / Budgets / Taxes
Saturday - Business Concerns - Pricing / Business Plans & Final Presentations
Sunday - Wrap Up

My room was so simple yet so filled with light and a view of solid greenery that I never wanted to leave. Such a simple yet wonderful thing to be able to open two windows for a cross breeze while snoozing. Pure heaven.

On Thursday after talking about marketing & networking all day we all tromped down to the beach to enjoy the evening. Equipped with blankets and wine we talked about art through sunset and moonrise. I learned more about myself and my art that night than I ever have. After that night everything seemed possible.
After the whole week I know everything is possible.

Threads, a Yearning Success

Hooray! My solo show at La Familia Gallery was a grand success! Special thanks to everyone who came out on Thursday. You all made the night extra wonderful.

The window painting went incredibly smoothly thanks to my painter helper friend Amber who also managed to snap some pictures of the process:

Also huge thanks to my friend Larry who helped me hang the show.

This is one happy artist =)

Already off on my next adventure - I leave for the Artist Trust EDGE program this morning.
Hope you all have a fabulous week!