All Together Now

Hello Kind Reader! Did I tell you? I have finally conquered the beast that is Wordpress and built a new website. This newbie has a blog in tow so I will no longer be posting here. Though I still love the idea for the combination of home and art as a balancing act (ain't it though?) I am focusing on just showcasing newer work. But perhaps occasionally I will need a rant space and here is as good as any. Meanwhile please go to sharoneisley.com to see what I'm up to. Oh but what the heck- here's my newest little watercolor. Come to the Wanderlust show this December at Modern Eden Gallery in SF to see it and its two sisters.

Eberhardt watercolor 5" x 7"

Invasive Youth

Dear Reader,
I am happy to say I shall hold off on doing more large paintings for a bit. in fact. now this biggie is done I plan to do an illustration commission, then its down to business. I really do not excel at the business side of being an artist. But the time has come, the walrus said...so much easier just to paint!

Invasive Youth 31" x 66"

the whole painting... but not particularly color correct- kinda washed out and blue. sigh...Mongooses are an invasive species in Hawaii (where I took the photo of the foliage). Children are an invasive species in my home...if, like the mongooses, innocent. Little red bird watches and observes. as always grumble grumble...I hate the process of reproduction. To get this above image i tiled 5 different photos together. There is all sorts of distortion because of this! Have fun finding it- its like a picture game. (Ill post a overexposed version at the bottom that hasnt been tiled so you can compare).

 

here is my partial image with the notion of tiling the 3 pics together. unfortunately although this one is good the others sucked!

 bleh!

 close up1

close up 2

Endless Geyser of Awesome

Hello Kind Reader,

Are you wondering why I haven't posted anything for awhile? I've been working on quite a large piece. I am almost done. almost. Just one tricky Papaya to go.
Meanwhile check out these great write ups I received recently! Here's a write up on Mona Llama by Archie McPhee. How awesome is that! I made it into their "Endless Geyser of Awesome."
And Laughing Squid, our SF art reviewer, choose my piece as the center piece for their article.

Mona Llama in Mona Show at Modern Eden Gallery

The Mona show is Saturday July 20th- Aug. 9th at a sweet surrealist gallery in Northbeach, SF called Modern Eden. Most months Modern Eden curates a solo show and also a group show on a theme. I painted Mona Llama for this months theme. Another respite from the LARgE and very detailed painting Im currently working on. Should be a fun show!
check out the details at:
www.moderneden.com/pages/mona

Mona Llama 14" x 10"

I'll be at the opening on Saturday the 20th! Hope to see you there!

New Watercolors from a While Back

well Kind Reader, as you might know, I have been working on some bigger pieces to court a really pretty great gallery. But sometimes I have to take a break and enjoy a piece that only asks for a few days to complete. These two watercolors were completed between the last big one and the one that currently looms on my easel. i forgot to post them. sorry.

"Ze-Bike" 6 x 9.5"
"Through the Park"5.5 x 9"

Another Even Bigger

Hedge Row
about 5' x 3'
Oil on carved Wood 

And since it is difficult to see the details on my larger paintings, especially the long horizontal/vertical ones, here are some close-ups for ya...

Deviation for A New Year!

Jungle Song
oil on wood
36" x something like 24"? Too lazy to measure...lol 
Well- it IS the first of the new year kind reader. I am embracing color! And size! My next piece will also be painted into and around an ornate frame- about 5' wide by 30" tall. fun fun fun. I am preparing bigger pieces for a gallery that only sells larger works. Hopefully they will represent me and I want to be ready with this new series of animeoples when that time comes.
Yes- glare on the piece. This year I resolve to actually hire professional photographers to properly capture my paintings! 
Not to worry, I dO plan to still paint smaller watercolors to show in the berkeley gallery and elsewhere. The large ones will take months each. yikes. And yet I look forward into settling into these larger works, like Jungle Song above, in all her glorious detail.
btw- I sold my larger piece Dream of God as well as Magnolia Dancers, and the ocean fairy house, all in the last month. Out of 2012 with a bang!

the Stitches of Spring Fall into Winter

  Stitching Autumn 55"x18"
click on picture for larger image
Yeash- Sorry Reader, this new version of Blogger doesn't have a size option for images (that I can find). You will just have to come and schedule a studio visit. I like studio visits. You dont have to buy a painting. Its just fun to sit and meet you with a cup of tea. Of course it was lovely when a lady, who saw my Tandem Hares painting in the Bohemian(a local weekly paper), scheduled a visit, and bought a large Animeople- Freed by the Flame. Did I already blog that? I'm still reeling.
Obviously I am loving our autumn. It is my favorite season. So here the red winged blackbird stitches the pomegranate tree to the sky but already her stitches come unraveled and leaves are falling. So it turns. And who is the maker? And who the destroyer? Crafty birds. ;-)
Next up and already in the works- a bigger animeople- in a very colorful palette to combat the winter greys. She will be painted into a large oval frame. Can't wait to show you!

Velocipede and Tandem Hares

 

 Well, I know I know, I am a wretchedly irregular blogger. So sorry. My youngest went off to kindergarten this fall and I wanted to really spend time with my children-savor these last precious days of innocence. I can now, whoop and holler, paint more than  two days a week. Now I can spend time progressing my career as an artist without simultaneously admiring the latest earthworadmonishing the latest indoor muddy footprint. 

 So here are two new paintings from the first two weeks of school. They are for a one night happening- the Staches and Spokes show here in Santa Rosa this coming Saturday from 3-8 PM. Its a moustach competition and bike art show. lol...and I have been wanting to paint animeoples on bikes so here you have it- Velocipede and Tandem Hares.

Opening Tonight!!

Hello Kind Reader. I thought I should let you know that we will be having a free art project for kids at the opening tonight. Benjamin and Phineas are leading it for the first two hours (4-6) before they are carted off to be sat upon. Hope to see you there!

June 9th Reception at RiskPress Gallery in Sebastopol

I sure hope, Kind Reader, that you can come to this opening! Almost all new work. Mostly animeoples but also my newest persimmon piece. Its a DIY show- I have to do it all-promo/card/food/even sitting the gallery. yikes. Man do I need to find gallery representation! On the other hand- full take on anything sold...so...that's nice. I'll be in the gallery when I can through June, but please schedule a visit if you want to get in and peruse the art at a certain time.

 Pictured here is the back of the postcard (thus the spot for an address).The front is Magnolia Dancers (see last post). I will send you a card if you send me your address (don't assume I have it! I am highly disorganized). I will email one to my 'list' today...or tomorrow. I have to pick up the little one and then the bigger one in an hour and then cart them off to a cubscout bridging ceremony in the woods, so tomorrow is looking more likely! ;-)

btw- the little Rhino boy is one of 15 small 3.5 x 5"panels (re-purposed linoleum samples) all hanging together on a re-purposed door for an interactive piece (you get to flip the samples about- they are awesome 1970's colors/patterns in warm neutral tones and wood). The piece is called "No Child Left Behind". Ironically the pieces were dropped off in Phineas's preschool anonymously- so..the school theme. All kids going back from present to the 1600's. The little Rhino with his stick and hoop is a tribute to my awesome friend Sarah who paints lovely Rhino's (or rather lovely gods and goddesses in Rhino form). check her out at sarahsoward.com.

I sure hope you can come to the show!

Dancing Magnolia and Spring

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Magnolia Dancers
18" x 40.5"


actually Kind Reader- I have finished quite a few pieces. I'm trying to get it all together for my solo show at RiskPress Gallery this coming June (opening probably June 2nd). So no more big oils- no time! Instead all the other bleh stuff to do- promotion, cards, web site updates, framing. all that joy. I will scan and post my newer watercolors and all the small drawing Im doing for a 'reuse' interactive piece when I get a few more minutes. Don't hold your breath!

Meanwhile I made a cloak for my soon to be 8 year olds birthday. They get a big birthday every other year. This year it's Benjamins turn. We seem to be raising a big hearted geek. Could be worse! And look at this pose. It was so worth the hours spent sewing this lined velveteen cloak to see him get in the mode with it on. And yes- he is on the roof on a windy day. lol.



In case you still think I am being lazy I made this arch to hold up our lemon and apricot tree on the front path. I still need two more small old windows for the upper sections, so Kind Reader, if you have one sittin about please drop it off.



Goodness is spring here? It is on my mantel! I had a few little stuffed birds left over from a large baby mobile I made for some good friends who just adopted a baby. the flowers are washed wool and vintage buttons. Easy fun crafty stuff. Happy Spring!!

Persimmon Flight

Persimmon Flight
oil on carved wood
30" x 40" (or something like that)

The deep winter blues had me wanting some eye candy art. I sure do love painting persimmons.

Flying and Sisters

Sisters
6" x 8"

Sorry kind Reader, I'm sure you've been thinking I dropped off the face of the art world. Actually I finished "Flying" last year before the holidays, and "Sisters more recently. Times are just bustling with family birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, and in-law visits, not to mention three different workshops I led. But the holidays are behind us and I am going full throttle. My littlest has turned five. That's right- He's SCHOOL aged. granted he isn't in kindergarten yet BUT just knowing before this year is out I will have more regular painting time is enormous. It is incfredibly difficult to be an artist mom with little ones running about. Creating art is alluring and intense and it gives one grey hairs trying to be simultaneously mom and artist. It is, admittedly, when I loose my patience. So I look forward to quality time with my studio all morning, and quality time with my children all afternoon.
At any rate, here they are- two new watercolors- painted on the two mornings a week my now 5 year old is in preschool.


Flying
9" x 8"
Do you know what movie still I borrowed this image from? I'll give you a clue- it was a black and white movie made in a country I get to visit next month. !!

Miss.P a New Watercolor

Welcome Miss.P, a new watercolor. I'm sure, kind Reader, you know the artist I borrowed from?

Sukah Time

A few people have asked me to post pictures of the sukahs we build every year for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. I suppose I could as easily blog them on my fairy gnome house blog
just as reasonably. I love this holiday- bringing our family outdoors at such a lovely time of year. Already we are a month past Sukkot, but I leave each years creation up until the rain and wind batter it down. Though the dried flowers have blown away, we still find an occasional sunny winter afternoon to enjoy a cup of tea and a treat under our free form sukah, or gaze at the stars through its loosely woven roof on a clear night.
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And, kind reader, in case you were wondering, Im a bit behind posting my newer pieces. Perhaps this weekend?

Studio Soiree Oct 27th

I will have a hodge-podge solo show of my work up at the Share Exchange in downtown Santa Rosa through October. Sono-ma.com is turning the reception into one of her fabulous studio soiree's, with vendors sampling their wares, raffles and more.
October 27th (thursday)
come in costume!

Our guest list is limited to the first 50 people who respond. RSVP for you and a friend today! Hope you can make it!

(This Sono-Ma event is geared towards adults - make it a date night or a parent's night out and enjoy!)

-Hope to see you there!


RSVP to:
holly@sono-ma.com

or off facebook

For more details about this free inspiring evening for local parent artisans and art enthusiasts see http://sono-ma.com/category/studio-soirees/.

A Tea Ceremony and Soldiers Marching through Time

Tea Ceremony
2' x 4'
This ones been fun. I do so like to combine all the ways I like to paint- you know. So, dear Reader, I have a tree painting, an animeople people, and carved wood. Graphic style with realistic. Two wood ducks having tea in a bonsai


close ups


Foot Soldier
30" x 48"?

and in case you thought I was just sitting around. Originally I was going to paint each of these animeoples as a separate painting. But who wants to dwell on soldiers for half a year? So I combined them, focusing my attentions on my favorites. The research was fun- I had to find foot-soldiers through time- not generals- and then use the art from that period, and find an animal they would have depicted.

Summer Daze and Studio Makeover

this table surface is way more beautiful than anything I can paint!
I am SO sorry my kind readers. It has been some time. I'm still chugging along- haven't put down the brush. For some reason I temporarily obsessed on 'doing up' my studio after the opening at Castle in the Air. My friend Chris Knerr, cement mason and graphic artist extraordinaire, helped me transform my scary chewed up particle board work table into a lovely cement surface. And I used up a lot of reallly old paint to break up the old band-aid colored walls. One of those- "why the heck didn't I do this ten years ago" projects.
Meanwhile I am working on a commission- a trade for a computer-yay. And while that challenging partnership resolves itself I am working on a more epic animeople painting of foot soldiers marching throughout time. And after that? sigh...I have to decide where my focus will be for the next year, for the show at RiskPress Gallery. More animeoples? hanging Box Art? more trees with a touch of the whimsical or sureal?

Chris teaching me how to make the cement table. I turned all the cement in a rusty wheel barrow with a shovel. it was pretty muscle intensive. then we added this adobe red.

hee hee power tools. hee hee

Not sure why the blue paint looks yellow here, but the finished table is almost too nice to work on!
more studio corners: