Aeronaut and the Business of Being

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Aeronaut
umm...about a foot high?
better pic coming SOON esp. now that I added one of the first dirigibles in the background sky!

And then I was busy.
With a fairy house workshop in less than two weeks two commissioned portraits (with people heads), a misc. hubcap project, and two large solo shows on the horizon I am a busy busy Mommy. This morning Phineas and I strolled through the old rural graveyard in a light rain, collecting moss for fairy house carpets. I love moss- I love its delicate tiny world- leaves like little stars or plush vibrant tiny fern leaves. An entire garden in an inch of ground. And then to the thrift store for small antique looking frames for prints of the Animeople paints. The framed prints sold well at the last show- the Sci Fi/Fantasy show.

One more Animeople done, 19 or so to go! This one fits into my steam punk-y show as well for September. Of course its a horrid reproduction, as always. The sky should have a slight pink hue and the coat and basket are a tad dark alas. But- come on- its been perpetually raining for weeks! What can an art photographer do??

I'm sorry kind reader, have I mentioned that my good friend Sarah termed my miniature animal headed portraits as my 'Animeople' paintings (that's anim(al)-(p)eople) and I so like the word- it wonderfully has no 'ism' and no 'ist'. So I will go to the side bar in this here blog and change it from 'minitures'...when I'm not so busy. which I am. Did I mention I'm rather busy?

Fairy House Plus Box Art Equals...Sculptural Painting?

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Five Cherries
varnished manzanita branches, oil on wood.
About uh...18" high? The boxes are 4 or 5" square (I'm too lazy to go to the studio the measure the darn thang right now. Ive been moving concrete blocks all morning in an attempt to create a patio out of recycled materials.... not to mention scouring the neighborhood for our lost chicken, who I found and lured home with bits of Challah bread.)
Definitely spring inspired. Its so colorful and happy I might shock people. After Beware of God I was feeling the need for more obvious color.

I need to reshoot this side view- funny angles- they hang straight of course and the painting can hang on the wall or sit with a weight in it.


close up of one side. How the heck do I photograph this painting? Its 19plus sided!! Video perhaps. I envy the days before tech took over the business of art, when Gallery curators and buyers had to come and see ones work. The audience was smaller, I suppose, but the artists didn't have to spend hours of good painting time taking digital images and uploading them and photo-shopping this and that and web site maintenance. What a headache!

At any rate the piece is based on a poem I wrote when preggers. I wrote the three stanzas on the bottom of each box and the extra bit of the last part on the side of the box (you can kinda see it in the side view). I feel rather self-conscious about displaying a poem publicly. I'm still torn as to whether I shouldn't paint it out, but I bravely record it here.




And he'll chase the fat yellow finches from the cherry tree
catch them by their golden wings
as they fall into winter.


and next...once again which direction to go in? 3D rep of 4D with painted parts...or reg. ole paintings geared for the steampunk show based on epiphanies and children in trees? Or more branches shooting out and around? I try to limit myself and look what happens!! Too many ideas! tell me what to do kind reader, do tell? And what do you think of this latest 'branching out'?

Persimmon Thief and the August 1st Show as well as Grumbling About Art Reproduction

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Sometimes the influences of having lived in Taiwan, not to mention having had an interest in Asian art from the time I was about ten years old, comes through quite obviously. This painting, Persimmon Thief, was first drawn in with Chinese ink and brush so that, when I carved the branch out, I retained the feel of those brush lines I so love. Of course, it's tall vertical shape is like a scroll as well. Painted about a year ago (unlike all the other just finished pieces in this blog) it hangs in my husbands Edward Jones office where his clients say they feel like the raccoon, getting away with their higher percentages and dividends and whatnot's, i.e. their share of the financial pie.

Oh but I do so despise (I know that's a strong word but it is such a frustration) art reproduction. This painting is taller than myself and I am forced to tile together almost seven separate photos to create one. Each photos light is slightly different as the camera adjusts itself and by the time I've fiddled the thing into existence it is never quite what is on the wood. This piece is not so 'minty' colored. And it is so hard to view it so small. sigh. grumble grumble.

A few of my paintings (and likely this one) will be hanging what I hope to be a fabulous show August 1st in Healdsburg at the Palette Gallery (who's name may change very soon- Ill keep ya posted). A group show, we have all done labels for EricKent wines, a really fabulous and unusually artist-friendly label. EricKent will be pouring excellent wine as you peruse the wonderful art. Please join us! And check out Eric Kent Wines homepage to see all their fabulous artists and wines!