Indie Davis Tomorrow!

I've been varnishing, packing, printing, labelling--all to get ready for Indie Davis tomorrow. Stop by 10-4 tomorrow and check out the website for more information on the talented folks that will be there.

Enlightened

I painted this on a "wipedown"--what I like to call it when I decide to start over on a piece. I had another landscape on this board which was not cooperating with me. So we parted ways. I love these deep wood cradled boards and wasn't about to waste one on a painting I didn't love. I am much happier with this one--proof that sometimes something better IS waiting around the corner.

Enlightened
oil on extra deep cradled gesso board
6 x 12 x 1.5"
lightly varnished + signed
available in the shop

I still have my paintings available at Haute Again if you are in the area and would like to see them. They'll be there through the first week of July. Thank you (so much) to those of you who have come by and visited them. So many of them have been adopted to happy homes!

Sketchbook

It's been a busy few weeks. I've focused on ceramic creations for two shows and now I'm really looking forward to getting back to the easel. Some days I don't have the wherewithal or time to paint in oil and I do some little sketches in watercolor and pencil. A lot of them aren't worth sharing but I've decided to put a few of them in a new shop section called "sketchbook". Just for fun.

I hope you're having a great weekend.

Slipping into something different

I know some of you follow me on Facebook and may have seen that I've been dipping my toes into the ceramic world. And by world, I mean it is totally different from painting. There are so many steps and variables. For a (ahem) control-oriented person like myself, it feels good to let it go. Opening that kiln fills me with childlike giddiness and anticipation!

I have been working with simple, organic shapes in porcelain, a nice contrast to my color-filled painting realm. Going between the two has made me more creatively complete and inspired. I look forward to painting each day more than ever..and squishing clay in the in-between times. I'm so lucky to be able to do both.

Feel free to check out more of my porcelain pieces at my new etsy shop.

Mud Room Wellies + next show

It's wet and rainy here all over again. Fingers crossed it's sunny by Saturday for my next Indie Davis event. I will have all the newest paintings shown here..come out and see them in person!

Mud Room Wellies
oil on canvas
4 x 6"
lightly varnished + signed
*sold*

Last Hurrah!

I have a great little show today in Downtown Davis. This will be my last one this year! Nina is hosting some amazing local talents...she has this ability to do magical things in her little space. I still have a lot of paintings available--perfect for last-minute gifts. Grab a warm cup of cocoa and come on by! Sorry 'bout all the exclamation points. Lots of coffee this morning.

Last Weekend

My show over the weekend was the best I've ever had. Not just because the sales were great, but because I got to see hundreds of people's reaction to my paintings. Yes, some just walked on by (which is fine) but so many stopped to take a closer look, ask questions and give me a knowing nod.

You see, I paint first and foremost for me. Because I have to. It's a strange imperative, knowing you will not be happy or fulfilled until you can create something. So when I meet someone who enjoys my art so much that they want to hang it in their home or give it as a gift--it's like I'm resonating, vibrating on a frequency with them. Most times it's with someone whom I've never even met before. How is this possible? It's surreal, intimate and emotional. I say "thank-you" because that's all I can say in that moment. Inside I'm moved beyond words.

It's a busy week around here, but I can't wait to pick up a brush again.

This Weekend!

I am about ready for this weekend's Davis Art Center Holiday show. It's a three-day inside event where it will be nice and toasty..and filled with beautiful artwork. I'll have all the new pieces I've been blogging about. Come see them in person and say hello! All the details are here. It's wonderful to live in a community that celebrates art and the importance of handmade.

Small Works Show

I've started a new series of works on laminate chips for an upcoming 2nd Friday ArtAbout show at Nina's Haute Again in Davis, September 10th. I'm painting feverishly to have a bunch of fun, affordable pieces available that evening. This one is a local farm stand we frequent. I'll be sharing more with you as I finish them.

Ikedas Sunset
oil on laminate chip
3 1/2 x 5"
lightly varnished

Etsy front page!

Thanks to a fun treasury created by PonyAndPoppy, I made it to the front page! Woot! View the whole Hit the Road treasury here. It made my day!

Post Show

I had a wonderful time on Saturday in front of nina and tom here in Davis. The new display boards looked great and I loved the neat, clean look of my paintings against them. The weather was toastier than expected but it was fun to chat with my neighbor and friend Melissa and meet some new creative souls. I even sold a few things! Woo-hoo!

The nice feedback was so rewarding (and needed). Nina has been kind enough to invite me to hang some work in her shop, too. So I'm going to sort through my etsy listings to make sure I've removed the ones she would like to hang. Most importantly it means I need to get painting to fill up the inventory again!