arthop 3.3.11

march arthop was definately a fun one. i was able to make it to studio-74 to see ole's solo show,  her vibrant colors and designs were such an inspiration. she also had some really interesting mixed media pieces. next stop was city arts gallery, wanted to say hi to aileen imperatrice and joe osejo. Then it was onto broadway studios to meet ma ly & may lee lee at colligio studio which is where i'll be having a show for may 5th arthop. i'm really hoping that i can finish some new pieces for the show that relate to the theme "kindred"...we'll see how that goes! Oh and please take note that several of these photos were taken by my friend's daughter, maya who is 5. she has told me that she wants to be an artist when she grows up which i think is just the cutest darn thing ever...

good friend winnie stopped by the treasury with her boyfriend andy.



arthop at the treasury. photo by: maya

arthop at the treasury. photo by maya

arthop at the treasury. me in front of some of my paintings

with shawn and my last 100 girl at the treasury. photo by: maya

arthop at the treasury. photo by: maya

artist jessica sweat (on left) at the treasury. photo by: maya

artist nelina marie with her paintings at the treasury.

with nelina marie at the treasury.

arthop at the treasury. photo by: maya

my friend marie at the treasury. photo by: maya

me with artist navil rodriguez at the treasury.

jessica sweat's artwork at the treasury. i bought the top left piece :) 

artist josh freeman with winnie at the treasury. photo by me :P



arthop at the treasury. photo by: maya



me working on a new mixed media painting at the treasury. photo by: winnie

                                                   

a work in progress. will be mixed media. photo by: maya

the little artist/photographer maya with her portrait that i did of her.

artist aileen imperatrice with her work at city arts gallery.

me with artist ole scovill at her solo show @ studio-74

artist ole scovill in front of one her self portraits at studio-74

I also found out over the weekend that i sold one of my paintings at the show... "tangled in the mangroves", which was the featured image on the undercurrent last year.  *happy*

new painting & next show

I haven't blogged in a while, there are just a few things to catch up on!  I've been under the weather for about a week, but was able to finish a new piece on saturday night for my next show.  it actually isn't New new, it's from the 100 girls in 2010 project, but i just got around to finishing all of the details on her.  I had gotten really stuck with how to finish it, and you just can't rush those things.  so here is "Korina", acrylic on canvas 16x20 inches. (will take a better picture with my good camera, this was taken with my phone's camera) I was trying to stick with primary colors & black/white for this painting. I like to give myself a challenge with colors, it keeps it interesting for me i guess.  i'm not really a blue person, but it was fun to use this time.  the background has gold paint in it too, and for her skin i used some silver paint.  the hair took ages (it felt like) to complete, i had to keep coming back to it. I'm not entirely happy with her headpiece, but it's growing on me ;)  

"Korina" acrylic on canvas 16x20 inches

I have finished a few commisions as well, i'll post them later this week!
on another note...looking forward to this thursday's arthop in Tower District and Downtown Fresno.
I have some pieces in the front room at The Treasury this month along with a bunch of other awesome local artists.
 (check out the flyer below for more info) 

Next Show at The Treasury March 3rd & 4th 2011

Also looking forward to art-hopping to these locations beforehand...

Olé Scoville at Studio-74

Join local artist Olé Scoville for Art Hop March 3! Exhibit runs until March 26, 2011 during gallery hours.



Greg Sumii at Colligio Studios c/o Broadway Studios

Primarily a skilled Tattoo Artist, Greg Sumii will share his personal oil paintings on Canvas. You don't want to miss him!
Start Date:	03-Mar-2011

hoping to make it to these, if time allows...

"Ophelia" at Gallery 25



Nanete Maki-Dearsan/Oil Paintings

Exhibition Dates: March 3 - April 3, 2011



Reception: ArtHop Thursday, March 3 from 5-8pm


"One Man's Trash" at C.A.F.E. infoshop
Rogue Gallery Exhibit at City Arts Gallery

Happy ArtHopping!!







Hello 2011

and noooo way am i doing 111 girls in 2011. don't get me wrong it was fun, but also sooo stressful! Last years project 100 girls in 2010 was definately a huge personal accomplishment and success.  some people say that it's not good to force one's creativity upon themselves. although, normally i would agree with that statement, in my case i felt that i needed to do something extreme in order to try new things and create a style which is recognizable as my own.  there are a few of the pieces in the bunch that i sort of wish that i could replace. (they are not my favorites and i won't say which one's!) But, without them...would i have been able to create some of the ones that are my favorite?  I'm not sure that I would have.  I'm going to be working on creating a flyer that has all 100 girls on it. should be interesting to see them all together in one place.  I'll put that up on facebook when it's done, i'm sure it will take some time to do all the cropping and size reductions. Over the weekend I started to frame some of the pieces...never thought i could get such a HIgh from framing my paintings. It's just amazing to see them all come together and i seriously can not wait for the show in June at Studio 74!

Here are some of my favorite personal art moments of the year....

having a show at The Saroyan Theatre during the Romeo & Juliette Symphony was a great experience. A very different crowd of people got to see my work.

Entered 4 pieces into the cARTalog contest at FCC, and 2 of my pieces won! 1st place and best of show. I won $75 bucks!

my paintings were on display at Urban Ornaments in Clovis for about 5 months. Thanks to them I sold several paintings and merchandise.

My painting "Tangled in the Mangroves" on the cover of The Undercurrent. Huuuuge honor and happy moment. Thank you Miss Kelly Hawthorne for bringing in the article that day to class, or else i might have never got the guts to submit to them.



"Cecilia & The Centipede" painted for 31 girls in 31 days Poison theme. she was one of my breakthrough's with using mixed mediums. ink pen, acrylic, watercolor and gouache on tea-stained paper. I was learning the class/order/phylum of some animals in my biology class at the time too, so the centipede seemed appropriate. This was the first time that i did the detail in the hair, which i fell in love with and have used several times since.

The Without Color show @ Chris Sorensen's Gallery. This ended up being one of my favorite paintings of the year, and it's one of the biggest painting that i have ever sold.  This show also reminds me that Payne's Grey has a blue tint to it, and I will never use it again for a without color show...lesson learned thank you :o)

I was soooo incredibly fortunate to have gone on a whirlwind vacation to Australia with my mom this year. What an amazing experience. Here is myself, Cousin Jane and mom Lynn in front of some art from locals in Melbourne.  Also got the chance to go to the Tim Burton Exhibit and European Master Painters Exhibit. *thank you mom*

This years attempt at a self-portrait. I was feeling very torn at the time of painting this...torn between doing my homework and wanting to paint.  I absolutely hated my Trig class and was failing it too.  i worked on this before class a few times to calm my nerves. Math really irks me. yuck.

The month of October included several events involving The Pink Show. I was so honoured to have been asked by Cynthia Chapman to create the art for 2010's poster. It includes 5 women from all walks of life in front of the historic tower theatre. I'm glad that this was auctioned off to a lady who i know personally and she will take good care of it.

I was also honoured to be able to get the chance to paint my cousin Amanda, who is a cancer survivor.  She lives in Cairns, Australia and it was great to meet her while i was there, she is such an inspiration...i swear that woman has more energy than i do!  I will be mailing her this painting!



Me with Josh Freeman and Linda Lloyd Pitts
Art shows galore at The Treasury!  So much fun and really great to meet more local artists. I love to talk art! I look forward to more shows with them in the future...Thank you Toby!

 


"Kindred" acrylic on canvas

another favorite of mine from 2010.  I love it when a painting sits doomed and unfinished for months and months, then all of sudden gets chosen to be completed and the results are so pleasing to me. I also realized this year, that it's ok to not use 100% color color COLOR. just chill stephanie...use some greys and more black. it calms the soul a bit.



"Dia De Los Muertos" show at City Arts Gallery. That show was sooo much fun. never been a part of show that had that much entertainment. loved every minute of it! (even being told that my painting cost too much by someone that didn't know i was the artist. hehe :o)



"Woodland Girl" 3 color screenprint.

LOVED my printmaking class last semester so much that i'm taking screenprinting in the Spring.  Printmaking is such a different approach to creating a piece...really made me think differently and i loved that.

"Miss Monster" Mixed Medium
I discovered that its "OK" for me to let a little of my dark side out after painting 2 zombie girls for the San Diego Undead show.  Even if Mom's not too into them...hehe.

worked on this project throughout the year...very mentally draining, challenging, rewarding

2010 was a great year. obviously i love to paint otherwise why would i be doing it...but it's also so much more than that to me...it's the most rewarding thing in the world. starting with this blank piece of paper or canvas, totally BLANK...then spending days and days on the creation of this image that comes straight from my mind. it really is a blood, sweat and tears experience. sometimes, i throw my canvas across the room in frustration. (and then i apologize to it).  I get really annoyed with myself when the painting isn't looking like the way i envision it.  Then, I overcome it...and THAT is the moment that makes me feel like i'm floating on a cloud in happiness.  Nothing else gives me that feeling, and i'm honestly addicted to it.  If people like my art enough to come to my shows or even purchase a painting, then that is just so amazing to me.  It allows me to be able to purchase more art supplies, and continue with my ultimate dream...(to be a full-time artist). Fresno has been so kind to me and I know it sounds cheesy but there are people that I want to thank for giving me a chance and making this year such an awesome learning experience -  Sin Chapman (The Pink Show), Marty & Lupe Oftedal @ BeBeO's, Teresa & Barbara @ Urban Ornaments, Toby @ The Treasury, Joe Osejo @ City Arts Gallery, The Undercurrent, Iris Wasabi, Rick @ Gorgon Isle Gallery...there are probably much more that i am blanking on...but you know who you are!

My latest acrylic painting

"Kindred" acrylic on canvas 12.2.2010

I realize that I take more time on my acrylic paintings.  I like the larger scale also because i can put more detail into it.  I worked on this painting off and on for about a month but started drawing it months and months ago.  I was unsure what to do with it after drawing most of the girl. but i did know that I wanted her to be sitting on a rock :o)

As I started to fill in the painting with color at The Treasury's Nov. ArtHop...it hit me which direction to take the painting in.  I decided that she and the owl would be kindred spirits to one another. So, the title became "Kindred".  I sometimes wonder if each person has a connection to a type of animal.  I used to think that my 5th grade math teacher was a mole in another life, but this was just because she resembled one.  (she was not a very nice lady).  I wanted to keep the color palette fairly simple in this painting, and I turned to ruby red, golden yellow, greys, blacks and silvers.  I really like how it came out, and i need to remember to let myself be free when painting...as free as a bird...

Working on the painting at The Treasury

Working on the painting at The Treasury (ArtHop)

And now back to 100 girls in 2010.  Just a little over 20 days to complete about 27 paintings of girls. yes the number scares me...but it's just a number and I know i can do it.  SOMEHOW! Thank you so much to all who have been following my progress throughout the year.  Your support is what keeps me motiviated to complete this, and I really look forward to showing them at Art Hop @ Studio 74 June 2011! 

the crazy week of art shows!

I need to catch up on my blogging, alot has been going on. so here goes...

the week of november 1st-5th was quite a busy one. i felt like i was running around like a crazy person all week, but it was so much fun!  tuesday was the day of the dead celebration & art show at City Arts Gallery. besides the amazing artwork, there was face painting going on, a fire eater, a magician and some awesome dia de los muertos costumes. 

"Day of the Dead" acrylic on canvas 2010 (i might add more detail when i get this back from the gallery)



collage of some pics from the show

the next shows were on thursday (ArtHop).  at Gorgon Isle Gallery, i had a few pieces in the group show, "breaking traditions". there was a really great mix of art from artists who work with all types of mediums. 

      

that same night was ArtHop @ The Treasury with artists, Linda Lloyd Pits, Josh Freeman and myself.  the show was great fun, i worked on a painting while i was there and actually several people were using their creativity that night...drawing and painting, etc... it was good times!  ReHop was the next night at The Treasury and it was more live painting and fun! 



collage of arthop & rehop @ The Treasury


Also on Nov. 4th was ArtHop @ City Arts Gallery where I had the 2 paintings that i had at the day of the dead celebration show, i didn't make it over there for that ArtHop though!