Blog
A wonderfully written article, a Member Profile, in our Athletic Club’s magazine….what’s missing, and was part of the sit-down interview, is the gratitude I have to my Tennis Tribe, who have been spectacularly supportive of my work. Our tennis community is the sum of relationships with men & women of all ages and professions, that have been forged on the courts as competitors, team-mates, and friends. We take care of each other, through thick and thin.
That’s me at UC Davis in 1970 as an art student working toward my BA in Studio Art. I was inspired by Wayne Thiebaud the moment I met him, and he mentored me until my degree was complete. We also played tennis together!
My show at the Virginia Inn is in its last weeks (through August). It's been a great run, with family and friends joining us at the two Artist Receptions. A batch of sales, too, which offers an affirmation of the hours I spend in my studio creating. The six paintings below found new homes!
Next show is October/November 2018 at Vetiver, in Issaquah....stay tuned!
Recent work to be previewed at the Vetiver Show: 'PLACES for PEOPLE'.
After my video "Here is a moment" launched, people have been sending me photos of a place that holds a moment for them. Here are some of the images that will become oil paintings.
Place: Virginia Inn, historic Seattle restaurant & bar, 1937 First Ave
Dates: July/August 2018
Opening Receptions w the Artist: Thursday July 12 and Thursday July 26, 4:30--7:00pm
Tulips, Daffodils, and Hot Spiced Cider, oil on canvas & hardwood board, 16"x20"
Finding very iconic Seattle scenes with my trusty iPhone and choosing which ones paint...that's how I've spent the last three months.
The Market, oil on hardwood board, 24"x24"
My solo show this July & August has a working title:
I Collect Moments.
The place: the brick walls inside Seattle's historic Virginia Inn.
And, yes, there will be an Opening Reception...date coming soon!
So, I am hard at work getting 15-20 paintings ready for this show. To accomplish that quantity, I am full-time in the studio (except for tennis); this immersive experience has evolved into an "accidental sabbatical", which I am so grateful for. Lots of time to try new techniques and just keep improving my skill-set.
Here are some examples for the VI show...
Stars & Stripes, oil on canvas, 20"x36"
Heather & Mike commissioned an oil painting of the place in Amsterdam where 'He proposed to Her' (...five years ago, so she had obviously said YES). They hosted a Reveal Party (who knew?) and invited lots of our tennis friends from the Bellevue Club. Here we are, moments before they got their first look!
't Smalle Bar/Cafe in Amsterdam. Title of painting: "The Proposal", oil on canvas, 36"x48"
This is historic Meydenbauer Bay...painted 18"x36"...and such a joy to create. I have been working on five commissions over the summer and loving it!
Walk around Gilman Village and hang out in the participating stores for a fantastic night of beer, wine, spirits, food, shopping, and entertainment.
Participating stores include: Susan Walker Studio, Studio Den, Pinto Portraits, Nifty Knitters, White Horse Toys, and more...
Participating breweries and wineries include Cedar River Cellars, DRU BRU, Four Generals Brewing, Lumber House Brewing, Mac & Jacks, and more!
Fellow artist and friend of artEAST, Carol Ross, joined me at the Grand Opening of Issaquah's new Marriott Hotel. Very fun event...!
And, lastly, the Harbor Public House on Bainbridge Island bought my painting "Bike Conversations" to hang in their restaurant...makes me deliciously happy!
Attended a workshop in Ross, California (Marin County) with Stanka Kordic and eight other artists last month. What I learned will begin to transform my practice. I am so excited by techniques of wedges, brayers, brushes, and thought patterns of a master artist.
Self-portrait BEFORE Stanka....
Self portrait: AFTER Stanka
Much more mystery and less literal interpretation of the content...I am not aiming to become a portrait painter, but to incorporate the learnings into my visual world.
Marin County, Northern California, is a perfect setting. Here we are outside at the studio of Elizabeth Gorek, our host.
At work...for seven hours a day for 5 days...bliss!
Stanka's finished piece.....iPhone photo, so compromised color (apologies).
The painting (as yet unnamed) is of a bar in Heathrow Airport, London. Still in process. This shot is a couple of days after the video was filmed (by my resourceful studio mate, photographer Toni Pinto of Pinto Portrait).
The veteran curator of art for the UW Physicians Network, Peggy Weiss, believes in the curative power of original art in hospital settings. I am so thankful to have a wonderful relationship with her.
Five of my oil paintings are in UW Neighborhood Clinic in Issaquah.
Goofin' around with my studio-mate, photographer Toni Pinto. So fun!
In a collector's home last night....my painting "Stretching Moments Into Minutes" in a glorious custom frame (linen mat and wood frame).
Here is the same room and painting BEFORE the custom framing...what a difference!
Such an affirmation to see people delighted with my work...here the architecture of "The Faceting Process" is being admired at a recent Exhibition Opening.
And, another source of delight is seeing my work custom-framed and in a home...this is "Stretching Minutes Into Moments" on a red wall. Stunning!
Here is "Framing A Breeze" in a kitchen....perfect!
And. lastly, the gorgeous "Framing A Long Afternoon" is wonderfully placed in a dining room.
Always a huge compliment when one of my paintings is selected for the Exhibition postcard!
This is "The Fragile Balance of Everyday Life", oil on canvas, 18"x24", 2016
And, this...the beat goes on....is my 'diploma' from Patrick LoCicero. Met him as my UW instructor in 2008, and he has continued as a mentor. When I took my newest oil paintings to his studio for a Crit, he exclaimed, "I don't have anything else to teach you! These are A++++ works."
"You've graduated!"
Of course, I'll still go back....
Two painting in process and both close to being done.
No title yet...it's a bar in London...and this painting is huge at 36"x48".
Those green umbrellas just grabbed me....this is a scene on Bainbridge Island near the bakery.
Our son Matt married Gowri in a fusion wedding (Hindu officiant) and we are overjoyed at meeting our new family from Sri Lanka!
Matt's nephew Emerson....oh, boy!
I am excited to have a solo show at Vetiver! Richard & Kristina, proprietors, are deeply committed to original art; they designed their organic hair spa with the lighting and wall space for artists to exhibit work. Above: Spellbound, oil on canvas, 36"x48"
I Know Shortcuts To Everything
oil on canvas with collage, 20"x16"
375 NW Gilman Blvd, B102
Issaquah, WA 98027
The lovely and talented artist, Malayka Gormally, works to load fifteen of my oil paintings for transport to Carillon Point for the summer.
The master curator of Gormally Art Services: the one & only Tom Gormally.
Tom Gormally is an award winning American sculptor and current Artist Trust Fellow. Look at that smile!
Laying everything out takes days. Checking back to peek and get a feel for what's needing to be expressed.
Then, the glueing happens over the course of the next days. Smoothing out the papers and letting that layer dry overnight. Making changes and edits to each day's composition. And, If I'm glueing a cut-out piece of canvas (cut from a prior oil painting), then special glue and heavy weights are necessary.
An example of the finished product. Credit to my mentor Patrick LoCicero for this collage process. Also learned about how to glue canvas onto the layered board from Tom Hausken, one of my Port Townsend EDGE-mates.
