Welcome!

Thanks for visiting my blog! Here I hope to share some of the things that come from my head to my hand to paper, and the stories behind it all.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Arcata 1 Will be Auctioned Off December 9th

Falkirk’s 100
              100 Fine Artists
           100 Small Artworks
Auction Preview Exhibit
and silent bidding begins
Nov. 19th – Dec. 9 th
Weekdays, 1-5pm; Saturday, 10am-1pm

Silent Art Auction

Friday, December 9th
                5:00 to 8:00 pm


Admission $15-20 by donation at the door

This Silent Art Auction will focus on “Falkirk’s 100” – one hundred artists who have exhibited at Falkirk, and whose work is particularly strong.
Auction proceeds will benefit Falkirk, and ensure that the galleries remain open and thriving
. 
Artworks will be small and affordable!

A Gift for Falkirk
A Gift for a Friend


Arcata 1 is the first of what I think will be a new run of pieces incorporating both graphite and colored pencil.  I love the play of space, color and texture in this one.  The border is still manipulated, as I like to do when I can.  It came from a photo I took while on a visit to Arcata, California this past summer.

4 Artists 1 Place

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Anak Anak

Meet more children from Lombok, Indonesia.  During my time there, I came across so many beautiful children.  I was always amazed by the simplicity of their lives.  These three didn't pose...they just go through life near each other, and taking care of each other. I don't even know if they were brothers and sister, but their understanding of togetherness and support don't require blood.  It just wouldn't make any difference.

Oh...and "anak" means "child" in Indonesian.  In typical simple fashion, if you want to say "children", you just multiply the word and say it twice!

This piece will also be featured at Piccolo/Shirocos in November.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

La Madera

I have a lot of drawings in my head...and I love things related to water.  That is part one.  Part two is that a couple years back, I played with the idea of abstract art by drawing a bee extremely close up for the Bees at the Bee show in Sacramento.  The focus was on color and composition. I like that idea.

So I think water reflections are prime for abstract images, and that is what La Madera is. Why call a water shot "Wood"?  Because the main dark section running through the center is a wooden pier. 

This piece was done because I wanted to do it, but I will also be featured starting November 4th at the upcoming "4 Artists 1 Space" show at Piccolo/Shiroco's.  I wanted to do an abstract piece for this show. The bee will also be there!

Come by and see the art there in November!  Karen Hatzi from BMS will also be featured, along with a couple of other folks I haven't met yet.


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Cute Kids Live in Wigan



It has been since 2008 that I have visited my lovely friends the Steeles in Wigan, England.  When I was there last, it was just Darren, Emma and the young Amelia, a bit over a year I think.  I promised Darren and Emma that I would draw Amelia for them, and finally just got around to it!  I pilfered their facebook photo albums and found this amazingly precious photo when she was probably not quite a year old.  LOVE the expression...it really makes you wonder what was on her mind.


Since my visit, they have also added Oliver to the family.  No drawing of him yet...but I am sure there will be soon!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Kilmainham Gaol, 2008: Evolution of a Drawing


In the summer of 2008, I made a trip to Dublin, Ireland in search of my Irish roots.  My Nan, my grandma on my dad's side, always told me we had Irish in us.  She was from Wigan, England, as is the rest of my family on this side, and no one else agreed with her.  I journeyed around Dublin for a week, searching through pages of old death, birth and wedding certificates but found nothing.

When I headed to Wigan to meet up with my family, my cousin Kathleen helped me search in the local ancestry library there.  Joyously, we found them!  My great, great, great grandparents came to England at the age of 17 and married in Manchester Cathedral!

Anyway, while in Ireland, I did some touring.  I visited Kilmainham Gaol for one, and was fascinated by the history and the feeling of the place.  This is my first piece from what I hope to be a small series of drawings of the gaol. I love the way a drawing comes alive in its various stages, so chose to show that here.





Dougle the Dog

I was needing more samples of dog drawings for promoting the portrait aspect of my work, and this pic of my cousin Gaynor's dog Dougle has always grabbed me.  Dougle lives in Wigan, England, and is the love of his mommy's life!