claire b cotts art

exhibit and lecture - sonoma academy gallery

2012-01-03T09:43:00.000-08:00

I currently have an exhibit of my paintings, both figurative and abstract, up at the Sonoma Academy Gallery, in Santa Rosa - from January 3rd to February 6th, 2012

The lecture will be in the Fitzsimmons Black Box Theatre

February 6th

11:25 am to 11:50 am

sonoma academy

2500 farmers lane

santa rosa, ca

95404

gallery hours

8 am - 4 pm

monday - friday

707 545-1770

girl with red hair

2011-12-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

untitled (girl with red hair)

acrylic on panel

new work -julia

2011-11-18T16:39:00.001-08:00

julia

acrylic on panel
click to see large

painting auction - benefit for heidi-

2011-11-07T19:40:00.000-08:00

my friend heidi has had a terrible tragedy -
in october, her husband passed away a month after being diagnosed with metastatic cancer.
She has tremendous medical expenses, and she and her children are endanger of losing their home.

I'm auctioning off this piece to to try and help a little with the medical bills.
100% of the proceeds go directly to heidi.

I'm auctioning the piece silent auction style -
If you wish to bid on it, just click on "post a comment" in the comment section, and put an amount (higher than the previous bid) with your name.
The auction will end at 7:00pm (pacific time), november 18th. (my birthday!).
The painting will go off to the highest bidder :-)

gallery price would be $1200, I'm starting the auction at $25

(untitled) girl walking

acrylic on panel
9x12
click to see large

(untitled) girl walking
acrylic on panel
9x12
(detail)
click to see large

pictures from the exhibit - tinney gallery, nashville

2011-08-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from my exhibit at Tinney Contemporary Gallery.
The show looks beautiful!

If you are down that way, stop in - the exhibit will be up through September.

You can see more photos on my
Facebook page
and at the
Tinney Contemporary's Facebook page

solo exhibit at Tinney Contemporary - new work

2011-08-03T22:12:00.000-07:00

I have a large solo show opening this week at the Tinney Contemporary Gallery, in Nashville.

lost in the night garden - new work by claire b cotts

you can see more about the gallery at their site
Tinney Contemporary

opening reception: august 6th, 6-9 pm
collectors art night and artist talks: august 5th, 7:00 pm

I also garnered a mention in the daily tennessean

100 drops of water
acrylic on canvas
60" x 80"
click to see large

100 drops of water (detail)

acrylic on canvas
60" x 80"
click to see large

100 drops of water (detail)
acrylic on canvas
60" x 80"

click to see large

new work - beneath the sea, untitled

2011-07-27T22:54:00.000-07:00

life beneath the sea

acrylic on canvas
72" x 48"
click to see large

untitled

acrylic on canvas
72" x 48"
click to see large

news, sketchcrawl

2011-05-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

here are a few articles on my work in the SFMOMA artist gallery blog

telling tales

tenuously balanced blocks.

Sketchcrawl!

SketchCrawl a global drawing marathon: taking a day to journal and draw all that is around you. It was started by artist Enrico Casarosa in the SF Bay area, and has spread all around the world. This sketchcrawl was a special fund raiser for Japan.

In addition to the big contingent meeting to draw in san francisco -I rounded up some of my students to draw at the annual petaluma butter and egg day parade!
Find out how I came to be up on a parade float and waving to the crowd here....

petaluma sketchcrawl

You can see more results of the global day of drawing here.

Petaluma Sketchcrawl 31st World Wide SketchCrawl

new work - everything that rises, untitled (moth/spade)

2011-05-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

untitled
(moth/spade)

acrylic on canvas over panel
60" x 80"
click to see large

untitled
(moth/spade)

(detail)
click to see large

everything that rises

acrylic on canvas
72" x 48"
click to see large

everything that rises

(detail)
click to see large

everything that rises

(detail)
click to see large

exhibit and claire in print

2011-01-19T22:53:00.000-08:00

There is a beautifully written piece about my work in this month's Nashville Arts Magazine, in a feature they have called "My Favorite Painting". The collector Keith Glanz wrote about my painting "Summer (Sebastopol)", it's a really wonderful piece of writing

Below is a link to the feature in digital format:

Nashille Arts Magazine

I'll have three of my small pieces based on daguerreotypes in an invitational show at the Graton Gallery, just north of sebastopol.
If you've never been, Graton is a really charming little town, one of my favorite places.

http://www.gratongallery.com
The 5th Annual Invitational Art Exhibition
January 18 - February 27, 2011
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 22 | 2-5pm

tiger, tiger

2010-12-20T14:40:00.001-08:00

tiger, tiger
collage on paper, mixed media
click to see large

untitled (woman in a polka dot dress)

2010-12-16T21:58:00.001-08:00

untitled
(woman in a polka dot dress)
acrylic on panel
click to see large

new work

2010-11-14T22:43:00.000-08:00

sebastopol (summer)
acrylic on canvas
diptych 48" x 72"
click to see large

the impetus for this came this summer, taking walks up in sebastapol. There was a field of queen anne's lace and teasel that I walked past every day - that was the beginning seed of the painting, though those images have submerged a bit. Still, I like that it still contains the feeling of warm summer nights, the pulse of night in the country, stars, the sound of frogs and crickets.

untitled (daffodil)

acrylic on canvas
diptych 48" x 72"
click to see large

untitled (woman on a suzani)
acrylic on panel
12" x 16"
click to see large

from a figure drawing session. The model was on a scarlet colored cloth that threw up vivid warm light on her face. I made up an imaginary suzani (an embroidered cloth from central asia) later in my studio

untitled (woman on a suzani) - detail
acrylic on panel

night pond

2010-06-11T23:20:00.000-07:00

untitled (night pond)

acrylic on canvas (diptych)
48" x 72"
click to see large

untitled (night pond)

acrylic on canvas (diptych)
48" x 72"
click to see large

inspiration -
pond weeds, lotus, salamander eggs, volvux

nanna

2010-06-04T23:26:00.000-07:00

Nanna
acrylic on panel
click to see large

inspired by a detail from an old victorian 'carte de viste',
beautiful woman with a broad face, wearing black silk.

I just re-read (as books on tape) all of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, I loved them growing up, and my mind has been in that era.

I have always been drawn to daguerreotypes of this period, that strange flash and glimpse into another time. I love the weird crinkle and shimmer of the heavy silk, and the sheen on the carefully arranged hair. Especially, I like the posture and bearing of the subject, holding so still, so as not to blur the image.

insomnia

2010-05-31T21:01:00.000-07:00

insomnia (night crossword)
acrylic on panel
12 x 16
click to see large

insomnia (night crossword)
detail
acrylic on panel
click to see large

re-painting a day - done

2010-05-08T23:53:00.000-07:00

painted the face out, and started over, but now, I'm finally pleased with it.

a portrait from victorian 'carte de visite'

5 x 7 x 1.5
acrylic on panel
click to see large

painting a day - swedish woman

2010-05-06T23:52:00.001-07:00

painting a day
a portrait from victorian 'carte de visite'

swedish woman (with slightly crossed eyes)

5 x 7 x 1.5
acrylic on panel
click to see large

new website, painting a day, woman in a brown poplin dress

2010-05-05T23:17:00.000-07:00

painting a day

I'll be doing a painting a day (more or less) from now until open studio.
a portrait from victorian 'carte de visite'

woman in a brown poplin dress

5 x 7 x 1.5
click to see large

woman in a brown poplin dress -detail
5 x 7 x 1.5
click to see large

website
ok, finally, it's up -
my brand new website.
I'm still uploading and tweaking, but you can see it in it's rough state, there lot more details of the paintings.
I'll be uploading a bunch of new work in the coming weeks
clairebcotts.com

claire is in the new yorker!

2010-02-09T22:49:00.000-08:00

woo hoo!

This is the third year the New Yorker has invited artists to submit their own takes on the magazine's iconic mascot, Eustace Tilley, originally drawn by Rea Irvin for the magazine's first cover in 1925.

12 winners were chosen from over 350 submissions.
One of my entries won, and was one of four to be featured in the Febuary edition of the magazine.

You can see a slideshow of all 12 on the New Yorker's website here.

gary also won, with a very funny take on grand central.

(if you aren't familiar with it, it's a play on the painting "madame x" by john singer sargent, you
can see the original painting here)

portrait of madame x

one interesting note - originally, he painted it with the strap to her
dress hanging down - there was so much scandal he was forced to
repaint it (which is a shame...it was much better before).
No-one knew this until 100 years later, when a black and white photo
of the original was discovered)

madame x, original state

new work - full fathom five

2010-02-04T12:20:00.000-08:00

full fathom five
acrylic on canvas (diptych)
48" x 72"
click to see large

here are some process pics, showing some of the stages this piece went through.

stage 1

stage 2

stage 3

stage 4

stage 5

stage 6

stage 7

stage 8

stage 9

new work - dancer (resting)

2009-12-03T16:06:00.001-08:00

(click to see image large)

dancer, resting
acrylic on panel
18" x 24"
price available upon request

exhibit and blog

2009-11-03T22:48:00.000-08:00

I have a few pieces in an exhibit at the beautiful new art gallery at the santa rosa junior college, where I teach.

sonoma county is so beautiful this time of year...if you are up that way, stop in!

recent work by the SRJC faculty
dates: november 5 – december 12
opening reception: thursday, november 5, 4-6 PM
(campus parking is $2.00)
http://www.santarosa.edu/art-gallery/

for those on my regular mailing list, who don't receive daily paintings, you can see new work at my blog,
www.clairebcotts.blogspot.com

untitled (victorian lady)

2009-10-24T00:36:00.000-07:00

(click to see image large)

untitled (victorian lady)
acrylic on panel
11" x 14"
price available upon request

two day painting
I repainted a one day painting I did last month.
I've included a "before" picture as well.

from a victorian "carte de visite", a calling card.

girl (madeleine)

2009-10-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

click to see image large)

girl (madeleine)
acrylic on panel
11" x 14"
price available upon request

two day painting
I started this last month as a one day painting, but it wasn't quite getting at what I wanted.
Original, it was black and white, a harder expression, and flatter application of paint.
Picked it up and repainted it last night, I'm happy with the diaphanous quality of light.

Often, I completely destroy a painting when I try to work on it "just a little bit more".
I'm pleased when I take the leap of faith and risk of painting over a piece that's kind-of sort-of working, and it does turn out better.

mourning dove

2009-10-21T00:38:00.000-07:00

(click to see image large)

mourning dove (profile)
acrylic on panel
5" x 7" x 1 3/4"

woman with loose hair

2009-10-20T00:11:00.000-07:00

click to see image large

untitled (woman with hair loose)
acrylic on panel
11" x 14"
price upon request

this started as a 20 minute figure study, at a life drawing session.
finished it off in the studio tonight.

rosalie (2)

2009-10-18T23:48:00.000-07:00

I wasn't happy with the way the portrait came out yesterday...
it was nagging at me.

painted it out, and began again -
it's much closer to the beautiful expression in the original photograph.

rosalie crutchley

2009-10-17T23:27:00.000-07:00

click to see image large

rosalie
acrylic on panel
9" x 12"
price upon request

I'm a sucker for masterpiece theatre/bbc/costume-y and english mystery channel 9 type fare. I was watching a corny agatha christie type mystery (the kind with a manor house, where everyone has a motive and is a suspect for five minutes).
There was an older actress, in her late 70's, I was noticing how beautiful her face was.

Sometimes, I like to look at the faces of old people, and try to see in their face what they looked like when young.
I found a picture of the actress, rosalie crutchley, as a young woman, a very beautiful image -
unfortunately, the painting didn't turn out very well, the eyes are too close set, I didn't quite capture the expression. Still, it's always interesting to spend several hours studying a face, really looking at it, and trying to capture something about it.

untitled (serious boy)

2009-10-12T23:43:00.000-07:00

(click to see image large)

untitled (serious boy)
acrylic on panel
6" x 8"

winter jay

2009-10-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

(click to see image large)

winter jay
acrylic on panel
8" x 10"

pug

2009-10-08T22:14:00.000-07:00

(click to see image large)

safe to say, the freakiest painting I have ever done.

I'm not sure why, but I had been hankering to do a painting of a pug dog.
Originally, I had wanted to do a black pug dog against a black background.

I started it, and a little bit in, it occurred to me it would be really interesting, as an exercise, to set a limit on brushstrokes - to allow myself only 300 brushstrokes, no blending, glazing, smudging, mudgy-ing, as I usually do.

I was really fascinated it, until toward the end, when I realized the drawing was very bad - the eyes too close together, the nose too low...to my horror, i realized it looked exactly like an evil little gnome. In order to save the patient, I had to let go of the idea of the 300 brushstrokes.

It still looks weird to me, but at least not gnome freaky weird.

pug
acrylic on panel
6" x 8" x 1 3/4"

goldfinch with teasel

2009-10-07T22:46:00.000-07:00

(click to see image large)

goldfinch with teasel
acrylic on panel
5" x 7" x 1 3/4"
sold

woodpecker (profile)

2009-10-06T09:07:00.000-07:00

(click to see image large)

woodpecker (profile)
acrylic on panel
5" x 7" x 1 3/4"
sold

warbler and persimmons

2009-10-04T18:28:00.003-07:00

(click to see image large)

warbler and persimmons
acrylic on panel
5" x 7"

painting of the day - oriole

2009-10-03T15:04:00.000-07:00

(click to see image large)

oriole (#2)
acrylic on panel
6" x 8" x 1 3/4"

painting a day - bluejay

2009-10-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

I'm starting back my painting-a-day (more or less).
I also have a backlog of paintings to post...I'll try and get those up on the blog.

starting off with a little jay.
(click to see images large)

jay (#2)
acrylic on panel
6" x 8" x 1 3/4"
sold

SFMOMA artist gallery warehouse sale - collage

2009-05-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

santa rosa

I've been absorbed making collage paintings for the annual SFMOMA artist
gallery warehouse sale.
It's a big huge event, with all work %50 percent off of the gallery price.

sfmoma annual artists warehouse sale
sfmoma artist's gallery warehouse sale

click images to see large

my studio at the moment...

exhibit at MOCHA

2009-05-04T22:10:00.000-07:00

from manuela's gift

chronicle books

Once Upon a Time: Children's Book Illustrators Then and Now

I have 2 pieces in an upcoming exhibit at MOCHA,
the Museum of Children's Art, in Oakland.

Each year, they have an exhibit of work by children's book illustrators -
each artist has one illustration from a book, and a one piece done as a child.
It's always a very fun show.
I have a piece I did when I was 5, a trick or treat bag - I'm STILL using the same motifs, a little teardrop shape.

There will be a reception May 9, 2–4pm
MOCHA

landscapes

2009-04-23T23:18:00.001-07:00

dumpster, behind the grocery outlet (petaluma)
click to see large
I've always wanted to paint this building.
It was a strange day, vivid sun, and a terrible wind blowing around.
I was crouching on a median in the road, by a dirt parking lot.
There was a lot of grit swirling around, sticking in my paint.
The sad thing, over the course of the several hours I was there,
I saw one homeless person after another coming to search though the dumpster.

port-o-let (sebastopol)
acrylic on panel
click to see large

behind my favorite cafe.
I don't know why, but I really like painting port-o-lets.
Go figure.

santa fe steet

click to see large

Beautiful quiet little street.
I love plein-air painting; every summer, I try to
do several landscapes, usually up in sonoma county.
Places that are quiet, humble, and a
little down at the heel are what appeal to me the most.

new work and news

2008-12-01T15:12:00.000-08:00

eevy ivy over

acrylic on canvas
diptych - 72" x 48"
click to see large

I did the the bulk of the painting november 4th, glued to the radio, waiting for results.
eevy ivy over is the chant when you are jump roping, to start the swing.

eevy ivy over

acrylic on canvas (detail)
diptych - 72" x 48"
click to see large

at first thought

mixed media on paper
click to see large

back talk

mixed media on paper
click to see large

news and notes..

the christmas gift, my favorite among the children's books I have illustrated, has been reissued in paperback.
the christmas gift

One of my paintings, "the mustard seed" will be featured on a wine label :-)
(shhh..it hasn't been released yet).

eric kent wines has a very neat program, of featuring an artist's work on each label.

claire at eric kent wines

eric kent wines.com

vineeta - national portrait gallery competition

2008-08-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

Vineeta
acrylic on panel
16"h x 20"l
click to see large

portrait painter
by gary amaro

pencil on moleskine sketchbook
click to see large

My entry into the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery Competition.

I'm not very happy with it - it was painted in a panic right up to the deadline.
I got back from being out of town, ran upstairs, and started painting like a maniac.
It was very hot, I was down to my skivvy's, balancing the painting on one knee.
If I ran out of a color, I would yell "bring me a black! and a thalo blue!" and gary would run to the studio side and grab paint jars, no time to put them on my palette, just stuck my brush in. Photographed it just before deadline....awful. Under florescent light, blue, glary, and out of focus. (this is a much better picture I took under sunlight). I didn't at all capture how beautiful Vineeta is, and I'm not sure that it's clear that she is laying on a rug on the floor. My fault for procrastinating. Oh well, next year.

I do really enjoy gary's drawing, a sort of a triple portrait. Look at all of those cords!

this american life - t shirt designs

2008-07-29T14:57:00.000-07:00

this american life, one of my favorite radio programs, sponsored a T shirt design competition. here are my 3 entries, plus one I really wish I had submitted.
click to see large

night garden (in progress)

2008-07-11T15:03:00.000-07:00

the night garden
acrylic on canvas

48" x 72" (diptych)

(click to see large)

exhibit opening

2008-06-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

untitled (young girl with pink bow)
acrylic on panel
16 x 20
(click to see large)

In conjunction with the large exhibit downstairs,
I'll be having a mini show of small paintings in the new upstairs loft gallery at the SFMOMA artist's gallery.

There will be an opening (wine, music)
Wednesday, July 2^nd, 5:30 to 7:30pm

SFMOMA Artists Gallery
Building A, Fort Mason Center , SF CA

auction!

2008-05-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

mi quinceañera
acrylic on canvas over panel
click to see large

This piece which was made for this year's SFMOMA Artist Sale is going to be auctioned off, silent auction style, which should be fun. The warehouse sale ends Sunday, May 11, 2008, at 4:00 p.m.
For more info on the warehouse sale, click here
SFMOMA Warehouse Sale

If you are interested in throwing in a bid, you can contact the gallery
at 1- 415.441.4777.

portrait

2008-05-08T11:47:00.001-07:00

acrylic on canvas over panel
click to see large

new work -warehouse sale

2008-05-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

tomorrow is the opening for the SFMOMA Artist Gallery Warehouse sale.

As usual, I go nuts, and usually work up to the very last minute creating work for it.
Here I am, early afternoon, still in my pajamas, putting the finishing touches on the painting which was used for the poster for this years event.

a little glimpse of the chaos and squalor of my studio after one week of this.....

seige -
click to see large

artery
click to see large

the midnight moon serenely smiles (blue jay)
click to see large

A collaboration between gary amaro and myself.
We started a tradition last year of collaborating on a piece for the sale...
if it sells, the funds go into a special travel fund.
Wish I had kept this piece, though - I really like it.

the midnight moon serenely smiles (blue jay) - detail
click to see large

psalm

(this one I am holding onto.)
click to see large

glow worm
click to see large

upcoming events and exhibits

2008-04-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

art half off !
15th Annual Artists Warehouse Sale -
SFMOMA artists gallery
Fort Mason, San Francisco
Always lots of fun to go to.
(i did this years poster, t-shirt and announcement for this, check it out)

I'll have a bunch of works on paper and small paintings.

Opening Night Reception
Wednesday, May 07, 2008, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Special Sale Hours
Thursday, May 08 and Friday, May 09, 2008, noon - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 10, 2008, noon - 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 11, 2008, noon - 4:00 p.m.

for more info.....
sfmoma artists warehouse sale

------------------------------

"sounds like art"
I'm exhibiting my bell tower sculptures and a shadow-box piece at an exhibit at "Downtown" titled sounds like art.
It's an exhibition of 11 artists on the theme of music and sound.
Downtown is a multi-use space in downtown Berkeley’s Arts District.

workshop

2008-03-25T22:30:00.000-07:00

learn how to make your paintings more luminous,
by understanding the mechanics of how paint "works".

In a relaxed, supportive environment, we will explore some of the ways acrylics can be used.

There will be demos, one on one help, creativity exercises, and the time to finish one small painting.

Saturday April 19 & Sunday April 20 11:00am - 5:00pm

Workshop is $190 if registered before April 5th
$200 after April 5th
+ $25 materials fee

for more info
painting workshop

A deposit of $100 holds a place in the class, and is refundable up to 10 days before the workshop.
(If a participant needs to cancel after that time, the deposit can be applied to future workshops). Workshops limited to 5 people.

www.clairebcotts.com

claire@clairebcotts.com

new work - poppy circle series

2008-03-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

totter