painting of the day - oriole

(click to see image large)

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

painting a day - bluejay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

the night garden
acrylic on canvas

48" x 72" (diptych)

(click to see large)

exhibit opening

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!

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

acrylic on canvas over panel
click to see large

new work -warehouse sale

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

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

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"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.