smoky daze

June 24, 08
morning
cool, smoky skies

A yellow light weakly breaks through the smoke in the valley, the product of hundreds of fires in California right now - I heard numbers between 300 and 700 yesterday, the paper only said hundreds this morning. Yesterday morning it smelled smoky to me but not so this morning - am I just used to the smell now? The sky looks dirtier today and it's cooler - so I can't imagine the air should actually smell better now.

I'm debating about whether or not to go on a planned "tree hike" on Friday; the forecast is that the smoke will pretty much stay in the valley here all week and I'm not sure how healthy hiking in it will be or what sort of images I'll get - fog can be pretty cool but I'm thinking smoke may not be -

saturday at the sac

Yesterday was Saturday and I made sure that I was in my studio at the Sacramento Art Complex - also known as the SAC - as were many of my fellow artists. At one point (okay, many points,) I wandered around to catch my fellow artists in the act of creating and sometimes just hanging out in their studios.

I started on the second floor, since that's where my studio is, and caught Andrew Hindman sketching, but he consented to posing for a shot for me as well. Andrew is a big guy who could seem imposing except for his very laid back demeanor and beautiful artwork. We had a great chat about home studio spaces and houses and school districts...

Kathy McMahon is one of the newest additions to the SAC building; she was working on a parrot portrait in pastels when I walked in on her. Kathy is one of our most consistent tenants, putting in long regular hours at her studio here - very impressive!

I caught Marbo Barnard working on a small koi pond image, also in pastels. She had recently received an award plaque from the National Pastel Society, I believe. I think Marbo has received more awards than I can keep up with - at any rate, the plaque is nice on her studio wall, but not as impressive as seeing her actual artwork.

Back down the hall across from my studio is my new friend Brenda Boles. I caught Brenda at the easel, too, fine tuning a big floral painting in acrylics. Brenda was leaving a little early to see her granddaughter's gymnastics meet, which was a very important date, indeed.

But before Brenda left, she came into my studio to catch me at my work table - that doesn't happen too often on film, as I'm usually the one behind the camera lens - but I do manage to get work done in my studio, even on social days like yesterday.

A little later I found my way downstairs, to see what was going on down there. I found Allison Carlos in her studio painting, too, in oils, I think... but she stopped to chat with me a bit.

Down the hall a little I caught Pat Orner in Studio 12 working on a tennis themed piece in acrylics, I think...

as was her studio mate, Keith Hopkins. We talked a bit about upcoming shows and schedules and I remembered that I'm loaning them my canopy for an event in Roseville early next month. I'm sure they would have reminded me before too long.

Time to get back to my own studio - if you find it looking sort of like this you'll know I'm not far away: food & drink on the work table, open drawers with more food (I was hungry!) Sunglasses out, open bag on the floor and empty camera case on the stool...

I really did get work done at my studio yesterday, besides visiting with my neighbors. In between it all, I completed "Garcia Bend" (number three of only ten darkroom prints.) It's one of those pieces I've just fallen in love with: all the colors fell together just right, a sign that there's some wonderful creative energy at the Sacramento Art Complex!

remembering

As bad as it may seem, sometimes I almost get too busy at the business of art to do the actual artmaking - but today I made the time and got to work, finally finishing the piece that has been at my work table for a while now -

This piece has taken a little more time than some in this final phase of coloring, as there are a lot of little details that I really wanted to get just so - working in the texture of the bark in the trunk and all the little tiny naked branches - and then getting the color just so...

Finally done, I've titled this large version of this image with the writing and leaf overlay "Remembering Summer" (Tree Story #140.) The whole feeling of memories from when my children were smaller when I took the photo, of remembering the park there before construction and development, looking back at the fond memories of summer long after it's gone... a little melancholy but then the promise of another summer coming that you can see in the sunny little spots of color on the trunk and the leaf. That's how I try to see life in general; sometimes sadly looking back on what is gone, but always looking forward to something good again.

after dinner

June 18, 08
after dinner
backyard
warm but not hot
air conditioner running - just stopped
birds chirping: sparrow tweet tweet tweets; a finch sweee's, trills; somebody else sip-sip sip-sip sip-sip.
Mike's got a sprinkler going in his backyard; the pond fountain water runs steady.
A dirt bike brrrps softly in the distance then a harley sound starts up closer and drives off.
Kids play in a backyard not too far away.
House finch lands on the pool fence then back into the refuge of the trees.
Rosie finds one of her sticks, brings it to the center of the lawn to chew on.
Fish come near the surface of the pond looking for more food from me.

my babies in their new home

Sometimes when I sell my artwork it goes into homes I know well, other times it goes into homes I've never seen. And occasionally I get to take artworks to their new homes and install them personally. This is something that I enjoy quite a bit - I actually find art installation to be quite satisfying, as the final step in the creative process.

Today I installed three large originals into a lovely, loving home, where they fit just right. From left to right, the works are titled "American River Reflection," "Property Line" and "America River Reeds." They were chosen for their subject matter, the personal touch of the journaling on "Property Line" and their compatibility as a grouping. It was fun for both the collector and for me to bring it together as a group and then install them all.

While not all of us have the same style or tastes, this is actually a home decorated much as I might decorate my own. The owner describes her style as casual, and I guess that fits me, too. Not too rigid, comfortable, open & airy - and perfect for these three pieces of art.

2nd Sat @ SAC

Last night was Second Saturday and in Midtown Sac that means art openings and major party time.

Here in the SAC Building it means artists like Allison Carlos getting ready, putting labels on at the last minute...

Artists like Kristen Hoard bringing flowers in to show off cool metal art vases...

And artists like Michelle MacKenzie just generally pulling themselves together to greet the crowds of art lovers on their way.

Other artists like Misha, have made cool canvas signs to help art lovers find the way through the halls...

Some, like Brenda Boles, greet early guests who know how to beat the crowd and come early.

Others, like Steve Memering, show their attitude for the camera, though Steve is probably one of the least dramatic artists I have ever met...

And finally, my studio mate, Wendell Minshew, uses my little snapshot camera to create a little art at the end of the night.

simply drawing

simply drawing a succulent

studio work

Today was a studio day, meeting with a collector, getting ready for Second Saturday & yes, even working on a piece of art.

So just imagine you're standing in the studio, looking at the left corner by the door...

turning slowly to your right, seeing my open drawer (so obviously I'm working)...

and then looking farther to your right...

then peeking over my shoulder to see the amazing tree piece that I'm working on right now. (I think the tree is amazing, don't you?)

Or come see for yourself on Saturday - I'll be there from noon until around 5 p.m., maybe run out to grab a bite to eat, then get back for the party from six until whenever...

town & country art fiesta

Just a couple shots I managed to snap at the 50th Annual Art Fiesta this weekend.

Nice weather, wonderful art lovers, great artists & great fun -

And a big thank-you to Donna & Kristy of the Sacramento Suburban Kiwanis, and all their volunteer guys who work so hard to put this great show on every year!

zazzle

Sometimes I spend alot of time working but I don't have anything physical to show for it - sometimes it's subtle like tweaking the website, sometimes it's a new venture I'm trying out. Lately I've found a pretty cool site that lets me design products with my images on it and put them up for sale. check out my gallery at Zazzle and you'll see what I've been doing. And if you've got a request for a particular image on a particular product, just email me & I'll see what I can do!