Four Boxes of Dreams

I already know what is inside the first box. The other three have dreams that are yet unknown. On White Rabbit Day, April 1, I'll open up the next.

The first box had some dark, fevered dreams, of not being able to see, and of not being able to feel.

I fumbled through two printing sessions, letting out impulsive squirts of unfinished ideas. Each gesture was unguided by intention. I could say that I was engaging in improvisation in order to access some previously unfound ideas or images. But, really I have just been all dark inside.

I expect some light to shine in when this quarter is over. I really do.

December at Mina Dresden Gallery

Two of my Monotypes and three of the Atmosphere Oils will be part of the December Womens exhibition The Feminine Mystique at Mina Dresden Gallery (312 Valencia at 14th Street in The Mission).

The exibition showcases several Bay Area Women artists. Part of the proceeds go to two worthy charities: Music in Schools Today and Hamilton Family Center.

The Opening Reception is next Thursday, December 9, From 6 pm to 8 pm. The Mina Dresden Gallery is also participating in the Valencia Street Holiday Sale on Friday, December 10, from 5 pm to 10 pm.

The exhibit will be up till January 9, 2011.

Details at minadresden.com.

Hot Off The Press

You're Not Here

I had a spur-of-the-moment opportunity to print at Katie Gilmartin's Chrysalis Studio this week. I went with no plans or sketches and had a great time making some new monotypes.

It turned out that I made four prints of figures. Two are ritual dancers which were a continuation of ideas in some prints I made late last year. One, my favorite, is in the Dangerous Room series, which I have yet to fully develop. It is someone waiting in a dark apartment, called "You're not Here" . The fourth is a warmup, maybe a female spirit.

I will be showing these fresh new prints at the annual Chrysalis Studio Show at SOMARTS on Thursday, November 18, from 7 to 9 pm. There will be food and drink, as well as printing demonstrations. SOMARTS is at 934 Brannan Street, at 8th, in San Francisco. All are invited.

Spirit Dancer

Ritual

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who helped, visited, bought art, and sent me best wishes for my Open Studio this year.

Thank you especially to Carol Koffel for lending me her studio space and for all her support and inspiration!

I wish I had a photo of dust settling or something, as it feels very quiet right now as I begin to return to work.

Found some photos of the weekend:



I wore ears:


Map of the painting locations:

Completed

I participate in Artspan's Open Studios every fall. This year I will be showing my work in my friend Carol Koffel's studio in Noe Valley the first weekend in October.

Earlier this year I planned my exhibit: 12 to 16 Atmosphere paintings sized 12" x 12" that I could display together and feel the interactions among them. The Atmospheres are generally seascapes or other water spaces in Northern California.

This week I completed the last work on the set of 12 Atmospheres. It's a good thing to complete something you planned. Also, I love the work.

Below are some of the pieces that will be in the show.
2471 Atmosphere

2471 Atmosphere

2413 Atmosphere

2425 Atmosphere

Point Reyes

I get to go up to Pt. Reyes again next weekend. Here's a quick post of a sweet Pt. Reyes painting I just finished this week.

Milton Avery

Some Tuesdays I paint with friends in the evening. This is very wonderful. I have begun to do paintings outside my normal themes and series at the Tuesday evening events. The past few weeks I took a postcard (above) of a Milton Avery painting as a starting point for a kind of painting I have never done. Large fields of color and a figure.

For my source material I used old drawings, from several years ago, made at the Drawing Marathon. Interesting juxtapositions happen when a dozen models are posing all day and changing every couple of minutes.

Below are the two paintings I am working on in this way.

This one is going to be the first in a series of duos called Reflection. It is nearly done.

The Girl in the Green Dress is an underpainting, but very interesting as it is.