Magnolia Tea II
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Tag Archives: Los Gatos
Your Presence Soothes Me
I love how these paintings come together, often the teacup is the inspirational launching point, but this time I had spotted a Townsend’s Warbler in my neighbor’s camellias and while photographing it (such a shy bird) I began to imagine what flower might suit its sweet masked face… and knew right away that it had to be the black and yellow striped petunia which I picked up in one of my local nurseries, and finding a matching teacup turned to be a cinch on ebay – a Royal Standard bone china classic from England! When I discovered the Victorian meaning of the petunia was “your presence soothes me”, I thought of the mourning jewelry I’ve been quietly obsessed with as of late and included a braided hair locket in my vignette. Of course, it wasn’t complete until I had a backdrop worked out and my yellow cotton dress with black and white feather embroidery seemed perfect. I’ve framed the painting in a sculptural, undulating black frame with a rich patina. I liked this combination so much, I went on to paint a matching Petunia Tea II with a gold locket.
Both of these paintings were just listed on my website and I will be taking them into Gallery 24 in Los Gatos, California this Friday along with a flock which includes a Steller’s Jay, a White Anna’s Hummingbird and a House Finch, which I’ll be posting, post haste!
Petunia Tea II
Petunia Tea I
Along St. Joseph’s Trail
I clearly don’t know all the correct names of these creatures and blooms I came across on my hike along St Joseph’s Trail – but I’d like to! If you know the real names please chime in!
Bay Area Checkerspot
Skipper on a yellow Devil’s Paintbrush
Bermuda Buttercups / Soursop
Seep Monkey Flower / Common Monkey Flower / Mimulus guttatus
Sticky Monkey Flower / Orange Bush Monkey Flower / Mimulus aurantiacus
Scotch Broom
Yellow Flower
California India Pink
Ladybug
Tadpole
California Poppy, ?. White Lupine
Flowering Shrub
Railroad
White Flowers
White Morning Glory
White Iris
Wild clematis gone to seed
White Lupine
Fairy Lantern / Globe Lily/ Calochortus alba
Nightshade
Clover
Vetch
?
?
Thistle
?
Smallflower Lupine / Lupinus polycarpus (micranthus)
Blackheaded Grosbeak
?
Purple Finches
Gordon Smedt – Fresh Paint
Great reception last night for Gordon Smedt‘s Fresh Paint exhibition at JCO’s Place! His new work was all done simultaneously, each piece sharing something in approach, handling an vibrancy! Smedt’s work, always painted so beautifully, is engaging and fun but often with a an underlying layer that says something about us and our culture.
Plein Air in Los Gatos
Another fabulous Monday with the Los Gatos Art Association’s Plein Air Painters! This time we were painting on the home turf of artist David Stonesifer with it’s extensive gardens and gorgeous historic architecture.
I have been to several of David’s wonderful open studios in years past, so I was a little familiar with the grounds, enough to know that I wanted to make a bee-line for the bee boxes in the orchard!
This is the view I settled on as I liked the way the overlapping trees in the foreground led the eye into the focal area of the bee boxes on a beautiful diagonal.
After I set up my easel (still getting the hang of it – I feel like a cross between a brain surgeon and an acrobat) I sketched in my composition over what should have been a colored ground.
For me, I’m not keen on blocking in values as I’m afraid it will muddy the color. This time I chose a 16 x 20 inch canvas, hoping that the larger scale would keep my painting more free and gestural. I concentrated on anchoring the scene with the darkest shadows in purples and blues and dark greens. Working dark to light is usually the best way to go with oils! I also wanted to nail some of the subtle color that was being reflected into the usually cool shadows of the bee boxes by the intensity of the yellow flowers and green grass in that morning light before it changed.
It was a good start and I still consider this to be an underpainting that I would finish up later I had to break for lunch and a crit….
Must say, I looked a lot like a mushroom in my sun hat, which I would have lost if there was any kind of breeze!
OK, that’s better…
David Stonesifer and Larry Arzie generously hosted for a delicious lunch inside…
…and outside on the terrace…
….with the bunnies and clementines.
My bowl of fabulous homemade Spanish Stew with Chorizo from Lèon and Chicken Meatballs from Adelle’s was even garnished with a drifting quince petal.
After lunch Will Maller ran a crit so we could all learn from each other’s work.
Really great critique…. I even got a little applause from Will for my painting – though maybe it was really for the bravery of coming out and working so ambitiously large for my second time out with the group (being a studio painter)! I’m still kind of befuddled as the painting doesn’t feel finished to me. Will said it should physically hurt when you’re pushing at the edges of your comfort zone and growing as a painter. I guess I’m growing then because I promised him I wouldn’t touch it (yes it’s hurting) and I would do a second, separate painting of the same subject if I had to work out the vision in my head! The challenge will be to find a balance of the freshness and spontaneity of this painting with the finesse and polish in my mind’s eye…. apparently a good place to start will be with a colored ground.
How fortunate I feel to be working with this great group of artists, in these spectacular locations with all this great advice and company!
Spring Robins
Spring arrived on the mantle of a thousand beating wings. More reliable that a calendar, the migrating robins descended on my berry tree and stripped it bare in a single day (with the help of a few cedar waxwings).
When my models show up, unannounced or not, I have to set everything else down and pick up the camera because blurry or sharp, these photographs will make excellent reference material for my paintings when the birds are long gone!
More on the cedar waxwings next….
Berries, Moss and Diagonals
Hiking again without my real camera….here are some iPhone shots of some intense reds and greens (complementary colors) I couldn’t resist even though these shots of berry trees are pretty low res. I love the ground cover and moss growing on those raking diagonals and that up-tilted perspective – one of my favorite things in a scene I would choose to paint.
In the Garden with Fireflies
In my life’s garden my wealth has been of the shadows and lights that are never gathered and stored. Tagore
So beautiful and true. The moments that touch us the deepest or shatter us to the core are not the fabric of selfies and blogs. Even wedding photographs and announcements of births and deaths that attempt to evoke our happiness and sadness can only hint at the vast truth of it all.
I know that our photographs, our paintings, our words are only little things. A small attempt to gather and store and share something around the edges of meaning.
And so that’s just what this is, my little moment in a story-book garden with a book of poetry.
My fancies are fireflies, – specks of living light twinkling in the dark. -Tagore
The NASA Paintings – Rick Guidice at NUMU
Thursday evening was a stellar night at NUMU with Los Gatos artist Rick Guidice, The NASA Paintings and a fabulous NASA Ames Research Center panel discussion, Our Place in Space: A Panel Discussion About the Future of Space Settlements! This dynamic exhibition of visionary space settlements Guidice developed for NASA in the 70’s helped to shape how we could see our future in space and has informed much later work on the subject. It runs from September 17, 2015 though to February 14, 2016.
NUMU’s Curator of Art, Marianne McGrath introducing Rick Guidice for a informal talk about this series and his experience working with NASA.
Rick Guidice unscrolling one of his early drawings of Mars space suits that had been modeled for him at NASA Ames Research Center.
Such an enthusiastic and knowledgable turnout for Rick Guidice’s talk, the room was filled with scientists, engineers and artists!
Rick Guidice explained how he used dramatic changes in scale of the astronauts to indicate how incredible large these space settlements were.
Astronauts tethered to an early space shuttle in a detail from a Guidice painting.
Spellbound.
In Mass Driver with Solar Power Station, an acrylic painting from 1977, Guidice explained how he chose to paint it from an unusual perspective – one where the earth was floating above instead of under our feet. He even signed it to make sure the orientation was maintained in future publications but to no avail, we earthlings are so fixed in our imagination, it was often printed upside-down.
Guidice’s initial idea was to develop practical, dense housing for these space settlements but NASA had something more reminiscent of the pastoral French countryside in mind.
Here’s a detail of agriculture in space, from a Rick Guidice painting. Maybe this is where The Muppets “Pigs in Space” concept came from?
Full room for an engaging storyteller!
The forced perspective, raking angles, high contrast, bold colors and texture seen in this detail from an asteroid mining device illustration, are just some of the artistic devices that make Guidice’s work so exciting.
NUMU Executive Director, Lisa Coscino welcoming the NASA Ames Research Center panelists speaking on Our Place in Space: A Panel Discussion About the Future of Space Settlements.
Panel Moderator, Alexandra Hall (Principal, Sodor Space Agency LLC) leading an engaging panel discussion on the future of space settlement with guest scientists.
Dr. Ann-Sofie Schreurs ( NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow)
Sidney Sun (Chief of Space Biosciences Division at Nasa Ames Research Center)
Lynn D. Harper (Lead of Integrative Studies for both the Emerging Commercial Space Office, reporting to the Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA Headquarters & the NASA Ames Research Center Space Portal.
Yes, it was that kind of amazing night! So many great minds sharing interesting research and posing engaging questions.
The panel spoke on falling in love with space, their individual areas of study, the importance of human psychology in space, of the impact on the human body and how we may be bio engineered or evolve to better cope with issues like bone density loss and muscle atrophy. There were questions too of how our own colonies of bacteria might be kept in check as they seem to become more virulent in space. How space junk was an issue and recycling is critical. For example, even clothes can not be washed in space and must be trashed in a week – could they be recycled or maybe self cleaning clothing can be bio-engineered? Bio organisms will prove to be an important component in creating organic systems to recycle water and waste in general.
There was talk of how it will be necessary to develop outer orbit mining and manufacturing and recycling of the the highly processed space debris that is already in orbit (some 12 million tons) There was talk of the excess carrying capacity of current space launches and how material for the creation of these settlements could be sent, taking advantage of the extra room and be stored in zero gravity.
When I asked a question about who owns space (now that there are so many commercial entities vying for a piece of the cosmic pie) I got an unexpected answer from a member of the audience, Daniel Faber, CEO of Deep Space Industries – (asteroid mining anyone?) Apparently The Outer Space Treaty is the only thing currently in pace and while it regulates some things (no nukes on the moon) it has a non-interference policy when it comes to mining – Faber feels taxes will be collected by the countries from which the mining companies are based.
Harper felt that the World Bank could also act to collect a percentage of profits that might be reinvested in global space mining/ manufacture.
It’s all a ways out yet, but maybe not as far as we think – fascinating!
Vox
Petals to Snowflakes
There’s something so magical about living in California. It was only a matter of hours between basking in the sun of my Los Gatos back yard, watching the plum blossom petals drift off the tree like lazy flurries and being caught in a two and a half hour (real) snow induced traffic jam in the road to Truckee! These flakes were not delicate little flower petals either – they were massive fluffy feathers (swan down I’d say) that transformed each tree into a marshmallow cartoon of itself. I wish I had snapped some photos but it was near midnight and the mood in the car was tense and tired. At least I had all that surreal beauty to distract me from my phobia of winter roads.
So why mention this in an art blog? It’s about drawing playful parallels. Clearly, by seeing the falling petals as snowflakes I brought on the real thing – that’s what makes me an artist and not a scientist!
It’s great to visit the snow for a day or two, especially when you know spring is only a short ride down the mountain.
Bluebirds (black on white)
Nothing blue about these bluebirds… silhouetted against a winter white you have to imagine their blue feathers and rust colored breast. Imagine the rose pepperberries, the green palm fronds, the brown acacia pods. Imagine they’ll be sun soon and a bright blue sky! Meanwhile there is a poetry in form that is revealed when color is removed from the equation.
Bluebirds (black on lavender)
Imagine my delight discovering the flock of birds overhead were actually bluebirds! It may be hard to tell silhouetted against the sky like this but I swear that’s what they were and I’ll prove it in upcoming posts (I plan to stalk this pepper berry tree in better light)! In fifteen years of living in California I’ve only had two previous sightings, so this was a real surprise and a wonderful chance to take some reference shots for my paintings (especially helpful if my palette is only black and lavender)!
Between the Rains
Nothing like a good walk to clear your mind and give you a fresh perspective …especially after some much needed rain.
I love how the parched world feels whole again, even though that’s far from being true.
All the colors are a little richer, even in the subdued light. Moss and lichen sping back to life.
I was puzzled by a murmuring sound which turned out to be the stream running through the ravine … it’s been too long.
Mushrooms are popping up all over the place! They were just waiting for the right, wet invitation.
I found more of these reclusive varied thrush on my country walk, I won’t forget to visit them soon when I can use some reclusive time of my own.
Art Walk
A little wine, a little walk, a lot of art…once a month downtown Los Gatos has been holding an art walk where merchants hosting local artists sport orange and while balloons. I caught it last night, (as a guest, not a participant) it was a lot of fun and a great success!
Julia Watson was featured at Cover Story exhibiting her floral oil paintings.
Jeanne Tillman was at Harvest with her paper cast bows and leaves.
Carol Bower was showing acrylic and Pastel paintings at Harvest.
Tom Yacoe‘s serene landscapes were featured at Jco’s Place.
Will Maller did a beautiful oil painting demo at the Los Gatos Museums Gallery.
I even came away with a lovely painting of Carol Bower’s that I could’t resist!
Potted Plant 4 by Carol Bower
There were lots of other artists and shops that I didn’t get to but there’s always next month!
Studio visit with Veronica Gross
I love visiting artists in their working and living spaces! You can learn so much about what shapes their art from their environment. What’s in their personal collections? What inspirational objects and materials do they have lying about? What are their hobbies, and passions – it’s all revealed!
Artist Veronica Gross and Olive enjoying the winter sun on my recent studio visit. You can visit her website: veronicagrossart.com
Sentinel Snow watercolor 20″ x 14″
Los Gatos artist Veronica Gross is known for her beautiful watercolor florals and landscapes. I know Veronica from the Los Gatos Museums Gallery and the Los Gatos Art Association, but she also belongs to the Viewpoints Gallery where her show, Westlands is currently on exhibit through January 5, 2014.
Mt. Carmel Evening watercolor 20″ x 28″
Palo Alto Baylands #3 watercolor 14 x 20″
Just Picked watercolor 20″ x 28″
Above is a watercolor that Veronica is applying the final touches to. It’s a plein air painting of our friend Sam Pearson painting the Shoreline Bridge. I’m intrigued to see how his piece turned out too!
Magic…. here it is, Sam Pearson’s gorgeous pastel, Water Under the Bridge – Thanks Sam! It’s currently on exhibit at the Los Gatos Museums Gallery.
You can see in her studio how all those big windows not only let the light come in but nature too!
I love how you can see lots of different projects Veronica has on the go, and see all those lesson plans from years of teaching high school hiding under the table? They’ve come in handy as weights! Veronica’s sister, Jill Rowney is glazing some of Veronica’s tiles for her own kitchen – oh the perks of being a sister!
One can usually find lots of treasure in studio clutter. In this case, it’s a ceramic figure done as a demonstration for Veronica’s high school students by Randy Shiroma who was doing some student teaching in her classroom many years ago.
Upon visiting her home and her studio I find, as with so many artists, that she’s no one trick watercolor pony!
For instance, she has this great kiln and I was taken with the series of tiles she was making which are based on her love of California natives (as is her landscaping).
Here are some of the tiles glazed and ready for the kiln. If you haven’t glazed before, the heat of the firing brings out the color in the glaze and sets the desired finish. I’m partial to the lupines!
Here you can see the color after firing.
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Here are some samples of finished tiles set into Veronica’s backsplash. So lovely, they remind me of the arts crafts movement of the 20’s Don’t go looking for these in galleries or Etsy though! Veronica has no plans of mass production. When I ‘d asked her about it she confessed, “I can’t stand the feel of clay on my hands!” – too funny! I mean, you won’t cathc me warking with charcoal or pastels for the same reason! What about licensing deals? Well, we’ll have to twist her arm!
Balloon Girl, Mr Bonz, Mid-Century Bambi – they all speak to a love of color, form and careful observation.
With a fence like that you can tell that an artist lives here!
The garden is also filled with Veronica’s personality, A Karen Van Galder statue, a bent willow chair among the bamboo, her naturally weathered fence and wheelbarrow – it’a all her color palette, including her gorgeous calico!
Olive is a fan of California natives as well and all the little critters that dwell therein.
Disclosure: I’m sure Veronica doesn’t normally lug Olive all over the studio but I woke her up from under the Christmas tree where she was curled up for a nap because I wanted her to be in the photo shoot – what a sweet trooper!
Champagne Reception Today
Get your bubbles on with me at the Los Gatos Museums Gallery today from 1-3 at 24 N Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos where I’ll have Full Bloom and Marin Hills on exhibit. We’ve welcomed in a host of new artists too!
The Saratoga Rotary Art Show is also on todayhttp://www.saratogarotary.org/
which claims to be “the largest and finest one day art show in the west”. They have a wine tasting.
So much to see and drink in our corner of the valley!
Clouding Over
There was a magnificent display of clouds tonight, a rare enough event in Los Gatos and rarer still, some of these clouds resembled the newly classified Undulatus asperatus in their veil like undulating quality. I quickly found a hill top where I could have unobstructed views of the performance. It was heavenly!
