Rose Garden Blooming in the Studio

I have a little rose garden blooming in my studio, all Edens. I’m glad I managed to take a little snap as several have sold already! Also seen here is one of the many fabulous demitasses that my friend (and children’s former pre-school teacher) had given me as well as the painting it inspired by it (that I will be giving to her as a thank you gift for the treasure trove). The canary, from Montebello Road in Campbell, is a future model for one of my Birds and Teacup paintings. More details about the paintings are listed in my Portfolio under the Flora subheading.

Eden Rose I – Sold

Eden Rose II – Sold

Eden Rose III – Available

Eden Rose IV – Available

Eden Rose V – Available

Eden Rose VI – Available

La Mariposa – Out of the Studio into the World

The state imposed humanitarian crisis at our southern border has me (and most of the country) up in arms. That means a paint brush for me. I wanted to paint a baby, naked but for a skull-faced tattoo on its back, caged with chain-link fencing. I would not have the baby completely vulnerable though, she would be covered in clusters of live monarchs as though they were keeping the her and themselves warm while still others would fly through the fence, symbolizing migration and hope.

I didn’t quite finish it in time for the Families Belong Together Rally yesterday but I didn’t let that get in the way of printing up a poster using the words “Asylum Legal – Child Abuse Illegal”, as taking children away from their asylum seeking parents and then holding them in detention while their parents are held separately in different facilities, in different state, or worse – deported without them, is nothing but state sanctioned child abuse!

Protesting at City Hall in San Jose, California.

What a powerful and uplifting thing to channel all that horrible news into art and to share it with others lending your voice to the chorus of protest, speaking truth to power and injustice!

Pausing for a moment in front of Lacey Bryant’s fabulous mural.

Yes, it’s still a work in progress, I plan on adding more butterflies to the baby’s shoulder… but I’m glad that I didn’t let something so little as an unfinished painting get in the way of making a statement at the rally, every voice counts, especially when we use them together!

Studio Visit with David Flick

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting with David Flick in Los Gatos, California. I had seen his work previously in a pop-up downtown and was very impressed with his portraits and figurative work and so when he turned up at my studio during NUMU’s Historic Home Tour this year I asked if I could visit his studio. I’m so glad I got a chance to see his work before he goes off in the fall to begin his MFA at the New York Academy of Art!

I was immediately drawn to Flick’s sensitive rendering of the figure and his gorgeous handling of light (oblique shadows, spotlighting, backlighting and reflections) and his innate sense of color. His compositions too are thoroughly dynamic. But beyond these great technical aspects, his subjects are all really compelling, with a captivating point of view that draws one deeper in to the work. He’s not afraid of paint either and can make it behave or explore it’s wilder side. I can’t wait to see where his MFA journey will take his work….

Here are just a few images that caught my attention but you can visit his website is at davidflickart.com to see the full range of his work and follow him on Instagram at dflick.

Rider – 2017 – oil

Desert – 2012 – oil

Lactose Intolerance – 2016 – oil

Ben – 2015 – oil

Idol – 2018 – oil

Ok, I had to include another studio shot because just how cool is it to have an aqua VW van in your studio?!

Lunch with Theodore Wores

What a pleasure to learn more about Theodore Wores, California Impressionist painter (1859-1939) over my bag of almonds at the Triton Museum of Art’s Brown Bag Lunch series conducted by Deputy Director, Preston Metcalf today! The Triton has 47 of his paintings in their permanent collection, a generous gift from his wife, Caroline Bauer. A good number of these pieces were recently cleaned and restored and are included in this exhibit, Under the California Sun, which consists of landscapes painted in the San Francisco Bay Area and Yosemite. Many of his orchards were painted right here in Los Gatos and Saratoga and are so special to me as I grew up in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, surrounded by orchards. In fact, they are actually kicking off their annual Apple Blossom Festival today! Under the California Sun will continue at the Triton until July 29 when it will go on tour!

Theodore Wores – Spring Blossoms of California – Los Gatos – 1919 – oil on canvas.

Theodore Wores – Blossomtime, Saratoga, California – 1919 – oil on canvas.

Theodore Wores -Tree Blossoms – 1920 – oil on canvas

Theodore Wores – Road with Blossoming Trees – 1922 – oil on canvas.

Theodore Wores – Road by Blossoming Orchard – 1925 – oil on canvas

Theodore Wores – Spring Blosoms of Los Gatos – 1925- oil on canvas.

Theodore Wores – My Studio Garden in Saratoga, Ca. – 1926 – oil on canvas.

Theodore Wores – A Garden in Saratoga, California – 1927 – oil on canvas.

Want to see more Wores? The Triton has a batch of paintings he did in Spain that need the same loving (read professional and expensive) cleaning and restoration that these pieces had. They are gratefully seeking financial donations (to bridge the gap in grants)…just saying!