huh?

I'm always stopped dead in my tracks when someone asks, "what is your medium?" - "my medium?" or "what do you paint?" - "what do I paint?" GEEZ! then I stumble, mumble and try to form a polite answer, but I always sound pathetic! - "Um, well, I paint abstractly, using oil, but sometimes I use acrylics, on paper mostly, but I also like, wood, cardboard, canvas and then I use figures sometimes, you know? but they are abstracted feelings", and on and on and on I stumble trying to make sense of my art practice, which makes total sense to me, but to someone else must seem a topsy turvey world with a slightly dysfunctional fairy leading the parade - it's like trying to explain a dream that made total sense while I was dreaming it, but in the light of day, comes across as bizarre and disjointed told by someone who stared at the sun too long - there are so many ways I love making art - I've stopped trying to answer the question specifically and now just say, I enjoy many forms and direct them to my website - so nice to be able to send people to a place where, if they are really interested, they can actually SEE what I do......so that brings me to what I'm working on now - the images below are details of possible configurations using all the work I've done over the winter - I'm using that work as elements to create larger pieces - this is another form I really enjoy - mixing my paintings up just like life - each piece representing a time in my life juxtaposed with other times in my life - these are being affixed to different surfaces, mainly large pieces of cardboard and then worked a bit more - as soon as I have one truly done, I will post it .........













and I'm working on a face lift for my blog - this is one way that might work - and for those that celebrate Easter, have a fabulous one!

new favorite thing......

Here is my new favorite thing - 'osis+dust it'- no it's not a new art supply thingy - it's a hair stuff thingy and really good stuff! - I don't have alot of time for grooming everyday, well, I suppose I could make time, but I just want to get a minimal job done on most days and get to work - so, this is my new magic stuff for my hair - it's like talcum powder, kind of - you poof a little out of the jar on the roots of your hair and BAM! you have body! - how easy is that - my fabulous hair stylist, Hallie (no Lisa does not do my hair), was using it on my hair and I finally got my own little red bottle and haven't looked back - so if you are looking for something easy peasy that will give you some body, this may be your new favorite hair product!



....and since this is supposed to be an art blog, will put a detail pic of what's going on in the studio.......



....the weekend is on its way, have a great one everyone!

Up and coming.......

Hello - April and May are fully loaded - I have the privilege of showing work in two group shows in April and then in May, I will be teaching two classes at the Southampton Art School in Southampton Ontario Canada. AND I will also be the artist in residence at the Southampton Art school for the month of May. Whew!

The first group show, 'Best Of', is so exciting because it is the launch/opening of Ghost Gallery's new PERMANENT space in Seattle. Curator, Laurie Kearney, has been curating art shows at a number of hot spots in the Seattle area for the past three years and NOW has finally found a permanent home. So join the celebration Thursday, April 8 from 5-8pm.



Next is a juried show here in Port Townsend at the new Maritime Marine Center entitled "The Shape of Water". If you are local, please come and join us for the opening reception on Saturday, April 10th from 6 to 8pm.



And I would love to see some of you in May at the Southampton Art School. I will be teaching two classes and they will both be fun and informative. Check my sidebar for all the details. I'm still working with muslin on cardboard and finding it so fun and learning so much about where my art practice and process are heading.

collage with muslin and oil on found cardboard

Have a fabulous week everyone!

once in a great while.......

Sometimes, when I least expect it, I make a painting that I really love - that just happened - I'll paint along for days, weeks, months and make work that I think is fine and some of it I like alot, and usually my favorite is the one I just finished - but once in awhile I do a painting that just hits me in my gut - the painting below I can say, I love - it has everything I enjoy making art with - it's on a piece of throw away cardboard that had another painting on it I did over 6 or 7 years ago - it has patches of wax, muslin, ink, and oil - I like each way I turn it - it's like comfort food - it just makes me happy when I look at it - one of the gifts for showing up each day.

solitary work.....

This post is in response to a comment left here by Patrice Lynne Young, a fabulous artist - she commented that 'making art can be such a solitary thing' - OMG! yes it can - her words made me aware, AGAIN, of how isolating it can be - my whole goal everyday is to get to the studio to work - I have a little mantra that runs through my head all morning as I make it through only the things that have to absolutely be done - 'get it done, get it done, get it done' - workout, house cleaning (minimal), computer work, errands, etc. - finally I walk into my space and disappear for 2 or 3 or 4 hours - and then BAM! I have to stop - I mean here it is Friday and I haven't had a social anything this week - still wearing the same work jeans, no makeup, just working - I hate when I have to stop most of the time, but sometimes, I'm really done! I have to make an effort to call a friend, make a date for coffee/drink or just go wander downtown for an afternoon - and truth be known, I will finish not one, but maybe two or three pieces during a work session - the piece below was a warm up a few days ago - and as you can see, the palette is again very minimal - the mantra is running, so to all of you, have a wonderful weekend - if you are interested, you can check my face series by clicking on the sidebar pic - Now I have to go get it done!


india ink and oil on paper 24x19

new series emerging......

Happy Monday to everyone - hope you had a wonderful weekend - we did - a fast track weekend of catching up with family - just a quick update on what's going on in the studio - a new series is emerging - faces started appearing while I was away on vacation, well actually before that, but now the paintings are taking on a strong purpose - this is evolving into a new series about the faces we never show the outside world - while working in theatre this was always a part of the work of fleshing out a character - finding the inside of a person - these two little paintings, 5.5x5.5, are the first and I have two more started - see you all later in the week!



mixed media on found board, #1 Inside Ourselves




mixed media on found board, #2 Inside Ourselves........

Spring preview.....

Spring is still a few weeks off, but our flowers don't seem to know that this year - we have had such a mild winter and fruit trees have been blooming for weeks now - our camellia bush is blooming, so my first spring bouquet is in the house - the rosemary bushes are starting to put out their little blue flowers - this bouquet smells so good - I'm working almost everyday and below is a little painting I did a few days ago on yupo - a great week to everyone!









this is a little 12x9 mixed media on yupo