Spring in the Point

Spring has finally arrived after several cold (relatively for CA), wet months.  Everything is blooming and even though my allergies are playing havoc, I'm enjoying the beauty around me.

A Week in Santa Fe

While visiting my artist friend, Ann Painter, at her beautiful home in Santa Fe this week, I had the opportunity to paint the portrait of a cat belonging to a friend of hers.  This handsome male Persian is getting on in years, so I felt privileged to be asked to capture him on canvas.

The week was a lot of fun with wild weather changes - snow, rain, sun, hail, wind, thunder and lightening.  We saw it all.  Plus lots of art (both viewed and created),  good food, wine and friends.

Thinking about doing the 50/50 challenge at Sanchez Art Center again this year, although I swore never again.   As anyone who did it last year can attest, it's a lot of work and pretty much consumes your summer.  On the other hand, I learned a lot and being part of it was great fun.  Ann is signing up and encouraging me to do likewise, so I'm looking at options for what I might want to do this year.  No, not kitties.

Point Richmond Window

For the past few weeks some of my work is on view in the window of a local office building.  These photos were taken in the evening when the lighting lends a dramatic appearance  to the work but makes it difficult to get a sharp image through the glass.  The floral abstract is titled Lilies and Roses.  It is acrylic on canvas.  The figurative piece is Sabine, also acrylic on canvas.  The sculpture is Piano Man and is mixed media/found object.

Recent Thursday Night Drawings

Above are two recent drawings from our Thursday night group - January 14th and 28th - if I remember correctly.  Not all of the longer poses are completed in the same evening, or even after, but these two I especially liked and they came together as hoped.  These are both soft pastel on paper.

New Studio Space

Thought I'd put up some pictures of the studio space I've recently begun sharing with a friend and fellow member of the Thursday night figure drawing group.  Since my previous painting partner moved to Santa Fe, I've done most of my creating (other than on Thursday) in isolation, as is the case with so many artists.  So it's nice to have another being present to share the creative process, even if it's in total silence.

What's Happening Lately

Holidays have come and gone, thank goodness.  I've been spending time working on a number of different things, but of course haven't taken pictures - duh!  Will try to catch up this week and bring my paintings and sculpture up to date.  

Today I assembled a "natural" sculpture.  Most of the credit goes to Mother Nature or the mommy robin that created the wonderful nest which I have augmented with a branch and attached to a metal stand.  The nest even contains the remains of the eggshell from which the new baby bird popped.  The nest itself is well constructed for mud, twigs, ginko leaves and long strands of wild onion.  When the nest was fresh, the wild onion hung like ribbons with white flowers on the ends.  They made for a lovely bridal suite/nursery.   This nest is one many that I have found in the the trees and bushes in my garden, and have since preserved.

This piece will be available for purchase this weekend at Room With A Past in Walnut Creek.  Check out their website.

AOPR Holiday Art Fest and Sale

Last Saturday was the one day Art Festival for the AOPR members. Here is a glimpse of my "booth" showing some of my found object sculpture along with acrylic figurative painting and some of my oil dog paintings.

AOPR Holiday Art Fest and Sale

Venue Sponsored By Jay Betts

2009 Holiday Art Fest

217 West Richmond Avenue

in Historic Point Richmond

Please Join Us For Holiday Gifts & Joy

Saturday, December 5th 11AM – 5PM

Swampy Joe (our Joe Bagley) & Guitarist Steve Morris performing

Art, Crafts, Jewelry, Prints, Cards, Clothing, Hot Cider, Cookies

AOPR funding comes from the generosity of our membership, individuals and sponsors.

Since last week...

when I was in New Mexico helping my friend Ann move in to her beautiful new home, I have returned and am playing catch up to get ready for the Artists of Point Richmond Holiday Fest and Sale. Hope to have some paintings, both figurative and dog portraits ready to go in time. In addition I'm working on some new sculptures which incorporate my paperclay birds, found objects and figures.

THis work in progress is titled Mother Nature: She's come Undone

...and Sunday I got into my cooking mode and made an apple pie and a veggie enchilada casserole. Called several friends to come and help me enjoy the feast, but everyone was already busy with other things. Hard to be spontaneous in this day and age when our lives are so filled. I think we're really missing a lot by not having more "free" time.

A Day Late and a doggie short.

This is Carmine in his Halloween Pumpkin costume.

Carmine has many seasonal costumes. He is with us now after his person recently passed away unexpectedly. We are keeping him until and if we can find a loving home for him as he is a very special, well behaved boy. He would do really well with someone who could devote a lot of time and love to him. If you think you might be a match with this wonderful dog, email me at susanshore@mac.com.

HAVEN'T POSTED IN A WHILE...HERE'S WHY

Since I last posted we had some rain in Richmond and with the second storm came a flooded basement. I won't bore you with all the photos. Let's just say it was a mess and very discouraging. Some losses and lots of work to clean up. And with all we're hearing about mold..yuk! The last photo is of the clogged storm drain... the culprit in why we were flooded.

My Good Mornings with Thekla

My camera was on my bedside table and I just couldn't resist taking this photo of Thekla this morning.  What a cute face to wake up to.  Think I should have named her Tudie though, as in attitude.  She definitely has one of her own.  She's been with me a year and as you can see from our profile photo she has grown into her ears.  

Theater of Dreams, Port Costa, CA

My interest in found object sculpture has made me interested in vintage ephemera.  While surfing the web I discovered that there is a well known ephemera artist living in Port Costa, practically in my own back yard, and that this weekend she was having a sale  of Halloween items in her studio.  The sale continues tomorrow.  If you have never been to Port Costa or Wendy's studio, I suggest you check out both.  Absolutely magical.  If you can't make it tomorrow, check her site for directions and future dates when she'll be open.  You won't be disappointed.   

More pictures of Port Costa including perhaps the most picturesque  post office in CA.

Today's Painting

I'm in Santa Fe this week visiting my painter friend Ann but promised to have this painting done for a friend in time for her son's birthday.  Carson was Jimmy's beloved dog and my Border Collie Dooley's nemesis.  Unfortunately both are no longer on this earth but they will always be with us.

Last Night's Drawing

Another Drawing from our Thursday night group session.  Last night's model sat for a longer pose and offered us this costume.  Lots of fun with pretty good results.  This is a pastel approx. 20 x 26 inches.  Price $225.  If interested in more information re purchasing, please email me.

Thursday Night FIgure Drawing Group

Every Thursday evening a group of 5 to 6 of us get together with a model to do a little figure drawing.  Here is last night's longer pose.  This is a pastel on paper, approx. 20 x 26 inches.

Sausilito Art Festival

Living in Point RIchmond, it wasn't too hard to get to Sausilito yesterday even with the Bay Bridge closure putting more traffic on the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge. It was a beautiful day, lots of sun, cool breezes, great art, music, food, etc. Here are a few pictures of the fun.

This is NOT my date, but an incredibly lifelike sculpture by Marc Sijan.

Karin Jurick Challenge

Detail

Oil on Canvas

12 x 24 inches

$100.

This week I completed my painting for the Karin Jurick challenge, Different Strokes from Different Folks, which is posted o her blog approximately every two weeks.   Many of you may already be familiar with her work and her blog and web sites.  I particularly liked the subject matter of this challenge as it reminded me of Wayne Thiebaud's paintings of cakes and pies, etc.  Unfortunately I have a lot more trouble photographing and downloading pictures of my paintings than the actual painting itself.  It's still not quite right, but I'm posting it here to see how it looks on a computer screen.  The painting is oil on canvas, 12 x 24 inches. The frosting is heavy imposto a la Thieaud's pasteries.  Would look great hanging in a kitchen.  If interested in purchasing, please contact me at m email address, sshore@lmi.net.  

Cleaning out the studio...

and getting ready to paint.  Found this photo of a cat painting that I did as a commission a few years back.  The cat's expression explains why I'm a dog person.

Acrylic on canvas

Beautiful Day for an Art Show

Watercolor by Larry Cannon

My friend Larry Cannon is one of the selected artists exhibiting at this year's Napa Valley Art Festival.  Larry's wonderful plein air water colors have received many awards and much acclaim over the past few years.  If you can make it to this year's festival, be sure to seek him out.