A Juggling Act

I just completed the paperwork for my exhibit in the Mayor's Hall at the City of Beaverton offices. It's tricky to select twelve pieces for a two-month show when you have commited yourself to exhibit work in more than one location. I've been concentrating all my efforts recently on Art On Broadway Gallery, but coming up in February and March I'll have work in three locations. As my life progresses, I appear to suffer more and more from Adult Attention Deficit Disorder and the act of juggling my artwork has become more of a challenge.

It was easy to select a single painting for the special event at Matthew's Gallery on Upper Boones Ferry in Lake Oswego. I didn't have to worry about whether pieces would work well together because I only submitted one - the problem of installation fell to Matthew and his crew. They did a wonderful job, by the way, and the opening reception on January 22 was fun. The show continues through February 19 when the awards presentation takes place. About 80 area artists are represented and there is some wonderful work displayed. You should make a point to stop by.

Since I've never seen the space in the Mayor's Hall in Beaverton, planning is difficult. But a hall is hall and so I assume it will be long and narrow and that small pieces will work best since you really can't step too far back and away to view the work! I did throw in one large piece just to be "unpredictable."

Mirror, Mirror....Fairmont Hotel, S.F.,
Watercolor on Paper

And, of course, I have to set aside six or seven paintings for my favorite gallery space, Art On Broadway, and our February show, "Love Art, Give Art." We're featuring red art, romantic art, art that makes the heart flutter - and we're serving champagne and chocolates. You would think we were celebrating Valentine's Day! I hope many of you will join me and my aob friends for a toast to Love on Saturday, February 5, 6 to 9 p.m.

Hollyhocks at Cambria,

Gouache on Paper

New Paintings

A couple of my out-of-state friends who were unable to attend the artists reception at Amato's Art On Broadway this weekend asked me to post some images of my new paintings on my blog. So in response to Mary and Helen's request, and for anyone else who was unable to be there on Saturday, here are a few photos I shot just prior to the start of the party ....

Welcome, please come on in...

May I offer you a glass of wine ...

This watercolor painting is titled, "Gaudi Made Me Do It," and was inspired by Anton Gaudi's masterful Sacrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona. I took a series of photos while touring the interior and was struck by the enormity of the structure, the complexity of its design, the commitment of its artisans, and the freedom of visitors to walk unsupervised through the "under construction" portions with workers pouring concrete on the ground level and operating cranes carrying materials to the roof tops. I loved that parts of the cathedral were finished and functioning, and others were completely open to the sky, with only netted wiring to separate one area from another, and workers from tourists. The experience made me weep.

These two paintings began as photographs taken in a small village in southern France. The soil in the area surrounding Roussillon consists of red and ochre clays, and the colors of the village's architecture reflect it natural resources. "Inside and Outside the Red Wall" and "Shadows and Shapes in Roussillon" are the results of my connection with the colors and shapes of this charming village - its simple and playful imagery, and its sense of a warm and contented lifestyle. Our visit here was too short.

Another view of the Gaudi painting, along with several small plein air pieces that were painted during earlier trips to Italy and France. The other full sheet watermedia painting in the right of the photograph is titled "Una Strade Stretta," - A Narrow Street - and was inspired by a photo I took while breaking away from the formal Florence tour and exploring on our own. I loved the patterns - the dark and light, the near and far, the large and small, the cool and warm - and I was moved by the quiet simplicity of the space just minutes from the splendor and crowds of central Florence. We delighted in our off-the-beaten path discovery and enjoyed it along with the architectural and sculptural wonders of the Renaissance.

Well, Helen and Mary, thanks so much for your interest and for allowing me to share my recent work with you. I hope you'll stop by my blog again some time soon.