Students and I plan a trip in paint

Whether nostalgic or surreal, these paintings have a cinematic feel due to the repetitive collage aspect. The assignment, after my own painting of New York City and taxis, was to paint a "collage" of 9 fragments of architectural interest into a whole and limit the color range to one third of the design. In that way I was hoping the kids would strengthen their abilities to use their eyes, understand the role of value, and design abstractedly.

The first was my example. I was inspired by the idea of passing through NYC on the way to our farm.
Here are 11 of the student paintings, out of 28.




By Francesca L.















Seruit.















Halle P.






Ilana, Brandon, Conner, Giorgia,
Danielle, Nicci, Dani, and Daniel.

Starting the day in faith

My morning routine. 6 x 6 inch painting.

A painting won't do this justice

Ode to the cinnamon bun from Knaus Berry Farm in Homestead, FL. It is worth any wait- but if you go early- they open at 8- it isn't so long. Warm, glazey gooey, with a pull to the dough.... We found this treat down on 248th Street, out in the real farm country. It's a family run farm, with pick-ur-own strawberries. They close mid April and then you'll have to wait until November again. Didn't try the mikshakes but I heard they were another rave. (ndp)

Portrait of a Girl with hidden eyes

The word was "portrait". A quick study. 6 x 6 inches. Acrylic. This was me end of the week, last Friday, and this was painted using leftover paint and scratchings from my student's uncleaned palettes.
There is a time for just doing the work, and moving paint, and there is a time you have to search your soul for meaning and purpose. The vision isn't always there.
A pair of rose colored glasses can fool a fool like me. If I, when using them, focus for more than a second, I find the amber tint removes any brilliance or depth. So that is where I am- a shallow being in a shallow world. A bit uninspired. I find this portrait slightly unsatisfying, but I made it anyway...showing up for the Muse. Working with a random word prompt.

Breakfast of champions

I guess it's time to take vitamins and extra magnesium and calcium. I hate taking pills.


Dropped my camera and now my photos seem to be blurry. It's a bitter pill if my camera is broke.

To Ashes, my painting and my bones

This is a day of ritual; a day of contemplation, and a time to meditate on the ephemeral nature of the things of this earth. I'm sharing some images of paintings made and burned up. They are not my golden calf, they are my language to praise God and life. Today is a day of contemplating one's transgressions.

Today, the first day of Lent, marks the start of a 43-day period between Mardis gras and Easter, which is an allusion to the separation of Jesus from all the hubub, when he went in the desert to fast and pray. The devil tempted him. Matthew 4:1–11, Mark 1:12–13, and Luke 4:1–13.While not specifically instituted in the Bible text, the 40-day period of repentance is also analogous to the 40 days during which Moses repented and fasted in response to the making of the Golden Calf . A lot happens with disciplined focus in 40 days. See my forty divorce documents, (2010), a daily painting ritual that brought me peace and hope with the end of a dream.

Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return.

—Genesis 3:19

According to Wikipedia, "in some traditions, other practices are sometimes added or substituted, as other ways of symbolizing the confession and penitence of the day. For example, in one common variation, small cards are distributed to the congregation on which people are invited to write a sin they wish to confess. These small cards are brought forth to the altar table where they are burned."

A couple of destroyed paintings from past Ash Wednesday seasons. (The old nest in my head, birdsongs, and suitcase full of shoes)

Oustanding in their fields, these events and artists take my breath away

Spent the last few days immersed in the Miami art scene. Dining on tapas with friends (rodeo star and god daughter of mine E Clavette) at the Wynwood Kitchen and Bar. Elizabeth is one of "the hottest competitors in the mounted shooting circuit", (see interview), recently finishing 1/10th of a second behind the world record! She is healed from a fractured leg, and passing through Miami on her way to cruising the Caribbean.
Also I had to see and celebrate Michael's inclusion in the first annual Wynwood Art Fair, which was a lot of fun, some nice work, decent crowds, good galleries. I was fascinated by the video art this time. The presentation of which is incredibly varied, humorous and yet unique.
Saturday I helped him co-host another of his open studio nights at the Bakehouse. Sold another heart and made it a point to garner lists of places to eat. The food trucks were in the back- but I'm getting a little tired of them. They aren't necessarily cheap either!
Spent the next day rubbing elbows with the crowds at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. The food was OK. Two artists I have to mention were Jacqueline Roche with fabulous pastel paintings a little out of my price range, and William Kidd, a ceramic artist and award winning teacher. I love his prices too. He's on my wish list.
Seeing people work at the top of their field is inspiring. Seeing art all weekend makes me want to buy some!

Handwriting a statement

It's never easy to turn a visual practice into a literary bullet point. But sometimes you have to. I'm applying to an MFA program and it forces me to look at what I have to offer.
Not an easy or fun task. This painting, titled Handwriting, was easier to work up to than the written statement. I started with it and flew from acrylic to ink.
So here is a little more:

My portfolio is retrospective in scope and effect. Over the last several years I have chosen the methodology of working in time based series that respond to and chronicle events in my life, such as burying a friend, getting a divorce, sending my children away, and letting go of the past. The people who collect my work send me long private letters about their circumstances. Our relationships are brief and poignant. Their words can find their way into the next work. The paintings, in retrospect, prove the symbolic act of painting as a soul connecting experience. The successful ones uncover and celebrate the hard mysteries of our place in the universe. They deal with the anxieties of our time and questions of relevance, such as self-identity and purpose.

I feel as though this circles round and round. Is that the point of handwriting?

what a meal

A story in pictures.




My valentine overtook me like the Miami weather and cooked up a sultry concoction of Chillean Sea Bass and Lime Chili roasted corn... and now we are finishing it with Creme Brulee!
Must do this again.

party!

Not many pictures (but for Krisse!). It was a fun night for Michael and I. So great to see friends, new faces, new friends. Sold five valentines! Thank you.

city love

Party in Miami 2night at the Bakehouse!
Velentine show upstairs in 9U

visit to the Miami Light Project

Wow what a show! I don't have any pictures. I never thought that going to a dance could be as much of a trip as going to the movies. Each of the four choreographers last night , as part of the Here & Now Knight emerging artist series, took us on a journey through time, fear, desire, and fashion. A couple times I had to remind myself that new work can be uncomfortable. I had to tell myself not to be quick to judge and to let myself experience the sonic, visual, moving worlds, and there were some real "aha" moments. Very much worth going out and getting soaked on the way there. Keep an eye on Natasha Tsakos.

Third eye skull 3D valentine

SOLD
Artists #artheart have been dropping like flies these last few weeks. Some of the great ones are gone. Tanning and Tapies and... It's a shame to know their studios will get all dusty. While alive they worked constantly and created in the realm of emotions and dreams.
This valentine is inspired by our trip to Edouard Duval-Carrie's studio. He just embellishes and embellishes and goes into the scary dark side of life armed with paint and fiberglass and all sorts of joy.

Visual bird nest poetry

This one just kind of made itself.
Come see the whole batch of valentine sculptures at the Bakehouse tomorrow night. Downtown Miami, 7-9pm.

Love you in 9U!

Prices: $50 and up

Fly

SOLD
Sometimes in grief or fear our hearts are squeezed tight as if in the grip of a hand. But there is always hope that can leak out and fly free.
We are praying today for the improving health of Mr. P.

Hope - By Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Cherry Blossom heart

SOLD Historically, Valentine's day fell on the spring day set aside since ancient times to celebrate the rejuvination of nature. The holiday commemorated the joyous rites of spring, as seen with the blossoming of the trees and the songs of birds mating.
I went to high school near D.C., and each spring pink and white cherry blossoms would pierce the winter backdrop and bring ecstatic hope to our souls.
This heart can hang upright (sorry about the picture orientation)

Spilling over

I can't help but keep sharing the valentines we have been making. This collaboration is revealing a duality of many elements. The smooth, the rough, the inner and outer, the liquid and dry, the hot and the cool, just to name a few.

I love working like this!!!!

Hint: if you don't buy one of our sculptures, at least try to make one of your own. It is fun. Be wacky. Valentine's day is a day to throw caution and self-censorship to the wind. Bring out the glitter. Don't worry about the mess!

Buttoned up

I have found my love. Have you?

This heart is all Michael's. He brought the color, the pattern, and, of course, the googly eye to the mix. Playful and intense.


See the other hearts at our party tomorrow night.
THIS ONE IS SOLD!

Kiss me

take me off the wall of Michael's studio (9U) at the Bakehouse complexxxxxxx, downtown Miami

painted clay and string and amore

It's a wrap, a near perfect embrace.

Loving is a choice and never has it been "perfect". When two people connect in a profound way, there are bound to be secret spaces left untouched and gaps that an embrace cannot map. The passion and arguments of youth may be symptoms of the struggle to make it perfect. When I was younger I wanted to be completely absorbed by the other, as I thought it would make me whole, and I worked hard to imagine it so. As I get older I realize the intricacy of each person's journey and I see that, at best, we are here to honor the other person, bring to them what we can, and have grace in accepting what we can't.

Valentine #12
for exhibit and sale this Friday at the Bakehouse
downtown Miami, FL 7-9pm