Time Out

The end of last week I headed to San Francisco to visit the de Young Museum to see the Birth of Impressionism exhibition of works from the Musee d'Orsay in Paris.  http://orsay.famsf.org/ .  It was beautifully presented and inspirational.   There is a second, sister exhibition scheduled to open, mid September, that will be worth while to visit. http://deyoung.famsf.org/deyoung/exhibitions/van-gogh-gauguin-cezanne  .  The de Young is the only museum in the world that is hosting this back to back exhibition. Opening in mid September 120 of the Musée d’Orsay’s most famous late Impressionist paintings including those by Monet and Renoir, followed by the more individualistic styles of the early modern masters including Cézanne, Gauguin, Lautrec and van Gogh, and the Nabis painters, Bonnard and Vuillard. The exhibition will also provide a unique look at the Orsay’s spectacular collection of Pointillist painters including work by Seurat and Signac.  I posted two of the painting to be shown, but I think only one appears here:

The next day I visited a visually spectacular farmers' market in Oakland.  After drinking in the textures, shapes and colors I snapped a few photos and may use them in future paintings or at least as inspiration....

The last day of the trip included hours of walking through The Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire which is Northern California's largest antiques and collectibles show.  It was exhausting but so very worthwhile. The show is huge, filled with over 800 vendors presenting a wide variety of STUFF from little tiny treasures to the monumental.  My hours spent pouring over tables and through piles resulted in  the purchase of a few special vintage items to include in some of my jewelry designs, and eventually you will see them pictured here on my blog.

And now, back to chile pepper painting...the bag and apron are next.  I have painted  black gesso in a rectangular shape to use as the 'canvas' for the painting.

Chiles in the studio have migrated to the kitchen where they have become part of Cherry Chile Pulled Pork, Apricot Chicken spiced with Chipote in Adobo, and Roasted Poblano salsa.   We are eating well, and I am back to work in the studio after an inspirational time out.