Fence Post Triptych - Part I

Here It Is !

This is the first of three Fence Post Cactus paintings, designed to be hung together. Designed to celebrate the unique character of these fabulous plants that survive the baking and freezing temperatures of the desert where they live.

In a highly stylized presentation, this Stenocereus eruca sports wicked thorns, and wild curves.  A columnar cactus that can grow to 50' high is indigenous to the southern US and Mexico.

Come back to see the next in the triptych...it's on my easel now.

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American Indian Women Portraits, Coachella Valley.

It's Been A Great Few Weeks.

Yes it has!  Besides working on a triptych of Fence Post Cactus, I have continued research of Indian Women who lived in the late 1800's - early 1900's.  Because I am spending a few months in the Southern California Desert, my current focus is on the women who lived and worked in this area, specifically the Coachella Valley.  These were Cahuilla Indian Women, and I have been 'introduced' to two women who were part of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Women.

My 'introduction' came about during a visit to the Palm Springs Art Museum where several spectacular baskets, created by Guadalupe Arenas and Delores Patencio,  are currently displayed.  

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Guadalupe Arenas, Basket, Rattlesnake, Cahuilla, circa 1910, natural and dyed juncus and sumac on a deer grass foundation, gift of J. Smeaton Chase

But finding photos of these women, who lived in the time period of my interest, was difficult, and I need these images to create portraits of the women.  However this past week I was invited into the archives of the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum where I spent hours going through photographic records and was able to find several images that are wonderful inspiration for my paintings.  Many of the images are proprietary and so I am unable to show them here, but I am able to have the images and work from them.  

You will recall I have painted five portraits of Dat so la lee and one of Sally Snooks, both Washoe Indian Women who lived and worked in the Lake Tahoe and Great Basin areas, where I also live.  

Five Portraits of Dat so la lee, Queen of the Washoe Basket Makers

Pamela Hunt Lee

Here is a link back to my blog post about the Dat so la lee portraits:  Indian Women Portraits

Today I will begin work on a new portrait, a painting of Delores Patencio.  I started sketches a couple months ago after first seeing her baskets and now that I have wonderful images of her, I am able to get to work.

Check back to see how this starts out...

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Thankful For Art

The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.
Friedrich Nietzsche 

We have passed through Thanksgiving in the U.S. when we spend time thinking about situations and people surrounding us that bring us joy, happiness, and thoughtfulness.  We then give thanks and express our gratitude.  Those of us who create acknowledge our passion, desire, and ability to make something where there was nothing before.  As artists we also realize and honor the torment under which we live, well, maybe.  Personally I am comfortable, sometimes, and greatful for the torment.  If it weren't for this torment I might not take the time to create.

The constant torment of what to create, how to create, when to spend the time, questioning the result, desiring acceptance of the work.  The questions go on and on, endless in fact.  Everyone who is successful conquering the torment has embraced it, used it to push their work forward and knows it will return over and over again.  It's the plight of the artist, but one for which we should all be thankful for it is a tool and part of who we are and part of our ability to create.  

beginning the background on my newest painting

the background painted in with high and low lights and a great deal of movement

the prickly pear paddles begin to appear

close up brushing the pigment onto the canvas

the painting as of today....loads more to do

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Indian Portrait Paintings

 The Fourth Painting in My New Series.

Dat so la Lee with 8 Degikup Baskets

24x24

1200.

Let's take a look at the process for this particular painting of Dat so la Lee with 8 degikup baskets and while doing so you will read a bit about the baskets too.  Painless history.

The canvas began with the same palette used for the previous 3 paintings and some of the same composition elements, the rectangle behind the head symbolizing a throne back, the stripe across the top third of the canvas an area that will hold a design from one of Dat so la Lee's baskets, and a ring of degikup baskets circling her neck.

Dat so la Lee is most famous for developing the degikup basket style that consisted of a large spherical shaped basket with a flat base and a small opening. It is estimated that she produced nearly 300 baskets in her lifetime, some taking a year to create.  Amazing.  In this particular painting I choose to represent some of her degikup baskets as well as the face of this talented woman.

After laying on some of the flesh tones I begin to concentrate on the dark and light areas of the face, all the while trying to think of anything but the fact that this is a face.  Remember, this is all new to me.

Traditionally, Washoe utilitarian baskets, or degikup, were round, watertight baskets made to hold such things as acorn mush, pine nut soup, and a drink made from wild rhubarb. 

By adding darker areas, shaded line work, the features become more obvious.

Degikup were also important in Washoe ceremonies. During the Washoe girls’ dance, food was put in degikup and given to singers in thanks for their singing; another degikup was thrown out to the dancers as a gift.  

The hair and beginnings of the head scarf go in....I needed to leave the face alone since I was nervous about overworking.

These baskets, the degikup,  were relatively simple in form and design—as were Dat so la lee’s first baskets. However, Dat so la lee transformed the shape and design of degikup, making truly aesthetic, sculptured baskets.

After painting in basic shading for her head scarf I went back to her face and had an 'ah ha' moment...thank goodness...using the same techniques I use to paint my rocks I was able to simplify, intensify, give character and depth to this face.

The Carson Valley and Lake Tahoe were home to Dat so la Lee.  Because I live and work in this area, I want to honor the early, talented women, those of the tribes that inhabited this area, the women who wove tribal history into their baskets.  This is why I am choosing to paint portraits of these women, and the first woman I have chosen to paint is Dat so la Lee, this the fourth of her and fourth in my series.

After more research about the degikup basket and Dat so la Lee's degikup baskets in particular, I painted in the base colors for the baskets making them slightly larger than they were in the original sketch.  Selecting a design from one of her baskets to place on the head scarf  repeats what was done in the first portrait.

It's the local Indian basket weavers I want to honor with portraits: Dat so la Lee, Lizzie Peters, Jennie Bryant Shaw, Tillie Snooks, Tootsie Dick, Maggie Mayo James, Lilly James, to name a few.  These women lived and worked in the late 1800's and into the early 1900's.  Their craft was traditionally handed down mother to daughter, the creation of utilitarian vessels that were spectacular in design as well as being useful in life. Because it is the women I want to honor, not the baskets, the focus in my paintings is general, not specific.  My painted baskets do not compare to the precise and intricate weave these women accomplished and I do not strive for them to do so.

Detail of the painting showing the completed scarf and the beginning of the basket designs, all inspired by actual baskets woven by Dat so la Lee.

The background stripe filled with another design from one of Dat so la Lee's baskets.

Creating these women in paint is my way of acknowledging  and honoring their lives and their craft.  

Dat so la Lee With 8 Degikup Baskets

24x24

1200.

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New Things Going On.

In The Studio, That Is.

It must be the time for new beginnings.  Not sure why, but I do know that for about a year I have been fascinated with the idea of painting images of the Indian women who lived in the area where I live.  Oh my, that means portraits. And that means something new. Portraits.  A bit frightening. But I love a challenge and if you read this blog you know I believe you are just producing if you are not pushing yourself as an artist, discovering new, making new......creating.  But the thought of portraits......

And then I remembered my first drawing class and the subject placed in front of us.  My instructor gave us a photograph of a man's face, drawing paper and a selection of pencils.  And great instructor he was, taking the fear away, teaching how to see the negative spaces, draw the negative spaces and in the process taking away the thought that it was a face, taking away preconceived notions of how this drawing should look.

Ok, so I am ready for this challenge.  I think I know what I want to accomplish and I will share it here as I make progress, so stay tuned, come on back, be a part of new things going on in my studio.

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Tools of the Trade, Part III

EASELS

Double Masted Floor Easel

Oh boy....I have lots!  I love my easels.

There are so many different types of easels!  I use a heavy, sturdy, huge, double masted easel (like the one shown at the top of the page) because I paint vigorously and usually on larger canvases.  This also allows the painting to stand up in the same position it will be when hung on the wall.  I can sit or stand at the easel and move away from the painting to get a different perspective.  It has loads of ropes, pulleys and a great big crank to move the tray that holds the canvas up and down.  There is work to this painting process!

 table top easel

A table top easel would work for someone who paints on a smaller scale.  Just not my style.

  floor display easels

There are floor easels for display purposes.  I have some of these too and use them in the studio to hold completed work or I take them to exhibitions to show work that, for one reason or another, cannot be hung on the wall.

 collapsible easel  

An outdoor, plein air, painter uses a collapsible easel that is easy to tote.  Most plein aire work is smaller so it fits quite comfortably on this smaller easel.  Again, not my style.

  table top decorative easels

And then there are the itty bitty, decorative easels, used to hold small work.  So many choices with this one, but my preference is a simple, black, wooden number that disappears so you see only the painting, at least that is the hope.

 my favorite table top display easel

A little while ago I was standing at my easel painting, cranking the canvas up and down, enjoying the process.    I took a break to catch up on some desk work, but now it is time to get back into the studio, back to standing in front of my easel, that monster that I love.

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How Long Does It Take To Paint A Painting?

Yes, I have talked about this before...

Kayaking Into The Rocks

48x30

2000.00

However I have run into an interesting situation, one that has helped me understand something you might see in a museum or art gallery.  And what has just happened in my studio may help you understand this as well.

So, how long does it take to paint a painting?  Artists are asked this over and over again.   I truly believe it has taken a life time of doing what ever one has done before to get to the point of creating what ever it is that was just created.  That explanation is not always readily accepted though it is true.  But what about those paintings that sit in the studio, unfinished.  Or what about the painting that was completed and then worked on again some time later.

This is exactly what just happened to me.  I completed a painting several years ago, about ten years ago.  It has been exhibited and just recently returned to my studio.  During those ten years, between the completion of the painting and its return, my work has changed, evolved, moved in new directions.  I see the world and my inspiration differently.  I portray my inspiration a bit differently than I did ten years ago.  So when this painting came back into my studio I felt compelled to work on it again knowing I could ruin it and knowing I could improve it.  I had never done this before because I think that once something is done, it is done, leave it alone.    Oh boy.....brush in hand, I tackled the work, changing what had been there, working to improve the painting.

So what is it we see in museums and galleries that I refer to at the beginning of this post?  It is information given about the artist and the work.  The date a work was created is typically on the descriptive tag next to a painting, and sometimes that date spans several years.  I have always wondered about this.  Why so many years?  Well, now I have one answer to this question and now this particular painting will have the date listed as 2003-2013.  And I guess if I am asked how long it took to create this painting my answer may be: ten years.

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See Where You Are.

That's The Title Of My Book.

If you have seen or read my book you know the title refers to observation and my belief that we should all take a good look at our surroundings to actually see what is there.  Many years ago I received the gift of a child's crayon drawing with the words, "Be Where You Are" written in primitive, child-like block letters, across the bottom.  I was captivated by sentiment, so this framed drawing hung in my home for many years.  I attempted to live the sentiment and found it inched its way into my art theory and practice, with a small twist.  No only, Be Where You Are, but SEE Where You Are.

Caught Again

48x36

Acrylic on Canvas

We look at things every day, from the moment we get up in the morning until we go to sleep at night.  We look at everything around us, but do we actually see these things?

Back Side of Caught Rock

48x48

Acrylic on Canvas

Observation is not a passive activity.  You must engage to be aware of your surroundings.   It is frequently helpful to carry a notebook or sketchbook to record what you see, to note the details.  If you prefer an additional mental challenge you might engage and challenge yourself to remember.

Three Birds

48x48

Acrylic on Canvas

What should you record?  How about the variety of color, as well as lights and darks, the values,  in the clouds.  And pay attention to the height and width of those clouds as well as the shapes. Are they billowy and puffy, flat and thin, wispy, towering?  How do they compare in size to the earth below?  Do they cast shadows on themselves and the earth below,  and what about the details of that shadow?  Get it?  Just apply this observing to everything around you.

Big Flowered Euphorbia

48x30

Acrylic on Canvas

All the while, be where you are and engage so that you can see where you are.

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Long Beach Museum of Art

Art Auction 15

Play On Words

8x26

Acrylic on Canvas

The exhibition is up and running.  This is the Long Beach Museum of Art's  biennial, four week exhibition and auction.  The exhibition opened last week on April 18 and will continue until May 18. This is one of the best auctions of contemporary art on the West Coast with over 100 artists participating after being invited and juried into the event.  Yes, I am honored to be a participant and the painting shown here,  titled:  A Play On Words,  is my entry.

Play On Words

During the four week exhibition it is possible to make bids on the paintings.  The culmination of the exhibition takes place May 19 from 4:00 - 9:00 pm with a live and silent auction of all the paintings.  While perusing and bidding on the art the guests will be treated to tapas dining and a hosted bar on the expansive lawn overlooking the Pacific Ocean. 

Play On Words

Proceeds from the Auction support the Museum's mission to collect and care for their permanent art collection, present changing exhibitions,  and provide educational programming.

Play On Words

Sounds terrific!  Remember, if you cannot get to the event on May 19, you can visit the Museum before then to bid on the art works.

Play On Words

Click Here to view my painting on the Museum's web site.

Click HERE to visit the portion of the Museum's web site with details about the event including how to purchase tickets.

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99 Bucks

It's That Time Of Year!

Time for 99 Bucks!  Well, it's almost that time, it's just a couple weeks away.  Saturday, April 13 at Hotel Zozo in Palm Springs, 4:30 PM.  Mark you calendars.

These are a few of the hundreds of small canvases that will be available for purchase:



Good things come in small packages!  Each year Artist Council members and their friends solicit artwork on 5" x 7" canvases from celebrities and artists from around the state, the nation and the world.  At the 99 Bucks sale, hundreds of these artworks are displayed and each only costs $99.  The hook: the buyer doesn't know who created the art until he or she owns it.  You never know whose work might be hanging in your home....

It's a great and fun event, attended by throngs (over 1000 art lovers) who all rush into the gallery at once, snapping up original art at this wonderful price.  The energy in the room is incredible.  The money raised by the event goes to the Artists' Council of the Palm Springs Art Museum to further efforts of art education to the residents of the Coachella Valley benefiting youth and adults.

Click HERE to go to the on-line gallery where you see all of the little canvases that will be available at 99 Bucks each.  Hopefully I will see you at Hotel Zozo on April 13 at 4:30 PM.

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Painting Give Away.

It's Time for my Annual Little Painting Give Away !!!!  And this is it:

More Olives

7" x 5"

To qualify for the Give Away get someone else to 'like' my Artist's Facebook page.  If you  Click Here you will go to that page.  And then do one more thing:  send me a message from my Artist's Facebook page telling me who you had 'like' my page, OR, Click Here to send me an e-mail message telling me who you had 'like' my page.  Then you are entered in the blind drawing which will take place tomorrow, Friday evening.  Notification of the winner will be Saturday.   Pretty Simple.

Now a bit about the painting.....  Inspired by a frosty gin martini filled with pimento stuffed olives.... for some a tasty adult beverage.  This painting is acrylic on a canvas board and sits beautifully in a small easel on a counter top or shelf.  It could be a decorative addition to a bar area that brings color and whimsy to the area.  You could keep it for yourself or gift it to a martini loving friend, so do these two simple steps and get yourself entered in the Give Away.

I am honored that a martini drinking gent I know has seen my cocktail paintings and wrote the following sonnet in honor of these works:

Ode To The Olive

Oh, but the magical olive tree what a gift it has given, especially to me.

A more perfect romance the world has yet to see

For in the morn we make magical love with color and brush

And in the evening I turn into the olive's adoring lush.

                                                           Gary Bird

Don't delay...enter today, and this colorful little painting may just be yours!

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