Lay Low Art Show and Self-Discipline

I've been working very hard for months on a solo show at Seeing Things Gallery. It's been a wild ride of commissions, returning to teaching about 10 hours per week and creating new work for this show these last few months. I spent a lot of quiet time on a chaotic workload. I am happy the flyer is finally finished as the December 6th opening date looms closer. Please come by from 7-11pm!

Lay Low, new work by Frances Marin at Seeing Things Gallery

For me, working on a show means digging into the fragile parts of my brain. It means negative self-talk happens, moments of insight create positive and productive work time and this up and down usually happens up until the night of the show, when I breathe a big sigh of relief. This show, more than any prior, was very intuitive. The paintings evolved and changes were made by gut feeling. I can often over-think my work, and though that still happened, I was more easily than ever able to quiet that side and just get to work. 

A big reason I was able to work on this show, commissions and teach part-time these last few months, is because of a very disciplined schedule. While I wasn't actively working every single second, 24-7, I was working pretty close to that. I missed shows that I wanted to go to (Mazzy Star?!), celebratory events with friends and overall most human interaction that was outside of my teaching job. I exercised almost everyday and only drank water, coffee and green juices. Spending a lot of time alone is great in some ways. I found the past resurfacing and made better sense of that. I thought a lot about changes I want to make for next year and beyond. I realized what was most important to me in all categories of my life. Spending a lot of time working alone can also be rough. There can be too much thinking and too much self. You realize how important it is to get outside and live life. 

While self-discipline has been a recurring thing in my life: it got me through college, put me in a swimming/yoga/running routine years ago, quit smoking, multiple detoxes/cleanses, it was this time that I felt it in a more true sense of the phrase. I'm excited to see where this goes.

Vintage Still Life Painting

Despite attempting to be a minimalist of sorts, I am so thankful I have saved my best inherited and collected vintage objects because selfishly, I can watch my students paint my belongings. On my way to the classroom, I just grabbed a box and loaded it with odds and ends. The kids were really excited for this display of weird old things. They loved the objects I chose and they worked so hard we had to take two days to work on our paintings. I was impressed with their dedication and even some of the rowdier boys displayed amazing attention spans and really excellent drawing skills. I directed the children to draw big so we didn't have teensy objects on such a large page. They were encouraged to choose what objects they wanted to focus on in their paintings, imagine their own patterns and add their own personal touch otherwise. We used an odd type of tempera paint that dries shiny, small-to-medium brushes and a medium-weight paper. I thought the results were incredible!

Orange flowers in a mason jar, a bowl of lemons and 1960's plastic flowers on a floral-patterned shawl, along with a globe and a metal pitcher from my grandmother, make up the objects the kids observed.

This student wanted to include all of the objects, but she rearranged them in her own way. Note, she put the flowers in the pitcher, rather than the jar. 

This student is from Australia. She always wears Aussie T's and talks about the region, so of course she had to highlight the continent in red. She drew a flower pattern into the pitcher with the back end of her brush.

These girls are hard at work creating patterns and painting flowers.  

This student attentively detailed this vase of flowers. The final results were delicate and varied flower petals and stems.

The first painting in this post is now nearly finished. She wants to add a background and more depth next week, so that means she will be working a third day. I love their dedication!

Lots of primary colors here. This student was very specific with her vision, so I just let her do her thing. I just love this painting.

This student was really creative with her background. I was really impressed with that rainbow roll (a printmaking term). She imagined her own carrier for her flowers.  

Kids work so intuitively between how they compose their paintings, to their color choices. It's really helpful for me to witness that for my own practice. During the last few weeks, my paintings have been so much more intuitive and serendipitous and I'll thank the kids for that.

Watercolor Landscapes Class

After a three year break, I am teaching art to children about 3-6 hours a week. I am so inspired by their intuition, freedom and imagination. So far, I am teaching a preschool class and art club. The images I am sharing here are from the art club. The students below range from K-4th grade, so you will see a range in style and abilities. They also only have an hour to work, between my short lesson and painting time. The first project is inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe watercolor landscapes. We looked at her paintings and talked about how she liked to camp and be outside painting her New Mexico surroundings. I shared my book about O'Keeffe painting/camping trips and we looked at her lantern, tent and tools used for these adventures. I wanted the students to paint anything they wanted outside and from their imaginations. We talked about colors in nature and how the sky didn't have to be blue or the grass green. It also didn't have to look just like Georgia and I think they made beautiful work. 

Three mountaintops and a boat. This student was inspired by her summer trip to Mount Shasta.

Self-portrait with mountains and sun

Magnificent sunset

Magnificent sky and land

River and bridge

Waterfall

Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Luncheon

I was thrilled to be invited to the Women's Initiative Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards luncheon at the Berkeley City Club. It was a great event, held in a stunning historic hotel to raise money to for the organization so more women can learn to start and run their own businesses. The array of businesses started by W.I. is astounding. The women who attended graciously donated money for the East Bay location. Each of us vendors donated a portion as well. See who won at the end of the post!

The pristine Berkeley City Club entrance.

The view through the courtyard to the outdoor patio from the name tag table.

My table set up! I thought I did a bang up job on the tablecloth arrangement. Wink, wink. 

The view from my booth while the ladies are setting up. Yes, that is a violinist performing in the corner.

Vendors nearly set up outside. It looks so inviting, but it was a really windy day and not so good for tabletop displays!

I fell in love with these handmade wood burned journals by M-Squarepress. The maker was so sweet.

One of two award winners was Tanya Holland. She owns two restaurants in Oakland, writes cookbooks and has appeared on all kinds of national television, including her own show, Melting Pot Soul Kitchen. Go Tanya!

Feels Like It's Getting Busy - Alamere Falls Part Two

Several weeks ago, I returned to Alamere Falls with some friends. I had been hiking in some beautiful places in the North Bay to prepare for backpacking the Skyline-to-Sea trail. This trip has been postponed for a few reasons, but that's okay. We'll do it soon. 

I've been doing some thinking this last week about just how much time art takes up in my life. While I absolutely love it, it turns most weeks into 6-7 work days. I love so many other things as well and it can be difficult to make the time for other things I like to do, especially when adventuring means traveling out of the area for a day or a weekend. This time of the year I get really busy, so I think I am just in the acceptance stage that summer is over, I have a lot of work lined up and deadlines are looming.

For now, I will be sharing Alamare Falls - Part Two. I invited some friends to hike the same trail I had done a couple weeks prior. It was an even prettier not-a-cloud-in-the-sky day.

Friends above the sea

Rope swingers were having a blast. There was a small hillside of my friends and a few strangers, including some nudists on the rope swing. Gotta love California!

This scene was way prettier in person. It felt like we were on a remote island. 

Lovely friends posing after we made it to the first part of the falls. 

Waterfall to the sea

We ate figs, dark chocolate covered coconut, garden vegetable sandwiches and reward beers in this perfect place.

Sunburst  

A classic California sunset on the walk back. 

Alright, back to work!