Two Art Shows, A Cleanse, Pom-Poms, Taxes & Slowing Down

April 15, 2015 in Field Trip, Ramblings

It was a very busy weekend with an art show at Collector in Berkeley, a workshop in SF with Dana Haim, an art show at the Citadel Gallery, crafting for a baby shower and taxes. Whew! I have been overcommitting for the last two months and while I feel lucky to be involved with all these projects, I have been feeling really burnt out. Luckily, I'm on a cleanse so that's really helping things! Ha, not really. I am cooking or preparing every single meal since I have not been consuming dairy, grains, legumes or sugar. It makes it hard if I go out to eat anywhere since I can't eat much of anything but salad. I've been somewhat of a homebody at this time. Anyway, I'm doing it to myself.

FRIDAY

The art show opening at Collector was fantastic! A good friend, artist Elissa Nesheim came out all the way from Gilroy and there was a really nice crowd. I love working with this art shop. Skye and Christina have a great eye and they are so good to the artists. The shop has art-filled walls and an incredible selection of artist prints and handmade goods. Collector also now carries prints of my work. It was so hard to not eat the brie and drink the wine at this opening!

SATURDAY

Dana Haim in the center of all this yarn

My friend Anabella and I headed up to San Francisco early to attend a pom-pom workshop by Brooklyn artist Dana Haim at Makeshift Society. I saw her Pomifornia workshop tour on the Jungalow blog and posted by Makeshift Society. It seemed like it would be really fun. Dana was so great and I learned a ton from her. The other guests were super fun too. I am brainstorming a summer project with these and hoping to include glittery yarn. I love learning new things and Dana Haim has transformed pom-poms into something new and exciting. Working on these fluffy little spheres was addicting. I loved "painting" with the yarn and experimenting with the designs. It reminded me that I love working with a variety of materials from paper to textiles and that I just love color so much.

After the workshop, we headed over to Faye's Video & Espresso Bar to see the work of UK artist and illustrator Faye Moorhouse. I love her quirky, wonky work. Faye's wonky movie posters were just the thing I needed to see.

An awesome turnout at Eye Tea at the Citadel Gallery, including Bella's parents seen in the foreground here.

The show Eye Tea opened at the Citadel Gallery on Saturday night. It was awesome to be a part of Slow Art Day. We were the only venue in San Jose to take part. The theme of artists reflecting on social media and information technology seemed really fitting for the idea of slowing down. Slow Art Day asks participants in galleries worldwide to view 5 works of art for 5-10 minutes each. The average time viewers spend in front of a work of art is said to be about 17 seconds. Slow Art Day asks viewers to stop and view the art.

String Theory, art installation by Frances Marin and Anabella Piñon at Citadel Gallery. Watercolor, paper, dyed string and cans.

Anabella and I came up with the installation String Theory. Two kids talk on a tin can, but there is a lot of noise and eavesdropping happening around them. A fairly simple and straightforward message here. We had been spending many hours on this in the last few weeks. I will be posting about the behind-the-scenes of this project soon.

SUNDAY

I spent time crafting in the morning for a friend's baby shower that's happening this weekend. We made banners and other decor for this. Afterward, I went to Bryan's jiu jitsu competition. It was so cool to see him win his first match.

MONDAY/TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY

And then, taxes. For the last few years, I gather up my documents and data early in the year and get about 75% finished with my tax work. Then, life and projects get prioritized and I end up scrambling at the last minute. Since I have a variety of streams of revenue including teaching, wholesale, several online shops, events, direct sales, etc., my taxes are quite a bit more complicated these days than they were a few years ago. I am quite proud that I am so much more organized and knowledgeable about bookkeeping than when I started. It took years of hard work, but I feel really good about being able to handle this aspect of what I do. I have to be honest about not keeping up with bookkeeping in the last part of 2014. When I sat down and went through the numbers, I was really happy to have made more than I thought. I am determined to get my taxes done earlier in 2016. I'm also determined to stay more on top of bookkeeping for the rest of this year.

Now it's time to slow down a little. I'll be going on vacation for the last week of the month. I think it's well-deserved after this crazy schedule I've had. I have a few fun projects to work toward until I leave, but it is so much less than I have had going. On the trip, I will have limited internet access and I think this will be a very, very good thing.

Purisima Creek Redwoods Hike

April 07, 2015 in Adventure & Hiking

We knew it was going to rain on Sunday, but thought that would make for an extra magical hike. I had been wanting to do a trail at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve for awhile now. I always pass it on my long solo drives up Skyline and have suspected there is a killer ocean view. It was super chilly and luckily I had a bag of clothes to donate in the trunk so I could add extra layers!

One of my favorite places to search for hikes is Bay Area Hiker. I went on the second hike in that link. I made the mistake of not reading where the trailhead was, instead just pulling off at the Purisima Creek parking lot. This meant that what I thought was a 7-mile hike was actually an almost 10-mile. It wasn't a big deal, we just had to be somewhere at 3pm and ended up being late. It all worked out though. All in all we did the loop of Harkins Ridge to Purisima Creek to the Craig Britton Trail.

At first, the hike brought me right back to the Pacific Northwest. I lived there in junior high and have camped the overcast West Coast many times. Definitely planning a trip there in the fall. Also, every time I get in the redwoods, I think of Return of the Jedi. I probably watched it too much as a kid.

The trail was a bit of a roller coaster, going up and down to get to views of the ocean, fog settling in between the pines. The hike dips down to Purisima Creek, with lush ferns and banana slugs everywhere.

I saw a salamander, tons of banana slugs and wildflowers including, poppies, wild irises, Indian paintbrush and baby blue eyes.

Little salamander on its way — Little salamander on its way

This is one of the best hikes in the area. My legs are still super sore two days later. I didn't fully time it, but it took somewhere around 4 hours. It's totally worth it for the workout, views and variation. The last leg of the hike was on the Craig Britton Trail where a dedicated bench plaque reads, "They aren't making any more land, so preserve it while you can!"

True, true.

6 Makers You Should Know in San Jose, California

April 03, 2015 in Resources

I feel like I know a lot of people who make incredibly beautiful things in San Jose. It's not all computer chips and apps here. We also create things by hand with care and expertise. This list focuses on makers who specifically live in the city of San Jose, CA. The next time you think about buying furniture, textiles, plush toys, ceramics or soaps, consider making a purchase from one of these artists rather than a big box store.

This is a personal selection of designers I know in San Jose. I hope to do more of these in the future. The group here spends a lot of time on their craft and makes with their very own hands. You can find links to their websites, online shops and contact info throughout this post.

Grid Junky

- textile artist extraordinaire -

I love following Jerome Sevilla. He takes you back in time to the days of weaving and hand sewing. He shoots gorgeous in progress shots and unravels and recycles textiles. His work is to say the least, exquisite. The care and detail of his work is evident in the images he shares around the web.

In his words:

I'm a small guy with small hands and nearsightedness. Some may think of these as shortcomings, but such traits serve me well as a knitter, weaver, and all-around fiberist. My work has been described as concise, detail oriented and process driven. And that makes sense. The world is a blur. I'm designed to focus intently on what's in front of me.

Find more of his work here:

instagram.com/gridjunky

gridjunky.blogspot.com/

gridjunky.tumblr.com

Jumbo Jibbles

- plush veggies and fruit -

Amy Brown, the owner of Jumbo Jibbles, is crazy creative. She is best known for her plush vegetables and fruit that have grown (ha!) to be featured on Buzzfeed and you can see her kiwi and lemon above residing on the couch at oh, you know, just Nickelodeon. I have watched her creative business grow and thrive with her highly demanded creations.

In her words:

I love fruits and vegetables SO MUCH... well, see for yourself. I have created giant produce pillows for kids and adults that encourage a closer relationship with your food. My toy company Jumbo Jibbles is inspired by San Jose's agricultural past and future, and my funky larger-than-life veggies confer an honorary farmer status on this apartment-dwelling artist.

Find her here

etsy.com/shop/jumbojibbles

instagram.com/jumbojibbles/

facebook.com/jumbojibbles

jumbojibbles.com/

Le Animale/Laura Johnston

- animal totems and jewelry -

I have followed le animalé since she her early days on Etsy. Laura makes the cutest collectible animal totems that are super unique in their style. These eyeless critters are perfect for you or as gifts. I want them all! I am happy that Laura moved to San Jose in the last year and we now work on creative projects together.

In her words:

I'm Laura, the owner and artist of le animalé. I opened my shop in 2011 creating fun, small, collectible animal totems in polymer clay and pewter. I LOVE creating little animals and have made thousands over the past few years. Working with my hands, honing a skill, and giving life to my imagination has always been a part of me, and I can't imagine not doing it, Every Wednesday I release new totems in my shop, so come by from time to time to see what's new!

Laura is also a visual artist and creates beautiful paintings. You can see more of her amazing work here:

leanimale.com

i nstagram.com/whatLJmade

facebook.com/leanimaleshop

etsy.com/shop/leanimale

Patton Design

- reclaimed artisan wood furniture -

Chris Patton is a good friend that seemed to just magically be able to make beautiful furniture after conquering the art of photography . Well, he did come from an extensive construction background working with his dad, but still, these gorgeous pieces seem to come from a craftsman who has been making furniture for decades. Chris has done a lot of client work for companies including Cukui, Brand Vessel and San Pedro Square Market, as well as unique pieces for personal work and commissions.

In his words:

Patton Design is focused on quality craftsmanship and finding beauty in raw materials, clean designs with a rustic modern approach.

You can find his work at @chrispatton on Instagram. You can also contact him with inquiries at c.pattondesign(AT)gmail.com.

Ross Lab

- beautifully crafted ceramics -

Rossella Manzini makes breathtaking ceramics that are difficult to choose from. Clouds, hearts, waves, triangles and more adorn her handmade wares. Born and raised in Italy, she now resides in San Jose making these perfect pieces. I am currently deciding which plate color I want to purchase:)

In her words:

"There is a story behind every piece that I make: it begins with me, the designing process and the making, and it ends with my customers and how they choose to use my creations. This is the beauty of being a potter: I make things that are beautiful to look at, yet functional and made to be lived with.”

Find the lovely Rossella here:

RossLabDesign.com

instagram.com/ross_lab

facebook.com/RossLab

twitter.com/Ross_Lab

Sylvie James

- natural bath and beauty -

I have purchased Sylvie James products and I really like the cleansers and candles. If you don't end up keeping everything for yourself, they make perfect gifts. It's been really great to watch her put herself into this line of all natural products. I am excited to see what she comes up with next.

Here's what Anna has to say about her goods:

Sylvie James is all natural skin and bath products. It started with my kids really. Sylvie, being my daughters middle name and James is my son's middle name. I started becoming more aware of what I was putting in and on their bodies. I wanted to simplify and put my family on a path to a healthy and all natural lifestyle. The more I learned about making all natural products by hand the more my passion grew.

Sylvie James is more than skin care, it's the idea of taking time out to relax and focusing on ones self. All my products are based around essential oils and cleansing clays. I create everything by hand in small batches. From Herbal Bath Tea, Activated Charcoal Cleansing bars, Eye cream, Bath Bombs, French Clay cleansing Bars, Lip Balm and more. You can follow along at www.sylviejames.com for recipes, family adventures, product updates and more.

FInd her at:

sylviejames.com

instagram.com/sylvie_james/

My desktop in my temporary studio in Spain.

Playing in Spain

March 31, 2015 in In the Studio, Ramblings

I was looking for a photo on my phone and came across a group of photos from Spain that stopped me in my tracks and made me say 'duh'. Time created some distance from some ideas I had out there and it was nice to see them again. They reminded me of a few projects I still want to try out. I had all day to play with materials and just have fun experimenting while working out there. I had not looked at these since I shot them and I think there's such interesting stuff happening in these photos (of course, maybe just interesting to me!). Since I've been back, I've been focusing on smaller paintings (with a focus on the 'product' not the process), moving the studio and a variety of other things. I had almost let some pretty cool ideas fade from my memory.

Paint test sheets, cut shapes, ink drawings and watercolor paintings.

I had a ton of ideas there. Too many. A month was definitely not enough time to carry out all of them, but there are at least elements of these ideas that I want to use in current and future projects since there isn't an expiration date.

Strips of cut watercolor paper placed in front of two different paintings.

The juxtaposition of certain pieces together was really interesting to me. I had painted strips of paper and layered them in front of two different paintings, which gave me all kinds of ideas for dioramas and other three-dimensional work.

A sort of watercolor landscape lit from behind.

Using cheap roll paper, I drew and painted without a care since I didn't feel precious about this inexpensive material. I tested out lighting it from behind, thinking I would create an installation that used this idea. It is something I would still like to try. I have used a light before, but hanging rather than behind the art.

Experimenting with "gotas" or blobs piled along the wall. — Experimenting with "gotas" or blobs piled along the wall.

One of the first things I played around with were cut watercolor shapes I called 'gotas' (or blobs in Spanish). Each day, I made anywhere from several to ten. This ended up being included in the final exhibition which you can see here.

Playing around with color in the installation.

Here are some ideas I had for the fireplace installation I did. You can see the final installation here. The idea behind the piece evolved to be about states of static versus flow. How we can become stagnant or try to achieve a firm stance in life when it is constantly in flux and moving around us.

Cut paper plants with window reflection.

Whether getting caught up in a routine or having too many deadlines or goals, we can forget about concepting, sketching, playing, experimenting, making mistakes, making a mess. By working with these materials in different ways, I explored light, shadow, scale, dimension, pushing the idea of a two-dimensional painting. I was so excited while working in Spain, being inspired by a different landscape and surroundings, and I'd like to keep that going here.

I am currently working on dioramas with cut watercolor paper for a new project. I'll keep ya posted on how that goes!

Live Painting at Cinequest Film Festival

March 10, 2015 in Events

I was thrilled to win the live painting contest at the Cinequest Film Festival. It was not something I had expected. The other painters, Mike Borja and Denis Korkh created incredible artworks on either side of me for ten days. The competition was a friendly one, one that aims to engage the public with the painters more than instigate any sort of rivalry.

For 10 days, I rode my bike down to Camera 12 to paint. I had a bag on my shoulder and a bag of supplies in my basket. With this almost precarious load, I made my way to the theater to paint for long hours. It was my first time live painting, not including sketching in public or with small groups of friends. When I painted the electrical box, people came by and asked questions, but not at the level that happened at Cinequest. It was definitely a challenge for me. People can walk up behind you and ask you about your painting. People can watch you from the window. You get suggestions for what you should add to your painting and a lot of questions that are hard to answer since you aren't always sure of what you are painting.

I started out by thinking I would paint a specific thing. It was going to be a courtyard, as you can see in the first picture above. A multiple-storied building with people and plants at night was my initial idea. I turned the painting in different directions. At one point, it was actually a horizontal painting. The painting was fairly awkward at this point. Some of the layers felt really beautiful, but it didn't know what it wanted to be yet. I then decided to bring the sky down between the walls and it turned into an ocean. Then the ocean wanted to move into the room or at least hover between the indoor and outdoor space. I was a bit stuck at this point, when a single plant in the left corner had been painted.

The painting ended up being so much more intuitive and subconscious than I thought it would be. Any preplanning fell by the wayside. There were times when I was overthinking, but overall I just let it be what it wanted to be. If I saw a shape or a color and it felt right, then I pushed it. If you look closely in the top photo, I added an island to the right and a mirror to the left. I wanted the painting to feel mysterious, open to interpretation and maybe a place you wanted to be, though slightly ominous. I'm calling it Inside Out.

As the week developed, I noticed a change. I felt more open to people's suggestions. Not, that I would necessarily take them, but I wasn't feeling as defensive about them. As I opened up over the week, all these things started happening. Good energy was everywhere.

Photo by Dustin Adams. Find him on Instagram @bloboliveradams — Photo by Dustin Adams. Find him on Instagram @bloboliveradams

I received this gorgeous photo in the mail by Dustin Adams. After admiring it, I realized the orange hills were similar to the orange hills in my painting, below the shoreline. It felt serendipitous when this arrived.

A friend came over on Saturday and after hearing me excuse my mess around the house, she suggested a book she just ordered The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I told her that I'm reading it right now and that's why the house was a mess!

The day after, my friend Lucia came over and I was helping her with her new blog. She was wearing a black and white striped shirt, black pants and moccasins. So was I.

It was so interesting how we Mike, Denis and I all ended up with moons in our paintings. During the second week, the moon was evolving to full so I think we were on the same wavelength. Also, Mike's was a water-based bathtub painting Denis focused on a figure and plants. I seemed to meet them in between by including an ocean and plants.

I could go on about more connections this week, but I will spare you.

Coincidences, synchronicity, call it what you will, but I inhale magic energy when it's around me. The universe opens up when you are keep yourself open, generous, and take chances. I can be inclined to be easily annoyed by humanity, but reversing that has completely changed my outlook in the last week. I am a big believer in being open to these signs, in being aware of what the universe is showing you.