What Goes On 12/18/15

December 18, 2015 in Weekend

Partying

We celebrated a close family friend's 90th birthday last weekend. Her daughters threw the party at a North Beach art gallery, North Beach Bauhaus. It made me stop and think about what an amazing person she is and all the people she has made an impact on with her incredible spirit, intelligence and wit. If only we could all live as full and rich lives.

Listening

Receiving

Elissa gave me one of her sketches from SoFA Sketch. How cool is this?? A little landscape in a globe. I love it so much.

I got some cool stuff in the mail this week! On Monday, Etsy sent me this awesome pin just because and my friend Jeremiah Harada sent me this sweet drawn postcard.

Loot from Michael Hsiung - my new favorite shirt!

I also got this Parabo Press risograph print. The Jealous Curator had posted that her first 100 readers to sign up would get a free print of one of their photographs. I chose this scene of a Moroccan rooftop from my trip last year. Pretty cool, huh? You can have your photos transformed and printed a variety of ways through the app.

Shipping

I've been shipping lots of 100 Day Project calendars this week. Someone even ordered 6! Thanks for all your support!

SoFA Sketching

Anabella making an awesome flyer for her sister's annual New Year's party in Albuquerque, NM

MIguel Machuca sketching with a battery-operated eraser

My 100 Day/SoFA Sketch. I finished it at home later that night.

This week we ran our final SoFA Sketch for the year. It started in July and we kept it going the 4th Wednesday of every month. For December, we met a week earlier since the 23rd seemed a little too close to Christmas. These last few months have been some of my favorite. SO many good artists and everyone is so great to be around.

What Goes On 12/4/15

December 04, 2015 in Weekend

Buying

I bought this awesome notebook from Subtle Acts on Etsy. Erica makes great block prints and I have been admiring her work for a long time. This one really spoke to me. Also, it's even prettier in person with shiny gold ink on navy.

Disciplining

I have my first jiu jitsu competition tomorrow. I will also be competing in a jiu jitsu tournament in January. This means some heavy duty training until then. Since I will also have an art show in early February, I am sensing some heavy duty discipline in the next few months.

Exhibiting

I will have these works available at the Hark show at Kaleid Gallery. The show opens tonight, Friday December 4th and will be up until January 16th.

Listening

I love Sheer Mag. They are the perfect 70's, punk and rock n' roll blend. They make me nostalgic for music that I used to listen to.

I also listened to The Pop Group this week. It had been a few years since I listened to this album all the way through and I think it's such a gem. Being a post-punk band, they are of course catchy and dissonant at the same time.

Reading

Lately, I've not been able to pick up on book I'm currently reading. Instead I've been reading articles about evil people in the world and trying to even remotely understand their actions. Incomprehensible and depressing.

Seeing

The sunset from a couple nights ago was (obviously) beautiful.

SoFA Sketch

Just an early reminder, Wednesday, December 16th will be the next SoFA Sketch. I thought I'd share one SoFA Sketch artist, Suhita Shirodkar, is featured in the new Archisketcher book by Simone Ridyard. So awesome!

Watching

The new season of Fargo is awesome. I love the music, tone, acting, feel and just everything about it. If you like good film or art, you must watch it. It's captivating, funny and dark all at once.

The new Aziz Ansari show, Master of None, is SO GOOD. I find it sweet and funny, but it is also so refreshing to see a diverse cast. So much of TV is caucasian and I don't think the general public always notices this. A big bonus that the soundtrack includes Yo La Tengo, The Slits, X-Ray Spex, Arthur Russell, Brian Eno, Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin, The Cure, Depeche Mode and more.

I'm sometimes mixed on South Park because they can take it too far for my taste, but I have to admit their geniuses at making fun of everything. The recent episodes focusing on gentrification with a new Whole Foods and living/shopping/eating development, SoDoSoPa, are so accurate and relevant. The idea that they built the development around "historic Kenny's house" reminds me of what they have done in San Jose by building San Pedro Square Market around the historic adobe. See this quick video to see the gist of it.

Weaving

I wove this tapestry earlier this week. It was so fun to make and I anticipate making more. I made the loom from stuff I found around amongst my supplies. Whenever I sew, hammer or make with my hands, I experience such a deep satisfaction. It reminds me that I need to do more than just paint.

Though I have been really busy lately, this weaving reminded me to slow down and do things for myself too.

What Goes On 10/23/2015

October 23, 2015 in Weekend

Arting

I know I shared this picture in the last post, but I am just so excited about the new studio! Who says artists have to be cluttered and disorganized?? The room hit rock bottom recently and it needed a redo. I am so happy sitting at this desk writing this post.

Buying

I stopped at the Muji store downtown and bought these gel pens. They are AWESOME! I love how fluid they write and they come in a pack of six. I used the Muji pen for the sketch on the right in my new Cottonwood Arts sketchbook. I LOVE this sketchbook too. The paper is the perfect thickness.

Persimmons! Oh, how I love you. I have been eating 1-2 a day since we went to the farmer's market. As usual, I will eat as many as I can.

Listening

I went to a lecture by theoretical physicist Michio Kaku at the Flint Center. He is a futurist with many interesting ideas about what's to come. I felt so lucky to be able to attend this event. In the last couple of years, I have been able to see Bill Nye, Max Tegmark and now Michio speak. My brain feels full.

I found this podcast interviewing Erin Gleeson, who authored my favorite cookbook Forest Feast. She talks about her path to making the book, which is really inspiring since I am currently in the works to write and illustrate several books.

Anna Sale hosts one of my favorite podcasts, Death, Sex and Money, always touting that these are subjects no one wants to talk about. In this episode, titled The Sex Worker Next Door, Anna interviews a woman in the field anonymously. The result is human and eye-opening.

One of my favorite podcasts is Art for Your Ear by The Jealous Curator. This weekend she interviewed Kate Bingaman-Burt. The episode is titled "Make Piles of Crap" and I could not agree more! That's something I have been doing lately. Just drawing a lot and not really thinking of the end result. I've heard interviews with Kate before and she is always fun to hear.

Reading

This list is well worth the read. I keep hearing about Stoicism and it's relevance these days. These guidelines are for creatives to keep calm in chaos.

Sea Wolves! Yes, Sea Wolves. I had no idea these gorgeous creatures. If you are interested in seeing them in action, watch this sea wolf video.

Seeing

I saw these birds on a recent overcast day above the Los Gatos Creek Trail. I love how many there were. What were they meeting about?

SoFA Sketching

Last month's SoFA Sketch was my favorite one yet. I feel like it's finding its groove. I look forward to the next one on October 28th 7-9pm. I'm sure many will be working on their Inktober sketches. I will be making and posting the new flyer this weekend.

Watching

Check out this cool video of the awesome artist duo Kelly Tunstall and Ferris Plock. I have always loved the idea of two artists working together like this.

Have a great weekend!

What Goes On 9/25/15

September 28, 2015 in Weekend

Arting

Sketchbooks by Rob Sato. All numbered as you can see here.

I stopped at the Rob Sato show at The Arsenal on Tuesday. Rob is a truly incredible painter. He works on paper primarily and creates imaginary worlds and draws from life. I just loved this show of his sketchbooks and prints from his sketchbooks. It seems like he mostly works in ink and watercolor, two mediums that I love. Watch this video to learn more about him and his work.

I'll be exhibiting at The Arsenal in February 2016. I can't wait to fill this space with my work.

Eating

On Sunday I made avocado egg toast. It brought me back to Spain, where I often ate this. Just toast some baguette, smash avocado into it and in this case, add sliced tomato, eggs scrambled with mozzarella and top with dandelion greens and basil. Best breakfast ever.

Watching

I went to the Bellator MMA fights at the San Jose Arena on Saturday night, which if you know me, may seem a little out of character. Although I love jiu jitsu, I often have a hard time with other combat sports when it gets too bruised, bloody or violent. Still, I had a great time at this event which featured kickboxing and MMA.

Have you heard that the artist Jeremy Fish has a residency at San Francisco's city hall? It's pretty cool. I would love to visit him while he's working there. Check out this NBC video about the experience. I love seeing all the ways artists are being utilized and respected these days!

What Goes On 9/18/15

September 18, 2015 in Weekend

This week I have been busy working on commission sketches. I have several portrait orders going, including a returning customer from 2 years ago. She wrote me to say that they have had a child and he is mesmerized by his parents' portraits and dog portrait I made. She wants to add him to the wall too. How sweet is that?

I am also working on some new make-believe book sketches. These are for a couple of musicians who live in the North Bay. Hopefully I can see them perform someday!

Now onto the list...

Arting

Ok, LOTS of arting happened since my last post. I've been making it to more art shows recently and sketching out and about.

Colin Frangicetto and Drew Roulette at Empire Seven Studios - I thought these two artists' works went great together after attending last Saturday's opening. You can see Colin's work above. I didn't get any clear enough photos of Drew's work, but you can see them side by side here.

One piece of exciting news is that I will be in a Screaming Hand group show at Empire Seven Studios in January. Jim Phillips came up with this image in 1985 and it has been a classic skateboarding logo since. The show is part of a Santa Cruz Skateboards art tour sponsored by Vans. It is an honor to be included in this show with such an iconic theme. Watch this Jim Phillips video to get a little background and for some good tips on being an artist.

Opening today, Naoki Onodera, one half of Bahama Kangaroo has a show at Luggage Store in San Francisco. I worked with him and his wife on Jen Stark's mural at Facebook headquarters. Both he and his wife are amazing artists. The work is just so pure, fun and brilliant.

Also opening today, Nine Lives at RVCA in the Haight in San Francisco. If you didn't know, RVCA has an Artist Network Program that supports artists in many ways. You can watch some artist videos here. Mitsy Avila Ovalles, an amazing artist I met in art school, will be showing amongst eight other artists.

Drinking...and sketching

I have been having such a blast meandering around and sketching while drinking coffee, tea or wine. In the last couple of weeks, I have met with my friend Kyle Pellet a couple of times and it has spawned more sketching in public. I'm so excited for the next SoFA Sketch, which is coming up September 30th. I feel such a great sense of artistic community in San Jose right now. Between SoFA Sketch, The Exhibition District, gallery and museum visits and random meet-ups with fantastic friends, I am thoroughly enjoying being an artist in the San Jose and the Bay Area lately. It's about time:)

The sketch above was done of Le Bateau Ivre (French for The Drunken Boat), a great dining spot and cafe in Berkeley, CA. The brick section of the building is so cool and the place has a relaxed vibe with a kind staff. It's the perfect, quiet place to draw or read. We'll definitely be going back!

Okay, this one wasn't sketched in public, but I really liked how it came out. I wanted it to be freehand and loose, embracing any wonkiness. I really liked how it turned out and I will definitely be working with Sumi ink a lot more.

My friend Kim had a baby a few months ago and it struck me that she must continue making art even so. I invited her to come and sketch with me at B2 in San Jose. I thought we could stroll over and I could help watch the baby. It worked out amazingly well. We both got work done. I sketched her and she worked on her annual Halloween card. Her daughter fussed just a little bit, but mostly sat on either of our laps or slept. Parenting is easy, right??

Friday, I will be heading up to San Francisco with my friends Laura and Elissa to see the Turner exhibit at the De Young Museum. I'm so excited to hang out with them and meander around. It's gonna be, as always, a really inspiring day.

Eating

I made this last night. Boy, was it good. This is one of our classic meals around the house since it involves sweet potatoes, onion, mushrooms, kale, fresh basil, pork and an egg top. These meals are super satisfying and give me lots of energy, especially after working out. This time, I chopped up some insanely good pitted green olives and it really made the meal. I say put an egg on everything all the time. Same for olives.

Listening

I listened to Lee Fields on Employee of the Month with Catie Lazarus. He's one of my favorite singers and I love the way she interviewed him while he was on stage. So cool.

Danielle Krysa on Tiffany Han's podcast - These two ladies are great. I've been a longtime fan of what they have to bring to the world. They have their own podcasts and do so much more to help the creative community. It was a blast to listen to them together. Be sure to give this one a listen.

Last night we listened to so much good music. T-Rex, Vashti Bunyan, Ariel Pink, Roy Orbison, Talking Heads, The Cure and My Bloody Valentine. I've been listening to a ton of podcasts and interviews so it's always good to get back to the music I love.

Reading

https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/11/10/pico-iyer-the-art-of-stillness/

Training

I did my first jiu jitsu competition class (note class, not actual competition) last Saturday and second one on Monday. It was really hard, but awesome to put what I know together at a faster pace. Of course, you realize how little you know. The funny thing with jiu jitsu is I learned a lot in the first fundamentals class. You kind of think you know what to do, but when you go to apply what you learned you forget one or two little things: the placement of a foot, where to distribute your weight or to not let your arm hang out, and are immediately are back to square one or submitted. The technique is super important.

I've probably said this before, but I do find jiu jitsu really amazing for the mind and body. It has changed my perspective and made me a much, much more chill, open minded and expansive person. No, really. I love being a part of Heroes Martial Arts. It's been amazing. I was pretty timid at first there and far less nervous or afraid then I was when I started.

Have a great weekend!