February 4th ArtWalk Downtown Seattle

For those of you coming downtown for the first Thursday ArtWalk this week in Seattle, I have a few suggestions for your walking tour.


ArtWalk officially starts at 6pm, but come early and start your night at ChezShea. Chez Shea is a beautifully intimate restaurant and bar in the Pike Place Market. Buy yourself a glass of wine and enjoy one of their delicious appetizers while enjoying the art of Laura Marks.



It's 6pm, and you are now ready to begin the journey south to Patricia Rovzar Gallery. This month she features the work of yours truly. It's my first major solo show, and I can't wait to see how the work looks in her fabulous corner location on 2nd and University.


Next stop: Pioneer Square. Anne Siems is showing at GroverThurston Gallery in Occidental Square. The newest work looks phenomenal. Anne has been inspirational to my own development as an artist.

Finish off the night at the Collins Pub, base of Smith Tower on 2nd Ave. Enjoy your beer and pub grub while checking out the "fetish dolls" of Shaun Doll.


There is loads of art to visit this month, and I would love to post it all. Stop downtown another time during February and see what else is up.

Hope to see you on Thursday night!

New Book of Paintings from February Show

I just completed a small book that highlights the paintings in my new show at Patricia Rovzar Gallery. It features twenty reproductions of my work and an introduction by art critic Daniel Kany. To preview and purchase a copy, visit my web site , or go directly to the publishers bookstore at Blurb.com

SHOW PREP

Two-weeks before opening night of my exhibition of new work at Patricia Rovzar Gallery. The studio is full of finished paintings getting their final primping. I had no idea how much prep would go into my first major show. In addition to the painting, I've decided to redesign my Web site, and create a book to accompany the show. I'll let you know when the Web site goes live. The book will be available for purchase online.

Hope you can make it to opening night on February 4th, 6pm-8pm. The show will be up for viewing from February 4th - March 2nd. Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Seattle.

I'm anxious to get back on the easels!

December Freeze in the Studio

It's been cold in the studio, but moving around large-scale art helps keep me warm. This encaustic piece is 24" tall x 80" wide, and will be ready for my February show at Patricia Rovzar Gallery.

About Photography

“ An impression needs to be constantly refreshed by new impressions in order that it may persist at all.” TS Eliot, The Perfect Critic

I have spent a lifetime working on my drafting skills, capturing mood and spirit through line, shadow and texture. I have developed my own hand with brush, chisel and pencil. Oils, alkyds, graphite, pigment and charcoal all play important roles in developing my technique. I can render the graceful bend of a sunflower as it lifts its head toward the light, and I can also reflect its waning days through the strength or weakness of the weight of a single line.

For years, I was embarrassed to admit to even using a photograph as reference, let alone actually incorporating it into my medium. I suppose because there is so much work out there that relies on photography and appears to be more like a weekend hobby than serious art.

But some of my greatest influences are photographers. I have immersed myself in the works of Imogen Cunningham, Harry Callahan and Alfred Stieglitz; and modern masters, such as Andy Goldsworthy and Sally Mann. Through these artists, I realize that it doesn’t matter what medium I use, as long as I am committed to the quality and expression of the craft.

When I draw a subject from life, I am adept at rendering what my eye sees. The camera allows me to see beyond that. When I take a photograph, it represents a snapshot in time. The way the light falls on a living thing occurs in a single moment. The machine picks up and emphasizes aspects of my subject that my eyes overlook. I am lucky to have such an objective companion. But the photograph is only the beginning of the journey.

Just as the old master painters created beautiful underpaintings of watercolor, ink or gouache to guide their painting, the photograph guides not only my hand, but my mind. The original impression is buried deep below the surface—sometimes not even visible in the end—changed and influenced by my hand to create an entirely new impression. This idea of constantly changing and evolving impressions is critical to the purpose and method of my painting.

The Future of Arts Journalism

Coverage of the arts in America is being transformed. Traditional news organizations have been dropping arts staff and reducing coverage. News organizations continuing to cover the arts are looking for new ways to do it. Artists and arts organizations are finding new ways to communicate without the traditional press. Something of a citizens’ army has risen up in the form of 300,000 arts blogs. At the same time, our culture itself is changing as people have more access to more culture than ever before. In the face of all this change, what is arts journalism?

To watch the video, paste this link in your browser window.
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/2267397

Concept Sketches

Another small study for the upcoming show at Patricia Rovzar Gallery in February 2010.

Invasive Beauty Begins

This is a small (9" x 12") concept painting for the invasive beauty series. The dark background is a relatively new direction for me, and it's challenging. It takes more layers, scraping, waxing, painting, smearing and rebuilding. Plus, a lot more patience, and ample amounts of trust to create those dark areas while maintaining clarity of color. I went through multiple failures before coming up with a technique that I will pursue at a larger scale. On my workbench are four 48" x 64" panels ready to conquer. Wish me luck.

Tulip Takeover

"Frenzied (working title)" 24" x 61"

This is one of five completed tulip paintings. I've just started the invasive beauty series, and will post some small studies soon.

Things That Keep You Awake

Untitled. 24" x 32" Encaustic and oil on paper on wood.
Even though I swore I was done with alliums, I returned again to the familiar and recently completed this painting of chives. The working title is "Things that keep you awake at night." I may end up keeping the name...and perhaps I'll do a companion piece in a darker, moodier atmosphere.


Above is a detail from the painting.

Visit to Lynda Lowe's Studio

Above: Lynda Lowe in her studio
I and two artist friends, Alison Lewis-Harlow and Robbi Firestone, had the good fortune to visit the studio of the artist Lynda Lowe. I was initially introduced to Lynda's work by gallery owner Patricia Rovzar, and was immediately drawn to the depth of color, the skilled craftsmanship, and the intensity of meaning as eye and mind are taken deep into the painting, and then brought back to the surface with finesse.

The studio is in a stunning location, up a beautifully landscaped path on the top of a small hillside, with a spectacular view of the water and wildlife of puget sound. Once inside, I felt immediately at home. Lynda is a gracious host, and she brings so much of herself into her work. The space is full of precious objects of inspiration -- rocks, shells, bones, books, brushes -- all things discovered on her many travels.

I hope you have the great pleasure of seeing her work in person. In the meantime, you can visit Lynda and her work on her Web site: www.lyndalowe.com

Patricia Rovzar Gallery

In October, my work will be represented by Patricia Rovzar Gallery. This gallery is surely one of the best in downtown Seattle, and it's a privilege to be selected to join her group of important artists. Please visit the gallery at
1225 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.
www.rovzargallery.com