SPC: On the Street

May on the SPC is all about photos from the street, which for a person who hardly leaves the house is pretty challenging! I work from home and so, most days I am busy here, not out in the big bad world! So this month I will push myself to venture outside, and click a pic!

Last weekend we took a trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo. The views were amazing, but I have to say that the animals all seemed on the depressed side, which made me feel very conflicted. I haven't been to a zoo in easily 15 years, and was so excited to get to see the Flamingos and Giraffes (My FAVORITES!) but really the zoo was sad and the animals were so restricted. Each individual habitat did not seem suited to the specific animal. Rather that they had just squeezed in enough areas so that they could have the standard variety of animals to qualify as a "Zoo". It made me sad to see the lions and gorillas in itty bitty spaces.

The penguins, however, had no problems. They were all diving and swimming like crazy. Their tank was huge and they were active and so fun. One actually tried to chew my sleeve through the glass. It was hysterical. I really enjoyed watching them go!

So leaving the house isn't so scary, I'll admit it! Maybe I'll get out onto the street again this week . . . . LOL

Parker and Dixie

Two recently completed commissions! Both are 16" x 20".

IF: Neighbor

For this week's IF theme neighbor, I bring you someone looking to meet all of hers! This piece, Housewarming, is all about independence and owning your very first home and all of the excitement that goes along with the experience!! Meeting your new neighbors is always fun! OK, mostly fun. . . .

Hive Gallery Opening 5/5

This piece, Sonya6, will be in the May Group show at Hive Gallery in downtown LA. While dropping off my piece I saw the other work in the show, and it was AWESOME! Even the lovely Miss. Mindy is in the show as well! Her works are amazing!

Here is the info:
THE HIVE GALLERY GROUP SHOW AND PERFORMANCES!!
May 5th 8PM to 12:30AM / suggested donation $7
729 S. Spring St. LA, CA 90014
Exhibit runs: May 5th - May 27th

So, Saturdays opening was a big hit! I am so excited to share that the art was well received and lots of pieces and prints sold! It was so nice to meet people and talk about the work.

This is a picture of me with a lovely artist I have become friendly with named Mike Foss. We had the pleasure of seeing his work in person last weekend at the Brewery Artwalk in Downtown LA. He works out of a studio at {open} and hung out for the show!

The show will be hanging through June, and I will be attending
You can check out more photos from the night {open}'s Grand Opening blowout in the new location May 26th.
If you are in the area, you have to check out this awesome store! They have all kinds of rare books and cool finds. I scored that cool paperback copy of "Please Dont Eat The Daisies" (one of my favorite all time movies) thats in my hand. They have all kinds of excitement planned for the Grand opening, including a few of Long Beaches top DJs. I cant wait!

You can check out more photos from the night here. A big thank you to everyone who made the night a huge success!

Sneak Preview

Sorry to be flying so low under the radar this week. I have been hustling to get lots of work finished for Saturdays {open}ing. There is a huge back wall in the space that I will be filling with a line of 6x8s and so I have been gluing non-stop! Today is a day for sealing and adding hardware! And baking cookies. That'll be a nice change of pace! LOL

The pic above is one of the walls at {open}. Not a great picture, as the sun is shining so brightly through the wonderful front window and drowning out all color, but it is a nice sneak peak at the show! I will have tons more to post on Sunday, I am sure.

I want to thank Apartment Therapy LA for posting about the opening! I look forward to meeting lots of people, fingers crossed! Be sure to introduce yourself if you make it!

IF: Remember

IF's theme this week is remember. I love the camaraderie of this photograph. These guys, in their suits, taking a picture to remember the first day of their new business, or on a fun vacation. Perhaps they are all related, brothers-in-law, and the wives are huddled together behind the camera. . . . Who knows, but this is an occasion they want to remember!

I titled the piece "These Guys" because I can almost hear the Robert De Niro-esque quality exclamation emerging from the guy in the center as he puts his arms around the other two and squeezes then in close just as the shutter snapped the scene. You know you hear it too!

Opening Reception at {OPEN}

1 week to go! I am so excited about my upcoming opening at {open}. I hope that if you are in the area you will come by and check it out, and say hello! There are 30 pieces in the show. Lots to see! Here are the details::

{open}ing reception
Saturday, April 28
6 to 8 pm
light refreshments :: live dj

Link to directions: Map of 2226 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA

As soon as I knew Jamey was preggars, I knew I was going to ask Dawbis to create a playful portrait for her! I LOVE the outcome! OMG! It is so perfect! Jamey LOVED it too! This was such a wonderful gift, and Jamey cant wait to hang it in her nursery! It is something she will have forever! And it is too cool! Thank you Dawn!!

IF: Polar

The theme this week for IF is Polar. That is one icy stare!
Another new piece for my show in Long Beach. Opening reception April 28th. More info will be posted today!

This is a new commission I recently completed. 8"x10"

IF: Fortune

The theme this week for IF is fortune. I just finished this piece for my solo show that is opening at the end of the month in Long Beach, CA. It is titled "Never Let Go". The piece is all about passion and togetherness and they certainly do seem rich with love!

Dawbis Rocks!

In February Dawbis and I decided to do a trade with each other. I love, love, love her work! She is an incredibly nice woman, and so talented! I have always admired her Flickr and I am SO excited to have one of her works in my home! I have temporarily hung the piece on a wall across from my office, so that every time I leave, the room I get to see it! That is me in the tree, with my cat Charlie, and Tom with the wings, and evil cat Lewis hanging from his feet.

As inevitably happens with most commissions I do, Dawn captured elements about our lives that I didn't give her details about. All of the "happy coincidences" as I like to call them, are so bang on. I am so blown away, and cant wait to figure out the pieces final home!

Design on a Dime

Big day today! HUGE! I was recently contacted by the wonderful folks over at Design on a Dime, a cool design show over on HGTV. If you haven't seen it yet, you must check it out! They have asked me to participate in an upcoming episode, and I am so happy to announce that I will be filming with them on Tuesday of next week!! I will be taking lots of pictures, of course! So stay tuned!

I hope that every one had a happy and restful weekend! We certainly had fun dressing my niece Emma up and trying to get her to be the bunny we know she can be! The pic is way too cute not to share! She is just edible!

I am going to be deeply engrossed in preparation this week. It is an exciting time, and I am proud to semi-announce that my first solo show will be opening at the end of this month! The kind folks over a Open in Long Beach have chosen my work to be the very first to hang in their brand new space! Once I know exact details I will share, but right now we are all just trying to coordinate! I am working hard to have new pieces for the venue, and to come up with a name for the show. I am so excited for the whole experience, and just a little scared too! I am sure it is going to be fine! Just fine. . . . More news to be posted as I learn the details!

HAPPY EASTER!

Just a quick post to wish everyone a Happy Easter! May your eggs be golden, and your Cadury's Chocolate Mini Egg cup runneth over!

Threadbanger.com

This is such an awesome video! A colorful and fun explanation of Etsy and the new Labs!

Courtesy of ThreadBanger.com!

Illustration Friday: Green!

I was really excited this morning when I saw that the IF theme this week was green. Although it seemed to be a bit early this year on the West Coast, I love Spring! I get inspired to get out into the garden and give a little love to the plants that have been neglected all winter long. I get to fill empty and abandoned pots with beautiful blooms and turn the soil in our little veggie garden for this year attempt at home grown treats. It is always so satisfying to snap a tomato off the vine and enjoy it in a salad!

Once the sun starts to warm, my work also tends to get into the Springy groove. I gravitate toward more botanical and natural themes once I have a little dirt under my fingernails. This will seem slightly daft, but none of this really occurred to me until recently, although this is only my 3rd year as a full time artist. I will pretend like that is the reason. . . . LOL

The piece pictured above, Jocelyn, is one of my most recent pieces. She has quickly become one of my favorites!

Everyday I go out into the garden, and there is so much going on! I spotted this giant ladybug in the new daiseys! Actually, she was so big, it would have been hard to miss her!

Revlon Run/Walk, May 12th, 2007

I am really excited to announce that I will be participating in this years Revlon Run/Walk in Los Angeles on May 12th. I did the Run/Walk in NYC in 2001 and it was an amazing feeling walking in the crowd and seeing the number of women who are survivors, and the number of people who were there to support and honor the memories of someone they loved.

I am walking in the memory of a family friend who very recently lost her battle with Cervical Cancer. Anastasia was a young and beautiful wife and mother. She had a wonderful family and leaves behind a 2 year old son. I mention this, as it is especially poignant, because the Revlon event is being held Mothers Day weekend.

If you are in LA or NY, and would like to participate in the event, register on Revlon's site. The process is quick and easy! Even better, get a bunch of friends together! You'll have a blast and the 5k will fly by!

If you aren't in either city, and would like to make a donation, please click here.

As a Thank You to everyone who donates, I will be sending them a 10% off coupon to use on anything in my shop! After all, no good deed goes unrewarded . . . at least not on this blog!