Demonstration in Oakland, CA

Here is a photo report on last weekend's See Differently workshop.  I, personally, had a great time and there was growth for all in one form or another. I tried to treat each artist individually, and was challenged by the high experience level of my wonderful students.

My workshops are meant to provide breakthrough growth opportunities, and that means hard work.  You will paint hard, think hard and maybe learn to understand your own art a little better as a result of this challenging two day class.  

Host Jon Larson asked me to throw a workshop in the Bay Area.  It took me three years to finally do it.

My second demo.  Re-purposing a "failed" artwork.

Kris, Robin and Linda at show and tell.  Linda Schweitzer has an art blog linked at the bottom of this post.

Robin changed one little thing at the end and was energized by the results.  Responsive painting  can be a valuable technique.

Kris graced us with this bell pepper as a result of a Notan type exercise.  Bravo, Kris!

Set up to demonstrate in Oakland - I just put that there to see what Google does with it.

Slipper was disinterested in the art, but happy nonetheless.

Back home in cold Washington State - happy to complete a  great workshop.

Workshops.

Linda Schweitzer.

San Fransisco Museum of Modern Art

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The least perceptible movement of air pushed against my face, and my eyes opened slowly. This was warm, moist air from the Pacific; the kind of air that San Fransisco is famous for.  I had taken the red eye to California that morning, sped to the art museum, and spent the morning absorbing notable works of Modern art.  I was tired enough when I sat down at the rooftop cafe, that I thought I was sitting next to a large, closed window overlooking the atrium sculpture garden.  


I sipped tea with cream and sugar, and rested my eyes.  What I thought was a big window was actually an open door and I was literally at the threshold.  By analogy, perhaps it was the threshold of springtime, this being the first good weather I've experienced this year.  It was a pleasant unwinding.  My first trip to a museum after the long winter, cooped up in my stuffy and busy studio in eastern Washington.


Since my business in California was to judge some art, I used the SFMOMA as a sort of warm-up for my critical mindset.  What would it be like for me to be a first-time jurist for an art event?  It is especially hard to come off the farm (literally - my studio is on our farmstead) and engage with other people's artwork.


Let me tell you, kind reader, it was plenty fun to tear into the biggies enshrined at the Museum of Modern Art.  It was only practice, and the shoulders of these giants are plenty big enough to tolerate my arrows.  And, I did sling a few.  Return here next time, and we'll dish the greats with some relish and some salt.

The San Fransisco SFMOMA is nothing, if not convenient.  Me in front of a well known Marcel Duchamp object.  

Road Trip - An Artist's Reality Blog

Celeste Bergin and Casey Klahn
Photo Credit: David Burbach

The open road part of my road trip is over for now, and I am in Marin County. If you've never been to Marin, I will tell you that it is just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Fransisco, and one of the beautiful places in California. I am glad to be here.

On the way, I enjoyed stopping in Hood River, Oregon, which I blogged about the other day. The "When Bloggers Meet" photo of Celeste Bergin and I is posted above. Her post about the meeting is here. Then, I continued down the 5 through the great Willamette Valley. I couldn't help thinking about an artist friend whose landscapes define the Willamette for me, Marla Baggetta. It just so happens that Loriann Signori is interviewing Marla at her blog.

How can I get through Oregon without thinking about two master pastel painters, Kitty Wallis and Richard McKinley?

Further south along the 5 one travels through northern California. I well remember my climb of Mt Shasta many years ago. Today, she frowns at me as I pass by. Speaking of California mountains, blogger artist Terry Miura is posting his series about his annual plein air back country trip to the Sierras.

Tomorrow I drive onto the venue early in the morning and set up my booth. I hope to have pictures of that process for you as I continue this art fair reality series.

Getting Some California

You say you want some California? Land Sketch has it for you (Nathan Fowkes). Usually in watercolor - and beautifully done.

This is post #22 of my month of daily posts. I have found out much from this project. It hasn't been as challenging as I first imagined. I always seem to have something to say. And, I still have lots of content ideas rolling around in my noggin' for posts.

Here is an inventory of what I have posted so far in this project:

• 8 original artworks posted for the first time, and all of a series.
• 2 artworks re-posted.
• 2 photos of the pastel box.
• 1 knitting art photo.
• 2 landscape photos.
• 2 Matisse posts, with 1 portrait of Matisse and a Matisse artwork.
• 2 book covers, one of which I am actually reading.
• 1 Studio photo in black & white.
• 1 meme (award received - I have 1 more to post, still).
• 1 "coffee cup" studio news post.
• 3 music videos.
• 1 Map.