It's been way too long!

I have been battling sciatica and knee problems so the blog has been neglected. I do think I have help with the pain, so my post today will be about a collage.

 I was invited to contribute to an art auction at the Dallas Museum of Biblical Art. This has to be a small piece (8' X 8") which reflects a Christmas theme. This museum also houses some fabulous art like Chagall. It showcases art of the Jewish tradition as well as the Christian. I was honored to be invited to contribute.

The small collage is called, "Shepherds in Awe."

My new collages will be seen on the "Figurative" part of my website.http://www.ashleyfinearts.com

Sensei of Ikenobo

The workshop I attended last week had a most challenging feature which was collage (torn pieces of paper from magazines) to depict a figure. I chose to do a figure of an ikebana demonstration I attended a month ago. He was standing in front of large windows which made him have back-lit lighting.

He is known as a teacher of the Ikenobo school of ikebana. He is also an artist with his pottery which has been featured on the tv program called "Spark". I will probably use the image to advertise the Ikebana International Flower Show in Golden Gate Park next March.

Portrait of Mattie

Rebecca Osgood is a talented person with pastels. She does wonderful portraits and she graciously allowed two of us to a semi-private series of lessons on pastel. Pastel's are chalk-like, and I have had no real experience using them. Also portraits are new. So learning two new techniques at once was challenging.

Yesterday, Rebecca had her daughter, Mattie, sit for us. I did a colorful version of a portrait of Mattie which Mattie said she really loved. Anyway, we'll see if I continue with pastels.Often I use them to highlight on watercolor.It's always good to be learning new things.

New work on Angel Inn and Shangrila

The two recent works are of places that have a special interest to me. The one is of Shangrila, the former residence of Doris Duke, who was an American heiress who built a magnificent home on Oahu. She decorated the house completely in Islamic art. She was not a Muslim, but was an art collector. The house has many courtyards and fountains which are typical of the Islamic art. The house is now open to the public for tours.

The next painting is of a restaurant that friends have enjoyed in North Yorkshire. It is called The Angel Inn. What was confusing is that I started to paint another Angel Inn when I discovered it wasn't THE Angel Inn. Come to find out there are many Angel Inn's, especially in England. I plan to gift this to the friends as they gifted us with something special. She is a quilter and made us a very handsome quilt.  Now off to the framer's place.

PAL reception with SCVWS

These postcards tell about a wine and art reception held at Pacific
Art League this Friday, July 6 from 5:30-8pm. I have two paintings in the two different galleries. Upstairs is the show by the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society called, "Think Big, Paint Small".

In the Main Gallery downstairs is the Pacific Art League member Show. Come and enjoy a light dinner of chicken wings, and deviled eggs and lemon bars. The theme for the reception (upstairs) was one of a "picnic". I hope you can make it!

Pacific Art League is at 668 Ramona Street, Palo Alto, CA

California Landscapes and Landmarks

It has been over a year, but there was an image that haunted me when I visited the Hearst Castle in the Cambria area. I love the look of back lit paintings. I have one that is chosen for the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society show at the Pacific Art League in Palo Alto from July 2-July 30. It is called "The Entrance of Hakone".  The address is 668 Ramona Street and the reception is July 6, 2012 from 5:30-8:00pm. This show is upstairs at the PAL gallery. I have another painting showing downstairs as well with the member show for Pacific Art League.

The one I finished today is of a beautiful gate at Hearst Castle which is roped off away from the public. I was fortunate to get a clear photograph of it.  It is the Hearst Window. I haven't framed it yet but will probably keep for showing in the SCVWS Member Show.

Many Hands Build a Bridge

I have completed another assemblage which is in honor of the 75th birthday of the Golden
Gate Bridge. Did you know that the GG Bridge is considered the 2nd man-made wonder of the world right after the Chunnel which joins England and France? We all love taking people who visit us in the Bay Area to see the Golden Gate Bridge. It's beauty and the engineering are marvelous.

I read The Golden Gate Bridge, by James Barter,which talks about the many people who helped build it. We honor the engineer who was the head of the project, Joseph Strauss, but his original idea was considered ugly by the public. He chose another engineer, Clifford Paine, who designed the bridge as we know it today. Also consulting architects, Irving F. Morrow and his wife, Gertrude, joined Paine on the project and contributed the art deco style of the towers.

The Arts of the Covenant will exhibit "Bridges and Connections" at the annual Menlo Park art fair on July 21 and July 22 which will be at the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. My assemblage, "Many Hands Build a Bridge" will be on display for the weekend.

Paintings of Hakone

This painting "Feeding Time" was shown at the Pacific Art League the first weekend of  May for Open Studios. It was purchased and more paintings of Hakone are to follow.  I am also submitting paintings  to a show called "Think Big, Paint Small." I am enjoying painting on yupo that is translucent. It enables me to collage with colors behind the painting instead of collage on top. The Open Studios for two weekends were very successful and I hope to show more work at other venues.

Pacific Art League-Open Studios, May 5-May 6, 2012

Saturday and Sunday this weekend there will be 7 artists showing their work and having a sale at Pacific Art League, 668 Ramona Street, Palo Alto. Please come for a art-filled experience with a reception and plenty of ambiance in Palo Alto. .

Hangin' Out at Filoli

In the summer, Filoli has jazz concerts on the tennis courts. Andre and I love to go. It's not only good music, but with a picnic lunch and warm days under umbrellas, it is fabulous. Before the concert, one must wait before you can stand in line to enter. This couple seemed so relaxed and warm in the sunshine while waiting for their turn.

Filoli is a grand estate once owned by the family connected to the Matson Lines. There are splendid gardens mostly maintained by volunteers. This is a national trust and has the largest staff of volunteers in the country. Filoli is a made-up name and is located near Woodside, CA. I hope to get this framed in time for Open Studios starting May 4-5.

Poppies Galore

When we entered Yosemite about 3 weeks ago, there was no sign of wild flowers. However, when we left after 2 days later, the hills were covered in California Poppies. This really brings home the golden hills of California.

This is an acrylic on canvas and is "gallery-wrapped" which means the sides are painted in the continuing image of the art. No frame is needed.

Coming up this Saturday is the Milpitas Christian School Craft Fair at 3435 Birchwood Lane, San Jose from 10-4:30pm. I will have cards, notebooks, totes, and several 6X8 new works.

May 5-6 I will be in Open Studios at the Pacific Art League, 668 Ramona, Palo Alto from 11-5pm both days. There will be over a dozen paintings including my new paintings. There will be 7 artists showing at Pacific Art League.

Yosemite Spring

We just returned from Yosemite with our Hawaii and Reno families. This was the first time our daughter-in-law ever saw Yosemite. She really is a marvelous photographer and her photos of the national park are already getting accolades on Facebook.

This is my painting of Yosemite Falls at the base where you can also see the upper falls as well. The painting came together just today and sometimes one gets lucky to paint quickly and get it right on canvas.

This is painted on a gallery-wrapped canvas (no frame, edges painted) and was done in acrylic.

Coffee Break in Campbell

I decided to do some local street scenes and started with this one in downtown Campbell. It was a quiet day for the city and the locals were out looking for cafes and coffee houses as the weather has been so warm.

This is painted on canvas with acrylic and is gallery wrapped which means the edges are painted with the scene as well instead of a frame.

"In the Lime Light" new work

I have had time today to work on my mixed media. I love to see what can be built. Now that I have a dremel and can drill holes and sand I can create interesting objects hanging from the art piece.

Also the last time we were up in San Francisco, we went to SCRAP which is like a candy store for me. It is a recycle center for artists (or anyone interested) in the salvaged items that can be used in art. It is located on Newcomb between Toland and Selby Streets. The hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm. It is a great find and the items are so reasonable that many things tempt me. I will be going back soon. I wish San Jose had this kind of center.

Altered Book

The book in its readable form has been "altered" to show a personal account of how to make "Yorkshire Pudding". Our family loves Yorkshire Pudding when we have roast beef, often at Christmas. I decided to alter a children's book to personalize the recipes and the images. First,, I sanded off all of the images that were on the children's book. Then I collaged, glued, and sewed on various items to my book. the result is a fanciful recipe book. What is so amusing, is that the Yorkshire Pudding only has 4 ingredients in it...flour, milk, eggs and FAT.

I have a special box that has been decorated for me to keep the book within. This may be the beginning of more altered books.

Something to paint on

I visited my framer who was listening to me tell how I paint on translucent paper and put colored papers behind for effect. He reached into a pile of discarded Plexiglas and gave me one saying," why don't you try and paint on Plexiglas and see how that turns out.

Well, it is tricky and without a backing the Plexiglas painting looks unfinished and odd. This image of the women in my family shows how the Plexiglas experiment turned out. This is definitely practice and I shall try my hand at a landscape next.

Do you recognize Sabrina, Jennifer, Sloan and Kim?