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.