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?