My dad passed away over a month ago and I’ve made myself go to the studio most days to just put something—anything on paper. That said, I’ve been rudderless and I have no preconception when I sit down to create visually. Here are the random sketches, drawings, collages, that I’ve done. I’m sure psychologists could have a field day with these.
It’s been a cornucopia of art journaling workshops lately. The wonderful Estè MacLeod supplied the info about an incredible opportunity—something called Sketchbook Revival, which offers free art journaling classes by one or two different teachers each day. It’s so rich with fabulous techniques for thinking, not thinking, mark making, collage, rubber stamping, book creation and just playing. Here are a few that I did with that group. #sketchrevival #artjournaling
At the same time, I attended a class at Congregation Beth Sholom in SF—Art Journaling for the Jewish Soul with Debbie Bamberger. I learned so much and enjoyed playing. It’s hard for me to use these new techniques, I had to loosen up and push things. I just let things happen and many of the pieces didn’t work but that was the point for me. To just keep going. It’s exciting! #bethsholomsf
Adding to this post:
I finally dug into the rubber stamping project. I’ve been chomping at the bit to get to this but hadn’t had time. SO MUCH FUN! I loved the materials as well as the art itself. I used watercolor because I haven’t been able to get the ink pads yet but that’ll come. I’m sure this won’t be my last project with these. Thank you, Sarah Matthews!
Here’s another piece I did from Sketchbook Revival. Night and Day with Helen Hallows. This was a fun exercise with painting, drawing, collage and even a little rubber stamping. Branching out!
I’m excited to be exhibiting my work with my mother and my grandmother all together in one show! We open this Thursday at the Jewish Community Library in San Francisco.
Le-dor va-dor means “From Generation to Generation.” It expresses the directive to teach your children the culture, values and lessons of Judaism. In our case, the teachings included art! My grandmother was a painter and sculptor, my mother is a metalsmith, ceramist and one who draws. I’m a sketcher and painter. Together, our work will span over a hundred years of art in one family.
I never knew my grandmother, but I’m so honored and thrilled to be showing my work with hers.
The Bay Area Jewish Weekly published a nice article about our show.
I love embroidery so I was tickled to see this woman waiting for the #4 at Fremont and Mission tonight.
“Her whole outfit is ornament-laced with embroidery. Except for the scarf. Boots are patterned, not embroidered.
I’ve been drawing my colleagues at Spring Studio. Most of these are taped to the refrigerator at work.
Working on the full series.
I joined the SF Sketchers at the Exploratorium Thursday for After Dark “adult night.” The exhibit was of these “strandbeests,” wind powered machines that walk. They were pretty odd looking—like dinosaur bones. Per usual, I was more interested in drawing the people. The woman on the left had bright pink hair (couldn’t quite get that with my watercolor).
I loved going with the group of sketchers. They all have different methods and materials of drawing/painting and some were really great artists. I will definitely join them again!
These guys were fascinated by something on the table. Turns out they were figuring out 2-D strandbeest-type movements with cardboard rectangles hinged together.
Next day we went to see Maria Muldaur and Dan Hicks. All I knew of Maria was “Midnight at the Oasis” which was never a favorite of mine, but Mitch said that she’s a great musician and would be fun to see. And besides, Jorma and Barry had opened for her on Maui so that spoke for itself.
The venue was Hawaiian Brian’s, a pool hall in a parking structure on Kapiolani (no lie). We got there before the door
opened so we could get a good seat but when we saw that they’d covered the pool tables and added chairs around them and there was only this odd looking couple from Molokai ahead of us, we went out to find dinner. We ended up at a place called Angelo Pietro, a Japanese/Italian restaurant (to add more surrealism to the evening). Mitch had a spaghetti salad for dinner which he said was good because they didn’t overcook the pasta. Huh.
Anyway, the gig was fun and Maria and Dan were great. Most entertaining was the colorful crowd of finely aged baby boomers with their various versions of facial hair, and the old babes who were all dolled up for a night on the town. We were sitting at the bar and were additionally amused by the train wreck of having only one bartender, four waitresses, and fried whatevahs continually coming out of the kitchen with nowhere to go. Seems like they didn’t write down the table numbers for the food so it sat around on chairs or the bar before being served. I think Brian’s has some kinks to work out…
Sunday, I went over to Kailua to meet with Carolann, stopping first at Boston’s North End pizza for a slice. I had no idea that I was walking into a scene as the Patriots were being trounced by New York and the crowd there was not happy. Ah well…the subsequent walk on the beach was wonderful even if the water west of Kalama Beach park was as brown as chocolate and not nearly as appetizing.
Trying to recall last week—I haven’t done enough drawings but I’ll just say that we’ve been in the water pretty much daily. Most times we’re boogie boarding at Walls or just snorkeling there. It’s so fantastic to be 3 blocks from that place where there are either waves to catch or fish to see.
Mitch has been talking about this potato head fish. [Holding up a papaya he points to the top] “It’s got eyes right here on top and this big body and it’s got little excuses for fins on the side that looks like they’re good for nothing. Maybe the big head is its defense.” I didn’t draw this fish but here are some of the ones I did see.
Suzine II 