PRIMORDIAL ME A.K.A. BROKEN TELEPHONE
(The Be Good Tanyas)
2015
old telephone, telephone & floral wire, glow-in-the-dark beads
SOLD
I created this piece about a month ago and it was auctioned off at a fundraiser for Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse. The Palouse Women Artists as a group created a number of altered telephones for the fundraiser and the auction was hosted by Café Artisa in Moscow, Idaho.
When I started I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with the telephone, but once I removed the plastic telephone case and saw the bells inside I knew that I had to create some kind of an instrument (I’m a drummer). Art that can be played is so much more fun! The tree has lots of bells attached and can be tapped to make them jingle. I also provided some little beaters so that you could hit the bells. The process of creating it brought me back to my musical roots and made me smile. I’m also kind of a bead nut and so I wound small, glow-in-the-dark beads into the branches. Some of my favorite things: drums, beads, and trees 🙂
BIG PINE, 2011, 12″ x 16″, acrylic on panel, $320
An exhibition showcasing the works of Maria Marx, Nancy Attebury, and Sue Weaver will be held at the Federal Building, 220 E. 5th St., Moscow, Idaho, from Jan 12- Mar 30. The three painters represent a variety of painterly techniques, from expressive palette knife work and large brush strokes to more clearly defined representational work. The reception for Painters’ 2015 will be Jan 15, Thursday, from 4-6:00 at the Federal Building. Refreshments will be served.
I will be showing a couple of works along with many of my Palouse Women Artists (PWA) friends this week. The show opens Saturday, September 7th from 1:00–3:00 p.m. at The Bank Left Gallery in Palouse, WA. The theme of the show is nature. You can see a preview at The Bank Left Gallery website. The show runs through October 5th. UPDATE 1/09/2015: Some of my jewelry, prints, and note cards are available for purchase at The Bank Left Gallery.
PELICANS #2
2013
8″ x 8″
acrylic on canvas
SOLD
Moscow Artwalk is only two weeks away! It will be a lot of fun. I will have paintings showing with the Palouse Women Artists at Mikey’s Gyros. There are around 25 of us participating with 10 paintings each. That adds up to 250 paintings! Each painting will be sold for $30 each. It is a great opportunity to buy an original work of art for a very reasonable price and support the artists in your community. My paintings are all pelicans. I am a bird lover and I wanted to learn how to paint pelicans. It’s been great fun. I hope to see you at Artwalk.
PEEKING PINES, 2011, 10" x 8", acrylic on board
Just about a month ago I was able to participate in the 2nd annual Palouse Plein Air show here in Moscow, Idaho. “Plein Air” means painting in the open air in French. I spent three beautiful mornings painting within a 30 mile radius of Moscow. If you’re an artist and you have a chance to do this, I recommend it. It can be a little challenging depending on the weather, but it’s so nice to be outside and have a “live model” rather than a snapshot. You’re on a deadline so you know there’s an end in site if you get frustrated. (I always preferred taking tests than writing papers because of this.)
Anyway, two of my paintings are on display at the Third Street Gallery in Moscow which is on the second floor of the Moscow City Hall building. Around 25 artists participated and their inspiring work will be on display until November 23rd. Thanks to all the people at the Moscow Arts Commission who worked so hard to make the event a success.
BEAR FIELD ON BREAK, 2011, 12" x 9", acrylic on canvas
A KNIGHT MOUSE, 2011, 11" x 14", acrylic on canvas
I created this painting for my son. He drew a picture of a “knight mouse.” I took his drawing and embellished it. What’s funny is that the canvas I used had been lying around and had been used as a place to get rid of my leftover paint after painting sessions. If you paint, you know how expensive paint can be and I just hate wasting a pile of it and yet, I need big piles—especially when I’m working in acrylics (they dry quickly). Big piles of paint give me more freedom.
I picked up this canvas on the day that I was going to try to create “A Knight Mouse,” and when I turned it, all of a sudden I saw where the knight mouse should be. My lesson: don’t stress about wasting paint. Mix as much as you need and then if there are leftovers, slap them on an empty canvas and see what happens!
I will be participating in Moscow’s artwalk this year. A number of my paintings will be on display at Essence Salon at 886 Troy Rd, Moscow, Idaho. There will be an opening reception from 5:00–8:00 p.m. The work will be up through August 21st.
Since its beginning in 2004, the Moscow artwalk has become one of the many arts and cultural activities that help make Moscow a vibrant community. Participants are provided with a colorful brochure that directs them on a self-guided tour of the work of dozens of local and regional artists which is displayed in over thirty participating businesses.
VANILLA TREE, 2011, 12″ x 16″, acrylic on canvas, SOLD
INNER SPACE, 2008, 26" x 30", oil on canvas
This piece used to be called, “Thy Kingdom Come,” but I’m changing it. Life is a journey and this was a step towards inner space. It’s
CROWS, 1998, 40" x 48", oil on canvas
I used to live in an upstairs apartment. I’d go out and sit on the back porch and this one crow would “yell” at me. He among other crows inspired this painting of a crow party.
BLUE #1 - Musashi Series, 2009, 24" x 48", oil on canvas
“The world is always full of the sound of waves. The little fishes, abandoning themselves to the waves, dance and sing and play, but who knows the heart of the sea, a hundred feet down? Who knows its depth?” (quoted from Musashi, Book V: The Way of Life and Death, by Eiji Yoshikawa)
I’m currently reading the Musashi books by Eiji Yoshikawa. This is my second time through the series and I’m enjoying it even more this time. The story is a classic in Japan. It is sometimes referred to as the Japanese equivalent of “Gone with the Wind”. I like the way the hero grows in patience, awareness of self, and depth of character throughout the books. If you’re looking for a good read, check them out.