The Lonely Robot

Amazing

Thank you San Francisco for showing up and -  incredibly  - making this our best Open Studios ever. Here are some shots of the weekend - the wide angle ones courtesy of our good friends at Sprout Studio (thanks Jen and Bob!)

Ready

We are all set for Open Studios this weekend. Come one, come all.

I'll Miss You Nan

Yesterday Annie and I found out that one of our dear friends had passed away.  Nan was part of the family that welcomed Annie to America 20 years ago, and who welcomed me, too, when Annie and I fell in love over a decade ago. 

Nan, along with her family and friends, learned that she was ill just after Labor Day.  I now sit in disbelief with the knowledge of how quickly cancer can take a life.  A wonderful, active, beautiful, creative, and loving life.

It all happened so quickly. Yesterday, as I was embarking on a late afternoon hike in Muir Woods, Annie called to tell me Nan's health had taken an unexpected turn for the worse.  I did my best to comfort Annie - and we resolved that we would make a visit after our obligations over the weekend were met. 

And while I walked amongst the giant trees, I found myself lost in the thought of Nan and the warm memories of spending time with her and her family.  We once took a camping trip with them to Big Basin, which is a large stand of redwoods near Santa Cruz.  Muir's big trees were reminding me of that trip - of the music we played around camp, the great food we made, and how the trunks of these living giants were lit up by campfire and scented with wood smoke in the evening. 

I find great comfort in Nature.  For me, Nature provides a safe, grounded place to work through life's challenges, and yesterday I was trying to make peace with the notion that time with Nan might be coming to an end soon.  I took the shot above during that hike - in a beautiful valley named Fern Creek, which was cast in a purplish light near the forest floor, and bathed in Northern California October sunshine near the canopy.  So beautiful.   When I returned home, Annie told me that Nan had passed away while I was gone. I was (and still am) shocked and saddened.

Here is Nan - such a beauty - with her husband at one of the many celebrations our families have enjoyed together.  Nan loved life.  She knew great love.  She played a mean mandolin.  Made a great pot of chili.  Laughed out loud.  Cherished her family.  Warmly welcomed friends. I'm so grateful to know such wonderful people.

I loved many things about Nan that will live on - when I am walking through the redwoods, listening to bluegrass music, or visiting with her family in the days, months, and years to come.  I will really, really miss her.

The Tank

The front of the studio is complete.  I painted it this deep blue/grey, which gives it this distinctive underwater soothingness, so I have dubbed it the 3 Fish Tank. This is my corner.  It may just be my favorite room anywhere right now.

I installed some halogen spots on most of the walls. The white wires were really garish against the wall color, so I took masking tape and covered the wires and then painted it with some left-over paint.  It worked like a charm.  

The room is now ready for Open Studios this weekend.  Here is a shot of one of Annie's corners:

This studio is chock full of paintings, prints, and good vibes.  It is going to be a great weekend.

Ready, Set, Robot

Over the weekend Sarah and I printed up a bunch of my robot linocuts as a set on the same piece of paper.  I decided to go with grey and orange, and I'm glad I did.  The colors are autumnal, and play nicely with each other to give the prints a retro vibe. 

Here is Sarah holding up the first pull.  I really like this shot, because it seems as if her hair, Annie's paintings, the furniture, and the print all seem to be doused in this bronze light.  

We pulled about 30 prints.  It took about 5 hours.  They look awesome drying in the rack.

Here is one of the finished prints.  Using some different inking techniques I was able to get a nice transition from the orange to the black.  This, and others, will be on sale this weekend at Open Studios, and then later on the 3 Fish shop.

Mums and Mountains

It was two years ago (I think) that my Mom came to visit from Florida and we planted a bunch of Mums.  This plant in particular is stunning - an explosion of impossibly red flowers, with beautiful yellow centers. There are white Mums planted, too, but they are not nearly as prolific as this one.

And how about this:  last week I was able to move my big Halfdome painting from its perch at the studio.  It now hangs in the front room, above our new black leather sofa.  When Annie sits here, I can imagine us hanging out in Yosemite Valley.  How cool is that?

October Saturday.

View from Twin Peaks.

View from Corona Heights.

Those are the Blue Angels flying in the top left of the frame.

I love this town.

Great Night

Annie's Big Night

I'm really excited about Annie's opening of her show, "49 Reasons Why", tonight at The Curiosity Shoppe.  I have seen her prepare for this show like no other - with every little detail taken care of, from the 49+ paintings she worked on for the show, to the whimsical window displays that can be seen on Valencia street, to the colorful invitations that have been making their rounds through the streets of San Francisco.  I took the shot above on Wednesday night after we hung the show.  We both hope to see you there tonight. Annie rocks.

 

I'll have some of my prints for sale, too. A limited edition of the "49 Mile Drive" in orange and blue.  The edition is 49. Heh, heh.

A big thanks to Lauren and Derek, props of the Shoppe, for coming up with the idea for this show after meeting us at Renegade in July. And another thanks to L&D for making us a part of your 1 Year Anniversary of being in business. Congratulations!  It's folks like you who make being an artist in San Francisco not only enjoyable, but possible.

Sutro Heights

I delivered this commission piece today.  It is 24" wide by 48" tall.

It was done as an anniversary present, from my friend Cynde to her husband Jim. They got married in Sutro Heights park here in San Francisco 8 years ago, and since this is my neighborhood, and I like to paint, Cynde asked me to do this piece.  

I really enjoyed working on it, and hope it evokes many happy memories for years to come.