Illustration Friday: hatch

This might seem very obscure but my submission for Illustration Friday's "hatch" is a houscape of Malcom Leo's home. He is an amazing man that has produced documentaries of many great bands and artists. You might have seen some of them like: This is Elvis, The Beach Boys~an American Band or Rolling Stone~20 Years of Rock n Roll. So many I could not list them all. This is a portrait of his home and what I paint most every day "Houscapes", capturing a slice of someones life. OK, you are wondering where the hatch part comes in, this home is in the legendary Hollywood Hills and this is where the Golden Age of Movies was hatched and second as you can see home is where we find our escape hatch, where we feel safe. Safe at Home. For all you lovers of baseball you will recognize this phrase :) A view of his holiday card included on this rainy LA day.
PS: this is an exceptional view of the neighbourhood he lives in. I am standing on a hill across the street on another property that combines two lots that house an enormous mansion. Incredible!

art and pictures 2009 Valerie Walsh

Art Show Opening: Marion Peck

I have been working so hard I needed to get out of the studio so John and I attended the "Soft Paintings for Gentle People" opening last night at the Billy Shire Fine Art Gallery. John will always go up to the artist and ask if they would like to pose for a picture and Marion Peck was gracious and sweet. I asked her if she would stand in front of her most amazing painting "Young Lord Oliver" and she walked to it and suddenly 20 cameras started flashing. It was fantastic and she smiled beautifully. What an amazing painter! I talked to one of her friends, he purchased "Ducky" (the one I love) and he told us the show sold out the day before the opening. Not one painting was available! I can see why as her art is truly inspired. She frames each one creating an elaborate masterpiece, some you view through convex glass, some resin. There was a room curtained off for "Sweet Dreams" a collaboration between Marion and Mark Ryden. It is a big hurdy-gurdy type piece that you view through 2 lenses on the front and inside is a movie going on with full sound and beautiful colour. But the thing I loved most about it was the little theatre they built inside with real lights in the mini chandeliers and sconces. The audience was filled with little people decked out in their finery. You're watching the film along with them, slightly above them and it is magical and nostalgic. Popcorn was served from a cart while you stood on line in anticipation, all the little girls giggling and we LOVED it!

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