Illustration Friday: "Emergency"

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Emergency" is a colour-pencil study for the painting "Homeward Bound" featuring my dog Rat. The emergency that we are all faced with is over building. Yes, I love buildings but all of this constant building, subdivisions and mini mansions and the like are pushing all the wildlife out and wiping away the face of our towns. I'm afraid it is a big emergency! I posted a painting of this for IF here but sometimes I make a colour pencil version first to flesh out the idea. I find using pencils a soothing form of relaxation. You can listen to a movie or music and colour away. I also reversed the image which I love to do so I can see it both ways. Happy Friday!

Illustration Friday: "missing"

My submission for Illustration Friday's "missing" is a dimensional painting called "Magic Show". Abracadabra!

you can see it better here

Illustration Friday: Moon

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Moon" is a dimensional painting that I created for a young woman who wanted something a little different. I submitted this to Monday Artday a few weeks ago and I thought this might work today too. I paint so many moons that it was difficult to choose but I recently found this photo and I was happy to see this painting again. It is called "Chained to the Stars".

Illustration Friday: poem

My submission for Illustration Friday's "poem" is from my 2004 HomeMade calendar and the title is "Beach House". This is for the month of July and the quote is: "I wiped away the weeds and foam, I fetched my seaborn treasures home." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Illustration Friday: discovery

My submission for Illustration Friday's "discovery" is called "Duck House". For a fun adventure and a wonderful discovery. Location: Along Rt. 24 north of Rt. 27 by 1.25 miles

On the west side of the road.

Suffolk Co-NY

Latitude: N 40 degrees 53.28

Longitude: W 72 degrees 33.44

Illustration Friday: geeky 2

I forgot about this holiday card that I made for the Developer Division at Microsoft. It just occured to me that this card showcases a lot of the geeks that work there. They sent me a picture and I put each one in a silly outfit. I sent them the original and they printed there own cards.

Illustration Friday: geeky

Normally I would not re-use an image on IF. However, I never dreamed that this word would come up and that is why I posted this image for the word "Gravity". This painting was used as the official Geekfest Website for Microsoft. They also made T-shirts.

Illustration Friday: twist

I made this painting for my Mom this week. She and my sister were coming to visit me and we were going to have sun, fun, going to the Getty Villa, Malibuing, laughing and eating. In a sad twist of fate my Moms dog Charlie was diagnosed with cancer and was gone within the week. My heart is broken so you can imagine how my family must feel. Charlie has a brother named Louie and now he is lonely too. I did a companion piece for my sister in March for her birthday right here. Louie is in the bed and DD loves to ski so I had her skiing in the picture. My mom loves horses and rides dressage and this is her with her 1st horse Snickers. It's called "The Perfect Dream". I feel like I can express myself better with paint than words. This is a very painful twist. Goodbye Charlie you will always live in our hearts.

Illustration Friday: camouflage

My submission for Illustration Friday's "camouflage" is a dimensional painting called "Enchanted Forest". It won an award last week at Monday Artday. The treehouse is disguised as a tree :)

Monday Artday Winner!

I am thrilled that I won the Monday Artday Challenge last week for the word "Mystical". I really thought everyone who participated (a lot of great artists) pulled out some super work! This is a great group I belong to and if you haven't heard it's the bomb! Thank You Bearuh, I love your challenges and belonging to this terrific club! Here is my groovey new trophy. Please don't touch because I don't want any fingerprints on it! :>

Illustration Friday: rejection

My submission for Illustration Friday's "rejection" is from a dimensional painting called "Chastity". This was # 3 in a 5-part series for my show "Five Easy Pieces". The paintings were Vanity, Charity, Chastity, Sinkronicity and Stability. Each artwork was based on a piece of furniture or household item. Vanity is a vanity, Chastity, is a chaise lounge, etc. This is a poster and postcard/invite for the show. She had to reject a lot of men to stay chaste.

Illustration Friday: suit

My submission for Illustration Friday's "suit" is a painting commissioned by the San Diego Chamber Orchestra. They used it for the cover of their 94-95 season program and they auctioned the original at their gala event. They asked me to create the fun lettering too.

Artist Profile: Michael McMillen

I might have to say that Michael McMillen is one of the artists I have enjoyed working with the most. Not only is his art right up my alley but he is a real nice guy. There are so many sites for Michael that each time you click on his name it will take you to a different link and I hope you click on to them because he and his work are fascinating. When you see his installations you will know why I love his work so much. When I worked at Wasserman Silkscreen we printed both of these prints and I'm glad they are part of my collection. The 1st one "Mojave Desert" is a take on those old magazines from the past where a giant skull is found in the desert. If you notice there are a few different chops or marks on this print, sometimes artists incorporate chops (embossing) and ink imprints/stamps of insects, hieroglyphics and symbols that have meaning to the artist. I have worked with a few artists that incorporate these chops and of course we used an embossed W chop on all of the prints that are printed at Wasserman's shop. It usually is near the artists signature. The other print is a throwback to times gone by. A collage of the past. A ticket to the POP Pacific Ocean Park (a nautical-themed amusement park in Santa Monica circa 1958-1967) , a few old comics, a mezzo tint, crossword puzzle, a UFO sighting. Michael is from California, born in Echo Park in 1946, he uses references of life here and from his past. When I worked with Jeff Wasserman he took me and the boys to an installation by Michael at LACMA. It was an old garage totally reproduced down to the lighting the smells, and sounds. All of the things that represent a garage from our youth. I bet as you are reading this you can recall a garage in your life that left an impression on you, the tools, wood shavings, wood, paint, varnish, nails, screws, the smells, you know what I mean? Well he actually created a real garage with all the nuances, you can't even begin to imagine and it was one of the greatest things I have ever seen. It was a sight to behold right there in the museum! Michael's "Red Trailer Motel" is like going to a decrepit old motel out in the desert and it seems so real. Architecture is the main thrust but it's so much more than that. I hope you check out his art and I have included a comprehensive interview of the artist here.

Comments are most appreciated.

Illustration Friday: your paradise

My submission for Illustration Friday's "your paradise" is "Topanga Twilite". This is my paradise.

Dimensional layered painting: wood, foamcore, acrylics, resin

Illustration Friday: Cars

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Cars" is a painting of a gas station and the oldest building in Santa Monica, a Landmark building in fact. If you look at these old tanks you will notice the octane is very high. They serviced all the guys that drove hot-rods that require this high octane gas. I took pictures of the place when it was in this condition and when I finally finished painting it they had refurbished it beautifully with three domed pumps, new paint, and they made it look real spiffy. Then there was a struggle over the property and now it is an office and will probably never be an old-fashioned gas station again. But in my world it will always be this place.

Illustration Friday: signs

My submission for Illustration Friday's "signs" is a painting I made for the Special Children's Art Foundation Auction.The family that put on the benenfit bought this for their daughter Kara. She is a child with special needs and "Real Estate" lives in her bedroom now. I added a quote on the back of the roof that sticks up above the frame and it says: Praise a great estate, but cultivate a small one ~Latin Proverb

Artist Profile: Jessie Lavon

It certainly is my pleasure to write about this wonderful artist, Jessie Lavon. She is a folk artist, a mother, a daughter, a friend and a kindred spirit. I was introduced to her by way of blogs and we have enjoyed a nice rapport. One of the things I value most about her is that she is just like her paintings. Once you see her work and read her blog you will instantly know what I mean! Her art is fashioned from her childhood and lifelong memories of living in the south, replete with visions of picking cotton, fortune tellers, shanty's, voodoo, Spanish moss and many curious and appealing oddities to a West Coast girl like me. When I asked her if I might interview her she replied " I would be happier than a tick on a dog to be interviewed by you, sweet pea". I have never met anyone that talks like that but I have always wanted to and now she is my new friend. I also love the name of her blog and it drew me in completely "Purple Cucumbers". Here is what her blog says:

A Southern Folk Artist: My art is in collections and Museums in the U.S.A, Canada and Europe. It has been written up in International Magazines like RAW VISION and SOUTHERN LADY as well as being shown at the Huntsville Museum along with the art of Grand Ma Moses and Norman Rockwell. I have shown at the Atlanta Folk Fest and at Kentuck with international artists like Lisa Cain, Woddy Long, Jimmy Lee Suddeth. On Sept 23, after the death of my beloved Mother who died in my arms, I said goodbye to a 30 year art career as a folk artist on the art circuit to sell and paint as an independent folk artist. So come and travel the road back to my childhood days where the late afternoon drifts into long shadows and where I paint the memories of my days gone by. My family canning, making moon shine, the chain gang, working in the fields.

Jessie has an AVM and I believe she has endured a lot with operations and medications. She so graciously answered my questions in her southern style.

Valgal: How did you find your style?
Jessie: I created my style with the help of my Mama and my children. I wanted to tell my childhood stories and as I worked on the style, Mama and the kids would suggest colors to use. I didn't create this style until after the coma/brain surgery.

VG: What is your creative process?
J: I surround myself with things of beauty, photos, incense, flowers, fudge, love truffles and find my quiet place and in my heart and mind I return back to the cotton fields. There I can hear the sounds, voices and smells of my childhood. The slamming of the back door, the sound of rain on the tin roof, Mama, Nanny and Aunt Bea's voices and the smell of the kitchen while we were canning etc.

VG: Ho do you market/promote yourself?
J: Since I retired from the art circuit I no longer market but I used to do a lot of networking with other artists, see what galleries they used and contacted them. I used to do at least 30 shows a year. Kentuck, folk fest, etc. and when I wasn't at shows I painted to keep a good supply for the next show. I keep my name out in the newspapers and keep in touch with my states art council who put me in shows, museums and galleries. All artists should contact there state arts council with their bio and portfolio.

VG: Did/Do you have an agent/rep?
J: My Mama was my agent. Now I just enjoy my art and friends.

VG: Do you ever have a creative slump?
J: So far no. As long as I have my memories of childhood I think I can keep it at bay. I thought of giving it up after Mama died but then I realised it was my connection to her and if I retired from the circuit then I COULD ENJOY IT MORE.

VG: What do you do for fun?
J: Garden, blog, work on my books, hunt for trash and treasure to make art, enjoy my children and talk/ visit with other artists.

VG: What is the best part of what you do?
J: Living my childhood dream from age 6 of being an artist and glad Mama lived long enough to see it happen.
VG: Do you have any advice for budding folk artists?
J: NEVER GIVE UP AND ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOURSELF FOR ART COMES FROM THE HEART. GET IN CONTACT WITH YOUR LOCAL STATES ART COUNCIL. Set aside time to paint every day, network with artists you feel comfortable with, if you get rejected move on to another gallery and STAY AWAY FROM VANITY GALLERIES THEY ARE A SCAM.
VG: Do you want to talk about your illness?
J: Yes darling, Brain AVM's are of special concern because of the damage they cause when they bleed. They are very rare and occur in less than 10% of the general population. Mine occurred while I was 4 months pregnant with my 10th child. I was in a coma for 6 weeks and had a 10 1/2 hour brain surgery. All my memories were lost except for the years from age 10-14, everything else I had to relearn except for my art. That's why my art is so important cause it is a way for me to go home again to a time I so loved.

Jessie Lavon is a rare gem from Alabama. If you want to join her in an old-fashioned porch party than pull up a chair and get prepared to be served delicious ice cold lemonade with berries, some truffles and watermelon and you will be glad you did! Jessie my friend, I'm so glad I found you, Thank You for this interview it was a privilege.

Please click on to Jessie's name to go to her blog.

Illustration Friday: Citrus

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Citrus" is from one of my Marisol greeting cards.Citrus is a common theme in California.When I was a little girl there were rows and rows of citrus trees in Orange County, hence the name.Life was slow and wonderful and you could smell the little white blossoms of the orange groves. This picture reminds me of the many missions I frequented as a child, another thread that runs through this state. In this picture I combined two of the highlights I see in my mind when I think of this sunny clime.

So sorry the painting looks so fuzzy it's behind glass.

mini profile on artist Mark Beam

And now for something completely different! I love all kinds of art. I love thinking about art, talking about it, making it, reading about it and writing about it. I love art that makes me think and smile. I love this piece conceived by artist Mark Beam and printed by the Valgal. Mark generates really wonderful art that makes you laugh, smile and remember. I love that about his work. Long ago these pieces had a base that Mark had molded. They were blue. It made the can more of an art statement. But I always saw these in a kitchen, displayed in rows. It would be great if it was a stark environment with gleaming granite counters and rows & rows of canned smut behind glass and chrome shelves. Or maybe a country kitchen with red and white plaid table cloth fabric and Mom serving up a batch of smut. Maybe I see it this way because I printed these labels in the kitchen of my friend Patti up here in a remote area of Topanga. She was out of town and said I could use her place. I had a kick stand on the silkscreen so I didn't require assistance and I printed these babies out in a couple of hours. It was not the most complicated job but when you print something that is recognizable it must be clear, clean and legible to the naked eye so you need to keep the screen real clean. Especially since Mark included a bar code and a nutritional breakdown in a very small text. I remember that we had a discussion about whether to keep the deckled edge on the paper which I loved and felt kept it in an artsy vein. This is beautiful rag paper with a gorgeous torn edge. The date on this project is 1990, 17 years ago! I think this art is fun, clever and very well done and I loved being a part of it. We made an edition of 20 and Mark signed, dated and numbered each one.

Please click on image to view larger.

Illustration Friday: Neighbor

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Neighbor" is one of my signature "Houscapes". My neighbor Michael came to me and asked if I could paint a portrait of Decker his dog. Of course I said yes and mentioned that I paint houses and suggested that it would be great if I could pose Decker in front of his rustic shed (I look at this shed every day and have been longing to paint it). The dog posed happily as if he knew he would be immortalized and idolized for years to come.