shhh... unruly artists at work...

Yesterday was a glorious art day. I made my way over to CW Slade's wonderful art studio where two unruly artists (CW and myself) started experimenting with some different products.We explored rust, patina and magnificent Lime Washes from Portola Paints...

We had a great time...CW...(who I have known since I was 15) is a true inspiration when it comes to art...and these days I spend with her at her studio are always a treat. Have you seen her artful Garden house in our book "In This House"? She brings her unique and introspective style to everything she touches.
By the end of the day we got a little punchy and tried to take some seriously unruly artist pictures of ourselves...I think it was our hair that was the most unruly....but it was fun to feel like we were 15 again...
After a full day in the studio we sat out in CW's beautiful garden and kicked back... drinking wine and talking, while her husband David, manned the BarB Que served up a delightful meal. A truly inspiring day....I was out like a light when I hit the bed last night.

Here's a short tour around CW's wonderful and studio.

This is the wall where the wood panels and canvas' await CW's paint. Most of her pieces are very large and she will stand at this wall for 8 hours at a stretch...


barely using the stool that sits nearby...

Everything is organized from her press to the products she uses...


To her library and reference books...The painting you see in this photo is by her son Jesse Slade...LACMA just picked him up as one of their artists. You'll be seeing a lot more of his work in the art world soon...


Art papers she uses in her collage paintings and...

supplies...

and supplies...


and more supplies...

opens the channels and

unleashes the possiblilities

of creativity...

and that concludes the short tour of CW's studio...

I must share with you my latest CW Slade painting that I just acquired... homage 5

I have loved it from the first minute I saw it...

details

It made me very happy when I hung it on the wall at my house and now I am able to look at it everyday...thanks CW...you glow with talent....

thank heaven

I was trying to find a picture of Becca because it is her birthday today...My little girl is 26th now...
Over the years I have taken a picture or two or two zillion of her ...but I was trying to find one that captured who Becca is...and I would have to say that this picture, which is one of my favorites, captures the thing about Becca I love so much. That's her spirit. When she smiles, which is alot, her eyes dance...
They danced then...

and they are still dancing today....Happy Birthday Becca...you make my spirit dance when I'm with you!

Last year when Becca turned 25 I made her an altered book with some of my favorite photographs I have taken of her over the years. If you want to take a look at XXV click here.

living live

Very early this morning off I went to make an appearance on the show "Living Live" hosted by Florence Henderson and Meshach Taylor. We talked about the past and what I am up to now like the release of "In This House" and they even showed my house art that is in the book. What a nice group of people. It will air tomorrow morning 9:00 am Pacific time on channel 364.

LARGE Show of small images

It is the LARGE Show of small Images exhibit opening Sunday July 8th at A Studio Gallery. It's a group show with 18 artists participating. Each photograph, and there are over 50 of them, is framed 8x10, beautifully matted and they sell for $100.00 each. Drop on by if you have the chance and say hi!

A STUDIO GALLERY
4260 Lankershim Blvd.
Studio City, California 91602

The Artist Reception is 5:00 - 7:00pm
The show runs till August 3rd
check the website for hours

I have 4 pieces in the show...handpainted in an unruly manner!

Here they are:

ROSES FOR MY TABLE

GHOST TOWN

BORN IN A BARN

RAIN ROOM

Unruly Artists Unite!
If you are feeling like an unruly artist I just posted some t-shirts in my Artful shop so you can wear it proudly! I am unruly...I make art in an unruly fashion...I break the rules of artistic boredom and I do it wholeheartedly!

Britains Got Talent - A Star Is Born

A celebration for the 4th of July....Paul Potts Rocks...

books and beaches and sparklers oh my!

The book is on the shelves and we welcome you to 'In This House.' It's very exciting to finally see our baby published. Wait till you see all the wonderful interpretations of 'home' by the 12 artists...all the inspiring ideas...the calligraphy...the photography.... It looks just like we hoped and envisioned it would.... Sarah and I were very pleased.

Speaking of Sarah

I was able to catch up with her, her daughter and two grandchildren on Balboa Island last week. A wonderful day of clear beach air and talk does wonders for the soul. We always have so much to say.... and so many things to do. It was loads of fun to get away and a great break for me. I really needed a day to clear my head. It was fun to watch her grandchildren eat their ice cream on the main street...it reminded me of my kids and their balboa bars...could that have been so long ago?

Well it was, because there was something else we celebrated...my boy Jesse's 22nd Birthday!

Here he is with his friends before going out to celebrate 22 years.
What a bunch of good lookin' guys....

Just look how this warm weather has made my tomatoes grow. Do you think these red tomatoes are ripe yet? They sure look tasty. Perhaps they will find their way into our 4th of July salad....

On the art front. Here's a few skyline pieces I made experimenting with my images and some of my new Stewart Gill Paints. I love the texture and true colors this paint has. I'll be using some of these materials in my next exhibit which is coming up soon.... More about that next time.




Happy 4th of July...Have a great holiday weekend...and drive safely.

a diamond occasion

60 Years! My parents have been married for 60 years...so the 3 Cartwright kids, Veronica, Chris and myself, hopped in the car on Thursday and drove to celebrate the occasion. It was blast. Despite the fact it was dreadfully hot in Las Vegas, we were grateful for good air conditioning. We may not have won at Bingo or the slots, but we went to the pub, had tons of laughs and celebrated the event that took place 60 years ago...
My parents are as cute today as they were 60 years ago...and we are grateful that their bond has lasted so many years....without it...we three would not be here...

my shadow self

I got so frustrated yesterday. I was feeling completely defeated by the PDF monster.
Sarah Fishburn and I are creating a Zine...leave it to us to do things outside the box and create a size that only the PDF file Gods can create. So I finally threw my hands up in disgust as my eyes were getting blurred by the enslave of information for cyber wizards. I embrace self teaching myself website codes and designing zines...but this was more than my brain could accept. But back to my frustration... So I decided to go outside and water...and visit my potager garden that has mini green tomatoes growing and doing their ripening thing...how cute are they?

and I checked out all the spring flowering that was taking place...

and I spread a few seeds so my yellow flowers keep blooming...and I heard the birds nesting in my bougainvillea... and I filled up my fountain with water and listened to it for awhile...

...and then... I got totally entranced by my shadow...

(what was I a Peter Pan reincarnate?)...

so I shut off the hose, grabbed my trusty digital and shot away.

I was so enamored with the shadow playing on the greenery I even went to the front of the house to see what my shadow would do there.
I must say the sun totally put my id in a different space.

My shadow looked so tall I felt I could conquer anything...

So when you get down and frustrated...go watch your shadow...you may find as I did...shadowy thoughts can be totally entertaining.

To live will be an awfully big adventure!
Sir James Berrie, author of Peter Pan

PS. FYI my brother Chris (computer wiz) came to my rescue and life is good...

the unruly artist...

I have dubbed myself the unruly artist! I flip flop back and forth between life's real moments and my realm. I have been making lots of art lately...but mostly for publication so I don't feel I can post it here...yet. So here are some short and sweet textured pages I made for a small journal, as my blog was in desperate need of some art.
The weather has been fantastic on the west coast, but I have not had much time to venture outside. Trying to mark off this long list of things to get done which is as long as my arm...with deadlines to observe. I did get out last week to go to the theater to see the movie "Mr. Brooks". I really loved it...it was so c r e e p y...it made me jump out of my seat several times...ok, so it's not for everyone...but I loved Kevin Costner in it. I love when an actor gets to be an actor and plays a role against their type. (Also known as type casting - a true frustration in the world of show biz.) Dane Cook's career I have followed since he first began. He's a funny guy...makes me laugh...though not in this movie. Good job Dane!


In my art I'm working on hiding things...within the layers, peeling away, submerging myself..I'm gearing up for my exhibit in September which will be here before I know it. I can't help but find myself piling life on...like a well worn jacket. Life is short...and I love keeping busy.

I'm trying to get a jump on things so I can fly out of town for a couple of days next week for a much needed break...see how unruly I am?...

gotta fly...