down and dirty...

So it was an experimental art class...just cutting loose and making art...having fun...not taking myself too seriously...

getting dirty...making a mess...being unruly...

Over this random scribble I used my thick graphite pencil to write something
that was on my mind.
Playing with inks...what can I find...

defining my find with charcoal...

String art with inks...
string makes the coolest marks...

finding a face...

more playing with ink...

discovered this guy...

but then I found this lady showing all...

what do YOU see here?

or here...

pioneers

The exquisite flowers in the lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel greeted us as my sister Veronica and I went to film a segment of "Pioneers of Television" for PBS. (I always wanted to be a pioneer...but with some modern day stuff...)
I don't know when it will air, but it is always fun to talk about classic tv and the impact it had on all of us.
We ran into Marta Kristen on our way out and we took this picture before we left.
Bill Mumy was just arriving for his interview as we got our car (didn't have time to grab my camera.)
It's been a busy, busy week...lots to catch up on...
I'm taking a sketch class tomorrow and will try to post some art soon.

XOXO

cat tricks...

dancing in the rain...

Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain

The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down.

Without the rain, there would be no rainbow
C.K. Chesterton

I carry you with me into the world,

into the smell of rain
& the words that dance between people
& for me, it will always be this way,
walking in the light,
remembering being alive together
Brian Andreas

THINGS TO DO ON A RAINY DAY:
Take a picture...any picture

Open it in your photo program and add a filter
like Note Paper
or Glowing Edges with greenor Neon Glow...

Imagine how you can use these in your art....

I have no shadow today....
My partner in my shadow photographs is the sun
(or a big key light behind me)
and there is no sun today...
So I took a shadow picture of me dancing
and placed it in my puddle picture...
and now I have a shadow picture of me in the rain...
kind of...
can you see me dancing in the rain?
Universal Law #2
When God closes a door,
He opens a window
& then it usually rains
& the water damage is a minimum
of 2 times as much as your highest estimate
Brian Andreas

a touch of light

Walking through the hall today my prism caught the sun and displayed the most beautiful array of colors on my wall...of course I had to grab my camera and pray they would still be there when I returned...they were...and then I pondered...how such beautiful colors, WITHOUT the help of Photoshop, can exist??...this was the real thing, a prism speaking the language of color...cool huh?

I thought I would post my newest Tableaux I have just added to my Etsy store...just in time for Valentine's Day....

tableaux 183

tableaux 179
tableaux 178

tableaux 177

tableaux 182

tableaux 181
tableaux 180

cha...cha...cha

Yesterday I made my way with my pal Connie (below) to Anaheim and the CHA - Crafts & Hobby Show.

Visiting with some of my art friends....Kristen Robinson, Ruth Rae, Catherine (from Quarry Books) and Stephanie Girard, Traci Bautista, Bernie Berlin, Bonnie from Ranger, Jenny Doh from Stampington & Co. and Claudine Hellmuth.

We oohed and ahhed over Claudine's new line of paints and accessories which I have been using and really love. She was busy demonstrating them at the Ranger Ink booth. And we showered Jenny with compliments on her outfit inspired by Stampington's new publication Apron.ology . I LOVE aprons, and wear them often over pants...but I love the many layers that created this outfit.

And how cool are these lovely little free motion stitched dresses created by Ruth Rae...If you love handstitched goodies check out Ruth's etsy store...
Stampington has so many new and exciting publications...look for my article in the next issue of "Somerset Digital" Magazine and at the end of the year I'll be in "Where Women Create," where you will view first hand the digs where I make my art...

The most exciting part of the day was when I arrived at the Quarry booth and getting to see and sign my brand new book "In This Garden"I co-authored and collaborated on with Sarah Fishburn.... It's hot off the press and it looks amazing...It won't be in stores for a month or so...but it's on it's way...How thrilling is that???

lunch with jesse...

What a week...I took this picture of the two of us taking a break and hitting one of our fav spots for a bite to eat.

history is made...

farewell my friend...

Rest In Peace Bobby...

BOB MAY
1940 - 2009

teacher.mentor.muse

Sunday I went with my pal CW to an event at VIVA the Valley Institute of Visual Arts to hear some contemporary artist/teachers speak and to view some of their work. It was extremely interesting, inspiring and motivating. It was clearly time to fill up...and just seeing art ...does that for me. (Several of the art pieces below were there to view in person)
Take a look below...I also added some quips from the discussion the artists had with their audience...

"Art is not a profession...but a broadening..."

Gerald Brommer
"It's finished when someone buys it."

Referring to a blank canvas..."Walk on it...everything you do will improve it."


Franklyn Liegel

"...transferring from one piece to another...like you are growing a garden..."

Katherine Chang Liu

"I have no fear because I know it will go wrong..."

Jim Morphesis
"Art is a sense of wonder..."

"As an artist...you know what you are supposed to be..."
You may not resonate with any or all of this artwork...but does it matter? Doesn't it just make you want to grab a paintbrush and create?