Last night, I attended the re-opening of the newly remodeled Mary Lou Zeek Gallery and the First Wednesday reception for this months show, Plate It Up.  Great fun and the gallery looks wonderful (also incredibly fun to see some of my own work there!).  Mary Lou posted some photos of the event on her blog HERE.  You just might find a photo of me all bundled up for the cold night (my Mom is the lovely lady standing next to me).  To see all the plates and find out how to bid on them, visit the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery web site (scroll down, the photos are under the list of names).  Some really amazing pieces!

I will be posting some new little portrait paintings soon.  They are just about ready to be varnished.  Hope to be back here with them this weekend!

I was asked to participate in the upcoming show at the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery for their annual 100 Artist show.  This year's theme is "Plate it up".  That is my submission above and here's a little bit about the show:

Show Date: Tuesday, February 1st – Saturday, February 26th, 2011
Opening reception: First Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 5-7pm.

For the 9th consecutive year, during the month of February, the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery will be presenting their annual 100 Artists Show, benefiting CERF (Craft Emergency Relief Fund). The theme of this year’s show is “Plate it Up” and appropriately, the 100 participating ceramic artists were asked to create a plate using this as their starting point. Each clay artist was sent a clay bag which represented 25 lb. bag of clay, this was sent “as is” to represent the raw material they would be using.  This bag was not packaged or boxed, but rather processed directly by the postal service. The bag itself was to be part of the packing when each plate was shipped back to the gallery. Each artist, starting with the exact same idea, has had over three months to transform, build, infuse, reduce, glaze or reinvent the ceramic piece into their own unique work of art.

The gallery has also asked 10 artists who have participated in the last 8 years of the February show. These 10 artists are not ceramic focused, they were asked to create their piece with the “Plate it Up” theme, and raising awareness for CERF+ in mind.

The exhibit will open on Tuesday, February 1st at 12:00 pm Pacific Time.  The public will be invited to bid on their favorite artwork via a silent auction that will run through Friday, February 25th at 5:00 pm Pacific Time.  Beginning bids are $25.00 with minimum increments of $5.00.  The entire show will be posted online at www.zeekgallery.com.  Bids can be made in person at the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery or by calling 503-581-3229.
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I am obviously not one of the ceramic artists but one of the "other" 10 artists invited and so honored to be a part of this show!  The list of artists participating in this show is huge and I can't put them all here.  Soon, all of the submissions will be up on the gallery web site so I encourage you to check them out certainly in February but perhaps they will be up sooner?  I'm not sure.  The gallery is also remodeling this month and if you live in the area you might like to pop in not only for the February show but also to see all the changes (they are closed until the February show).  I've stopped in a couple of times and it is going to be quite different and wonderful.

Before I go, here are a couple of details of my plate.  I used polymer clay, a first for me, and it was an interesting process to make the plate itself.  I'm hoping to do more with clay someday (when I have time...someday...) so I was glad to have an excuse to try it out.

My it has been awhile since I last posted here!  I'll try to do better.  I do have something to share today and I wanted to get it on here quickly (and before I was ready to send out the next newsletter) as these paintings are available right now at the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery for the holidays.  The gallery asked some artists to contribute affordable art all 6x6 inches for a holiday display.  I thought that was a fun idea though I had to think what I would do at that size that wouldn't compete with my other paintings that size (and also I had to spend much less time on each piece than I normally would).  Here's what I did:

Each painting is 6x6 inches and each is $85.  You can see them in person at the gallery if you live in the area and they have some other really wonderful work there as well.

Today I went down to the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery to varnish my section on the completed joint painting from the Face the Public Show and I just had to share the piece with you.  Isn't it wonderful?  I love seeing the different approaches each artist took in their sections (mine was the square with the ear).  It was such an honor to work on this piece, I'm just thrilled.  To see a list of the artist and some more photos, go here.  I took this photo in the gallery and so the lighting is not perfect and I see a shadow on the right side of the piece, but it gives you an idea.

I have a few paintings finished and should be sending out a newsletter in just a few days (I hope!).

It's been awhile since I posted so I thought I better stop in.  Here is a recently finished painting, a self-portrait, I included some fun things here including a heart.  I love painting hearts, real hearts that is.  You'll see one in this painting too.  I painted that around last January.  Interesting to see what things come back up in the paintings.  This painting is still drying so not available at this time.

The reception for my show at Mary Lou Zeek Gallery (Gallery 2) was absolutely wonderful.  Thank you to all who came and everyone who purchased a painting and especially to the Zeek's for hosting the event.  It was a fun evening, I got to see many people I haven't seen in ages.  And I was even brave and spoke in front of everyone for a few moments.  Quite the night.  The show is still up and you can contact the gallery to see it.

I don't think I will be sending out a newsletter this month but hopefully in early November I'll get back on track.  I've been so busy with the shows and commissions I haven't had much time for other painting, though I have many paintings in the works.

I had a great day painting yesterday at the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery for the Face the Public show.  I was down there for most of the day first painting in acrylic and then applying oil paint.  I'm so pleased with how it turned out, especially in combination with the section below it painted by Alison O'Donohugh.  It was also so fun to work down at the gallery, such a friendly and inspiring place to be!  I'll update here the final piece and maybe a few more in progress if I can get down there.  I'm so excited to see it all come together.

Here is also a photo of my painting hanging in the gallery.  I was thrilled to be on the same wall as Shannon Richardson (to the right).  I'm a big fan of her work.  Each of the artists have a painting hanging for the show.  I didn't photograph them all but you can see a few more in one of the photos above as well. 

Tomorrow, October 12th, is my day for painting down at Mary Lou Zeek Gallery for the Face the Public show.  I've been practicing as you can see above.  I'm planning on painting my section first in acrylic and then following it with oil paint (which is what I've done here).  I'll start my day there around 10:15 and, other than lunch, I'll be there until I finish. 

Tomorrow night  is the reception for the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery's Face the Public show.  This show will feature a painting that 12 artists will each work on a section of throughout October.  The painting chosen is the Frida Kahlo piece above.  Additionally, each of the artists will have a piece representing their own work hanging.  I'm so excited to be a part of this.  My section to paint includes most of her ear (I'll share more about my practicing for this piece in a few days).  The show goes for the month of October, you can check out the schedule for the artists here.

Here is the painting I chose to hang at the gallery:

The gallery is located at 335 State Street in downtown Salem, Oregon.  The reception is October 5 from 5-7pm.  Hope to see you there!

Last Wednesday, I brought my latest series of paintings over to the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery, Gallery 2, to set up for my show.  It was a lot of fun to see them up and all together.  The space is fantastic!  And I really enjoyed the time I spent with Mary Lou, as always.  It was fun!  Go to my FLICKR to see more of the photos from the show. 

The gallery is an appointment only gallery, but the reception is on October 14th from 5-7pm at 1730 Fairmount Ave S Salem, Oregon.  If you are interested in seeing the show but can't come to the reception, you can reach the gallery here.