This piece was done when there were kids living in the house across the street - before it was foreclosed and the famil(ies) evicted.  But, kids being kids, they laughed and played and visited their neighbors with offers to help carry groceries and pleas to buy Christmas wrap - to say nothing of Trick-or-Treat.  This was the time of the Census, too (which is why some of the paperwork has found its way into the work.) and the Feds must have had an interesting time, counting the people and the bedrooms, trying to figure out how everyone could possibly fit inside.

The style is quite realistic, and the plants and some of the other images are either organic plant material, or magazine photos...the children's faces are photos, too, but most of the rest (except for the net "chicken wire") is painted with acrylics over a used canvas.  

I painted over another piece, and though I can see no signs of the older work, bits of the original color tend to peek between the brush strokes. I use many layers of glazes to create the depth and complexity that I like, and I finished this one off with a couple of layers of gloss medium, especially because I wanted to prevent the organic material from fading too much.  However, the fading will enhance the somewhat surreal effect that can be seen when the piece is viewed in person.

My work will be featured in several locations throughout West Sonoma County, California, in May and June, with the annual Art @ the Source Open Studio Tours taking place June 2-3 and 9-10, following the June 1 1st Friday Guerneville Art Walk (the "HeArt" of the Russian River).

After months of messing around with my gazillion ideas, I have decided to focus - for awhile - on just one - the area where I live.  Enough of self-portraits, internal dialogues, deep personal symbolism, and experimentation.....  (Though I will always do - and love - the deeper explorations that give the most meaning to my life.)

With that in mind, let me introduce you to a little building in Guerneville, CA, that used to be these wonderful colors (now, it is beige).  I painted it over a thrift-shop acquisition - the "still life" that give this its title.  Over the next few months, I will paint other local buildings, sometimes over old canvasses, old paintings, and/or over (and under) various collaged elements.  Like "Before...", I may sand through some of the paint to reveal what's underneath.

As usual, I will also include a few of my favorite images - angels, frogs, text - and who-knows-what? (Pictographs, too!)

If you read this, please let me know what you think....

Just for fun, I thought I would put up this logo, which I designed for (obviously!) the new 1st Friday Artwalk for Guerneville, CA, "the HeART of the Russian River".  It's based on the Hawaiian petroglyphs (again, obviously).  The more I see of petroglyphs and pictographs, the more I want to include them in my work.  There is something that happens inside me when I confront these ancient cultures - especially Native American cultures - and it's a feeling I want to explore more deeply.

As for the ArtWalk:  It's an idea whose time has finally come to the outskirts of Sonoma County.  Guerneville is an outpost along the shores of the Russian River, long a resort area for outdoorsy people and wine-lovers - and where wine-lovers are, art-lovers and artists are not far behind.... so, street musicians/performers, artists, craftspeople, and foodies are congregating on our little downtown to celebrate life as it once was and will be again...

Two months into it, and we have seen this program grow exponentially!  What a pleasure it is to be a part of this...! 

This one's just for fun...anyone who wants me to do something like this in their backyard would have to pay at least $1000 for it.  BUT...it was an interesting experience... I painted the whole thing with red concrete/deck paint (after cleaning it, of course).  Then, I drew the design with chalk, and had at it.  The elephant is in the middle, and there are peacocks on each end, with lots of Indian curliques all around.  I think it took me a week or so to complete.  If you want to see it in person, you'd need to travel to my son's house in Petaluma.