Shoulder-themed collage: composed of a poster hanging in my surgeon’s office, a digital abstract painting of mine, and a portion of a gorgeous ceramic sculpture in an art show.
Okay, so it was temporary. But long enough to explore ambidextrousness and using my left hand so much more. Not exactly past tense yet. This time it’s my right side. Last time it was the left.
Have you ever had to learn to function with your non-dominant hand/arm? Because of this I haven’t been writing since my right shoulder surgery (three different issues) in early May, but now I am resting my right hand on my laptop while writing with both hands, because I’m on the road to recovery. Lucky for me that I already work so much with an iPad so I can keep making art without having to use my entire arm and body. I’ve been using this time to create more digital collages. I’m taking my existing drawings from life model sessions to use as a base and adding my photos and/or my digital abstract paintings in layers. I’ve tried making some new drawings and paintings left-handed or with my right hand (attached to my immobilized right arm), albeit, crudely. Going through my treasure chest full of drawings so I can change and refresh them has been a bit like shopping in my own closet. My archive is full of endless possibilities, especially since I attended so many Covid zoom model sessions.
Kyla is a nightlife performer/aerial ballet dancer based in Brooklyn during Covid on Zoom while live performances were on hold. Collaged with the Madrid Botanical Garden.
Dieter, a member of my regular drawing group, posing here with a lovely old microscope and layered with my abstract paintings.
I can barely use my cameras one-handed. So I have even incorporated a few photos from friends’ summer gardens (Sarah S. in Western Mass grows the best flowers). I’ve been finding ways to obliterate my original drawings to increase depth and complexity. I like the painterliness, moodiness, and mirrored or multiplied images added in. The added layers help build out my ideas and the personality of the subject.
Shout out: I love my physical therapists at Davies Medical Center (SF) and so appreciate their sincere interest in getting me drawing again.
Recent Work
A portrait of Dwight made at my Zoom drawing group – with my left hand. It was juried into SFWA’s August exhibition “Bold. Color!” in August.
Titania is a popular local model, although I’ve only drawn her on Zoom. I sold a print of this work via Instagram to a friend in the midwest.
This is a portrait from Zoom group out of Dublin of Izabella. I loved these virtual travel and drawing opportunities that came out of the pandemic.
A favorite due to the yummy color palette, this too will be in the SFWA August exhibition “Bold. Color!”.
A spring trip to Palm Springs, CA helped me restock my image bank with cacti for collages.
And Men Too
Recently I was asked to show some of my male figurative work for a potential interior design project. Here are a few of my favorite male subjects.
Working on multiple versions again showing a collage with a male model and dogwood flowers (above) and abstracted, another in the same series, in situ, below.
Dwight with a mug among sunflowers in Catalonia. Virtual travel is placed in a virtual living room!
After many iterations I’m finally satisfied with this version.
WHAT’S NEXT & FALL PLANS
At last I’m beginning to shift gears into a semi-post-pandemic mode, and starting to make plans for the rest of the year, because it seems possible again!
Yay! An in-person opening at SFWA took place on July 10!
JULY
I’m in both of these SFWA July shows, “Verdant” and “Assemblage”. Saturday was my first in-person opening since early 2020.
Two of my pieces (far left and middle) in the Artists Salon Gallery July show at SFWA.
AUGUST
In August – I’ll be showing my work at City Art Co-op Gallery on Valencia St (btw 19th-20th) along the main corridor of SF’s Mission District. City Art is re-launching their website with members on it now so check back soon.
SEPTEMBER
This fall brings us another annual ArtspanSF Open Studios (Sept-Nov). So I’m fluffing up my studio for visitors and also hope to show at SFWA at the same time.
Looking forward to our first trip beyond California! We’re flying across country to NYC in September for the annual Armory Show.
OCTOBER
I’m also working on pieces for two exhibitions curated by Nathalie Fabri (Oct-Nov); The Naked Truth Project (Analog Gallery); and Intimacy Illuminated (Arc Project Gallery). Plus there are several juried and/or curated exhibitions at SFWA.
NOVEMBER
After a year-long delay, SFWA is holding our first major fundraiser at the top of Sales Force Tower (SF) on Nov 17, 2021! Details to follow.
DECEMBER
Plans are underway for an event and publication for The Invisibility Collective Nov-Dec 2021. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Exciting event and publication info to come.
I will once again travel to much farther away places in 2022! Most likely we’ll be going back to Spain, France, and Italy. Maybe we’ll add someplace new in Eastern Europe.
A colorful corner of the gallery section of my SoMa studio.
Fall Open Studios
Please join me at my studio in the Sobel Design Building in SoMa for a private tour of my gallery/workspace from Sept 18-Oct 30. Email me or text me for an appointment M-S, 9-5pm. I’ll have a small mix and mingle reception in my studio on a date TBD in October. Look for updates!
ArtspanSF is taking a new approach this year and there will be open studios all around SF. You can visit artists’ private studios and group spaces.
I’ll also be at SFWA the weekend of Oct 2-3 where our reception runs from 11am-5pm.
From Oct 21-Nov 21 you can see an exhibition of works by all participating artists at SomArts. There will be several additional Artspan events running throughout November.
Drawing circus artist/aerialist Bridget was my first and last in-person model session before surgery and post-vaccination.
Cherry Pits Art Merchandise
REDBUBBLE
I’ve added quite a few of my most recent artwork as repeat designs for merchandise on RedBubble. There’s an even broader range of color palettes and subject matter (still figurative). Don’t see what you want? Let me know. I can always add more!
This hot series of Amanda (#theartache) has a unique color palette – shades of purple, blue, aqua, orange, and gold.
Teal and royal blue squares and figures – a new addition to RedBubble! This is Titania.
Personally, I’ve bought and tested most of my RedBubble art merchandise – including socks, dresses, blouses, iPhone cases, notebooks, masks, coasters, postcards, and more.
I have many mask designs on RB. There are still times when you need to wear one…
Bright bold new addition of a pattern with Bridget on a circus ring – just added to RedBubble!
My friend in London just received a blanket (shown above) with my art on it. I can’t believe how fast it got to her!
SPOONFLOWER
Spoonflower (examples above) is where you can order a wide variety of textiles with my artwork in a repeat pattern. They’ll make it for you in organic cotton, chiffon, velvet, lycra, upholstery fabric, and many more options. They’ll also make you wallpaper! Since I began working with Spoonflower in 2016, I’ve designed and made or had made - all sorts of fabrics and ready-made items, mostly soft goods. I’ve bought the fabric and made all kinds of products and I’ve bought their ready-made with my textile designs. I especially love their cotton sateen throw pillows, sturdy canvas dishtowels, placemats, cocktail napkins, and table runners – all made from my designs. I’ve tested many of them myself. The quality is excellent.
This is among my first products which I started making in 2017 with the help of a pro, who also taught me how to sew, Connie Walker-Shaw (classes at SEW on W. Portal).
The Naked Truth Project Exhibition
Black and white portrait of me draped in my artwork (assisted by Jack Ostrofsky) in Radian Gallery at our exhibition, “Seen x Unseen” in Jan 2021.
Analog Gallery (SF) will host the analog exhibition of this previously Instagram-only show of black and white photographic self-portraits made by artists with their art in Covid stories. Details to follow – check back next month for dates and description. This show is curated by Nathalie Fabri. Here’s the background from her website: “My niece in France recently participated in this project for non-essential workers. The idea is from the term « a poil » a slang term meaning naked. If the government shuts us down, they are taking everything from me…so I am left naked. This has inspired me to start a campaign in partnership with Fabio Reis, artist and musician, about all creatives, called #TheNakedTruthofArts. The naked truth is that artists and musicians have certainly been considered non-essential and have been suffering…What is your story? Maybe you have had more work because of donations and grants…tell us. Maybe you lost most of your creative income? tell us! maybe your creativity has suffered so bad from stress that it has affected your livelihood.. tell us. I invite you to take a photo of yourself and a piece of your art if you are an artist, with your instrument if you are a musician, With your creative tools if that’s what you want to show, in black and white with the idea that you are naked behind it, telling us the Naked Truth about your situation.”
Cat of “Caturday”, @newyorkcat, and @DistancedDrawing Zoom modeling session. They’re a gorgeous aerialist/nightlife performer in NYC. Combined with the Berkeley Rose Garden (above). And Cat with their ring painting (below).
See more here: @newyorkcat / @distanceddrawing
“Abstracted Bibi” is placed in a virtual diningroom.
“She’s a Rose” was selected by gallerist Andra Norris for “Verdant” for July at SFWA.
Intimacy Illuminated at Arc Gallery
“Intimacy Illuminated: Light, Luminosity and Intimate Relations" is a Bay Area Exhibition in Arc’s Project Gallery curated by Nathalie Fabri. Through works that depict luminosity and use of light, to works that honor a feeling of intimacy between people, this exhibition explores the merging of these qualities these pandemic times.
I’m delighted to be included in “Intimacy Illuminated”! Nathalie Fabri saw my room-sized installation (below) in “Seen x Unseen”, the inaugural exhibition by The Invisibility Collective in Dec 2020-Jan 2021 at Radian Gallery (SF).
I’ll be creating a site-specific variation of my original installation. There will be a reception – so look for an update coming soon.
Runs Nov 20-Dec 18
Three of the five sheer fabric figurative panels hanging in “See Through Me”, a site-specific mixed media installation featured in “Seen x Unseen” at Radian Gallery.
Women’s Caucus for Art
I’m curious to see what this group will do. I have always been passionate about and actively engaged in women’s organizations, especially mentoring and advancing women in the arts.
Grace of No Age: It’s Not Too Late
“Woman on the Fence” depicts a figure both entering and blocked by an entryway/gate.
A favorite view of NYC from my last visit in May 2019.
NYC Here I Come
Each year The Armory Show takes place during spring and fall in NYC. This September I’ll be there!
For me, NYC is about visiting friends and family AND seeing a lot of art. When I lived in NYC – way back in the wild and crazy 80’s, I was working all the time. Now I am curious to see how The City is recovering from this trying year and a half. And I always look forward catching a bit of East Coast seasonality which I always miss.
Interior Designers and Art Consultants take note! Did you know that I can make my digital original art for your client’s space in almost any size or format, and print it on almost substrate? That means paper, wood, glass, fabric, metal…and more (you name it). And all types of commissions are available too.
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