Having Fun, pretty much...

I'm experimenting with a combo of magazine faces, then collage, then drawing with ink, and then paint. It's really fun. And I'm working on cardboard so it's not precious. It's about process.

My latest self-deprecating voice is now telling me that I am working too slowly, that I have had the studio for 7 months now and I haven't gotten enough done. I am rolling my eyes because I just got rid of the "who do you think you are" voice and now a new one clamors for my attention. Believing in oneself and self confidence is an ongoing project. 

Hope everyone is well and happy!

I'm in this show at the Jacobs gallery!

Please come to the opening: Friday, Nov. 30th at the Jacobs Gallery. It would be great to see you. 

My painting in the above card is in the third row, second from the right, the man holding his hat. I made 12 small paintings for this show.

It's nice to be in a show...

Ongoing practice

A piece of paint here, an experiment there, it doesn't matter with my coasters. They are my practice arena. My sketchbook. I don't waste any paint when I'm working, the odds and ends go on the coasters. I complete 5-7 each week. 

Have I said I love my studio lately? I do, I love it.

Thinking about...and doing experiments

I have been experimenting with people made up of magazine faces, paper and paint. I think I'm on to something, but not really sure what that might be. 

 

These are all the same person. I wrote job occupations next to each figure. This one says "cow".

and then there is the thinking... I am turning 60 in a few weeks and keep wondering what to do to celebrate my birthday. A party? A trip? Nothing feels quite right.

And then I realized that I didn't need any of those things because I have EXACTLY what I have wanted for so long right now. I have the ability to work and work and work at my art. This feels like such a luxury. I can get all lost in do I deserve this or who do I think I am, but when I think about my birthday, I feel so happy at this present I have been given. I spent a whole afternoon (in between letting dogs in and out) pasting, drawing and painting. It is way enough of a birthday present.

Phew...

  Quote for the photo above
 " Harvey enjoyed his ceremonial duties. Here Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, founders of The Daughters of Bilitis, the first national lesbian rights organization, are being presented with a Certificate of Honor from the City and County of San Francisco. From left to right are Del Martin, Supervisor Harvey Milk, Phyllis Lyon, Supervisor Carol Ruth Silver and Supervisor Ella Hill Hutch."

Our leaders, our heroes and 40 years later we are still fighting for our rights.

I didn't miss having civil rights until I had good solid lesbian self-esteem. It took a long time to get past protecting myself from getting hurt and reacting against those who would spew hate against me. And then I woke up.

I watched on video as Mitt Romney told a Vietnam vet that he couldn't marry his partner. And I know he believes that we are less than. I am so grateful I don't have to look at his face for four years. I couldn't respect someone who wanted believed that the LGBTQ community is less than.

For this lesbian... I understand it's politics but to me the personal will always be political.

Go Obama, I wish you the best.

And on this election day I honor our leaders both living and past: Harvey Milk, Del Martin, Phyllis Lyon, Barney Frank, Billie Miracle, Betty Willis Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres and on and on.

Catching up

This is my friend Skye Gilkerson. She is one of my Kimmel Harding Nelson sisters. (We were at the same residency in 2010). Skye is an amazing artist and is living in Brooklyn, working in lower Manhattan. Her studio was flooded with 6 feet of water during the storm and she lost everything. I know she has great friends to help but... it just put such a reality face on the effects of the storm. Skye, you are the best and I'm sending lots of love as well as all my friends who read this.

Quote from Skye (via FB) 
" The slimy carcasses of my bookshelf. Six feet of water in the studio and not much was salvageable. Still, I am feeling warmed by all of the concern and help, and am ready to clean up and move forward."

And on a different topic this is my new sketchbook. It's an old binder that I glued back together and filled with junk paper. I glued a little plastic envelope to the inside cover to hold my business card. Thanks Cathie and Scott, I love it!