All smiley, pre-exhaustion, at the first day of Open Studios. If you look closely, you can see a reflection of roses in the “Desert Rat” painting.
It’s been a week and I’m just about recovered from Open Studios. Months of hard work and the two weekends of display left me limp and worn out, and reduced my apartment a dust-rimed wreck. Yesterday I de-cluttered, dusted and vacuumed; wiped down the kitchen cabinets and mopped the floor; then set up my easel, and started painting a portrait in the slow, thoughtful way I prefer to work (rather than slam-painting that I wrote about here.) And in the evening, I watched a movie (a bad one, but hey, two hours of not working!).
I’m still processing Open Studios, and I expect I’ll post more than one blog about the experience. I’ll put it under the category “Silicon Valley Open Studios,” so that it’s easy to find, should you be curious about what I learned.
One thing I can tell you right now: I should have swallowed my initial fear at doing open studios, a fear that paralyzed me. I should have painted more, and painted more sooner. I should have been better prepared. I should have done this, I should have done that.
But as my grandfather used to say, “should-a, would-a, could-a doesn’t get the house built.” I’ll know better next time. And now I’m off to (slowly and thoughtfully) sling around some paint.
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Today you’ll be able to visit the 5 artists profiled at Mockingbirds at midnight. I do hope you’ll come let us delight you with our offerings!
The last artist interview for Silicon Valley Open Studios is with Karen Olsen. Karen paints beautiful landscapes in oil and watercolor, and her career in graphic design is evident in the strong designs and bold shapes she uses for her paintings.
Describe your artistic journey I was one of those kids who drew from the time I could hold a pencil, but my mother, who was very talented but had an unfortunate career path as an artist, encouraged me to pursue anything except art. In my early twenties, I learned to paint in watercolor, and I dabbled in it between feedings of my newborn daughter, but still with little serious intent. My life took an unexpected turn after that, and I was on my own, needing to make a living. I eventually landed in the graphic design field, and for 25 years I have made my living in it. Another life surprise recently brought me back to painting, and I now consider that I have a dual career as both designer and fine artist.
Where has art taken you in life? I think my previous answer covers this…
What do you think about when you begin painting? First thought: “I wonder whether I can pull this one off??!!”
Yes, that’s sort of a joke. But in a way it’s not at all. Each blank sheet of paper or canvas is the beginning of a new adventure. I may be trying a new brush, a new color, a new technique I want to experiment with, or a type of subject I haven’t done before. Or maybe a subject I’ve done but want to see if I do better. If it’s plein air, it’s new and unknown every single time! Weather, changing light, curious onlookers, even bugs make for interesting challenges when painting outdoors. So…to answer the question—I try to assess the environment I’m in and what I want to achieve, then try to figure out how to go about it.
Tell me about one of your favorite paintings or drawings that you’ve made. Why is it your favorite? Gee, I guess I’d have to select one of my Hawaiian or Grand Canyon subjects. They are my favorites because of the joyful personal experiences that went into their creation, and which I hope are passed along through the eyes and into the hearts of the people who see them.
If you could ask one question of an artist you admire, who would it be, and what would you ask? This isn’t an easy one. I’ll let you pick…I can’t. 🙂
to Anders Zorn: “Your stunningly beautiful watercolor painting Sommarnöje (Summer pleasure) is so evocative, and so…well…Swedish! It’s one of my favorites. How long did it take you to make it?”
to Monet and friends I’d ask: “Hey, can I come out and paint with you guys one of these days? I’ll bring a picnic…”
to Georgia O’Keeffe I probably wouldn’t ask anything. I’d just tell her, “I could look at these paintings forever…except after a while, they make me DIZZY!”
One of the things I learned last weekend at Silicon Valley Open Studios was that I needed more work to display.
So this week I’ve been painting: Birds!
I’m a portrait painter. I seriously love painting people, but the few animal paintings I had at open studios were the most popular (read: sales.) So this week I combed through my photos and painted a few birds.
Only a few more days until the second weekend of Silicon Valley Open Studios. I hope to see you there. I think you’d enjoy seeing the many artists exhibiting in Los Altos.
Today please meet Denise Natanson-Marcus. Denise paints landscapes: lovely little jewels and great big grand canvases. The first time I saw her work exhibited, I enjoyed the sense of place she brings to her work, and especially her paintings of California, in which she has so well captured the baked dry hills of autumn and the cool shade of the our forests.
I have always drawn and painted since childhood. I minored in art at university, as my parents wanted me to get a science degree. After getting a B.S. in Psychology, I went to Boston University School of Fine Arts and received a classical art education. During this time, I learned to meditate, which has helped me immensely in my life. My life since has been about painting and meditation. I have taught meditation for many decades and have shown my art in various galleries and shows throughout the years. I have taught art in the schools for 11 years while my kids were in school. I am currently enjoying a period of delving deeper into my plein air painting. Is my science degree wasted? No, I also work at Kaiser part-time, as a health educator, teaching meditation and stress management.
Where has art taken you in life?
Art is a form of meditation for me. I paint landscapes, and I love to paint outdoors; it is a way to commune with and look more deeply into nature and love nature more dearly. Art has taken me to Santa Fe, where I showed my art for sometime; to the East coast, where I studied with the great colorist Henry Hensche; to many museums around America and Europe; and to painters’ studios and museums in Bali, which has a fantastic art style and history. Whether looking at art or doing art, it brings me into balance and harmony in my life. It’s a way to connect with other cultures in a universal language.
What do you think about when you begin a painting?
I think about composition first. What will make the scene before me look dynamic, move the viewers’ eye and draw the viewer in? What do I see before me that is inspiring me to paint this scene and how can I make the viewer see that too?
Tell me about one of your favorite paintings or drawings that you’ve made. Why is it your favorite?
If you could ask one question of an artist you admire, who would it be, and what would you ask?
I would love to see one of the Impressionists, like Monet or Pissarro, paint on location and see for myself how they layer their colors and how they get the light in the shadows and the color relationships. Also, Twatchman, an American Impressionist. I’s like to see how he painted all those subtle whites in the snow, and maintained such a light palette yet had so much color and depth in his scenes.
My earliest memories are of observing a daisy in front of our apartment building in Germany. I spent my elementary years drawing in class until my world upended by moving to Japan. When, finally the family got back to the US, I was interested in design. The combinations of European, Asian and US culture and design surrounded me. When I was faced with a choice of career, I decided towards design while continuing my painting on my own.
What a way to spend a day: Looking at contemporary art made by local artists.
This year, I’ll be exhibiting my artwork. I’ll have my watercolors, illustrations, and prints available for sale, many for the first time ever.
I’d love to see you there. Step up and say hello, and mention you read my blog and that you know the secret word, and you’ll get 15% off on all purchases of finished prints and paintings at my tent only.
But what’s the secret word?
Here it is. I’ll tell you. But shhhh, it’s a secret.
Secret word Zingen (it means to sing in Yiddish)
And for a show special, I’ll be offering a 10% discount on all portrait commissions engaged this weekend.
See you there!
The other artists exhibiting at this site will be:
Today I’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Riordan, who will be exhibiting with me during the second weekend of Silicon Valley Open Studios.
Cynthia works in oil and pastels. I love the softness of the lost forms in her paintings, as well as the variety of edges—hard and soft—that make her paintings come alive.
Describe your artistic journey
Art has been important since childhood, starting with oil painting lessons when I was 12 to learn about painting still life. Early creations were giant crepe paper flowers, painting on fabric, silk screening, linoleum block prints, producing fired enamel and cloisonné objects and painting on tile. I have designed and built stained glass windows and panels for residential and commercial clients.
Part of what I love to do is plein air painting, so that has taken me to many parks, such as Yosemite, Glacier National Park, Jackson, WY, the Tetons, Pt. Lobos. Recently, I decided to help meet the need of our country’s Goldstar families and join other artists in painting our fallen heroes from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What do you think about before you begin painting?
I consider both the emotional impact I want the painting to have and the technical aspects that must be considered to accomplish it. A value study or notan is something I always do. The light source and how it informs the subject is another important consideration.
Tell me about one of your favorite paintings or drawings that you’ve made. Why is it your favorite?
Whichever painting I am currently working on is my favorite. There are some plein air pieces that I am very attached to because of the memory they evoke of when and where I painted them and how I felt in the place.
If you could ask one question of an artist you admire, who would it be, and what would you ask?
I would like to ask J. M.W. Turner how he was able to so successfully relinquish control in his seascapes so that the viewer feels the wildness and power of the wind and the waves.
Silicon Valley Open Studios in just 7 days! Hope to see you there; step up and say hello!
Today I’d like to introduce you to JoAnne Perez Robinson, who works in watercolor and acrylic. JoAnne’s work concentrates on things you might see everyday, and infuses them with color, form, light, and personal meaning. After you read this, get to her website and look up my favorite, Teach a Man to Fish.
I have always known in my heart I was an artist but I did not have the confidence until my mid thirties to really get serious about my passion. I was doing well selling my work and doing commissions so in 2008 I decided to go to the next level and started selling my work art and craft shows. I had picked up some little miniature canvases at the art store and I thought they would sell well at festivals. They are small, affordable and all originals. I do paint medium and large work also, but my miniature paintings have become the bread and butter of my art business.
Art has been such a blessing in my life. I can honestly say I am never bored. I am always excited when I see the way light falls on an object, a dog running on the beach, a country scene or flowers in a bucket at the farmer’s market. I love to capture the sweet, everyday moments of life. To be able to stop and smell the roses, take a peaceful easy pace, slow down and really look and see the beauty that is there; this is where my art has taken me. I feel like that is a gift and I will be forever grateful for it.
What do you think about when you begin painting?
When I begin my painting I really like to be able to get completely lost in the scene. The feeling that the subject, colors and shapes give me is what I am trying to share with the viewer. I am more interested in getting the feeling across, than getting everything exactly perfect. I think that is what makes the art fun and draws people in; they can relate to it. They can see that there is beauty in the everyday, ordinary things that surround us all.
Tell me about one of your favorite paintings or drawings that you’ve made. Why is it your favorite?
I have lots of favorite paintings. My watercolors have won 1st place twice and 2nd place twice at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. That was exciting. One painting I am especially proud of is Color Study. While waiting for my daughter, who got to audition for the Stanford University theatre department, I saw this scene at the Cantor museum: A lady with silvery gray hair, dressed very neutral. She was studying these paintings that were exploding with color. I knew it would make a fun painting. I ended up winning a 1st place ribbon for it and my daughter got accepted to Stanford in the fall, so I think that has to be my favorite!
If you could ask one question of an artist you admire, who would it be, and what would you ask?
This is a hard one, I have too many favorite artists! Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth, Dean Mitchell, Karin Jurick, Tim Horn to name just a few! I think if it can only be one it would have to be Mark Adams. He is no longer living but I wish I could have had dinner with him. His work makes me feel so peaceful. It’s so lovely. I would have asked him about how he began his watercolors, how he chose his subjects and let one question lead to the next.
I’m always seeking out a better connection to people. My early work was in traditional portraiture, but I always wanted my paintings to show more than what my commissioner looked like. That was 10 years ago. Now I am painting the energy around and within people while still capturing their likeness and I find it much more invigorating
Where has art taken you in life?
After living in the shade of the Blue Ridge Mountains were most artist focus on the abundant and beautiful landscape, I branched out along the East Coast looking for a wider introduction to people and societies. For the last 3 years I have lived in London and exhibited my Olympic related work. The theme of unity and diversity along with the celebration of the human spirit matches my work well. Now I am living in the Bay Area and looking for more connections to humanity.
What do you think about when you begin painting?
When I paint I become what I am painting. I dance, jump, play and fly. It’s a little harder to do with my smaller paintings but luckily I have a good imagination.
Tell me about one of your favorite paintings or drawings that you’ve made. Why is it your favorite?
Let’s Dance is one of my favorite paintings. For most of my work there is a singular actor that drives the color, motion and energy, but for this one I was influenced by the couples dancing at a wedding. I drew on my travel pad for hours and the painting kept me enthralled for a long time. For similar reasons I also enjoyed working on Goal. The sketches for this painting were made during my first private invite to watch the World Cup. Of course I was in England at the time; England was playing the US, and I was the only American at the festivities.
If you could ask one question of an artist you admire, who would it be, and what would you ask?
It’s difficult for me ask only one question so I think I would cheat a little. I would ask, “Do you want to go grab a drink… tea, coffee or something stronger?” I have found that after that question you get a host of answers to questions you haven’t ever thought of.
Mockingbirds at midnight 