Welcome to Wonderland
Gratitude, how does one imbibe art, and some announcements
Welcome aboard to everyone I met at the Superfine Art Faire this past weekend. I am so grateful to have talked, shared stories, and had my artwork go home with so many of you.
I’m giving myself this week to get back to some level of normal functioning. A lot of deadlines converged last week and I am still reeling from it all. (I can’t wait to share the final photos of my “Lady Ganesh” piece next week!) Once I get myself into the super productive mode, it is hard to switch gears, like it is for basically everyone. But after a nice bath today, acupuncture, and some therapy baking and cooking, I am feeling a bit more grounded.
In a previous life, before I became a full-time artist, I worked for the whiskey industry for over 10 years, spending the last five years at Maker’s Mark Bourbon and Beam Suntory. In that time, I have participated in countless alcohol and whiskey trade shows throughout California, Kentucky, and Las Vegas. Super Fine is essentially an artist trade show and the similarities were striking, with one major difference. When I was at the Whiskey shows, while I was always standing in front of an elaborate brand-themed display, just as I was at Superfine, the brand being me, of course, the major difference was that I was also standing behind a bar.
On the bar were bottles of whiskey, I was there to sample to the attendees. There was almost always a line with the brands I worked with, people excited to taste the new and exclusive bottles I was there to pour. It was a wonderful way to interact with people. They would sip on the liquid appreciatively and I had their ear to tell them a story. I could also real-time respond to their experience of what they were tasting. It’s a wonderful way to connect, share, and experience what a brand is about.
So how can I translate this to art, to my artwork? What is the metaphorical equivalent of tasting works of art? How does someone sample a painting technique or take in a story about what a piece means while they are sensorially engaged with the end product? Thank you to those who gave me some wonderful ideas over the weekend already. But this is something I will be thinking through for many months before I do another one of these events.
One idea, easily accomplished, was to showcase one of my process videos next to my work so people know all of the layers that go into each painting.
But how to sample art is the real question. Is it somehow creating a painting with the attendees? I don’t know. Perhaps. It is something I will continue to dream with for a little while. Ideas are always welcome and appreciated!
I am so excited to share that my piece, Cherubim, made it into the IBA, Infected By Art Volume 13 Art Book. This is a highly prestigious who’s who of fantasy art that is juried for participation. Hundreds of people entered with over a thousand entries. This is such an incredible honor and I am so thrilled my little baby Hawk will be printed in such an incredible collection of work. Check out all of the other winning entries by clicking HERE!
Many of you at the Superfine Art Faire were excited to learn about my class at the Berkeley Alembic I call Alligator Lizards. This Saturday, March 15th, is this month’s class, from 1-3 pm. YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR TICKETS HERE.
This Saturday is going to be a special one. Each year, just about when the Sun moves into Aries, the beginning of the Zodiacal year, we at Alligator Lizards make an intuitive forecasting collage for the year ahead. What’s that you ask? With the help of our more-than-human allies, we create a collage that will both guide us as well as surprise us towards what lies ahead in the coming year. All collage materials are supplied.
Last but not least, the call for art for the next Alembic show is about to go live. CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT FOR MENAGERIE.
This show is all about creatures, real and imagined, that inhabit our dreams, visions, and imaginal worlds. This will be a really fun show and I can’t wait to see all of the submissions. Details and deadlines are found via the link above.
