I was recently invited to join Alessandro Berni gallery for representation in their online gallery. In the last few days we dotted the is and crossed the ts and this morning I was one of the new artists introduced in their mailing.
I recently was commissioned to recreate a version of ‘Rainflowers‘ in a larger size for a couple in Palm Desert. It was an odd size they needed, but I knew just where to go to get that made perfect – Jim Ciskowski at Blue Ribbon Art Support – he also makes wonderful cradle panels. We had the panel and painting created within a month, and I was delighted to be able to take it over and install it on Memorial Day. Here’s the painting, and in its forever home. Once I got in there, I totally understood the odd size, it needed to match their artwork on the other side of the tv!
Was delighted to get an email yesterday that my painting ‘Wiest Lake’ was included in the Fusion Art Waterscapes online exhibition. Thank you Chris and Valerie Hoffman!
I love seeing paintings in their ‘Foreverhome’ – brings closure to having sent your children out into the void, to see where they landed. One of my recent sales goes to a collector who now has a brood of five of my little ones, and he graced me with pictures of their new residence. His face really isn’t like that but as he ended up in one of the photos too, I gave him a little more anonymity!
This painting was partially worked on during a demonstration a couple months ago. I didn’t complete it until a little while later.
#1438 Turquoise jewels. Refractured watercolor on solid panel. 17.5×10″. $175.
The following poem is written for and painted into the painting:
Turquiose Jewels
Dawn leaves me speechless
these gold and turquoise jewels
precious beyond words.
This is on one of the panels I cut when at my friend John Weidenhamer’s place (he has a great workshop) from some upcycled kitchen panels.
#1431 Chameleon Sky. Mixed Media, on solid panel, 30×15″. $250.
Contains the poem:
Chameleon Sky
Protects us from space’s harm
and colors our souls
Yes, it is possible to sell art during the pandemic. A major collector saw one of my ‘Newer Work’ posts and decided to treat herself. I’m not only blessed with the sale, but also the pic of the painting in its new Forever Home. Although she says she might move things around.
The painting is called “Sky Comes Down”.
It contains the following haiku:
Sky comes down to us,
At every angle the rain
that might wash us clean.
Last week I went to the monthly meeting of the La Mirada Art Club to talk about my work and demonstrate part of my process for them. I was fortunate that one of the members agreed to take some pics of me working while I was assembling the refractured watercolor.
Here’s the empty room, just when I’d set up.
After having watched me brutally hack up my painting, I start by assembling the horizon.
I usually am looking at the sky the ‘right way up’…..
…and I usually start with the top of the sky….
Now it’ starting to come together.
Sliding some deeper blue under other pieces.
Well folks, that’s all we have time for tonight.
This is the layout that I created at the demo, but I just picked up the pieces without marking their places.
This is the final product
The poem in it reads:
Dawn leaves me speechless
These gold and turquoise jewels
precious beyond words.
Last weekend I was at the 29 Palms Art Gallery pretty much all weekend. On the Saturday we had an art fair during the day and in the evening was the reception for the Membership Show, which was a judged show.
Some of the Artwork in the Main Gallery
Sometimes I had to wait until the people moved around.
There just wasn’t a good angle on this one for the camera.
The Pickering Gallery had a nice selection. As I was looking around the show early in the morning, I was approached by someone who wanted to buy one of the artworks in there.
There was quite a bit of 3-D art. This one won a ribbon.
The West gallery contained something familiar. Again, I was struggling with glare…
I’d seen David’s work before and it was good to finally meet him because he had a booth at the fair that day.
On Sunday my co-worker at the gallery was Miri, whose painting is on the left here. She is also a singer and sang at the reception when I had my first show at the Glass Outhouse Gallery a couple years ago. I have a CD of hers.
Earlier in the month I’d encourage Tim to create something to enter the show. He won best of show!
A recent sale at Palo Alto subsequently got back to me as a pic of the painting in its forever home. This one might not look as interesting as you would think it could be, but I knew before the new owners took it home, it was going in the guest bathroom, so most of the surrounds are omitted for aesthetic reasons.
“I thought this would be” has the following lines written for it and painted into the horizon areas: I thought this would be the view I’d live and die with but the sea recedes.
Skyscapes for the Soul - Jeni Bate 