I have said it before (repeatedly), and I’m sure I’ll say it again; if it wasn’t for the last minute, nothing would get done. This time, at the last minute, I looked around and realized that all my framed paintings are out. I have eleven framed paintings for my artist of the month at the Pacific Artists’ Co-Op Gallery. In addition, I have ten paintings among the regular inventory in the gallery. “Gifts” is spending a few more days at the Grants Pass Art Museum as part of the Watercolor Society of Oregon exhibit. While I do have some framed paintings in storage, most are several years old.
Older paintings are fine, but when I have a big event like the Art on the Edge show at the Chessman Gallery, I feel like it’s important to trot out my newest pieces. I have a few pieces that would fit the bill but lack the equipment necessary for display. I swear, if I were to take up a new hobby, I would have one requirement: lack of inventory. I’m constantly juggling paintings, frames, hangers, tags. A little more of that paint color that just ran out…
I decided “Spindrift” (shown above) was new enough and wouldn’t need framing (it is watercolor on panel, sealed with acrylic). So, with three days until the pieces are due, I decided to start a new piece on panel.
This panel has been through several iterations. The last version had been obscured several months ago with a textured gesso. I kept seeing the crest of a horse in it, so a horse was built. I checked Facebook while I was waiting for paint to dry and got inspired by the wonderful collagist Jody Andersen. Then the song “Yellow Bird” drifted through my mind. Yellow birds were cut out, but they didn’t work. They morphed into barn swallows. After some debate, they found their home and it was all about decoration from there. This was a fun piece for me, and I love how it turned out.
I hope to see all of you at the Chessman Gallery reception May 23, 2025, from 5-7pm. Then, in a mere six days, I and twenty-three other artists will open our studios.
This will be a brief post. In addition to the Art on the Edge show, I am working hard to meet some writing deadlines. Add that to my slow integration of a marketing strategy for Paw Prints in the Ledger and I am a busy woman.