Fiesta de Frida Entry (Frida Kahlo)

Frida Kahlo Portrait, originally uploaded by plasticpumpkin.

This is an entry I did for the Duke City Renegades Art Guild summer Fiesta de Frida art show, to be hosted in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

She will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to The Carrie Tingley Foundation (medical research). She is done with traditional Chinese brush painting techniques on white rice paper and mounted on pine.

Frida had to endure numerous experimental back surgeries and medical treatments after an accident in her youth left her damaged. The Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation was happy to work with us, and we’re happy to know that our silent auction proceeds may benefit people in medical need, as Frida was.

The Duke City Renegades are throwing the Fiesta de Frida in honor of her brave spirit, wild personality, and her moving, dynamic paintings; she held on and expressed herself with the fearlessness of someone who has faced the edge, and walked back from it.

If you’re interested in attending the Fiesta de Frida, I will have a booth there (and my Frida Kahlo portrait will be up for bidding).

First Annual Fiesta de Frida Arts & Crafts Show
hosted by the Duke City RenegadesDate:
Sunday, July 6th, 2008 (Frida’s 101st B-Day Party!)
10 am - 5 pm

Location:
Roosevelt Park
Located at Spruce and Coal, in Nob Hill
Albuquerque, New Mexico

What:
Wild arts & crafts festival, in honor of Frida Kahlo. Enjoy artwork by a batch of talented local artists. Enjoy strolling mariachis, bid on art at the silent auction tent, peruse original paintings, crafts, purses, bags, body products, t-shirts, sculpture, mosaics, mixed media collage, glass, and other goodies, and grab lunch at a food booth, in the shade.

Come one, come all!

 

You’re invited! Mama’s Minerals Presents: The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space Silent Auction Fundraiser Friday, June 6th, 2008, 5 - 8 pm Silent auction ends at 8 pm (you need not be present at 8 pm to win) Location: Mama’s Minerals 1100 San Mateo Blvd NE #15 Albuquerque, NM 87110 Event Type: fundraiser, silent auction (art, jewelry, and other artsy goodness) Join Mama’s Minerals in welcoming a burgeoning art gallery, The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space. The “Cow”, as she is affectionately known, has been born, and her founding “parents” are throwing a silent auction to raise funds for the new, upcoming gallery and art space. Bid on original multi-media artwork, paintings, wire and polymer clay jewelry, mixed media art, and photographs by local Albuquerque artists: Cindy Chavez, Sharon Bloom, Annie Hooten, Fenton Ayres, Caitlin Padilla, Heather Larson, Ren Adams, Regina Portscheller, Raine Klover, Jill Riester, Leau Phillips, Camilla Haneberg, and LaRue Claros. Artwork will be on display at Mama’s Minerals beginning May 30, 2008, with the silent auction beginning at 5 pm on Friday, June 6, 2008 and concluding at 8pm that same evening. You need not be present at 8 pm to win. Simply place a bid or bids any time during that time span. Winners who are not present will be notified after the auction. Meet the talented artists, partake in good conversation and enjoy refreshments, 5 pm to 8 pm. Every dollar counts! Help support a gallery and creative space that’s BY artists FOR artists (and the community!).     The Wooden Cow’s Mission Statement The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space is a creative environment devoted to providing area artists and craftspeople with a quality retail showroom, working studios, and a positive environment, designed to encourage growth of the Albuquerque artist, while increasing general art awareness, and enhancing the Albuquerque, New Mexico art community at large. The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space is devoted to becoming an active part of the local visual arts, performing arts, and literary arts scene, offering a rich line-up of classes and workshops, shows, poetry readings, special events, programs, educational opportunities, performance pieces, charity events, and services designed to promote the arts and enliven the creative experience for all. The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space is a democratic co-operative that strives to make a difference. We are also proud to be in preparation to work with local charities, groups, and foundations. We see art as the ultimate transmission of the spirit—an earmark of society, imagination, and culture. We also believe the art and crafts are of equal, important value to society, and to the art collector. The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space Blog - http://thewoodencow.wordpress.com

The Old Man in the River

I haven’t blogged much lately. Life has had me really busy–and bouncing to and fro like a tether ball in the wind, getting whacked now and then by a giant steel bar. At least it’s fun to fly freely in the air before you hit the bar, though! A little exhilirating.

I’ve had a series of health issues this year, which is new to me, as I’ve never had so many illnesses and issues in a row. Stress plays a big role in our ability to heal as well, and a few life situations have made it all worse. I came down with two different cold/flu deals, and have had issues with two separate wisdom teeth (funny, in some way!), including ongoing issues with an impacted wisdom tooth which, today, is reminding me that I’m alive.

It reminds me of one of my favorite Taoist stories:

“A Taoist story tells of an old man who accidentally fell into the river rapids leading to a high and dangerous waterfall. Onlookers feared for his life. Miraculously, he came out alive and unharmed downstream at the bottom of the falls. People asked him how he managed to survive. “I accommodated myself to the water, not the water to me. Without thinking, I allowed myself to be shaped by it. Plunging into the swirl, I came out with the swirl. This is how I survived.”

Going with the flow. Issues melt away. While sometimes we can’t help it if we fall into the river, we can make the best of it, enjoy the ride, and pop out on the other side.

Anyway, I’m working on several new painting series, which has been enjoyable. I had a dry period there, where nothing wanted to travel from my brain to my hand, but I’ve been painting again and working on additions to my Tea Wash series, as well as two other series. “Balance” (pictured below) is part of the Tea Wash grouping. I will post images of the new work shortly.

I enjoy working with tea. It intrigues me that I can use an ancient drink, with calming and healing properties, in a work of art.

Now if more paintings fly off my painting table, with the speed of that rushing river, I’ll be even happier.

Balance Bamboo Painting, originally uploaded by plasticpumpkin.

Original Chinese brush painting, which uses traditional techniques, on white xuan paper. The symbol is an ancient moniker which represents the harmony of man and woman, and which therefore can also be thought to represent balance (or as another way of expressing the yin yang and the sacred copulation of male and female, in perfect balance).

Chinese Lantern Dream Mini Painting

Chinese Lantern Dream Mini Painting, originally uploaded by plasticpumpkin.

mini painting (Artist trading card size; the size of a baseball card), done with Japanese watercolors and a Niji water pen, on white rice paper. Available.

Lately I’ve been playing with a Japanese Niji water pen (a portable, almost-sumi style brush, with a body which can hold water). It’s a very different animal from the Chinese brushes I’m used to, and it’s been fun to expierment.

I love Chinese lanterns. I love Japanese lanterns. Heck, I love lanterns of any size, shape, and origin.

The soft glow of an illuminated paper or silk lantern, set against a night sky is enchanting–yet so is the soft glow of a red lantern against the fresh, sunny sky. The glow is not quite as prominent, but it still whispers.

I’d have my entire house filled with lanterns, if my cats didn’t also enjoy them.

View the ACEO art card on Etsy.

Givin’ Love to DaWanda

I registered with DaWanda, an international arts & crafts shopping site, almost a year ago. I haven’t done much with my ID over there, but I was pretty impressed with the site look, feel, layout, and most especially–with the deep, international nature of it.

This year, I am renewing my interest in online arts & crafts sales venues, given some of the recent problems at Etsy, and DaWanda is heading my list. I have been busy posting work on DaWanda all morning, and enjoying the work of others. It’s easy to list on there, and free, too (they take a small commission if you sell).

DaWanda allows you to pin favorites, add comments to products you like, and share mini galleries you make of your favorite items.

If you enjoy shopping for original arts & crafts, or if you’re an artist/crafter looking for more online places to sell your wares, check it out this weekend. I’m diggin’ it.

DaWanda is in English, French, and German, and prices show in Euros (although anyone, anywhere can purchase products from the site). I like to use this US Dollars to Euros conversion site when working on Etsy.  Think of the extra exposure US sellers will get when listing on DaWanda! If you’re in the US, and only want to ship to the US, you can still join–just don’t offer international shipping on your items.

Here’s my newly updated DaWanda shop

Here’s one of my “pinboards” of other peoples’ items: Fun Stuff

New ACEO Cards on Flickr

A whole slew of new ACEO (artist trading cards) are up and available on Etsy.

I enjoy making these. They are tiny moments in time.

I sell them through Etsy, but I also trade them.

Lomas & 5th St, Albuquerque, NM

Lomas & 5th St, Albuquerque, NM, originally uploaded by plasticpumpkin.

This is a figurative cityscape , done with a Japanese sumi ink pen, on white paper. You’re heading East on Lomas, during late August, toward the corner of 5th st., in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The shadows stretch as 4:00 rolls into 5…

This is an 11 x 14 piece. $28.00

Available.

Enter the Spiraling Forest Mandala

Enter the Spiraling Forest Mandala

This is a mandala made by digitally altering one of my original photos of a flowering Robinia Neomexicana tree, with the KrazyDad Kaleidoscope program.

The shadow and light of the tree’s leaves give this mandala its interesting border.

In sanskrit, “mandala” means circle, and it implies balance, wholeness, completion, and the universe–a core focus of Buddhism and other Eastern philosophies and religions. gaze into its spiraling center, and you can see the patterns of the universe: the cycles of birth, growth, life, death, mystery, epiphany, and the mathematics that make up every atom. That’s what I love about looking at mandalas. It’s everything, and nothing, all in a neat pattern.

Lonely Temple

Watercolor & ink on white mat board. A lonely Taoist temple sits atop a winding path of stone stairs.

This is a very small painting (only a few inches), done on recycled mat board.

What is loneliness?

View this painting in my Etsy shop.

Man in the Wilderness

Man in the Wilderness, originally uploaded by plasticpumpkin.

Traditional Chinese brush painting on an off-white rice paper scroll.

A man finds himself in the wilderness, and reaches out to it.

We can philosophize about nature all we want. We can sit inside an office building, with our false sense of climate, and our polished windows. We can tailor our yards with measured pockets of grass, and perfectly aligned stones…

In the end, we aren’t a part of nature in our modern world–until we step out into it. Until we reach out for it, and accept it into our lives.

This ancient philosopher, wandering a stylized, ancient Chinese landscape, is reaching out for that special understanding we get, when we notice the slant of light in August, or the change in the crisp air of early spring, with warmth at the seams.

View this daily painting on Etsy.