This Friday

I am excited to have my studio be a part of the West Chester Gallery Walk this Friday!

I hope to see you there!

        ( Photograph by Beth Roland )

Friday, October 2, 5pm-9pm

My studio address:

28 north new street

West Chester, pa

Please join me for wine and snacks while viewing my latest work in the crazy place where they were created.

I will be doing encaustic demos throughout the evening. 

This event is free, open to the public and family friendly.

For more info about other stops on the gallery walk, visit:

http://www.downtownwestchester.com/view_program.php?id=329

Things that inspire...

Here are some photographs I have taken recently that will surely be inspiring my current body of work...

(All images copyright EBCBrown,LLC'15)

    Sunset from my doorstep.

    Refinery off of rt.95.

    door on Camac St.

    Very old wisteria vines at the 

    Philadelphia sketch club

    The view through a breezeway at dusk

    In West Chester.

    Elephant ear leaf on our steps.

Stress- the anti muse...

While in the studio tonight, there are a lot of things whirling around in my head outside of the day to day motherhood/ household/husband/ garden/ bartender worries.

Tonight I'm researching artist grants, thinking about a new (somewhat daring) series I'm about to start, getting ready to open a "shop" on etsy, wondering who I talk to about my student debt problems, shopping online art supplies sales, making a self imposed deadline for myself with my photographer and contemplating seeking funding for an artistic pilgrimage of sorts.

And of course these paintings that I'm trying to work on right here and now. 

(Deep breaths)

I've saved up way too much to think about tonight. For now I'm going to write down that list and put it out of site. I need to paint tonight and this stress does not inspire.

For the next couple of hours, when I feel the need to pick up my phone and further stress myself out, i'm going to look at this image instead....

"The Monk By The Sea"

By, Casper David Friedrich

A favorite one of mine.

Ode No.2

I'm excited that my piece, "Ode No.2" was accepted into the "Absolutely Abstract" exhibition at The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

This is the oldest continuing artists organization in the country. Read more about it's history here:

http://sketchclub.org/sample-page/history

The reception is Sunday, August 30th 2-4pm

Exhibition runs: August 26th-September 19th

Roots

I am excited that some of my reliquaries will be on display in the "Roots" exhibition at the Franklin Commons Gallery in Pheonixville, PA.

I was asked to write something about my pieces in relation to the exhibition. 

My words:

This series is a set of my own personal reliquaries. These paintings contain objects that i have gathered over the years. While they might seem unimportant, they have become cherished objects to me because they represent an important experience in my life. Often these objects also reference the history of my family or ideas from different cultures that inspire me. I created a painting in response to each object and tried to express the reason for my attachment to it.  As with most of my work, while I might have a very personal meaning for the paintings, I try to keep them open so that each viewer might be able to form their own connection to them.

The pieces included-

    

"Reliquary No.1"

http://www.ebcbrown.com/gallery/reliquary-no-1-2/

"Reliquary No.2"

http://www.ebcbrown.com/gallery/reliquary-no-2-2/

"Reliquary No.4"

http://www.ebcbrown.com/gallery/reliquary-no-4-2/

Surprise

This spring my daughter and I planted 4 watermelon seeds in the corner of our small yard. (She absolutely loves watermelons.) Expecting nothing to come of it, we were delighted when 6 watermelon seedlings popped up. We weren't sure how they became 6, but we were delighted none the less. They became massive plants and have grown over the fence and threatened to dominate the whole yard. We had our first signs of fruit a few weeks ago and I finally have to resign myself to the fact that these are not watermelon plants. The fruit was instead giant decorative gourds and Mimi pumpkins. Arg. The small gourd and mini pumpkin we tossed over in that corner last winter have won the yard.

Gone our my ideas of giving away all the extra watermelons and trying my hand at watermelon jelly.

So what do you do when life gives you an abundance of inedible gourds? Maybe we'll try to make art out of it? Just out of curiosity, I googled gourd art and was amazed by what came up. I'll let you know how they turn out, if I try it or maybe I'll just be amassing a large amount of autumn decorations.

http://www.gourdfestival.com

Prodigal child

12 years ago in art school, I created this piece, "Intervention". (Encaustic, oil and paper on canvas),

It was the last piece I made before moving into full abstraction, one of my first pieces experimenting in wax and by far (with the exception of murals) the largest piece I've ever done. 

At 72"x78", this piece dominates much needed space in my studio and is bigger than I can fit into my storage unit.

For many years a wonderful friend was willing to house it for me and look after it. Just recently I received the call that it needed to come "home".  So now it is in my studio.

What do you do with a painting that is an incumberance of creative space but possibility significant in the legacy of your body of work?

Incongruent with any of my current work but a part of the story on how you got there?

Honestly, I was overjoyed to see it again, but space continues to be the issue.

I've yet to figure it out, but I know I'd like to keep it as close as I can...

Reacue

I'm not sure why, but today kept twisting and turning in negative ways. I got home from bartending a little while ago, exhausted but with my mind still too awake.

Thinking about the day and getting ready to finally sleep, I wistfully googled "happy news" and this came up.  The world is put right a bit more for me by this article. 

Szot, you are my hero!!!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/20/zot-artz_n_7747146.html

Theif

While cleaning out my studio recently, I stumbled upon that same old box...

Where I stick the credit card offers that I receive several times a week. It's been a long time since I shredded these sensitive documents and the build up was occupying precious space in my small studio.

I thought that I could make a game out of it with my daughter. Then I thought- what the heck, why not make art out of it?!

We shredded the documents and then set them to soak in a very large bucket.

I was about to run to our local Ace to get materials to construct the paper making screens when I happened upon 3 screens in a neighbor's trash. Excellent.

We were able to get 6 sheets out of the mangled mess. After pulling the sheets and letting them dry, I have begun to embed them into the base of encaustic paintings.

See below:

(In progress)

"Thief No.1"

Encaustic and credit card offers on panel

 

Loving art...

    "Lot's Wife".  Anslem Kiefer

Many artists feel competitive with each other. I suppose that is natural- we're all after the same thing and the chances of any of us reaching it is so small...

I'd be lying if I said that don't look at other artists every once in a while, envious of how far they've gone in their career and wondering what I'm doing wrong...

But I love art!

When I go to an exhibition, the business aspect of art is usually very little on my mind. I want to be moved, enraptured- enticed by the story. I want to engage with the work.

There are many artists that I admire, whose work is very different from mine. 

There are some that are more similar to my work that I seek inspiration from.

One artist has stood out from the rest to me. His paintings are haunting. He works in a wide array of media. I have had the pleasure of seeing a handful of his works in person, but hope to see much more in the future.

Anslem Kiefer.

"His works are characterised by an unflinching willingness to confront his culture's dark past, and unrealized potential, in works that are often done on a large, confrontational scale well suited to the subjects. It is also characteristic of his work to find signatures and/or names of people of historical importance, legendary figures or places particularly pregnant with history. All of these are encoded sigilsthrough which Kiefer seeks to process the past; this has resulted in his work being linked with a style called New Symbolism."

Wikipedia 

Thank you for your work, Mr. Kiefer.

You have inspired me greatly!

   http://mobile.buffalonews.com/?articleRedirect=1

    "Nigredo". Ansley Kiefer

    "Die milchstrasse". Anslem Kiefer

Google yourself...

This sends me into fits of laughter at the irony...

Every so often I google my company name just to gauge where it's being used and for what- 

Zoom info apparently thinks that I'm doing really really good!

And I am, but not by their estimate...

I'm very, very grateful for the success I've had thus far in my career but at the end of the day I've yet to break even after 11 years as a professional artist and I am definitely my only employee (unless you count my supportive and patient husband, my daughter and friends who have helped me along the way, but have never been paid) 

Too funny...

At least they got the address and website correct ;)

Perfection

"Have no fear of perfection- you'll never reach it."

~Salvador Dali

    "sleep" by Salvador Dali 

“Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of the New Man” by Salvador Dali 

Photograph from:

http://www.biography.com/people/salvador-dal-40389

Tonight...

Tonight I visited the city that I love. 

The cool steel and polished face of money

The gorgeous relics and noisy crowds.

The color and texture of the getto.

Rush to the beat

Umbrella warfare in the rain on busy streets

Every man for himself

Many years ago-

Sitting on the fire escape looking up between the walls at the ticker take.

Lost.

Whip at your back

Big home 

Nice car

Fine cloths

You are polished, neat and clean.

And at one time I thought that was success.

I spent my money on leather pants, ignored the bills, followed bands and was so lonely....

Now

Up to your elbows in dirt and debt.

Trying to keep up with the weeds

Cherishing the worms, and salamanders.

Ridding the garden of pests.

The beloved sparrow...

Whip at your back

A beautiful child you can never give enough to,

Artwork that you pour yourself over

Instead of sleeping, 

but there's still so much more growth to be had..

People in every facet, needing love and kindness.

An evening when all is quiet and you pray-

For your self, for your family, for everybody who stumbles upon your heart and mind....

Tonight I sit, thankful for life's twists and turns

With so much left to do

Thid work in progress life...

I need every ounce of grace I'm given

And I fear I take too much for granted.

Just desperately trying to keep up.

I know I'm living a better life than I could have ever once imagined

In all my fire escape longing...

And despite whatever heartache in the process,

I am finally finding myself "home".

Downingtown Fine Arts Festival

I'm gearing up for my next event in 9 days.

I'm working a series of pieces inspired by an abandoned paper mill near by and finishing up some pieces that were not complete in time for the studio tour last weekend.

It's an outdoor event in Downingtown, PA. It will have 40 artist working in an array of media and is sponsored by victory brewing company.

May 30th 10-6

May 31st 10-5

Its free (except for beer and food) and open to the public. For a full schedule of events- please visit the event sight-

http://www.downingtownfinearts.com//artists.html

Hope to see you there!!!

CCST

I'm gearing up for what has been my biggest event of the year- the Chester County Studio Tour. 

(Knock on wood)

May 16th 10-7

May 17th 11-5

If you can come to my studio on this weekend, please do!

I just finished 10 new pieces and will ideally finish 7 more before the event. My studio is quite small but warm and obviously worked in ( ie. very messy!)

I will be doing encaustic demos through out the weekend and have snacks, wine, beer and coffee. 

There are 47 other studios participating in chester county with 52 visiting artists- several within blocks of my studio. It's free and open to the public! It's a wonderful event! Tell your friends ;)

http://chestercountystudiotour.com

My studio address:

28 north new street

West Chester, PA 19382

Keep going...

I exhausted and a burnt out,

But my deadline looms ahead- just a week away.

Thank for the inspiration Madam Curie-

 

"Life is not easy for any of us. 

But what of that? 

We must have perseverance 

and above all confidence in 

ourselves. We must believe 

that we are gifted for 

something and that this 

thing must be attained."

~Marie Curie

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mariecurie126077.html#gpuAy44HaF1Ag4x8.99

Floor

Various health issues have set me back production wise in the studio over the part 6 months. I'm now on  a tear to finish 21 (give or take) pieces by the 21st. Whew!

Photo of my studio floor-

Deadline

This is what my studio looks like on a deadline...

In May I have the Chester County Studio Tour and then the Downingtown Fine Arts Festival. 

I have to get the work done a week or so ahead of time for my photographer to get the photos of my newest work back to me. 

It's crunch time...

See

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see."

Ee--Degas

"Woman in the Bath" 1886, Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington, Connecticut

"Dance Class at the Opera"

"the Interior"

((At (at the PMA:)

Picaso's electrician

Reaffirming my habit of signing pieces...

http://www.artnews.com/2015/03/20/picassos-electrician-receives-2-year-sentence-for-possession-of-271-stolen-artworks/

I don't know what truly happened here. I'll certainly be sure to write a note on every piece given or used for barter even more so...

Purge

Recently I have taken on the task of completely reorganizing my studio.

I am a pack rat and terribly sentimental. Every nook and cranny has been absolutely filled in my small studio space for over 7 years now. 

During this purge I encountered this- a water color paint tray that I most likely used last when I was in my early teens. Now, riddled with mold, it is an emblem of how this craziness of being a professional artist all started. 

The wistful days of just needing self exspression...

Perhaps I'll finally throw it out now.

(Please tell me to throw it out now.)

Lincoln Park

I recently visited family in Seattle. I have made this trip many times over the past 15 years. In addition to coveted time spent with my family there, I always return with a somewhat refreshed state of mind and renewed inspiration.

Seattle has had an usually mild winter. The blossoming trees, verdant atmosphere and warm temperature was quite a contrast from the very cold, grey and icy Philadelphia. I feel like the color pallet for my work has been rejuvenated.

One of the places that I find  particularly inspiring there is Lincoln Park. It is near my sister's house in west Seattle and runs along the Puget Sound. Here are a few photos I took while there. We'll see how they manifest themselves in my work.

 

Copyright all images EBCBrown,LLC'15

Admire - Kathe Kollwitz

The above photograph is of the inside cover from a catalogue of an exhibition of her work.

She moves me so...

"Uprising".  Kathe Kollwitz

She expressed so clearly the pain she saw and felt. I cannot imagine experiencing these things. Nor can I imagine the strength it took to turn them into such brilliant works of art. 

May heaven bless you dearly, Kathe...

 

"Käthe Kollwitz: The Grieving Parents, a memorial to Kollwitz' son Peter, now in Vladslo, Diksmuide, West Flanders, Belgium (Photo credit: Wikipedia)"

"The Mothers"

http://rogallery.com/Kollwitz/Kollwitz-bio.htm

"Folly" has its day

Sometimes I finish a piece and after some time I decide that it needs to be reworked. 

In the most extreme cases of dissatisfaction, I turn the blow torch on high and work with the shreds left behind as inspiration. The puddles on my studio floor serve as memory of bygone painting love "affairs".

Sometimes I finish a piece and I know that it's complete, but while most of the other pieces created around that time sell, it remains in my inventory. 

So it was with "Folly".

Perhaps it was because it is so large, or that it's in mixed media and not my usual encaustic...

Regardless I was prepared to retrieve this  painting, created about 5 years ago (which had been on extended loan in the Cira Centre) and maybe retire it to my personal collection...

* In general I would much rather my pieces go out into the world, but for posterity's sake and my daughters inheritance, I have kept some.

Most gallery shows, except for retrospectives, want an artist's most current work.  This usually means that the pieces are created within the last 2 years max. 

A piece past its date, no matter how strong I think it is, goes out of circulation in a way. It's sad sometimes...

I mourn that they never got their "day".

Personally, I have always loved "Folly".

Truly I'm surprised that it remained unsold for all of those years. 

But even more of a surprise- a wonderful new collector happened upon it at the CFEVA just before I came to retrieve it.

"Folly" finally found its place and I could not be happier!

I am so grateful and in a way, relieved.

 

Fortune

This evening I had the nagging feeling like I should really get to work in the studio.  This was despite taking care of my flu stricken 3 year old daughter all day, with a restless night sure to follow. 

Any excuse was put to shame when I naively opened my fortune cookie from earlier in the night...

While I have several commissions coming up in the near future, nothing is officially being "waited for" at the moment. Regardless, the tone of the those words set me hard at work on my ongoing series.

Speaking of which, here is an image of one of my 4 "Odes" in progress. I'm sure it will look quite a bit different in it's final form. I'm also working on the next 2 reliquaries and a few small pieces. Just in case anybody is waiting for any of these things...

;)