I was out photographing the full moon that came out around 5 pm, and an hour later we heard about the fire that by 7 pm, had me packing. I took a few more photos having my camera out, (I couldn’t resist, as horrifying as it is!) We’re okay, packing as I write to head north to Santa Ynez.

Here’s is the fire over the foothills, a view from the curb of my apartment on Sola Street and Laguna Street. It looks like my apartment is still two whole blocks from the evacuation warning zone, so we’re safe for now. I’m still ready to take off if I learn that the zone expands, as it very likely will during the night.

That’s the moon behind the smoke. As you can see, the fire knocked out the power on the hill below it.

The power came back on intermittently in various areas, as shown below.

It’s unreal. I still can’t believe the wind might bring the fire toward the ocean and right through downtown Santa Barbara. Makes me wish I had less possessions and possibly renter’s insurance. And getting ready for an art show at the Artiste Winery in Santa Ynez December 6th, I’m not sure how to handle packing up all my art. I’m not even sure that I’m equipped to move it all. It makes the prospect of it all being sold to different homes even more appealing! The chance of it surviving the fires that plague California are much better if it’s not all in one location.

I can hear sprinklers going off. Business as usual or fire retardant?

I went out around 12 and the fire had spread along the hill crest to the east.

This is a long exposure, which shows how lit up the streets were from the full moon directly overhead.

In the next two pictures, you can see the trajectory of helicopters moving across the orange skies.

It’s a bit fuzzy, but you can see the lights of many emergency vehicles in this shot.

Here’s a little piece I’ve been working on. It’s only 5″x7″. I started it long ago and had not worked it since.

On another note, as a birthday present Lily is paying for my first ever voice lesson! I’m excited and nervous, but trust I will be in very good hands! Michel Marc Gervais seems like the best teacher anyone could hope to have. In fact, I’m trying not to feel unworthy of this great gift and opportunity to explore singing, a skill I’ve always dreamed of developing and honing. Thank you Lily! It’s one of the most thoughtful gifts I have yet to receive!

The latest show “Pop,” was a mix of whimsical and touchingly deep. From pieces designed from popcorn kernels and popsicle sticks to a piece on “popping pills” in order to survive a series of heart surgeries.

Connie Rohde greeted guests in a 1950’s inspired garment made partially of bubble wrap, which would occasionally pop in an embrace! Here she is with daughter and business partner Nina:

Karina Puente with her piece centered on “The Story” of her family’s roots:

A lovely piece by Dara Mark:

A tattooed portrait.

The pieces ranged from light-hearted to deeply personal. (On the left, a necklace made of beads and soda pop lids. On the right, Rocky Stroup’s “Borrowed Time—(13 years of pill poppin’).”)

Very cool quilted piece:

Popsicle Toes, by Larry Le Brane. (Borrowed image.)

On the left, Pamela Zwehl-Burke “Man’s Woman: Two Views” Mixed Media. On the right, another view of Connie’s fabulous bubble wrap outfit! (Click on the photo to enlarge!)

Rob proving a ball of solid aluminum foil the size of a balled-up human can be lifted!

Afterward, we hit up an arts and craft fair in Los Olivos, CA. Not as much fun, but worth it for the delicious sandwiches we got at Panino’s!

“Thank you for calling” was the title of the show, and was primarily the work of Rafael Perea de la Cabada, and a few up and coming artists of his recommendation.

My self portrait is to the right.

A wall of drawing that Rafael did while on the phone by his desk!

The self-portrait I chose to submit for the show. The title didn’t make the price sheet. It’s called “In the evening light.”

Heather Mattoon also submitted a self portrait. I love it!

Jonny Troyna to the right of his painting, “Sea Foam Black.”

“Sea Foam Black” by Jonny Troyna.

This is “Untitled,” by Matthew Woodford.

“Power Outage,” by Richard Irvine.

Three framed drawings by Rafael Perea de la Cabada.

A framed drawing by Rafael Perea de la Cabada.

More materials from Rafael’s studio.

Rafael Perea de la Cabada with his son.

To visit the show, stop by Art Resources at 512 E. Haley St. from Oct. 4-Nov. 4 (Hours: M-F 9-5:30, S 10-2.)

Here it is in progress:

Here is the “recycled” canvas:

And here is the progress on the copy of Frida Kahlo’s Self Portrait With A Monkey:

I had to put this aside to finish the self portrait for the show.

Here it is around noon:

And here it is in the evening:

I’m frustrated with myself only a little, after deliberating over three copies of Frida’s work, (the one above and two others I worked on today,) when I have so many ideas that are forced to lap the fishbowl of my mind. Friends, acquaintances, even fictional characters from films, books, and my imagination fight for their place on one of my canvases. They stare angrily through the moss and rust shades of my eyes, in disbelief that I would laps yet again into obsessing over a nose shadow on a Frida portrait finished about a year ago. Soon, you’ll see them here! They’ve been using a log on the door of my mind and are bound to come racing onto a canvas near you shortly!

After slaving over a yard sale for hopefully the last time, I rushed up to Los Alamos for Dara Mark’s solo show at the C Gallery. Another great show at Connie and Nina’s new contemporary art gallery. I particularly loved this piece:

It’s formed from multiple translucent layers, so already it has a depth that draws you to it. The next thing you notice is that it interacts with light, so wherever you are in the room, you see quite a different painting. You have to walk around it and study it to really see all of its beauty. A lovely piece!

Dara was my mentor when I was in high school. It was fun and educational to learn from her artistic sensibility  and techniques, and gain experience from showing my work for the first time in a group show at the end of the program.

And speaking of teachers! I also studied art and drama in high school with Connie Rohde. That was fun and intense! A shy teenager breaking into Shakespeare in front of her peers wasn’t easy. Nor was taking advanced chemistry as a sophomore so I could fit Connie’s wonderful art class into my last semester at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School! I still cringe when I think of the oral report on vitamins I made in AP Chem! I think moments of extreme embarrassment like those that immediately followed my oral report serve to form our character. So fortunately, there was a bright side!

I wish I had the patience to check if everyone’s eyes were open! Nina is second from the left, followed by Lily and Rob.

Lily chatting with Dara, with Wayne in the background.

You can check out the show at C Contemporary Gallery’s homepage.

This was done completely with a palette knife Monday evening, September 1st. I believe it’s a 20″x 24″ recycled canvas. I’m debating whether to add details or not. I’ve got mixed responses from people I’ve asked! What do you think? More realistic or is it fine rough and stylized as it is? Click the images to view larger.)

This is almost finished at one sitting! Not the greatest photo. Oil on a 16″x20″ recycled canvas. August 31st.

Not the best start, but I was once again in a hurry to finish so I could sleep! I mostly used a palette knife. August 29th.

(Yikes! This may be my worst drawing yet. I’m still hopeful for the final painting. A bad drawing and under-painting doesn’t necessarily mean a bad painting in the end! This was done late at night after already painting quite a bit that day and posting! August 29th.)

The bad news is that three pieces in the State of the Art 2008 Exhibit were vandalized. Pieces that the artists invested thousands of dollars into, just for the privilege of displaying their work to the public, and for only $1,500 compensation. It’s really a shame. Here’s a link the article describing the events.

Here’s the painting:

I’ve always wanted to paint a really large version of this picture. We’ll see if that comes about.

And here it is:

As mentioned, I went to Culver City to catch the tail end of Shawn Barber’s show at Billy Shire Fine Arts. It was fantastic to see his large realistic work up-close. There’s really only so much you can get from seeing a small image online, but here it goes:
(click on photos to enlarge)

I also found a lot of work I liked at the George Billis Gallery. I liked the irony and humor of this piece in particular:

When I was there, many of the galleries were closed for the end of summer already, so I’ll have to go back and scout a bit more.