Tucson Artist Melinda: Thankful. Grateful. Going Forward

Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza The Open Studios Tour was so eventful for me that it is challenging to describe it--to detail it in such a way as to paint a proper picture. Maybe I'm better with paint than with words. There were: Two days of nearly nonstop visiting. Rain. Rain. Rain! Beautiful cloudy skies slung low over the mountains, over trees and homes. Our intrepid art travelers had a midtown cluster of places to visit, including mine, and it was nice to know that we had community for a weekend. Thank you to everyone who came by. Thank you to my dear fellow artist bloggers. Thank you to the two collectors who bought two of my paintings: Ghost Ranch Ancestors 2011 Ghost Ranch Ancestors 18" x 18," on cradled oil panel--Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza and Mostly Harmless 2009 Mostly Harmless 2009 oil on canvas--Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza Thank you to the nationally know visitors, the art savvy visitors, the elegant artists who work in the art world, and thank you to the representative from the Grand Canyon Association. Because I try to emulate Cesar Millan's insights, not only with my dogs, but also as a metaphor for my own psychic well being, I am going forward. A well balanced dog Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza I mean, what's a well balanced dog to do? When I walk with them, I look down at their beautiful heads and can almost hear them say, Go forward, Go forward, Go! And so, I do. Here is a beginning: Abiquiu Opening oil on canvas 30" x 30" Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza The walk is the discipline. The journey is calming--even more than any destination. Being present translates excitement into quiet happiness, peace. After all, "excitement is not happiness"--Cesar Millan. Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza Wishing you all peace. Go forward! The walk will do you good.

2011 Fall Tucson Open Studio Tour: Tucson Artist Melinda Esparza Mops and Dusts With Painterly Gestures

Rincon Peak Winter Snow October 2011 Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza

Dusting toward Saturday.
Slouching in meditation.
Daydreaming of rain,
and tea,
and cookies
and guests.

Windy Point and I do Have One Image © 2010 Melinda S. Esparza

Wish you all could be here. The last three times before the Tucson Open Studios Tour, paintings sold online because collectors didn't want to take the chance that they'd lose the one they wanted. A few of the new paintings for this tour are highlighted here:

Ghost Ranch Cliff 8" x 8" on oil panel--Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza

Ghost Ranch Ancestors 18" x 18" on cradled oil panel--Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza

Ghost Ranch Ancestors above SOLD! today during the Open Studios Tour!


Ghost Ranch Mesa 30" x 30" on oil panel--Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza

Plus, this one, She Wore New Earrings (8" x 8", oil on cradled panel). The proceeds of this sale will be donated to charity.

She Wore New Earrings Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza

Here is the link to Zocalo's article about the event: The Artists Welcome You!

If you are in the Santa Barbara, CA, area, I hope you'll check out my work in the Westmont Museum of Art's auction of work from November 30th through December 16th.


Looking forward to all who can stop in! Thanks to Mr. Arty Fice for taking an okay photo last night at the preview exhibit.

2011 Fall Tucson Open Studio Tour: Tucson Artist Melinda Esparza Offers an Invitation and A Preview

We're on the run up to next week's 2011 Tucson Open Studios Tour. So, of course, I'm all over the place: cleaning, raking, looking at images, hoping to paint more. work in progress Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza There is this work in progress, 'no name' painting, 8" x 8," on artists' board, that may get done before next week--prolly not. There is this one that I really, really want to throw paint at, 'almost named' on 30" x 30" canvas. Whew! I might just start it and work on it while people perambulate (Howz that for building one's vocabulary while stressed?) Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza I received several postcards yesterday, highlighting the 5x5 Invitational at Westmont Museum of Art. I sent in my piece, Peak Red on Paper, just before deadline, so my name is not included, but check out the site as the auction draws nearer the date, November 20th through December 16th. I'm hoping that you'll be able to see my work in with the rest. Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza However, of interest are quite a few artists I admire. You may also want to visit their sites too. Squeak Carnwarth Mary Lee Bendolph Mary Ince Helen Garber Carol Burnett (that Carol Burnett?!), and a few guys too! Oh, yeah...And, me, Melinda, Oh, MY! There are works by: Ed Moses John Baldessari Robert Mangold. Have a look! For a smidgeon of context (turned around), a summary for now, may your approach follow the dictum "ut pictura poesis"--"as is painting, so is poetry"--Horace, Ars Poetica (c. 13 BC)