Thursday, October 11, 2012

2012 Fall Open Studio Tour: Melinda Esparza

It's almost time again to have an Open Studio at Fuerte y Claro--my studio in the Old Pueblo. The dates to watch for are: November 10 & 11--only one month away! I hope you'll consider stopping by.

Almost Party Time.

Here's an 8" x 8," oil on artists' board, that I painted yesterday.

Icing on the Cake (8" x 8," oil on artists' board © Melinda Esparza)

I'm still reading bits of The War of Art (Steven Pressfield) and it can be brutal. I hope if you decide to check it out, you don't blame me if you need an aspirin after a day's reading. But, I can't look away. It challenges this artist to be disciplined, to show up, do the work--just like everyone else must do.

And, my arms are nearly recovered from the strain of holding and reading Modern Women: Women Artists at The Museum of Modern Art, Edited by Cornelia Butler, Alexandra Schwartz. Introductions by Cornelia Butler, Griselda Pollock, Aruna D'Souza. The book is about three inches thick and must weigh at least five pounds! I'm impressed. Now, who knew there were so many women artists, eh? (snark attack)

Wishing you all a fabulously productive (or, relaxing) weekend!



13 comments:

Jeane Myers said...

wow! wow! wow! - alive and on fire - a fabulous painting! whew, I sure don't envy your run up to the studio tour - a huge amount of work, but sweet rewards for sure :) - I downloaded a sample of 'The War of Art' to my ipad - will give it a spin tonight xo

Melinda said...

I like that image, Jeane. Thank you so much.

Hope the book doesn't give you a headache or ruin our nice camaraderie! It's pretty tough, as in kicks one's posterior tough. Well, it is worth reading as long as we can temper the author's instructions against our own needs and sense of balance. I did buy the ebook because the printed version of the book is very expensive right now.

Lemme know what you think, ok, even if your review contains expletives?

Warm hugs from the desert!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

Love this. Great things going on in the painting, and the title is super.
In a way it looks like a fantastic building, or mountains in snow, and I am sad to report that there's been snow in a city north of us. My garden is still hanging in, but it's down to zero tonight. It is cooold. Great work.

Hugs, XO

Barbara

Jeane Myers said...

ps started reading it this afternoon after I finished painting and I'm loving it!!! I like tough xo

Melinda said...

Hi Barbara,

Thank you so much. Yes, I can see snow, like icing. Hmm. Interesting.

Yikes! It's too early to have snow--at least in my mind. That may be because it seems like the summer flew by.

It's a long way away from the really cold days for your area, right? Brrr.

Warm hugs!
xo

Melinda said...

Hi Jeane,

Whew!

I love it, too. It's arse kickin', but it in a good way.

Let's talk about it sometime, eh?

xo

Micros said...

Melinda

Cut me a piece.

Nice painting, also like the studio name: Strong and Clear. Excellent composition.

Two of my favorite women artists of all time have to be Dorothea Tanning and Joan Mitchell. Dorothea, recently passed at the age of 101.

Check them out.

Micros

Melinda said...

Ha, Micros! Two pieces for you, for letting me know about Dorothea Tanning. I just went to her website and was blown away.

What an incredible artist. 101 years old! What a history, too!

Thank you for visiting and commenting. If you're ever in Tucson during Open Studio time, please stop by. I'll bet we'd have things to talk about.

Bridget Hunter said...

Hi Melinda - I love the wee painting and someday, some day, I will get to see your works in real life !!! I'd find you and your locality a total inspiration I know. My friend's Granny was 101 when she published her last book of illustrations of wild flowers in Scotland. She was profoundly deaf and was having difficulty moving around but still a working artist. Sadly she died the year after.

Melinda said...

Hi Bridget,

I would love it if you could visit someday! I think you would like it here--in the winter or early spring time.

Thank you for your kind comment. I'd like to think that art keeps us young. Don't you agree?

Warm hugs from the desert...

Linny D. Vine said...

A Beautiful Par- tay Painting - it says "CELEBRATION"...here's to you, Melinda - you have so much to celbrate so far this year...

Linny D. Vine said...

Whoops..."so much to C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E (so far this year)"!!

Melinda said...

Thank you so much, Linny! Yes, I have much to celebrate after the Grand Canyon residency.

I see you, too, have a lot to celebrate. Wow! We love rabbits in the southwest.

Congratulations!

Warm hugs from the desert.