Friday, March 5, 2010

Tucson Artists' Open Studios Tour

Sunset Ridgeline, 2010. 8x8 Oil on linen panel. Sold
The Tucson Artists Open Studios Tour is just a mere and frantic eight days away. There are two beautiful, gorgeous, exquisitely constructed canvases built by Deadwood Framing that invite me to paint large. They will have to wait until next week. But, until then... I've got this 8" x 8," oil on artists' board, abstracted painting for today that is a bit of an extension of the kinds of landscapes I've been painting lately. Until the next post, I hope you are living well, painting often, dreaming and walking with all beauty and excellence! I also wish all of you could stop by for some mesquite flour chocolate chip cookies and decaf green tea with prickly pear syrup and a nice chat. Some funnies (to offset the seriousness of the last post): Math joke Signs you are an artist: #14. "You chose to buy that new Russian Sable Number Six Round instead of a Big Mac, a Large Fry, a Milkshake, Dessert, and five gallons of gas." #17. "When viewing a sunset, you think in terms of cadmium yellow (light hue), salmon and gold, a tinted teal mixed with gold for the water...." #26. "You explain your deplorably bad housekeeping by saying, "It's a work-in-progress..." And, one from me--True Story: Instead of fixing our leaky roof years ago, we bought an Ettan Press and set mixing bowls out to catch the rain.

22 comments:

SamArtDog said...

The abstract is so full-out gutsy, there is NO reason to worry about you, girl! Also, the artists' signs sound like you've got your priorities straight.

Cute cartoon, but In my bent little world, there is NOTHING funny about math. Even when I try. Just ask my algebra teacher (if you can find the rubber room where he's hiding).

High tea sounds de-lish!

Anonymous said...

Zing- that abstracted landscape just pulls at me. SamArtDog used my word: gutsy. That's what it is and I like it mucho.

cohen labelle said...

Melinda, this is another gem of a painting, intensely alive and powerful! It has a totemic quality about it.
You’re certainly an artist after my own heart! I also love the jokes. Not only are they funny – but boy do they speak the truth. Anyway I looked up the Ethan Press website – impressive! - I probably would have done the same thing – after all what are mixing bowls for?!
I would dearly love to be present at your open studio tour! And I’m awfully tempted by the cookies and tea and prickly pear syrup and an opportunity to talk with you in person and see your magnificent work!
It will be a fabulous weekend for you and you will be exhilarated by it.
xoxoxoxoxo Marcia

Melinda said...

You have made my day, SamArtDog. I'm glad you like this painting and all the signs, too. Gutsy! I want to be more of that.

I don't want to give the wrong impression about math, though. I'm with you. Ask my son the math genius. I was the tantrum thrower when he tutored me in my one college math class six years ago. The tables were turned.

You are welcome to come for tea any time!

Melinda said...

Wow. Thank you so much, Bonnieluria. Oh, I am liking that word, gutsy, more and more.

You and SamArtDog may have started something. Hmmm.

Going forward: Fuerte y claro!

Melinda said...

Dear Marcia,
If I had the funds, I would pay your way here. Your generous comments inspire and comfort me.

That's a great word--totemic. This work was completely of the "automatic writing" genre. Hope to try this again soon.

Ah, the Ettan. Yes, it weighs only 90lbs and it is like a modest Steinway piano or a Martin guitar, a smooth vehicle for an art spirit to move and speak.

Maybe someday you could visit the southwest, yes?!
Virtual hugs and warm thoughts!

Edgar said...

No worries, Melinda! YOu are fully prepared for the Tucson Artists Open Studio Tour.
You have lots of new, exciting, consistently good work. You've sent out your invitations, your prayers and your good thoughts. Your studio is arranged and ready for final touches.

All you've got left is to bake those cookies... and that should be fresh on the day of, so the whole place smells homey and they're warm and tasty. So, relax. You've arrived.

And yes, I love this iconic, symbolic pseudo-landscape: anchored in reality, but 'drawn' from the subconscious meanderings and associations of a lively mental interaction with your archetypal space and perception.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

I cannot say it better than Marcia
and Edgar. You are a wonder, and your work is a joy to behold. I visited here earlier and was so blown away by both your painting and your writing, that I was for a few moments speechless. Not my norm as you might suppose. Oh my! Love this abstract,
landscape that says so much.

I cannot imagine being all ready for
a studio tour eight days in advance. I am usually hanging work as the first people come in the door, and I always forget the entire
fridge full of food until they've gone, and the day is over. Funny! You on the other hand are just great!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

Melinda said...

You're too kind, Barbara! Thank you so much. I'm glad you like this painting. It was one I almost hid away, thinking that it was just too something, maybe too different to post.

Well, that Edgar is a guy...and you know guys. They'll say that everything's ready, but they don't have the list we have that includes
E V E R Y T H I N G! Ha.

However, a lot of the work is done because the studio is set up like it was in November. A little sprucing up, rearranging, baking, etc., and 25 other things and we'll be ready to go---no problemo.

Open studio days are a bit of theatre, don't you think? It all comes together at the last second or not, but improvisation can add extra good energy.

How I wish you could be here. Maybe someday you and Marcia would consider an art tour to the southwest...

Virtual hugs!!

Melinda said...

Thanks, Edgar. I wish I had your perspective. Maybe we could trade lists! Ha.

Very funny with the artspeak. I was looking for that book...now I know where it is. Quit hoggin' it and give it back.

I sense you must frame this symbolic pseudo landscape and analyze it sufficiently to a comfort level that truly does anchor it to a more mentally tactile structure. My hope is that you won't reduce it to a mere process that tries to distinguish my approach as some nebulous intangible "between coherent argument and vacuous patois."

Otherwise, all I can surmise is that you might be saying, "blah, blah, blah, Melinda, blah, blah" with a wry grin and no biscuit.

Looking forward to having a fun time with our visitors!

Caroline Martin said...

Can relate to the containers to catch the rain water. We recently made an art studio at my place but the budget didn't cover a replacement roof- so we have esky's and tupperware catching the drops when we have heavy rain. lol
cheers from caroline from australia

Melinda said...

Hi Caroline!
Thanks for stopping by. I'm so glad that you understand and I can tell you've got the art spirit alright.

Best wishes with those bowls and your artwork! Hope you'll visit again.

daviddrawsandpaints said...

This small landscape is just FANTASTIC!!!

(there's a lot more I could say but haven't had enough wine :o)

ps: is the pi supposed to be irrational, and the i unreal? Or is the i just the figmented square of some unknown radius? Got me thinking, it has.

Linny D. Vine said...

I'm there, Melinda! (Along with the cookies and tea I'd love a big helping of this painting for dessert!) All the very, very best of fun and success for your studio tour and I really wish I could wiggle my nose and toes and be there!

Melinda said...

I think you might be the funniest blogger I've ever chatted with! You make me laugh.

Thank you so very much, David, for stopping by. Your words mean a great deal to me.

You are a clever man, too. Yes, I like your math response. "Figmented square." Makes me think of Fig Newton...cookies.

Melinda said...

Linny, you are so magical that I think you just might be able to wiggle your nose and arrive here someday!

Thank you so much! I will see you out of the corner of my eye.

Salon Delucca said...

I really like your marks and line work at the bottom of this piece Melinda - enjoyed the 'then you know you're an artist' blurbs - funny :)

Jala Pfaff said...

Hi Melinda, very cool painting. I stared at it for a while and first thought of lava (albeit dark blue lava), then that song began playing in my head: Someone left a cake out in the rain...or however it went. Like a big cake melting in the rain, it looks to me now. In a very good way. :)

Melinda said...

Thanks, Jeane! I'll bet all the artists bloggers could add anecdotes to the "Signs you're an artist thing."

I think of you as the mistress of evocative line in abstract!

Thank you.

Melinda said...

Thanks, Jala! Glad you like this and that it called up interesting images.

But, gah, I've got that song going through my head now...

Karen said...

You will do great at the open studios! I only wish I could sample some of the tea and cookies!


(I just forwarded on the math joke to my math professor friend...he'll be slapping his knee I know)

Melinda said...

Thank you, Karen! I wish you could come to the open studio tour this weekend. It's supposed to be perfect weather.

Love those math jokes, oh yeah.