Thursday, November 4, 2010

Tucson Open Studio: Artists, Good Weather, Good Music, Good Food

Image © 2010 Melinda S. Esparza Update: If you'd like to read the Zocalo Magazine that has nearly dedicated its entire November issue to the Open Studio Tour, please click on this Zocalo link. It will take you to the online version. Well. This is it. I've been posting the Tucson Artists' Open Studio Tours link for weeks and we are only a few days away. I'd like to give credit to one of the sponsors here in town that I love to visit and buy from--Sarnoff Art & Writing. The weather is pretty swell. I've tested my recipe for mesquite flour, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, and I have some of the finest prickly pear cactus syrup ever (no modesty on this one) for the green tea. I've finally got it just right. Here are three more paintings that will be exhibited the weekend of November 13th and 14th. Two of them are 8" x 8," and one (Gray Day on the Rillito) is 5" x 7." Image © 2010 Melinda S. Esparza Motorcoach Moticos August 2010
  Image © 2010 Melinda S. Esparza After the Storm 2010
  Image © 2010 Melinda S. Esparza Gray Day on the Rillito As an opening of welcome, I've consulted with my music mentor, R. P. Esparza, and he has given me permission to play one of his songs as a treat and to share it with my artist blogger buddies who cannot attend, but will be here in spirit--and for those whom I'd like to welcome. Imagine, if you will, that you're out in the desert, only dirt roads to drive, a sunset that makes a dramatic composition of hills, ocotillos and cactus, a moment in which you are transported to this dry and gentle environment, listening to this contemplative tune. 
Martay Blue © 2009 R. P. Esparza
Enjoy! (desert photos from one of my day trips © 2010 Melinda Esparza)

24 comments:

SamArtDog said...

Quite excellent! The show passed the gimmethechills test. Oh, and the paintings also transport me.

Melinda said...

You make me laugh, SamArtDog. Can I use that word, "gimmethechills"? Love it. You are referring to the fab music, yes?

Glad you like the paintings, too.

Wish you could stop in. Maybe some day, eh?

Edgar said...

Hey, are any of these paintings for sale?

Melinda said...

Edgar,
Har. Har.

Only if they come with postcards and business cards...

Karen said...

Yes I feel like I'm there...promise you'll make those cookies again when I'm in Tuscon.
The paintings are spectacular!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful sound. Prickly pear syrup in green tea.. what a treat for your guests! I checked out the Tucson Open Studio link. Man, I like that. I need to spiff-up my Studio Tour blog.

Your work looks so vibrant and bold in that line-up with the other artist's works. I know you'll have a great turnout.

cohen labelle said...

Totally stunning work, Lady Melinda!!!!
and I can't say enough good things about the music clip - love it - I so wish I could be in your neighborhood for this event!!!!!!
xoMarcia

SamArtDog said...

Yeah, use "gimmethechills". How 'bout as a title for one of your blues tunes?
A friend observed I need to go back to New Mexico. The Zone is right next door...
Good luck next week. Sell big.

daviddrawsandpaints said...

Yer goin' great guns, Melinda, ain't no holdin' ye back.
Love the cool guitaring and each one of the paintings (tho' I don't remember seeing the third one - "Grey Day.." before, must have been dozing).
All jived up now and wishin' I could be there on Open Days to see where all that magic is conjured up.
Guid luck and enjoy yourself!!!

Melinda said...

Hey Karen!
I will happily bake some mesquite chocolate chip cookies for you. Come on over. We'll be here.

Until then, stay warm. Keep painting.

Melinda said...

Hi Silvina,
Thanks for having a look at the online studio site. They really do a great job. I really appreciate your comment about the work. Medicine for a hard workin' artist.

I'm hoping that you are right and that we'll have many visitors.

Wish you could be here.

Melinda said...

Thank you, SamArtDog!
You are welcome here ANY time. As I flew over the Rockies last week, I waved. Did you see me?

I will pass along to Ruben the word and we'll see if he writes a tune for it! I can almost hear the words...

Melinda said...

Hi Marcia,
You would love being here and visiting the studios of Tucson's artists. It is a hoot and a half. Wish you could be here, too.

Thank you so much for the continuing good wishes.

Oh, yeah, Ruben's playing is full of heart. The spirit of the desert is in every note. Glad you enjoyed it as much as I do.

Hope you'll consider flying out west someday. I'd love to sit down and have a nice cup of tea with you and discuss art stuff.

Melinda said...

Hey, brither David,
Thank you so much for your kind words. Always a treat when you visit.

Glad you like the music, too.

Wish you could stop by for the day. Hope people visiting here will head on over to your blog and have a look.

Barbara Muir said...

Wow wow wow! The lucky people who get to come to see your work. I am not the envious sort, but feel a touch of it just now -- like a bad flu coming on.

Love your paintings, and the beautiful video and music. Sure wish I could taste the goodies you're offering. I wish you great success, super visitors, and a few high rollers with the cash to shop until they drop.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara

Linny D. Vine said...

Melinda, thank-you for dedicating Ruben's beautiful music to all of us there in spirits folk. I'm predicting that "After the Storm" is going to have eager patrons duking it out and my there in spiritness is going to be right in there with them!

Betsy Grant said...

Love these paintings! mmm... Wonderful!

Melinda said...

Thank you so much, Barbara! I wish you could be here, too. We'd have such fun. We'd probably be the performance art for the day!

I hope visitors will click on all of my links. You and all our fellow artist bloggers are wonderful.

Melinda said...

Hi Linny,
Oh, yes, one of my favorites, After the Storm. So glad you like it.

Yes, I do dedicate the post with music to you and our fellow artist bloggers. I don't think I'd be having an open studio if it weren't for you all.

Wish you could stop in. I'll be thinking of you, though!

Melinda said...

Thank you, Betsy. You do sound like a good artist--one who might eat paint, like it's icing, if you didn't know it isn't proper food!

Wish you could stop in too.

Anonymous said...

I know I'm late to the party here Melinda, but still want to wish you well. If these three paintings are reprenetative of what will be on your studio walls, it'll knock 'em out! Then you can offer some of that tea with prickly pear syrup to revive them. Sounds wonderful. I'll be thinking of you this weekend!

Melinda said...

Hi Donald,
You're always welcome to the party--anytime!

Thank you so much for the vote of confidence. I'm hoping that my visitors will read the blog and visit your blog and all of our wonderful fellow artist bloggers.

It's because of this great community that I am participating in the open studio tour.

Wish you could stop in some day.

Jala Pfaff said...

Wishing you much success and fun during your Open Studios. Don't forget to have fun.
The music is awesome. Kind of Dire Straits meets cowboy. Wonderful. Is that your son's?

Melinda said...

Hi Jala,
Thank you so much for the good wishes. It's been fun so far.

Thanks, too, for your comment about the music. The music was written and produced by my music mentor/teacher, R. P. Esparza. He's been playing for more than 25 years. My son enjoys the music, but does not currently play.

Wish you could be here!