2012 Fall Open Studio Tour: Artist Melinda Dreams

Ghost Ranch Mesa (oil on canvas 30" x 30" © Melinda Esparza)

The 2012 Fall Open Studio Tour is only a few days away. And, the preview exhibit of artists' works is currently up at the Jewish Community Center until this Thursday evening's reception from 5:30 pm 'til 7:30 pm.

I noticed that there is an article in the Zocalo magazine on the open studio tour. It's nicely written and I even got a blurb in it. I thought C. J. Shane did a good job writing about the event.

We Tucsonans get so excited when the weather cools to a balmy 90 degrees. We just want to dance! Here are The Missing Parts playing at a farmers market while a cutie-pie leads them.

Some of my favorite paintings are available for this open studio event. Some are no longer up--sold, or gone to the woodshed.

Here are a few that haven't been seen for awhile:

Little Mighty Vole Hunts Prickly Pear (oil on panel © Melinda Esparza)

Windy Point, And I Do Have One (oil on artists' board © Melinda Esparza)

Winter Dark (oil on artists' board © Melinda Esparza)
SOLD
 

I do hope you'll stop by and share the day with me. I might even pull out some paints and smear them on something. How 'bout that?

Wishing you all a very safe week ahead. My thoughts, along with yours, toward a speedy recovery for all those struggling with weather back East. 

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!

Woman Artist, Melinda asks: What Are You Afraid of?

Yes, you, dear men and women of the Western cultures. What scares you most? Is it spiders? Or, roaches? Maybe heights, or flying? Now, if you have strong fears, I'll bet there are some things about painting that keep you up at night. Nearly all my of life, I have been afraid of spiders. So much so, that I couldn't even look at photos of them in magazines. But, nature finds a way. One day, my Ell won the fifth grade class's tarantula. That's right. T A R A N T U L A. I was clearly stuck. If I expressed my true terror of the ghastly thing, why, I'd be the laughing stock of the classroom. Ell would know for sure that I am really some kind of cowering, simpering fraud after all those years of being... Mother: The Force of Nature (echo, echo, echo). Her name was Molly. We brought her home and started collecting crickets for her. We added to her name. She became Molly Francesca Gomezina. She was the subject of many a monotype and a very long poem/book. I learned to hold her in my hand. Before she died, she graced us with a phenomenal event. She molted. This is her molt that you see me holding today. Maybe we don't have to be afraid of paint. Maybe we can paint with abandon, knowing that there are scarier things in the world; and that nature and pigment and canvas are not any of those things. Makes the brush a lot less intimidating, doesn't it? Be brave.

Hail! Snow! Tucson Artist, Melinda, Remembers Another Snowy Day in Arizona

Sabino Canyon on a Snowy Day (oil on artists' board 9" x 12") 
© 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

I've heard that things are pretty warm back East. Isn't that something? The wind came to Tucson, bringing clouds El Gigante, followed by hail and a few flakes of snowy stuff. It was grand.

It'll prolly be hot as heck next week, but right now, it's so wonderful to walk in the brisk, cool air wearing gloves and a scarf.

Even though I was distracted by this wondrous weather, I did manage to paint. This, Abiquiu Ancestors (Forest Road 154, Abiquiu, NM), might be done--might be--not quite sure. The painting at the top is of Sabino Canyon on a snowy day.

Abiquiu Ancestors Oil on Canvas 30" x 30" © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

Oh, how the desert sparkles when it snows!

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)

2011 Tucson Open Studio Tour: Tucson Artist Melinda Esparza Waters the Plants, Dreams of Snow

Rincon Peak Winter Snow October 2011 Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza What is it about deadlines that can freeze all artistic activity? It feels like the psychological equivalent of '...caught in the headlights.' On the other hand, it has energized me to submit a donation of art to the Westmont Museum of Art in Santa Barbara, CA. The deadline is the first of November, so I just made that. And, the 2011 Open Studio Tour got me to deliver this new work to the JCC art gallery for the upcoming preview exhibit. Heck, it even got me to do a little gardening...(This means I watered some plants and bought a young okra plant at Whole Foods.) Ha. Have you ever had fresh okra, by the way? It is very good with cornmeal and mesquite flour and very easy to grow. The flowers are spectacular too. This painting, Rincon Peak Winter Snow (18" x 18," oil on cradled artists' board) is a reminder that winter is coming and perhaps a little snow will show up on the mountains around town. Wishing you all could show up for the Open Studio Tour. Here's an image of the postcard that is being mailed out by Tucson Pima Arts Council. While I think there could be some refinement with the graphic design (I know. Having a graphic designer in the house can cause one to be very fussy), it does have my artwork in the lower right hand section!

Last Swim of the Summer, Stomping on ANTs, Ghost Ranch Cliff

Ghost Ranch Cliff 8" x 8," on oil panel--Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza I don't know about you...Wait. I think I do know about you. If you're an artist reading this (or not), I'll bet you have ANTs too. Okay, let me explain. I had a few days of not painting recently, and I watched some PBS programing on the brain, again. This time, Dr. Amen talked about how all of us have Automatic Negative Thoughts, yeah, ANTs that are just a part of regular brain function. We can kill these ANTs by redirecting our thoughts, and we don't have to let them eat up our days. I really like that we have the power to change the way we think. It's rather unusual to be able to swim at the end of September, even in this hot Arizona desert. But, with a pool cover, one can eek out a moment of water meditation before it is just too cold. Water therapy is great for fighting ANTs. Last swim of the summer Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza Ah. Getting back into the studio and painting does this for me, now doesn't it for you, too?! So, here is a painting that completely led me away from self deprecating thinking after an evening soaking in the pool. Amen to that. Thanks, doctor.

Tucson Artist, Melinda, and the Quick Plein Air Study

Image © 2010 Melinda S. Esparza It may seem like a subtle change here, as most of my links are the same and only the template design has changed. However, I do have some fun things to share today. And, I've got a new and improved attitude...See?! Bright colors again! 

This painting, from a day of plein air work next to the Rillito River and a few miles north of midtown Tucson, is of a popular site, Thimble Peak. Most of the work was done on site, but I did paint a layer today over the foreground, darkening it to enhance the drama of the peak. Last night, we drove across town to buy a large (48" x 48") canvas that was on sale. It was so inexpensive that I thought it might be good to check online to see what else is available. I went to ASW Express, and couldn't believe the deals. No, I don't get paid to hype this art supplier. Wish I did, though, 'cuz this week should get them a lot of sales. Their canvases are greatly discounted (check out The Edge 1 1/2"). 

Wait! There's more! I found an online coupon for an additional discount that resulted in free shipping. Not everything is included in the extra discount, but it's worth a try if you're looking for more supplies. I've also been doing some online research. I've got a great new link to Joanne Mattera's blog. She's the artist who wrote the book, The Art of Encaustic Painting. Be careful. It's a great book. It might get you hooked on another medium. Her blog will keep you interested for a long time too. Then, I've got a link to the Google Art Project. Wowza. If you haven't seen this yet, take a tour of the MoMA, or travel virtually to some of the best museums in the world. 

There is also a new link to ARTINFO. There are some very interesting things to see and read at this site. Here is a great link to the only way to see Guerrillas In Our Midst. I recommend this to all artists, but especially women artists. 

Finally, if you get discouraged with your art and the isolation that we artists often endure, this link to Carol Diehl's blog, Art Vent, features a quote of Alberto Giacometti's that I find meaningful. A snippet follows: "....It becomes always more painful,” Alberto (Giacometti) said, “for me to finish my works. The older I grow, the more I find myself alone. I foresee that at the last I shall be entirely alone. Even if, after all, what I’ve done till now counts for nothing (and it is nothing by comparison with what I would like to create), fully aware of having failed till now, and knowing from experience that everything I undertake slips through my fingers, I enjoy my work more than ever. Is there any understanding in that?..." Read on. Paint on.

Tucson Artists' Open Studios: Paintings, Drawings, Visiting

Thanks to SamArtDog, I walked myself, with soup pan and tongs in hand, right on over to the San Gabriel "Prak" (okay, they fixed the sign years ago, but that's what it said for the first six months!) on Sunday morning and collected a pan full of juicy, ripe, lovely prickly pear tunas. Sure, the quail were annoyed and the rabbits skittered defensively away from the park, but there are plenty more tunas for them to nibble on. They'll just have to share. Besides, it's a bountiful year. I was in such a hurry that I didn't even wear gloves. I wore jeans and a solid shirt, though, and came home with one side filled with little stickers. Cool. You saw me, didn't you Bonnie?! This is a Caran D'ache (Neocolour) drawing of some that I harvested last year. I haven't worked with these water soluble colors in quite sometime. I don't know why. They really work best, in my humble opinion, on Moleskine paper. Update: It is because of Kathyrn Law's selling of her Neocolours to me in 2008, and her encouragement to try blogging, that started it all for me. I'd say these crayons and one artist's kindness can change a life. Go see her work...and be dazzled. Last year at the Tucson Artists' Open Studios Tour, I had a couple of paintings that were nearly fought over. What a concept!

  Out of curiosity (so typically artist, eh?), I wondered if I could reprise the image. I painted this one about a week ago. Guess I can. It's Two Clouds Over Patagonia II, oil on artists' board, 8" x 8." Are you harvesting in your area, both artistically and gastronomically? Sure hope so.

Tucson Open Studio Tour: More to Share

Even though the Tucson Open Studios Tour is about a month away, I'm pulling out work that has not been on display in the studio for awhile, and thinking about the future guests who'll show up that day. I don't know if I can do as well as Jala Pfaff has done documenting her recent open studio, but I'm inspired to try. Check hers out. This first painting is one of my favorites (Mighty Vole Hunts Ubiquitous Cactus Fruit, 16" x 20," oil on artists' board). It's how I feel when harvesting prickly pear fruit. There are still a few plump, and juicy tunas tempting me to do more harvesting, but I've been told to give it a rest...! But, my anxious heart says, will I have enough to get through the winter??!

  This next image is of a monotype that is another favorite. I did some mark making with oil bar on top of the first pull. It is a Mystery Landscape, monotype, 11" x 15," on BFK Rives paper.

  Hope you're all having a great week and working in the studio!

Tucson Artists' Open Studio Tour: Getting Ready for Showtime!

It's official. Tucson Pima Arts Council's website link to the upcoming Tucson Open Studio Tour is up and clickable. Of course, I'm right there with over two hundred other Tucson artists preparing their studios, looking over work, thinking about the success of last year's event and getting excited to meet people who love art and support the artist community here. It's gonna be a blast. I'll have new work and my favorites from this past year and beyond. It would be great if I could see you all here November 13th and 14th. You'll be welcomed with decaf green tea with my harvest of prickly pear juice and some homemade (okay, a mix from the store, but baked by me!) gluten free chocolate chip cookies that will have some locally harvested mesquite flour tossed as a treat. Yum. I'll do taste tests in the next week or so... For the run up, I'm thinking about some works that I'm happy with, that haven't been seen for awhile.

Ah--Ree-Zoe--Na Ski (8" x 8," oil on artists' board)

Daydream Sabino (8" x 8," oil on artists' board)

  Catalina Palimpsest (5" x 7," oil on artists' board) Hope you are all having a great weekend, painting away, dreaming of beautiful fall days.

Artist Melinda: Adventure Part Deux and the Drive By Shamans

..........So, where were we? Oh, yes. First, let me say--THANK YOU--for your encouraging and supportive comments. It is really awful to think that artists are not being well served and that the art world is suffering because of ineptness or inappropriate business attitudes. I believe there are many good galleries who love artists and their work out there. We just need to find them! After the experience, I cogitated about the new painting and how natural if felt. A week later, I couldn't sleep. At 2 AM I gave up and decided to work on a painting whose ground I had set down when making a short video for the Life in a Day project. Painting completely automatically until 4:30 AM, without reference, without anything but a total immersion into right brain, free form expression, these creatures showed up. It was like an overnight, drive by visitation. Totally a-Musing.

  Close up of right side shaman: Close up of hands: This painting is 36" x 36," oil on canvas. Maybe we artists should host more open studios and be our own representatives.

Flying Cloud on a Gray Day in Tucson

Okay, everybody, back to work I am. I can't top my musical intermission, but I do have some links to share: From Zocalo Tucson Magazine--A cool black and white photo of downtown Tucson looking northeast to the Catalina mountains. The menu at the top provides the entire magazine online. In their book review section, there is a recommended book titled, "Revenge of the Saguaro." It sounds good. Yes, there really was a guy who shot at a saguaro and was killed when one of the heavy arms fell on him. 

On a happier note: Tucson Botanical Garden's Summer Saguaro Celebration presented by Etherton Gallery and an older video of Tohono Chul's Laughing Matters exhibit. For those of you on Staycations: San Xavier Mission on the Tohono O'odham Reservation, Saguaro Harvest, Mt. Lemmon in the Catalinas, Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women Old Town Artisans really good blues guitar in Tucson, 2nd Saturdays downtown Tucson (we were there last Sat.), and one of my favorite bands playing in a shop entryway--Tammy West and the Culprits. This painting (8" x 8," oil on artists' board) reminds me of the cloud covered sky under which Tucson awoke this morning. What a relief! It was a blistering 106 degrees ( 41.1 Celsius) yesterday, with humidity. We had about twenty guests last night...I don't know what the body heat index was. We had a great time, though. Lots of people wearing "No Papers" buttons. Aren't we half way through summer yet? Aren't we?!

Arizona Artist and Diagonals of Tumacacori

This painting went through a number of transitions and the scratching away, wiping off and the additional layers turned out much better than the beginning image. It is 9" x 12," on artists' board. Due to the consensus of my fellow artists' thoughtful comments, I've added some background images. Thank you SamArtDog, Donald Diddams, and Jeane of ARTIT. Update: I was surfing around and found that I am included in Verfhond's Half a Thousand Living Painterly Painters. That's kind of nice. I had to search for my name, but there I was, #94--from my post Paint, Painter, Painted--Art, Artist, Alive. This is the image I used for the scratching, wiping away business. The result, of course, is above.

  First painting of Tumacacori bell tower. I thought this was alright, but a bit boring.

 

O, for the Love of Dog, Plus Artist Incognito

You see, I have these oily rags in my studio and they remind me every day how risky this is. And this thought reminds me of a video I saw on youtube about a man who had some oily rags lying in the corner of his workshop. O, Dogs! They are wonderful: Shepherd Leads State Trooper to Fire: Still somewhat incognito in Arizona. This painting is a reworked one from last year: Self Portrait Like Hybrid Flowers. I like this one for right now. Be safe in your studio, even if you have a rescue dog...

Color Returns: Tucson, Art and Things Heating Up

I'm pleased to report that the city of Tucson, along with Flagstaff, AZ, are suing the state over the recent immigration law signed by Governor Jan Brewer. The temperature today: 92 degrees, or 33.3333 C. As some of you know, one of my blog posts was plagiarized recently. But, what you didn't know was that I also dropped my cellphone...in the...you know. (!) Nobody wants to use it now. Sheesh. And, our dear KayDee dog has tick fever. She's gonna be fine with meds. The phone?...not so much. I'm also pleased to report that I am still here (relatively cheerful!), still working, hopeful that we will continue to converse on subjects aesthetic, political, personal and global. I will, however, be thinking about these issues as they relate to being online. If you want more information about blogging and plagiarism, which I didn't know was so pervasive, here is a link to a wonderful blogger, Velveteen Mind, who did something about it, and a link to Mr. Artyfice's rant. Feel free to weigh in. This painting is worked from the photo I took for the solarplate image you see from the previous post. It is 9" x 12", oil on linen panel artists' board. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Melinda: My Papers Are Not in Order

It's true. When I wake up in the morning, I am aware that I get up with 15,000 years of connection to this land, but when I think of leaving the house, I wonder what incident I might witness or experience. And, I'm not even Hispanic, except as a Native American cousin. And, I'm half English. And, I'm only a first generation American because of the British mother who came here after marrying a mixed heritage man from the southwest. Go figure. I'm a mutt. I still don't have my papers in order. The studio is a mess--papers everywhere, canvas and paint splatters abound, and solarplates littering my walkway. This solarplate image is about 3" x 4 1/2," on Somerset paper. But, la fortaleza es segura. For awhile, I'd like to suggest that you consider avoiding Arizona until we resolve the turmoil here. btw: Thanks to all who have so generously commented and occasionally linked back to my blog. Your friendship and art support are u-wo-du-hi, you are buena gente, and if I do say so myself, quite brill. I saw this and thought a lighter view is also in order* (whoops). From the Daily Show

Tucson Artist's Open Studio---Lovely Spring Day

Thanks guys! I felt your support and presence throughout the weekend. And, when I grew tired, I'd take a moment to remember your comments, your fantastic artwork and I was energized. I felt part of a solid community. An extra bonus: We even have snow lingering on the mountains! There was a good turn out and I was surprised. Tucson is really busy with art gallery openings, book festivals, sports events and a plethora of other fun things to do before it gets gawd-awful hot around here. So, it was great to see so many enthusiastic art tourists visit my studio, carefully and thoughtfully considering the work. We met some interesting, intelligent and artsy folk. I hope they'll come back again.

  Here are some photos of the day. Again, I didn't want to blow anyone's cover (Sometimes I think a lot of Tucsonans are in the witness protection program and don't want to be photographed.) Just kidding. I don't even ask visitors because I feel it would be intrusive. Maybe I can talk the next group into allowing me to photograph their backs as they look at the paintings!

Hope you all had a good weekend full of paint, good friends and family.

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.

Paint, Painter, Painted--Art, Artist, Alive

When you are sad, paint.

When you are happy, paint.

When you need a calm and quiet place, paint.

When you are sick, draw.

Do these things even when you are somewhere in between. If you're not an artist, buy art and meditate on why it is so utterly healing for the moment of your gaze.

And, when the storm passes, smile that there is another day.

I'm sensing that we are all storm watchers, sky watchers, observers of the times and environment. It's just primal, isn't it? Things are still very, very tough here in Arizona (but, do you really have any idea?), and I imagine they are tough all over. Reminds me of an old poem, Dover Beach, by Matthew Arnold. But, being a bit quirky, my mind always goes next to Anthony Hecht's version and I laugh every time I read it.

Only one storm has passed, but there are others on the line. I'll try to paint them and you do the same because things are bad all over for someone.

This oil painting is: After the Storm (8" x 8," on artists' board).

Painting Mirrors the Hopeful Heart While the World Climbs into a Basket--Melinda 2010