Tucson Artists' Open Studios: Artist Melinda Paints

Windy Point (8" x 8," oil on artists' board) © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza 

The Tucson Artists' Open Studios Tour will be going on from 11 AM 'til 5 PM, Saturday and Sunday.

In my mind, I'm already there...and painting....live....on Ustream. My hope is to get things set up for painting by 1 PM on Saturday, MST (Mountain Standard Time). If things go well, and I'm not too tired on Sunday, I'll try to paint again at the same time.

More paintings to see:

New Mexico Hill and Junipers (8" x 8," oil on artists' board) © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

Flying Cloud (8" x 8," oil on artists' board) © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

She Wore New Earrings (8" x 8," oil on artists' board) © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

The Tucson Artists' Open Studios event is a big deal here in the Old Pueblo. I'm looking forward to all who stop by!

I know that my fellow artist bloggers will be here in spirit, right?! I'll be thinking of you, too.

Tucson Artists' Open Studios Tour Apr 14 & 15 2012: Melinda Makes Ready!

Sky Fell, Sun Followed 8" x 8" Oil on artists' board © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

The big run-up to next week's Tucson Artists' Open Studios tour is ON. I'm getting excited to see all of the kindhearted, funny, extremely intelligent people who'll be stopping by. I'm going to be giving a painting demo one or both of the days, in preparation for my Grand Canyon Artist-in-Residency. Whoo-hoo!

There's something else, too. If you would like to, please go to Melinda Esparza Artists Wanted and click 'Collect Me.' If there are enough people who do, I might just get some of my art flashing in Times Square. Wouldn't that be fun?

Here are some of the paintings you'll see at my studio during the Tucson Artists' Open Studios tour next week:

Abiquiu Ancestors 30" x 30," oil on canvas © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

Ghost Ranch Cliff #1 8" x 8," oil on artists' board © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

Ghost Ranch Mesa 30" x 30," oil on canvas © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

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

Blue Pedernal 10" x 10," oil on artists' board © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

Rain Dance Shamans (16" x 20," oil on artists' board) © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

Monks' Quarters Tumacacori 12" x 12," oil on artists' board © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

Rincon Peak Winter Snow (18" x 18," oil on cradled board) © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

The weather is fantastic here. Perfect for wandering around Tucson and visiting artists' studios.

I'll be looking for you!

Artist Melinda: Coming Out of the Storm, Painting New Mexico

Blue Pedernal 10" x 10," oil on artists' board © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

If I told you, you would not believe it. So, I'll let the non-weather-storms-of-life story go for now. I know you've had them. I know you shake your heads in amazement when waves of discord, like invisible psychic sunspots, affect all of your mental circuits.

And then, here you are, back again: working, painting, laughing at funny things.

This painting, Blue Pedernal, was painted mid-storm. I am smiling. Actually, I've laughed this morning until tears welled up. Go here, Hyperbole and a Half, to do the same.

May you ride out any storms with a paintbrush in hand.

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!

Artist Melinda and the Good Heart, Ancestry and Abstract Play

Abstract Study Oil on Art Panel 18" x 24" © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza A month it has been! Hard to believe. I was not well for a few weeks, and it's been a struggle artistically. But, I can write that I believe I am back and ready to burn more web space. How sick was I? Well, I was so sick that I became worried about my heart, which led me have it checked out. I recommend it. I was able to put my fears to rest as I heard the doctor say, "You've got a really good and healthy heart!" Whew. 

This led me to recall that while I was recuperating from some weird and awful virus/sinus infection, I wandered off into the genealogy world to see how long my ancestors lived. You know, to tally up my odds. A significant number of them lived to be 100 years old, or into their eighties and nineties. See?

Knowledge is comfort as well as power... Remember when those blog questions were going around about your interesting life facts? I wrote that I had known a Russian prince. Well, I found out I was wrong. The truth is, in my opinion, even more interesting. Our family friend was Alexis Badmaeiff. He was the son of Rasputin's friend (?) and colleague, Doctor Badmaev (Russian Physician). This became connected to another interesting thread: NPR's resent segment on "'Rasputin Was My Neighbor' And Other True Tales of Time Travel." Alexis was smuggled out of Russia during the Revolution, and was taken to France. He later immigrated to the US and built a good life here. I remember that he started his day with a raw egg in a glass of vodka. He told me once that he had wanted to be a physician. Hmm. He even operated on my foot after a vacation mishap I had as a child. Anyway, I hope you'll have a look at the NPR article. The comments are quite entertaining too. If you have some connections to the distant past, I would love to have you comment and share them! Abiquiu Ancestors Oil on Canvas 30" x 30" © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza Now, back to thinking about our Abiquiu ancestors, the painting, and a sketch I've wanted to paint for eons. I've wrestled, pleaded, cajoled and harangued this Ancestors painting. It's starting to give me clues. This is not done yet. It demands more diplomacy....or a minor revolution. Maybe it is cooperating a bit more because I turned away and gave some attention to a sketch in my Moleskine, seen at the top of this page. This, too, is not finished. I missed painting so much that smearing anything on canvas/canvas board was a major thrill. 

Don't be afraid to have your heart checked. You might get some really good news. If it's less than stellar though, know that there are great new ways of fixing them. Trust me, Miz Scardeycat, on this. You're young enough to correct almost any problem.

Which Red? The One You See? Or, the One That's in Your Head?

Jasper Johns' Red Image © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza

I offered a little teaser last week about a work I submitted for a local exhibit here in Tucson. The deadline has passed, so I feel like it's okay to discuss this now. Don't know if I'll get in yet. I'll let you know, if I do.

The exhibit called for artists to think about the color red, and I suppose, Mark Rothko and his color field paintings. That prompted a discussion of his work, the color, and other artists of the time, i. e., Jasper Johns (In this household, art and politics are the big, big subjects discussed regularly.) Mr. Artyfice reminded me of Johns' optical fun with his flag paintings, and that was the catalyst.

Red. What can you do with this subject without being too clichéd?

I did some research on Rothko's contemporaries and found that he didn't care for Jasper Johns' work. Hmmm. This got me to check out why. Interesting. Ever the contrarian, I thought it would be fun to evoke the color red, per Jasper Johns, AND paint like Rothko.

This piece is my conversation on the subject. I wonder what they'd think. Gee, maybe I would annoy them both!

I really do think these two could have been better friends.

I started with a black ground and kept adding layers of color without sharp borders, even painting a layer of red with interference blue, followed by the best green I could paint (after much experimentation and exhausted cone cells!)

If you look at this image for about 30 seconds, and then shut your eyes, you'll see red. Johns did this with his Flags (1968).

Now what was it Rothko said about Johns' neo-dada work?? Oh, yes. "...after seeing Johns' targets and flags (he) harrumphed: "We worked for years to get rid of all that."

"Well, thank God, art tends to be less what critics write than what artists make," was his reply. And, Mr. Johns said on another occasion, "I don't think that you can talk about art and get anywhere. I think you can only look at it." Ah, c'mon now, it's fun to talk about art!

I'm pleased to have had a chance to veer a bit on the experimental/response side of art, and to play with this.

She Wore New Earrings Image © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza
I'm pleased to announce that She Wore New Earrings will be in the Beauty in the Beast exhibit at Fuller Lodge Art Center, Los Alamos, New Mexico, from February 24th through March 31st. A reception will be held on February 24th from 5-7 PM....Oh, I wish...I could be there.

Not an Illustrator, Not a traditionalist, All about Listening to the Paint

Now, don't get me wrong, I admire the traditionalists, and after working on an illustration for a family friend for two weeks, I have enormous admiration for the work of illustrators. It's just not for me. I learned that illustration is remarkably demanding. And, while the recipient of the work was quite pleased with the outcome, I kept looking for C O L O R!! Once again I realized how very invested I am with color and paint. Duh, eh? Bet you could have helped me out with this. There was also a local call for artists on the subject of red at a respected gallery here. I am not one to submit work to galleries very often, but this one intrigued me. The gallery wants to exhibit work that will augment an upcoming performance of the play, Red, by John Logan, about the life and work of Mark Rothko. Of course, I had to start painting with a lot of green....More about that next week. I've also submitted another painting to the call, and another work for a show in New Mexico. Whew! Abiquiu Ancestors: Opening Sanctuary 30" x 30," oil on canvas Image © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza This painting is getting some attention today as it waits patiently to be finished soon. Abiquiu Ancestors: Opening Sanctuary (detail) 30" x 30," oil on canvas Image © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza Not quite done, but getting closer: Abiquiu Ancestors: Opening Sanctuary 30" x 30," oil on canvas Image © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza Do you have some thoughts on Rothko to share? I watched a documentary last night about Henry Geldzahler. Have you ever wondered why certain artists were heralded more than others, and women artists were virtually left out of the heralding in the 1960s. Well, wonder no more. Henry Geldzahler wrote about his artist friends, and the work he enjoyed most. Simple. There you have it. And because of his position as Curator for American Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, he was able to push the careers of his artist friends. Who Gets to Call It Art?, by Peter Rosen, is the name of the documentary. See for yourself. I'm not specifically against this sort of thing. It seems to be a natural enough behavior. The problem I have is its exclusivity and exclusion of a wider range of artists--in any era. Just got the link to the National Park Service's page on Artists-in-Residence at the Grand Canyon last week. Yep, I'm there and feeling pretty excited about the whole thing. My hiking boots are broken in and my packing skills are honed... It's been a busy time offline. I've missed you all. Are you doing what you want to do in your studios? Oh, I really hope so! I'll be back--soon.

A Happy New Year: Artist Melinda Esparza Reflects on Helen Frankenthaler

Sky Fell, Sun Followed--Homage to Helen Frankenthaler Image © 2012 Melinda S. Esparza My wish continues for all of you artists and visitors here. For me, it has been the start of a pleasant new year. I hope it has for you too. Why, by golly, I've gone for a walk on a perfect, perfect, January 1st, 2012 (!), with a couple of not so perfect GSDs, chatted with a man who gave me a message from the Universe without knowing it (made me smile), met our new perfect neighbors (completely kind without a trace of psychopathic tendencies), and had a sit with ma' chil' as the dogs sat on their Coolaroos noshing on treats. So far, so good. 

Reading the NY Times obituary today that Helen Frankenthaler died on the 27th of December brought tears to my eyes--not because she died at the age of 83, from what I assume was a long battle with cancer, who had a loving extended family and a career of great work that included a lifetime of involvement with education, but, because another great woman artist has passed from this fragile plane, when there are so few that get any recognition at all. I painted this painting on the 27th, without knowing that she had passed away. It did remind me then of her, but I had no way of knowing. Her work was so exceptional to me. 

She followed Clement Greenburg's restrictive theory of total non-representational working (Because, he stated, to the ire of many, that representational art had already been done for thousands of years and modern artists should move on with more intellectual pursuits and non-statement/statements of beauty.) I paraphrase, of course, and there may be an academe who would unravel my summary. Please do.

However, Helen Frankenthaler did what amazes, enthralls and stimulates so many with an approach that is incredibly difficult to maintain--creating landscapes that were not--and yet, were. She kept going. She was disciplined. She had her own ideas. She 'outdid' Pollack, but maybe not Krasner (smiling again). I hope you aspire to be like her. I will. 

Now the challenge is to continue to talk about our best female artists, not merely the ten or so from the last century, nor the ten or so male artists from the last century and the 19th when we can't think of women artists at all, nor only those who are famous and are currently 'in.' Helen Frankenthaler quotes from Brainy Quote: "Whatever the medium, there is the difficulty, challenge, fascination and often productive clumsiness of learning a new method: the wonderful puzzles and problems of translating with new materials." "You have to know how to use the accident, how to recognize it, how to control it, and ways to eliminate it so that the whole surface looks felt and born all at once." Gawd, this is perfect. Rest in peace, Helen Frankenthaler. We'll keep our 'eyes on the prize.' 

And thank you, Mavis Staples for musical inspiration.

Wish for...

Sometimes going forward means going away for awhile. Yet, I think of you all every day, checking in at your sites and blogs and thinking about all the thoughtful visitors from around the world.

Pondering this year (its challenges and gifts) and thinking about the coming one, my wish for you is good health, loving friends, loving family, good jobs, great studio time, and paint, paint, paint.

I don't have work to share this week, but I do have some words and a photo--the view from my studio.

This is my prayer for all of you, no matter your faith: Blessings to all of you. May you hear the best voice within you, the wise voice, the Loving voice. And, let's keep going, toward wholeness, peace, and purpose.

Right now, I'm Waiting for My Child to Come Home

Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza

Rain calms me
Providing a boundary for my thoughts like the edges of a canvas
Reining in too much of everything.

I linger to read.
I eat breakfast slowly,
Gazing over the beautiful dozing dog flesh before me
and out
to the little streams forming,
pelted gently and rhythmically crossing the yard.

There seems to be more time in a rainy day, more hours.
Kiss, kiss, Rain, on desert mouths moistened with a promise.
Hug, hug, Ground, embracing tones of gray and silver and
cool blue light on mirrored mud.

© 2011 Melinda S. Esparza

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)

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!

Tucson Artist Melinda and the Collaboration

She Wore New Earrings, Abstract by Jeane Myers, Karon Leigh, and Melinda S. Esparza Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza Sitting in my studio a couple of weeks ago, I eagerly awaited the arrival of a stranger/not a stranger--a friend--I had not met. When could anyone write such a sentence and have it make any sense before 1996? Ah, then, you know what's coming. 

Fellow artist and blogger Jeane Myers had written me, letting me know that she'd be in Tucson for a few days, and wondered if I'd be up for a visit. Wow. Of course, I said, and we set up a time. To have the opportunity to sit and chat face to face about art and to share some brushstrokes on an artists' board with her, was a surreal and wonderful treat for this rather isolated artist. 

We got to talking about Winsor & Newton Artisan water based oil paints, which prompted an experiment. Jeane's friend, Karon Leigh, and I pushed some paint around and after they left, I added the background, the "eye" and a few more marks. This is the result. I titled it: She Wore New Earrings (8" x 8," oil on artists' board) and hope this makes Jeane chuckle. 

Words can't quite express how lucky I felt having Jeane visit in person, to talk about art, art, art, and to exchange real, in-person hugs. I'm still smiling. If I were a millionaire, one of my wishes would be to visit each of you and have a nice art chat. I hope you'll visit her website and have a look at her fabulous work. And, then head over to Karon's website and look at her encaustic work. Lovely. Any time you're in town, my studio is your place for sharing, collaborating, and for a genuine, heartfelt hug. Maybe you'll even consider visiting during the Tucson 2011 Open Studio Tour coming up November 12th and 13th. 

Okay, I can dream.

Tucson Open Studio Tour 2011

Ghost Ranch Ancestors 18" x 18," on cradled oil panel--Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza Tucson Pima Arts Council is again hosting the Open Studio Tour, and it's coming up in just a few weeks. Of course, I'm not ready. I will be, though! We've had some challenges with lighting and with getting the 'ranchette' presentable, but, I think we'll pull it all together in the nick of time. The Tucson Jewish Community Center will be hosting the preview exhibit starting on Wednesday, November 9th. That gives artists and the community a chance to see a sampling of the work in Tucson. I wish all of you could be here. We do have us some fun. I'm still following the trail of images from my New Mexico journey. 

In my mind, I'm already there.

The ANTs Disappeared and PAINT Made a Mesa

Ghost Ranch Mesa 30" x 30," on oil cradled panel--Image © 2011 Melinda S. Esparza It was really wonderful to hear from you all about your own struggles with ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts). I know that you work diligently to chase them away. I think you're successful. You inspire me to keep chasing mine away too. When they're gone, it is a good day. Here is a 30" x 30," oil on canvas, that I finished last night...sans ANTs.

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.