Wexford Girl

Thanks Jaime

I wrote before about how much I love comic book art, my absolute favorite being Jaime Hernandez's Love and Rockets. Because she came across that post, Jaime's wife Meg (who has a wonderful blog) got in touch with me a couple of years ago; her daughter liked my bear paintings. So I sent her one, trying hard not to gush too much about how much I love her husband's work. 

I was beyond thrilled to get this little drawing of Hopey from Jaime. I think I actually ran around the house screaming with delight when I opened the mail. It is framed at the studio, and it's one of my most treasured possessions. Occasionally, visitors recognize Jaime's work, and they are always very impressed that it's a personalized drawing.

I credit both Hernandez brothers, especially Jaime, with teaching me how to draw women. Thanks Jaime!

 

The Maggie and Hopey stories are available in one huge, gorgeous book, and I can't recommend it highly enough. The art is luscious, and the stories are heartbreaking, funny, and real.

Happy Fourth of July

Have a wonderful long weekend, anyone who is still reading this neglected blog.

Here are a couple of recent paintings:

 

Found Letter, 1910

Monday, Jan 24, '10

Dearest mine:

Before you receive this you will have had the little taste of goodies we did up for you last night, and also the "pome" which Miss Brownell was inspired to write.

Just as soon as I got in from Church, Aunt Sue told me we were to do up a little box for you at tea time! She never forgets you, and she never forgets the nice little things to do.

Allie and Ralph got over there in time to go to Vespers and when we got back to the house, tea was all ready in the parlor. All the household but Mrs. Varney was there, and Miss Brownell besides. We had a very good time, and I wish your share of the supper might begin to taste as well as ours did. Cocoa was the only thing we could not send you.

Here comes Inez Lowthes. She was due to come last Friday and didn't, and I have had no word. It is fortunate for her that I am at home.

Later:

We are just waiting for Allie and mother and father to come to dinner. Allie and mother have been down town shopping all day, finishing up as far as possible the shopping planned for this month. It seems endless. Each day we go down we expect to finish up but can never quite manage it. Allie phoned out that she had found something she thought I would like for a kimono, so I had her get it.

Your letter has come! It seems to be the substance and not the length of letters that please, for yours made me very happy. It brought you so near that I could feel the thrills go through me as when we sat together on the corner seat a week ago tonight. After my day of longing for you, that evening with you in my arms meant simply worlds to me, and I find myself reverting to it and living again the pleasure of it, time and time again. It is one of the nights that stand out even from other happy nights. To try to tell you how I wanted you that night, how I wanted to hold you close to me and cover you with my love and kisses, and how much your love meant to me, would be impossible.

If when you had been asleep and kissed me on waking, you did it just because you thought I would like it, I would be sorry indeed. What pleases me is that you love me enough that your first thought on waking is of me, and your first desire to kiss me. But it is your ever thoughtful and beautiful nature that causes your love to find expression in such tender gentle ways, and prompts you to do the little things that mean so much to me, though directly it may be simply because they are what you want to do.

I just love to think about you and talk about you in so far as I may - your cheery disposition in the home, your pleasing manners and attentions to others, your bright, clean, healthy look, and your general orderliness, your ability to turn your hand to anything and to fit into any place. Oh, a hundred and one things I could not take time to mention. It is you through and through. Everything about you I love, even the tobacco scent which comes with my letters, and because it seems to bring you nearer, I bury my nose in the pages!

More another day. Now they are all at tea and I must run. Many thanks for the nice little book I am glad to have. Goodnight love dearest mine!

In haste,

Flopsie

July 30, 1988

Here is an excerpt from my 1988 journal. I was living in Dublin, and I went with my friend to the Michael Jackson concert in Cork. Her father worked for Pepsi, so we got VIP treatment.

July 30

Got up early + had a shower and danced around the place to the "Bad" album. Completely excited! Got a lift into town and met Adrienne at the station. We were frightened we wouldn't be let on the Pepsi train because it said "Kevin McDonald + Partner," but we got on OK. A beautiful express train all the way to Cork with white-coated waiters bringing us drinks. Arrived in Cork and got a police-escorted coach to Parc Ui Caoimh. We had our VIP passes clipped on and I felt SOO important. There was a Pepsi tent at the concert with free drinks and food the likes of which I will never see again: salmon, fresh and smoked, turkey, prown cocktail, avocado, + loads of salads, melon etc. It was great. Stuffed our faces.

Then we went into the stadium. We missed Kim Wilde. Everyone let us push to the front because of our passes. So we were really close to the stage and then the lights at the back of the stage animated a pair of legs walking across + hopping up on their tiptoes. the crowd went wild. A huge bank of lights rose in the front of the stage and lowered slowly to reveal HIM and his backing singers standing on the stage. We went crazy, screaming and reaching and pushing as he launched into "Wanna be starting something." The rest of the concert is a daze for me. He danced and leapt his way through most of Thriller and Bad, a little Off the Wall, and some Jackson 5 stuff. His costume changes were the clothes he wore in the videos to the songs, and the dance routines the same as the videos. At one point a silver tube descended over him and seconds later went up. He wasn't there! He appeared at the other side of the stage in another costume - a billowing black cape and blood red shirt. The crane he was on swung out over the audience and we reached and jumped. So tantalizingly close, but so far away. At the end of the concert some kids came on, and his sidekick Jimmy Safechuck - the kid from the Pepsi commercial. he was dressed the same as Michael and danced the same. Then it was over, I found Adrienne outside. We were exhausted and dazed. we walked around the city + had a pizza - still wearing our VIP badges and getting envious looks.

...

What a day.* What a concert! Thank you Michael Jackson, for years of music and inspiration, and for this incredible experience. 

*The rest of the evening involved getting flashed by a drunk guy, an expensive taxi ride to Kinsale, failure to find our countryside B&B, walking around dark roads getting frightened, and our eventual rescue by the local publican who picked us up and let us sleep in a spare bedroom over the pub. We shared a big old bed with several mousetraps underneath.

Pinks

I was at the studio with Ashli today and she suggested I do the Pinks Hot Dogs sign for our upcoming show in L.A. I think they turned out great!

Sold Out (Almost)

I am, thrilled that my latest art show at Studio 3579 is virtually sold out. One wonderful patron of the arts bought TWELVE paintings.

All of the flag paintings are gone and most of the rest. Awesome!

Kissing the Boys

When we were in Ireland, Eric and I kidnapped Jordan and Aaron for a day and took them to Johnstown Castle and Kilmore Quay. We had the best time, and they were good sports indulging my auntie kisses. I love those funny, sweet boys!

 

 

Art Murmurs

Some great art events this week, starting with Thursday night, when we inadvertently went to an opening of wonderful wire sculptures by Tara Lou at Hotel Biron. Inadvertently because we were just popping in for a glass of wine before going to the Christoper David Ryan opening at Rare Device. His work had a dreamy, Nordic feel. Lovely cinematic compositions of deceptively simple drawings.

And last night we took BART across the Bay for Oakland's Art Murmur. I really wanted to see Lisa Beerntsen's and Tony Speirs's paintings in person, because I've only seen them online from reading their blogs. Awesome work, and it was so nice to meet this Sonoma art couple in person too. Their show is up until June 27 at Kuhl Frames + Art near the 19th St Oakland Bart Station.

The Art Murmur was quite a scene. We saw some great work (here and here and here), and some very interesting outfits and street art too, including a boat made of scrap wood in the middle of the crowded street with two girls lying on their backs inside wearing animal masks and texting on their iPhones. Strangely awesome.

Today is a nice relaxing day while we get ready for my opening tonight. I love weekends!

Wedding in Wine Country

This weekend was the spectacular wedding of our dear friends Jason and Adrianne. It took place at Leslie's family home of Sonoma, a compound really, with three houses, vineyard, pool, lawns and shady wooden decks. Absolutely gorgeous! It was fun to spend time with so many of our friends for such a joyful occasion. There was lots of laughter, great food and wine, dancing, swimming, and public displays of affection, all weekend long.

This is a group of us on the way to the rehearsal dinner on Friday evening: Jason, Leslie, JP, Dave, Sharie, Adrianne, and me.

Guess who made the sign to direct traffic?

After the ceremony (by Eric, doing a great job), the newly minted married couple, Jadrianne, poured a champagne pyramid and handed out glasses.

Jason, Eric, and John. Eric and John went to high school in Michigan, then John and Jason went to junior college together in California, and Jason and I went to Berkeley together. So this is the connection. John introduced Eric and Jason, and Jason introduced Eric and me.

Gina and Dave laughing at one of the many toasts (maybe mine - Gina made me get up and give one.)

Groom and happy bride:

And this is one of the many reasons they are perfect for each other; the next morning, they put on their wedding attire again for some classic wrestler portraits. Awesome!

Annie 1986

I found some old photos while I was in Ireland. This is one of me in art college.  Such a serious girl.

New Show Coming Up

Coming up in June, I have a new show at Studio 3579. It's going to be all new work, featuring our California flag. 

And NOW, this minute, I am off to the airport to go to Ireland for 2 weeks. Bye!

Thanks Design Sponge

I was so thrilled to see one of my little bear cards used in this fabulous clock tutorial at Design Sponge. (Thanks Amy, for letting me know!). It's not letterpress; it's an original drawing with collage - no two are alike!

You can find many more small bear originals in the 3 Fish Studios shop, on wood veneer and card, all at the recession-friendly price of $15!

 

First image from Design Sponge

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Painting Elephant

This is a commission for a new baby that I completed recently. I love painting elephants. Have you seen this?

La Nina

Way back in 2005, I got a commission to paint a pair of Mexican wrestlers for a San Francisco couple. Well, they are expecting a little girl so they contacted me for a third painting. Here are the three together:

I also changed the name on one of them (from Besitos to El Chino, which he thought described him better) and made all three into banner-style names.

Warhol at Seven

Nick, Deedee and the girls were visiting this weekend and we went to the Warhol exhibit at the DeYoung (2nd time for me). They loved it, and when we came home Ella drew this. I think she has the Warhol aesthetic down. 

Next Weekend

Next weekend, come on out to the Bay side of the City to visit us at 3 Fish Studios and Diana Fayt at her lovely studio.

Life is good and busy these days. I am getting ready for a show, and getting ready to go to Ireland for two weeks. Eric is coming too, and we are squeezing in a two-day hop over to France to see some friends. Fun!

The Jenny

Monday was a glorious day here in San Francisco. Eric and I started out at the studio, but pretty soon we decided to escape for the day. We drove to Half Moon Bay and explored the most amazing antique shop (I'll post pictures later), then we continued to Santa Cruz and Capitola. Eric knew of a bike shop in Capitola, so we went there and spent several hours test-riding bicycles up and down the beachy streets, with a break for a Mexican lunch.

We both have mountain bikes (thanks Dave for putting in new inner tubes while you were here!) Mine was a $80 Craigslist find. It's fine, but it's heavy and slow. I wanted a bike that had big wheels and thin tires for efficiency, but a frame that made for a straight riding posture and a more recreational bike-riding experience. You know, for tooling around the neighborhood with a big grin.

Meet the Schwinn "Jenny," my gorgeous new bike:

I haven't had a new bicycle since I was 16, when my dad bought me one for doing well in my Inter Cert exams. That was the bike I had for the 2 years I lived in Dublin. I rode it everywhere, and when I moved to America I gave it to my flatmate Ann, who had just had her bike stolen.

So now I have this sunny yellow beauty, Eric surprised me by adding a basket for the front and a clip-on flower when they were getting it ready in the back of the shop. I love it!

Eric bought a bicycle too, an Electra Townie, which fits him perfectly. On the way home we popped in to visit Nick and Desiree and the kids. 10-year-old Belle got out her bike and the three of us went riding around the neighborhood. It made me feel like a kid, when it was dusk and you tried to get in one more ride before being called in for homework or dinner.

This week I have taken a 6-mile ride twice (to Sloat and back; Mapquest says it's 3 miles each way.) It's so easy and fun, but I still get my heart rate up. I want to make it a habit. I love my bike!

Jason and Adrianne

These are our friends Jason and Adrianne (this was at our studio last weekend). I went to Berkeley with fellow English majors Jason and Gina, so we've known each other a long time. In fact, Jason introduced me to Eric. 

Jason is getting married next month to the 6-ft beauty Adrianne, who is cool and funny and writes graphic novels and dialog for video games. Eric is marrying them!

We just got our wedding invitation to their wine country wedding and it's awesome. Check out the photos. We're supposed to bring our "passports" to the wedding; guests have to complete certain tasks in order to get them stamped. It sounds so fun and interactive. 

Congratulations Jason and Adrianne. We are so looking forward to your big day. If the wedding shower last night at Lalola is anything to go by, we are in for quite a party!

 

My First Lino Print

I was a student at Eric's lino print class today and this is what I did. It was great fun! my fingers are still a bit crampy, but I can't wait to do more.

Now we're hanging out at the studio. It's a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. Some friends are joining us here in a while and we'll have a nice little mellow hang out. I love weekends!

Yosemite

As you can imagine, I've been very busy with the family the last few weeks. We've been having a wonderful time. It was so great to show Yosemite to people who have never been there.

This was St. Patrick's Day, so we were all wearing green (even though people don't do that in Ireland. Liz bought them all green t-shirts in honor of their American trip!)

Lauryn was not pleased to be photographed here:

Aaron, Lauryn, and Jordie on a big rock:

The happy couple. Eric is always so happy to be in Yosemite:

I absolutely love this photo. Dave, Nate, and Lauryn at Lower Yosemite Falls:

In other news - tonight, 3 Fish Studios is having a wonderful event, Think Spring and Carry On, partnering with SFgirlbybay and La Crema Wines, so if you're in the neighborhood, please swing by.

Wexford Girls

Lauryn's Drawing

Little Lauryn (almost 6) did a drawing for me last night. I love it! I want this on a t-shirt.

Brilliant!

   

Link

Monday

Mondays are lovely, because I get to spend them in the studio. Last August I went to a 4-day week at work to have more time to spend on art and it was such a good idea. So today we are off to the studio for a day of doing what we love. 

But first - here are some old photos I found while cleaning up this weekend.

Below, yes that is me with fluffy orange bangs. This is me with my roommate (at the time) and best friend (still) Deedee. We were at a free summer concert in Stern Grove around 1990.

This was in our apartment building, 1456 Jones Street. It was like our own little Melrose Place, with Deedee and me living downstairs and Erica and Antoinette upstairs. Also in this photo are frequent guest stars Lisa and Laura. This was about 1990. A year or so later, our cast was given a shot of testosterone and handsomeness when Jed and Gil moved in next door to us. Much partying ensued.

Deedee, Laura, and me at Erica's wedding in 1998. God, look at my gray roots!

At laura's parents' house, about 1993. This photo also includes Paddy (standing up), Deedee's future husband Nick, and I think that's Jim behind me.

Sketching

Last night I participated in my first Sketch Tuesday of 2009, merrily painting girls, bears, and wrestlers for 4 hours. It was a blast. I sold about 15 pieces! The last time I did it, I only sold 2 and I was concerned that the recession was hitting the world of impulse art buying in the $15 - $25 range, but last night proved that, as Eric says, it's always possible to shake a twenty out of someone's wallet.

In the same vein, I plan on attending (as a spectator) the Southern Exposure Monster Drawing Rally this Friday the 27th. It's a live drawing and fundraising event featuring over 130 artists, at the Verdi Club on the Potrero Hill side of the Mission.

Just look at some of the amazing local artists who will be participating: Michelle Blade, Lisa Congdon, Amy Franceschini, Kelly Lynn Jones, Josh Keyes, Paul Madonna, Andrew Schoultz, Deth P. Sun, Kelly Tunstall, Marci Washington, and tons more. There's an auction at the end where pieces are sold for just $60.

Then the following day, Saturday the 28th, come back to the Verdi Club at noon for the Noise Pop Festival's Pop n' Shop. Our little business that could, 3 Fish Studios will be there, selling prints, paintings, and awesomeness. Actually, we'll give away the awesomeness for free.

  

Happy Birthday Auntie Annie

This is what greeted me on my brother-in-law's blog on the 18th. I can't wait to see these four in a few weeks. Almost the whole family is coming out, with the exception of Leigh (I'll miss you Leigh). The well-wishers below, Aaron, Jordan, Lauryn, and Nathan are all awesome kids, and we are going to have such a fun time with them.

Yes, it was my birthday during the week. Eric and I had a wonderful meal in Kokkari. I was going to have a little friend gathering today for pints of Guinness, but then I thought I would prefer to have a day in the studio. I don't need to have a party every year!

So we are at the studio right now having a very productive day. I did a painting of a narwhal (what a strange creature). We had a visit from Victoria to plan a event we're doing together. We're really excited about it, so stay tuned.

P.S. I know I've been a lame blogger. You can blame Facebook, Twitter, and general laziness!

Drawing

Photogenic

Here is a lovely picture of my niece Leigh, her fiance Garry, and their little boy, Jamie. What a handsome lot!

Ellie and Nellie

I did these paintings yesterday. I think next is a rhino and a hippo. Oh and maybe a giraffe. Any other suggestions?

Kaylin in Ireland who loves elephants - I will bring you home a special painting for your room in May. What colors do you like?

Movies this weekend: Frost/Nixon was wonderful. We watched the real interviews on YouTube afterwards and the movie's verisimilitude was impressive. Miller's Crossing was terrific, although a bit baffling at the end, and this morning, Eric spent two hours he can never get back on The Arrival, a 1996 Charlie Sheen sci-fi movie. (He likes to watch bad movies on weekend mornings.)

Gaga for Gaga

I am obsessed with this irresitable song. I will always be a shameless pop girl.

 

It's Friday again. The week feels lovely and short when I have Mondays off. (I work four longer days and spend Mondays in the studio.)

This weekend, we're going to watch Frost/Nixon at home. (What's that you say? It hasn't been released on DVD yet. It's still in theaters. Well I guess you're not lucky enough to know someone who knows someone who is an Academy voter and has screeners of all the movies. Mmm?)

Where the Streets Have No Name

Joshua Tree was just amazing.

Bear Cards

 

 

Hello Design Sponge! I was so thrilled to see one of my little bear cards used in this fabulous clock tutorial at Design Sponge. It's not letterpress; it's an original drawing with collage - no two are alike!

You can find many more small bear originals in the 3 Fish Studios shop, on wood veneer and card, all at the recession-friendly price of $15!

Lily Martine Baxter

One of the San Francisco artists I am delighted to know is the talented Lily Martine Baxter. Her work is inspiring - such fresh and confident compositions. Most Octobers, I go to her open studios and she comes to ours (we are on different weekends.)

Here are some of her paintings and drawings - so lovely.

   

   

 

 

All the President's Balls

I can't believe the Obamas had to attend TEN inaugural balls last night. He had to speak at every one - and it was a different speech each time. And they had to dance at each one too. No one else was dancing; they were just taking pictures of the first couple doing their self-concious shuffle, complete with awkward little underarm twirl.

Michelle looked lovely I thought, but her dress was too long; she had to keep picking up the hem to dance. And, as expected, that handsome man looks gorgeous in dinner attire. What a day for them. I hope they got to sleep in today.

The Dud Avocado

Many years ago, my friend Erica and I were talking about our favorite books, no longer in print, that we wished we could find again.* Erica told me about The Dud Avocado, a 1958 novel by Elaine Dundy, and how when she was living in London she found a copy and fell madly in love with it. Somewhere along the line she lost the book, and still searched used bookstores for a copy in the hope she would one day find it again.

Erica's description of the book made me want to read it, so I started looking for it too. In 1995 or so, I found myself in London, and I visited those great old bookstores on Charing Cross Road, hoping to find a copy to surprise Erica with. I didn't find it, but I did pick up a flyer about a book search service. (This, of course, was before Google and Alibris would make searching for out-of-print books easy.) So when I came back to the States, I filled in the form with the information I knew about the book, and mailed it off. Some months later, I was notified that a copy of The Dud Avocado had been found. I received the book in the mail, from England, and presented it to Erica for her birthday. She was floored and delighted and tearful, and it's still the best gift I have ever given. After she had read it again, I read it, and so did our friend Suzanne, and we all loved it.

I was in Green Apple books last weekend, and what do I see? A pile of Dud Avocado's, reprinted in 2007, on the remaindered table (which seemed so weird considering all the trouble it took to get a copy in 1995), so I picked up one for $7 and now I am re-reading it. It really is the most delicious book.

This is from Amazon:

The Dud Avocado follows the romantic and comedic adventures of a young American who heads overseas to conquer Paris in the late 1950s. Edith Wharton and Henry James wrote about the American girl abroad, but it was Elaine Dundy’s Sally Jay Gorce who told us what she was really thinking. Charming, sexy, and hilarious, The Dud Avocado gained instant cult status when it was first published and it remains a timeless portrait of a woman hell-bent on living.

*My book in that conversation was Gran at Coalgate, which happily, I found again too.

Sutro Libre

I had a commission to paint today. She wanted a wrestling bear in front of Sutro Tower - with a shooting star in the sky. 

I did three of them! The middle one is my favorite.

Two of these will be up in the shop next week (but I don't know which two).

The Winner

Well - only 5 comments on the last post! What's up with that?

The winner is number FIVE.

Michelle, send me your address and you will get these two books in the mail. I hope you enjoy them. If you complete a project in either of the books, send me a photo!

 

I have been busy at work and home and I have been a neglectful blogger. I'm sorry. I will have stories soon. In the meantime, read my current favorite blog, by The Office's Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor), who is also a writer on the show. She's very funny.

Eric and I will be in the studio tomorrow 11:00 am - 5:00 pm. It's our monthly LURE gathering, where we open our doors to folks who want to come by and work on a creative project. So if you're in the city, pop in and visit: The best door to come in is 610 22nd street at 3rd. We're on the 2nd floor.

Book Giveaway for Knitters and Crocheters

It's time to admit once and for all that I am not a knitter or a crocheter. 

I can knit; I learned when I was about 8. At one point when I was 12 or so, I made a fair-isle baby's poncho for a competition. Our teacher, Mrs. Stafford, was a craft/art/music freak and we all had to do something, even the boys. (She also had every pupil in her class in a marching band.) When I finished the poncho - which looked pretty awesome - she admired it until she flipped it over, and then she started yelling at me. On the back of the knitting there were great loops of yarn that I hadn't woven in or something. I don't know. It was laziness though, not lack of skill; I do remember that.

And I can crochet; Eric's mom taught me several years ago. I like it better than knitting, but it still took me 5 years to make a baby blanket and I haven't done anything since.

I go to Leigh Wells's famous and very fun monthly Stitch nights, but I don't stitch; I bring little paintings or collage to work on while the others knit or sew* and we all drink copious amounts of wine. 

The truth is, I simply don't really enjoy either of these pursuits. 

Anyway. I am at home today doing a clear out of stuff and I found these two books that I acquired over the last few years, as gifts I think, Debbie Stoller's Stitch 'N Bitch and Melissa Leapman's Cozy Crochet. They are both gorgeous, brand new books. I have flipped through them admiring the photos etc., but I am never going to make any of the projects, I just know it. 

I think they could make someone else very happy, so this is your chance to own them. Leave a comment below if you want these two lovely books mailed to you and I will randomly choose a number on Friday morning, January 9th, to pick a crafty winner.

Yay for giveaways!

*Check out the divine Molly Watson's Christmas sewing project she worked on at Leigh's house. She recreated the dress she painted herself wearing when she was 5 years old. How brilliant is that?

Charley Harper at Old Navy

I got these little board books today at Old Navy. I love Charley Harper's illustrations. I think I'll send these to a little niece called Ava who turns a year old on Valentine's Day.

I have been a bad blogger, but it has been such a busy holiday season. We were in Montana for my first white Christmas, which was just magical. Eric took some gorgeous photos. Then it was back to balmy San Francisco and a New Year's Eve Eve party. (We were festive on Tuesday so it was OK to watch a movie and have a quiet night on Wednesday.)

And coming up for locals, join us at Andalu on Monday for Eric's Lonely Robot art show. We'll be there for dinner and then the reception starts at 9:00 p.m. It should be really fun and his work looks terrific.

Andalu is generously giving 10% of the evening's proceeds go to our chosen charity, At the Crossroads, so your cocktail benefits a really great organization too. 

Happy New Year

From Annie, Eric, and Willie the cat.