Wexford Girl

Last Weekend of the Year

Eric and I have been having a lovely long weekend: visiting Deedee and Nick in Campbell on Thursday, Friday afternoon in Japantown (amazing noodles and the Kinokuniya bookstore, where I indulged in some design-y books). There was also a very fun night at Gina's, just girls, with special ginger cocktails, which culminated in singing '80s songs while dancing around the kitchen.

On top of that, we bought and built new bookshelves and did some more tiling on the fireplace. We took a long walk around Lands End and had burgers in The Beach Chalet. I reorganized upstairs. Eric hung lots of art in the kitchen. Oh and we're having a New Year's Eve party tonight.

Here are some wonderful artists to inspire and delight as 2006 ends. Happy New Year.

Brenden Clenaghen:

Photographer Adam Fuss:

Yigal Ozeri:

And the amazing Amy Cutler:

Our Studio

Eric and I just signed a lease on a studio space in the Dogpatch area of the city (near Potrero Hill). It is 1,400 sq. feet - bigger than our house. The building is huge, filled with printers, designers, photographers, and other creative professionals. We think it will be a good community to be in.

The goal is that Eric gets our print-making studio (3 Fish Studios) up and running there, including maintaining the as-yet-nonexistant website, marketing our services, doing jobs, etc., and he and I will both paint there. One of the great things about it is that Suzi and Mark also just got a studio there for their business, India Rose. They are just down the hall from us.

We both feel so lucky that we are in a position to do this. Eric sold most of the shares in his company so we have a little bit of a cushion until 3 Fish Studios gets off the ground. (The name comes from my family coat of arms.) I will keep my full-time job and work with him on the weekends. I am happy to keep my steady job with a huge secure company. I work with smart, artistic people, many of whom have something creative they're passionate about outside of work, so I think there will be a lot of support for our new venture.

Here is a pic of our new space.

Happy Christmas!

We got up and exchanged gifts with Christmas music on and the fire going. Eric got me an amazing collection of books that I've wanted, and several Mexican Wrestler masks! I got him a satellite radio system to keep him company in our new studio.

Then we went to Brisbane with gifts and champagne to visit Suzi and Mark and their girls, India and Zarah. Their house was filled with toys and wrapping paper scraps and much excitement. We stayed about an hour and then went to Albert and Shannon's and their girls, Sofia and Lucia. More gifts, champagne, and Panettone French toast, yum.

Back at home, Jason came over and he and Eric set about preparing a feast - roast turkey with cornbread stuffing, fingerling potatoes, skinny sauteed green beans, and then a salad of greens and warmed rounds of goat cheese coated in oyster cracker crumbs! And, the nibbles they made before the meal - warm chanterelle and porcini mushrooms sauteed in creme fraiche on toast, and tiny parmesan biscuits. Sigh, two men making an exquisite dinner while I kept them company, or read my books, or chatted with Alisha when she came over. Heaven!

I did clean the kitchen at least, after we all watched V for Vendetta, which was pretty good.

The Chron

Matt Petty of the SF Chronicle bought one of my pieces at Sketch Tuesday and gave me some nice kudos on the SF Gate Culture Blog (Thanks Des for the heads up!)

So exciting to see my work there!

Sketch Tuesday

I discovered Sketch Tuesday at 111 Minna last month with Gina; we went into the bar on a random Tuesday and there were two big tables set up in the back bar, with 15 or so people just sitting around sketching. I talked to Sacha Eckes, the curator and creator of Sketch Tuesday, and she said it was as easy as putting my name on the list for next time. So I did, and I put Eric's name down too.

A few weeks later we got an email from Sacha, confirming the list of artists for the upcoming week, including Eric and me. So we packed up some paper and pens and ink and brushes, and arrived there at 6:00, Tuesday evening.

We were both nervous; everyone else looked so at ease. But once we started drawing, it was just fun. At our table was an unassuming groovy guy called Rob, who was doing quick sketches of cats. Later we found out he was the artist and licencing genius behind Emily the Strange.

I did some girls in black paint with collaged bits. When you finish a sketch, you pin it up on the board, and you can sell pieces if you like. I sold one! These two guys were looking at my stuff and one of them asked me how much I wanted for the Russian lady. I was surprised and delighted. I asked for $20 - it took me 3 minutes and I was happy if it paid for some beers for us. It was a fun, inspirational night. Eric did some great stuff, once he started pilfering my brushes and discovering the joy that is Golden's liquid acrylic black.

Afterwards we had a wonderful meal at the Salt House, a new restaurant on Mission. Art and food - what could be better?

Here are some of the drawings I did at my first Sketch Tuesday.

Ready for Christmas?

The Busy Season

I am selling so many paintings, and I just got a commission tonight for four large ones. That will force me out of my little boxes. I have to paint as large as 20" X 20". That may not seem very large, but for me it is. I am looking forward to filling all that space.

I had a wonderful weekend. My girlie events were a huge amount of fun, and I got to catch up with Suzi, Alisha, Ashli, Lisa, as well as scores of other terrific women.

We also had Darrell and Barbara visiting from Portland, which is always a good time. After lunch at the Cliff House on Sunday, we went to the de Young Museum (first time for me). It was wonderful. The building is stunning, and I liked seeing the collections of textiles, Californian landscapes, and amazing wire sculptures by Ruth Asawa. (Coincidentally, I went with Margaret this week to the Museum of Craft and Folk Art, which is currently displaying the art of Gaman - art that came out of the Japanese American Internment camps during WWII. Ruth Asawa was interned as a teenager with her family.)

I've spent some time reflecting on the year that is almost over. What did I do this year?

I turned 40.
I had abdominal surgery.
I lost 20 lbs during my illness and my stay in the hospital. Yeay!
I gained 20 lbs when it no longer hurt to eat. Boo!
I had my first art show, which was amazing.
I had my second art show, which was lame.
I abandoned a couple of friendships that had become too hard.
I spent more time with friends I really love and I don't see enough.
I visited Ireland, Mexico, Maine, and Florida.
I cheered as friends welcomed tiny babies Ailish, Hersch, Norah, Lucia, and Mia.
I painted about 200 paintings.

Yes, it's been a good year.

Gift Tags

I made these tags tonight while watching the MTV Video Music Awards with Eric. (What was up with Jared Leto's pants?) Wait! it must be a repeat because Britney and K-Fed were just on - together.

I am looking forward to this weekend, because I have not one but TWO girlie gatherings: Lunch at Shannon's on Saturday and party at Lisa's on Sunday. Each event will be nicely stocked with cool women, good eats, but no alcohol (kidding!)

Art Sale

This weekend I was the guest artist on Amy's art sale. It's always so fun, and her customer list is made up of cool women (mostly women) who love to buy art. I sold about 20 pieces!

We also had Suzanne stay this weekend, Amy's friend from Chicago. It was really nice having her here. And next weekend Darrell and Barbara come for the weekend. I believe that's all the guests we'll have until Christmas, but there will be plenty of hanging out with friends, parties, shopping, and getting in the holiday spirit. Yeay! I love Christmas.

Eric and his friend Darius are tiling our fireplace tonight. Eric has four or five house projects going on, plus a screenprinting job, and I am busy painting for special orders, as well as my full-time job. it's busy, but great fun.