Now showing at Aster Coffee Lounge in Ballard

Green vessel on red, 9x12", soft pastel on paper

For one month only, starting tomorrow, December 10, you'll be able to see the Reader's Digest version of Scenes from the Second Story, but in Ballard! Both Christina and myself will be showing our favorite pieces at Aster Coffee Lounge, a great coffee bar (that serves waffles and beer and wine). So if you didn't make it this summer, or you'd like another look, now's your chance.

Back on the horse

"Manions by the Sea", 11"x14", soft pastel on paper, 2008

I recently had an inspirational reconnection as a result of my last art show. My high school art teacher, Tom Manion, was always a supportive figure in my formative years, and so I sent him a postcard to let him know about the show at the Kaewyn Gallery. He went to see it, and we had a chance to catch up over coffee. I was honored when he asked me to do a portrait for him, and so we decided on a picture of him and his wife. Here it is!

Also as a result of this reconnection, Mr. Manion helped me hang a show of 18 pieces at the Sacred Heart Center at my old high school in Bellevue, Forest Ridge. It will be there for an indefinite amount of time, but definitely through October and likely longer. I'll also be donating a custom portrait to their annual auction, date TBD.

Opening a great success!

Sri and Lindsay, all smiles near the end of the big opening!

Oh my goodness, the moment came and went, and Scenes from the Second Story has officially opened! People came from near and far to attend the opening reception this last Saturday, and I can't thank everyone enough for helping me share this culminating event. Thank you!!

Nearly done...

"Happy even without Deadwood," by Lindsay Davis, soft pastel on paper, 18" x 24"

This piece is pretty much finished, but with something this big (it's 18" x 24", which for me is pretty big), I like to let it sit on the easel for a couple of days so I can walk by it and say "oh no, that part should be a warmer color!" It's nice to be able to sit on it for awhile, but there's a point where one just has to declare it done. When to stop? That's always the biggest mystery to solve as an artist.

Mere days away (11, to be exact)...

Thanks to Christina for putting together this rad flyer!

Thinking about metals...

Lately, I've been really interested in how metals reflect light and color. When working with a metallic piece, it takes on the qualities of the surrounding environment. While I tend to simplify the background of my still lifes, I like rendering metal pieces, like this stovetop coffee maker, because I know that even my presence is taken into account. For example, the vertical blue lines are from the blue jeans I was wearing. The orange? From the wooden tabletop upon which the coffeepot sat. If I had worn something different, or placed it on a different surface, this piece would not be the same.

Guatemala influence

I went to Guatemala in March, and took my trusty film camera. It made me want to switch to digital, I must admit... until I saw the photos. And there was some fodder for pastels, let me tell you! Check out the one above, the newest addition to my portfolio. I've added some old ones to the slide show as well, so I hope you enjoy!

Finally, we've named the show...

Scenes from the Second Story

It's taken us two years, but after an entire afternoon of brainstorming, Christina and I have finally decided on what we think is the perfect name for our exhibition. The challenge lay in our desire to find something that would encapsulate both our work... Christina work is more story driven, while mine tends to be single character studies. The common denominator: our workspaces are both located up in the attic level of our house!

Also, big news for me: I got my new set of pastels in the mail! All this work has enabled me to go a little crazy and get a nice big set of portrait colors from my favorite soft pastel makers: Sennelier. Last night I went to a friend's house, and we deflowered the set in an art extravaganza. Thanks Krysta!

Busy day!

Maxx's Bequai Beard, soft pastel on paper, 11" x 14"

Oh boy, another one ready for the show!

Tools of the trade

What are soft pastels, anyway? They are different from oil pastels, which have the greasy consistency of lipstick. Soft pastels, on the other hand, are compressed sticks of almost entirely pigment (and little binder), which results in a chalky texture and more intense and brilliant color. Therefore, the colors of pastel works are extremely lightfast.

In order to apply the pastel to a surface, one must use a paper with a slight tooth. Personally, I like a paper with a course sandpapery feel, so that even the most ginger touch will draw pigment from the stick. This allows me to be fast and messy, which is my favorite part of being an artist!

The greatest challenge I find with soft pastels is the issue of blending colors. It's not like with paints where you can mix on a palette before applying the pigment to the surface... you have to blend on the paper. Because I don't like the effect of this method, I tend to just buy a ton of colors and not blend at all. However, this is difficult when you're trying to get a certain painting to look just right, and you don't have a color that works. Then it's either back to the store, or it's time to get creative with color usage. This is the risk that I enjoy most about this medium... will a light blue work here instead of a muddied pink? Let's try it!

Furiously working!

"Green glass vase," 2008, soft pastel on paper, 11" x 14"

So I've been working like crazy to have enough pieces for the show, and here's my latest finished piece! This one was a challenge for sure, since the vase I was using, while it had an interesting shape, was made of transparent glass. Boring!

Now, doing work for a show like this is proving to be a challenge. While I've "got enough" pieces, I go through phases where I just don't like the way some of them turn out. I'd like to be able to only give you the cream of the crop, so I'd better get back to it...

Straight from the easel

"Sayulita flash," 2008, soft pastel on paper, 11" x 14"

Previews promised, and previews received! Here's what's on the easel right now. I'd say it's pretty much done... you'll have to wait until the opening on June 28 to see how it ended up! Now the goal is to do two more not-me portraits this weekend...

New show, new art

Lightning at the Italian Restaurant, soft pastel on paper,16" x 20"

Two years in the making, my art show is now just months away. Well, it's not really MY show because my fellow artmaking buddy, Christina Burtner, will also be showing. It's a co-show, really!

Nonetheless, I have been working at full speed to get some art made for this event from 5-8pm on Saturday, June 28 at the Kaewyn Gallery. Yes it's in Bothell, but it's in the cute part of Bothell. The show (up through the month of July) will be worth the trip, and the opening (June 28, just to repeat!) will be one to remember. Not your standard free wine and cheese affair (don't worry wine and cheese fans; we'll have them, but we'll also have more). More details to follow, but mark your calendars now, folks!

In the meanwhile, I'll be posting some little teasers and tidbits, inspirations and perspirations, to provide you with a preview of the grand opening. The first unveiling is the piece above, which I just completed last week.