Upcoming art show at Empire Seven Studios

I'm looking forward to this upcoming show at Empire Seven Studios! Click on the flyer image for more details.

New growth on an old stump. I sold this painting and kind of miss it.

Homemade wrapping paper

Homemade wrapping paper, a photo by FrancesMarin on Flickr.

I made some quick gift wrap today on gold paper!

These photos blew my mind. I love seeing the "olden days" in color. It makes it seem so real or recent. The photograph above is from a collection of the Great Depression. Also, if you haven't seen these images of old Russia, check them out too.

I have an art show on Tuesday, November 29th at Jack's Bar in San Jose. Good music, good times.

Clearing the...

Clearing the..., a photo by FrancesMarin on Flickr.

Getting rid of a bunch of stuff all at once feels great! I'm having an art show and this was my first flyer idea. I'm scrapping it. The new flyer will be posted soon...

I illustrated a page of The Usuals spread for the premier issue of Made in San Jose magazine, promoting three artists that sell their wares at the shop: Shannon Amidon (Bullet-Feather Earrings), Nicole Steward (Celebrate Everything Pillow) and Kathryn Marie (Recycled Soda Can Flower Ring). Click the image to enlarge.

Bella and I went to the Jessie Rose Vala show, Future Teller, at Ever Gold in San Francisco last week. Her work is really something. Owls made from folded paper covered in graphite, clay figures and body parts, and large-scale drawings that make you want to hide in a room for a year and draw. This photo was taken from the Fecal Face website, where they have a great collection of the work while still in the studio. Up until November 25th, check it out.

Street heart

Street heart, a photo by FrancesMarin on Flickr.

I saw this sweet graffiti while walking down Race Street today.

Rusty nail salon

Rusty nail salon, a photo by FrancesMarin on Flickr.

I passed this nail salon today. Loved the decrepit decal!

Chris McCaw will be showing at the Steven Wirtz Gallery tonight in San Francisco from 5:30-7:30 pm.  He travels to Alaska, Nevada and other places using his unique sunburned photographic process with large-format homemade cameras. NPR did a nice write-up on him if you want to find out more about his process.

Geometry

Geometry, a photo by FrancesMarin on Flickr.

Fall always gets me in the mood to work with thread. I'm experimenting and if they turn out well, they may be exhibited in upcoming shows.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!, a photo by FrancesMarin on Flickr.

The annual Halloween tree is up thanks to Kim. My skullpture sits next to it.

Great photography by Helen Levi

I found this photographer, Helen Levi on Etsy. She did a series of photos at Mike Tyson's repossessed house. I love this one of the pool room.

Houseboats in Sausalito

A few weeks back we went to Sausalito so I could sketch or shoot photos of houseboats. It was an awesome day, overcast and drizzly. This was one of my favorites. It's tiny and looks like a converted boat. So far I have finished one small painting and have others lined up. In the afternoon, the skies cleared up and we lucked onto a free sail around the bay. More photos soon...

Whew, look at that hourglass figure!

Found this in the studio today.

Zine. Featured artist Nancy Ahn. For sale this weekend at SJMADE.

Zine. Featured artist Nancy Ahn. For sale this weekend at SJMADE., a photo by FrancesMarin on Flickr.

I'm so excited for the first issue of this zine! Articles, art, interviews and more await you!

Getting ready for the weekend...

Getting ready for the weekend..., a photo by FrancesMarin on Flickr.

I have to finish these and more up in just a couple days!

Built this shelf made of redwood and stained with espresso.

Built this shelf made of redwood and stained with espresso., a photo by FrancesMarin on Flickr.

I made most of this shelf awhile back from scrap wood. It wasn't quite done so I finally went to the lumberyard for the bottom piece and stained it this morning.

Made in San Jose magazine

I did an illustration for the premier issue of this magazine. You can pick it up at the SJMADE vendor fair September 17th and 18th. Visit my booth with Anabella Piñon.

Trial run for SJMADE booth

Skipped the beach for the studio...

Bella and I bought some random pieces from the thrift store for our SJMADE display. We bought this plain wood chalkboard, stained it and accented it with green paint. I had extra wood with a lip and sawed it down to fit it in for a business card display. This isn't quite a before and after...

...but close enough!

Newish Paintings

Finishing up some paintings and have plenty of others in the works...

Hmmm...

I've been prolific these past few days, speeding through paintings and drawings like this one. It's nice to work quickly and call it done. For the last few months I've spent about 5-6 hours a night in the studio plus full days on the weekend. I love it, can't get enough. Prepping for some upcoming art shows...I'll post the dates for those soon.

Studio at night

Paint brushes and hanging drawings.

Busy birthday weekend

Apparently I have a lot of Leo friends. I was very busy this week working on birthday art. I painted this vintage Shasta trailer and a little squirrel playing tambourine.

Over it!

I have too much art and will be selling a lot of old work soon. Prints (silkscreens and lithographs), paintings (oil, acrylic, etc.) and drawings will be available after I photograph everything. I will post a link to my Flickr account in the near future, where you can browse around. Help me clear up some studio space!

I love having sand in my hair on a Monday morning.

Bella and I ditched the studio Sunday to draw and shoot photos of random people at the beach. I loved the mom with her saran-wrapped baby and the classy lady in the hat.

Twin Peaks influenced art?

That's what my current display felt like after installation. The opening night of the SJMADE Market Hall event was awesome! Oddly Even played a great set, I met an amazing beekeeper couple, sold a couple paintings, found a lovely jacket from The Usuals and had an all-around great time with friends.

Barn Owl at SJMADE

I'll have some small paintings, like this Barn Owl hanging at the SJMADE Market Hall (at the old Black and Brown) this weekend, August 5-7th.

Rowan leaf painting

When my good friends knew they were going to have a little girl, they decided to name her Rowan. I was looking through a book of plants and trees and stumbled upon a Rowan tree. Of course I had to paint this leaf for her!

...And the new studio!

Freshly organized and ready for work.

The Old Spot

I figured this to be as good a picture as any to start this blog. This old studio was great. I completed a whole body of work for a show I did some months ago in this space. Of course this is what it looked like at the beginning. It soon became one big disaster and now I've moved next door. The Anna Karina stencil was a gift made by my talented boyfriend (click on the image if you want to see a closer view). I'll post pics of the new spot soon!