Sunday Afternoon

I have spent the weekend taking my turn sitting at the Joshua Tree Art Gallery, the collective gallery where my art proudly hangs in downtown Joshua Tree.  I would always prefer to be in the studio, but I do realize the importance of getting feedback, and meeting people who are interested in my art.  JTAG will most likely close down for the summer at the end of this month, but we will be re-opening once more in September.  If you haven't been in the gallery yet, and you live nearby, it is definitely worth the visit.  We are generally only open on the weekend, from 10 to 3 pm, but you can also call or email one of the artists (like me!) for an appointment. 

I have been working on the new series with some miniature paintings this past week.  I am trying to paint the music I listen to.  Here are three of them. 

Eye of the beholder.  Oil on canvas board, 12 x 9 inches.

Sight and Sound.  Oil on canvas board, 12 x 9 inches.

Sensation.  Oil on canvas board, 12 x 9 inches.  This third one may need a little work, still.  You may not know this, but when I was a child, I played piano and violin.  My sisters also played instruments (viola and cello), and the three of us used to play together as a trio for church.  My father usually arranged the music we played, and he sometimes accompanied us with piano or guitar.  When I went off to college, I switched from music to art.  For me, it did not seem like a big leap.  Art just became the way I wanted to explore and express myself.  This new series of paintings is a way for me to bridge the gap between past and present - childhood and adulthood. 

As the desert is slowly beginning to warm up, the flowers fade.  I do have a few things in my yard that are still blooming, but I wanted to show you this obscene flowering cactus from a few weeks ago.  It amazes me that the flowers seem to be bigger than the cactus. 

I kept thinking that at any moment, the poor cactus would topple under the glory of those fragrant pink blooms.  But it managed to hold them up for the single day of their magnificent lives. 

Next weekend, M and I will be loading up the Gordita once again to head off for La Jolla.  This will be my last festival for a couple of months, and I am looking forward to withdrawing back into the studio once again.

The trip from Sunnyvale

We love our old vw vanagon, "Gordita."  She has become the official van of art festivals, since everything we need for the set up fits inside of her.  She has faithfully been hauling the E-Z up canopy, propanel display walls and paintings all over California and Nevada.  On our way home from Sunnyvale, she decided she had enough of this hauling crap.  About 10 minutes outside of Delano, California, the battery light came on.  I am grateful M was with me, because I would NOT have known what that meant, nor what to do about it.  He decided it could be the alternator.  We looked for the nearest AutoZone in our GPS, and I called them on my cell phone.  (Modern technology never ceases to fill me with wonder.)  Amazingly enough, they had an alternator for an '84 Vanagon IN STOCK!  We decided the best thing to do would be to get the part, in case Gordita decided to konk out in the middle of the desert.  At least that way, we figured, we would have the part to fix her.  When we got to the AutoZone, a kind man behind the counter gave us the part.  There is a "core charge" for alternators, and he told us to bring the old alternator in so he wouldn't have to charge us that "core charge."  We explained that the old one was still in the van, and then explained why.  When he found out that we were traveling, he suggested that we take the old alternator out in the parking lot. 

The new alternator.

We proceeded to unload the van, and Matthias got his tools and took the old alternator out.  Sure enough, that was the problem.  The kind man at AutoZone discovered that the old alternator was an AutoZone part, which was under a lifetime warranty.  So he didn't even charge us for the part!!!  M put the new alternator in the Gordita, we RE-loaded the van, and were on our way once more.  As we drove along happily, we congratulated ourselves for our fortunate alternator replacement.  Maybe 15 miles later, the battery light went on once AGAIN.  Within moments, the Gordita overheated.  OH NO!!!  We had to pull off the highway, and found one small tree to shelter under while we once AGAIN unloaded the Van.  This time, the alternator belt had broken.  M is a smart person, and just happens to carry spare parts in the van, so he had another belt.  He was able to replace the broken belt, we reloaded the Gordita, and were on our way once again. 

                                      We were rewarded for our efforts with hillsides just outside of Temecula covered with orange poppies and Farewell-to-spring.  (clarkia rubicunda)  M was good-natured enough to pull over so I could get a closer look at those purple wonders on the hillside.  Gordita did manage to get us home, at long last.  She did limp along toward the end of our journey, and both of us were thankful when we finally pulled into our dusty driveway.  I am happy to announce that with a little more TLC from M, Gordita is back in good health, and ready for the next journey to La Jolla, where I will be selling my paintings in the La Jolla Festival of the Arts.  This festival takes place June 26th & 27th from 9 to 5 pm each day. 

The snake

We returned from the Art and Wine Festival in Sunnyvale on Monday night, and I have a story to tell you about our trip, but first I wanted to share with you some photos from a California King snake that visited us last week.  The California King snake gets its name because it eats other snakes, including rattlesnakes.  The king snake is not venomous.  It is a distinctive looking snake, and comes in many varieties of color and pattern.  Most commonly, it is a black snake with light colored bands.

Pono was the one who discovered this snake in our driveway.  He barked at it, and wanted to get close enough to sniff it, but was cautious.  I am happy he kept his distance, mainly because I don't want Pono to be interested in any snake.  I worry about Pono with rattlesnakes.  The snake climbed up the embankment towards the island of plants between the street and our driveway.  It had no problem slithering through the chicken wire, even though it didn't look like it would fit.  It then moved toward a nearby creosote.  It was a snake on a mission, and didn't pay much attention to us.  I was fascinated, and continued to follow, camera clicking away.  After exploring the area beneath the creosote, it came out of the creosote bush, moving directly toward me.  Even though I know this snake is not venomous, that doesn't mean I am going to let it slither across my bare toes!  (I was wearing the standard desert foot gear - flip flops.)  I clicked a shot of its head and then moved out of the way.
 
Look how it pushes against the sand to climb.  Cool.

Through the chicken wire fortress.  No problem.

Even though we don't have much to fear from this snake, there are others who feel differently. 

Festivals and flowers

At long last, hot desert temperatures seem to have arrived.   Many will despair at this news, but I am a hot weather freak, and I am happy to finally not be cold.  It has been a long, cool, windy spring.  The cooler temps have provided us with an extended spring bloom, and that is something one must not complain about.  The surrounding desert looks as lush as I have seen it in our short few years living here.  Even as busy as I have been, I do take a moment every day to look out the window and admire the beauty.

The desert willow has just begun to bloom.  This deciduous native is a favorite, with its orchid-like flowers and long narrow leaves.  Chilopsis linearis is not actually a member of the willow family, as its name suggests, but is a member of the Bignonia family.

I spent the weekend at JTAG, the collective gallery I am a proud new member of.  It was a good weekend for the gallery, with many admirers and good sales.  The collection of recent Joshua Tree paintings I had displayed for the month of June were a hit, and I am delighted to say that I sold several of them, including this one.

 

Here is a photograph of the interior of the gallery the day we installed the show for May.  Now, most of the artists in the collective, myself included, have brought new art for the month of June.  The artists take turns sitting in the gallery, and it is normally open from 10 to 3 on the weekends.  You can also make an appointment to see it by emailing me.  (karine@karineswenson.com)

I am preparing to take art to the Sunnyvale Art and Wine Festival this weekend.  The festival is right downtown in Sunnyvale, California.  It is a big festival, and if you are nearby and would like to see me there, let me know so I can guide you to my booth.  (I won't know my location until we arrive Saturday morning.)  The festival lasts from 9 to 6 both Saturday and Sunday. 

Thursday morning

"How breathtaking it is to start out on a journey into the unknown.  How much easier, more comfortable, and reassuring it is to stay where we are among familiar faces and places.  Even if where we presently are is not all that we would prefer, it is at least known.  That in itself is somehow comforting.  To start off in new directions - about to encounter who knows what, at risk of the way becoming confused at any point - takes courage."  -Peter London, No More Secondhand Art

New paintings.

Grounded, oil on canvas.  14 x 11 inches. 

Over the Water, oil on canvas.  14 x 11 inches. 

Please help

I have a friend here in Joshua Tree who has found that she can no longer keep her dogs.  These dogs are sweet and have been well-loved.  I am going to post photos and brief descriptions of each dog, and if any of you out there are interested in giving one of these cuties a home, please leave a comment and let me know.  I promised my friend I would do what I could to help her find good homes for her beloved friends.

Brody.

Brody is a two year old German Shepard/Labrador mix. Brody is a very sweet and gentle dog. He has a very passive personality and is always polite with new dogs and people. Brody loves to play and go for walks, he is trained on a leash. Brody is house trained and understands verbal commands such as sit, down, and stay. Brody would be a wonderful family dog. He loves children and loves to play. He would also be a very good dog for an older person in need of a companion. He is a very calm and gentle dog. I am in a heartbreaking situation and am unable to keep Brody. He has his own dog bed and food dishes, as well as all of his toys. Brody needs a loving home.

Jake.

Jake is a one year old German Shepard/Rottweiler mix. He is a very lovable dog and loves to snuggle. He also loves to play fetch and go for walks. He is spoiled and loves to play with all his toys. Jake is trained and does very well on a leash, He is house trained and knows verbal commands such as sit, down, and stay. He trains very easily and is a people pleasing dog. Jake is still a puppy and is very high energy and needs to go to a home where someone has plenty of time to spend with him. Jake does like people however he does not like children very much. He might not do well in a home with young children. I am in a heartbreaking situation and am unable to keep Jake. Jake has his own dog bed and food dishes and lots of toys. He just needs a good home.
If you know of someone who might need a dog in their life, please let me know!

In other news, I have been in the studio over the weekend, and I will have photos of new paintings soon.  Hopefully, the blog will not continue to be as neglected as it has been lately.  Sometimes, I just don't have that much to say.

The desert flowers are fading, but a few hardy late bloomers are managing to hang on with the unusually cool temperatures we have enjoyed.  We even got some rain yesterday! 

Backyard coyote

Today, Mr. Pono got a bath.  After the bath, he decided he needed to recline in the warm desert sunshine to dry.  While he was drying contentedly in the front yard, we had a visit from a neighborly coyote in the back yard.  I was talking to my Dad on the phone, but I told him I would call him back when said coyote got really close.  I hung up the phone and dashed for the beloved camera.  I swear this coyote behaved just like Pono often does.  There is no doubt of their kinship.

I normally have water in this saucer for the bunnies. 

When it began to yip in standard coyote fashion, Pono in the front yard finally discovered its presence and began to bark furiously.  It was at this point the coyote finally ran away.  I am so happy, because now I have some good material for drawings and maybe even a painting.  Maybe.  The desert wonderland never disappoints.

I have begun to list a few more monotypes on etsy.  Hop on over and take a look, if you care to see.

I am amazed that I have posted 350 times here on this blog.  Are you sick of me yet???  I love you all, my dear, dear readers.