Real and Imagined in Bakersfield

I did manage to take a few photos of "Real and Imagined: A Collection of (Mostly) Animal Paintings" at Metro Galleries in Bakersfield, CA.

For scale: the blue abstract on the left is 48 x 48 inches.

The show continues through May.

I am giving away postcards and posters for the show designed by Don Martin, the owner of the gallery. If anyone would like either a poster (17 x 11 inches) or a postcard (5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches) let me know. Leave me a comment or email me and I will get one to you!
They look like the image below:

The show is going really well, and I am already working on new animal paintings for the second half of the exhibition!

I hope you all have a great weekend!!!

In defense of art

Ten reasons to buy original art:
1. It has no calories
2. You don't have to feed it or pick up its poo
3. It will always fit, even if you gain a little weight
4. The software doesn't crash or need updating - ever
5. You won't have to get new tires for it or change the oil
6. It won't wake you up in the middle of the night
7. If you loved it when you bought it, you will always love it
8. It uses no electricity
9. It never goes out of style
10. No one else will have one like it.

Seriously though, if I didn't think art was a worthwhile investment, I wouldn't spend all day, every day making it, thinking about making it, reading about it or looking at it. I even spent four years (give or take) in college STUDYING it.

Do you realize that one of the things people travel to see is art? Do you realize that lawsuits are being fought all over the world because of art? Do you realize that when our civilization has gone, one of the things that will be left behind as a record of our time and culture is art? Art is important.

We spend money on so many things that are designed for our physical selves. Art is for the soul.

"Animal Intelligence." Dictionary pages, tissue paper, acrylic and oil on board 11 x 14 inches. ©Karine Swenson2013

The opening in Bakersfield last Friday night at the Metro Galleries went very well. It was a great crowd, and so many of my friends from the desert drove all the way up there to be there with me!!! Thank you to everyone who came, especially those who had such a long drive, but came anyway. I am overwhelmed by you all! The show is up until the end of May, and paintings are selling, thanks to the efforts of the owner, Don Martin. Hooray!

New abstract painting

"Somewhere Between." Oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches. ©2013 Karine Swenson

Today is going to be visuals only. Hope that's okay...
Oh, and just a quick but heartfelt THANK YOU for all of your encouraging words. It helped me so much, knowing all of you are out there, rooting for me!!! You guys are awesome.

Happy almost Easter!

The Desert in Outrageous Bloom

I have been working so hard in the studio that I think I have finally hit a creative wall. I think I actually have to take a day off! (whoa.) I know, but there's nothing else that can be done. I tried to paint a cottontail rabbit today - nothing new, nothing I haven't tackled before - and I just couldn't make it work. There was frustration. There was a throwing of a brush. There were breaths drawn to calm down. More working...getting more awful by the brushstroke. I finally had to WALK AWAY. Sit down in a different room. Gather myself. And then, I went back and wiped the whole painting off. (oh yes I did!)

So I have decided to write you here, my dear blogger friends. Hi. I promised to share with you some photos of the Joshua Trees in bloom. I am going to do that, and I am also going to share some photos of the Mojave Yucca blooms. We've got one in front of our house that is exploding with flowers. Astonishing flowers. Here are the Joshua Tree blooms (and one bud):

Here are the Astonishing Mojave Yucca Blooms:

Taken in the last light of the day - so delicate

Don't you LOVE them?

Send me your encouraging words, as you have done before. Please. Since delivery for my April show is less than two weeks away. And I need to have at least two more (preferably three!) paintings. (And this is oil paint we're talking about here.)

Invention

Necessity really is the mother of invention. If you have been following this saga about the animal eraser paintings, you will know that there was a two month waiting period for me before the permission form was returned. During this time, I did move on to other animal paintings, created from "real" animals. But I also had this concept for my upcoming solo show ("Real and Imagined: A Collection of Animal Paintings"). I wasn't quite ready to throw that concept out the window. A friend had suggested I create my own imaginary animals. Of course, I had considered that already, but after she said it, I knew I had to try.

First, I did a couple of one-line drawings in my sketchbook. Then, I decided I needed to have something three-dimensional. I bought some Play Doh. I made a rabbit out of Play Doh. I didn't like it, so I squished it and made another. I did another drawing. I made ONE LAST Play-Doh rabbit, lighted it and photographed it. Then I painted it. I wasn't too happy with my rabbit painting, so I did the same thing with a tortoise: drawing, play-doh, squish, drawing, play doh, photo,... And then I painted it. Now that I have begun to once more paint the Iwako "imaginary" animals, I am finding myself more and more satisfied with my own "imaginary" animals. They will make it into the show in April.

a preliminary charcoal drawing

Play-Doh rabbit

Play-Doh tortoise

Here is my tortoise painting:

"Tortoise." Oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches. ©Karine Swenson2013

What do you think of my "imaginary" animal?

We love spring

The weather has been warm and glorious here in the desert, these past few days. Things are starting to bud and bloom. The Joshua Trees are covered in buds. I have already seen a few of them in full, wonderful bloom. Photos will be forthcoming.

I am in the studio, frantically trying to make up for time I spent waiting for the well-worth-it letter from Japan. Now that I have a green light, I want to paint more of the Iwako erasers. I forgot, in my last post, to send a link to the company that makes the little animal erasers I have been painting. It is a great website, and if you have a moment, I highly recommend visiting. Click here for a visit to the Iwako, Co, Ltd. website.

I need to get painting, so here are a few glimpses of spring in my yard:

And one new painting:

"Well Defined." Collage, acrylic and oil on board, 9 x 12 inches. ©Karine Swenson2013

Permission Granted

Great news! Today, I checked my PO Box and found a letter addressed to me from Japan. I managed to wait until I got back into my car before opening it. I knew who it was from, but not what it contained. (Those of you who have been following my blog know that I had started a new series of paintings based on some REALLY cute animal erasers. I had found out that there were some copyright issues involved when doing paintings of toys, so rather than risk doing the wrong thing and feeling worried about it, I decided to write to the CEO of the company that makes the erasers and ask permission to continue painting the new works.) As I tore open the envelope, I wondered, would they say "yes"? Or would I find a letter from a lawyer saying "don't you dare keep using our images for your art!" There was some heart pounding, a moment of doubt....and then:

There is my permission form, signed by the CEO of Iwako Co., Ltd.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hooray!!!!!! I love Iwako, Co., Ltd. And I love the erasers they make. Now I have permission to keep painting these imaginary animals. Is that cool or WHAT?!? That is SO COOL.

If you are reading this, Mr. Iwasawa, thank you!!! Thank you for granting this artist permission to keep painting your eraser animals. I am thrilled and delighted! And I will be sending you a thank you note this week.

I am posting a newly completed painting of one of the erasers made by Iwako, in honor of a company that seems to be sympathetic to artists. Here's to you, with gratitude!

"Elephant." Oil on canvas, 20 x 20 inches. ©2013 Karine Swenson