Beginning of October Check-in
Fall is officially here and it feels like the rainy season has already begun in the Bay Area. I’m really appreciating the cooler weather and overcast days. My return from Bali has been a bit slow; the jet lag really got to me this time and it took about a week for me to adjust time zones. But I’m back in full force this week with painting and events.
What I’ve been working on:
Still working on the final touches of the commissioned painting. It always feels like the last 5% of the painting takes up majority of the painting time, but I think it’s important to make sure all the details are just right.
I’m continuing to work on a series of paintings based on my trip to China. They feel like vignettes, moments of people’s everyday lives that feel familiar yet distinct. Each painting is 8”x10”, which is still quite small. I’ve really enjoyed working on these paintings so far. I’ve also asked a fellow artist in my studio to critique the works, and it feels really helpful to receive concrete feedback on areas to improve on and change about the works. Since I’m going in a slightly different direction with this body of work and trying something new, it’s useful for me to have someone with more experience and expertise look over the paintings and give me a few pointers.
I’ve also been going to a weekly figure drawing session consistently the last few weeks (outside of my trip to Bali). My paintings of China have figures in them, which is a very new area for me, so I want to make sure to practice and work on that skill.
I installed a number of my paintings at the Ocean Blue Vault in Half Moon Bay yesterday. It was nice to meet a few of the other artists in the collective; everyone was very nice, helpful, and excited for me to join. There will be an opening reception this Saturday from 12-3pm where I will meet more of the artists. I’ll also be gallery sitting a few days in November, and I’m looking forward to spending more days in Half Moon Bay. Yesterday I was reminded of how much I missed spending time on the coast.
Coming up on the 1st of November, I will be participating in Arts Los Altos’s Live Painting Art Battle Fundraiser. It will be a love event where I, and a few other artists, will paint a 3’x5’ painting in just three hours. Jurors and the audience will vote on their favorites for prizes! The artists just received the theme, so I’ve started to think about what I’ll paint. I’m a bit nervous, since I’ve decided to paint in acrylics and it’s a really short amount of time to complete a large painting. But I’ll treat it like a mural, and I’ll probably practice a couple of sketches beforehand. It’ll be a fun experience.
That’s all for now. I’m really enjoying the transition to more studio time and dedicating more time to practicing and improving my skill sets. I feel like I’m putting less “finished works” out into the world with fewer shows and events, but I needed to slow down in my schedule to focus on creating work. The figure drawing sessions have been a good addition to my schedule; it's a good way for me to get out of the studio, and I’ve been able to meet a different group of artists. Overall, I’m feeling pretty content with my daily schedule and what I’m working on. Thank you for following along! I hope all is well.
