run-amok with me

Fall After The Rain

2011-12-18T13:56:00.000-08:00

Things are looking happier here after a bit of rain last month. The succulents seem happier and even have a bit more color. I'm never sure if the cool weather brings it out or more water.After another frustrating gopher summer I have resorted to planting some of my more favorite things in cages or even in pots. Here is a little rusty truck filled with Hens and chick plantings.

Ouch. It was finally time to admit that the oak tree by the side door is happy healthy and showed no signs of laying off the roof. Even after I tried to get along better by cutting a circle out of the over hang to give it room, it grew right back into it.- It it quite a bit chunk of the tree but the tree guy seemed to agree it would be just fine.
Here is the before shot. Lots of fire wood for next year. Be well tree.

More Germany....

2011-12-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

Well I just noticed that the little blogger slideshow had been somehow showing the Germany photos instead of the art photos as I set it up. I of course have no idea why and it took a while to switch it back but it did serve to remind me I had many more photos that may be nice to share. Here are some, out of order of course. But as you can see anything with a bird is the fabulous bird park.
A rare Jim and Chris photo in one of our hotel rooms.

I always love the european farmer's market flowers and wreaths. These were only about $5 bucks each. Wish I could take them home and that they'd last forever. Somehow they have a way with arranging that you don't see often here unless it's a fancy florist and then they would be $30-50.!
Very cool clock that even had a face with eyes that ticked left to right with each second.
This above shot is of a church bell that fell half melted to the ground in world war two bombing. Sad signs that sometimes overwhelm when you think/read ponder all the loss of war.

This is a dinner at the underground cellar where they held massive barrels of beer (you can see one next to my sister in law Ingrid sneaking a photo). We didn't get to go on this tour but apparently the underground area is the size of many football fields. (that's a lot of beer)

Lovely burdies.

Dog Days...Meet Abby

2011-12-08T11:09:00.000-08:00

Abby the dog. Tuesday eve I was ready to turn her in. Wednesday was a much better day, I had my hour and a half cello rehearsal so I took most of the morning to tire her out before the big separation. Of course I can't really know how she did as I was gone the whole time. I think I need to set up a recording device to find out if she is barking the whole time. It has only been two weeks but she obviously is a bit afraid of men approaching her (especially in the house) and she does NOT want to be more than ten away from me. I made the mistake of thinking she wouldn't wander when I went from the studio to the house and unfortunately she caught site of the chickens and all hell broke loose.- Of course a "come Abby" had no effect whatsoever and it took some very frantic (the chickens AND me AND the dog) few minutes for me to catch her. I carried her into the house and went back out to find one chicken missing. I spent around 10 minutes looking for Flo the hen and found her huddled in a frightened puddle up against the outside of the coop. She was fine but allowed me to pet her and just sat there. Which is not Flo's usual behavior.-So much for the easy chicken introduction.
People say she is a poodle with a lot of Bichon Frise in her. She has a long body, big head and short legs. Strange little shape that seemed quite awkward and silly when I first saw her and now seems adorable. Am I one of those parents who thinks their kooky looking child is just beautiful?
I have a trainer coming over on Monday to help with some of the worse problems and check out what I'm doing (or shouldn't be doing) to help get Abby over some of her phobias. As she is a rescue dog we have no history of her past. She is about one year old and VERY fond of children. (She would have me adopt an 8 year old I think instead of another dog for her to play with)

Germany Trip Part one

2011-11-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

Part one if I have the oomph to do a part two. As you may notice the whole order of things as you look at these make it look like we are in some ocean, then next to a tropical bird, then in the middle of a really old city.

It wasn't quite like that but between uploading photos in different batches and never quite getting the hang of exactly how they will end up (Blogger doesn't let you move them around) So....... Any how here are a few (I won't bore you with the other 100+ as most are not that good) just wet your travel whistle.
The above where most of our group except for Jim and I and Randy's wife Carol. We were the smart one's who didn't really see the point of suffering so you could say you've put your feet in the Baltic Ocean. They seem to have a 'bucket list-hit all the oceans' thing going on. The van was nice and warm. (L-R Randy, daughter Jessica, my sister in law Ingrid, my Bother Matt and Will my nephew living in Germany)
Coolest Bird sanctuary somewhere in the northwest of Germany. (We had some real birders on the trip and I've always been a fan of the feathered myself). It is apparently the largest Bird sanctuary in the world. I would describe it more like a cross between the most beautiful bird zoo I have ever seen and a botanical garden.
Nephew Will has been staying in the town of Bremen so we were there most of the time. This is in the market square. Since it was Octoberfest time or there they have what they call Freimarkt there was always plenty of beer, food carts and carnival rides in the main square right near our hotel)
Bremen Rathaus. (or City hall) very cool layer cake of a thing.
And when we first arrived at the Bremen Hilton (I know pretty fancy pants huh!?) the tele had my name on it so of course we were so excited we had to get a photo. I've never been on TV before and it may be the closest I'll ever get.

Tiny streets. Called the Shnoor district or something that sounded like that. Looks just like what you want 'old Europe' to look like. Or hey Solvang California.
Looking down from inside the Rathaus I think.
Bird park. And below a nice little Japanese area of the bird park. Which of course I just loved.

Me and some rainbow Lorikeets. They sell you a bit of nectar and these friendly little fellows instantly alight on your head and shoulders and start pushing each other out the way. I was in bird heaven.
Town square at night. Magical.

Post Ojai Studio Tour Thanks!

2011-11-03T15:12:00.001-07:00

Well I was lucky enough to have a sweet trip to Germany planned for my post- Studio Tour time. Jim and I enjoyed 8 days in northern Germany were my nephew Will Brennan is teaching english for the second year on a Fulbright.

We traveled with a group of 8 including my brother and his wife and their best friends. More travel photos coming soon when I weed through the endless snaps of Churches. (Who can resist, they are always free, really old and filled with art).

A thanks to kind and awesome photographer Cindy Pitou Burton. A Ojai Studio Tour member who took the year off and was nice enough to go around and take some snaps. Thanks Cindy. You make me look good.

Sorry If I have already put this gift certificate up here. But I thought I'd remind those starting to think about the holidays.
Anyhow. I admit it wasn't my best year, but I would still like to thank those friends and fans that continue to offer kindness, smiles, and sales no matter how big or small. -Cheers. Chris

Recession Buster Series

2011-10-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

Well hello to you too. I think I just listed the entire last post twice but I can't tell. Or at least I probably sent it to Facebook twice. Oh well, some day I'll figure this all out. Bear with me. Anyhow here are the new batch of Recession Buster paintings for your viewing pleasure. I did get some making pleasure so hopefully it translates. They are all roughly 5- 7 inches, all unframed painted on scrap wood from Jim's shop (which is actually quite nice sometimes). And I try to keep them a bit quick. (no gold leaf this time)

New Paintings

2011-09-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest batch fresh of the easel. This top one is one of my favorites and took quite a bit more time as I don't usually paint that many characters in one painting. It is taken from sketches from the Art and Thought Lab class.

This little guy with the gold leaf crown is only 5"x5" inches and is done on paper. It is a fundraiser for an upcoming tiny works show at the new Westmont Museum of Art in Montecito. I like how he came out and may do a slightly larger version.

New Paintings, New Triptych With Jim

2011-09-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

As is often the case before a show deadline the work piles up and I tend to take a bunch of photos all at once. (Before anyone goes thinking I just crank this stuff out....)

Anyhow there are are more paintings I will add in the next week or two, or just buy a ticket to the Ojai Studio Tour and see it all.
If the above piece looks a bit fancier than usual it is a piece that The Ventura County Museum asked Jim McCarthy and I to do for a show opening this Friday. For more info you can hit this Link

Ojai Studio Artists Tour October 8th and 9th 2011

2011-09-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Hey All, if you haven't already seen some of these little videos that local Christ Ritke has been doing on the Ojai Studio Artists here is a montage. (I'm in here somewhere and if you go to the YouTube site there are links to lots more of the full video interviews) they are all short and sweet. If you like we'd love it if you could pass it on to anyone who you may think would like to come for a visit this year. And thanks again to Chris and friends for doing such a nice job. Cheers, Chris

Publish Post

Jim's Guitar Shop

2011-09-15T09:45:00.000-07:00

Just a few in progress photos. Jim is making a classical guitar for my Dad who plays and it's almost finished. More photos to come when it's together. The little rabbit is a little surprise on the back of the tuning part. It's a bit funky- I have never had to paint as small as a postage stamp before.
The is the front. It features burl wood from a tree on my Dad's property.
This back and sides is one of many steel string guitars in process.
And I'm not sure about this one. (could be my Dad's before the top went on.)

Thanks Doug Honeyman for these photos!

New Sketchbook Stuff

2011-09-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

I've been getting ready for the Studio Tour and going through my sketchbooks. I found a few I thought would be fun and 'bin-worthy'. Of course since I had my friend Joe visiting I asked him to pick his favorites and we couldn't agree. So a couple of these are ones I really love and then a couple he really loves. (I will of course not share which ones I don't like).............. Hope everyone is well. I have a bit of a cold this week and am keeping my couch company. (it likes a lot of attention sometimes).

Art And Thought Lab Part 5 Meet my inner champion

2011-09-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

This assignment was to describe (in any media I chose) a sort of inner champion. Think of it as a voice that reasons over any negative one. I'm learning to listen to the negative less and now I have my very own champion to cheer me on instead.

I've named her Juney. She is all brown recycled paper with oil paint. I loved just doing it all very fast and not worrying about archival consequences. (the paper is not sealed against the oil) but also just the fun of how the thin paper gets to have it's own life (the skirt and feathers)

Ojai Studio Tour Tickets go on Sale

2011-09-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

Save the date! Yikes it's that time again already. Oct. 8 and 9

Click here to save a few buck by purchasing tickets in advance online. Also to visit the fabulous OSA website to see a bit of everything try this link
And hats off to member Carlos Grasso for a beautiful brochure (and I made the cover this year!) which you can pick up the Ojai Chamber of Commerce and hopefully at shops around town. Ticket prices this year are reduced from last year in hopes of getting our numbers back up a bit. Even if you're not in the art market it's a fun lookey-lue weekend. Tell your friends. Best wishes, and hope to see you soon.

Headache Book For Maria Lucia's Class

2011-08-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

Well as one of Maria Lucia's MANY assignments was to do a series on my headaches which lead me to this book. I have always like making books of things and figured this a long story so......... Here it is.

Front cover.

Back cover.

East Coast Vacation Odds and Ends

2011-08-15T17:41:00.001-07:00

Well here is a belated selection of odds and ends from our trip back east to visit my family. We were there for the heat wave. Managed to do some fun stuff anyhow. My sister Maureen was there with her two kids visiting from Colorado and we met our brother Mike in Nyack NY for lunch and to wander around this cute little town on the Hudson river (where we used to go to drink as teenagers because the drinking age was a year younger) I didn't go crazy with the camera this time so all the other siblings visits aren't covered but It really was nice to see everyone.

Here is a kooky little grocery bag sketch playing with my Dad's Conte' crayons and graphite.
The hottest day of all we went into the city (just worked out that way) to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I made the incorrect assumption that there is no photography allowed and there actually is. I borrowed my sister's camera for a few shots of things I just really liked for one reason or another. The above couple really caught my eye. Jim and I are collaborating on a folding arched altar type piece now for a show at the Ventura County Museum of Art and I was on the lookout for inspiration.
This little girl just had such a funny lovable face. And I imagined she was just praying for someone to please finish this cross stitch for her.
Just liked this face......
Above a resaurant in Nyack. I liked this whole display of skellies having a party.
The bunch of us a sandwich shop/ bakery.

The sweets were much better looking than tasting.

Art And Thought Lab Part 4-Headaches

2011-08-06T15:52:00.000-07:00

Here is a batch of pieces that were homework. I was asked to address the issue of my headaches. I ended up one week making a whole illustrated book (which I will add soon). But early on it was just a bunch of images. After a while I got tired of focusing on headaches as a theme as they already take so much time out of my life. Maria Lucia asked If I could do some that were about headaches but where I am not the subject. (see the last three images below.)difficult to see is the little guy on a ladder reaching up to help me hold this heavy head.

The below guy came first and didn't seem to have an expression that really showed enough suffering so next came the drawing above.

Art And Thought Lab Part 3

2011-08-02T15:20:00.000-07:00

A selection of some more Art and Thought Lab pieces. In between classes there has been a trip to see my friend Kate in Ann Arbor and Jim and I went back east to my parents for a week to experience their heat wave.....

Since it's been a while I wanted to post a few odds and ends here. I can't always recall what the image was in response to. (The assignment or 'prompt') Where possible I'll try to explain.
This was one of those pick a newspaper headline or image out of a hat that Maria Lucia provides and work with it. I think this one was "someone guarding the gate" or something like that. Of course it ended up looking up like the inner critic images I made so you can read it as me being the blue guy.....
This I came across on one of my class pages illustrating my difficulty paying attention when there is much talking going on. I've been given the go ahead to feel free to doodle whenever my brain is starting to wander. (If only this would have worked all those years in school).
"Greater than the sum of her parts" is the above image from a headline I pulled out of the box of tricks. Quickie thing done in class.
This had something to do with letting the inner child out to play/ out of the box.....I did the above (and below figures) one after the other and then cut them all out. I chose my favorites, glued them onto brown paper and painted with gouache and color pencil.

My inner critic......
This above image was a in class quickie and I'm afraid I don't recall what the assignment was. Only that I liked the type to face inward so the person's body could read it from the inside.
This was to fully flesh out and me and my inner child in a safe place/box.

I made us out of quick drying clay and then sewed some little dresses. It is like half of these things unfinished but eventually I was hoping to paint faces on them and decorate the inside of the box a bit more.

Meet Esmerelda

2011-07-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

So last week's Art and Thought Lab assignment was to fully flesh out our inner critic. Describe, give a history, future and include preferences......

Meet Esmerelda. I decided to sew her. I have amassed quite a collection of fabric bits I like and it was a perfect (there's that word) match. Although the irony being that Esmerelda is 'perfect' in so many ways and my sewing skills may not quite match her preferences. Her history and things she may want you to know about her are all written on tiny bits of paper and fill the many pockets I made on her outfit. (I think there are 6).
She is course very tall and thin (even though to the untrained eye her limbs may look like more like sausages)...... This weeks asssignment has to do with us learning to get along better.

Random Post

2011-07-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

I found this book yesterday at Bart's Books our local used book store. It now actually has some brand spankin' new books and this was one of them. I've always liked Lynda Barry's cartoons and this book seemed to be chocked full of just random playing on paper to inspire...........It reminds me any dorky little doodle or scribble can grow into a playful artful thing.

Just some images from the vault. I have been working away almost exclusively on my Art and Thought Lab class assignments. - Most I deem to be rather un-postworthy but I may put them up here anyhow. The latest batch has to do with my inner critic and so are full of my icky inner thoughts. (Oh my god she's insecure and questions herself all the time! How unusual).
I am constantly searching for good recycled brown paper. I have a notebook I like. Paper bags are also good. I love this color and the little bits of flecks that sometimes lead my brain to find something in the picture.

More Art and Thought Lab

2011-06-30T17:06:00.001-07:00

This is a huge piece (I'm not sure....24"x54" or something. It took three pieces of paper taped together to accommodate it all). The assignment was to just sketch fairly quickly a whole stack of characters and then cut them out and arrange and glue on to a separate peice of paper. I had such fun with this assignment and really liked some of the characters that I went ahead and obsessively shaded them all in.

Some ended up relating rather well (maybe a future painting or two here). Where some are fairly isolated and unto themselves. Unfortunately (OppsI swore to Maria Lucia I would not make exuses for my work) these photos are not very good. - I'm not accustomed to taking photos of something so large and to top it off the pencil has a real reflective quality.

Gift Certificate

2011-06-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

I recently had a request for a gift certificate. I've done those before but decided to take the opportunity to do something really fun that I could use again in the future. So here it is. (Know any fan's who have birthdays coming up?)

Hope's 85th Birthday

2011-06-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Took me several weeks to get these up but here are a few of my favorites. We had everyone but Jim's son James who was in New Zealand, and Jeff and Gorica (here they got to be in the group photo thanks to Skype). Geoff was there with his friend Shanti who lives in Ojai (but was giving her a ride home unfortunately when the photo came together).
With Jim's help I made a huge chicken curry salad and a lentil quinoa, feta salad. For dessert my first and feeble attempt at a chocolate mousse. A vegetable soup for lunch with fresh bakery bread and cold cuts.
Thank you Hope for being born and taking care of my Jimmy.......(hey, I'm in a photo!- That's Janet -Jim's sister on the left.)
We played croquet and Mr. fancy legs won by a landslide.
Emma.
Hope. Always in pale pink.
Jeff and Gorica checking in.........

Jim borrowed a fancy ping pong table from a guy in his band. It went over big.
Perfect weather. Thank you in this strange spring we've had.

I didn't quite catch this exchange but in true Geoff form it had something to do with potatoes and having Hope put them on her ears. I just liked the visual.

Art And Thought Lab Part 2

2011-06-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

So I guess I should try to give some idea as to what 'homework' may be for any one of these items you see. Luckily Maria Lucia is all about following something inside that you yourself may not even be aware of. So when I freak out because I hate an assignment she (and Mary the writer who is taking the class with me), are quick to remind me that there is never a correct answer. (just a winey frustrated brain)......

She listens to both of us and based on what we say she gives us each our separate 'homework' (which she has taken to calling 'prompts' as she probably got tired of us wining like children about having too much homework).
This particular week she wanted me to buy a bag of clay and 'play with the clay'. It didn't have to be anything specific or end up an art piece. But I did have to do it outside, with no shoes on, sitting on the ground. (the chickens were confused by what the heck I was doing and why they couldn't sit on my lap.)

As you can see, after a bit of mushing around I got into making figures. I've been wanting to make my own sort of 'Santo' figurines for a while now. -So of course I got really persnickety and spent hours and days working on these three people. I just got them fired the other day and now when I have time would like to paint and make some clothes for them......(I have no idea why they are all so fat)

this is in response to the idea of labyrinth.-so sometimes a prompt is just an idea or word. Sometimes just picked at random out of a hat.
cut out from a series from another much larger assignment still to come....
this is in response to some prompt that I just hated and so wrote about how much I hated it! Maria Lucia seems to get really exited when you react to something.....ie. that is the direction you need to explore.
these last two were a fear from a list you make then add two items you pick out of a hat. I couldn't feel them going together, but just did it anyway.

Art and Thought Lab

2011-06-18T18:29:00.001-07:00

For six weeks now my art brain and psyche has been under the direction of Maria Lucia Phillips. (although she may not agree to that description).

She calls her classes Art and Thought Lab. In her own words:

A life-transforming experience for people willing to go deep and experience the various facets of one’s own creative process as “the sculptor, the sculpture and the marble” at the same time.

It is sometimes great, and sometimes like being in therapy going through something you really would rather not, and not always sure of why the heck you signed on in the first place. The best part is just working with some mediums that I haven't played with in ages. It is a somewhat mysterious process you have to just decide to trust on some level. And I may not know exactly what I got out of it until quite some time after the classes are over.

And man is there a lot of homework. I'm posting some of it.- But some of it I hate so much I don't want to even photograph. The point is supposed to be the process never the result, but one of my THINGS is perfectionism so that makes it a bit tricky.

I like this little simple one above quite a bit.

More to come. Some I have not photographed. Some are so large I don't know how!- Some are unfinished ceramic works..........

Studio Interview by Chris Ritke

2011-06-02T14:01:00.000-07:00

A video shot by Ojai resident Chris Ritke. Chris has been making the rounds among the Ojai Artists doing videos of each of them. You never see him. He's the one asking the tricky questions I have to try and sound halfway intelligent answering. (God I hate talking about my work!) Anyhow I seem to get off to a rough start and then settle in a bit. Thanks again Chris

Happy Memorial Day weekend and Dog gone

2011-05-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry to say we have loved and lost. Jim and I found Chico on thursday the perfect dog. It only took us two days to fall in love and also two days to confirm that Jim was allergic. We had to bring him back yesterday and we both wept. Hard to believe I could feel so sad after only 48 hours. If you are looking for the sweetest mellowest of doggies please go get this dog. (and then I can visit him). I suppose we will try again but right now I feel so sad and afraid of going through this again - and putting another dog through it again.

Well I just came across this photo that I will say probably has little to do with Memorial Day or what it is about. But I just loved all those little kids with all the older generation together. Remember how exiting it was when you were a kid and your Grandparents were coming to visit? And how equally exiting it often is for them as well. I think I'm just feeling nostalgic.

Nowadays the elderly are too often alone in a rest home and the kids are alone with the television or video games.

Shadow Box

2011-05-27T18:18:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to what should be another beautiful weekend. (If you are in this area anyway. If not then sorry to rub it in your face, you can always come visit). I just finished the last shadow box. (Time to get more of these little frames). It's one of the medium sized with a gold leaf sky.
There is a new little doggie here in the room with me as I post this but I'm hesitant to say to much or even add photos as we have until Sunday to decide if he's a good match. So far he's VERY mellow, sleeps a lot, seems somewhat interested in the chickens and most importantly Jim may be slightly allergic. Hope it works out. Or not if I'ts not meant to be. (Yikes. How does one know for sure?j!)

Doggie Dog World

2011-05-25T21:12:00.000-07:00

Or is the saying Dog eat Dog? Well obviously with my mind being where it is lately it's more of a doggie dog world. Jim and I have been thinking, looking and trying to adopt a dog. I am 46 and have never in my life had a dog. I have always had allergies and Jim too has been allergic. (I was even allergic to cats too and we had them in the house when I was growing up, just lots of sniffling going on.)

Anyhow after meeting my sister's Malti-Poo about a year ago and discovering we weren't allergic to it we have been thinking of getting a furry friend of our own.

Here are are a selection of doggish friends from the easel to help get put the good dog vibes out there. After twice having two different dogs we went to the shelter to hopefully get we have come home empty handed. (The last time there were 4 people after the same one dog!)

Anyhow after bringing a bunch of work to the Santa Barbara Arts Gallery, Lynn the owner mentioned a friend who does poodle rescue. By the time I got back to Ojai the woman had left a message on my machine about a dog she thinks will fit right in.

I am going up to get him and bring him home for a visit on Thursday.

wish us all luck together.

Greywater Workshop Hosting

2011-05-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

As promised here are some photos and even an article about the recent greywater workshop Jim and I recently hosted here at the house. It was part of the Ojai Green Coalition's May "water awareness month". I was clever enough to suggest a workshop and that I'd be more than happy to 'host' it. (Ie. free labor, and expertise-and at the end we get a fully functioning greywater system!)

Here is an article written by Linda Harmon one of our attendees. Most of the better photos are hers as well:
Being a conscious gardener in southern California means always looking for ways to conserve water. On a Saturday morning in a neighbor’s yard I found one.
I attended a grey water workshop sponsored by the Ojai Valley Green Coalition at the home of Chris Brennan and Jim McCarthy. The hands-on workshop was led by Van Vermeesch, formerly of Ojai’s Aqua Flo Supply, and demonstrated how to install a laundry-to-landscape grey water system from start to finish. And he made it unbelievably fun, simple and doable.
“We’re here to find out how to use grey water and take it home with us,” said Vermeesch, “how to go from laundry to landscape, taking rinse water and moving it through the garden in a conscious way.”
Harnessing grey water, water used in your home laundry that normally goes down the drain, is finally legal in Ventura County. I knew this, but installing a system had remained one of those projects I’d put off because I thought it required a tradesmen with more knowledge than I had. Vermeesch quickly dispelled that illusion for the dozen or so people who attended.
He explained that “by installing this simple system you cut your water usage and save the municipality from treating it.”
Vermeesch recommends using grey water for irrigating fruit trees and ornamentals, but not for vegetables. I figure using the grey water on the ornamentals and fruit trees, will make watering my vegetable garden a little more guilt free. It seems like a very reasonable offset.
Vermeesch first walked us through the surprisingly few materials needed, all available locally from Aquaflo except for the main diverter valve. The diverter valve, the part that controls the whole system, can be ordered online at www.oasisdesign.net for $59, plus shipping. Vermeesch said you can put it together from parts available at AquaFlo, but he chose to order it preassembled. I’m with him. Altogether he estimated the project cost at $275, including all pipe, fittings, labor to dig trenches, and mulch used to fill the completed channels.
The system he designed can be flushed using a simple garden hose. It uses the washing machine’s own pump, along with gravity, blue lock pipe, and a series of valves to adjust flow and cover the entire area to be irrigated. Brennan and McCarthy have approximately a quarter acre of grounds, but set up the system to cover only their back yard.
“The great part of using the blue lock is it is a glue-less system,” said Vermeesch, which translates to little mess or toxic chemicals. “It is also a completely green product and is recyclable.”
According to Vermeesch, the blue lock is equal in price to the more toxic PVC pipe when the cost of fittings and glue needed with the PVC is figured in.
Throughout the morning Vermeesch mentioned using “an appropriate technology,” i.e., using or reusing what we already have on hand instead of purchasing when possible. He even re-purposed black plastic nursery pots as boxes to cover the valves and to protect the connections in the garden.
“If you have PVC use it,” said Vermeesch. “You don’t want it being tossed in a landfill somewhere.”
Vermeesch started by connecting flexible blue lock pipe to the back of the washing machine’s waste water pipe. He connected that to the diverter, and then on to rigid PVC which he used to vent the system and bring it to the outside. Voila! the beginning of a watering system.
The most hi-tech thing he used was a drill, to fasten the PVC clamps to the wall and make a hole for the pipe to pass through the wall. Everything else was hand tools, sharp pipe nippers to cut and a shovel to make trenches and later to cover channels with mulch. A hand spade and branch cutters did come in handy to make way for the pipe as it crossed the yard behind established plants.
It was almost unbelievably quick. Of course, Vermeesch is an expert and he had 12 extra pairs of hands. All in all, a well spent morning. I can’t wait to install my own greywater system and start watering my veggies guilt free!
For more information on grey water systems go to
http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/greywater-harvesting/
http://www.oasisdesign.net/faq/index.htm

We did have to dig trenches in all the places we wanted the water to go. Then these were covered with course mulch.
You can also add these simple valves at each place along the main pipe where you want the water to go. This allows you regulate where and how much water goes to a certain area. We used simple plastic planters to serve as covers.
This shot show the main line "blue lock" pipe.
And here is our hero Van Vermeesch who volunteered to teach the workshop.

Many hands makes the work light. (much kind free labor too) There's Linda who offered to write the article in the middle. -Thanks to you too Linda!
And also thanks as always to Deborah Pendrey. Without you Deborah there would be no Ojai Green Coalition! Cheers and thanks again everyone.

Photos from Open Studio Event.

2011-05-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

Well finally some photos for the blog here from the Open Studio a few weeks ago. (Is that all? Seems like ages)

Anyhow I want to give a huge bundle of thanks and gratitude to everyone who helped (Julie and Joe and Jimmy) and of course my fabulous fellow artists Teal Rowe, P. Lyn Middleton and Dianne Bennett. I only wish I had a chance to get over to Dianne and Chris's house to visit and see her exhibit but there's never really time to run away from your own event to visit each others'.

I have been enjoying a bit of time off and then it's back to something every weekend for a while. Jim and I just hosted a grey water workshop here in the backyard. I will try to post a few photos of that soon but thought I'd better get these up for now. - Also thanks again to all my kind visitors, supporters and friends. This year's open house was a great success!
A little visiting garden angel.
Julie Fong and Teal Rowe
Me. Teal and P. Lyn Middleton.
Looking in from backyard to the addition where the two guest artists displayed.

Another garden angel.
'Baby' Joe my helper extrordinare. With Janette a Santa Barbara fan and P. Lyn
Looking down on P. Lyn and Teal's set up.
This year my epiphyllum was in full bloom to greet visitors.
And Lotte was happy when she finally got to come out of the coop.

New Jewelry

2011-04-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

Here are four of the new necklaces I've recently been working on. I sure wish I was as quick at them as painting. I'll spend all this time putting something together and then look at it an think "hmmm....this isn't working for me". Then I want to take it all apart. If it were a painting I could just repaint an area or color and somehow that seems so much easier. Good thing I'm still having fun. I was looking forward to being able to add a copper patina on some of the silver soldered parts but no matter what I tried it just didn't work well at all. Black however is easy. Just in case anyone ever wants something they see in black.

New recession Buster Paintings

2011-04-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

Here are some new recession buster paintings (small unframed) that I've finished up for the Open Studio April 30 and May 1. I have a few more I will add and some new jewelry too. Happy Spring!

Open Studio Time

2011-04-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

A little more than a week away folks. We'd love to see you there!

Save the date for the open house.....April 30th and May 1st (Saturday and Sunday) 11:00-5:00

2011-04-13T22:27:00.000-07:00

Here are a few that are waiting for frames as I get ready for the Open Studio at the end of this month.

This one is for the show at the Ojai Studio Artists show this year themed "Know Hope". I usually don't look to work with a theme (the rebel in me senses some kind of control I suppose). I had to remind myself looking around my studio that you could put that title on at least half the pieces without too much of a stretch. So here it is.
A little recession buster (small piece on wood that will sell unframed)....The original idea was to keep them quick but I don't seem capable.

These two to fulfill the landscape quota. I kind of painted them as partners and they work side by side (who says you cant have two moons), but will be framed and sold separately.
Save the date for the open house.....April 30th and May 1st (Saturday and Sunday) 11:00-5:00

Spring Has Really Sprung

2011-04-04T11:42:00.000-07:00

Ah, some days are hard to be in the studio. It is so awesomely, stunningly beautiful here now after so much good winter rain. It is sometimes hard not to just sit amongst it and be.......(sitting around being one of the things I am very good at).

Finished up a couple of shadow boxes getting ready for a show here at the studio the end of the month. (more on that soon) I also had a fun time at the Gem and Bead show in LA last week and am trying to use up some of my fine new stuff.

I've been spending so much time in the yard the chickens think I'm one of them. Lately Lotte jumps into my lap if I sit down.

More Jewelry

2011-03-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

Here is the rest of the new pendants. These seemed to take forever for some reason. I suppose I'm just getting fussier and fussier. I have to always remind myself that different people like different things and that not everything has to be MY favorite.

I am in love with the little taupe mother of pearl buttons. I found them online. They are antique shoe buttons. I'm torn between saving them and using them.
Gave up trying to photograph this dome pendant on the black background as the reflections are really hard to minimize I finally got the above shot which shows the image pretty well. You can also see the green color of the sea glass better.

New Jewelry

2011-03-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

Working on pendants. I'm trying to use up some of the bits and pieces from my collections. I was so tempted to go to the bead show in Santa Barbara a couple of weeks ago but I knew that I'd just spend a couple hundred bucks on stuff when I haven't used even half the stuff from the last couple shows I went to.I was playing around with a new copper patina solution I was exited about but it seems to only work about half the time. The other half it comes out splotchy black and copper. The above piece I ended up blackening when the copper just wouldn't work right. The round pendant though came out quite clean and coppery. Frustrating.

More Jewelry soon to follow.

Getting back to routine (I hope)

2011-03-10T12:27:00.000-08:00

February was a fun blur of a month, we had our house concerts, then company for a long weekend, and my sister Kate and her family here for a week. It was great fun. Then Jim got sick, then I got it too and in between a few too many headaches for my taste. Now I think I'm back to normalish with the exception of some allergies. I have to say though the air smells so sweet and fragrant that it's almost worth it. I loved having the week off with family in town and taking a local vacation myself. I would usualy take pictures to share, but my brother in law Michael had just got a new Canon SLR camera and was busy shooting away......Now I want one too. (yikes)Here are a couple recently finished paintings. Hope everyone is having a sweet spring and avoiding the germs. -Cheers, Chris

Last Weeks House Concert!

2011-02-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

Martin Young
Alan Thornhill

Alan Thornhill and Martin Young were our latest house concert performers. We had Alan, an Ojai favorite here last year to much acclaim and this year had him back with his longtime friend Martin Young. Martin grew up around here and comes back sometime to visit and if we are lucky play a few gigs around the area. Martin lives in Nashville and was Clint Blacks guitarist. We did two shows,the first sold out within just a matter of hours and the second within a few days. I'm afraid the camera just doesn't capture much but I hope a couple of partial song clips that I uploaded you an idea.

Click here for clip #1

Click here for clip #2

New Paintings

2011-02-01T18:04:00.000-08:00

As promised here are some fresh off the easel. Jim and I are hosting another house concert this Saturday for Alan Thornhill and Martin Young. Tickets sold out in less than 24 hours and so we added a second show. Which sold out within about 2 days. I will try to post pictures. At least the earlier show will have enough daylight to cooperate with my fussy camera. Right now dividing time between studio and lots of house up keeping. You make great things and then they start to decay. Even the yard is about one month ahead of me. I haven't had to prune the fruit trees and they are about about to bloom! Happy February everyone!

Chicken Love, Paintings in Progress

2011-01-31T14:33:00.000-08:00

As promised here is a shot of some work in progress. You get an idea of how I like to work on a few things at a time. Behind the front easel and to the right are two other images closer to being finished. As I write this they are almost all done with the exception of the guy in boat. I'll post the end results soon.And just like proud parents are always takings hundreds of photos of their kids, I can't help throwing some of the chickens in from time to time. (They're so cute no?)

Latest Shadow Boxes

2011-01-26T14:09:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a while since I posted, so here are some things I have been working on. Much of the other things (like pruning the roses and mulching and cleaning out the chicken coop just don't seem to have the same photogenic appeal). I have been doing some slightly larger shadow boxes (9"x9") and it's fun to have a bit more room to compose. The only hitch is my printer doesn't print bigger than 8.5" x 11". But so far I've worked out a few. (unfortunately forgot to photograph them all before they went to galleries).

I will post some other stuff I'm working on soon (PROMISE!).

What Happened to December?

2011-01-02T13:25:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM CHRIS AND JIM

Well I have to say it's never a month for lots of studio time. I usually take the month off from the studio and after two shows (you can still catch them at HumanArts in Ojai and Santa Barbara Arts in Santa Barbara) I felt like I needed it. So this post is mostly me me me and not much art.

I promised myself I would finally get to know photoshop and after at least 15 hours of online classes I'm still overwhelmed with that program. I was able to put together the little collage above. But I fear anything I do- I do it pretty backwards.

We did have some fun things going on here listed in reverse order. We had a "Science Breakfast" featuring the guest brain of Richard Kron who is the brother of our friend Virginia (Cello player-see house concert below). Richard is a renown astronomer who works at the Fermi Lab at the University of Chicago. He working currently on the search for dark energy. We invited friends who are interested in all things astronomical and as you can guess I mostly spaced out (realy no pun intended) and did the dishes. It was a big hit.
Some grainy photos. Why can't I get along with my camera!?
And why was I incapable of understanding a word that was said? Good thing the food was good. We made frittatas with sausage and spicy coffee cake. Yum.
Complete with a slide show of some pretty cool Hubble telescope photos.

The 2010 "I WAS A TEENAGE FILM SCHOOL DROP OUT FILM FESTIVAL"

This year we didn't have a film entered but were invited back as guest photographer (plus we were hosting the morning after science breakfast with the host's brother...)

I have to say Virginia Kron is one good cook.
Our classy hosts.....
Steve gives out the awards
Richard Kron always enters one or two things and this year he swept the awards.
Ojai's Yue Deng (best darn violinist I have ever heard).... She re-edited a cute little communist china propaganda film of her as a young tiny prodigy.....of course translating and adding English subtitles.
Me showing off my Photoshop tricks.... somehow this captures for me the feel of Steve and Virginia's party basement.

TRIP TO COLORADO

Just a couple bad grainy photos from our week long Colorado trip. I hadn't been out to stay at my sister Maureen's house for almost 4 years I think. She and her husband Jack (pictured...Jack is the architect who designed the addition) have been working their butts off with out much extra time for the usual house maintenance. We decided to combine a visit with a work vacation and we did a bunch of fix it stuff to help out.
I should have taken some before and after shots, but I got lazy with the camera. We took all the original wallpaper down from the bathroom. Re-painted and changed out a lighting fixture. Jim replace three interior doors. I helped kill and drag this (way too big) tree about a third of a mile through the snow. They look so much smaller out in the wild.

Latest Jewelry

2010-12-05T21:32:00.000-08:00

Some recent pendants. I just came across some fun new beach glass and beach tiles from Scotland that I ordered and can't wait to make some new stuff.

I'm sitting here loving the sound of the rain on the roof. Which is now squeaky clean as I have a home inspection tomorrow for an insurance provider and she specifically said I couldn't have any trees touching the house. Which in our case meant all day Saturday trimming and sweeping.

Thank you Thanksgiving

2010-12-05T18:35:00.000-08:00

A thank you to Lisa and Michael (and Deb and Stephen) for a sweet yummy day. Usually we host and It was a nice treat to show up pot luck style and not feel in charge.Lisa and Mikey
Fancy man and me.
Teal and (yeah okay me again but it's not like I jumped in front of the camera the whole time)

Joe and Hisae
And our post-host Deb. (After dinner at Lisa and Michaels we all went next door to Deb and Stephens and mixed our two gatherings.) A good time was had by all.

New Shadow box

2010-12-02T16:10:00.000-08:00

A new larger (10"x10") shadow box I did for the show currently running at HumanArts. I like this size but it is a bit tricky to make up a horizon line (my printer prints just 11" wide and never to the edge, so you can see here I ended up fudging it with the tiny mound then doing the background all in gold leaf).

My Santa Barbara Arts Opening!

2010-12-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

Ta da she says. Yes all these flags and fanfare are just for me (and have nothing to do with the baby Jesus' birthday/shopping season)

Anyhow this is a photo of La Arcada the courtyard next to the Santa Barbara Museum where the gallery is located. It is called Santa Barbara Arts. I will be there from 5-8pm Dec. 2. It is part of their first Thursday gallery stroll event. Anyhow there's tons of lights, poinsettias, Christmas trees and its all quite magical.
Casa Magazine did an article on me for the show and unfortunately I can't figure out how to load the PDF onto the blog so you will have to click here for a link (for a more readable size)

A Thank You Card Of Sorts....

2010-12-01T18:16:00.000-08:00

I'm always in search of a diversion to do some one of kind totally different thing. I've always enjoyed bookbinding (in it's basic forms anyway) and thought this would be a nice opportunity to say thank you to my folks for bringing us along on their recent Panama Canal trip. This way they get a different set of photos and the mini photo album is already made.It's about 5 inches square.

Accordion folded with photos on both sides.
Probably shouldn't have used the black to photograph it on, but you get the idea.

Some Panama Canal Photos as Promised

2010-11-24T09:03:00.000-08:00

These are not exactly in order (and I have just given a sample......how many oil tanker or cruise ship photos would anyone want to look at?)After our passage through the canal from the pacific we ended up in the town of Colon where we hopped this very cool old train that follows the original train tracks parallel to the canal.
A plant by our hotel I thought just looked really cool.
Gert and Larry Brennan
Howler monkey mommy and baby.
The boat we had to go through the canal. It was apparently an old rum runner boat owned by Al Capone during prohibition. (so the story goes).
Here we are going through a lock...the giant steel gates swing open.
The boat in the lock in front of us. You get an idea of how far up (24') it is being raised.
A deadly Caman Crocodile on the shore as we await entry to a lock.
A tanker going by the boat...(I love all these colors)
And how could I resist all these turtles.
A local in one of those giant handmade canoes (this I think I took from the bus)
Gert, Jim and Larry.
Every thing grows here....fancy thins you only ever see in high end florists are like side of the road weeds. Good place to garden I imagine.

Quite a few of these really cool old buildings falling back into nature. When the U.S. was there they had 10 miles on either side of the canal. It was built up with lots of military and operational housing. Now since it it is owned by Panama again most can't afford to keep them up. Some in the very fancy areas are slowly being bought up by investors and turned into bed and breakfasts.
Oh yeah. I was there too. And of course the name tag (yes it was a tour)
A view from our hotel room for the first 3 nights. It is looking out at the mouth of the canal on the pacific side.

HumanArts Opening, Photos, and Thanks

2010-11-21T16:39:00.001-08:00

A huge thank you to Stan and Hallie at HumanArts Gallery for a super swell reception last night. Everyone enjoyed the yummies and especially Hallie's mexican tortilla wraps. -And of course a feast for the eyes as well (and I'm not talking about just my stuff- I just wanted to browse and shop the whole time I was there).

Hallie and Ruth Farnham.
A bit of the left hand side of the window.......
A bit of the right.......(here is a photo of the new deer cut-out for you Baby Joe!)
Shadow boxes.
Jim chats with Sergio Arogones. Sergio lives in Ojai and if you were ever a fan of Mad magazine you've seen his artwork (those tiny pen and ink sketches in the margins)

www.sergioaragones.com
Thank you to all who came to support and if you want to come and check out the show it is up until Dec. 30th www.humanartsgallery.com

Boy am I tired........

2010-11-16T10:41:00.001-08:00

And really shouldn't complain as Jim and I just returned from an all expense paid trip (thank you thank you thank you Mom and Dad) to the Panama Canal. We got back Saturday night but I caught a cold mid-way through the trip and so am now finishing up work for this upcoming show shuffling and sniffling a bit as I go.

Anyhow just wanted to do a quick post to remind people to come and visit this Saturday at the opening of this show at HumanArts gallery. The reception is 4:00-7:00 p.m.

Panama photos coming soon. (when I have time to breathe without so much sniffling) Best to all, Chris

I've done some special ornaments and a giant deer cut out for the window display. I'll try to post photos soon of the whole thing when it's finished.

Also some larger shadow boxes.

And The Winner Is.............

2010-11-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

During the recent Studio Tour I took a democratic sort of vote on which was everyone's favorite painting (there were 5 to choose from). Voters got a chance to win a free Giclee print. This way instead of me guessing which of my recent works may be a best seller (I'm often a terrible guesser when it comes to my own work), I left up to you all.

Here is the winner, and using an online random number generator the twentieth person to vote won. Congratulations to Susan Chapin. The prints are due to arrive in the next week or two from the printer.

Recent Jewelry

2010-10-26T17:22:00.000-07:00

Here is some Bling for everyone...... or as close as I get to bling. I'm currently working on trying to figure out some simple Christmas decorations for the window at HumanArts gallery for an upcoming show in November. Interesting process. Right now I'm going in 5 different directions at the same time hoping at least one of them will work. Then if more than one works will they look dumb together?........

Mirror Mirror almost on the Wall.......

2010-10-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Jim just finished this for a local fundraiser auction here in Ojai. I can't believe that he went to all the trouble just for a donated item. (just the glass mirror costs a bunch)........Anyhow I just photographed it as he has a tendency to make beautiful things and then deliver them without me or a camera ever getting to see them. I must say it's tricky to photograph something that is actually mostly mirror. I had to photoshop myself out of it. (It's not a flawless effort, but me and photoshop don't always get along).

Frances McCorkle's Photos

2010-10-20T15:02:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos that Brooks Photography student Frances McCorkle took as part of a project. She shot a few of me getting ready this years Studio Tour and then some the weekend of the event. Thank you Frances (I never really get to photograph the event with me as part of it!)

Latest stuff. And some post Studio Tour gratitude.

2010-10-16T20:45:00.000-07:00

A couple new paintings that you got to see if you were able to come by last weekend, and here for your viewing pleasure if you weren't. I wanted to thank everyone again for all their continued support. You guys make me feel like a rock star (for two days...then I go back to sleep). It may not have been the record breaking big bucks score, but I did get two (perhaps three) new galleries to show my work and I'm really exited.

I will be having a show opening at HumanArts here in Ojai the weekend after Thanksgiving so get drop your wish lists off. I'm making a couple larger shadow boxes and a few new paintings and who knows what.

This guy is the same one you see if you scroll down. Someone wanted it colored in (hi Fran). The scans came out a bit weird, but It's somewhat in the ball park. (I often wake up with that 'not in the ball park feeling).

Anyhow if these headaches would let up (they've been pesky lately) It's back to the drawing board. Hope everyone is well. cb

And Introducing.........

2010-10-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

I almost found a way to do T-shirts this year, but at the last minute I wasn't too happy with the quality. So instead (with help from Tanny Allen from the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation) here are a series of cards. They are all archival ink and paper. And it only took me 4 hours on photo shop to figure out! (no that's not good)

New jewelry

2010-10-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

Almost ready for the tour. I feel like a split personality in the studio lately. I'm trying to have so many little things available that I'm going in 5 different directions at once.

Anyhow in order to make room I stop painting then start on the jewelry and do things in batches. Here is part of the latest batch.

If you are in the are I hope you plan on visiting me this weekend on the tour!

www.OjaiStudioArtists.org

Oh Fabulous Night To Remember

2010-09-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday night and Sunday day we had our third annual house concert. This year we we invited my cello teacher and friend Virginia Kron. (Who has performs all over this area and at the Cabrillo music Festival every year too) She had the idea to invite her old friend the amazing harp player Kim Robertson who used to live in this area many years ago. We first heard the two play about 8 years ago and have never forgotten it. Kim flew in from Wisconsin. (Okay she did also visit her Mom in LA). Magical is not big enough a word for it. I think everyone in the audience was transported to a place of big hearts, via our little ears. Yum Yum Yum.For more of Kim's work and info on her show schedule check out www.KimRobertson.net
This was the Sunday concert during the day. We started with just the Saturday night show and it sold out within two hours so we added the second show. Both were full.
Warm up. For more on Virginia and to be on her mailing list visit www.VirginiaKron.com
Sunday. We fit about 26-28 people in the addition not including the musicians. I swear I saw the turtles sticking their heads up out of the water listening to the music.

Click here for a small sample of their warm up

A Few New Sketchy Things

2010-09-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

These were little sketches I just liked. This first one was actually a simple sketch I did as a book signing. When I give a gallery books of mine to sell I usually sign them with a quick something. In this case I liked the little critter so much I scanned him before I sent it off then colored it in and added the 'walker' and a bit of string as the leash. It was fun.

Trying out my new recycled brown paper. I love the color of it.
This is one I like and haven't had a chance to color in. I'm thinking of just trying to keep it simple. One or two colors. We'll see if I can keep to my own assignment.

New Recession Buster Paintings

2010-09-24T17:24:00.000-07:00

Some new mini 'Recession Buster paintings for the upcoming Ojai Studio Artist's Tour. These are actually even a bit smaller that those previous (mostly 3x4 inches or so), and between $100-200. .......I tried not to spend too long on them but that never seems to work for me.

Just What the Heck Did I Do All Summer?

2010-09-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

Looking at the blog the other day I thought to myself it looks like I've done nothing all summer and It's over already. What happened? I thought about it and realized that I did do some stuff that is more about keeping things going around here. I can't exactly post photos of before and after I cleaned the bathroom....but there were a few more creative things.......This is a firewood box Jim made for me to keep kindling in for the wood stove. I think strangely enough also the first time I've painted chickens.
Kindling in the top part and wood underneath. Very handy.
I always love those do-it yourself shots of before and after....so here is a set of my own. This a chair that really needed some attention. I painted it and made new cushions out of that sunbrella material. (I'm proud to say I even did went for the contrasting piping and figured it out). Least you think I am some sort of Martha Stewart there was lots of cursing involved and the sewing machine is now in the repair shop.

A set of folding metal chairs our friend Randal Marsh was getting rid of. They used to belong to Krotona. (I like to think of Krishnamurti's butt in one of our chairs). I painted them red and made a stencil out of some old brain scans I had. No there is nothing wrong with my brain, just plain old migraines. And I have a really nice place to sit now if I have one.
Happy Fall. Chris

Save the Date.....

2010-09-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hey all, remember to save the date for this year's Ojai Studio Artist's tour if you haven't already. This year it is October 9 & 10. And as always you save a bit by purchasing tickets in advance. Click on www.OjaiStudioArtists.Org to go right to our website to see more, pick your favorites, and buy tickets right there. Times are tough, but even if your not in the market for art, we promise a great weekend of inspirational escape!

Hope to see you then. Best wishes, Chris

Cheer up Maureen

2010-09-16T11:20:00.001-07:00

A special cheer up gift (slash, late birthday present....In our family it's a wonder any of us siblings ever remember, let alone celebrate each other's birthdays. Seven kids.) Anyhow I thought my sister Maureen this year needed a bit of extra cheer so I made her this little box. I liked the little mister dancing guy, who reminds me of mister peanut head. And then added the flags and a little extra guy holding a flower with a gold halo popping out of nowhere. Not strictly a real painting in three-D because it is a composite of different images but that made it fun.

Arigato Sweet Mayu

2010-08-24T20:27:00.000-07:00

Well we bid farewell to Mayu Fujiyama on Saturday. It was really great having her here and all the kids were so kind. We had a sleep over one night. A couple of dinners where the kids made us Japanese style food, and in between I did a bit of driving when they needed an extra driver during the days. (I got a tour of the Oak View Fire station, and the Channel Islands Harbor Museum).

It's also good to have less to think about about and a bit more time, but it's so hot here now It's hard to get much done during the daytime. Yikes!

Artist way projects

2010-08-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple little projects from my weekly 'Artist Way' meetings. Four of us meet at a different house every week and go over that weeks chapter and what our experience of it. Then the person who is that week's host has a project that we each work on. (Sometimes visual, sometimes written) Here are a couple of mine.
An alter using a sardine can.
Pick a random saying out of a hat and make a visual for it. (you can just make out the sentence I picked).

New Paintings

2010-08-16T18:19:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of new paintings. I have been wanting to do some still life paintings and got as far as this one then veered off in my usual direction. I struggled with the background colors on this one until the halo sort of just happened-then it looked like it worked (to me anyway).

Welcome Mayu!

2010-08-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

We are happy and exited to have a guest exchange student Mayu (the Cookie Queen) from Japan staying with us for 3 weeks. Here she is in the kitchen already making chocolate chip cookies. Mayu is 17 (but we all think she looks about 11).
I went with the the group (6 students and a couple of us Amerian-folk) to see the Ojai Olive Farm in the East end. I've been by it a lot and never actually been there so it was fun to be a sort of "school-trip-Mom" along for the ride. I would recommend it to any locals who are looking for something to do with guests in town. Alice and Ron who gave us the tour were very kind and the tasting room was great.

Alice and our gang. (it was pretty hot if for the kids)
Ron and Alice had just gotten a new puppy about one hour before we got there.
Linda (on left) is the teacher behind the scenes.
Yum.

The Artist's Way

2010-07-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

I've been meeting with a small group every week doing the Artist's Way book together. For any not familiar with Julia Cameron's book it is basically a 12 week self guided program to get your "inner-artist of any flavor" unstuck. To wake you up to all those negative things we all tell ourselves, and to sort of try new and different things and shake yourself up. Here is just a quickie collage from one of our weekly meetings. I got through the rough week 4 which features a week of reading/tv/computer surfing deprivation. Jim said "thank god the rein of terror is over" (okay so not reading and watching movies on Netflix made me a bit cranky).

Looking for the payoff still but I will be patient and persevere. I'll keep yawl posted

The "A" School Reunion

2010-07-29T18:07:00.001-07:00

Well since the alternative high school died the year I graduated I always figured that there would be no such thing as a high school reunion for me.....well duh, thanks to facebook my closest "A" (that was the name of the high school) school buds and I finally got something together. We all met at my parents old stone vacation house in Stone Ridge New york. Five of us plus spouses and kids (except for Baby Joe and I the two californians who came solo).Here we all are on the front porch.
Frog catching.
Drawing.
Gathering around for panckes.
Good lookin' people. (yes I have curl envy)
Baby Joe (nice shirt)
Andy and Amanda
Jessica and Sully.
Lena and the frog.
Campfires at night, including marshmallows and sparklers

Come by if you're in the area on this Saturday!

2010-07-27T13:00:00.000-07:00

Linda Taylor our fearless president..........(and print maker extraordinaire)

These (the top one for sure) are two pieces of my most recent work that will be in the show. It should be fun to see what Michele Pracy the new museum director chose. Usually each artist brings a piece. For the first time the museum itself will have curated the whole thing. (And that was a lot of studio visits on Michele's part).

My Brother, Keeper of the Castle

2010-07-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

From my recent trip back east here are a few photos. My Brother Mike recently was hired to caretake a magnificent old castle in Piermont New York overlooking the Hudson. He's living in the basement which sounded rather drab when I heard but after the tour I have to say even the basement of this place was really nifty. Two kitchens (from back in the day when all the cooking was done by the servants in the basement and brought up in an elevator), and all kinds of other interesting nooks and crannies.
Mikey on the antique tractor he uses on the grounds.
The three story barn. Dairy cow stalls in the basement, beautiful wooden horse stalls on the main floor with a huge tack and trophy room. And the upper floor is rented out to a local artist. (That's Mom and Dad getting the tour with me)
One of the kitchens in the basement. It gives you the idea how cool looking everything was.
Mom and Dad (Gert and Larry to you) in jail......There was even a movie set jail in a dark corner of the barn where some film company rented the space for filming and left the "cell".

Someday perhaps I'll get invited upstairs. Hope everyone is doing well. cb

Santa Fe Trip

2010-06-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos from the recent 4 day Santa Fe Trip. I met my sister Maureen and her two kids Matthew and Grace. It was fun but hot, and some of our eating/activity plans were traded for time by the pool relaxing and reading (which you really can't complain about too much).
This was one of our happy places. Great desserts on a little quiet alley near the Plaza. I especially loved it when the french owner sat down with a visiting French speaking person. I suddenly felt like I was in Europe. (but understood the waiter)
Our favorite section of the craft museum was CLOSED! -We made the best of it and tried to be inspired by some fancy silver jewelry and textiles. (I must admit I did want to go right out and start sewing something).
Don't go to Tomasina's restaurant. It had ample free and easy parking, but to be in Santa Fe and eat mediocre Mexican is really not right.

Libby Bowl Fundraiser

2010-06-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

Well here finally is a photo of the bowl that Jim and I collaborated on. I just got back from the fundraiser and it went for $460. Thanks to everyone (especially Roger for this photo). I hope they ended up with a good grand total. I know the event was totally sold out so at least the tickets were helpful. The little birdies were etched and and then I colored them in with black paint. Jim did the whole wood base that the bowl sits in.

Two New Paintings

2010-06-16T15:12:00.000-07:00

A new painting for a customer who said I never painted cats. I kind of agreed and then she went home and found a similar painting my book that had a cat-like animal. Here is the result. (Luckily she was thrilled with it and it found a happy home- that her on the left she said)
Couple of birds. I just liked the pudgy little useless wings, and of course I had to throw in a halo on the little guy. This is a small 8"x10" painting.
I'm off to Santa Fe this weekend for 4 days to meet my sister Maureen and her kids for a fabulous art and food filled time. Hopefully lots of inspiration and if I'm lucky I hope to find some galleries to apply to. Hope everyone is well. CB

Just Hello

2010-05-24T22:01:00.000-07:00

A couple of recent paintings..... I am working with Jim with on a glass bowl to be auctioned off as a fundraiser for the Libby Bowl restoration project. I'll go ahead and post a photo when we get it finished. Taking this slower time to catch up on stuff. (I'm even writing a business plan. Yikes!)

Jimmy's Guitars in Progress

2010-05-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

Jim and a friend (amazing guitar player and songwriter Alan Thornhill) have been working together on making some guitars with Peter Dragge, a local luthier who is retiring and sort of passing on the wisdom. Jim has made a couple of guitars in the past but from what he tells me they were always much better looking than they sounded. I gather there is only so much innovation possible when it comes to getting the best sound. Jim's are the two in the back and Alan's is in front.
This is what top bracing might look like (there is some variation here). It it the underside of the top of the guitar. This is one of Peter's.
Peter Dragge in his shop. (I thing those two tops hanging up in background are Jim's)
Anyone need a custom guitar made? (OK so I'm proud of my fella)

Thank you all for a great weekend

2010-05-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

A belated thank you to everyone who came by to visit at the Spring Open House. It was a great success, perfect weather, and even above average sales. I especially want to thank Joe (Baby Joe) Mueller who always knows just what needs doing and does it. Thanks Joe.

Biggie found last week making a break for it again. Luckily he hadn't gone far. Or maybe he (she?) was just on the way back from a little stroll. I wish I knew.

Back of the studio with Buffy hoping for a handout.

MY BRAIN IS GONE....

2010-04-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

Well I suppose you can guess from scrolling down that I'm so discombobulated that I am posting the same information twice. I suppose I could delete one of those posts but let's just leave it as a testament to my Working So Hard I'm Doing The Same Thing Twice.......So to make up for it here are a few thing that ARE new.
This guy is one of the sketch guys I liked and decided to make a painting of.
And this one is a small 6.5"x 6.5" that is probably my favorite. Hope everyone is well. CB

2010-04-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

8th Annual Spring Open Studio Tour

May 1 & 2 11:00-5:00

175 N. Pueblo Ave. Ojai Ca

For additional information or directions call 805-640-8329

Hey everyone, It's that time again. Please join me May 1 & 2 for my 8th Annual Open Studio this year with guest artist Carmen Abelleira. If you havent seen much of her work hit the link below and you will get to see a few more. She has exhibited along with me for many years here at HumanArts Gallery along with Jack Fischer Gallery, Sundance Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Folk Tree, Art/Life Magazine, Farmer and the Cook, and Flatbreads. She is a self-taught artist originally from Cuba and works with found recycled materials making paintings and tin artworks.

I'm still having fun with my line of more affordable works that include jewelry, shadow boxes and small “recession buster” paintings. The garden after all this rain is looking fabulous and will be open (the great blue heron and the many gophers are especially loving it). Other reasons to visit this weekend are the Storytelling Festival and the Garden Tour in Ojai. Come by for a visit, refreshments and some inspiration.

Save The Dates! May 1 & 2

2010-04-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

I'm busy getting ready for my 8th Annual Spring Open Studio . So If you can save the date and come by that weekend. This year the guest artist will be Carmen Abelleira (she's the one that doesn't look like a chicken). Carmen is originally from Cuba and does some really great work utilizing lots of scrap wood tin and whatever she finds. If you are an Ojai person you've probably seen her work at HumanArts Gallery, and she used to sell little tin dresses out of the Sundance catalog. Anyhow there is a sampling of some her stuff below.

Lizard Love And Garden Awe....

2010-04-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

Just came across these guys the other day when I went to park my bike by the studio doors. Not sure if its love or dinner, but they sure stayed like that for for quite some time. While I had the camera out I just couldn't resist taking a few garden photos. Things looks so good right now. (and of course Buffy had to see if there was something "edible" about the camera).

Winter sketches

2010-04-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some sketches that were my favorites from over the past few months that I think I will working into paintings somehow. The 8th annual Spring Open Studio is coming up May 1 & 2 so I'm working towards that. This year Carmen Abelleira will be my guest artist. (along with the garden looking quite good after the rain and I'm hoping two tiny new baby chicks)-More on all that soon. I just haven't posted in a while and wanted to share what's in the works

Jim Featured in American Style Magazine

2010-03-02T22:19:00.000-08:00

Donna Granata's Focus on the Masters Program is prominently featured in the current issue of American Style Magazine. Jim has a half page along with Donna's Portrait of him (and okay some other artists too). See this link for the full article. Nice work Donna!

Jim McCarthy

The home that wood artist Jim McCarthy has created with his wife, painter Christine Brennan, is truly a labor of love. What started as a 670-square-foot bungalow in Ojai has been transformed into a customized space with evidence of the artists' own hands tucked into every nook. "We added on to our small house back in 2000, but I wonder if it will ever be complete," McCarthy says. "We're always refining something, changing things, taking notes for future work."

Granata captured much of the furniture maker's own work in this portrait, taken in 2002—he handcrafted the lighting fixtures, railing, even the windowsills. The painting is Brennan's.

McCarthy's other great love is music. He and Brennan designed their music room from top to bottom, including a recording studio completely encased in a rolling cabinet. In addition to working on furniture commissions, McCarthy has begun making acoustic guitars again, after a 25-year hiatus.

New jewelry

2010-02-07T20:42:00.000-08:00

It's been a crappy head achy week for me, but I did manage to get these latest pieces finally photographed. I had a lot of fun with pearly necklace. (And look forward to wearing it a few times before it sells). Enjoying everything when the rains stops. The colors are so vibrant and the hills so green right now.

I just got a shipment of paintings back from Santa Fe. Kind of looking forward to unpacking (like seeing old friends). Now I will completely out of wall space. Help I need another Gallery!

These two last pins are both reversible with different images on the back.

Two special requests

2010-02-03T11:36:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of 'special order type' pieces for customers. The shadow box was a request from a customer who would love the original, but of course the $100 shadow box fit the budget a bit better. I had not done this image in a shadow box before but was happy with how it came out. The landscape is a small 8"x8" one that wasn't quite right for the customer so it's still looking for a home. Last week was all jewelry so I'll get them up on the site soon. Happy February. CB

Idyllwild trip with friends

2010-01-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

Jim and I rented a cabin in Idyllwild after Christmas with friends Lisa and Michael. I had been through there years ago briefly and remembered it might make a good get away kind of town. Turns out there are lots of cabins and vacation rentals at pretty good prices when you go with others. With the exception of some bad traffic west of L.A. it wasn't too far and you are way up in the piney mountains, surrounded by trees and beautiful views.The new Bananagram game my mom gave us for Christmas was a big hit. (Thanks Mom)
Lisa and Jim. We also ate very well. Our "cabin" was a very nice two bedroom house with a full kitchen.
Here I am at the local coffee shop after the hike.
Lots of map reading for all the good it did us.

The big hike we spent 30 minutes getting all our gear ready for turned out to be unpassable. There was no snow at our cabin but across the valley it was far too icy to walk off road.

And even tricky to walk on our "backup" hike. We were so focused on our feet that all four of us walked right by the perfectly marked trailhead. Oh well it was still all quite picturesque.

New Large landscape paintings

2010-01-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

I have been working on these two 28" square landscapes since December. Most of that month ended up going to Christmas, visitors, and then a cold. But they're finally finished. On a separate note I am looking for a new replacement gallery in the Santa Fe area. The gallery I have been with for the last few years has evolved into more abstract type of work and I'm not really fitting in so if anyone has ideas or connections. I'm all ears. And thanks. CB

Finally Film Fest Photos

2010-01-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

As promised ages ago here are a few photos from the little film festival.....Niece Anna Skarimbas and Jim help get ready the morning before.
The winners circle.....Our hosts Steve and Virginia in the middle (Hmmm could it have been rigged? At least Anna won first place in the gown competition).
It was all about the go-go boots for me.
Virginia in hot pink. Who knew cello players were such party animals? (her not me)
My $20 outfit was put together that day with help from Alicia and Anna. There's nothing like the Ventura for great thrift store finds. I also got the "hollywood whore style make-up job from my neighbor who is a cosmetologist.
Alicia always looks classy (and she didn't even know we'd be attending a party).

Waiting for the rain

2010-01-16T16:51:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of sketches on brown paper (one on a paper bag.....the seam goes right down the middle, oh well adds to the charm). Here in Ojai there's supposed to be a big rain storm coming. I'm busy getting bringing in firewood, and making sure the chickens are out everyday these last few. (As they could be cooped up for quite some time once it starts.) I'm hoping to work on Jewelry a bit this rainy week - finally getting to play with some of the stones and things I bought in the fall. Best to all, Chris

Studio Featured in Paper N Stitch

2010-01-07T16:13:00.000-08:00

Here's a link for a little studio interview I recently did with Brittni Wood of the art and craft blog Paper N Stitch. Thank you Brittni.

She does a great job. (I have spent many an hour scrolling and surfing through her picks.)

Our Most Recent Guests

2010-01-03T18:35:00.000-08:00

We had a great time with my sister Alicia and her daughter Anna here right before Christmas. We squished a lot into four days including the tiny "film festival" (if that leaves you scratching your head scroll down for the film). We all got dressed to the nines (whatever that means) and had a blast. We didn't win, but my niece Anna stole the show, and first prize in the gown competition. -And I was even wearing 10" go-go boots. Hopefully the hosts may have a few photos I can post when I get them.

Between all the other out of town family coming to visit and our trip to Idyllwild not much in the way of art to post here but stay tuned. Hope everyone had a healthy happy new year. And thanks for your continued support. Best wishes, Chris

Sketches

2009-12-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to continually get myself to keep in the sketching habit. Here are a couple I liked and colored in. I will try and list these on the Etsy site or just email me for a price. Best Wishes everyone. Chris

Collecting Firewood With Jim and Vinnie

2009-12-15T21:14:00.001-08:00

Jim and I went out to the east end of the valley a couple weeks ago to our friend Vinnie's to help clear, cut and load firewood. It was a perfect winter day and as you can see from the photos he lives in a beautiful little corner of the valley. There is a eucalyptus grove (which due to a beetle has produced a lot of firewood trees for us), and huge boulders. I'll be spending the next week getting it all from the driveway into the backyard. Then the week after working the kinks out of my back.

Two New Pins

2009-12-14T12:30:00.000-08:00

Here's a couple of new pins I just finished.

20% OFF ALL STUDIO PAINTINGS

2009-12-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Untitled#PA595 (6"x6") $600.

Untitled #PA768 (12"x23") $1600.

Untitled #PA742 (12"x11"), $1,000.

Untitled #PA735 (11"x22") $1,600.

Untitled #PA730 (15"x15") $1,5oo.

Untitled #PA725 (13"x13") $1,200.

Untitled PA719 (24"x30) #2,500.

Untitled #PA724 (24"x24") $2,300.

Untitled #PA706 (18"x18") $2000.

Untitled #PA698 (9"x9") $700.

Untitled #PA660 (8"x8.5") $750.

Untitled #PA651 (7.7"x8") $750.

Untitled #PA648 (16"x16") $1,600.

From now until January 15th all paintings in the studio (not galleries) are 20% off. Contact me via email if you are interested in anything or have questions. The prices listed are BEFORE the 20% discount. And sizes listed do not include the additional 4 inch wide frame. (my email is at top left under "where else to find me").