such a busy, exciting time!

The annual winter open house is Saturday and Sunday at Hot Shops Art Center and we’re moving into the center’s 20th year! Come see me and Katrina Methot-Swanson in my studio (210), where we’ll both be showing and selling work noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. I’ll have a few new pieces and selected favorite paintings and woodcuts. The hallway walls outside my studio will be freshly painted and hung with work by Katrina and me.

”River,” which was flowing along the wall outside my studio, is now hanging at the Norfolk Arts Center with all the newly created work that nearly doubles its length to about 40 feet! We’ll be celebrating that show next week with a reception 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12. If you’re nearby, please pop in, and if you’re further away, consider making the trip to the arts center before Feb. 27 to see the show. We’re excited to see it all installed and lit professionally because the closest we’ve gotten so far is seeing it all laid out on the floor!

Norfolk Arts Center staff member Sara Putters created this banner to promote the show. I’m not sure about the dimensions, but it will be fun seeing our artwork blown up big!

The banner promoting our “Rivers” at Norfolk Arts Center

open houses and upcoming workshops

I’ll have the studio ready for visitors for the upcoming open house at Hot Shops Art Center. Stop into my place, Studio 210, between noon and 5 p.m. Saturday or Sunday. After 5 p.m. Saturday, I’ll join John Miller in Studio 219 to play some music. You’re welcome to join me for that, too! Even though I’m on the second floor now, I still recommend starting your visit on the third floor and working your way down through the building. There will be lots to see, and you can follow your nose to the delicious aromas from food available from Bang Catering on the first floor.

In my studio, I’ll have some new paintings, as well as some works in progress and selected paintings and woodcut prints on display and available for purchase. Also, I’ve scheduled two workshops in the new year, so if you’re curious about cold wax and painting with this versatile medium in a two-hour session of creative play, you can get signed up.

Parking will be available in the Mastercraft lot just north of our building, and on Saturday, our neighbors at Midco (check out the Haney Studio) and Bench will be open, too!

A 15” x 15” painting that may be done but is still on my work wall, part of a series in progress in my studio right now.

Bemis auction and fundraising

In two weeks, artists, collectors and art-lovers of all types will gather at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art for the Bemis Benefit Art Auction. I'm pleased to have a small framed painting on paper included in the mix. "Fire and Ice #2" was inspired by the M's Pub/Mercer Building fire in January 2016. 

I've become much more selective about where I offer artwork to support fundraising activities. In many cases, I choose to simply make a cash donation. Offering discounted artwork depresses prices and undercuts the professionalism of artists who are handling multiple aspects of a complex business. Adam Price, former executive director of the Bemis, wrote a powerful article for The Reader about raising money at the expense of artists. You can read it here. 

I believe each of us has an obligation to help one another, and there are so many ways to do that. Everyone I know supports local nonprofits with cash, time and energy. I'd like to live in a city where art-lovers and collectors truly valued the professional artists working alongside them in all these activities by expecting to pay fair prices for artwork. 

Full disclosure: I bumped up the price of my painting offered in the Bemis Auction by 30 percent so that if it goes for the minimum bid, I still get a fair cut --  to cover my expenses for materials, professional framing, time and expertise. It's still less than what I'd receive if selling it directly, but I'm also supporting the activities and mission of the Bemis. Adding this cushion is not uncommon, and seems to me a reasonable way to participate in such fundraising efforts while not feeling cheated. And if the piece doesn't sell, I take it back to the studio and offer it at the same price as the others in this series. 

The studio at night

I love spending half an hour in the studio after all the visitors have left. Recalling shared conversations or intertwining harmonies in songs fuels inspiration. Open houses are for me both exhilarating and exhausting. I enjoy sharing stories about making my work with curious visitors. Selling pieces is always a thrill. Comparing notes and spending time with fellow artists is lovely. It's quiet now, and we'll welcome visitors again tomorrow from noon to 5 p.m. You might even catch a song or two between studios. Come see work by me and thejadedog.com in studio 311.