Rebecca's Art Blog

TRANSITIONS by Denise Uyehara and James Luna

2012-01-21T18:58:00.001-07:00

Here is a video showing part of the performance of Transitions: Survival Skills in a Suburban Landscape; Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE), November 2011. Part of LACE's LA Goes Live series and Pacific Standard Time, an initiative of the Getty.
I was not able to go to the live performance, but my costumes are featured in this excerpt!
Enjoy,
~reb

Art critique + food= a great way to spend a Thursday night

2012-01-20T18:17:00.000-07:00

Yummy food

I helped plan and participated in an art-critique/food gathering last night at one of my artist friends (Angela Rose) homes.We have done these fun evenings before and it's always a great way to stay current with what each of us is working on in our studios. Each person contributes to food and beverages; this time we had a mainly southwest food theme in honor of our guest Lauren, who is from Boston. Lauren made tomato-fontina-basil bites plus crackers and black olives for an appetizer. I made chipotle ranch coleslaw and southwest polenta hash; Linda brought a a fun red table wine called "Mad Housewife", and Angela provided blood orange Italian soda; Angela's husband Leo made a wonderful pina colada sorbet for dessert. So the food was pretty awesome!

Linda waiting for everyone to sit down

Three art pieces: drawing, painting, and sculpture

The art critique part goes like this: bring an art piece (usually one) for critique. It doesn't have to be finished; this session, there were three art pieces on the block: Angela's charcoal drawing, Linda's clay sculpture (to be cast in bronze eventually), and my tiny little acrylic painting. Linda's piece wasn't finished yet. We put out the work when we arrive and critique it after dinner. No talking about the work until critique time!

The whole purpose for our critiques is to grow as artists. Not allowed: phrases such as "That's nice" or "I like it". That doesn't help anyone! You have to talk about what's working, what might need some work, and give an overall impression of the piece. If the piece isn't finished, you can make suggestions for resolving it. The artist is not allowed to talk while others are commenting on their artwork; only at the end can they explain what they were trying to achieve.

Angela's drawing is truly amazing!

Look at "Rachel" from this angle. Stunning!

These critiques are a wonderful way to encourage each other, help each other know when to stop working on pieces, and try out new techniques. In my case, my tiny painting was an experiment. I did it as part of a demo when I taught my art class in December. The others really loved it though...so you never know! I might have found a new direction to go in.

Put down your sorbet and check out this tiny painting!

Archipelego- synopsis with video and images

2012-01-20T10:38:00.003-07:00


See more images,video, and show dates and times on this website. Come and see my costume work at this show!

Textured Acrylic Abstract Painting at Pima

2012-01-03T19:53:00.005-07:00

Color mixing exercises

students at work

The last class was right before Christmas, so I finally got around to posting a few photos from the class. The class was successful for the most part and challenging for me- the students seemed to really enjoy it and created some wonderful work.

Teaching students (adult or children) how to create abstract art can be challenging, especially if the students have never done anything abstract before. However, adding in a few tips on design fundamentals (the Golden Ratio, Fibonacci numbers, etc.) helped a great deal; as well as looking at other artists' work, including Van Gogh. We even did color mixing exercises such as how to make different shades of green with black and yellow! That was a revelation to some of the students.

a finished student painting

The students indicated that they are waiting for me to teach another class soon, so maybe Pima Continuing Education will have me back in the summer or fall. The spring catalog is already out, so too late for that. Maybe I will get a chance to teach a similar class at a different location...bridging the gap before the fall session starts. I'll keep you all posted and let you know where, what, and how.
Have a very happy 2012!

Helen Frankenthaler, December 12, 1928 – December 27, 2011

2012-01-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

This is a really nice little video portrait of one the great contemporary artists of our time. We are so lucky to have the fabulous art she left behind! She continues to influence and inspire me to this day.

Mountains and Sea, 1952

Archipelego performance in February 2012

2011-12-08T14:32:00.001-07:00

My costume makes another appearance! The photo for this flyer was taken Tuesday at a secret and magical location in the mountains outside Tucson. I was there to handle the wardrobe for Denise.
If you are in Santa Monica next February, go see this performance. I just might go myself!
Cheers,
Reb

Teaching art class at Pima Community College Continuing Education

2011-11-18T14:46:00.001-07:00

I'm teaching a 3-week art class at the community campus (Off St. Marys near I-10) in December on three consecutive Wednesdays; it's an all-day class 8:30am-3:30pm. The class is non-credit adult education called "Abstract Textural Painting"; so any adult, regardless of art ability, can sign up for this class. I think it's going to be really fun. You can check out the online catalogue here.
I'm going to be exclusively using Golden acrylic and mediums in the class so it should be a real treat for beginning students!
~Rebecca

The Entropy of Melting Ice, 48" x 36", acrylic on panel

Two paintings meet their new owner!

2011-11-18T10:52:00.001-07:00

I delivered these two paintings to the buyer yesterday afternoon! It's so exciting to have a happy buyer greet you at the front door!

This buyer's house is seriously cute, with lots of beautiful colors on the walls. It's in a high-elevation area of southern Arizona, so the homeowner has fabulous mountain views and bright, clear light in her home.

We both figured the art world look good in her house but I didn't expect that she wouldn't even have to re-paint! The pumpkin-colored living room walls are a gorgeous backdrop for "Primordial Sea: The Deep". Her neutral furnishings make the art stand center-stage and this painting that will go above the sofa is the first thing you will see when you walk in the front door.

The mate to this painting is going into a bedroom. Again, her wall colors work in favor of the art!
The muted purple walls in the bedroom make the yellow-greens in "Primordial Sea" really pop.

Both pieces fit each room with enough space around them to let them shine and the ceilings are a bit higher than average so these large paintings are not overwhelming the rooms. Since the colors in her house are very compatible with the work, she could also move the paintings around as she sees fit: into the guest room or the office.

It's always feels really good when your art finds the perfect owner!
~Rebecca

Shakunetsu no Kimono: First image from the performance at LACE- bridging...

2011-11-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

Shakunetsu no Kimono: First image from the performance at LACE- bridging...: LACE , a.k.a. Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions had a recent performance by Denise Uyehara and James Luna. Here is a description of thei...

Open Studio tour: some of my art that sold on Sunday

2011-11-17T12:34:00.001-07:00

I thought I would share what sold at the tour! This isn't everything; I also sold a few small paper pieces and a few small "Jewel box" paintings as well. People do buy abstract art in a city inundated with southwest-themed art and crafts!

I'm delivering both of the "Primordial Sea" paintings to one patron today. So I will get a photo of the happy new owner with her new paintings. Once the artwork has been hung up, I'll go back and get some photos of the pieces in situ if I can. It's a great promotion idea that art buyers often embrace. They want to be known as a patron and supporter of the arts and I want to promote the sale of my art. It's usually a win-win.

Sometimes it takes a while for people to decide where to hang pieces. If someone needs help visualizing how the piece will work in their own home, I tell buyers to live with the art for a few days, even weeks and move the art around, trying it in different rooms, viewing the work from different angles and at different times of day. And if the walls need to be painted a different color in order to make the art work in the room, that's an option.

In fact, I can be hired for art/design/color consultations for those folks that are "visually challenged". I will go to the home, office, or lobby, and recommend artwork placement and wall colors (If the wall color needs changing) for maximum impact. I can also bring a few selected pieces to the buyer and we can look at what will work best in their space. This is a great service for office settings for busy executives.

More art updates soon......next up, my art class I'm teaching at Pima Community College Continuing Adult Education!
~Rebecca

Open Studio Tour Weekend 2011- the next day

2011-11-14T20:35:00.001-07:00

It was a very unusual Open Studio this year! Saturday it was overcast and about 65 degrees, not too bad but I didn't have many visitors and only sold two small pieces. That was the day the art was displayed all over the courtyard and we had the bar under the stairs! I served hot spiced cider with rum, lentil soup, and assorted nibbles.
I was very disappointed about the low turnout and lack of sales, so I feared the worst the next day.

Art displayed outside in the garden.

The bar under the stairs with the print holder and more art. I sold the big painting in the center!

My two helpers Angela and Lauren getting ready to taste the cider.

That night it rained. At 8:00am the next morning I was moving all the art into my studio, so it was crowded and not as cool as the displays the day before. It rained off and on all day. It was chilly, grey, and wet, so I figured NO ONE would come! I was worried the signs on the street would melt away.

However, the real buyers came out on Sunday! I had a slightly better turn out and made many more sales, ranging from $15 up to $900. So overall it turned out well.

A happy buyer with her new artwork! Marnie bought this sweet little painting called "Moonflower".

I think there were two main reasons I had some success on Sunday: I do my own marketing rather than rely on the local arts council (I always do this anyway since my studio is off the beaten path) and I sold items for wholesale and below. It's possible if you aren't in a gallery....no competition with gallery prices; before I couldn't do that. People really want to own original art and I was pleasantly surprised how interested they were in buying considering how the economy is right now.

I will definitely take the same approach next year! And not worry so much; you never know how things will turn out.
Ciao,
~Reb

Shakunetsu no Kimono: All Souls' Procession- Purple riot

2011-11-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

Shakunetsu no Kimono: All Souls' Procession- Purple riot: Angela getting made-up I finally had a chance to post some of the photos from the All Soul's Procession! It was quite a wonderful day, w...

Tucson's Open Studio Tour AND My Art Sale: one in the same!

2011-11-08T17:00:00.002-07:00

It's this weekend!
The weather should be gorgeous.....so come over, hang out, have a drink ans shop!
Remember: the holidays are practically here and art makes a fabulous gift. A gift that you can pass down to your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews!
I hope to see you this weekend.
~Rebecca

Article about the Tucson All Soul's Procession

2011-11-03T20:18:00.000-07:00

There is a great article on the All Soul's Procession in the Zocalo magazine. of course I'm the chick in the yukata!!

Word Play show!

2011-10-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

I will have four pieces in this show from the "Esoterica" and "Esoterica: 2012" series. I hope you are able to make it to the reception!

~Reb

Shakunetsu no Kimono: Archipelego-the costumes

2011-10-17T18:59:00.001-07:00

Shakunetsu no Kimono: Archipelego- the costumes: Woohoo! I have photos! Here are images of the costume and headdress I created in May for Denise Uyehara from the magical high-tech material...

She's back!

2011-10-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

The postcards should arrive ANY DAY now....if you live in southern Arizona and want to be added to my mailing list, I will send you one!

Armed with your Kwartel postcard, you will be allowed to come to a very exclusive event!!
Drop me a line: Art@RebeccaBushner.com

I hope to see you there!
~reb

Art Show- at the gallery at Tohono Chul

2011-10-11T10:49:00.002-07:00

I was invited to be in this upcoming art show! Here is an example of one the four pieces that I will have in the show:

Wordplay: Artful Words
November 10, 2011, 2011 – January 22, 2012
Main Gallery
Reception: Thurs, Nov 10, 5:30-7:30pm
Artists explore glyphs, letterforms, the art of language, quotes and the power of words within visual expressions.

You may have seen this series elsewhere on my website...it's an on-going series I started in 2007.
I hope to see you at the reception!
Cheers,
~Rebecca

What is she saying?

2011-09-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

She is about to say something but she is so quiet, we cannot hear her! Very soon, you will be able to hear her message.

Stay tuned for the special event she will be announcing in the next couple of weeks!

Sewing on the sleeves

2011-09-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

I managed to cut and sew on the sleeves on the Tyvek kimono this evening. They are rolled up, otherwise not only would they get in the way, it would be total chaos! I did end up making them 20 feet long apiece and 30" wide, so they will stretch out horizontally rather than vertically like a regular kimono. There are just a few finishing touches, then it's finished.
Woohoo!

Shakunetsu no Kimono: Tyvek kimono-an art project posted on my other blog

2011-09-19T20:42:00.001-07:00

Shakunetsu no Kimono: Tyvek kimono: I have succeeded in creating a hitoe kimono out of DuPont Tyvek! It's almost finished...90% of it is done! It's really hard to photograph s...

I'm teaching a 2-day workshop at Toscana!

2011-09-13T21:40:00.001-07:00

You can even pay online! Just go to this link and scroll down.

Toscana Studio and Gallery in Oro Valley

Mixed-media Collage Workshop with Rebecca Bushner

Saturday and Sunday, October 1 & 2, $200.00 plus $20.00 materials fee

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

For more information click here. To register for this class download the registration form here.

I hope to see you there!!

Cheers,

Reb

Say hello to my little friend

2011-09-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

See this little birdie? You will be seeing more of my new little friend in the next few weeks! Stay tuned, because I will have a big announcement around the first week of October!
Watch the birdie!
Cheers,
Reb

The costume collaboration continues!

2011-08-30T19:54:00.008-07:00

Sorry for the lack of entries lately; I have been on three trips in the last month- Chicago area, Seattle, and Palo Alto. I'm done traveling for a while, at least until November.

I met with Denise again today to talk about the next phase of costumes for the upcoming collaborative project she is doing with James Luna.

This performance piece will be premiered at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE) on November 10, 2011. I will have to work fast on the next costume bits since they will be used for promotional photos before the show. I will also be attending the show this time.

To read about this exciting project, donate to fund this project and watch a video, go here!

I hope to see you in LA in November!

Toscana Studio and Gallery is in the news again!

2011-07-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

My friend Linda, owner of Toscana, just tipped me off about this great write-up in the Arizona Daily Star. Linda is a very talented and wonderful person plus she runs the Only gallery in Oro Valley, AZ. Kudos to Linda for pioneering her school and gallery!

"A Fertile Mind" by Linda Ahearn

Costume project phase 1

2011-07-10T12:14:00.001-07:00

I have posted while back about the hat and kimono costume I created for performance artist Denise Uyehara. She did a performance of her piece-Archipelago: Islands of Land, Water and Legend in LA at the National Asian American Theater Conference and Festival. Here is a link to some video shorts, a promo for the festival, etc.

Here is a link to a photo taken by Kevin Mapp during a rehearsal. The photos must be purchased from the photographer in order for me to post them to my blog and I'm still viewing all of them to see which ones I like the best! Archipelago will be performed again in it's entirety in California and Tucson in the future.
More soon!
~rebecca

Teaching a workshop this fall: Cyanotypes!!

2011-06-24T10:19:00.003-07:00

I just wanted to put it out there...then it will become real!
I'm teaching a 1-day basic cyanotype- blueprint- solar gram- sun print workshop in September or October at Star Bear Studio! I will probably focus on solar gram and sun prints since we will not be creating film negatives, but I will be giving instructions on how to make your own from digital prints and will bring in some for a demonstration.
I'm very excited since Star Bear is such an extraordinary place. It's a fabulous and beautiful custom home filled inside and out and with artwork; PLUS there is a wonderful art studio/art making space, all in the beautiful Sonoran Desert. Star Bear is so extraordinary it cannot be described, so you'll just have to keep in touch so you can find out when the workshop will be. Ursela Gurau, the owner of Star Bear Studio, can also let you know when the workshops will be. Ursela teaches clay sculpture but also has visiting artists come and teach other art-making methods.

These are some cyanotypes I have made using digital negatives.

Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island, WA

Filling Station, Mammoth, AZ

Keiko Doll, Santa Fe, NM

Fun at the Lumie Awards!

2011-06-10T19:31:00.003-07:00

Last night my friend Linda and I went to the annual Tucson Pima Art and Business awards event, also known as "The Lumies". One of my closest friends, Angela Rose was nominated but she couldn't make it since she is on the east coast doing an artist in residence. (We are SO sorry you didn't win Angela!!) There were tons of people there and it was all in all a great event.
This year's awards event was a little different than last years because it was more of a dance party and held at the fantastically retro El Casino Ballroom in South Tucson. There was much dancing to the music of The Jons, an awesome local band that played some Latin-flavored rock and roll.
We managed to take a few dark and blurry photos of us dancing to commemorate the event!
Enjoy,
Rebecca

Linda looking hot in her Little Black Dress

Mia Hansen making shadow puppets behind the trumpet player

Me having a great time in my new slinky dress.

A great article about creativity!

2011-06-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

I found this wonderful article about creativity on Creative Freelancer Blog. I agree with the author...creativity is not about art. I feel creative most of the time but I don't make art most of the time, I'm doing different projects. Sometimes these projects are art, sometimes they are more "practical", sometimes just day to day living.
What do you think about this idea?

Finished the White Hana Hat!

2011-05-31T20:28:00.000-07:00

This is the finished hat! The artist has it now, I delivered it last week. I did another costume fitting today, I'm tweaking the "obi" to shorten it and I'm making the kimono easy for the artist to put on and take off on stage, so I'm doing some more modifications. I will be taking some photos of the finished hat and costume soon, so stay tuned for more photos!
~Rebecca

Go on Facebook and VOTE NOW! Vote TODAY!

2011-05-21T17:27:00.001-07:00

My taiko group, Odaiko Sonora, is a FINALIST in the Toyota 100 Cars for Good! We must win the mini van!

All you have to do is VOTE. (Click on the link folks!)

If you have a Facebook account, you can vote.

Vote now, vote only once.

The Polls are closing tonight! No need to buy anything, just Click!! That's it! Thanks!

Sofrt sculpture: White hana hat for another artist

2011-05-20T19:41:00.000-07:00

Remember this hat I made a while back? (Very loosely based on an Okinawan hanagasa). It was made out of paper. Well, a performance artist saw it and contacted me almost two months ago to commission me to make a white version for her. It's white because it will have video image projected onto it. This one needs to be more durable than the paper original since it will be used in more than one performance. Plus it needs to be much lighter.

Fast forward to this week, and it's 98% finished!

It's made from a hi-tech fabric called Fosshape, made by this company. I have wired the rim and the "petals" on top with millinery wire, so it's more of a sculpture than a hat. The whole thing is hand-sewn. It's also really big: 24" in diameter and 12" tall. Next week, the performer is stopping by for a final fitting (There will be a cap inside) and I will have some photos of her wearing it to post!
~Cheers,
Rebecca

Art Show update

2011-03-08T10:40:00.001-07:00

I have a couple of paintings in this show from my "Spring" series! If you are in the area, come by and check it out. Contents Interiors is a fabulous store!

~Reb

PS: A map link to the store is here.

The only gallery in Oro Valley!

2011-02-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a really nice article about the only gallery in Oro Vally, AZ. I have been in off and on at this gallery since 2006. The owner is also a good friend.
Read about Toscana Studio and Gallery online here: "From child's play to serious art, Toscana Studio & Gallery grows".
Enjoy!
~Rebecca

Sold!

2011-02-10T15:56:00.002-07:00

Firebug, 6x6x2-3/4"

Rose, 4x4x2-3/4"


Laguna, 4x4x2-3/4"

It's nice to sell your art work to people that really, really love it. I'm really glad I sold "Firebug", it was one of my favorite small paintings from 2010.
The only artwork I'm selling right now are very small pieces. Our economy at work! People do really seem to enjoy these small paintings and they look great in small groupings. Some of my collectors already have quite a bit of large art, so the small stuff also fills a niche, sometimes literally.
Besides selling tiny paintings, I'm working on a continuing the Spring series and I'm almost finished with "Spring IV". I'm also starting on a new batch of tiny art, because that's what's in demand. I've entered a few shows, got into one coming up in March. Looking for more shows, but with galleries disappearing left and right, it's becoming more difficult to show and sell.
In the meantime, the Tucson Gem show is in town, so come to Tucson and buy something for yourself, something for a friend, and get a little Kettle corn or a Sonoran hot dog on the side. It runs through February 13th, so go out and buy your Valentine's day gift ASAP! I bought myself a pair of ruby bead earrings and some totally fun colorful glass skull beads!
Cheers,
Reb

Art Reception Invitation

2010-12-06T13:37:00.002-07:00

All Souls Procession 2010 Finale pt 3

2010-12-03T18:05:00.001-07:00

All Souls Procession 2010 Finale pt 2

2010-12-03T18:05:00.000-07:00

All Souls Procession 2010 Finale pt 1

2010-12-03T18:04:00.001-07:00

My First Encaustic Ever

2010-11-30T18:05:00.003-07:00

I got to play with encaustic at a friend's studio a couple of weeks ago. It is amazing stuff: hot wax! Really, really fun and a really new and different medium for me. However, some things remain the same: you work in layers, the same as printmaking and many other art forms.
I'm now contemplating whether to buy some new "hot" equipment and set up a small space in my studio so I can create some new artworks. I might have to do some more playing at my friend's studio before I decide though. It's actually not that expensive to set up, but it does mean a whole new set of pigments and colors. No acrylic allowed! Art supplies are expensive and encaustic is no less than any other type of art materials.

You also need a bit of ventilation when working with hot wax and damar vanish, but I think I have that covered.

Here are the two pieces that I made at her studio. I wasn't really trying to make finished art pieces, but it just happened that way.

The top piece is small, 5x5x2". It's called "Standing too Close to the Sun". The bottom piece is 10x10x1" and is called "Dissipating Turbulence".
Both were fun to make and I love the surface quality of the wax.

I have just entered both of these pieces in a local encaustic show, so wish me luck! Cheers,
reb

Post, post open studio tour

2010-11-30T17:47:00.003-07:00

I was thinking about the tour again especially after TPAC sent a survey last week. The survey was terrible in general and badly worded. I won't go into the details of the survey or my comments, but it makes me think twice yet again about doing the tour next year. I think I can probably do just as well just hosting an art event at my studio and inviting people over. In fact, I have done just that a couple of years ago...in conjunction with the Open Studio Tour. I was at another studio and we decided to open early and have a special event by invitation only: brunch. It was highly successful. Everything we sold was sold during our early opening hours to people on our mailing lists. Neither of us sold anything for the remainder of the weekend to the random folks that come to visit during the tour. I'm not saying it wasn't worth it to be open all weekend, but it sure felt like we didn't need to. While it's great to have people visit and see you work, get to know you, etc. the ROI isn't exactly motivating me right now to do it again. But I'll see what happens in 2011!
And there you are!
~reb

PS: Here are images of the 4 paintings I sold during the tour. Everything as tiny! All of these are 5x5x2", three of them went to one of my collectors.

Open Studio Tour recap

2010-11-15T16:06:00.001-07:00

The tours went pretty well this year...at least as far as visitors go. Lisa Mishler and I stayed really busy both days, which meant we had a pretty steady stream of people! Sunday was the best day, at the most people we had at once was 10. Most showed up later in the day Sunday, for various reasons: farmer's market, church, worked late the night before, slept in, and we were sometimes the last stop because of our location.

Here is the breakdown: about 27 people Saturday, 40 people Sunday.
The good:
All art sales occurred on Sunday. Most people that came to see us were referred by the other artist's studios on the "Pinky Pig card or got a Pinky Pig card at one of the locations we left them at. Some people did know about the Open Studio Tour from year's past and usually tried to hit two different areas of town each year. So our extra marketing seemed to pay off for the most part. However, two artists (Actually three, my neighbor Ed Muren was on the tour, so people went back and forth between our studios all day) at one studio helped a lot since both of our mailing lists were used to invite people. Having two artists helped immensely to keep people interested in the art, the great food (People loved the hummus and potato salad) and to handle sales. Both of use talked up the other artists on the Pinky Pig card as well as my neighbor's work, and he sent people to see us, so it was a great system.
There was high praise for the 5 signs I put out on my street leading people to the studio. The weather was gorgeous, everyone was really nice, and we met some wonderful people.

The bugs in the system:
Art sales only happened on Sunday, and no one came Saturday and then came back Sunday to buy. We had unique visitors both days, so maybe Sunday could just be the day that the buyers came. The Zocalo magazine had the tour directory this year inside the November issue, so there was no "art calendar" as we have had in the past. A few people asked where the calendars were! I also had a few people call to ask for directions since they couldn't figure out the Zocalo directory at all. There were a couple of complaints that the magazine wasn't available in their area but several people didn't even know about the directory, so they picked up a copy from us.
Too much food! I always make too much but it was great to have some nice snacks for people. We had wine as well, but usually people won't drink because they have to drive. Popular items: veggies & crackers with homemade hummus, potato salad, GF "Oreo-style" cookies, lemonade. One woman was elated that everything was gluten-free!
I had mentioned that I was going to do a solargram demo and it was on some e-mails sent to mailing lists. However, we were so busy it would've been tough to do. Luckily no one asked about the demo since I had forgotten about it anyway.
Only one person asked about the Tucson Art Trail van, which was canceled due to lack of ticket sales. I think the van service is brilliant but we just didn't have time to really market it. We found out about it way too late. There was no mention of it on our Pinky Pig card. Mentioning the van service in the e-mails and on Facebook was good, but not good enough!

Overall the experience was OK; my art sales were low compared to the amount of people that came to visit. I'm not sure if I will do this next year, but I'll just have to wait and see. I think another Pinky Pig (Or similar) card is definitely going to be in the works, with more restaurant friends listed. Maybe even more artists! We will need a bigger postcard!

More about the tour soon as I hear feedback from the Pinky Pigs artists later this week!
Ciao,
Reb

All Souls' Procession: Jellyfish Crane Rehearsal 2010

2010-11-09T14:11:00.003-07:00

A pre-ASP video

Rome is on top of of the rig with a taiko. I didn't attend this rehearsal, but
at least we have the video from Stu Jenks!
~reb

After a Night of All Souls....

2010-11-09T00:05:00.003-07:00

The journey that is the All Souls Procession can't be told in one blog entry, so here are some random bits. Keep coming back as more photos & video appear from various sources.

Here are a couple of photos I took after the Grand Finale. Because I was in the show, all of my photos of before and after, not during.

After the urn burns on the tower, ash falls like snow. The camera flash turns the bits into orbs....maybe they are the spirits of deceased people?

This wonderfully ecstatic Flam Chen stilt walker embraced me after the show, I hugged her lower legs since her stilts were so tall.

Being in this year's procession and Grand Finale is probably one of the single most memorable experiences in my life.
More reflections on the event in the next few days. Snippets are still coming back to me....moments in time, feelings, flashes of memory: the rush of adrenalin and a pounding heart while waiting on stage, and the feel of s stranger's skin under a makeup brush, stopping to breathe, the smell of dust and burning lamp oil, the sounds of the crowd, the light-headed feeling of not having eaten in a while.
~Rebecca

Ride around and see art in northwest Tucson!!!!

2010-11-08T12:45:00.004-07:00

Visit the Open Studio Tour 2010, Northwest Artists!

November 13th-14th, 11:00am to 5:00pm BOTH days!

Ride, don’t drive to see 10 artists at 7 different locations!

BUY your tickets for the Pinky Pig Trail van HERE.

Tucson Art Trail Pinky Pig Trail partners and Trail Heads (Where to catch a ride in the van).

For more information about the trail head locations, tickets for the van, call Sharon at (520) 301-6143.

For more information about each artist, please visit their individual websites.

Open Studio Tour Nov. 13-14th

2010-11-01T19:49:00.002-07:00

The TOUR is almost here, less and two weeks away!

Look for "Pinky"the Pig postcards all over northwest Tucson, the Foothills, Oro Valley, Marana, Dove Mountain, and Rancho Vistoso!!

Northwest Artists Open Studio Tour!!

2010-10-22T11:30:00.001-07:00

Yes, folks, it almost here, the Open Studio Tour! This year, I have partnered with 9 other artists in the northwest part of the Tucson metro area and we created our own marketing: a gorgeous, oversized postcard! Look for this card at your favorite cafe, restarant, resort, hotel, and upscale retail store in the the northwest part of town: including Tortolito, Catalina Foothills, Casas Adobes, and the towns of Oro Valley, Marana, and Saddlebrooke, etc.
We also have our own photo album on Facebook!

Blue Ribbon

2010-10-17T10:45:00.003-07:00

I was at the Southern Arizona Arts Guild (SAAG) art show reception last night at Toscana Studio & Gallery in Oro Valley.

One of the paintings I submitted one a first prize! Wow, was I surprised!

I was very surprised because first of all, being new to SAAG, I didn't know they gave out prizes, and secondly, I was again surprised that I won because the guild tends toward representative work and mine is abstract.
Here is my winning painting, "Point in Time".

I also met a very cool dude at the reception, Joel Bresler. He gave me a book he wrote: Letters to be Read in a Heavily British Accent.

It looks like a fun, quick read. The reviews are great, so I look forward to checking it out in my spare time.

I also have two photographs in a another show in Oro Valley and will be featured in an upcoming exhibit in downtown Tucson in the Pioneer building. News about that show soon....rumor has it that it will go up this week but the reception won't be until December because of the open studio tour.

More art news soon!

~reb

Open Studio Tour 2010

2010-10-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

The tour information is up and running! That means I need to get it together by November.

Details on the TPAC website!!

Hope to see you at the pre-view exhibit reception.
~reb

Spinning plates

2010-09-28T00:56:00.003-07:00

That's what I'm doing right now, spinning plates. If you count getting ready for this year's All Souls Procession, I have FOUR part-time to full-time jobs. But I wouldn't have it any other way. For this year, Odaiko Sonora (The taiko group I play with) is teaming up with Ensphere, one of Tucson's most fabulous alt-trip-rock bands for the finale of the All Souls Procession. That's right, the FINALE. We are playing taiko with a rock band with fire all around us. Where the enormous urn is burned (Download the Official Prayer Form to place in the urn, designed by AZ artist Daniel Martin Diaz.) with great spectacle and pomp. We will be wearing crazy costumes featuring the color blue since that is this year's color.

So let me explain.
First, if you don't know about All Souls, go look at the ASP/MMOS website. It's too late at night and too lengthy to explain it here easily or better than the ASP/MMOS website. Secondly, it's is one of the prime reasons to visit Tucson in November. (Besides the Open Studio Tour of course, one of my other main jobs!) It's difficult to explain ASP, but it is intense, spiritual, theatrical, and artistic all rolled into one. It's not a parade. It's a procession of people honoring the Dead. And it's HUGE....last year had about 20,000 people. That's right folks, 20,000+ people. And no one was hurt. It's family-friendly! How cool is that??

How does this relate to art? If I have to explain, then you need to open your eyes and ears! (And get a huge clue!!) This event started as one artist honoring the passing of her father in 1990 with a group of like-minded individuals. It was performance art and has remained performance art on a huge scale.
So if you are in Tucson in November, join me in the procession! It will change your life.
~reb

The burning of the giant urn, courtesy of the MMOS website.

Mixed media art workshop!

2010-09-21T10:21:00.001-07:00

Students at work

Some of what we made

Striking a pose with two of my pieces I created

I had a small but enthusiastic group for my art workshop over the weekend. One of the students was a professional artist, and one had never done any art before! Over all we had a great time and created some really good work. Here are some photos of the exciting stuff we made.

So what exactly did we do??? This workshop is one of those things that is hard to describe but once you do it, it's really fun and people love it.
What we did was create our own patterned or printed paper using a photographic technique called cyanotype, blueprint, solargrams, or sun prints. Most of what we create were solargrams, which is using objects to create the prints rather than a photographic negative. Once we had some finished solargrams, we used it to make collages on stretched canvas or on paper.

So this is really two classes in one: making solargrams and making collages with them. It's really just another technique for creating art, making marks and thinking a different way. This workshop is different enough from most familiar art forms that most people know of (Painting, drawing, watercolors, ceramics, etc.) that people are often surprised at how it becomes a trigger for a new burst of creativity. Students are forced to work with serendipity and chance since the photographic process is sometimes unpredictable. Once they realize they have to "let go" of the outcome when making solargrams, they realize they must start paying attention to composition and layering techniques in order to get a good piece of art. Students that are customarily used to realism might find this intimidating....however, I have noticed that by doing something abstract such as a collage, they stop worrying about the outcome and start just having fun. Joy in art creation usually gives the best results!

I'm teaching an art workshop!!

2010-08-29T17:45:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in this fabulous workshop, make sure you contact Toscana directly to enroll. And if you already have acrylic paints and paper collage materials. I will waive the materials fee! Feel free to e-mail me with questions.
Hope to see you there!
~Rebecca

Art sales and if you are in Schaumberg.....

2010-08-17T19:11:00.003-07:00

I received an art show announcement from a friend in Illinois. So if you live in the area, go see her work, she does wonderful art!! I wish I could be there, the title of the show looks fabulous.Click on the image to go to the Iwo Jima series.

I also just sold a painting over the weekend: "Yellow and Red Study", acrylic on panel, 16x16". Luckily the gallery was ready for a couple of replacement pieces, so I dropped off two other paintings today to fill the gap in the walls.

More stuff soon!
see ya,
reb

Art in Europe

2010-08-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

One of my patrons sent me photos of a few of the "Esoterica" series that I sold her a while back. She had them professionally framed and they look great. Maybe I can get her to take a photo of the whole room so you can see where she hung them in her house. She lives in Europe.

Each of these pieces is 7.5" wide by 11.5" tall. From left to right: "Fig. 5, The Transformation, 5.1"; "Fig. 4, The Application, 4.1", and "Fig. 2, The Hieronymous Device, 2.1". This patron also purchased Figures 1 and 3 and had them framed as well but that photo didn't turen out as well. Maybe I can tweak it in Photoshop!
More soon.....I just got back from a trip!
Ciao,
Reb

New art

2010-08-02T20:11:00.001-07:00

Finally something new! I finished a new painting today: meet "Spring III", 36" x 36" x 2-7/8", acrylic on birch panel.

In case it looks vaguely familiar (The title must have given it away!) here are the other two "Spring" paintings, "Spring II" is below (Still available, it's 8" x 8", acrylic on birch panel) and the original "Spring", shown on the bottom, was sold in June.

Other than finishing a painting and starting a new art, I'm getting ready for the 2010 Open Studio Tour. That where Tucson's artists open their studios to the public for one weekend in November. It's really cool and a wonderful marketing opportunity since it's so inexpensive to be in the directory. So stay tuned for more about new art and OST 2010!
Cheers,
reb

Study for a Dia de los Muertos piece

2010-07-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

Last night I had an idea for a project and created a digital study for it. Not sure what medium yet. I'll post more images when I have decided what direction this will take me.
Cheers, Reb

New crop of small paintings

2010-06-28T12:28:00.003-07:00

"Firebug", 4x4" "Red Tide", 4x4"

Above:
"Moonflower", 6x6"
Below:
"Spring II", 8x8"

These cute and affordable paintings are all acrylic on deep birch panels, so they look like boxes and can sit on a shelf if you like. Both "Firebug" and "Spring II" are in Tucson area galleries.
More news: I just registered for the Tucson Pima Arts Council Open Studio Tour in November. That should be really fun. I'll have to do a bit of extra marketing to get people to stop by my studio since it's off the beaten path. I'm also working on a larger (36" x 36") painting, "Spring III", which should be done later this week. And there is a taiko concert coming up on July
6th, so extra rehearsals and sore muscles. Then there is a couple of upcoming obon festivals...can't miss those!
Stay cool,
reb

Lovers of art, snobs of food.

2010-06-22T00:55:00.011-07:00

Lately I've been discussing how annoying Food Snobs are with a friend of mine. They drive me crazy. I love good food but I'm tired of people that are put off if you spent less than $15 on a bottle of wine, let alone bought it at a place other than a chic wine boutique. Getting it on sale at Trader Joe's or Total Wine and More isn't snobby enough. And forget take-out food, no matter how much you spent. Never good enough.

Analogous to the Food Snob is the Art Snob. Then there are Food Lovers and the Art Lovers, each similar in the same way, just not as snobby. So, here is my take on the food-art/snob-lover debate.

Food Snob: Loves great food as long as someone else (another gourmand of course) has decided the particular food is somehow more special, rare, expensive, greener, more sustainable, more organic, exclusive, or better than food you can get "anywhere". Anywhere being Safeway, Wal*Mart, Krogers, Food City, etc. For the Food Snob, it's about being able to impress others. These are the people that send you a recipe you have to make for their potluck or a list of special over-priced wines you have to buy for their dinner party. Anything else won't go with the food. They don't trust others food choices.
Another interesting note- if they have a food allergy or issue, they are loud and/or rude about asking the waiter about the menu. They make a point of embarrassing everyone else at the table.

Food Lover: Loves great food if it tastes wonderful. It doesn't matter if you can buy it at Safeway, Lee Lee's Oriental Market , a funky diner, a taco truck, or at a posh store like Draegers, as long as it's fabulous. For the Food Lover, it's about the food and sharing with others. And no name-dropping please! These folks don't care nearly as much about others food choices, it's all good. If you bring spam musubi to the pot-luck, excellent! They are excited to try it. And they aren't rude when they don't care for it....just pass on it and eat something else. Making a big deal out of it is downright snobby. And if they have a food allergy or issue, they are discrete and diplomatic, usually talking to the waitstaff before sitting down in the restaurant or even calling ahead. If the water screws up their order, no harm, no foul, just send it back without complaint. No need to make a scene.

Art Snob: Loves great art as long as it's a big name (Possibly dead, but famous and alive works too) artist. It helps if several art critics, art magazines, and serious galleries have declared that the artist is a Big Name Artist. The more exclusive and pricey, the better. Big art helps too: anything larger than your average living room sofa is better, if it's gigantic bronzes or steel suitable for outdoors only, that's the ultimate. They buy at big name galleries and auctions usually but the Art Snob doesn't have to be rich, just pretending to have money and being the snob is enough. Just as with the Food Snob, it's about impressing others. They always name drop as often as possible and if you don't recognize the artist, your are probably from middle America.
Art Lover: Loves art because they truly love art. Big name artists are great if they love the work, but lesser known artists are fine too, as are outsider artists, Low brow art, student art, primitive art, found objects, glass paperweights, you name it. They are not out to impress, just to enjoy. Art is for enjoyment. They hang it all over their home and office, and even have it in their yard. They will hang their framed 3-year old's drawings next to a Damien Hirst spot painting. They go to the local Artist's Open Studio Tour and actually buy art from the locals. Lack of pretentious attitude is the key difference here.

Spotting the Art Snob:
Best place to look- a gallery or museum show opening is most obvious. They drink lots of wine, (Closet wine experts of course) and wax poetically about how the European Galleries just can't compete with this tawdry place. Sometimes they speak with a fake accent, to sounds more authoritative when speaking about the latest Anish Kapoor project. Is a member of most of the big art museums, or at least the one in their city. Usually dressed in black or grey. Or both. Drives some kind of European car, usually silver or black.
Spotting the Food Snob:
Best place to look- a trendy food store or trendy farmer's market of the moment. Always has their own recycled plastic/fabric/Third World reclaimed tote bags for organic veggies and artisan breads. A trendy and expensive restaurant is another favorite haunt. Look for them sending back food to the waiter because the salad dressing has a touch too much yuzu juice in it. Or explaining at length and rather loudly how they are allergic to shellfish and even the tiniest speck will lead them to convulsions and shock. They will hand you their lawyer's business card, just in case. And if their order is screwed up, be warned. Another embarrassing scene will ensue. Drives either a Prius or a giant SUV. It just depends on how liberal they are.

So, what does this all mean? Art and food are very much related. And snobs are mostly related...particularly when it comes to food and art. Being a snob is largely based on attitude. People can fall into these categories, but in reality, most Art Lovers have been Art Snobs at one time or another and most Food Snobs have been Food Lovers at one time of another. Categories can be difficult, but the truth is usually stranger than fiction. I myself consider myself a Food Lover and an Art Lover rather than a Snob, but I have acted snobbish on occasion. I like Organic wild-gathered-in-season Washington State Chanterelles and Wild-Caught Copper River Alaskan Salmon as much as the next person, but if you ask me what I had for dinner last night, I'll just say "Salmon". As for the art? I like local artists (And local food) and I usually buy art with my tax refund check. And yes, I have a big sculpture in my yard.
~Reb

PS: I LOVE Anish Kapoor's work. Saw his work at the Tate Modern last year.

Top photo: http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2007/10/29/is-alice-waters-an-elitist-food-snob/, a food blog by Barbara FisherBottom image: Frida Kahlo. Still Life with Parrot. 1951. Oil on canvas. 25.4 x 28.9 cm. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA.

Hot summer, cool art

2010-06-09T12:42:00.002-07:00

Yesterday I picked up some artwork at Platform Gallery since they close for the summer; and took it over to Oro Valley's Toscana Studio and Gallery along with some new work. Linda (Owner) loved the new tiny "purse-sized art" that I had brought along with several pieces from my Flux and Disorder series. She was thrilled to see my new work.

After hanging the art at Toscana, a friend and I had a meeting at the new Picazzo's Organic Italian Kitchen in Oro Valley. Fabulous food and some great happy hour deals. Their goegeous appetizer hummus plate (half price!) was large enough for two to share and I didn't need dinner later!

Well, here's to the dry summer season in Tucson...it's a great time to percolate. The wet (monsoon) season is just around the corner! In the meantime, it's time to catch another juvenile rock squirrel (4 so far today and 1 yesterday!) in my trap (Don't worry, they are not harmed!) and release it at the other end of the neighborhood. They love apples.
More art news soon,
~reb

Purse-sized art!

2010-06-08T11:27:00.003-07:00

Check out the latest art trend-- purse-sized art!
You can be green and tell the gallery politely: "I don't need a bag, I'll just put it in my purse." (Of course if you don't carry a purse, you can just bring your own shopping bag.)

These little paintings can be hung on the wall or sit on a shelf. Their colors and size are reminiscent of enameled boxes. Ultra-cute and ultra-affordable, get them while they are hot!
E-mail me for availibility: art@rebeccabushner.com.

From Left to right, top to bottom:
Laguna, Rose, Sea+Sun, Ruins, The Dream. All are 4" x 4" x 1-5/8", acrylic on birch panel.

2010-06-07T11:08:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone!
Summer is here with a vengeance in Tucson and the last big downtown gallery event was this past weekend- the Summer Art Cruise! It's put on by the Central Tucson Gallery Association. It was a fun event and a great turnout despite that fact that it was held from 6-9pm on the hottest day of the year so far! (Note to CTGA- have these art walks from 7-10pm....most people wait until the sun has gone down before they go out in the summer ).

The good news: I sold the above painting at Platform Gallery. The bad news: I think I was the only artist that sold anything at that gallery during the event.
During the summer in Tucson, many galleries either close for a couple of months or shorten their hours since the tourist traffic just isn't there.

Many artists use this summer "downtime" to work on new projects, get out of town for a few days to reset the creative process, and experiment. This is also the time that there are quite a few "art summer camps" for kids going on- great for kids, parents, and artists lucky enough to get a teaching gig during one of these events. I'm still working on the teaching part for this summer, but there are other things in the works!

Stay cool!
~rebecca

Tucson Spring!

2010-04-27T13:04:00.001-07:00

It's spring here in the Sonoran Desert!!
Here are some photos (As promised!) of some of the spring flowers in my yard and around my neighborhood.We had great rains this winter-spring and have more wildflowers than usual. I have names for most of them listed under the photo. The flowers are great inspiration for artwork!

Top row: unknown wild vine; Echinocereus engelmannii; Punica granatum
Middle row: Baileya multiradiata; Caesalpinia gilliesii; Opuntia Santa Rita
Bottom row: unknown wild flower; Opuntia lindheimeri var. aciculata; Nerium species, dwarf.

2010-04-14T15:37:00.001-07:00

It's spring in Tucson! Spring is one of the best seasons here in the Sonoran Desert. With all of the rain we have had in the last couple of months, it has been gorgeous with green everywhere and lots of desert wildflowers. Some of the cactus are also starting to bloom as well. So I will post some flower pictures in the next few days.

I've been away from the blog for a bit but now I'm back. I have been in the studio lately (four new paintings and one more in the works) and I've also been doing some different things lately: friends from Oregon staying with me, two paella parties ( see photo below), been playing several taiko gigs (Just got back from one today at PCC West campus) and we have several more taiko shows between now and early July; and on Sunday I took a kimono kitsuke workshop at Ro-Ho-En with two more scheduled for the next two Sundays! So I have to practice tying obi.

In the meantime, here are pictures of the two paellas Rosa and I made; one is all shellfish and the other is chicken and sausage.

Below are three of the new paintings....more photos of art soon!
Cheers,
reb

2010-03-16T18:17:00.001-07:00

Well, things are OK so far at the art show. I did mention in a previous post that I sold 2 pieces at the reception. They are shown below.
The one on the left ("Small Jolt") is very small, only about 4" square but it's a birch panel about 2-1/2" thick. It looks like a small enameled box and can sit on a shelf or hang on the wall. The other piece is called "Fire Within" and is 24" x 24" x 2-5/8" on birch panel. I'm not that surprised smaller pieces sold right away considering the economy. The show is up until April 17, so cross your fingers!
I also just finished a new painting yesterday and will have a photo of it here very soon.
Later,
Reb

Being an artist is tough

2010-03-09T14:20:00.002-07:00

I had a very nice opening at the gallery Saturday night....even sold a couple of pieces. Selling more would've been good, but hopefully I will sell more in the next few weeks.

I had a conversation with a fellow artist at the reception about how much artists work. Being an artist is having at least 2 jobs, sometimes three or four. (Example: I do graphic design and color design consulting as well as work in my studio 40 hours a week). Unfortunately, the public perception is that artists are flaky, dreamy types and don't work very hard. Some artists are flakes, but the flakes tend not to be very successful in the long run.
I encountered this same stereotype with an employee that worked under me years ago. This person was an artist, but the big boss used to write off this person's frequent absences/tardiness as just part of being an artist. I ended up firing more than one person with this same MO: "So and so is an artist, so that's why they can't ----------(fill in the blank) like the other employees."
So for all of you aspiring artists out there, I give you some advice: buck the stereotype and be professional about your profession. Here's how:

Be on time.
Dress appropriately for the time of day, place, and occasion. This is a Japanese saying and the English abbreviation is TPO. Can't afford to shop at boutiques? Try consignment shops and places like Loehmann's, and borrow accessories from affluent friends. This goes for the guys too: borrow that dinner jacket if you have to!
Be a business person and keep regular hours in the studio. Your studio is your office.
Explain to family an friends that this is your job and it usually requires longer hours than a regular job. Repeat ad nauseum.
Selling art is all about marketing. Take a class in business marketing at your local community college since they do not usually teach this in art school.
This is your job 24/7/365. If you can't handle it, find a new profession.
Get a second or 3rd job to cover living expenses if needed. It's OK, all artists do it.
Take some time off each year to refresh and renew along the lines of a trip out of town for a change of scenery, an art workshop in a different discipline, a collaborative project with another artist. Art workshops look great on your resume as well. It shows you care deeply about your craft when you try learning new things.
Network to the point of aching feet: attend gallery openings, museum events, gala fundraisers, black-tie actions, etc. just so you can meet the patrons of the arts. These are the folks who buy art. Make friends with them. (Remember: other artists don't normally buy art, so network accordingly.)
Make friends with interior designers. They buy original art.
Be a capitalist. Successful artists sell art, not fill out grant forms all the time. Grants are great to help you out for specific projects, but don't rely on them forever. The economy changes all the time and art programs are often the first things cut.

And there you are! So if you are a budding artist still in art school, chances are some professor is saying you will be rich and famous someday because your art is so fabulous. The problem is, they never tell you how to do that.
Cheers,
~reb

Image linked to cartoonstock.com

Back from Phoenix and more new art

2010-03-01T19:29:00.002-07:00

I was in Phoenix at Matsuri over the weekend....but managed to work for 3 hours last night after I got home. The weather was really nice Saturday and rainy Sunday. Luckily, we played taiko on Saturday, so no rain to deal with. I managed to buy a fabulous vintage wool kimono, a haori, and two obi! Crazy, I know. But I wore the new kimono, haori, and one of the obi on Sunday with my new yellow geta. It was very fun to wear- total strangers asked to have their photo taken with me. Photos soon!

You already saw the kid's playshop flyer I put up last night in the previous posting. Right now, I'm also working with my web master on updating my art website (In case you hadn't seen the updates) with new work. Much of the older work will be taken down so that it focuses more on the new stuff. Sold items that have been up for a while will be removed as well. I'm working on a new way to organize it all as well.
What else: spent the better half of today wrapping up paintings for transport to the gallery tomorrow. Right now, more web updates, wiring paintings, packing lists, price sheets, etc. I can relax a bit after Wednesday since the show art will be out of the studio, but that doesn't mean I can stop painting. It's my job! Now, I just need to sell it all!

Point in Time, 36" x 36", acrylic on panel.

I'm teaching an Art Playshop!

2010-02-28T19:58:00.002-07:00

Check out this fun "playshop" I'm doing at Angela Rose's studio! It's basically in Oro Valley, so if you live in the NW and have kids that are looking for an unusual art experience during the Amphi school district spring break, look no further!

Click on the image to view even larger:

A taste of things to come

2010-02-16T18:54:00.000-07:00

The "real" e-mail and snail mail invitations will be out soon.....this is just to tide you over.

Artist paints and pigments and measuring color

2010-02-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

I just found an excellent article on the Golden Paints website entitled "The Subtleties of Color; Small Differences That Make All the Difference" by By Sarah Sands.

If you are interested in the geeky science of color measurement, this article is for you.

Flux and Disorder Series taking shape

2010-02-10T16:47:00.002-07:00

I'm working like crazy on this painting new series......I will have 19 paintings in this series by the end of the month; there have been created over the last year, but most of them since November 2009. I've done other art between, but this is the series that will be showcased at the Platform Gallery show. Here are seven of the latest: some are new, some were posted over the last five months. Three of them are also shown on the header to this blog! Stay tuned for more new art and an announcement of the show.

Ciao

reb

PS:The untitled green painting will have a title eventually....just can't think of one today. Soon though...

Taiko weekend in Mesa

2010-02-08T18:30:00.003-07:00

No visual art this past weekend, but I played taiko two days in a row at the the lovely Tết Festival in Mekong Plaza in Mesa. It's the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration. Here is a link to a poster in PDf format. There was a large Hoa mai New Year Tree (photo below is a similar tree from Wiki) near the stage. One of my taiko buddies was absolutely fascinated with the tree since it was mostly artificial: a real tree trunk with fake flowers on it. It looked very real though. The festival also opened with one of my favorite Asian traditions: the Lion Dance. The Sunday opening performance was by the White Crane Kung Fu & Sport Association and they were excellent. One of our taiko people took photos of the dancers and other festivities and when I have access, I will post them.

There is another fabulous festival coming soon to Phoenix: Matsuri, a Festival of Japan.

It's definitely one of my favorite events in Phoenix. It's the last weekend of February and of course there will be tons of taiko there along with lots of other fun things like martial arts, dance, bonsai displays, Akita dogs, a kimono fashion show, food, cool stuff for sale, and more. I'll be there both days: playing taiko Saturday and wearing kimono on Sunday!

But wait, there's more! Since I had a day off from art this past weekend, I'm making up for it this week so I can play taiko again!! This coming Saturday is Tucson's own Carnaval!

This is a newer festival held at Armory Park and presented by the ever fabulous Batucaxé! It's really fun to show up in costume and dance to afternoon away.

I'm working very hard since the show at Platform Gallery is only a month away...between taiko and art, it will be a busy next couple of months.

~reb

Too many things besides art going on

2010-01-22T12:41:00.001-07:00

It's totally fun to visit with relatives from out of state, especially if you haven't seen them for years. I will admit it though: some fun things that happen in life are serious distractions to making art (It's still work), so friends and relatives that are self-directed and low maintenance are my favorite type of visitors! Such were the aunt and uncle that came to Tucson to visit this past week. Give them a destination and all they had to do was plug it into the GPS in the truck and they were off and running to some national park or two. Great people, and we had a good time.

Aside from visitors, a few taiko gigs, the up-coming 3-week long Tucson Gem Show (Starts on January 31st!), two overnight trips to Phoenix next month including the fantastic two-day Japanese cultural event called Matsuri; I'm working in my studio to get ready for a show in March. Plus I'm also working with another artist on some possible art workshops for kids and collaborative projects in the very near future! So I may start an e-mail newsletter so YOU can keep up with any future workshops, classes, and other fun events I may be doing or partaking in plus blog updates!

Here is an announcement for a Tucson arts project I will be helping with and doing some marketing for- you will see me helping out at this event next Tuesday:

The Nature Zone

Toscana is proud to announce our newest one day workshop with Oro Valley's 2008 Best Artist Angela Rose, as she brings The Nature Zone to the foothills of Pusch Ridge. This is special opportunity for all ages to build efemeral sculptures in the desert from materials found in nature. This is sure to be a creatively rewarding experience. Come join the FUN!

Sincerely,

Linda Ahearn Owner/Artist of Toscana Studio

The Nature Zone
Interactive Art In Nature

Make art outside with natural materials
Facilitated by artist Angela Rose

Who: Parents and/or kids, ages 2 and up
When: Tuesday, January 26th,   3-6 PM

            Where: Toscana Studio and Gallery
                Fee: $30 per person ($25 for siblings)

Kids will remember this exploratory experience of making art in nature with artist Angela Rose. The Sonoran desert is the blank canvas, and rocks and twigs and giant reed are just some of nature's treasures we'll use to make ephemeral sculpture with and in the land. As creative energy ignites, a sense of delight arises, and spontaneity is invited back into the artmaking process. Self-directed ideas and expressions emerge as we put aside the product-driven, over scheduled pace of daily life and reconnect with nature and the artist within.
Finally, our creations will be left for the enjoyment and (perhaps) alterations of others - parents, students and wildlife (whichever comes first!) And, such is the circle of life!

           Bring: Open mind and active body
                   Wear: Clothes you can get dirty, closed-                   toed shoes, sunhat


                  Take home: Smiles and satisfaction

Reserve a spot today! Call Linda at Toscana Studio to reserve your
space in the desert. 520-575-1445.

For more information contact artist Angela Rose: 520-906-8708

Toscana Studio and Gallery

9040 N Oracle Rd, Ste A

Oro Valley, Arizona 85704

520-575-1445

www.toscanastudioandgallery.com

2010 is here!

2010-01-04T19:30:00.003-07:00

Ok, it is already January 4th, so it's been 2010 for 4 days! Woohoo.
Since New Year's Day, I have already dropped off artwork for the Arizona Edges art show at the Tubac Center of the Arts (Reception is this Friday), picked up art from the last show, played a taiko gig on New Year's eve at First Night in Tucson, and later was invited by my neighbor to burn my Christmas tree. Mine's fake, so I didn't take him up on it. A great time was had by all though!

What else: working on price increases for artwork for 2010, especially anything created on birch panels except commissioned work. Quotes for commissioned works will be less than last year's price per square foot since I now have a local craftsman creating my panels and canvas stretchers for me, so no more ordering stretchers from Wisconsin and paying for shipping, which gets passed onto the art patron! Hooray for you, the art lover. (If you are a local artist reading this, I can give you the name of my panel maker but you will have to drop me an e-mail! He doesn't have a website.)
But wait, there's more! I'm now obsessed with Japanese textiles, especially kimono, since I wear yukata and kimono occasionally for Japanese festivals (It's the taiko connection!) and have purchased a couple more as well as a couple gorgeous obi.

In my search for information on kimono kitsuke (the art of wearing of kimono), I came across this amazing artist, Itchiku Kubota, who sadly died in 2003. An article about an exhibit of his work is here, as well as a book with splendid photos available on Amazon. I will likely do a series of new paintings inspired by some of his textiles in 2010.

How could you not be moved by his work? Even these small images are breathtaking.
Arigato gozaimasu!
~reb

Christmas is over, New Year's is coming

2009-12-28T17:45:00.003-07:00

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to everyone!

I'm back in my studio after a few days off for Christmas. I did go see the stunning Ansel Adams show at the Tucson Museum of Art Saturday with friends. If you will be in Tucson for the Gem Show, go see it! It's amazing. I had only seen his photos in books, but seeing the his composition and detail in person was a treat. He was a true master photographer.

More art news:
The ASU Tempe "¡Que Vivan los Muertos!" 10th Annual Día de los Muertos Festival Exhibit ends on Jaurary 8ths, so go see that if you can. It's at the Anthropology museum. Here are some photos from the reception posted by the museum. My three skeleton images are in the photo second down on the right side.
The Arizona Edges show opens at the Tubac Center of the Arts in Tubac, AZ. The reception for that show is Friday, January 8th, from 5-7:00pm. (For some reason they have no announcement of the reception on their website....when I see it, I'll add the link). I will have two paintings in that show. Speaking of Tubac shows, the Member's Juried Show ends January 3rd, so get down to Tubac ASAP! I have one painting in that show too. Make sure you vote for my painting (Just kidding) for the People's Choice award!

Below are my two paintings that will be in the AZ Edges Show.
See you at a gallery opening!
Cheers,
~reb

Bobcats in the yard!

2009-12-22T17:06:00.001-07:00

The holidays are upon us, so I have been entertaining a bit more than usual, so I am behind on the blog.
Here is a little greeting I cooked up today, featuring a wildlife photo I took yesterday at about 11:00am. I was getting ready to start painting the courtyard wall yesterday morning and got all my brushes and buckets together, then starting getting the ladder out of the garage and spotted these two little guys in the tree! They are baby bobcats, each about the size of our biggest house cat, K-Pax, but probably weight only 8-10 lbs. They are very furry and weigh less than they look. I got the camera and they stayed in the tree for over 45 minutes....so after getting within 15 feet of them and taking numerous photos, I went in and did other chores. Didn't see their mom and didn't want to disturb them.

After a while, I looked outside, didn't see them. Went into the office, looked outside and they were nearby, on the other side of the courtyard wall, on the ground. Two babies and a long-legged momma bobcat! One baby was eating a ground squirrel. (The entire squirrel, fur and all....eeww!) After bunches of photos from the window, they finally went off into the neighbor's (The Bobcat Resort). They are such beautiful animals!
I love living in Tucson.
Happy Holidays everyone!
More art news soon!
~Reb

What they didn't tell me in art school.

2009-11-29T17:05:00.001-07:00

A few thoughts about being an artist....or what they didn't tell me in art school.

First of all, most people don't really get what kind of time, money, sweat, and energy goes into being a full-time artist.
It's the same as having your own business....you don't start making money until you have been going at it non-stop for a while, more likely a few years or more. However, it's different in that you probably have at least one or two other jobs, a part-time gig or three--something to keep you in art supplies and show fees. You see, it's costs money to be an artist even if you don't sell the work right away.

Then after a lot of legwork, you might start getting some recognition, make a few sales here and there, get into shows. It's all about the resume and the big milestone: getting into a real gallery and making a name for yourself.

So ultimately it's still all about the work.

Getting into your studio and making the art. Marketing. Spending money to make art that you may not sell for a year....or five. Or longer.
And don't forget coming up with new ideas, new angles, new ways to get yourself out there: websites, blogs, e-mail marketing, printed postcards, social networking sites, taking workshops and classes to keep up with the art world and learn new techniques, traveling for inspiration, going to openings, museum shows, getting on mailing lists, scouring art show websites for more shows to enter, looking for internships, talking to galleries and coffee shops so you can show your work somewhere, networking with other artists....it's endless. There are seasons for doing all of these things, busy times, slower times, deadlines, planning, loaning work, pricing, burning CDs, sending images, working in Photoshop for hours getting those art images just right for the next show entry.

Just like any other job.

And, unlike other areas of the country I have lived before, southern Arizona has an art season: generally September or October thru March or April. It coincides with the tourist season, which is based on the weather. Which makes perfect sense here.
And Summer? That's for travel and taking those art courses and workshops.

So, tomorrow, it's back into the studio 'cause I got more shows coming up!
Ciao,
reb

Thanks and more thanks!

2009-11-27T19:18:00.002-07:00

It's been a fantastic week!

The Taiko Plus! Show was a rousing success! Each show (There was one shorter kid's matinee Friday noon and two full-length shows Friday & Sunday nights) was very well attended: the kid's were yelling "yoi-sa!", asking for autographs afterward, people were dancing out front of the theater afterward like it was carnival. We were even on TV with Batucaxe!! http://tinyurl.com/taikoplusKOLD

Hubby and I also went to an art reception Saturday night between taiko shows, the Salon Exhibit at Platform Gallery. A really cool show for several reasons: the artworks were small and very reasonable priced (For holiday shopping!), they represented different mediums from sewing on fabric, the blown glass, photography, paintings, small and large-scale metal sculpture, glass wall pieces, and more.

But the best part about the show? It was all by local, Tucson artists and the work was selling. And I met some really cool artists and bought stuff from a young photographer.

So listen up folks!! If you choose to buy gifts this holiday season, please just do one thing for the artists and craftspeople in your town:

Buy Local. Buy art.

Keep your local economy going.

Art is a unique because doesn't go out of style, it can be handed down to heirs, and can be enjoyed by all. Don't know someone's taste? Try a gift certificate.

And stay out of those malls! They sell mostly crap anyway....

Cheers,

reb

PS: this painting is in a show at the Tubac Center of the Arts right now.

And I almost forgot: Thanksgiving was really fantastic! Went to a friend's house.....really great food & people. A fun time was had by all. And check it out: no gravy, no hideous marshmallow yams, and no canned cranberry jelly.

2009-11-18T12:27:00.000-07:00

Speaking of TAIKO: here is why I can't attend the art show reception in Tubac this Friday that I mentioned in the previous post. I'm in this Taiko Plus show and we have two shows this weekend!

So wish me luck!

~ciao,

reb

Tickets still available online!!

2009-11-18T12:18:00.001-07:00

Hey! This show starts this Friday! I have a piece in it of course. I'm going to miss the reception since I'm in the Taiko Plus show, but feel free to take a fun trip to Tubac, AZ to see this show and contribute to the economic success of this historic artist's colony. It's a great day trip from Tucson, only 1-hour south on I-19. Standout places to visit when you are there: The Green Olive, right at #2 Plaza Road, is a place to taste luscious olive oils and balsamic vinegars. I always buy something when I'm there! My current fav is the Persian Lime olive oil....it has incredible flavor; and you can't miss Wisdom's Cafe down the road in Tumacacori. This famous restaurant has fabulous Mexican food for lunch or dinner; and of course do not miss the Tubac Center of the Arts! It's right on Plaza Road, which is the main street. From here, you can walk anywhere and there are tons of shops, galleries, restaurants, and beautiful scenery.
More art news soon so check back.
ciao,
reb

After All Soul's

2009-11-10T13:30:00.002-07:00

Howdy everyone! I just wanted to share a group photo (Taken by Tracy Baynes) of all of the great folks that did the "Tucson Obon" dance with the Odaiko Sonora drum cart (in the back of the photo) for the entire length of the procession. This year's All Soul's Procession was a tremendous experience and cannot be described in words. To all artists, art appreciators, and blog readers out there who do not quite understand the appeal of the All Soul's Procession: it's a 2-1/2-hour long performance art piece about remembering people, loved ones, animals, and even pets that have passed on.

Things that stood out this year: fabulous costumes with LED lights in them, a bag pipe band, a fabulous shrine-cart made to honor a dog, a giant 15-foot long glow worm held aloft by huge group of people in costume (Looked like the Flam Chen folks!), balloon sculpture skeletons, the angelic singers at the finale, and the incredibly friendly people throughout the whole procession.
More photos soon!
Ciao,
reb

(PS: I'm third from the left, without makeup...hard to see me!)

All Soul's Procession

2009-11-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

Tucson's famous All Soul's Procession is this evening!

Starting at 6:00pm in front of Epic Cafe, the huge (Over 15,000 last year) human procession winds it's way through downtown Tucson, ending with a celebration that includes music, pyrotechnics, and the burning of the urn of offerings, where people's wishes and prayers go up in smoke, symbolizing release into the void.
Read about the history of this amazing event here as well as the official website here.

Photos: top image is Flam Chen (From the Tucson Citizen) and the bottom image is an image from the 2008 procession, from Allsoulsprocession.org. More photos here.

Strange Attractors and lunar phenomenon

2009-11-03T23:58:00.001-07:00

New art!

Below: "Eclipse" (24x24"), finished last week.

And the latest: "Strange Attractor"(36x36"), finished today.

These two pieces really epitomize the two different series I am working on at the same time: one series is like "Eclipse"- minimal color palette of black, Payne's Grey, white, graphite, with heavy, organic texture.
The other series is represented by "Strange Attractor"-- more colorful, uses lots of washes, with distinctive, loopy, "drawing" and some texture.
Since this is the art season here in Arizona, I'm working 8 hours + in my studio at least 4 days a week. Many juried art shows are starting to appear on the radar as well as more exciting ventures in the future.

Art sale news: I just sold the proof of "Tarot 13" to a patron in Oregon. See below:

But all is not lost if you are interested in the campanion pieces I posted here a while back.Three of the pieces for this series are in a show at the Museum of Anthropology at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. And the are for sale.
Cheers,
reb

Dia de los Muertos Festival in Tempe tomorrow

2009-10-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night is the ASU Dia de los Muertos Festival and art exhibit! Hope to see you there!

Something new and different

2009-10-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

Fun arty stuff for today, first, an incredible wall of "readymades" (Duchamp would love this!) in China! I love the fact that this is a beautiful fountain as well as a weird pile of porcelain.More pics of it here.

And my new FAVORITE fashion/art source: Haute Macabre! This clothes on this site will make you weep they are so F**king cool! (Check out the "The Haute List : $75 & Under" page for this month.....)

If you are into Goth, punk, mostly black, leather, vinyl, or Avant-garde fashion, this is the inspiration you need before shopping online or out in the real world. They have a spectacular collection of fashion, make-up, and art events to keep you busy through almost any cataclysm. Or wear to the next gallery opeing in your city.
Ciao bella
~Reb

2009-10-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

Something new!

I finished this painting about 2 weeks ago and I have been slow in photographing it. Here is "Knowing the Unknown", 24" x 24" x 3", acrylic on custom birch panel. There is a lot of graphic pigment on the surface so it has an interesting sheen.

I'm working on two more paintings so check back soon.

~ciao

One blog deserves another!

2009-10-15T00:06:00.000-07:00

Here I am featured on another art blog! Not bad at all...even if my "artist's statement" doesn't quite fit the work shown! (It's was written for current work, the work shown is at least 2 years old). But that's ok by me...promotion is promotion and there is no bad publicity!

BTW: been super busy this week.....working n my studio (New work images up here in the next few days!) and getting ready for a big taiko gig this Friday. Not alot of time to spend blogging, let alone doing everything else.....
But look for more art soon and more art show announcement!
Ciao bella
~reb

Artwork shown: one of my favs from the "11 Strings" series, "Klein Bottle Tea Pot", 36' x 36". acrylic on canvas.

The Big Picture

2009-10-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

Howdy all!!
My other half and I ventured out to check out the various gallery openings in Tuscon this past Saturday night. I believe this is the "artwalk" that starts off the 2009 art season downtown, this particular event was called "The Big Picture". There were 11+ galleries having receptions and many were within walking distance from each other. Standout shows were at Platform Gallery, with fabulous paintings by Donna Reibslager and mixed media by Nadia Hlibka. Also standing out was "Flow 159", a new gallery that had some fabulous contemporary work in it by some locals, including my neighbor, Ed Muren. Some of his work is on the Juxtapose website. He paints and works in metal.
Ed also created an incredibly cool security door for my second-floor art studio entrance earlier this year (left); it's entirely custom. It features natural rusted steel, perforated aluminum, and some painted parts for accent. We worked together on the materials (We even went to metal scrap yards together for some of the bits he used) and some ideas, but I just let him make what he wanted. So I guess I'm his dream client!
The top photo isn't great, but it was hard to get far enough a way from it for a decent photo! The detail shows the fun metal "bubbles" he designed. He's now working on a security screen for another door/window and this time we both worked on it. It should be up soon, so hang tight for photos.
Aside from this past weekends fun, I'm gearing up for several art shows, two of which are nationally juried shows in Tubac: Arizona Edges and Arizona Aqueous XXIV. More on those shows soon.
I'll be back.
~reb

2009-09-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

I'm freaking out just a bit today.....I was checking out the Tubac Center of the Arts exhibition page (Home of Arizona Aqueous, the nationally-juried water media show) and notice that it's coming around again in February 2010!!! I though they were supposed to do this show every-other year..... So in addition to the "Little Treasures" show and the "Arizona Edges" show, I'll be creating a few large acrylic-on-paper pieces.

Don't get me wrong, I love the AZ AQ shows....extremely professional, looks fab on the resume and the artwork is top-notch; it's just unexpected and it means more work if I want to get in again.

Here are my AZ Aqueous entries from 2007 and 2009: Right: The Dead Dance, and Left, The Swimmer III. (The Dead Dance won an award at the 2007 AZ AQ show). So who know what I will whip up for 2010!

2009-09-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

More new work from the last couple of months!

These two new paintings (Top image and bottom left) and are a great size for many residences- not huge but not too small, both are 24" x 24"x 3" deep. The deep cradle of the panels make them look very substantial and almost sculptural on the wall and do not require a frame.
The multi-colored painting (Top) is called "Abraxas" and was inspired by a beautiful glass and wood mosaic wall I saw in Amsterdam. The reddish square painting (Below left) is called "Fire Within" and is based on a macro photograph of ice melting in a glass of cola. Both of these are acrylic on custom birch panels.

The two mixed-media-on-paper pieces (below) are from my new Esoterica: 2012 series. In the center is "Fig. 10, The Gnawing Bite" (11" x 15") and on the right is "Fig. 11, The Abysmal Waters" (15" x 22"). Both of these pieces depict natural disasters; Fig. 10 comparing the Uroboros (snake biting its tail) to a hurricane; the I-Ching hexagram 21 is used in this piece and is sometimes referred to as the "gnawing bite". The other piece uses images of earthquake (it's the seismograph from the Loma Prieta quake in 1989) and tsunami as well as "the gorge" or "abysmal waters" hexagram #29. This piece has been toned with tannic acid to soften the deep blue. All of these pieces are for sale, e-mail me for current retail pricing. Click on the images for larger views.
Cheers,
reb

New art from this summer!

2009-09-08T18:52:00.000-07:00

I've been busy as usual and am currently working on two new paintings and more of the mixed-media on paper artwork for the "Esoterica II: 2012" series! Shown above are Figures 8 and 9, "Tinfoils Hats" and "The Long Count" respectively. (Both are 11" x 15" and are on Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper). I have finished up to Figure 12 and have plans for a few more. So check back here or on my website for more 2012!

Here is a taste of a continuation of a series I started last year. All of these paintings have minimal color palettes: carbon black, white, graphic grey, dark blue, titanium buff, with other colors used sparingly. This painting below is called "Galactic Center" and the design is based on a nano photography. Other pieces in this series are based on images of turbulance such as clouds, and melting ice. Acrylic on custom birch panel, 30" x 48" x 3" deep.

Some people ask why my work on paper looks so much different (But consistant for each medium) than my work on canvas or panel and the main reason is that I think the paper lends itself to my narrative work much better since I often use images from pop culture and photographs and my cyanotype + mixed media method that I use is perfect for that. I tend to think of this work more like printmaking since I can make multiples. The paintings are abstract in the sense that the subject matter is hidden. Clouds and nano photographs of melting ice are essentially abstract....based in a reality that most people don't even realize is there.

Art at CORROSIA! in Almere, The Netherlands

2009-08-30T15:21:00.000-07:00

In June and July of this year I traveled to The Netherlands for 3-1/2 weeks. I had many, many artistic experiences there but one gallery show really stands out: the Smaakmakers exhibit at Corrosia! gallery in Almere. This art show was really amazing! The theme was food and most of the show was interactive, using all five senses to take it all in. Some highlights of the art show:

A giant chunk of dark chocolate with almonds was presented on a pedestal along with a chisel and hammer.

Dark chocolates cast from real mushrooms were presented on salted trays that were slices of tree trunks.
Misshapen fruits and vegetables (The ones that grocers will not sell) shown as sculpture, in a slide show, and as canned foods in glass jars. Raw versions were sliced, drizzled with olive oil and eaten.
Paper thin slices of striped beets and rhubarb stalk spread out on white table....edible art.
An interactive "design your own kitchen" feature with tiny blocks of furniture and appliances.
One artist had tiny, mobile kitchen/cart and served gazpacho in tiny cups complete with garnishes of scallions and celery.
A video depicting a family at an empty dinner table being hit by falling produce and foods like fish coming down like rain above them.

This art show was so well-done, my friend and I were absolutely blown away. We wanted to do something similar in Tucson. It was professional, appealed to all ages, interactive, fun, thought-provoking, and educational. And of course delicious! What more could you want from an art show?
~Reb

Welcome to Reb's Art Geek Blog!

2009-08-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new art blog!
This blog is about art, art in Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding area, and my art in particular. Here I will be posting images of new art, art inspiration, art show news, and everything connected to my artwork.

As I enter the 2009-2010 Tucson art season (this coincides with the tourist season here, generally October thru March) here in Tucson, I have some work going into an art show in September, a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) show at the University of Arizona. I will continue to enter shows and keep you all up to date on what's happening.

This image shown are three pieces from my "Tarot 13" series that will be at the Dia de los Muertos show. (They will be framed separately for the show). These images are actually my version of the "death card" or card #13, one of the major arcana in a typical deck of tarot cards. My card contains an image of Death (or Cronos) surrounded by seven scythes and six roses, both traditional images found on most of these types of cards. Of course, there are my own ubiquitous touches that I have been using in my mixed media art for the last 2 years: the circuit board and the Golden Spiral. The rest of the meaning is up to the viewer!
There are five each of the 11" x 15" ($95 retail, unframed) images and one artists proof that is 7.5" x 11" ($45 retail, unframed) . These will all be for sale.
Cheers,
reb