Fluffy will be available at my Open Studio!
6″ x 6″ oil on board
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Here begins the countdown to my second Springtime Open Studio. I’ll be adding works to my blog that will be available (for viewing or purchase) May 18, 19 & 20. So, mark your calendars, & save your pennies.
Some work will be rock bottom bargains, & others will be at regular gallery prices. …& some in between.
Browsers, beer drinkers, teetotalers & buyers are all welcome.
…hope I didn’t leave anyone out.
Shown here: Mama & her babes
oil on paper mounted on panel 2009 – from xx series
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The new canvases are here!
The theme of my new series is Journey. & guess what the UPS guy was listening to when he pulled up to our house?
… talk about your kismet.
Begin Again
So, every time I start a new project I go through a ritual of cleaning my studio.
It serves many purposes: it lets me start my new series in a nice clean studio. I review old work. I find new inspirations in files & folders. I clean out boxes & drawers. I procrastinate starting. I mull over what my new work will be – before actually starting, while I’m not directly thinking about it.
It’s a mental & physical sorting.
Stirring up ideas & memories.
& as my studio gets close to being as tidy as I can possibly make it (which is not very tidy to outside eyes, or tidy people) that is the point when I get a little anxious.
Because then comes the time to jump in & begin again.
I am very close to jumping into the new.
Wish me luck.
Happy Spring.
White on Black
I’ve made about twenty of these drawings in the last month, four of which will be available & Weiden & Kennedy this evening at The 100 Show.
Share on FacebookJanuary Fun Days on facebook
Please join me for January Fun Days on facebook.
Answer fun art related questions & trivia, win prints & drawings, or use the points for a percentage off my paintngs.
https://www.facebook.com/shanon.playford.art
LOVERGIRL
Who says nothing is ever free? Some “lucky” artist will take home this beauty. I’ll get to take home one of theirs.
It’s a brilliant thing.
2011 PORTLAND VISUAL ART EXCHANGE
Exhibit dates: December 1-8, Mon-Fri 12-4pm
Public reception and Artist trade event: December 8, 5-8pm
Over 50 participating artists will exhibit one piece of original work in a week-long, invitational show at the Littman Gallery. The exhibit will culminate in a (semi) blind art trade and public reception. Although the event is open to the public, no work is for sale and only the participating artists go home with an original piece of art by another Portland artist.
Anyone interested in participating next year?
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Group show at Springbox
Please join me at Springbox Gallery this Friday, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m..
I’ll have several new paintings in this group show. Springbox is a great place to enjoy looking at art.
N.W. 24th & York, Portland
New Work In Progress
So once you have the initial sketch done for a painting, & you have it roughly painted in, this is as alive as the painting will ever be. Every brush stroke after, slowly takes the life out of it. Every dab of paint deadens it. Once you go down this road, you begin the slow arduous process of killing it, & then working your damnedest to resuscitate it.
Why not walk away in the beginning? ….because it seems too easy to leave that beautiful lively, expressive sketch. Even though it seems to say all that you need it to say. It seems perfect.
In your mind, there must be some struggle, or it doesn’t seem legitimate.
I guess the struggle could be the ability just to leave it alone.
Splendorporium Invitational Group Show
Splendorporium presents - The Invitational Group Show
Featuring 5 great Portland Artists: Elliott Wall, Marianna Gordon, Andy Paiko, Ross Christy & Shanon Playford
Hope to see some of you Friday night. (7 to 9pm)
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New Work in Progress
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”
- Mark Twain
Share on FacebookThank You, Thank You, Thank You!
So, all week I’ve been trying to compose a thank-you note for everyone that motivated themselves to stop by my Open Studio. …& to those of you that helped me get ready for it …& helped over the weekend…& those of you that invited your friends…
I wanted it to express my heartfelt gratitude to every single soul that walked through my door over the weekend.
So here I am on Friday still trying to write the perfect note. Perfection is impossible so just let me say this:
Over the last year or so, I’ve had such doubts about being a painter….It’s isolating & well hell, I don’t make a lot of money doing it. To me, the main reward is in connecting w/ people – & there were some people that attended, that truly connected to my work & in turn connected with me…
And that makes it all worthwhile.
Not to mention those of you that put some cash in my pocket, that helps too!
But the main thing is just showing up, something I try to do more & more for my friends, because I’ve come to realize just how much it means.
& thanks to those of you that really tried to attend. I understand that sometimes life gets in the way of our best intentions.
Share on FacebookLAST THURSDAY – Last Chance Open Studio
Here’s one last chance to see things before we take it all down…. 4711 NE 26th, 5PM to 9PM
An Artist A Day Auction
This painting is available as part of the artist a day auction at Muse Art and Design on Hawthorne. Proceeds to benefit Schoolhouse Supplies. Bidding starts at only $75.00. To bid, simply call Muse Art and Design, 503-231-8704 (telephone bids taken between noon and 5, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.)
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So Now You Know
So Now You Know
Pencil & Watercolour
11” x 15.5”
28. March
From Toru Yoshikawa’s suggestion:
So now you know
This piece concludes my series, In Like a Lion, an interactive project for the month of March where works are produced based on suggestions on my
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/shanon.playford.art
All works will be available at auction on my blog for one month from their date of completion.
If you’d like to bid go here: http://blog.josephsurface.com/auctions
Share on FacebookPeacock
Peacock Feather ~
charcoal & pastel
9.5” x 12.5” image [on 11'' x 15'' 130lb paper]
24, March
From Tino Romeo’s suggestion:
Peacock
This piece is part of an ongoing series, In Like a Lion, an interactive project for the month of March where works are produced based on suggestions on my
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/shanon.playford.art
All works will be available at auction on my blog for one month from their date of completion.
If you’d like to bid go here: http://blog.josephsurface.com/auctions
Share on FacebookRobin’s-egg Blue
Robin’s-egg Blue
waterclolour & powdered graphite on paper
9”x 9”
from Alllison J. Bratt’s suggestion:
Robin’s-egg blue
This piece is part of an ongoing series, In Like a Lion, an interactive project for the month of March where works are produced based on suggestions on my
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/shanon.playford.art
All works will be available at auction on my blog for one month from their date of completion.
If you’d like to bid go here: http://blog.josephsurface.com/auctions
Share on FacebookThe Big Giant Moon
The Big Giant Moon ~
white charcoal pencil on black paper
12” x 12”
19, Mar.
From Emily Perry Tresser’s suggestion
The Big Giant Moon
This piece is part of an ongoing series, In Like a Lion, an interactive project for the month of March where works are produced based on suggestions on my
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/shanon.playford.art
All works will be available at auction on my blog for one month from their date of completion.
If you’d like to bid go here: http://blog.josephsurface.com/auctions
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