kirstenfrancisart

Arts Alive Banner

2012-01-08T12:57:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I was asked to paint a banner for the Arts Alive Banner Program 2012. Participants paint a banner that will hang from lamp posts along Highway 101.

The banners are then auctioned off to raise money for the following organizations; 101 Artists' Colony, Cardiff 101 Mainstreet and Leucadia 101. For more info, visit Arts Alive Encinitas

Now, these banners are HUGE (33" wide and 84" tall) so even finding a place to lay it out is a bit of a challenge.

I decided I would do a portrait of my daughter in the back yard. Made sense since the banner is as big as the windows that look out into my garden.

Note the paw prints left by one of our cats after he traipsed through the underpainting.

After planting a few plants last year that are butterfly attractors, I was treated to a profusion of butterflies, including Monarchs, in the garden. It was actually pretty amazing.

A few not-so-great shots of the finished banner. I can't wait to see what it looks like from the street.

Tiger, tiger...

2011-11-23T15:37:00.000-08:00

Finally, finally, finally it is done.

I must admit I take a distinct pleasure in cutting up my old woodblock prints (ones culled from the edition- don't worry). It ends up being a mishmash but I've been so damned careful for so long that it feels great to play fast and loose with all these different elements.
Oh yeah, I guess it's call 'play'.

Show of my work at CoCA Seattle

2011-11-10T20:11:00.000-08:00

Been working the last few months on getting work together for a retrospective of my woodblock prints (man, that makes me feel a bit long in the tooth). 30 pieces total, with 3 new mixed media works.
Here are the particulars-
CoCA Ballard, Shilshole Bay Beach Club
6413 Seaview Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
On view November 10 – December 11, 2011

For more info, please visit CoCA Seattle

Special thanks to curator Joe Roberts, who sought me out and got me off my duff!

Having a bad art day (week)

2011-10-10T19:59:00.000-07:00

I've been given the opportunity to have a retrospective show of my work with a few new pieces included. Great! Except that I'm not entirely sure that my new work is exhibition ready.

So, I've spent the last week working on a new mixed media piece and...

it has not been the joyous experience I had hoped it would be.

I've drawn the same !@#*#^%! image a ridiculous amount of times (you can't see here how I've painted over and reworked the drawing again and again) and just about every time I've come to a point where I declare it unworkable and start again. Then I have a minor freak out when I realize I've wasted a precious day or hour (time has a price beyond rubies right now).

I even blamed the paper. When I visited my local art store to purchase the magic paper (color of a paper bag, velvety smooth texture and acid-free) I got the chance to talk to the owner, Jack, about my deficient art mojo. He told me 2 things that I'm not sure have eased my concern. One- there is no magic paper (not anymore. I guess they USED to make it). Two- we all have a certain amount of really bad drawings in us and, lucky me, I'm apparently getting them all out right now! Thinking about it, it occurs to me that I might be making some very bad art for many years to come if this theory is correct.

I have been encouraged to plod ahead by a good friend who told me to 'just finish what you started'. So, I will...

even without the magic paper.

Just done

2011-08-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

This summer has been busier than I thought it would be but I managed make another new piece (and use another box- remember that cabinet full of cigar boxes?).

Sometimes the work just flows and that's great. But I'm rusty, get interrupted a lot and this media is all new to me (those are my excuses). Most of the time I have this 'what the heck am I doing and where is it going?' feeling.

But that's all part of learning something new, right? And if I can combine cleaning up the plastic debris my kids scatter all over and making art, that's just fine by me.

It's been so long...

2011-04-06T21:09:00.000-07:00

Spring has arrived and was time to (finally) make some artwork of my own. I had been thinking about what I wanted to do for months but just never seemed to carve out the time to just make it happen.

I did set some parameters- I wanted to use what I already had piling up in my studio (geez, there's plenty). Of course, I decided that AFTER I raided a junk shop and carried off a large haul full of dusty cigar boxes. I mean, really, what goes on in the mind of someone who would actually pay money for these things!? Well, I know... the possibilities are endless (and it's the possibilities that really rope me in)!

Since I am where I am in my life I did a self-portrait in colored pencil. I have a tendency to get really detail oriented and photo realistic so I try to break the spell by using collage, as well (and using some of the piles of pretty paper that I have accumulated over the years). Heck, it's just fun!

Inspired by an aunt who paints fabulous landscapes on masonite board, I did the same, painting a bush in my backyard in acrylic.

Using my sewing skills (limited as they may be) I played with the space within the box, hanging cut out butterflied on string. It's a bit like a mobile, I think.

Here it is, untitled as of yet. It's mainly about being the mother of little girls and navigating the crazy amounts of stuff they have (and toss on the floor during their elaborate games). I often find myself with pockets full of little playthings that I have rescued from odd places or wading through a small sea of bright colored plastic and fluffiness.
Conceived and and created in fragments of time and material. I can't wait to do the next one.

From here... to there

2010-09-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

Another stab at collage/mixed media. Had a lot of fun slicing and dicing my old woodblock prints (rejects- not ones that were in editions).

However, I had to ask myself if this form of 'upcycling' was really making things easier, or was I really giving myself another way to make things really, really painstakingly difficult! (Aaargh- do you see the tree branches I had to cut out!)

Self-inflicted, so I won't complain but it's still kinda funny... well ... to me it is, ok?

On another note- thanks to everyone who came out to the Leucadia Artwalk a couple of weeks ago. Your energy and enthusiasm were wonderful and I can't wait to do it again next year.

Indulging the wackiness

2010-08-26T15:45:00.000-07:00

Just completed a new piece. Well... almost completed- I haven't come up with a title yet. In any case, I had a lot of fun with this. All I had to do was remember how my daughters approach art. Scribble, cut, paste, use as many bright colors as possible and have a good story to tell about it.

I must admit I'm a bit rusty with the whole fun part of creating (sad, isn't it?) but I'm lucky that my inspiration lives in my own house (and is constantly running underfoot). I positively burst with pleasure when she approves of a color choice I've made or likes the way I've rendered a face.

Lucky me.

Leucadia Artwalk

2010-08-22T19:10:00.000-07:00

Just a heads up for those of you in the San diego or SoCal area. I will be doing my local neighborhood show this Sunday the 29th from 10 am - 5 pm. I'll be setting up shop in the parking lot of the Corner Frame Shop/Leucadia Art Gallery on the corner of Hwy 101 and Diana. For more information visit Leucadia 101 Main Street

Hope to see you there!

A bit more

2010-08-16T19:49:00.000-07:00

Here is another little piece I am working on. It's not done but it's delightful (if I say so myself). A lot of fun the draw and I love when a collage choice actually works! (Can you tell I'm new at this?)

I can't wait to see how this one ends up...

I'll post a pic when I do.

Getting my feet wet (figuratively speaking)

2010-08-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

I've spent a couple of years talking about how I just needed to find a new way of making art. I actually got tired of hearing myself speak. Now I've started making some new work. Drawing, colored pencil, gouache, collage- everything but the kitchen sink.

I'm not sure what I think about this recent work. I draw, color, cut and paste and have a blast. But there is always that inner critic...

Oh, what the heck! It's a start (and who says you can't pick up art techniques from your 5 year old?).

Featured on Trice Collective

2010-05-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

A nice treat today. One of my woodblocks, 'Personal Iconography' was featured on the website Trice Collective . The site, curated by Sawyer Trice, features affordable art that is available for online purchase. In my case, this piece is listed in my shop on Etsy.

A great concept and a wonderful way to see art selected by someone with a good eye that you might be able to afford. To read more about this site, click here. Thank you!

Wish I Had This Book a Long Time Ago

2010-05-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

My uncle sent me a book he found- 'A Woodcut Manual' by J. J. Lankes published in 1932. I've only had the opportunity to lightly skim it but it is chock full of printmaking tips and the wisdom of experience. Check it out...

The author has his refreshingly straightforward opinions (there is even a list of Don'ts under an illustration titles 'My Lord of Missrule'). Here is a quote that jumped out at me,

"Don't let any self-appointed art critic form opinions for you. Never listen to such unless he is saying nice things of you. The professional critic is all too often a sad person, a defeated artist; his function is not to educate the artist whatever else he may attempt on the public. And don't let anyone scare you, because you may be, from force of circumstances, an "odd moment" artist."

Well said and greatly appreciated by those of us in the "odd moment".

... and here's the other one

2010-04-04T21:18:00.000-07:00

The other drawing I did after the bad art day. Gouache is sort of fun, I think.

Some more drawings

2010-04-04T20:58:00.000-07:00

Squeezed in a little more time this week to do a few more experimental colored pencil drawings. Discovered some old, old photos to use as reference and away I went. It was good to have the issue of WHAT to draw somewhat solved. Now it's just a matter of HOW (and let's not even get into WHY).

The photos are black and white and not in very good shape so, um, there is a lot of room for experimenting with color, tone, etc. I get to play, to fictionalize.

Not everyday has been sheer bliss. Had a bad art day and it left me frustrated and snarly at the world. Want to tear those pages out of my sketchbook but they serve as a reminder that this is a learning process and I will fall flat on my face many times before the get my groove back.

A Small Beginning (of sorts)

2010-03-23T20:38:00.000-07:00

I 'fess up. I've been in the midst of 'artist's block' for, oh say, 4 years now. I used to be able to crank artwork out under almost any circumstances. I never waited for inspiration, I just sat down, drank a ton of coffee and made something.

Anyway, that hasn't been the case for awhile and it has been bugging me. I could blame the kids but there are plenty of working artists out there with kids and other demands on their precious time. I could also try blaming the internet, or craigslist (refinishing furniture isn't always fun but it sure is satisfying) or the inevitable mid life crisis or, or... the cat, perhaps?

So, after some healthy procrastination, I finally (!) sat down, drank some coffee and started to draw. It was awful. The drawings were terrible, my ideas didn't work. Ugh.

Despondent, I hopped onto the internet for some inspiration (I said I never waited). I found Bret Pendlebury's Etsy shop and his work brought a smile to my

face. He also has a blog http://bretpendlebury.blogspot.com/

With the gears finally turning, I found some old photos of people and started to draw and to color. Got totally absorbed, forgot to drink my coffee. It's a shaky start... but I had fun.

A Little Inspiration

2010-03-08T19:02:00.000-08:00

I was watching my daughter draw yesterday and feeling both envious and inspired. I had given her 3 pieces of black matboard and she lay across the floor and tackled them with her colored pencils.

She just drew and drew, a narrative forming like a stream of conciousness. There is a princess, a dog, raindrops, umbrella, suitcase and a turtle... all on one panel.

Watching her, I wished I could create like that- without the critic whispering in my ear, the thousands of images of artwork much better than mine flashing in front of my

eyes and the hesitation that holds my hand and freezes my mind.

I hope for her that she will never lose her ability to create so freely. For me, I just wish I could regain it.

Thank you!

2010-02-11T18:28:00.000-08:00

The Valentines Lino Cut Workshop at the Encinitas Library was last night. Despite my nervousness and the daunting task of teaching tons about relief printmaking in only 1.5 hours, it went quite well. Lots of participants, lots of enthusiasm and some wonderful printmaking happened.

I want to thank Jim Gilliam who organized the event and the exhibit. It would not have happened without his hard work. Thanks also to the volunteers, Terri, Judy and Carolyn, who helped to set up, assisted during the workshop and did such a speedy job of cleanup! I'll also put a shout out to my favorite purveyor of art making materials, Jack at Rhino Art. Thanks for getting us the supplies we needed, researching better options and making cutting boards for each participant ( we only needed one band aid!).

I hope everybody had a good time and learned enough about relief printmaking that they might want to try it at home. Thank you.

For those of you in PDX

2010-02-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

This month I've got a show up at Brian Marki Fine Art in Portland, OR. For more information, visit the website http://www.brianmarki.com

Brian has been selling my work for many years and it's wonderful to have the opportunity to have a show with him at his gallery.

If you are in the area, please check it out.

Cheers!

Lino Cut Workshop (just in time for Valentine's Day!)

2010-01-29T21:25:00.000-08:00

I'll be teaching a little lino cut workshop in conjunction with my exhibit at the Encinitas Library. Learn how to create a relief print for your Valentine (or for yourself). It's free and supplies are provided. Here are the particulars-

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 6:00-7:30pm
Encinitas Library, ages 14 to adult

Limit 25 attendees, RSVP to Jim Gilliam, 760-633-2746.

Article in Blend

2010-01-19T16:59:00.001-08:00

My work is used as an example of Color Relief Prints in an article by Victoria Chick in the Big Blend Magazine. Click on the link to read the article-http://blendradioandtv.com/Art/index.htm

Also, the show of my work, 'Woodblock Narrative', is up in the Encinitas Library (Jan 19- Feb 25). Check it out if you are in town.

Exhibit at Encinitas Library

2010-01-11T20:09:00.000-08:00

I've been matting and framing work for the last week in preparation for my exhibit 'Woodblock Narrative' at the Encinitas Library from January 19th- February 25th. It's a real pleasure to have been selected to display my work in MY library (ok- so I'm a bit possessive. I do go there quite often). Hey, it's my community, where I live, shop, take the kids to the park, go to the beach, drink my coffee, get my car repaired, meet my friends and work. I imagine all the people I know, and don't know, who also share this community wandering into the library's Community Room and seeing my work. I wonder...

Well, enough of that- I'm the first exhibit of the year so I didn't have that much notice to get ready (that and I work pretty slowly these days). So, back to cutting mats and piecing together frames.

Kirsten Francis- Art

2010-01-06T07:52:00.000-08:00

Here it is- evidence that I've joined the 21st century. Welcome to my blog. More info to follow.