A Change in Direction…Three New Still Life Paintings
Squidward Tentacles
Oil on canvas
6×6 inches
© 2011 Marilyn Fenn
It’s been at least a decade since I painted any representational still life paintings. I thought I had perhaps gotten past painting still lifes in favor of abstraction, but have recently found myself wanting to work perceptually again, only this time, with any luck (or should I say, with the development of skill), in a looser, more painterly way.
Here are the first three perceptual still life paintings I’ve done this century: Spongebob Squarepants was the first, and is still a bit tight, then I painted Patrick Star and Squidward Tentacles. I think they came out pretty well. These are, of course, based on small plastic figurines of these characters.
I’m really enjoying working this way again, and hope to do more or less daily paintings if I can. The intervening decade of pushing myself further toward abstraction has been a very interesting journey so far. I plan to continue working abstractly as well doing the small still lifes; I don’t know yet if I will be doing both simultaneously or if I will do the still lifes for awhile and then pick back up with the abstracts. Stay tuned.
I’ll Be Showing with Cherrywood Artists at the Vortex During EAST
The VORTEX and CHULA
are pleased to announce
an Open Studio and Performance Festival
at The VORTEX for
East Austin Studio Tour 2010
When: Saturday and Sunday, November 13-14, 21-22, 2010 11am-6pm.
CircX VorteX, November 14 7pm.
Where: The VORTEX, 2307 Manor Rd. Austin, TX 78722
Free Admission!
The VORTEX and CHULA present 2 weekends of visual and performing arts for East Austin Studio Tour. Each day of the tour, visual artists display their work while performing artists provide demonstrations and performances. See the full list of daily events at the Vortex website.
The Vortex is Exhibition Space # E28 on the EAST map.
Visual Artists from the Cherrywood Neighborhood include:
Paul Ahern, Cardboard Artist, www.cardboardistry.com
Stephen Bartolomeo, Painter
Marykathryn Briggs, Photographer, http://www.blurb.com/books/ 1302977
Patricia Chapa, Silkscreen Paintings.
Marilyn Fenn, Painter, marilynfenn.com
Carolyn Green + Katinka Pinka, Mother-daughter team devoted to multi-media collage art, clothing, and accessories from recycled materials, www.katinkapinka.com
Cassandra Ramirez, ceramic artist showing bowls and succulent planters.
Cedar Stevens, hoopster and herbalist, Hoops by Hullaba Loola and Natural Magick Shop
Jeff Woodruff, art jeweler, painter and mobile sculptor, www.metalicity.com
Demonstrations and performances each day between 11am and 6pm of EAST include work by Sky Candy Aerial Collective, Drishti Dancers, John Steven and Tyler, Abigail and Hansel, Nematoades, Haun’s Mill, Los Super Avengers, and Sticky Fingers Fashion Fragrance Show.
CircX VorteX returns with a fall installment at 7pm on November 14. This Free Circus Arts show features Aerial arts by Sky Candy, Drishti Dancers, live music, and more. Donations accepted to support the artists and the venue.
For more information contact vortex@vortexrep.org.
Artist Talk at Bay6 Gallery on Sunday Nov. 1st
Come join me while I talk about my work and my process, how I got to this point, and what I think will be interesting to explore in the future.
Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 2pm.
Bay6 Gallery and Studios
5305 Bolm Rd.
Austin, TX
“The E Word,” continues at Bay6 Gallery until November 1st. Bay6 is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm – 5pm, or by appointment.
Reminder: Art Opening Tonight at Bay6 Gallery
Julia’s Garden
Oil on canvas
16″ x 20″
© 2009 Marilyn Fenn
Solo show of over 40 of my recent paintings!
I hope to see you at my opening reception tonight – Saturday, October 10th, 7:00 – 10:00pm.
Food and drink will be provided, with music by The Treachery of Others.
Bay6 Gallery is located at:
5305 Bolm Rd., Unit 6
Austin TX
78721
Link
View Map
The show continues on weekends through November 1st.
Getting Excited About My Solo Exhibit!
Floating Islands
Oil on canvas
Triptych, 36″ x 12″
© 2009 Marilyn Fenn
In eight days, I will be greeting friends and fans at my solo show at Bay6 Gallery in East Austin. I am really looking forward to that moment!
Getting ready for this has been an amazing process. Doing all the necessary organizational stuff besides trying to paint every moment that I can for weeks and weeks and weeks, that is.
I sent out email invitations to most of the people I know; and Bay6 has also invited a large number of folks. We’ve notified people via email, Facebook, Twitter, EventBrite, Eventful and word-of-mouth, and we may be expecting a great turnout! I picked up my beautifully printed postcards today from Tom at ipgprint.com; I will be mailing those tomorrow. Plans are set for music, food and drink, and we will start to hang the show next week. I owe some responses to emails and blog commenters, which I will try to get to as soon as my mental energy rolls in that direction.
“Working in Wax” Exhibit Opens May 3, 2009
“Poppies in a Windstorm”
Encaustic and Beeswax on Paper
12″ x 12″
© 2007 Marilyn Fenn
Three of my encaustic paintings are showing in the “Working in Wax” exhibit at the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek California. The show runs from May 3 through June 21, 2009, with an opening reception on May 6 from 5:00—7:00 p.m., and a Culture + Cocktails Reception on June 18 from 6:00—8:00 p.m.
Eileen P. Goldenberg was the juror for this show. She stated, “Selecting well conceived, beautifully executed, and visually satisfying art works was my vision for this show. I was looking for artists who give us a glimpse into their emotions and lives. Though the focus of this show is the material, what is vital to art is the expression of the artists, and it is their visual language that shines through.”
Find out more about this show, the juror and the artists at the Bedford Gallery website.
The Bedford Gallery is located at:
601 Civic Dr.
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925/295-1423
To all my friends, and especially to my California friends, I hope you can make it to this show. It promises to be a really great exhibit!
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