to twitter or not to twitter?

Painting by Michael Kvium

Is it worth our time to tweet? Well now, I've been on Twitter for some time now. I really can't say as of yet what the benefit is as far as a marketing tool goes. Looks like the main focus is to gain a lot of followers. Yes, there is a whole lot of tweeting going on, but actual "responding" to each others post very little. Everyone is too busy throwing words and links out there of their own and don't take the time to reach out to one another.

It appears to me to be only a virtual fix that gratifies the need for exposure.

If one has a twitter account for the sake of making new friends, well I think it's reasonable to say that it's possible. But as far as marketing tool....it's seems un-likely. Perhaps I'm wrong. In this case, I would love to be wrong...I hate to think that I have wasted my time when I could be more productive in other ways.

Let me know...honestly...if you tweet, just what has it done for you?

Saul Steinberg and Eames unite

The Eames duo and Steinberg independently were revolutionary artists that made a strong impact for decades. This classic fiberglass reinforced plastic armchair by Eames in the early 50's, was decorated with a drawing by the spontanous genius Saul Steinberg during his visit to the Eames Office.

artist Kelly Puissegu

_Nurse Eydie, Recycled Skateboard


_Kite flying

_Spin the Bottle

_Crusing Rino


_I Want to Be a Walrus

I wanted to embellish a little on my last post about art brut/outsider art, so I browsed through etsy to see if there were any artist today that had true charm of late artist like Henry Darger (that I am) particularly fond of.

Thus artist Kelly Puissegu!

Blown away by Puissegu work, I would liken it some where between Saul Steinberg and Henry Darger. Yes, Steinberg is another of one my personal favorites. Now I feel that I hit the jack pot with this artist. Puissegu's paintings not only have delightful composition, but her wit and sense of color are a throw-back from the past masters with a style all her own.

See more of Kelly's work (which is not limited to just paintings) at Retrowhale.

art brut - outsiders art

Henry Darger (American, 1892-1973) Darger's work (above) has become one of the most celebrated examples of outsider art. Fascinating bio about Henry Darger on above link.

The term outsider art was coined by art critic Roger Cardinal in 1972 as an English synonym for art brut "raw art" or "rough art", a label created by French artist Jean Dubuffet to describe art created outside the boundaries of official culture; Dubuffet focused particularly on art by insane-asylum inmates.

While Dubuffet's term is quite specific, the English term "outsider art" is often applied more broadly, to include certain self-taught or Naïve art makers who were never institutionalized. Typically, those labeled as outsider artists have little or no contact with the mainstream art world or art institutions. In many cases, their work is discovered only after their deaths. Often, outsider art illustrates extreme mental states, unconventional ideas, or elaborate fantasy worlds.

Outsider art has emerged as a successful art-marketing category (an annual Outsider Art Fair has taken place in New York since 1992). The term is sometimes misapplied as a catchall marketing label for art created by people outside the mainstream "art world," regardless of their circumstances or the content of their work.

_ From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Babylon the Bride, Tahiti Pehrson exhibit

"Babylon the Bride" by Tahiti Pehrson.

Modern artist Tahiti Pehrson uses only paper and cutting tools to create in depth 3D scenarios. They are unbelievable. See more at Tahiti's web site, click here!

You can meet artist Tahiti Pehrson at the "Together Gallery" 2314 NE Alberta. Please call for time. I have seen these intricate works in person and I urge anyone living in that area, a must go see.

happy fathers day!

I was a daddy's girl. I miss him so....xoxoxox

My kindergarten picture. I look like I could have been in the old series of "leave it to beaver" or "father knows best".

have a great weekend

To all have a great weekend. We have the Big bike race going on in Nevada City Sunday with Lance Armstrong.

sunset

Sunset

Media: Watercolor
Dimensions: 22" x 20"
Date of Work: 1994

After a hard day on the range, this cowboy's doggies were set free.

This is from my South Western phase in the 90's. I used tissue paper over Arches watercolor paper to create a rough texture to express a rugged composition.

true love never dies

EBSQ Winner Award

Title: True love never dies

Media: Photography
Dimensions: 14" x 16"
Date of Work: 2005

Model: My daughter
Tattoos by tattoo artist Cory Norris
Photograph by Victoria Kloch

I needed to come up with something special for my sister's December birthday.

She loves tattoos,

nude portraits,

her birth flower a Poinsettia,

and she loves her niece.

Every tat has a meaning. The heart and dagger depicts true love never dies. This particular style would be considered "Sailor Jerry" old school.

Now that I look back on that cold day in December when we had the photo shoot. My daughter was a really good sport about putting up with the brisk weather and ME.

a blast from my past

Title: Hide and Seek, 1990
Watercolor, 20" x 18"

I was digging through some of my things in storage, and I ran across this watercolor painting with cow skull and rattle snake. I can't believe it's been 19 years since I painted this. It was signed with my married name before I took my maiden name back.

The texture of this was achieved by laying tissue paper over aches watercolor paper. Yea, I was a texture freak even back then.

Hope you all have a relaxing Sunday before tomorrow's Monday grind.

Maxfield Parrish at the Crocker Art Museum

Fantasies and Fairy-Tales: Maxfield Parrish and the Art of the Print

Exhibit runs May 8 – July 19, 2009

Though recent scholarship has paid increased attention to Maxfield Parrish’s career as a fine artist, the immense popularity of his work during the early 20th century rested on his appeal as a commercial artist.

In many cases, Parrish’s original paintings were a direct result of his commercial enterprises. Before abandoning figurative work in the 1950s, Parrish undertook hundreds of commissions for book illustrations, magazine covers, advertisements and lithographs that reveal both his sense of humor and his eye for graphic design.

"The End" is one of my favorites! I actually purchased this one from an antique store back in the 80's.

This exhibition presents a comprehensive sampling of Parrish’s printed works, offering insight into the multifaceted relationship between the worlds of commercial and fine art. Here's the link for more information.

If you can make it to Sacramento, this is a rare chance to see the amazing works of Maxfield Parrish. I plan on going in July, and I'll let you know more then.

O'keeffe

Georgia O'Keeffe 1887-1986

The legendary O'Keeffe famous for her Cow Skulls and abstract flowers had a much broader appeal then most realize. In my opinion, she was way ahead of her time. Here is an image of "Radiator Building, Night New York, 1927. Oil on canvas.

I fortunately saw her paintings in exhibit in San Francisco a few years back. Her brillant color palette gave me chills. Ansel Adams once said about her, "She's a very great artist. Nobody can look at a painting without being deeply effected." I have to agree. She has been one of my inspirations for many, many years and continues to do so.