week one in the new studio

I'm very happy with the new studio. Its as big as my apartment. Which isn't saying much considering my apartment is the size of a large jail cell. The new studio is just starting to get set up but its nice to have enough room to be able to step back and look at my work as it goes along. Its bare bones right now, but it won't take long before it gets that lived in artist pack rat feel.
I will need to set up a better ventilation system, as a couple of open windows won't really do it. Look forward to seeing the disaster that will be my attempt at constructing some kind of useful air current situation. I could probably save myself time and money by taking out a comparable amount of toxic chemicals in my system by quitting smoking. but that just isn't going to happen anytime soon.

some earlier work...

Lucky Cat?

The house  my  studio is in has cats.  They seem to enjoy  coming to  visit and helping me paint. The next gallery showing I have I'm bringing these cats. Bums with cats get more change. maybe it works for artists too.

Finishing up the Animal series...first layer of piece 12

Getting started with the first paintings of the season. Decided to  finish off  the last of the animal series before I get started with anything else. It's a good way to get myself back into the swing of things after taking a bit of a break over the summer. Just going to have some fun with the next couple pieces. Here are the underpaintings and first layer finished for the one I'm working on right now...

Good summer, time to get to work for fall...

What a glorious summer! I had a wonderfully well received show at Babeland and got a new and improved studio for this fall's nose to the grindstone painting extravaganza. My collegues and I have an exciting plan for the atelier we are putting together for ourselves for the oncoming year. And on top of it all I had the best experience with a ping pong ball this side of a dingy dimlit stage...

Crystal Barbre Wins the Arbitrary Art Grant in Writing

Monday, August 10th, 2009

So how does one pick a winner for an arbitrary art grant in writing with 154 contestants? Ping Pong Balls seemed rather appropriate, and we wanted to go swimming. So Jed, Perla, Ben and I packed up the car and headed north to the prestine wilderness that is Smoke Farm. We strung a finish line across the lazy river. We walked upstream and Jed threw the balls straight up. It was fair. It was kind of exciting, in a really slow, quiet way. And as the balls crossed the finish line, it was Crystal Barbre in the lead. Congratulations! It’s just been that kind of summer. Thank you all for playing.

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Arbitrary Art Grant in Writing

Monday, August 3rd, 2009