Something different....

I was fortunate enough to have Benny Alba show me how to make glass beads a couple of weeks ago. Using a torch to melt slim rods of colored glass onto metal rods was so fun.

I made this crude looking octopus bead and strung it with other beads to give to my daughter for Christmas.

She is not a Sugar & Spice kind of girl so a silly little octopus was right up her alley.

Saddle Shoes

Wasn't it in the 50's that saddle shoes were the rage along with poodle skirts? My only personal memory of saddle shoes is the time a US Army doctor convinced my mother that I needed orthopedic saddle shoes to help correct my flat feet when I was 9 or 10 years old. I was "horrified" that I had to wear tan and brown saddle shoes when my friends all wore cute patent leather Mary Janes. Now I think they're cool again.

When I went to SF with Benny Alba a couple of months ago, I was lucky enough to sit across this dignified gentleman. He carried a cotton blue and red bag on his shoulder but I thought he looked very dapper with his white cap, white slacks and saddle shoes.

8x8 oil on hardboard

Bandit the Art Dog

This is Benny Alba's sweet pooch Bandit. When I first saw him I loved his unique markings and his crystal blue eyes.

Benny gave me the liberty to use a large unique size canvas [14x 43] and to paint him with a non-traditional palette.

He's very laid back and an awfully sweet dog. I really enjoyed painting him.

Another day at the AlbaStudios

I spent a day [and into the night] at AlbaStudios again. Benny taught me how to properly gesso a canvas. Even after three coats, I still had some pinholes so I haven't quite got it down yet. We went to Blick's Art Supply Store in Berkeley and she taught me about the different brands of paint and essential colors.

Tuesday is Enamel Group night so I was able to work on a couple of pieces. The far left is a 5x7 sort of whimsical piece with some millefiori that Benny was so nice to give me. The "grass" are shards of glass threads. I also made some medallions for my kids. I thought they would like it jangling in their pocket.

This is a 9x9 oil on canvas portrait of a pet for my girlfriend's friend in Minneapolis. This dog has her own bed in a boutique she owns and must wear green booties so she doesn't slip on the hardwood floors.

A new lesson and a gift

I went to the Alba Studios yesterday and learned a new skill. As you can see from the result, even though it took about two hours the staples have to be realigned and maybe more of the canvas trimmed.

I have never seen canvas stretched and I'm sure it doesn't usually take as long as I took or leave the scrapes on my knuckles like I have. Of course this lesson is for me being able to stretch huge canvases for Benny Alba and also for myself so I better start doing grip and strength exercises.
Benny did surprise me with a "little'" gift. She asked if I was planning to do any big pieces and since I was asked if I had any big brushes. She gave me this monster of a brush/broom as a gift. How cool is that?

Open Studios

I was busy this weekend helping out Benny Alba and her open studio with 11 other artists. It was such a great learning experience and I loved being able to meet with other artists and talk about their work.

The best part of my part of the helping was being the meeter/greeter. I met so many interesting people and a handful let me photograph them for possible future pieces. By far our most interesting person on the last day was a young man named Jack Passion. He came in the room and it was so obvious but I was the only one who commented on his magnificent beard. His beautiful girlfriend Alexis was quick to point out Jack is the current World Champion in the Natural Full Beard division of the World Beard Championship contest. I believe he's only 24 years old so that means he probably has not shaved ever since he started being able to grow a beard. I've also been working on a couple of pieces and hope to share them with you soon.

More info on my Mentor

Here is Benny Alba's studio where she does most of her work.  This picture only shows about a quarter of this studio.  The building also includes areas for three more work spaces she rents out, an upper storage unit,  a garage, front gallery, office and library!  

One thing that impressed me besides her being a fourth generation artist is that she started showing in museums before galleries.  She has the chutzpah and drive that I can readily relate to.  So far (fingers crossed) we seem to have hit it off pretty well.  Along with the work she has me do, she is generous enough to share tips on doing almost everything that needs to be done [ from setting up a ladder to cutting matboard easier] throughout the day.  One of her apprentices rents a studio space from her and her work is fantastic too!  Another thing I love is that Benny did not attend art school, [she has a BA in psychology which she used for Crisis Counseling for a time] and she is used to 'black humor' that cops and Emergency personnel use to get through a traumatic event.   I love her current series called BONfire.  Why don't you check it out here?

I have the kids for the next few days so I am going to work on some project and hopefully will have something to post soon.  Thank you for your patience! hugs!