Tohono Chul Exhibit

Last night was the artist reception for the Tohono Chul exhibits Piece by Piece mosaics and Dia de los Muertos. As usual, it was very well attended with crowds of viewers jostling to view the artwork.
Tohono is one of my favorite nature oasis in Tucson and I always feel fortunate and privileged when my work is selected to participate in an exhibit.
Ran into several friends and met wonderful art lovers and artists.
Sold the Heart Song, yellow warbler and hope for another sale before the show ends October 20th.  I think the fact that Heart Song was featured on the Tohono web banner for the show helped :)

A NATURE Artist

At last, the article that I should have posted at the first of May. I know, kind of late, but I was sent a PDF which is not accepted to post and finally got the jpg version. For those who did not get the Tucson Lifestyle in their mailbox or rush to buy one, here is the two page spread. Nice and mentions my aussie sweetie Risa and even features my mosaic of my little dog. And no, sadly it's hard to read the article from this jpeg without a magnification via glass or zoom, so you would have to go the library to read pages 17 and 18. 

May was a great but super busy month and was gone so fast. Mother's Day orders got a little crazy and was unprepared for the response for my MoonLight Cookie Samplers. Then Memorial Day, then the Tohono Chul upcoming exhibit which will have two of my glass painting pieces. Now I am in Fourth of July preparations and laying plans for fall shows and promotions. 

I will also be adding pages to this blog on my sketchbook and process. How do I do this or that? Well I will show the how part soon. Meanwhile, you can still read this issue of May Tucson Lifestyle at your local library, one of my favorite hangouts. Did I mention how much I love books and reading?

Click to view the larger version

National Geographic BioBlitz 2011 Wildlife!

This weekend I attended and participated in this year's special event BioBlitz sponsored by National Geographic. Each year a different national park is selected by National Geographic for an intense two days of collecting, identifying and recording the flora and fauna of that area. As the environment is always changing, adapting, the natural world is adapting and evolving new species from fungi to new insects, plants, animals.

Saguaro National Park was selected for 2011 BioBlitz. It was an honor to have three of my wildlife pieces chosen and displayed in the visitors center of Saguaro National Park at this amazing and special event. I can only hope that through my wildlife artwork the public will gain an appreciation of the beauty and frailty of our natural world and above all the message that everything is connected in a vast skein - a network of life. Every thread that is broken weakens the whole.

Get ready for some serious glass mosaic - I am also working on a large mosaic sign for Tucson Wildlife Center. They are a non-profit organization who's mission is to rescue, rehab and release wildlife that has been injured or suffered the impact of urban encroachment. Let's face it - we already know that wildlife habitat is shrinking at an alarming rate and with it the bio diversity.

My goal - that my artwork will help change perceptions. Next time people look at one of my bat paintings, or Gila monster mosaics their perception of that species will change from "Eeeww, ickk!" to " Oooh, beautiful, fascinating animal!"

Carabobo Fire

This is in memory of Carabobo, the sweetest kitty. She had dignity, poise and grace - a classy cat.

A sunset background with bits of green to suggest the green of her amazing eyes.

On another note - Arizona is on fire. The smoke from fires in the area have caused so much damage. My heart aches for the people and animals caught in it. Today I just heard Mrs. Green's cabin in Greer AZ was burned to the ground.

I stopped by to introduce myself again to Mrs. Green, the radio celebrity environmentalist. The buzz of activity I encountered when I arrived at Renee's Organic Oven was totally unexpected. Apparently it was a soft grand reopening of the restaurant that specializes in an organic and gluten free menu. Everyone was rushing around and I wondered for the 'inth' time how i lived in an alternate universe - unaware of the goings on. Though my work has hung in the cozy eatery, I tend to happen upon events - an unintended party crasher - again. Where is that inside loop, the 'in crowd' so I can join too?

There was an open house sampling inside the new and improved interior, another sampling outside via Yelp, and a radio show all at the same time. Kudos to Renee for pulling off the hyper busy events.

Mrs. Green graciously included me in her radio show and I got a few minutes to explain what I do and say my name and website. She's a gem and very simpatico, sincere.

Lastly, for all of those out there who have asthma, doesn't the smoke from the fires makes breathing feel like your lungs are two sizes too small?

Backyard Friends!

Posting the front cover of a children's coloring book I did few yeas ago thru a grant with the Tucson Botanical Garden because I just signed and gave a copy to a very dear little friend who wants to write books someday.

It's a story about how to attract wildlife into the garden.

The book is bilingual with story by Rita Magdaleno, illustrations by me and my parents did the spanish translations, isn't that cool?!

x

Zebra Gouache Mini

After doing a few miniatures I am addicted! This little zebra needs a fix - did not do a preliminary sketch and the back legs need to be adjusted for hooves!

Practice is so important and I am truly enjoying all the experimentation. The media is gouache, which is an opaque watercolor.

Zoos are a great place to practice study sketches and the San Diego Zoo, CA is one of the finest! It is where I took pictures for this painting.