Happy, Happy Scratchboard Holiday!

I've been very busy scratching away on Ampersand scratchboard for the past few weeks. Not much time for the blog...but I'll try to be better in 2011. This is my current studio table! Had a great couple of weeks in Austin, TX doing demos at Jerry's Artarama and the Austin Palette Club. Also had a fun time out at Eye of the Dog Art Center selling art at their home show. Now I'm back home and working on a series of scratchboards. Can't post them yet, will put them up soon as I can. Suffice to say, I am working on some big, fun, future business.
Today is my Grandmother's 99th birthday. She is a wonder...still lives alone and gets around pretty well. Hope I got a big dose of her genes!

Little Houses

More little houses. Most of these are on Ampersand Art hardboard, with a variety of sources for the paper collage work. I'm fond of using 1940's magazines and other cool old paper. The more brown and brittle the better! The four little houses are 4- 3"x5" boards mounted into frames that I build with my own two old hands. The three little houses are 5"x7" boards. I started this little house project about a year ago. Didn't know at the time where it was leading me, I just knew I had to make at least 100 of these...and I did. They sat around in a box for 7 months until inspiration struck me up on a ridge top in the middle of nowhere while living in, what else, a little house! These are all available, in various sizes and prices. I've relocated into a larger house, with hot water and flush toilet etc.. Realized the other day that it's been about 5 years since I've lived someplace that had more than one room! I'm happy to have more space, but it's nice to know I can live with less if need be.

Time to get scratching!

Okay, okay, break time is over now. I spent last weekend in Austin doing scratchboard demonstrations and sales in the Ampersand Booth at the Texas Art Educator's Assoc. conference. It was a true shot in the arm! Just what I needed to get back on track with my art. Lack of sales, be damned! I need to make art, if it sells in the galleries, great. If not, I still have to make it anyway. I've been doing my 'little houses' series like crazy. Same format; panel painted black, collaged vintage paper houses, little people in the doors and windows with red paint on the background. Have built frames and have been putting it all together for the upcoming thanksgiving show at the Eye of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos. Can't wait, big fun. Meanwhile here is one of my many little house works for your enjoyment.

Taking a break from art n' all

I've been taking a bit of a break for the past few months. Moving from state to state, which is much harder as I get older, and trying to figure out what is next for me. Art is not selling well right now at the galleries and I'm scrambling to make a buck or two. In addition, I am wondering what it is I can add to the world of self indulgent blogs etc...do I really have anything to contribute? There you have it folks, check back once in a while to see if I've had a breakthough (or a breakdown!)

Little Wacked Out Bird Scratchboard

Scratched this out while doing an Ampersand Art www.ampersandart.com demo at Artisan Santa Fe last month. Wonder what I'll do while at the Austin Jerry's Artarama demo this Saturday (August 21st) from noon to 3pm. Wonder who will come and what they will scratch out? Come on out and play!

Pink Eared Pup Scratchboard

My latest 5"x7" Ampersand Art www.ampersandart.com scratchboard! Had a great time scratching out this pink eared pup! I'll be at Jerry's Artarama on Saturday August 21st from 12noon to 3pm giving a free scratchboard demo, compliments of Ampersand and Jerry's. Google Jerry's Austin to get more info and address.

Little Dog Scratchboard

Just finished this 5"x7" scratchboard based on a chihuahua dog. Had a great Ampersand Art http://www.ampersandart.com/ scratchboard demo in Santa Fe at Artisan Santa Fe art store a week ago. Shout out to James who put it all together and participated! I'm on the road and will soon be in Austin Tx at Jerry's Artarama to do a scratchboard demo on Saturday August 21st! Also participating in a group show at Wally Workman Gallery http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/ the month of August.

Little Houses

Ok, so, my latest obsession is making these little houses. This one is 9- 5"x7" panels mounted and framed. They are basically all the same...2 windows, door, chimney etc...and yet, of course they are all different. It's been shipped to Wally Workman Gallery in Austin for the August show. http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/ The materials are gleaned from my extensive stack of vintage papers, magazines and even a bible and such! My goal, for the most part is to get rid of this stack. In the meantime, I've found a theme that really speaks to me. Home, where the heart is, where we nest. Right now my home is temporary. I don't know where I will be for the winter as the cabin has no heat and promises to be cold and drafty. Time will tell I guess.

The Neighborhood

Just in case you were wondering what I've been working on...Here is just one of many in my 'little house' series. I've been making these small collage houses with vintage paper and red acrylic paint for the past year. Recently I decided they needed to be framed in groups. I'm thinking of calling this "The Neighborhood". Although, it could be called, 'The Window in the Outhouse' as I retrieved this window frame from the outhouse at my best friend and neighbors place. In fact I've been staring at this frame, just sitting against the wall for at least the past 5 years, or at least every time I visit that 'little' house of hers. A few weeks ago I asked if I could have it and this is the result. I like it a lot. This will probably be shipped to Wally Workman Gallery soon for the 30th anniversary group show in August. Check out the website at http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/
Other news, I will be going out to Santa Fe NM for a few days the end of the month and will be doing a free scratchboard demo representing Ampersand Art http://www.ampersandart.com/ at Artisan Santa Fe
http://www.artisan-santafe.com/ on Weds. July 28th at 1:30-4:30 (or there abouts). Come on out if you are in the area, or give a call for more information 1-505-954-4179

Two Dogs

My latest finished piece. It's a 9"x12" Ampersand Art scratchboard www.ampersandart.com I'm loving combining collage, inks and acrylic paint on these boards! This was from a photo I took of a couple of friends dogs. Obviously I took some liberty with them and the background!

Blue-Eyed Circus Pony

I knocked this 5"x7" Ampersand Art www.ampersandart.com scratchboard out the other day at my new studio in the Ozarks. It's called 'Blue-Eyed Circus Pony'. It's based it on a photo I took at an antique shop of a carousel horse there. I used Liquidtex acrylic inks for the color, some on the existing black surface and some on the white clay after scratching away the black ink. This reminds me of a crazy white horse I had as a youngster. She was 'green broke' and took me on a wild ride one day...imagine me getting thrown as she ran down the field with me being dragged behind with my foot stuck in the stirrup! Classic. Luckily I was not hurt...well maybe a bit embarrassed at my inability to tame her. And wisely enough, I never got on her again!

New Dog Scratch

Finished scratching this dog out the other day. This is a 5"x7" Ampersand Art scratchboard, check out their website to see all of their products! www.ampersandart.com Today I added color to the background, eyes and collar. I haven't gotten a photo of the finished product yet, just wanted to get a posting up as I'm only going online every couple of days or so. That's a big difference from how I was using it before. I've had a few withdrawal pains but think I'll survive!

Moving...

I've taken sometime off to get moved to a new locale, new state, new life. Check back in a few weeks, hopefully I will have high speed internet (which is damned hard to come by in the very rural, rural...)and some new scratchboards. I hope to start up demos for Ampersand Art www.ampersandart.com in Missouri and Arkansas soon as well. Will post here as soon as I can.

Wiener Dog Scratchboard Drawings!

Here are two scratchboard versions of a wiener dog that belongs to a friend of mine! This is a contrast to the previous post of the cubist version...These are of course Ampersand Art scratchboards. www.ampersandart.com (both 5"x7") Check out their many products including gesso board, pastel board, aqua board, clayboard and my favorite, scratchboard.

Cubist Dachshund Scratchboard

So I've been working on a scratchboard of a dachshund for a friend and needed to just let loose a bit. Here is an example of me playing around with the image. It may not be what the owner of the dog wanted, but I had a hell of a good time doing it! This is a 5"x7" Ampersand Art scratchboard www.ampersandart.com

Chicken with Blue Squares

Just finished this Chicken with Blue Squares. It's a 5"x7" Ampersand Art www.ampersandart.com scratchboard with Liquidtex inks and a little bit of acrylic red. Love me some chicken on a panel! It may even be a rooster, who knows? They are all chickens to me!

Scratching out a Monkey

I started working on this 5"x7" Ampersand www.ampersandart.com scratchboard yesterday. Not done yet, not quite sure where it's going, or what colors will be on this, if any. Having fun with it anyway. I'm packing my studio up, getting rid of stuff left and right...it's so strange, and yet, so good to purge. Still looking for followers of this and my Monkey a Day blog, so line up and sign up folks! Also enjoy your comments, so tell me what you think. Or give me ideas for future scratchboards. Currently it's pretty much the

'Dog and Monkey' show here, with a few still lifes thrown in.

Scratchboard Still Life

I finished this 5"x7" Ampersand Art scratchboard the other day. I added yellow ink, vintage paper and red acrylic paint. You can see the before version that I posted here earlier if you scroll down the page to March 27th. I've got a larger version of this that has not been painted or had any collage work on it yet. Will post it here once I finish it. Should be interesting to see how different or similar it may turn out to be. I know I haven't a plan in mind...

Here are some shots from my art talk/demo today in Johnson City. Had a great group of bicyclers from Minn. come through the Kirchman Gallery http://www.kirchmangallery.com/ One of my favorite scratchboard artists came by, Randy Jerome Simpson, the above piece is one of his works in progress. He was good help and took all of these photos. Thanks Randy! And thanks Susan for inviting me to speak!

Another Still Life

A larger version of the previous posted still life scratchboard. Still need to add some color and maybe some collage with vintage paper. This is a 12"x16" Ampersand Art www.ampersandart.com type scratchboard, which I love, love,love working with. I went to an opening at the Kirchman Gallery in Johnson City tonight. Great fun, good folks, wonderful art!
Found out I sold a couple more pieces there, yippie!

Scratchboard Still Life

Here is a new scratchboard. Of course it is an Ampersand Art scratchboard...my favorite medium http://www.ampersandart.com/ I haven't added any color yet. Wanted to scan it first and I've printed it out to add color to the print first. This is a new thing I'm trying. I saw a great book this past week that was illustrated by a fantastic scratchboard artist. The title is: "A Tallgrass Prairie Alphabet" by Claudia McGehee. www.claudia-mcgehee.com Great work!
She uses a different product (Essdee from England) and scans and prints on watercolor paper and then paints on the paper. I'm going to try it just to see how I will translate it. I'm sure the result will be different from her and yet inspired by her technique.

Hobby Horse

I did this 'hobby horse' scratchboard about a million years ago. I can hardly remember it...except that I was not really very happy with the finished product. In spite of that, it did sell. It is so odd for me now to look at these older pieces. No color and really an simple work, not polished at all. Yeah, right, like all of the more recent dog & monkey pieces are 'polished'. Ok. It's good to have if only to see how I have changed and grown as an artist. I'm out of town right now. Have settled into a booth at a bakery with free wi-fi and so am 'connected' while being disconnected from the folks around me. Strange indeed. Check out Eye of the Dog Art Center and sign up for some classes. Especially my upcoming Scratchboard and Collage class April 11th. www.eyeofthedogartcenter.com This piece is an Ampersand Art scratchboard, my favorite. www.ampersandart.com

Scratchboard Still Life

This is a large (16"x20")Ampersand Art http://www.ampersandart.com/ scratchboard combined with acrylic paint and collage. It was hung at Dahlia Woods Gallery http://www.dahliawoodsgallery.com/ in Dallas. I'm happy to say, this and two other still life type scenes sold there. I'll be teaching a scratchboard and collage class at Eye Of The Dog Art Center http://www.eyeofthedogartcenter.com/ in San Marcos Sunday April 11th. This is an all day class starting at 10am. $95.00 A tasty lunch is included. I'll have plenty of tools and materials. All you need to bring is your creative selves! Go to their website to get more details and sign up.

Chicken Man Scratchboard

This is one of my larger, earlier scratchboards. "Chicken Man" It was based on a funny little wooden sculpture that I think I got at a yard sale. I love this creature...and I love Ampersand Art http://www.ampersandart.com/ scratchboard. Here's the commercial: I'll be teaching a free demonstration of this product tomorrow (Sat. Feb 27th) from 12-3pm at Jerry's Artarama on North I-35 Austin, TX. Come, spend an hour or a moment. I've got free samples for everyone!

And speaking of love, I am going thru what I can only explain as a '7 yr itch' with scratchboard. I love it, and have loved it very deeply for about 7 yrs. But lately, I've not done much of/or with it. Blame it on the weather, my mother dying in November, or me approaching my 55th birthday in April, I can't say for sure. What ever it is....that 'white-hot' love has waned a bit. Like any relationship, we are going thru a period of change. I don't think I want to leave scratchboard behind, I just need something different to happen. So, I've been exploring collage and even oil painting. I'm not 'cheating' just trying to put a little 'spice' back into our relationship. What's it all about scratchboard? Stay tuned to see what happens next!

King of All Dogs

This is an older, sold scratchboard of mine. It is a Ampersand product, 16"x20" (http://www.ampersandart.com/) Tonight I had the pleasure of presenting information about the company and my favorite medium, scratchboard, to the Austin Fiber Artists. What a great group of folks. They had many of their projects there and I am thinking there may be some sort of fiber incorporated in future pieces of mine. Outstanding! I can't wait to see what they may come up with (and what I may come up with as a result of what I saw there). I will be teaching an all day class on scratchboard and collage at Eye of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos Texas http://www.eyeofthedogartcenter.com/ on Sunday, April 11th. It is very affordable, includes lunch, sample materials, and is in one of the most dynamic and fun art centers I've ever been to. The owners are both amazing artists and it is an unforgettable experience. Google it and sign up folks, if not for my class for another of the variety of classes offered. I'm also giving a free scratchboard demo at Jerry's Artarama here in Austin, Sat. Feb. 27th from 12-3pm. I love watching folks discover how much fun this is!

Early Scratchboard Work

Thought I'd post an earlier work of mine. This is a 16"x20" Ampersand Art www.ampersandart.com Scratchboard. "4&20" is the name, for obvious reasons. It's always a treat to look back and see what I was producing about 5 years ago. This looks very basic, stripped down, unfinished to me now. If you look at what I'm currently doing, it's hard to believe I was afraid of color and refused to use it. Soon I will be diving into oil painting head first. I did not pay attention to it at all when I was in first year art school. I hated the smell of turpentine and thought all the glazes and mixing and drawing was tedious. I guess I was just too young and stupid to get it. I do now. And I'm drawn to it.

Still Life Scratchboard

This is a large 16"x20" Ampersand scratchboard. I just finished this the other day. This is a combination of vintage paper collage and water based oil paint. This is my new favorite piece. I struggled with it for several months. It just wasn't coming together. Once I started slapping the paper on it started to make more sense to me. I love it when it happens that way. I'll be doing a scratchboard demo at Jerry's Artarama in Feb. I'll post more info soon. Also will be doing a day long scratchboard/collage class at Eye of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos TX in April. Check out more info at www.eyeofthedogartcenter.com

Sweet Blue Dog

This is my latest 5"x7" Ampersand Art scratchboard. www.ampersandart.com This is a sweet dog named Blue, a belated birthday present for a friend. These latest scratchboards are stacking up in the studio. This one has a home....but many of them don't, at least not yet. I'll be delivering several new monkeys and dogs to Wally Workman Gallery this week. www.wallyworkmangallery.com Check them out. I am the 'Target' of the gallery...my work is quite affordable, purposely. I want to sell art. Simple as that. I don't make tons of money on these, but they fly out the door and end up on people's walls. That makes me happy!

I'll be teaching a scratchboard class at Eye of the Dog Art Center www.eyeofthedogartcenter.com in San Marcos this coming April (Sunday April 11th from 10-4 lunch included $95.00) This Art Center is one of the coolest places on Earth. Really. And Billy Ray and Beverly are two of the most talented, nicest artists I know. So put this on your calendars and save your pennies. We will be diving in head first into scratchboard and collage. I'll have all the materials and tools. My goal is world domination by scratchboard. It is the most instant gratification art technique that anyone can do.

Kitty Scratches

Just wanted to illustrate the progression of one of my smaller scratchboards. This is a sample size Ampersand Art board. www.ampersandart.com Started out on the far left with the basic outline of a kitty. Then I added the fish bones, and finally some color. There you have it, a 'Kitty Scratch'.

I'm on a brief interview on KUT radio here in Austin. Jill Carver, Suzanne Lewis and myself talking about the art work at Wally Workman Gallery. www.wallyworkmangallery.com It's a hoot. Had a lot of fun doing it. Click on the link to hear it. http://media.kut.org/sounds/blog_00019476/AE_329.mp3

Another Day, Another Dog

My latest scratchboard dog. The usual, Ampersand Art http://www.ampersandart.com/ scratchboard, 5"x7" with acrylic paint. I love this doggie head. Based on a photo of a friends dog, got to say though, it looks nothing like her. And yet, it is totally her. How can this be?

I've started a new blog, my continuation of a "Monkey a Day". Check it out at http://monkeyaday.blogspot.com/

Dog oh Doggie

This is my newest 5"x7" Ampersand scratchboard. http://www.ampersandart.com/ This dog, Scout, belongs to a couple of friends of mine and she is always so laid back and calm compared to their other two doggies. This is curious, because she is so big and kind of scary if you don't know her well. I would not push my luck with her if she were having a bad day...
I used my favorite scratching tool for this (the basic nib ampersand provides) and gouache paint for the eyes and background. There is a group show I'm in at Wally Workman Gallery here in Austin http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/ . It opens this Saturday from 6-8pm. Everything is priced under a 'grand'.

Scratchboard Dog

Here is the finished 'Luna' scratchboard. I used gouache paint on a 5"x7" Ampersand Art scratchboard, http://www.ampersandart.com/ sealed with Krylon Workable Fixative. I will frame this and get it to Wally Workman Gallery. http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/

All good here in Central Texas. Windy and Cold, just like Winter is supposed to be!

New Year, New Scratchboards

Happy New Year all y'all! I've been traveling a bit for the holidays, headed back to Austin tomorrow. Thought I'd post some of what I've managed to work on while on the road. Here are two shots of the progress on a 5"x7" Ampersand Art www.ampersandart.com scratchboard of Luna the dog. I will add some color when I get back...spray it, frame it, post it here, and call it done. I'm planning to start up the 'Monkey a Day' blog again soon. Haven't decided if it will be here on this blog or have it's very own blog spot. Any ideas? Suggestions? 2009 was a very fine year for me, I'm feeling like 2010 is going to be as good or even better. Imagine that!