A Call For Entries to Bleed Off Some Anxiety

I usually avoid getting into politics here on my blog, but to be honest, politics and the past 7 years of mis-direction for our country is a big source of anxiety and worry for me.  Like other things that stir up big emotions with me (such as my nostalgia for different places that I mentioned in my last post), this source of anxiety comes out in my creative process and, ultimately, my art.

Sometimes it might be just an elemental square or two that end up “looking anxious”.  Or, maybe it’s a bit more bold and front-and-center like my color choices and titling for the painting below that I started on Election Day in 2004.

So, on Friday, I started the backwashes for a new painting that I plan to finish for a new Call for Entry for a special political exhibit titled “UnConventional” at The Other Side Arts (TOSA) here in Denver.  I’ll keep everyone posted on my progress as my concept and painting developes and I (hopefully) am able to bleed off some of this anxiety.

David Castle, Election Day 2004 - Blood and Red Ink, watercolor and gouache on paper, 28 x 22 inches.

 

A Little “Gem” by Lisa Wharton

Here’s the small mixed-media original art that we purchased at the recent Art Students League of Denver Summer Art Market by Lisa Wharton.

Lisa had quite a variety of these small originals at the Market - many of them evoked my nostalgia for different places.  I love New England and was immediately drawn to this “little gem” of art.

Visit Lisa’s website at: www.urbanbirdonline.com and her blog here.

Lisa Wharton, untitled, mixed media on wood panel, 6 x 6 inches.

 

Recent Inspiration: Missy Higgins and Homegrown Echinacea

I love sharing that which inspires me - often music and nature.  Here are some recent sources of inspiration for my studio time this month.

First is some new music I’ve been listening to by Missy Higgins - I love her rather soulful sound and lyrics!

I’ve also been working with some new colors - one is close to the echinacea right in my own back yard.

I’m loving the rather pastel-lavendar color of the petals and a deep red in the cones.

Here’s the entire plant - for some reason it has grown HUGE this year!

 

Mourning a Painting I’ll Never Have…

Each year I set sales and reward goals for my art business.  For the last two years, I’ve set very aggressive sales goals that I’ve not been able to meet (and haven’t given myself many rewards).  I’ve read somewhere in my research (unfortunately I can’t remember where, although I DO remember thinking it was a credible source) that it takes 8-10 years for an “emerging” artist to become established.  I realize that “established” can mean lots of different things, but my definition includes a certain level of financial income from my sales.

In any case, this year I think I’ve set more realistic sales goals, factoring in that I’m not yet fully established (in fact, I’m only 4 years into that 8-10 years timeline).  So, I’ve met my mid-year goal and have been thinking about my reward - which is to add something to my own art collection from another artist.

Sounds like it should be fun, huh?  To actually get to purchase another artist’s creation for my home.  Well, there is a certain Denver-based artist whose art I’ve loved for quite awhile.  I even visited a recent showing of this artist’s work and picked out a favorite that I loved.  It was even well within my budget!

Unfortunately, I don’t like the artist.  I’ve introduced myself to this artist at least 5 times over the last several years and each time have never received a hint of recognition or interest that I’ve been following and loving this artist’s work for years.  I’ve even tried to create a connection with this artist… and got nothing.  No interest, no conversation, no smile.  I work hard to establish a connection with the people I meet that look at, comment on or collect my artwork.  And I like to have the same with artists whose work interests me - especially if I’m going to buy it.

So, I won’t be rewarding myself with an original piece of this particular artist’s work.  And, I’m kinda sad about it all (because I LOVE this artist’s art!).  The good news is that I also like lots of other art and the artists that have created them.  So, I bought a small piece for our home two weekends ago at the Summer Art Market (Art Students League of Denver).  I’ll post it on my blog later this week (with the artist’s permission).

 

I love My New Location!

Last week I finally moved the rest of my studio supplies into my new studio and have to say I really love my location.  Check out what art business coach Greg Katz had to say about my new studio!

In the middle of getting all of my supplies settled…

View out my windows that directly face the sidewalk and Inca Street & 8th Avenue.

 

 

“Candied Trees” - Finished!

I’ve finished “Candied Trees” (which I painted entirely with Dr. Ph. Martin’s Hydrus watercolors) by mounting it on stretched canvas with a purple background.

I recently sold this painting, so it’s on its way to a new home this week!  I have limited edition prints of this painting though, so email me if you’d like one - it makes quite a splash of color for any room!

 

Awarded Best of Show at the Downtown Denver Arts Festival!

I was very excited to have been awarded “Best of Show” this past weekend at the Downtown Denver Arts Festival!  What a great honor to have been judged the best out of 130 of Colorado’s top artists!

Thank you to everyone that came by to say hello and to those that took a David Castle original or Limited Edition print home with them!  If you missed it, please call or email me anytime to arrange a time to come by my new studio in the heart of the Santa Fe Arts District, just south of downtown Denver - I’d love to show you my new “digs” and artwork.

Me and my “Best of Show” award at the 2008 Downtown Denver Arts Festival.

 

10th Annual Downtown Denver Arts Festival - This Weekend!

In town for Memorial Day Weekend?

Please visit me at the 10^th Annual Downtown Denver Arts Festival, May 23 – 26, 2008.  The Festival is held at the Denver Pavilions and I’ll be in my usual spot on Glenarm at the pedestrian walkway (Booth #16).  Hours are:

 

   Friday, May 23: 4-8pm

   Saturday, May 24: 11am-8pm

   Sunday, May 25: 11am-5pm

   Monday, May 26: 11am-4pm

 

I have several new Limited Edition prints now available and will have many framed and ready to go at the Festival!  Have a safe holiday weekend!

 

My location at the 2007 Downtown Denver Arts Festival.

 

Great Opening Party!

Thank you to everyone that stopped by my new studio opening party last Friday.  I had well over 125 people come check out my new “digs” and help me celebrate!

If you missed it, be sure to let me know and we’ll schedule a time for your own personal tour!

Artwork hung… couldn’t wait to make holes in those fresh, new walls.

We had an Italian/French soda bar to refresh everyone.

Some of the first guests arrive.

 

Moving Art Into My New Studio… In the Snow

So today was my first art-moving day and, of course, it snows!  Seems to be a theme with me moving studios - it seems to snow often on my actual moving days.

After today though, things are just about ready for my Opening Party on Friday, May 2nd! Everyone is welcome to come by and help me celebrate my new studio space… here are details:

     David Castle New Studio Opening Party
     Friday, May 2nd |  5pm - 9pm

     800 West 8th Avenue
     Denver, CO  80204

The building I’m in is located on the southwest corner of 8th Avenue and Inca Street, one block east of Santa Fe Drive.  Entrance to the studios is on Inca Street - look for my logo sign in my window.  Hope to see you there!

Snowing huge flakes in my backyard this morning as I’m trying to load up art.

Getting things cleaned up and hanging art in my new studio.

 

A Door, a Purple Column and Wood Floors

My studio door was getting installed today as I painted the support column purple (I went “shopping” for used paint in our basement and found some purple left over from the living room… yes, we have a purple living room!).  Wood floors went in over the weekend, but won’t get sanded and finished until next week.

Tomorrow I’ll hang some art for my Opening Party Friday!  I hope everyone will brave the weather change (82 today and 49 on Friday) to come by and help me celebrate!

My studio door getting installed this morning.

 

Rudeness is Just Unnecessary…

This morning I drove down to the Curtis Arts & Humanities Center in Greenwood Village to drop off artwork for the upcoming Colorado Watercolor Society’s “New Trends Exhibit”.

The Curtis Center is a great little art space, but I’ll have to say that the Cultural Arts Coordinator, Jo Cole, was just a bit unnecessarily rude to me.  She first ordered me to remove the packaging on my art and then instructed me to lean my metal-framed art up against the glass/plexi of another, larger painting.  When I voiced my concern about damaging the art, she rudely informed me that glass can’t get damaged (which is untrue for glass and VERY untrue for plexiglass).  I left not only wondering why I deserved even this minor rudeness, but concerned about how well my art would be taken care of while at the Curtis Center.

I think there is way too much rudeness in our everyday lives.  I’ve personally struggled with anger issues for many years and am sure I can further improve my interactions with others.  In fact, I will renew my personal pledge right now to be kinder and gentler to everyone I meet!

 
Elementals No. 9, watercolor on paper, 16 x 26 inches.  On display at the “New Trends Exhibit” at the Curtis Arts Center, May 3 - 30, 2008.

 

Arts on Vine Exhibit Opening Tonight!

I have art in a group show right here in my own neighborhood this weekend at the Arts on Vine Spring Exhibit.

This is a wonderful and casual exhibit at St. Barnabas Church and Timothy, Elizabeth and all of their volunteers do a great job with it.

I’ll be at the Opening from 5pm - 7:30pm tonight (Friday) and the exhibit is also open on Saturday, 1-3pm and Sunday 10am - Noon.

Several other artists will be exhibiting, including David Harms and Kerry Aufderheide - please stop by!

Location: St. Barnabas at 1280 Vine Street (corner of 13th/Vine Streets).

 

Artist Sharon Feder Exhibit, “Passages” at Ironton

Last night I attended a wonderful preview reception of Denver artist Sharon Feder’s new exhibit, “Passages” at Ironton Studios in Denver.  Sharon paints “abstractions of nature and architecture” and captures something that I really love - a sense of “place”.

Her Trainyard No. 1 in particular was my favorite… it made me want to step right in and soak up the scene that she created.  I’ll admit that I’ve always been drawn to trains.  I even wanted to be a train engineer when I was young, but according to my father, I’d have to join a “union” and would then be “kicked out of the family”.  I was only about eight, so didn’t know what a “union” was, but surely didn’t want to become an engineer and then get kicked out of the family (can you imagine?!).

With all of Sharon’s art in this exhibit, I also love the layering that she acheives with color and texture.  And, I like that she is now painting on panel.  Sharon was a pleasure to meet and fun to talk with!

Be sure to check out her art during the exhibit - the Opening Reception is tonight, Friday, April 18th from 6pm - 9pm and again on First Friday, May 2nd from 6pm - 10pm (after you come by my new studio party!).  The exhibit is ongoing through May 17, 2008.

Sharon Feder, Trainyard No. 1 (detail), 36 x 48 inches, oil on panel, 2008.

 

New Studio Update

I’ve nearly completed all of the interior painting (and am SO glad to be done working from the top of a 10-foot step ladder to reach the ceiling!).  Over the next few days, I expect the building renovator to complete my utilities (final electrical, sink/plumbing, window trim, door installation, etc.).

Now for the big multi-hundred dollar question… turns out the building renovator plans to install wood floors in the common hallway outside my studio and asked if I’d like to have wood floors installed in my studio space.  Uh, YES!!  My floor is currently old, painted concrete with medium damage (pits, cracks, rough spots).  I had not budgeted to put in new flooring, but planned to clean it well and paint it for the short term and then install a more comfortable wood floor when I could afford it.

So, the building renovator has basically offered me a great price and promised that it will be done before my Opening Party on May 2nd.  I think I’m going to go for it - I’ll have to postpone some other finishes for now to fit it into the budget, but it will look great and be much more comfortable to stand on than concrete!

New paint on the walls and my minimal cabinets installed!

 

Snowy Day in April

It occured to me this morning as I woke up to a bunch of April snow that it was almost exactly a year ago that I was moving into yet another new studio in the snow.  My post with pic here from a year ago looks alot like today’s pic below!

Last year at this time I was moving to a studio space that I rented in the Santa Fe Arts District.  This year, I’m preparing to move into a new studio space that I recently bought, also in the heart of the Santa Fe Arts District!  I plan to move a few things in next week (and the weather is expected to be in the 70’s).

Snowy day in April, 2008… no studio moving today!

 

 

Primed for Some Color

Last week I was able to prime most of my new studio and am ready for some color!  I need to wait for the electrical and some other details to be finished before painting, but hope to get some done this week.

Checking out some potential paint colors.

 

Sap Green

I recently heard an artist friend of mine mention that Sap Green was one of her favorite colors.  At the time my reaction was, well, I was just shocked.  Out of all of the colors out there, how could an artist chose Sap Green as one of their favorites?!  After all, I consider myself a colorist and I’ve never really thought much of Sap Green (remember I’m primarily an abstract painter!).

For some reason, this comment has stuck in my mind as I’ve painted over the last few months.  One could even see me occasionally shaking my head and muttering “Sap Green” while painting in my studio.  Maybe I’d need to paint more realistic landscapes or trees to discover an appreciation of Sap Green, I’d think to myself.  Too bad that the thought of painting in realism usually makes me a bit ill to my stomach, so I certainly didn’t run right to my fat-and-full tubes of Sap Green to try them out.

Well, I also believe I’d never be where I am as an artist if it weren’t for my enthusiasm for experimentation.  I love to experiment.  I love to pick up one of my color theory books (Itten most recently) and then dig through my paints to try something new.  In my digging last week looking for green paints there it was – Sap Green.

So, I gave it a try.  It did seem to work better than I thought it would with some of my favorites – Oxide of Chromium, Antique Seedling and Undersea Green.  Isn’t it great that we’re all so different?  I can’t see Sap Green becoming one of my favorites, but thanks to that one comment in passing, I’ve decided to keep it handy just in case.

Purple and Green No. 2, watercolor, 22 x 22 inches.

 

New Painting: “The Soul of Sally Kern”

Words do hurt.  They can mislead.  And, they can and do teach and inspire hate.

Sally Kern is a Republican lawmaker for the State of Oklahoma.  She recently announced that “Homosexuality is the biggest threat out nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam”.  In this same speech to a small group of Republicans, she shared even more oppressive lies about gay Americans.  You can find the quotes and a recording of her comments on Pam’s House Blend blog.

Sally’s words have been brewing around in me for weeks now as feelings of oppression, pain, sadness and bewilderment.  Since commentary on events like this isn’t my strong suite, I finally put brush to paper to create a painting that captured how this made me feel.

As I created this painting, I was really thinking about Sally’s God-given soul, which is a beautiful thing.  It’s the large rectangular shape in my painting.  You can see a beautiful, soft blue in the “top” part of her soul and above.  But it seems that dark purple and brown bruises, or cancer-like tumors are engulfing her soul from below.  And that’s the large purple “bruise” in the bottom of her soul.

Wow.  I realize this might be a bit heavy, but I really needed to get it out there and really wanted to share it.  I said a prayer for Sally and others like her who work so hard to oppress others in the name of God.

By the way, this painting is one of my 12×12″ canvas-mounted ones.  It is for sale for $300 and will go to the first person to send me an email.  I will donate 50% of this sale to GLAAD’s (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) national organization.

The Soul of Sally Kern, watercolor on paper, mounted on canvas, 12 x 12 inches.

 

More New Studio Progress: Drywall

Here are more snapshots of progress… now that drywall is going up, I am able to get a better sense of how small, but perfect this space will be for me!

Exterior of the building from Inca Street.  My studio and external windows are behind the green construction dumpster.  And yes, I’m not hugely fond of the orange sherbert exterior paint color (sorry Jeff!), but I’m sure it will make describing the building easy!

Drywall goes up in my space.  The two windows are external and face Inca Street.