rain forest winter

our temperate rain forest is full of snow again.

i’m an easy trudge up the street
to the studio and so
(shovel in hand)
we all head out to clear a path
in the early morning darkness.

in good company

A nice shot of the painting paying june to rob january (2008) installed at Moberg Gallery in Des Moines, IA.

interior photo: Dan Ferro

water + pencil on paper

using large sheets of paper. mapping out watercolor pencil drawings. using a brush to soften the lines and spread the pigment. here, some from the studio floor this morning.

fame by any other name

received an inspiring message from art collector and PhD candidate Tema Okun today. “…want you to know that i have made one of your paintings my desktop and ohmygod it is fabulous and makes me feel good all day long…”

Tema and her partner Tom Stern are among my earliest supporters, buying up several pieces from my first show in Durham, NC, in 2001. They continue to purchase regularly from me and other working artists across the country.

We couldn’t do what we do without you. Thanks y’all.

the illogic of division (2007)

new charcoal

Making a pile of black charcoal drawings on paper again. Some resemblances to my older paper work.

oh yes we did

drawings

And so, new paintings. Also, drawings. I’ll be working with water-based mediums on paper over the winter. Crayons, pencils, paints. Inspired by those large-scale drawings on paper i saw in Austin.

make more art

As always, working on new paintings. Compelled by diptychs and triptychs these days. Putting in another order for more stretcher bars and paint, no matter the lean times. While waiting for the economy to settle and President Obama to take the stage in January? Make more art.

new representation

The new Beneveda Gallery in Beverly Hills, CA, is partnering with Moberg Gallery (my reps in Des Moines, IA). Interior designer Thomas Shoos is designing the space. Opening January 2009. Just sent a shipment of paintings. Stay tuned for pictures and stories.

murdza/mcclain: art + architecture

Attended 4Culture's Portland information session about public art with my creative partner Logan McClain. He’s an architect with Soderstrom Architects. And we've got big plans. Taking on a carport/porch art install and renovation as our first project. Stay tuned for process diary and model shots as we have them.

AMOA

Saw an amazing show at the Austin Museum of Art while visiting my sister-not-in-law. MODERN ART. MODERN LIVES. THEN + NOW: A two-part exhibition organized by the Austin Museum of Art from AMOA’s permanent collection and local collections that explores how modern and contemporary artists merge art and life.

Was moved especially KCHO's VCEI Bate 2000 (conté crayon on paper) (large-scale drawing, left) and the work of Michael Ray Charles.

install

Photographer Aaron Johanson took an updated context shot of commission portland landscape c-5 (2006) installed on its new bright blue wall at The Daily Journal of Commerce in downtown Portland. At the time of the commission, wall was a tan/beige sort of shade (like the carpet) and while it worked for the concept as orginally conceived, the blue bring a whole new wonder to the piece.

paying june to rob january

processing new images and getting them up on the site. discovering titles for the paintings, as it's usually after the fact that these words reveal themselves. this morning, pondering the difference between "paying june to rob january" and "paying january to rob june". in the meantime, the inspiration for the rumination (above; 36"x36").

everybody's high

the blessed PNW sun is here for the rest of the summer. new paintings get photographed tomorrow morning. with updates on the site soon. here's a two-panel sample (60"x36" each):

for sure

enjoying the extended Portland Springtime. cold. hot. cold. rain. sun. rain again. and again. new projects in the works and a vegetable garden in the ground.

private commissions for clients in Los Angeles, CA and Lewes, DE. lots of small paintings and a larger three-panel piece dedicated to Kissing. more soon on that for sure.

she's a word like love + circus

the most inspirational, creative maven on the planet, Ms Lynda Barry has released her new book What It Is (Drawn & Quarterly, May 2008). hurray!

the publisher's link includes a full color preview. lucky us. and a link to purchase. book also available through bookstore far and wide, including an independent bookseller near you.

emergent

work continues on new projects, proposals, and potential propositions.

in the meantime, new paintings emerge. see "untitled blue (her night sky's desire)" (at left) and others as they do.

RIP Sowie

dear friend and studio companion Sowie has made her transition. after a long life of living well, she experienced a relatively brief bodily decline and made her way. be well, little cat. now you are Everywhere.

the visit

Cornerhouse Gallery representative Janelle McClaine brought our client out to the Grinnell Art Factory Studios to see the 6-panel commissioned paintings in person. the visit was a joyful success; everyone is very happy with the work.

weather permitting, i'll wrap the paintings up and deliver to the gallery for framing on Wednesday. once framed, they'll go into art storage until installation: estimated now for December 2008.

ready

the sun sets on the snowy Iowa fields surrounding the studio. Dan Ferro and i completed reassembly of the remaining paintings and Grinnell College student and Grinnell Community Gallery intern Veronica Erb prepared the studio for the visit tomorrow. some more prep in the morning and, as it's said in ObamaLand: we're fired up and ready to go!

safe & sound

lots of bright sun and snow here in Iowa. i feel like a mole coming out of the Portland clouds. all expected packages have arrived in good shape. we took the paintings out of their exterior tubes and let them warm for the afternoon.

in the evening, Grinnell College student John Bell reassembled the stretcher bars on the floor of the main studio. along with friend and Grinnell artist Dan Ferro we re-stretched the 5' piece and the 10' piece, smoothly and without problem. what a relief.

sonotube city

with the ever-able studio assistance of paper artist and OCAC student Molly Kafka, we disassembled the 6-panel commission and packed it for shipment to Iowa for a final studio visit with the client before delivery.  I'll follow on Feb 12 to set up shop at Studio 6 out at The Grinnell Art Factory on the Lacina Family Farm to reassemble the paintings and prepare for the client visit. 

happy new year!

as the year came to a close, i hosted several studio visits here in Portland. notably, with one of my CHGF reps Janelle McClain, in town to see the 6-panel commission in person. Portland art consultant Heidi McBride has added me to her roster at Heidi McBride Gallery. paintings (i promise) she made it through) and we listened, and the wind picked up were shown at a special event at Robert Reynolds's Chef Studio in early December. this week, i'm shipping out there was singing, believe me to clients in Grinnell, Iowa, and a 30"x36" single-panel private commission "there is always three (+ more)" to Maryland (see image at left).

a new big batch of stretcher bars has arrived from my friends at Upper Canada Stretchers! some intense painting over the next few months is in store. stay tuned for news about upcoming commission projects,and images of new work as i have them.