Foothills Ride

 This story starts with my husband sending out an email to all of his friends telling them they should bid on my bike piece that went to the World Bicycle Relief Auction. After I got home from the auction one of his friends called me and asked if the piece sold and I said yes. Next question was could I recreate that piece but with a different color scheme and larger. I said yes and we decided on 3 x 4 feet.

I went up into the foothills on my bike and took this picture of the hills but the sky was grey and our friend wanted a sunset, so I tried to paint one from memory and hated it. 

I went to visit my daughter in Denver and as we were leaving the shopping mall , I saw one of the prettiest sunsets I had ever seen and snapped a photo with my phone and then painted from that layered over the original sky.

The next step was to design the bike. These tubes that I had were too big in relationship to the  "wheels" 

 Oxide Cycles in Boise is a new start up making their own steel bikes. I went to Alan at the shop and asked him what his thoughts were.  

Wow, was I ever lucky. He had some tubing the correct size and said he could weld me a mini bike frame.

I had another friend Innes, build me a custom hand rubbed oiled red oak frame that is a work of art in and of itself. He put it into the frame for me and even made a wood backing to make it more secure.

Here is the finished piece. After screwing the wheels into the masonite backing I poured 2 part resin all over the whole piece and held my breath and it came out great! And now it is off to it's new home tonight. 

Art Blog Directory

 Scroll down on my sidebar and you will see a new icon that says "Art Blog Directory" If you Click on it you will be directed to a long list of active art bloggers, including myself. A thank you goes out to Seth at the Altered Page for putting this together. (I failed to mention in my end of the year wrap up, that one of my highlights of my art year was getting to meet him while in New York City at one of his demo's in Greenwich Village.)

The other person I failed to recognize, a fellow artist and blogger, and on also on this list!- Rebeca Trevino, whom I also was fortunate to be able to meet and hang out with for two days, on the opposite side of the country in Sonoma County,  CA!

A blog takes a lot of work to keep up compared to Facebook and Twitter but really puts you behind the scenes into an artists studio and even more so into their way of thinking and what goes into each piece of art. I think a lot of us were starting to wonder does anyone even read these anymore? But thanks to Seth maybe this will breathe some new life into these blogs and give us a reason to post.

So now, onto my newest project:

Green Chutes the artist co-op that I have been showing my art in since they opened two years ago asked for artists to submit a 12" x 12" piece of art for a special showing.

I took a 12" x 12" stretched canvas, turned it upside down and put joint compound all over it to close up any gaps and hide staples. I then added some gold and yellow acrylic which I applied heavily and embedded small white glass pieces into the paint.

What was I going to do with this frame? Make a place for my piece
I made in Michael DeMengs class from Art Fest to rest.

Next step was to paint the interior, I painted it orange, and then blended red into it. 

After I glued down my guitar playing lizard girl
I poured two part resin over the background.
 Looks like a piece of glass! 

Boise Weekly and Much More

I'm so excited after four tries I finally landed the cover of the Boise Weekly this past week!

January has been a busy month and that is good!

•  I'm working on a A 3' x 4' commission and getting ready for 6 exhibits...

Key to My Heart

 Four pieces in the Tinstallation Show at the Art Source Gallery. (Altoid Tin Art)

Chinese Cabinet

A piece in the 20th annual Valentines for Aids Silent Art Auction coming up at the Flying M coffeehouse in Boise. 

Boise Open Studio Collective (BOSCO) show at Boise State University SUB- Feb. 28- Opening reception "Opening Doors, A Glimpse into the Artists Mind" 

Treasure Valley Artist Alliance Show- "What The World Needs Now"- Feb. 14, 2013 Exhibition Opening Reception, 5 pm - 8 pm Boise State Public Radio 

Souvenirs de Paris

Gypsy Gallery - C.W. Moore Art at the Plaza Exhibit January 29-March 2013

Green Chutes "Art By The Square Foot" Exhibit Opening February 28

Beer, Babes and Bikes

Finding the parts

adding more

final steps were "antiquing" the pieces, gluing them down and pouring resin on top. 

I had a really fun project this past month. A woman contacted me that had seen my work around town and wondered if I would do a personalized custom piece for her to give to her boyfriend for Christmas. She told me all the things she could think of that characterized him in the way she knew him. During this process I figured out that I knew who he was. (Not a close friend but had met him a few times) She was going to gather ticket stubs etc and give them to me (this was before Thanksgiving) When I had not heard from her by the time I got back from NY, I decided to contact her and yes, she still wanted me to make the piece but no, she had not collected anything. No problem... I went shopping in my studio and came up with all the pieces, then had her come approve before anything was glued down. She loved it! The only thing she wanted me to add was a squirrel. (Which I happend to have!) I did have to sacrifice an earring for one of the items she requested-Tinkerbell.  So after it was all approved, I glued and painted and then poured resin over everything. We both loved the way it turned out! Now to find out if he did!

Out with the Old in with the New

"Scene 2" mixed media 4" x 5"

  I had one art goal for this year and that was to get my art published. I had submitted three pieces of art to a magazine back in February. They still have the art and the return money, and I haven't heard a word...mmm, maybe I better check on that. But just before the clock struck 12 I got a call that my art will be on the cover of the Boise Weekly sometime this month! So even though it's now "next year" I'll let it count.

The big art things for me this year were attending Art Fest in Port Townsend, WA. Teaching painting at the Wine and Chocolate Festival in Texas, participating in and being named a semi-finalist in RAW. Acceptance in and attending the World Bicycle Relief Event in New York City. 

I have greatly enjoyed our weekly studio sessions at "Studio M" It's great hanging out and creating with other artists. Sharing ideas, getting feedback etc. Thank you Marianne.

On a personal level my bigest accomplishment this year was entering my first two mountain bike races and qualifying for nationals!

So, now the next question...What's on the plate for 2013?

I am working on a big bicycle commission and see more "bike art" in my future.

I  also plan to start teaching from my home studio. First workshop tentative date is January 31 time TBA. $50, 2 hours collage/assemblage project.

While I don't have a new goal for this year, yet. I did write a recipe for myself:

Every Day:

exercise

enjoy nature

eat sensibly

do something creative

spend time with a loved one

My Fifteen Minutes

 This past week I traveled to NYC for the pART World Bicycle Relief event held on 26th st. in the heart of the Chelsea gallery district. We arrived early and were able to see the Chuck Close show just down the street.

Cedar Lake Theatre

I was very impressed with the lighting and display of the show. 

My friend Rebeca Trevino, who had told me about the show won second place for the collage division! She was not able to attend so of course I had to call her immediately and tell her the good news. 

These bicycle figures were made by a Zambian artist. 

some of the other collages:

Mine on the left.  It was fun getting to mingle with the potential buyers and tell them about my piece.

As international a city as New York is, people seemed quite fascinated that Bill and I were from Idaho.  It was as if we were their first visitors from this faraway land.  The marketing director for SCRAM was in fact so intrigued that he called me up on stage to ask about how I ended up at the show.  It was fun sharing how my passion for biking and art came together for this unique event.  So I guess that was my 15 minutes that Andy Warhol predicted.

First Place collage division. It was very hard to get a good photograph of it.  

This was the grand prize winning piece. The artist won a trip to Africa for 2. 

Cuban Music, cocktails and good food.

When we stepped out in the cool evening the sram car was parked out front.
Interesting to see this in the middle of New York City, I'm glad the bikes were still there!

Happy Home

Happy Home 8" x 10" $100

I love all the layers in this piece. The base is a stretched canvas turned upside down. In the opening is a  wood /wax collage piece of women and children and dogs.  Next to the collage on the left is a miniature woman that looks like she is cleaning.  Above her is the letter H and the word Happy. On the right of the collage are game pieces that spell HOME.

The next layer is a piece of glass and then a window frame. On the window frame are two rusted keys and a little bitty bird. On top of the window frame is a small class jar filled with gold and silver beads.

The back is a finished collage. 

Every Little thing 50 % off art sale this Sat.

 I will have my studio open on Small Business Saturday for 4 hours for those friends that might want to pick up a special piece of art for 1/2 price!
Stop by my studio in Boise Idaho on Sat. November 24 from 12-4 pm 

50% off! 4 hours only, limited to stock on hand
cash or check only 

spiced cider and pumpkin cake!

click on the flickr link on the right of the page to see more of my art. 

What I'm Grateful For

"It is a miracle if you can find true friends, and it is a miracle if you have enough food to eat, and it is a miracle if you get to spend your days and evenings doing whatever it is you like to do, and the holiday season-like all the other seasons-is a good time not only to tell stories of miracles, but to think about the miracles in your own life, and to be grateful for them."
~Lemony Snicket, The Lump of Coal

This quote was borrowed from my favorite food blog The Noble Pig. I have not met the woman personally but she always has great stories, great photos and great recipes. She also owns and operates a vineyard in Oregon.  Some day I hope to be as great a blogger as she. 

 I have been grateful for the honors I have received lately...semi-finalist in the RAW competition, selection for pART in NYC and I recently found out one of my artworks was chosen for the cover of the Boise Weekly sometime in January. 

White Elephants

Add caption

Based on the show opening today, (click on link below to view the installation) I brought some new art down to the art museum

Boise Art Museum - Billie Grace Lynn's Elephants

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yguVuifhOPY&feature=youtu.be&hd=1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yguVuifhOPY&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

Events for November and December 2012

5" x 5" Bike Gear Star $25

As many of you know I have been chosen as a semi finalist for the RAW Artist Showcase. The show will be held on November 15 from 7-11 pm at the Revolution concert House on Glenwood in Boise. I hope you can attend and vote for me. Follow this link for more info.
http://www.rawartists.org/boise/rawards2012

Vast View 11" H $40

The next evening after RAW is the  Opening of "Inside View" a Treasure Valley Alliance show of which I have two pieces that were accepted.  It is Friday Nov. 16 from 5-8pm at the BSU radio station office- enjoy the local art and snacks, this is a free event. 220 E. Parkcenter Blvd. Boise, ID 83706-3940

Starry, Starry Bike

Starry, Starry Bike will be auctioned at a World Bicylce Relief benefit in NYC on November 29 at the Cedar Lake Theatre in Chelsea click here for more details: http://worldbicyclerelief.org/pages/sram-part-project-2012

Cows and Potato's $25

and last but not least, The Gypsy Gallery, of which I am a member, returns for a December First Thursday showing at 213 10th street - Boise, next to gallery 601 from 5:30 - 9pm on Dec. 6, 2012

Hope to see you! Pam