Latest Painting

Although these are latest paintings they are not completely new. I have some others to show you too, but since it's been a while since I posted I thought I would spread it out a bit. I promised myself when I set up this blog there would never be any apologies for not posting or taking breaks so- no mysterious reason for the quiet, just life.

 Above is a small recession buster painting (sold unframed) that I rather like-you can see the wood grain.

 This well-shoed guy was a bit of a struggle for me for some reason. I finished it for Spring Open house and as is often the case it sold.- Confirming my understanding that my favorites/least favorites are not always everyone elses. I've got some of my favorite paintings still here with me as they just haven't sold over the years. My consolation is I still get to be with them - and when I feel unsure about a piece even though it looks finished there is a home out there for it somewhere.

 This charachter came from a paper napkin sketch. I loved his face. Sometimes the balance of an expression feels just right to me. This guy seems sweet to me but neutral enough for you to want to know a bit more.

 These bottom three are all little unframed pieces with gold leaf to keep up a selection of smaller affordable paintings. It's also fun to be able to make them in almost one or two sittings.

          Hope everyone is enjoying the summer and remembering to just be- and make no excuses.

'Enormous Tiny Art' Show Returns To New Hampshire

I've participated in this show before and even got to go to the opening in Portsmouth New Hampshire (just happened to be on the road back in that part of the country). They find a lot of fun 'tiny' art that I think is ALL way to cheap but there you have it. Even I couldn't resist and bought something and may find myself supporting the arts again if I find that piece I have to have.
 Anyhow these are all there now along with a few other nifties. You can do that fun shopping cart thing were you just press buttons and wammo it's yours!
 The link is: http://www.enormoustinyart.com/Artists/a-c/Brennan,-Christine.aspx

 This little guy with the gold halo and polka dots is the only one that opted out at the last minute. He formed a bit of a crack down the front when I hammered in the hanger. (I didn't even flip out- how's that for personal growth)

                                              Happy Surfing. (Tell them Chris sent you)

And some more little recession buster paintings

I made the top three of these for a very local show at Gallery 525 here in Meiners Oaks a few blocks from here. It is a show of small works each under 8 inches.  The show is up until the end of February. The bottom piece is a special order for a customer who has collected a few things in the past.  After finishing all four and photographing I was a bit embarrassed that they all seem like the SAME colors. Like I can't think of any others to work with. I know that is not true but in the end I decided they sort of go together that way. 

It Just Looks Like I'm Productive

Sometimes I hear how people are amazed at how much work I do. I probably should keep it to myself but really, there is a lot of couch time going on here.  This has just occurred to me as I get ready to post 6 new paintings as if I just popped them out today. To put it in perspective this is all I have to show since the beginning of December. Since most of the holiday work needs to be in galleries by the end of November I pretty much take the month of December off. This has just sort of evolved over time. The pressure is off, it's time to bake cookies for friends and family, decorate that Christmas bush etc. Then before I new it it was January. Well here are a tiny series for this next upcoming Enormous Tiny Art Show at the Nahcotta Gallery in Portsmouth New Hampshire. It opens Feb 1st.  Everything is also sold online. It's a fun show and since the work is all $50-500  there are always some great deals. (I bought one myself- I like to support my fellow Tinys.

                                  Not to mention that these are 5"x5" with the largest at 6"x7"

Special Order Recession Buster

Here are a two small pieces I did for a customer who loves my work and just couldn't afford a larger framed original painting. She gave me several paintings of mine she really liked and things about them and I agreed to do two paintings and she could choose her favorite.

                      Luckily the subject matter was easy and fun. (These are each 6"x 7")

She loved them both and decided to go with this guy above.

So the other piece joins it's friends on the wall. -All currently available priced between $200-400. (most are $250.)

Some Studio Tour Photos

Well here it is all cleaned up and hung for the mid October Ojai Studio Artist's Tour. I always forget to photograph things when they are looking spiffy and so made a note this year to do it. I had planned to take some during the event, but somehow I am either the one engaged in a conversation or photographing peoples backsides as they look at the wall. Didn't seem to make for very good shots.

 Lots of jewelry.

 The little 'Recession Buster' corner.

And of course my good friend 'baby' Joe Mueller takin' care of business for me. I could never do it with out him. And a heartfelt thanks to you all who keep coming to visit me. Cheers. Chris

Studio Cleanup Time

Twice a year I open my studio (which of course is always open by appointment) for larger public visits. Once every spring with a few guest artists joining me, and the second weekend every October as part of the almost 30 year old Ojai Studio Tour.

It assures that at least twice a year I'm forced to treat the space as more of a gallery, and to the extent possible do a bit of deep cleaning. (sorry to all those spiders that have ended up in vacuum over the years.) 

   

 These three paintings are fresh off the easel for this weekend's event. From the small, unframed series I call Recession Busters. They get more elaborate every time I sit down to paint. Originally the idea was a tiny painting in one hour, but I can't seem to stop myself.

 The one above is of course a self portrait. (yes I look just like this)

If you are in the Ojai area I hope you can come by for a visit. Happy Fall

East Coast Opening and Vacation

Well I'm back from a 16 day trip back East. First a few days with Mom and Dad in northern New Jersey and the siblings in that area, then on to the annual Labor day Brennan reunion outside New Paltz, New York in a 270 year old stone house my folks  bought when I was a kid. (that may be a seperate post unless you've been on Facebook- in which you are thinking "enough already!"

Anyhow here are a few from an art opening I had in Portmouth New Hampshire.   Eight "recession Buster" sized paintings. It just worked out that my road trip buddy Teal Rowe and I were in the area. (As was Obama apparently. Lucky to get a hotel!)

 Nahcotta Gallery a bit quieter the day after the opening.

 The evening of the opening. I liked the girl who worked there part time. (as I did for 15 years at a gallery), and when I found out she was also one of the artists I went to check out her work. I loved it. I have a thing were if I can afford it (and it's not huge) I like to support a fellow artist in kindness, but also thinking it may come back to me. Artkarma.

 Here is Allison Kiphuth's work. I bought the itty bitty one with the moon. Very much reminded me of the little shadow boxes I've done.

 

Invitation. If you want to see my page or browse some of the artists click the following link   http://enormoustinyart.com/Artists/a-c/Brennan,-Christine.aspx

    

My favorite hipster decor ever. A place called friendly toast in Portsmouth New Hampshire. 

Teal praying for the soul of the nun.

Oh, and the Artkarma thing must have worked. When we went back the next day to pick up my tiny art, I'd sold the largest piece of mine online. Yippee.

Thanks for everyone's kindness along the way. It was the sweetest of trips. Chris

Three more Recession Busters

Moving on to some larger paintings now that this batch is done. Doing a very long thin landscape with a gold leaf sky which is a fun challenging size. Jim looked at it and asked if it was for us to keep. I took that as a good sign, but will need to try and sell it if possible. 

 

Joe Mueller (Baby Joe) just added this above painting to website and then emailed to let me know he thought it was an 'important work' and that he needed to have it. Not sure why it's important other than it now being part of the Baby's vast collection. (thanks Joe)

And some turtle love here. We've been doing a lot of very late spring cleaning in the pond lately. (it's quite forgiving but my inner perfectionist always remembers how it was perfectly clear just after we put it in. - It's still pretty good now but more of a real eco-system. 

And one last great pic courtesy of P. Lyn Middleton. This is Buffy checking out one of P. Lyn's handmade platters. 

New Recession Busters

Trying to work around migraines and heat here in Ojai. Yikes. It's been around 105 almost every afternoon now for days. The studio is not the best place to be with no shade tree overhead and skylights (we even put shade cloth on the skylights in the summer). Anyhow if it isn't my head, it's the heat. And no they're not related.

 These three are little paintings on wood in the 'recession buster series'. They are sold unframed, just ready to hang. These will probably be going to Portsmouth New Hampshire within the next week or so among some others to be part of a show at Nahcotta Galleries' Enourmous Tiny Art show. It is an online and in person show. I plan to go back an visit it soon. I will probably not be able to make the opening but am looking forward to seeing it. I often never get to see half the places my work hangs.

Hope you are all enjoying the summer.