StudioOn8thStreet

2010-10-03T13:12:00.000-07:00

Started two new yellow and red paintings a while ago, but I really fell behind on posting any pics of them. Here are two pics from early on in the process...

2010-10-02T16:16:00.000-07:00

I also started a series of three paintings that have a style similar to my painting 'Red Balloons'

2010-10-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

I started this new series of yellow boxes back in July. These canvases are really cool because they are 2.5 inches deep so they really stand out.

Since I'm just getting around to posting these pics now I actually have a update on these paintings below...

Yellow boxes in July...

Yellow boxes in August....

I think you can see the orange highlights I started to add in this pic

2010-10-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

The orange series of 4 is complete! Yea!
I think I missed a few updates on the final layers, but here are the completed paintings...

2010-10-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have been a little lax in posting updates lately. All I can say is that I have been really focused on completing a lot of paintings in preparation for two art shows I am participating in this month. The first one is tomorrow--here are the details:

SOMArts Main Gallery

934 Brannan St in San Francisco

October 2, 7:00-10:00pm: ArtLaunch 2010 http://artlaunch2010.eventbrite.com/
ArtLaunch features:

More than 400 works of art for sale by SF Open Studios Artists, Open bar with Pernod Absinthe cocktails, Fun eats by Thomas John Events, An interactive art project to stimulate your creative side. Creative cocktail attire is encouraged.

If you can’t make the party, the exhibition will also be open to the public October 6, 2010 through October 24, 2010.

Gallery hours are Wed-Fri 12pm to 4pm, and Sat-Sun10am to 5pm

Here are some pics of us getting set up...

That is my painting 'Three Sunny Days' on the three small canvases in the middle

Here is a broader shot...you can even see the ladder we were using :)

2010-03-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

I'm not really sure where this other muted palette painting is going, but I'm having fun with it...

2010-02-27T10:30:00.000-08:00

Another orange series of 4 update. Added some new red and orange to balance the shadows out a bit.

2010-02-25T15:33:00.000-08:00

I'm still working on the muted palette paintings. The skyline is really starting to come through on this one...

2010-02-22T14:25:00.000-08:00

Orange series of 4 update...
Added some additional depth to the shadowy areas. This photo doesn't really show it very well. Sorry about that. If you squint you can kind of see what I am talking about.

2010-02-21T12:22:00.000-08:00

All of the yellow series of 6 painting are finished! I'll be posting them on Etsy later today. I'm really pleased with how they all turned out.

studioon8thstreet.etsy.com

2010-02-10T20:04:00.000-08:00

I think the Orange series of four is getting close. Time to start having fun with the final layers...

p.s. what do you think of my white place mats? I took these pics on my table.

2010-02-07T15:59:00.001-08:00

Yellow series of 6 is almost done. Just want to add a few final touches after this layer dries...

2010-02-06T10:06:00.000-08:00

WOW! I've only posted two of the 8x8 24th Street Station series paintings and one has already sold :) I'll be posting the other two on Etsy today, and I'm working on finishing the larger 18 x 18 piece as well.

I've also been working on the yellow series of four and the orange series of six, but I haven't gotten organized enough to take photos of the new layers yet. I will try to get to that this weekend so the progress will be forever documented here on my most fabulous blog.

The pic above is one the last two 24th Street Station 8x8's that I'll be listing on Etsy today.

Thanks so much for all of your support!

Here is a link to my Etsy store:
studioon8thstreet.etsy.com

2010-01-10T13:48:00.000-08:00

Wow! I have really been neglecting my posts. Now that the holidays are over I will try to get back on top of things.

Even though I haven't posted, I have still been busy painting! I actually finished the four 8x8 squares inspired by 24th Street Station that I started back in August.

I also finished the big orange square 36" x 36" painting. I will try to get photos up here soon. I also need to get them posted into my Etsy store. It's going to be a busy couple of weeks!

Here is a sneek peak at one of the finished 24th Street Station paintings. All four of these are the same size 8"x 8"x1.5" deep.

2009-11-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

I added some new yellow bits to these today. The inspiration for these paintings comes from the lovely Bernal Hill, so that is the reason for the slopey shapes.
Is slopey even a word--I think not. Oh well.

2009-11-02T12:51:00.000-08:00

Layered some darker orange and brown onto the orange series of 4. This picture isn't that great, but the picture of the other two paintings didn't come out at all, so I am not even going to post it. :(

2009-10-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

I added some more layers to the yellow series of 6...

Here are some close ups. I can't tell if the details are easier to see in these or not.

2009-10-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

I started a new orange series of 4 today.

It seems like I have started a lot of new projects lately, but not finished any. I should work on that...

2009-10-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

Update on the tiny yellow series...I added some brown and orange layers.

a different angle...

2009-10-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

A few more photos from Rebecca from RAH Photography. I thought I had posted these already, but apparently I somehow saved the post as a draft instead. Oops!

If you'd like to check out more of Rebecca's fabulous photos (not involving me) here is a link her blog.
http://rahphoto.bigfolioblog.com/

These are just pictures of me and my studio, so if you're here for the paintings feel free to skip to the next post :)

fyi-i don't normally wear purple silk when i paint :)

FYI--Rebecca also took the pic I use in my blog profile.

Thanks again Rebecca!

2009-10-16T17:38:00.000-07:00

Ok, this picture really sucks! Sorry!
I added some new orange and yellow layers but due to my poor photography I'm not sure you can really even tell :)

Sorry about the massive flash spots in these pics!

2009-10-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

Started a new yellow series of six...

The canvases are tiny. Just 4" x 4" x 1.5"h

2009-09-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

Update on the other muted palette painting...this one is starting to remind me of the power lines that are everywhere in san francisco

random shot of power lines I took on 15th street...

2009-09-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

I'm also done with the underpainting on the 18x18 square. Go me!

Here is a pic of the first layer of glaze I added...

2009-09-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

Another street art find...this one on a telephone pole on 23th Street by Beretta...how fun is that?

2009-09-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

I love all of the street art in the mission. It seems like every time you walk down the street something new has popped up.

I spotted this glued to the door of an empty building on Valencia Street...

2009-09-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

I'm finished with the under paintings on all of the 8x8 squares...now I'm starting on the final layers..

Can you even see the white and parchment color glazes I added in these pics? I think I can just barely see them, but I know they are there. Maybe if I got a real camera instead of always using my iphone...

2009-09-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

I must have these hands!

Saw them in the window of X21 on Valencia Street...

2009-09-04T17:28:00.000-07:00

Update on muted palette paintings...

This one first...I've added a few different blues...the contrast is very slight so it's not really showing up in the photo as much as I would like!

The second is starting to look like the view from my window...I need to add more fog though

2009-09-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

I can tell burning man is coming up when I pass something like this just sitting on the street corner at 26th and Bartlett while I'm walking home.

2009-09-02T06:54:00.000-07:00

This painting has been in the works for awhile. The underpainting finally complete, so now I'm starting on the focal points (that's what I'm calling those big white blobs)

2009-08-27T13:50:00.000-07:00

Added some white highlights to the first muted palette piece...

2009-08-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

I'm starting two new paintings...both are in a more muted palette than I generally work in. Should be fun!

This one is starting out with a grey and yellowy-parchment base...

This one is a bit darker with a greyish base and white highlights...

2009-08-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

I'm going to new york (leaving today) so I won't be posting for the next week or so. Bye for now!

2009-08-14T13:31:00.000-07:00

Working on the other two 8x8's now...

Once again my unfortunate photography skills leave much to be desired. Not sure if you can even really see the new burnt sienna, raw umber and rust layers I added to the lightest 8x8...

2009-08-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

8...
I've added more yellow and orange to start developing its personality.

2009-08-11T10:15:00.000-07:00

I'm focusing on each of the 8x8's separately now so they each become their own unique piece.

This image is supposed to be turned 90 degrees counter clock wise, but for some reason I can't get it to post that way. Annoying!
If you tilt your head to the right you might actually be able to tell what it is supposed to look like :)

2009-08-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

Working on the 18x18 painting again.
This painting is also part of the 24th Street Station series, so I added some of the raw umber, burnt sienna and orange layers that I've been using in the 8x8's.

2009-08-08T14:05:00.000-07:00

More fun with raw umber and burnt sienna layers.
I'm using square brushes on all of the 8x8's to capture the shape of the 24th street station tiles....

I focused more on the yellow and orange layers with this one...

2009-08-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

Added some more definition to two of the 8x8 squares with additional raw umber and burnt sienna layers. I also put in some highlights in several shades of yellow and orange.

2009-08-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

I haven't forgotten about the 18x18 square...
I just added some new layers of dark rust, dark brown, burnt sienna. I also added a few highlights to keep the dark colors from overpowering the yellow base.
This one is coming along nicely.

2009-08-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

Two not so great photos of the other two 8x8 squares.
I used raw umber and burnt sienna on these as well to try to get to that deeper brown...

The first one is much more severe than the second, don't you think? The second one has a more mellow vibe...

2009-07-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

I added some new layers on two of the 8x8 squares. I used variations on raw umber and burnt sienna to start getting into the brown tones I wanted to pick up.

These two are really starting to take on their own personalities now...

2009-07-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

The lovely Rebecca from RAH Photography came to my studio a few weeks ago for a new project she is working on that involves taking portraits of artists. Here are some of the photos she took...

She also does really cool wedding photos and candid shots. You can see more of her work here:

http://rahphoto.bigfolioblog.com/

I highly recommend working with her. She is very easy going but also really professional. She makes you feel very comfortable, which is crucial when you're getting your picture taken because its easy to feel awkward. I know I always do.

2009-07-24T06:56:00.000-07:00

Went to dinner at Delfina last night for my friend Allison's birthday.
Not really related to any of my art projects, but I wanted to post a pic of the desert because it was so cute! That's all. Bye!

2009-07-20T19:03:00.000-07:00

I made some progress on the set of four 8 x 8 squares...

The of the inspirations for this set comes from the tiles at the 24th Street station (at 24th & Valencia). Here is a picture...

2009-07-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

Called in professional help for the portfolio photos--Bob from Bob Hsiang Photography. Here is a link to his website http://bobhsiangphoto.com/about/index.html

He is really great to work with. He has a lot of experience photographing paintings and he knew how to counter all of the issues I was having with glare, distortion, etc. Here are some pics I took at the photo shoot...

Here is a pic of Bob taking photos.

His studio is just down 8th street a few blocks from me. It's actually inside the San Francisco Fashion Collective which is kind of fun.

I took all of these pictures with my phone...maybe there is some hope for my photography skills.

2009-07-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much time to paint this week because I've been trying to get my Etsy store organized and up and running (finally!)

Here are some shots of my attempt at a photo shoot in the studio...sort of a disorganized mess, right?

I clearly need professional help!

2009-07-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

Finished the base layer yesterday on the 18" x 18" square by adding some thin layers of dark yellow and sienna

I also added more dark yellows and sienna to the set of four 8" x 8" squares. I'm happy with the base layer on all of these, so I'm going to start working on them separately from now on..

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

2009-07-07T20:24:00.001-07:00

Today I made a thin glaze in a very light yellow tint. I covered both canvases with it to even out the backgrounds. Almost done with the base layers!

18” x 18” square
Today's layer- very little cadmium yellow, white, satin acrylic glazing liquid

here is a close up again...

Set of four 12” x 12” squares
Today's layer- very little cadmium yellow, white, satin acrylic glazing liquid

Here you can see close up how the yellow glaze on the four squares evened out the color.

2009-07-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

Added two new yellows to the 18” x 18” square to create some depth.

It might be easier to see in this close up...

The Set of four also got 2 new yellows...

2009-07-03T20:06:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures of two new paintings I started today. The one on the right is going to be a set of four canvases. I’m going through a yellow/orange/red phase, so both of these are getting the same initial base colors.

btw-I organized my paints! Notice how nice and neat they are all lined up on the bench.
This will not last :)

18” x 18” square
First layer-cadmium yellow, white, satin acrylic glazing liquid

Set of four 8” x 8” squares
First layer-cadmium yellow, white, satin acrylic glazing liquid

2009-07-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hello! My name is Rachel and I paint modern abstract paintings rendered in acrylics. All of my paintings are originals, painted by me in my San Francisco studio.

I started an Etsy store (http://StudioOn8thStreet.etsy.com) and I thought it might be fun to blog about the progress of my paintings that I’ll be selling there.

Here are some pictures of my studio (it's messy I know!):