Art Challenge

Simon. Mixed media on 6x6" canvas.

Simon. Mixed media on 6×6″ canvas.

These are my black, white and red paintings for the 6th Annual Art Challenge at Village Gallery. I’m glad I chose to use these colors and I like the way the paintings turned out. The photos look a little fuzzy for some reason but they’re bright and sharp in person.

The reception is tomorrow from 2-4 pm. It’s going to be a fun reception with a good crowd, so if you’re in the area, stop by and see us!

Bertrand. Mixed media on 6x6" canvas.

Bertrand. Mixed media on 6×6″ canvas.

George. Mixed media on 6x6" canvas.

George. Mixed media on 6×6″ canvas.

Francois. Mixed media on 6x6" canvas.

Francois. Mixed media on 6×6″ canvas.

WIP for the Art Challenge

This will be the third year I’ve participated in the annual Art Challenge fundraiser at Village Gallery of Arts. In fact, it was the Challenge that got me interested in joining the gallery, and now here I am on the board of directors.

I really like these kinds of “come one, come all” events where you can find work by experienced artists hanging alongside pieces by beginners, or even kids. They’re fun to do and it’s amazing to see the variety of techniques. People find ways to attach fabric, glass, clay, or whatever else they want to use. There are always gems to find.

I’m sticking with paint. Here are my four pieces, about halfway done. I wanted to limit my palette this year as an extra challenge to myself, so I’m using black/white/gray and probably red to finish them off.

6x6" canvases for the Village Gallery of Arts' 6th Annual Art Challenge in May 2015.

6×6″ canvases for the Village Gallery of Arts’ 6th Annual Art Challenge in May 2015.

Cat and Kittens

This painting is a little different– the colors are more muted than my usual palette, there’s more going on in the background, and it has three figures instead of one. I’m happy with the subdued colored and the rawness of the mother cat. I’m also happy that it sold the day after I posted it on Facebook!

Cat and Kittens, mixed media 20x16". Sold.

Cat and Kittens, mixed media 20×16″. Sold.

Painting outside

We’ve been having the nicest spring I can remember in 24 years of living in the Portland area. Yesterday I was in the studio looking at the sunshine outside and realized I could be painting out there! I didn’t even want to take the time to set up an easel. I grabbed a big canvas I’ve been working on and propped it on the chairs from the studio. It was so good to paint with the sun warm on my back. I’ll be doing more of this for sure. Though next time I may need to get some sawhorses or a table–something more stable than the chair method.
Painting in the backyard

Affordable Art for Everyone

For over six months I’ve been meeting with my friend Christine Martell to plan a big project. We wanted to organize a show of art priced under $100 to help artists find new homes for their work and to bring in buyers who might not usually think of themselves as art collectors.

The show is called Affordable Art for Everyone and it’s all coming together beautifully. We opened up the application on Zapp about ten days ago. It’s so exciting to see applications coming in!

The application deadline is April 17 and the application is here. We also have a Facebook page where we’ll be posting info about the show and examples of the artists’ work.

logoAAFEmed

Wheeee!

Here’s a new little painting. Maybe I shouldn’t call it new…the dog started to emerge back in July. Then he hung around the studio, frozen in his downhill race, until I finished him up this week.

Original outsider art painting, mixed media on 14x11" canvas. $90.

Original outsider art painting, mixed media on 14×11″ canvas. $90.

Village Gallery Art Challenge

This year I’m coordinating the committee for the gallery’s 6th Annual Art Challenge. Each artist creates four small pieces with a shared theme. It’s always a fun event with a wide variety of art styles and mediums. Registration is on February 27 and 28 and from the response I’m hearing, those are going to be a busy couple of days!

Village Gallery Art Challenge 2013

Love of Portland

Lisa Griffen, Opening Doors. mixed media on 20x20" canvas.

Lisa Griffen, Opening Doors. mixed media on 20×20″ canvas.

Today I dropped off these two new paintings at People’s Art in Pioneer Place for their annual Love of Portland show. This is the third time I’ve participated and I’m happy to be involved. The show opens with a reception/birthday party for the organizers on February 21.

Lisa Griffen, Not the Boss of Me. mixed media on 16x20" canvas.

Lisa Griffen, Not the Boss of Me. mixed media on 16×20″ canvas.

And now for something completely different

Lisa Griffen, Artic Sea. acrylic and oil pastel on 20x24" canvas.

Lisa Griffen, Artic Sea. acrylic and oil pastel on 20×24″ canvas.

This year I want to slow down a little bit on my exhibition schedule and spend more time experimenting and exploring. This painting is one where I tried some different techniques. I had a lot of fun with it and I’m happy with the result.

As the description says, I recently read In the Kingdom of Ice. It’s about 19th century explorers’ attempts to read the North Pole. The book is full of reverent descriptions of Artic conditions, the strange lighting effects and weird weather and the feeling of being in awe of nature.