First Solo Show

Jake - soft pastels

I opened my first first solo show last week, titled “Animal Instincts” – and it’s an awesome experience!  But I'm feeling kind of lonely 'cause all my critter paintings are not at home with me – they're down at the show!

If you’re in or near Tucson, AZ please drop in and take a look at my animal portraits in pastels – in the Community Room at the Wellness First Center, 3861 N. First Avenue from now through January 30, 2013.  The center is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

One of the 18 paintings in the show is of my wonderful black lab, Jake – who is no longer with me in person, but his memory is still strong.  The painting I did of him is not for sale, but he’s there to open my exhibit as the official show greeter.  Jake was my true and loyal companion and protector for 14 years, and he went to the office with me every day from the time he was a wee pup until the day he had to leave.  He was simply an awesome dog, and we were very connected – and still are in my minds-eye and consciousness.  So it’s only natural that he be present at this show – which is a milestone symbolizing a change in my career from writer to artist.

Preparing for this show was a huge learning experience in matting and framing!  I had planned to just go out and buy ready-made frames for all the art.  But lo and behold, when that time came I was hard pressed and close to tears when I realized that I’d done my paintings in weird sizes – like 9-5/8” x 13-3/8” or 17-3/4” x 10-11/16” – and the frames you buy at places like Michael’s and Aaron Brothers come in standard sizes, like 16” x 20” and 11” x 14”.  To put those frames on my work would have meant all my mat borders would have been uneven sizes.  I had already bought a great mat cutter on an Ebay auction, and big sheets of mat board at Sarnoff Art & Writing. (A huge thanks to Henry Sarnoff for helping me choose the right color and weight – but all those guys at Sarnoff's are just wonderful and really knowledgeable!)

I couldn’t afford to have all my work custom framed, and I was facing the hanging deadline – so I visited every thrift store in town and bought dozens of old frames.  My wonderful hubby happens to have a miter box – and he volunteered to cut all the frames down to the sizes I needed, paint them all black, re-cut all the glass to fit, and help me cut all the mats.  It took 4 full days to do that!  I promised him a trip to San Francisco for all his devoted hard work in support of my dream.

But it makes sense to me for all my frames to be recycled and refurbished – since I'm an outspoken advocate for conservation, sustainability and green living.   I just might continue to do my frames this way.  But I may need to learn how to use the miter box myself!

If you happen to stop by and look at my "Animal Instincts" show, let me know what you think.  Feedback is always appreciated.

~ MQ