Happy New Year 2018

Here I am again
Getting caught up after a long hiatus
Plan to keep this up with news. Weekly.
Hope you come on back
G

Watercolor class starts next week

Don"t miss out!! Watercolor class

Starting Jan 9th
Please go to Fremont Art Association .org for inf.
Will get proper flyer posted here ASAP.
Thanks for your patience

A New Year

2017
A new and better year we hope.
Starting to get my life back together after two years of my own health difficulties as well as Jacks.
Plan to keep up to date on this.
Doing some cleanup after Holidays then start "arting" again.
Giving a presentation on Tuesday to a womens group. Will let you know how it goes.
Happy New Year.

In the beginning

This was the start... After a few days I decided to turn it to a vertical and continued to develop with paint and paper until I decided it was finished.
A short time later I saw that the first was a runner up in an Artist Magazine contest which I had forgotten about entering. LOL! Glad I took a photo for my files.

Good Day

Today one of my favorite paintings was sold at Fremont Art Association gallery.
It has had lots of admirers and won some awards.  You never know when that right person will come along. I understand it will make its way to China. Interesting message here perhaps. My primary sales recently have been of Chinese or Italian subjects done

in collage or using some experimental methods.
An interesting thing happened in the early stage of this piece
Read on to next post to find out the history.

Remember me?

It has been too long I know.

Currently these two watercolors are on exhibit at the Museum on Main Street in Pleasanton, CA.

Through May 3rd 2015.

Hope some of you can stop by when in the area,

The first is called "Textured Wall", Italy.

Second is titled "Carmel Mission" as most Californians know. It is a very popular Mission in the art town  of Carmel. Located on Hwy One along the beautiful California Coast.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Holiday Time and another Year coming.
This has been a roller coaster year.
My 80th Birthday was a lovely occasion. What I do not understand is how did I get to be 80? Used to think that was very old. Now I think not.  A little slower, a little wiser I hope.
Had lovely visits with three nieces in August and from brother Jim and Barbie in November.
Have come across some new cousins in my genealogy quest. Actually , they contacted me. Cool.
Had several awards for paintings in Juried shows.
Not as prolific as in the past. A couple of  major health issues for my husband and myself. Hope we are done with that for awhile.
Plans for 2015 include teaching a three day workshop on Collage and Mixed Media coming up in March.
Teaching Cruise to Alaska with Celebrity in August from Vancouver BC. Will also get to visit my sister Barbara.
Some unfinished pieces to finish,  maybe a few to toss or cut up or gesso over and rework.
I look forward  with a positive attitude to whatever is in store for me .

Thats an overview of 2014 here.

On the easel

Working on a watercolor of the Carmel Mission. Plan to do a lot today. I have done so much experimental and mixed media recently it is strange to do pure watercolor. Will post photo later today.

Also doing some glass firing. Boutique coming up.

Hannah helped create a cool tree hanger.

Later folks

Fine art Show

Our local art group has just completed the 49th Annual Juried Show.

A great exhibit with quality art work.

We are now showing our fourth quarter show and as abonus we have two featured artists being honored this Sunday at a reception.

Watercolorist , Carol Ramos and Oil and Pastel artist, Farshid Namei.

Reception from 1:30-4pm

Music by Rudy Ramos and refreshments.

Come by if you can.

More good news

Fremont Art Association Annual Juried  Show is ready for viewing at the FAA Gallery in Niles Ca.

Niles is a lovely little corner of Fremont. Ifyou are in the area do come visit.

The show looks terrific thanks to great art work, good work crew and hanging committee.

I have two paintings accepted . Watercolor "Getting Together" and " Silent Warriors" a mixed media collage, watercolor acrylic and ink.

See post entitled new paintings.

Reception will held on Sunday, Sept 28th from 1:30- 4 pm.

Hope to see a few of you there.

Good news

Heard today My watercolor " Horns Aplenty" is getting a merit award in the Pleasanton Art League Member Show at Harrington Gallery in the Firehouse Art Center.

Reception will be Monday Sept 29th 7-9 pm

Hope some of you can be there to say hello. And say "ooh ah?

See ya

New paintings

Signed, framed and ready to show.

"Getting Together" was inspired by a couple sitting in a local cafe in winter. Watercolor on YUPO, a slick synthetic surface which is either loved or hated by watercolorists. I happen to enjoy the challenge it presents.

Framed size is 16"x 20"

Price $300.

"Silent Warriors" came from our visit to China a couple of years ago and seeing the Terracotta Warriors which our granddaughter called the Teriyaki Soldiers.

This gestated for a long time and was under construction for a very long time. 

It is watercolor, gesso, acrylic and collage on paper.

It is 28x36" framed.

Specially priced at $800.

More to come...

The best laid plans......

iYou might remember at the start of 2014 I was all set to celebrate my 80 year mark .

Well, lets review the highlights and lowlights so far. Cant believe it is September already.

Spent an enjoyable week in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta with long time friends, Fran and Wayne, who live in Mexico half time and Canada the other half. High livin' in amazing resorts as their guests.

Taught a couple of classes in Feb. Planned to take a break but little did I know what was in store.

My husband , Jack, had a stroke while driving. Fortunately he stopped before anything serious happened. No one hurt, minor damage to our car.

After several days in hospital he came home with me as caregiver and do everything person.

At that point outlook was rather bleak. However with care and lots of help he did a good job of recovery. Except for pre existing back problem.  That continues to be a problem.

During March I had to adjust my plans for a show in April. Not time to do as I had planned so looked at what was on hand and put together a mixed media group of twenty or so pieces. That seems to be where my work is going these days. Show was a success . Lots of friends and clients at reception and sales   were good too.

These are two self portraits done with Myrna Wacknov , master painter and painter of hundreds of self portraits in this unusual  and amazing method.

Yes these are me!

Watch out Picasso!

Moving right along but not finding much time to paint .

Then came the month of May and our 58th anniversary. Wow!

At this point I went for a CT scan, following up CT and PET scans over the previous year.

Pastel painting for Beginners

Preparing to teach this class next weekend and looking through some past photos of my pastel paintings.
With thanks and apologies to Gerry Boyd. Thanks for being a mentor. Apologies for doing this class after he did such a great demo for our group recently. Just got inspired to do more. Guess I slowed down on pastels and did more watercolor during our years of RV living.
Will have to post photos from laptop.
Here are a couple of photos.

Happy New Year

Wishing everyone the best in 2014
Health, happiness,prosperity and love.

Reviewing 2013

Here it is, the Eve of the New Year, 2014.
I am so amazed to think that this will be the year I turn 80!
Time to wrap up 2013 and make some plans for the next one. Not really resolutions as I never seem able to keep them. Maybe its just the word that is scary.
So lets just say ideas that keep life interesting?
For a few days I have been making notes in my sketchbook just clearing the clutter in my head.
Reviewing '13  I see I taught some classes in watercolor and mixed media, collage and  did some "demos" for other art groups. Sold a few pieces. Hope as the economy improves sales will come. Hint, hint.
Taught on  Celebrity  cruise from Vancouver to Alaska and back.
Just love that part of the world, memories of childhood on the BC Coast .
Had two paintings published in and on books by North light and by Trish. Also self published a soft cover book of watercolor and ink sketches "North toAlaska"
Spent a week in Tsawassen, BC with sister Barb and family in January and again in September and "reuned" with gals from student nursing days.
Took two painting get aways to Murphys and Occidental, both small towns in California.
Spent lots of time with Family and friends here at home..
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.........

Autumn Days

When I left off last I was preparing to go with my good friend Donna to Occidental CA.
We joined a group of artists at the Occidental Hotel for 4 days of painting  and getting to know this quaint little town whose claim to fame is restaurants. Yes people go there to eat.
I did three paintings.
Saint Phillip Church: which I donated to the church. Hope they can use it for a fundraising raffle.
Vera: a boat I saw in Bodega Bay on one of our outings. It was cold and foggy so had lunch and took some photos. painted them later. This is being sold to cousin, Mary.
Sonoma Coast: this was a new experience. Painted on Ampersand Aquabord, a surface for water media painting. can be varnished and need not be framed under glass. Enjoyed doing it and will try this surface again.

September Happenings

Some of my paintings are now posted on Fine Art America
Grace Rankin-fineartamerica.com
Originals can be purchased directly from me or prints and cards may be ordered from the Fine Art America site. Various sizes, surfaces (canvas, paper) are available.
Check it out. You might find that perfect piece.

I have self published a book of my sketches from various trips by car, RV, Plane and ship, from California to Alaska.
"North to Alaska" 22pages, full color, images of my original watercolor and ink sketches.
Available from me for $40  includes shipping .

A new book has been published by North Light Books. This is first of a new series.

My collage piece of "Charlie" was accepted to be part of this book. very exciting for me as I know they had many entries to choose from.

Collaged Violin

Just before my trip in August I acquired a violin from the Fremont Symphony to be painted by September .  So I decided to use collage and some paint. Time was of the essence as they say.
I had saved a few papers with this in mind so had an idea where to start but no idea where it would go. That seems to be my way. Just winging it. It can be a bit stressful but do most things that way including cooking. Here is the finished piece. They have about 15 violins which will be displayed in various locations around town until May 2014. then they will have a Gala and auction  as a fundraiser, so start saving your nickels and dimes and dollars.
Back and Front

Summer has almost passed

Although it feels like summer' this weekend the calendar says we are well into September.
July went by in a flash with mostly personal stuff.
Getting together with Tuesday Painters and sharing ideas and helping when I can. We have a nice group that varies from 6 to 12 participants each week. All levels, different media.
Cousin Robert Ramsay and Maureen  from Scotland,  with her son Rory and daughter from S. CA visited the area. Met them in SF for lunch. Too short a time. Hope there is another time.
Then brother Jim and friend came for a few days to take over our RV and drive it back to Washington State.
Next our granddaughter came home from Colorado for a friend's wedding so saw her briefly for dinner.
August came and my almost annual teaching cruise to Alaska. This time from Vancouver and artist friend, Carol Ramos went with me. Once more on Celebrity Century. A top notch company. Good entertainment, good service and good food. Excellent lobster.
 Only one wet day, Juneau.
Jack and I both had birthdays in August. Another success.

I am back...

June was a pretty busy month .
Spent a few days painting en plein aire in the goldrush town of Murphys, about a two hour drive from here.
Son John was here from Wisconsin last week. Two of our grandkids had birthdays. Carter 24! and Hannah turned 11.
Three paintings were sold including  "Fishing on the Li River".
Today I delivered my "Autumn Harvest" painting to the Harvest Cafe in Morgan Hill.
So honored to have my piece on the postcard.
Ending the month with extremely hot weather. It really wipes me out.
Here is the invitation for the show. Wish you could all come to see it.

Autumn Harvest

My painting, Autumn Harvest, was chosen by the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society for postcard front and advertising for the Members Show to be held in Morgan Hill CA
June 29-July27
This is a watercolor with some added collage

North to Alaska

My book of sketchbook pics is now  available and  can be ordered from me.
Price is $40 . Opening special includes shipping within the US.  $5. extra for Canada
Sneak Peak

I did it!

I have been fulfilling one of my items on my Bucket List. That is to publish a book of my sketches. This will hopefully be the first of several. "North to Alaska" is a collection of ink and watercolor sketches from my sketchbooks following the West Coast from Northern California to Alaska.
Having travelled this route By RV, plane and cruise ship I have had to search for pages in several sketchbooks and then scan them.
My childhood was partly lived in the Queen Charlotte Islands just south of Alaska, off the BC coast.
So the area has a special joy for me. The Islands also known as the Misty Isles are now officially called Haida Gwai, the Haida Indian name.
The book is now being published and will soon be available.
I will be teaching once more on Celebrity ship in August leaving Vancouver BC on the 4th for one week.
This is the cover painting.

The Best Laid Plans "Oft gang amuck", Scots saying.

My good intentions keep getting side tracked. Guess I should be happy to be so busy.
I had a painting juried into the Arizona Aqueous Annual exhibit in the arty town of Tubac AZ.
"Horns Aplenty", watercolor. had hoped it might sell but I got it back.
Fun painting from real skulls.
Have taught some classes, done some demos, Had a visit from Brother ,Jim and Barbie, his fun wife.
Celebrated our 57th wedding anniversary. Boy does that wake a person up!. Thats a lifetime. A good one.Went to half Moon Bay for walk and lunch at Sam's Chowder House, a popular restaurant. I had their specialty, Lobster Roll, Maine style.
Have played with various painting ideas. Few have been really been standouts. My favorite is from our trip to China last year. "Fishing on Li River" It will be in a show in June. More on that later.
Today was Flower, quilt and fiber show in Niles. I painted in a neighborhood garden for 3 hours.

Better late than never

Cleo

Value Viewer img

Value Viewer img

This is really embarrassing. So much time has passed without a comment from me.
What have I been doing? A lot it seems.
February: I will fill you in starting here.
IPad is working and some of our Tuesday Painters Group have become quite clever with them.
My fave app is Value Viewer . I use it to check values in preparation for the actual painting and again when I think it might be nearing completeion. Easy to take a quick snapshot with I Pad and move it to the app.
Did I tell you I did a demo for Fremont Art Association on various approaches to collage? From the use of handmade and rice papers(washi) combined with watercolor to torn paper collage, no paint, using material from quality magazines which I scrounge as the only mags I buy are Art publications.
Standing room only I am told. Son, Tom, did a video which I have not seen yet . Hope to have an excerpt for U TUBE soon.
This was followed by a 3day workshop in March. Lots of fun but tiring for this old bod.
Also held a Monday Drop in class for a few weeks. Worked well. Averaged 5 students per day. Nice size group. Am taking summer off and to consider how much more teaching I will do.
Still plan to do the cruise ship gig.
Visited the De Young Museum in Feb and again in March. Jack and I went to see "The Girl With the Pearl Earring" by Vermeer. felt like I had watched it being painted after seeing the movie. Also showing were amazing etchings by Rembrandt and others as weel as paintings by Rembrandt and other Dutch artists of the time. Think many of the old master works were painted by candle light which could explain the darkness of many. After all Holland would have short daylight hours .
Of course Rembrandt brought us his well known "triangle of light".
The second visit was to the Annual "Bouquets D'Art". My first time to see this. very worthwhile.
A pre picked group of florists were assigned to do an arrangement that represented a painting in the Museum's collection. Pretty spectacular!
Also saw the "Girl" again as a friend had an extra pass. Then Carol, who was driving took us to coast. Had drinks and deep fried calamari at the Windmill . Yum. Did not know there was a restaurant there.

Am going to stop here and post some photos, then get back later. Promise!

I will be back

Soon as I get my photos from I Pad.

Au current...

I am embarrassed at being so slow in updating my busy life.
January was full of events. Came back from visiting family in Canada. Loved seeing my sis and her great bunch , also a few friends from nursing school days. We are all in the prime of our retirement days.
Bringing you to the present, I am teaching a watercolor class on alternate Mondays with demos and gentle critiques. Nice group. Space available.