Barton Springs Pool is filled by natural spring water and is home to an endangered blind salamander. The grass-covered lawn and shade of pecan trees make it a wonderful slice of nature amid downtown Austin’s ever-climbing skyscrapers.
On Sundays you can find free yoga and a drum circle. On the full moon you can hear crowds strumming guitars and howling. It’s a community in the heart of the city.
After turning toward my city and painting the iconic train bridge, it was only fitting that I capture the magic of Barton Springs Pool. So, I set out on bicycle to photograph the pool mid-summer.
To simplify the scene, I opted to omit many of the swimmers.
The final painting:
Detail showing the bright colors and simplified forms:
Working on this painting was a blast and really got me in a summer state of mind.
COMING UP
You can see the Barton Springs and Austin paintings in person at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar during their May Market, where they will be available for purchase.
And, for one weekend only, you can see my Big Bend inspired paintings at a pop-up exhibition in South Austin. The surrounding art studios will be open to the public as part of the Art04 Studio Tour, with lots to explore!
Saturday & Sunday, May 3 & 4, 11am-5pm 2311 Thornton Road, Austin, TX 78704 Free and Open To The Public
We wanted to give a nod to Austin’s history and unique charm, so I hopped on my bike and photographed the graffiti-covered train bridge that sits just south of downtown.
One of many photos I took of Austin’s graffiti-covered train bridge.
The marks that decorate the bridge are more like messages, sending hope and playfulness out over the city. I have long loved the meditative “Focus One Point And Breathe”, and “Never Give Up” with accompanying Pac-Man being chased by ghosts.
Sketching the rough outlines of the photograph.
I had to simplify the messages a bit, to make everything small enough to decorate a beer can, and I kept the colors bright and lively to communicate the playful attitude.
The illustration I created for (512) Brewing’s 16th Anniversary Beer.
The can design looks great and I’m so grateful to have my artwork on such a tasty beer! It won’t be around long though, since it was a one-off batch made solely for the anniversary.
But the joy I got from exploring Austin’s playfulness stayed with me and before I knew it, I’d begun painting the same scene (with a few changes and more details).
Austin, Texas, acrylic on canvas, 18″x36″
Working on a summer scene during the winter months has been a wonderful way to keep my spirits up.
Next up: Barton Springs Pool!
ART SHOWS
My large, gold painting of a “Spiny Star Cactus” was part of the Renew group show at The Muse Gallery and my experimental painting of a sea monster named “Nessie” is currently at ArtUs Co Gallery, on display until April 12th!
Me and my painting “Spiny Star Cactus” as part of the Renew Group Show at the Muse Gallery.
My painting “Nessie” depicting a sea monster (upper left), as part of the Mythos Group Show at ArtUs Co Gallery.
COMMISSIONS
Over the holiday season I created two small paintings commissioned for gifts. The subject matter is a little different from what I usually focus on and it was a nice way to stretch myself creatively.
Old Fashioned, acrylic on wood panel, 6″x6″
Rosa The Eel, acrylic on wood panel, 6″x6″
In working on this painting of Rosa the eel, I learned a lot about American freshwater eels. These creatures are fascinating! They spend the first part of their lives as tiny transparent creatures in the ocean before each mysteriously finds its way up rivers and dams to a spot where it will spend years, even decades, living alone. Then one day the eel transforms again and returns to the ocean, where it breeds and dies in the depths of the Sargasso Sea.
Their long lifespan and mysterious ways make breeding eels in captivity impossible, and they have been over-fished across the world (often to be served as “unagi” sushi rolls). The United States is lacking in protections for these creatures, so I’m vowing to never order unagi again and am spreading the word so that people can make informed decisions about what they’re eating.
THINGS I’M LIKING
Watching the Gamelatron sonic kinetic sculptures in action. So relaxing!
Listening to this short podcast about the artist who painted the graffiti on Austin’s train bridge.
After a restful January spent lounging at home, I emerged from hibernation with renewed creativity. I started cooking more and even baked some bread, then I began to play around with some art ideas that have been on the back-burner since November: a bandana to celebrate the upcoming solar eclipse and a simple desert scene made up of line art.
The simple desert scene depicting a saguaro cactus, which I used to make a fun, glittery sticker.
I was also honored by Tacoma-based band Prickly Paranoia when they asked me to design a T-shirt.
Such a fun project!
In February I was suddenly inundated with opportunities to share my creations: I participated in an emergency art show / fundraiser to help Big Medium recover from a fire that broke out in their new gallery, popped-up at the Galentines Market hosted by Clover + Maven, and delivered one of my largest paintings to the Visions Unbound group show at ArtUs Co (on exhibition thru March 16, 2024).
My painting “Taco Raptors” at Big Medium’s Fire Recovery Exhibition.
A group of art lovers appreciating the wall where my painting “Topographic Map Of Barton Creek Greenbelt” hangs at ArtUs Co.
It’s been great to be so busy and full of energy, but I’ve missed painting. I cleaned out my studio and made a larger space for my easel, but there always seems to be something more pressing to attend to. I wonder if I’m finding reasons not to work on my painting.
Every so often this kind of fear-based procrastination creeps in. Painting can feel SO BIG, so vulnerable, because I love it so much, and because I’m putting it out there.
But I know just how to solve this problem. All I need to do is start, after that, everything else will flow. Starting is the hardest part. And so, I begin…
COMING UP You can find me and my art at these events and exhibitions:
Saturday, March 9, 2024 Art In ATX Babes Market with live music from DJ Dámino serving Nu Funk/ Tropical House & Ecstatic Dance Sets. Shop from local businesses and artists ranging from baked goods, to fine art paintings, jewelry & much more! Batch, 3220 Manor Rd, 12-4pm, FREE
Saturday, March 9, 2024 Salon-style group art show with on-site artist studios to explore, a photo booth for guests to commemorate their experience, and a drink making cocktail machine debut by Mixim. Drinks are free for guests 21+. Nonalcoholic beverages provided by Liquid Death will also be available free to all guests. Highland Collective Gallery, 6401 Airport Blvd, 6-11pm, $10
April 26 – May 27, 2024 May Market with 100+ regional artists and artisans under one roof! (open weekly Friday-Sunday + Memorial Day) Blue Genie Art Bazaar, FREE
Hope to see you there! (ask me how my painting is coming)
November is the biggest time of year for the Austin art scene. It’s a great time for it, the weather is finally cooler and people want to get out and enjoy it together. And there’s plenty of chances with fun activities happening throughout the month.
The Austin Studio Tour fills three weekends with free events all over the city as Artists and Galleries open their doors to the public.
Here’s a list of all the places where you can find me and my art:
Nov 1, 8-10pm Austin Studio Tour Kickoff Party & Fundraiser George Washington Carver Museum Tickets and details
Nov 4-5, 12-6pm, Free Visit with me at my art studio, with special guest JFR Glass refreshments provided by Topo Chico, Desert Door, and Treaty Oak Austin Studio Tour Stop #140
Nov 4 – Dec 2, Free View artwork by Austin Studio Tour participants at the Group Art Show in the George Washington Carver Museum
Nov 11-12, 12-6pm, Free Visit with me at my art studio and watch as I make a new painting Austin Studio Tour Stop #140
Nov 17 – Dec 24, 10am-10pm, Free Shop at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar to see hundreds of local artists under one roof! 6100 Airport Blvd
Nov 19, 2:30-5pm, Free Watch me paint outside at Dear Diary’s popup art market with live music 1212 Chicon St #103
My latest painting “Inside Santa Elena Canyon” will be on display Nov 4- Dec 2, at the George Washington Carver Museum, as part of the Austin Studio Tour’s Group Show. You can get a sneak peek at the art and party with the artists at the Kickoff Party and Fundraiser on Nov 1, click here for tickets and details.
MORE FUN STUFF
I’m excited to add some new grackle stickers to my shop. I’m so happy to finally have a little flock of these hellions! Apparently, a group of grackles is actually called a “plague”!
I’ve partnered with The Shabby Wick to bring art prints to their Dripping Springs candle shop!
Somehow I made time to visit Munich for Oktoberfest for a friend’s birthday. After my adventurous summer, this is probably the most I’ve traveled in one year (except for that time I lived in an RV for 5 months) and I’m having trouble keeping up with blog posts about it all, but I definitely want to share some more pictures soon!
I’m loving the creative skeletons that I keep seeing all over Austin.
I’m back in Austin after taking the summer off to road trip around the Midwest and Eastern US. I visited friends and family and crossed two big festivals off my bucket list (Electric Forest and Lakes Of Fire). It was my longest road trip to date (that wasn’t in an RV) and it was awesome and exhausting and everything in between.
I’m still debating how I’ll write about it all (too much for one blog post!), but in the meantime, I’m shifting my focus to my home, my art, and some big art events that are coming this Fall.
I’ve settled into my art studio and started experimenting with simple compositions and bold colors.
I made a new colorful Austin sticker, available at Dear Diary Coffee.
THINGS I’M LOVING
Swimming at Barton Springs Pool – finally!
Adding sautéed leeks to my mashed potatoes for more flavor and texture.
Supporting Austin Wildlife Rescue, a local nonprofit that rescues orphaned, injured, and sick wild animals. I donated my “Twilight In The Heart Of Texas” painting for their upcoming Caring For Critters Brunch silent auction – you can still grab a ticket!
The city I call home. I grew up visiting family in Austin and moved here in 2007, planning to move on after about four years to explore life on the Pacific coast. Somehow that never happened. Later, I tried to chart a new path when I packed up my stuff in a storage unit and traveled the Western US in an RV for five months. But I came back. And stayed.
I think about moving and get antsy. Maybe it’s just wanderlust, but I have this feeling that somewhere else I could be happier. But then I leave for a bit and when I come back I feel so relieved – I think it’s because of the people.
Texas has a sort of “you do you and I’ll do me” attitude. Freedom is a virtue. And Austin has a hippie vibe that attracts creative, open-minded people. This combination of freedom-to-be and unusual bohemian spirit results in outlandish expression that takes many forms, all of which delight me.
One day I saw a man, dressed head-to-toe in a zebra onesie, riding a scooter through the neighborhood. And I didn’t blink. It was a normal day, a Tuesday afternoon; there was no apparent reason for the costume. I realized that my lack of reaction meant I’d attained true Austinite status. If this had happened in my hometown, I would have been excited to tell my friends “you’ll never guess what I saw today!,” but in Austin, this is pretty normal for a Tuesday.
But this city keeps changing. It’s unbelievable how much it has grown in the years I’ve lived here. While driving through downtown, it isn’t unusual to spot construction cranes numbering in the double digits. The traffic has become dangerous and backed up. There are lines everywhere, parking is a challenge, and reservations are required. It’s a big city now.
Like everyone else, I’ve struggled with the changes. I began to plan my day around traffic and I stopped going out as much. I stopped going downtown or to South Congress just for fun. I stopped going to Barton Springs Pool. Everything just felt harder and I was becoming bitter.
In 2022, people started going out again and the city began humming at its pre-pandemic level. And my art business picked up. I started regularly attending gallery openings and found myself having the same conversation with other artists and Austinites: “How do we deal with these changes?”
Going into this year, I was sure that the only answer is to move. But through those conversations I’ve learned that another option is possible: I can change with my city. The key is to not stop going out, you have to continue to do what you love to do. Go to Barton Springs Pool, and learn to add time for traffic and pay for parking. Go downtown for fun, but go on a weekday to avoid crowds. In the grand scheme of things, the changes are actually very small and it doesn’t take much to become accustomed to them.
Most importantly: talk to people about it. The traffic really does suck and in some ways it is harder to live here now, but there are also wonderful new things to explore popping up every day. Having conversations with others about the city can be enlightening and the commiseration can be healing (as long as you focus on solutions and stay out of negative-spirals).
One thing I’ve learned about difficult feelings is that to get unstuck you must pick one: accept, leave, or change. If you can’t change a situation, and you don’t want to leave it, then you must find ways to accept it.
My path to acceptance is found through strengthening my community and friendships, exploring what’s new and exciting, and continuing to do what I love (despite the traffic).
I hope you’re finding ways to make time for what you love in the upcoming year!
WATCHING the Human Playground series on Netflix, which explores the limits of the human experience through the many amazing and bizarre ways we play.
DOING some painting after a long break. This year has been super busy for me in a lot of big ways but that’s meant less time and energy for painting. Putting that brush on the canvas and moving some colors around feels so nice!
I was recently commissioned to paint a plastic rainwater collection barrel for a home in South Austin. This was my first time painting on plastic and for an exterior installation and I was nervous about getting the materials right. But after much research, and repeated trips to paint stores, I found the solution and got to work. Check out the images below to see the results!
The barrel before cleaning and sanding.
The client wanted a botanical scene that incorporated elements from the Sonoran Desert. I used one of the photos I took at Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona as a reference.
Drawing the outlines with an India ink pen.
After taping off the edges and preparing the barrel with Insl-X Stix primer, I drew outlines on the barrel with pencil and then used artist acrylics to paint them in.
After a thin layer of magenta was applied, I painted in the bright colors of the cacti and sunset.
Finally, I went back over the black outlines and, after waiting a few days for the paint to fully dry, sealed the barrel with two layers of General Finishes Exterior 450 water-based topcoat.
The barrel at its home in South Austin.
NEW!
Check out the new coffee featuring my artwork at Dear Diary Coffeehouse! Now available for order online or in store. And while you’re there, take a look at paintings from my Iconic Texas series, hanging in the shop through May.
COMING UP
My painting Flomot Longhorns will be on display as part of the Array exhibit at Art For The People Gallery, April 16 – June 24, 2022 Join me for the Artists Reception: Saturday, April 23, 12-1:30pm 1711 S. 1st St., Austin, Texas 78704
I’m featured in the upcoming issue of Almost Real Things and we’ll be celebrating with a free music and art event: Almost Real Things: Worth It LIVE!, May 21, 6–10pm Distribution Hall, 1500 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702
After years of fighting self-doubt and working toward a healthy work/life balance, I hit my stride in my art studio. This summer I found myself painting almost daily and feeling more confident in my ideas and imagery. And there’s something that happens when you achieve a goal: you immediately set a bigger one. For me, this came in the form of the largest painting I’ve ever made and an experimental, interactive art piece.
The big painting was inspired by my recent trip to Caprock Canyons State Park. It’s a landscape of the canyons on three canvases, totaling 30″x70″ in size. It took weeks to complete and will be the highlight of my upcoming Iconic Texas art show. A few years ago I wouldn’t have dreamed of painting something so big, but now I want to go even bigger! I’m incredibly proud of myself and the progress I’ve made since I decided to try making art full-time.
A photo I took while hiking at Caprock Canyons.
Drawing the outlines of the image.
Painting in my studio.
The finished painting: Caprock Canyons, acrylic on canvas, 30″x70″
So, I went bigger. And I also went weirder!
I’ve been experimenting with black light paint and ways to create interactive or installation art for events. And one night, my friend Laura and I were chatting and came up with “black light paint-by-number” as a potential party activity.
I immediately fell in love with this concept and asked my friend Chase if I could use one of his drawings as imagery – he sent me a crab/fish monster! Perfect for the neon colors in black light paint and the upcoming spooky Halloween season. So, I planned out the painting and rounded up the supplies and did a test run outside my friend’s house.
It was a hit! I’m excited to refine the process and have it available as a fun activity for future events.
Thanks to everyone who came out to the Neill-Cochran House Museum for Austin Museum Day! It was a beautiful afternoon of art and music and it was wonderful to meet so many new people.
I’ve been busy filling my shop with art prints, mugs, and a shirt that celebrates Austin’s Barton Creek Greenbelt (my favorite place to hike). Head over to my shop page to see what’s new. And if there’s something that you want to see (like sticker packs), please leave a comment below. Thanks!
I want to thank everyone who came out to the opening of the Hope For Spring exhibition at the Neill-Cochran House Museum. It was a beautiful day and the lawn was the perfect place for an outdoor reception.
The exhibit includes over fifty works of art, in various styles, all depicting The State Flower Of Texas, the bluebonnet. It was interesting to see all the different styles represented, and in a variety of media including stained glass and fiber art as well as photographs, paintings, and drawings.
The Neill-Cochran House Museum is a historical home complete with original furnishings and decor. So, you’ll find the new artworks floating in a 19th century world, sometimes in unusual ways.
I located my painting “Bluebonnets” relaxing on the bed with a lovely piece of fiber art by Linda Miles.
This was a small, socially-distanced event, but I’m so grateful to be able to share my art with the community and to have the chance to celebrate together. I’m looking forward to more of these events in the future. Oh, how I miss big art openings with music, wine, and cheese plates!
The reception took place on the spacious lawn of the Neill-Cochran House Museum.
Hope For Spring is on display at the Neill-Cochran House Museum until April 11, 2021. Check their website for hours and admission information.
“Flora of Texas” by Randy Soileau.
“Sweet Spring” by Kim Kaiser.
Next up is the drive-thru art event ARTic Expedition which is taking place April 2-4, and then I’ll be off to South Llano River State Park for my first camping trip of the year!
In my last post I was getting ready for the ARTic Expedition drive-thru art show and promising to post about it on social media. But instead of ARTic Expedition, we got Icepocalypse.
On the day I was supposed to install my artwork, it never got above freezing. There was already ice on the roads and much more in the forecast. So, we canceled the event and everyone hunkered down for the storm (which ended up being a pretty traumatic experience for a lot of people). I consider myself one of the fortunate ones even though I lost power and water for days and had to keep a fire going just to keep my apartment above freezing.
It was so cold for so long that one of the pools at my apartment complex actually froze over.
Even with the minimal damage to my apartment, it took a few weeks to recover. But I’m happy to say that I’m now back to my usual routines. And I have some good news: ARTic Expedition is back on! It’s been rescheduled for April 2–4, which should mean beautiful weather and blooming wildflowers.
Speaking of wildflowers, this Saturday, March 13th, I’ll be at the opening reception for the Hope For Spring art exhibition at the Neill-Cochran House Museum. Join me for this free outdoor event from 5:30-7pm, with cocktails provided by Still Austin Whiskey Co. All the art will celebrate bluebonnets, the State Flower of Texas. You can also view the exhibition through April 11 with admission to the museum. Hope to see you there!
LINKS I’M LIKING
I’m currently watching every episode of Every Frame A Painting and so far my favorite is this one about Chuck Jones, the famed animator of Looney Tunes.
I’ve been watching tons of live music videos to uplift my mood. I’m especially loving this cover of You And Me by Techno Marching Band MEUTE.
Meditation has become a near-daily practice for me and I found this playlist of free 10 minute guided meditation that have been really helpful. I resisted meditation for most of my life but am a complete convert – it really can change your life. No special skills or equipment required!
