Monotypes

'Perched', Monotype on Stonehedge paper, 24x17 $350

This monotype is probably my favorite of the series I did at Don's studio. It, however, has put me through the changes. First I dropped it and creased it. Then I tried to save it by moistening it, putting it under my glass palette with books on top. I didn't realize it was still damp when I took it out and it rippled. So I moistened it again and put it between wood with books on top and it was water stained around the edges! Holy cow! Well at least the part that is printed is unharmed. It will have to be matted rather than floated. It is still my fave. Funny!

 'Chinese New Year', Monotype on Stonehedge paper, $425

 'Healdsburg', Monotype on Stonehedge paper, $425

 'Taking Flight', Monotype on Stonehedge paper, $425

'Bojangle',  Monotype on Stonehedge paper, $300

'Angel', Monotype on Stonehedge paper, $300

Beginning Again

Kirby Ferris June 18, 1949- June 13, 2012. My muse and partner.

I have been absent from this blog for quite a long time and I know some of this blog's followers have wondered what happened as I had been very regular. I especially want to apologize to those of you that had been following my 'Art and Meaning' project. With few exceptions, for the last 2 years I have not been doing art. Had my friend Don Gray not encouraged me to come over to his studio and create some monotypes I would have not created any art at all. Two years ago this month my partner, Kirby was diagnosed with lung cancer, given 4-6 weeks to live and that became the focus of my life. He decided to not deal with it through traditional means and treated it metaphysically. He lived for 16 months and passed away a few days before his birthday. For the last 7 months I have been integrating what has happened.

Now the blank canvas seems impossibly blank as I come to it a changed person. In many ways my life is a blank canvas as it has gone through a major transformation and what it all is going to look like is unknown to me. I cannot be old with it, the old is coming along and will inform the present but cannot be repeated. I am very curious what the painting of my life will look like but I have to let it unfold in a gentle way.

I am reentering my studio and sidling up to my art. I rephotographed the monotypes and am in the process of repairing a couple of pieces that need attention. The next step will be to gesso a beautiful large surface Don built for me. Then hopefully I will be able to begin...anew.

'Unraveling'

'Unraveling', Monotype on Stonehenge paper,
22x30, $425
If you are interested in purchasing this print please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

I am still doing monotypes at Don's studio. I finished
this one today. It was fun to do, I just played and it
worked. Of course it has no more story telling quality
than any other abstract I have done. Oh well.

I am having a heck of a time getting photos of these
prints. For one the whites of the paper are not coming
across white and for some reason I don't feel they are
as sharp as I'd like them to be. The other issue is the
color of ink is more subtle than it shows here.
I am not going to come unraveled about it though. I
won't be posting them on my website until I get decent
photos, but I want to get them on the blog.

The Blue Hero Series

'Blue Hero I', Monotype on paper 30x22, $425

'Blue Hero II', Monotype on paper 30x22, $425

'Blue Hero III', Monotype on paper 30x22, $425
If you are interested in purchasing any of the monotypes
please email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

After many months of not creating I was beginning to
wonder if I was an artist anymore. I have had many good
reasons for not being creative, building a bedroom one
of the biggest. My friend and fellow artist, Don Gray asked
me over to his beautiful studio to do monotypes. I believe
he was doing an art 'intervention'. Get this artist creating!

I have not worked with monotypes very much so I am
fumbling my way along. With each monotype I learn more
and get more comfortable with the medium. The approach
is completely different from working with any medium I am
familiar with. Also the creative process is one step removed.
Not only is the art created on a piece of glass and pressed
onto paper, the resulting image is a mirror image of what is
placed on the glass. And then I never know what the ink is
going to do. I like the process as it forces me into the space
of letting go of control, my favorite creative stance.

I am also fumbling along because there is a birth of abstracted
storytelling that I want to express in my my art and I have
no idea how to go about it. This series is helping me find that
expression.

The Present:Finding Myself in the Middle of NowHere by Jerry Downs

A gift from Jerry: http://www.thepresentis.it/

Jerry Downs is an unusual being, he is an artist, but much
more than that he is aware of and therefore a witness to the
magic and synchronicities that abound in this life we live.
And he is my friend.

'The Present: Finding Myself in the Middle of NowHere'
is a photo journal of a journey from Marin County, California
to Boulder, Colorado, and back again, a journey Jerry has taken
many times in his lifetime. I laughed my way through this book
and totally related to what he experienced and how he thinks.
This is more than anything, a book about surrendering to the
moment and the magic that results. Besides being a magical
thinker, Jerry is also an incredible photographer.

During the writing of this book the working title was always
'The Present'. At one point Jerry was planning to self publish
and proceeded as if this would be his course of action and the
result would be a physical book. Then he had the epiphany,
'The Present' would be just that, a present, a gift from him to us.
That's right, this book is free. Download it, read it, pass it on for
free. Let it take you on its' magical mystery tour.

I told you Jerry is an unusual being.

http://www.jerrydownsphoto.com/#home
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jerry-Downs/272931819260

Guardino Show

I have just returned from Portland and my opening at Guardino Gallery.
It was a raging success as far as openings go. Hundreds of people came
and everyone showing sold a piece. Bouquets were delivered and friends
from the internet met for the first time. I saw someone from high school
and met a collector for the first time (you know who you are!). Maria
Wickwire, sculptress for the show was a delight to meet. Donna and her
daughter in law held down the fort with true grace! I had a blast.
It would have been perfect if I hadn't been physically challenged and blew
up like the Michelin man...doing nothing great for my ego. Ah well!

I started the event by meeting up with the extraordinarily interesting
Richard Speer, art critic, and someone I feel fortunate to call a friend,
for lunch. I also had the pleasure of meeting and lunching with artist
Dorothy Goode, Richard's woman friend. We started out a little rocky
as she arrived first, and recognizing her from photos I introduced myself
by saying "You must be Martha?" ...well...since her name is Dorothy
and unbeknownst to me Richards ex is Martha she gave me a very strange
look. We worked it out and she thought I should call her 'babe', which I did,
in fact, for the duration of our lunch. I had a wonderful time and Richard
enjoyed the show. His review can be read here:
http://www.wweek.com/portland/event-52977-katherine_treffinger.html

Now I am ready to paint.

Art to Turn the World Inside Out

Poppy Pandemonium

"Poppy Pandemonium", Oil on canvas, 30x40, SOLD


Finally! I have worked and reworked and let this painting
set so I could figure out what the heck to do with it. It is
finished. It has been two other paintings, Midnight Rambler
and Painted Pony. This is it final incarnation as it is now
one of my faves of the new work. But what a process!!!
Hope you enjoy. The reds are deeper but I played with it
on Photoshop and couldn't get the deep beauty of Alizarin
Crimson. Oh well.

Upcoming Show

Katherine Treffinger paintings and Maria Wickwire sculptures
Guardino Gallery Show, March 31- April 26,
Reception last Thursday, March 31, 2011 6-9pm
2939 N.E. Alberta, Portland, OR

I hope those of you in the Portland area will attend, I would
love to see you, meet you. I am excited as usual to see the work
on white walls with space between them and as a group.

Check out Maria's work at www.mariawickwire.com