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

Kurosawa

"Kurosawa", (Painted over)
I have been so sluggish with my creativity lately, but I do
have three paintings well under way. I don't know if this one
is finished. I was so excited, then I put it on my site and
it looked so sultry next to all my other work. Not that this
is a bad thing, just doesn't feel as clear. I decided to post
it to the blog hoping for some feedback.

Hope all is well with all of you!

Coltrane

Oil on Canvas, 30x24, $1080
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

Well what do you know, another painting? She's on a roll
folks. I wish I actually felt that way. I feel a little like I am
slogging through mud and I am not certain that paintings
are done. Anyhow here is a redo of an older painting and I
do feel much better about it than I did the original.

Midnight Rambler

"Midnight Rambler", (Painted over..now Poppy Pandemonium)
The weather forecast for this area last Sunday was
so bad it was laughable. We had three storms headed
our way, very strong winds as you can imagine with
such a convergence, warming temperatures with tons
of rain causing flooding because at that time there was
quite a bit of snow on the mountains and down here in
the valley. The wind came, the warm came, along with
that the melt came, a little rain sprinkled down on us.
The storms never came. I don't know about the flooding,
I imagine the creeks are roaring. All in all it has been a
bit anti-climactic.

To make up for it I have been painting up a storm. I think
this piece is done. I am almost finished with another piece.

Painting puts me through so many changes. It is so difficult
staying with theprocess, enjoying it and believing a piece of
art will emerge, and I will know when it is a painting. So
much of painting abstractly is about being lost and the
painting is lost until it is found and then it is finished or
pretty close to being finished.

You'll be hearing more from me as I prepare for my show
in Portland, Oregon, at Guardino's on Alberta St.. I believe
the opening is March 31st.

Vision Quest (Redo)

"Vision Quest", Oil on Canvas, 24x30, $1080
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

Guess who???? Yep it's me, having gone through another
alchemical void, I return, hopefully the better for having
gone through it. I have been in a struggle of birthing
something new. Not in terms of style, but of consistency.
After painting "Innerspace", I felt really happy with what
I had created, but I knew creating something that was as
satisfactory to me would be very difficult, but I wanted to
try. I like the results, but don't know about maintaining it.
It is forcing me to push harder and that is a good thing.
I feel my limits at times as I go up to the edge of my
understanding.

Any way enough said. Here is the painting. It is a rework
of an older painting I was never completely satisfied with.

All is well in the studio.