Call of the Selkie

"Call of the Selkie", 24"x24", Oil on masonite,  $900 I f you are interested in purchasing this painting please contact me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

Lately I have been trying to get back to more cheery colors and a more definitive attack. My recent paintings have been deeper than what I was up to previously but to me they feel a little somber which makes sense to me.  I am ready to return to my more cheerful roots. This period of painting, I believe, has taken some more sophisticated turns and for that I have been grateful. I think I made some progress on this one in my intention to get cheerier and more definitive.

HOMAGE

'Homage', Oil on Panel, 48"x60", $4500

It has been a long time since I have posted anything on this blog. Not for lack of awareness of the blog. This blog and the Art and Meaning Project takes comittment, some thing I have not had the where with all to do.  I needed a break to process the immense changes losing my partner meant.

I watched a docudrama called The Impressionists in which Monet said he did not pick up a brush for 3 years after his wife died. His muse was gone and his art lost its' impetus. Hearing this was so validating to me. Aside from the monotypes I did at Don Grays' studio while Kirby was sick, I did not do any art for over 2 years. This painting 'Homage' was the first painting that emerged. Don, bless his heart built this panel for me. Since this painting I have continued to work on panel, with great help in building them from my friend Jaime Gustavson. Jaime has also been coming over to my studio to paint which has helped give me incentive to get in there myself.

I have learned a lot about the nature of loss and the fact that the mending process takes much longer than anyone can imagine. Living with another being becomes a weaving of two into a tapestry of its' own. When one of those people goes the cloth is rent and a new weaving must evolve as nothing is as it was. That takes time. It makes for a rich new tapestry in the end.

I am doing much better now and feel very much on the mend. I am close to finishing a body of work which is very exciting to me. Now I just need to find the way to reengage with the gallery world and show them. I have been very active refreshing my internet presence, letting go of some representation and starting new ones. I am trying out Saatchi, we'll see how this goes.

The new pieces with the exception of Homage are 24"x24" oil on masonite and are $900 each:

 'Changing Lines' SOLD

 'Clairvoyant' SOLD

'Guenevere' SOLD

'Fire and Rain'

'Seraphine'

'Alegria'

'Into the Mystic' SOLD

 'Summer Rain' SOLD

'Take Me to the River' SOLD

'Uriel' SOLD

This new body of work, of course, is dedicated to Kirby who was a true piece of art. 

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.

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.

Times Square

"Times Square", Oil on canvas, 36"x48", $2600

As I sit at the computer this morning it is 0 degrees F or -18 C.
We usually have a cold snap like this once or twice a winter and
thank goodness it does not last long. The high today is supposed
to be 7 F, with a wind chill factor brrrrr. Last night I woke up feeling
a little short on oxygen and Kirby was already awake coughing.
Does something happen to the air when it gets this cold? It's very
dry I am thirsty all the time. You must understand I grew up in a
temperate environment where right now they are all complaining
because it is down in the 30's.

The good news is I am spending my time in the studio. Yesterday
I rearranged the studio and finished a painting. Fun!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving all of you here in the USA. I am very
thank-full this year. Thank you for following my art and being in my life.

Oh, by the way, I think this painting is done.

W.I.P.

W.I.P., Oil on canvas, 30"x24"

Well finally I am back at it in full speed in the studio with 2 paintings
going at the same time. I have the darndest time being consistent in
my style! That is what galleries want, a consistent show, in style, that
is. Do any of you artists out there have the same issue? I mean artists
are supposed to be creative right? Oh, don't listen to me, in some
ways I supposed it's good for me as it pushes me to keep going, keep
working the painting until it works with the rest in some way.

I am in the process of going back and looking at paintings I have hanging
around the house and asking if I love the painting and if I don't I am going
back in and reworking it. That is what I am doing with this work in process.
I felt it was the weakest piece in my Satellite Gallery show so now it is
completely changed and already I like it better even though it has a ways to
go.

Innerspace

"Innerspace" Oil on canvas, 30"x48", $2000

Finally I have gone back into the studio. It was easy when it was raining last week
but it was sunny and perfect for election day. With winter on its way the studio holds
very little appeal on sunny days. I did finish a painting though.

Carol Wiebe of the blog Silver Spring Studio did a fabulous feature on me.
It was a total surprise. You never know what you are going to find when you open
your email. Check out her blog but also go to her website and look at her lovely art,
she makes cracked paper quilts (which I know nothing about, but find intriguing).

Her blog: http://silverspringstudio.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/dreaming-up-a-new-reality/
Her website: http://carolwiebe.com/

WIP

W.I.P, Oil on Canvas, 24x36

I am now in the process of getting the garden and the house ready for winter.
Then I will kick into gear for my show in Portland in April. I do have a piece
on the wall waiting for attention right now. I think it is 24 x 36.

I just finished my first interview. Richard Speer the art critic in Portland tried
but I was closed mouth with him. He called me enigmatic. I consider Richard a
friend so I would probably give him one now. This one was written, which made
it much easier. Anyhow you can see it on Mary Ann Wakeley's new site,
www.artofthisworld.net. The link for the interview is
http://www.artofthisworld.net/katherine-treffinger.html

Painting, Gallery Show and a Brochure

"Deep Sea Diving", Oil on Canvas, 36x48, $2600
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com


"In my case all ...... painting is an accident. I foresee it , yet hardly ever carry
it out as I foresee it. It transforms itself by the actual paint. I don't in fact know
very often what the paint will do and it does many things which are very much
better than i could make it do. Perhaps one could say it is not an accident because
it becomes a selective process which part of the accident one chooses to preserve."
Francis Bacon

My friend Cindy Bilotti sent this quote to me this morning and I love it! It states
perfectly my relationship to paint!

A couple of months ago I submitted to Guardino Gallery's call for artists for 2011.
Yesterday I received the news that I will be showing for the month of April with
sculptural artist Maria Wickwire. I am excited. I showed at this gallery many
years ago, a showing of my drawings. I really like the the gallery, the location
(Alberta St. in Portland), and the gallery owner, Donna Guardino. I have never
seen Maria's work in person but went to her site and saw her beautiful work.
The other part of this that excites me is the fact that I have a deadline and have
to paint. Deadlines are a real motivator for me. Pathetic how difficult it is for me to
get to the studio otherwise! I posted Deep Sea Diving as I walked into the gallery
with a few paintings and I believe this is the one that sold here

On another front I have finally finished the brochure I have been working on for
my other profession and it is published on line at www.scribd.com/katherine_treffinger.
Check out the lovely blog of M. Heart, she has posted a mention of the brochure in
her posting "links for lunch" today.
http://secretnotebookswildpages.blogspot.com
Today I plan to order the printing of the actual brochure. If you want a copy or
know the perfect place for a stack of them feel free to email me.

Florabunda

"Florabunda", Collection of Tara & Chris Jennings
Wow, two days in a row. What's going on here? I have
been struggling with this piece for a while now. I think
it is finished. Feel free to tell me what you think. Getting
away from the studio and going to Portland and getting
my brains image bank refueled helped a lot in allowing
me to breakthrough with it. I need to get away more
often.

This piece was a paint over on an old painting of Cindy's
and my collaboration. Part of the reason I had such a
difficult time with it was letting go of the parts of the old
painting that were 'precious', always a challenge.

Shakti

Shakti, Oil on canvas, 48"x48"

I am close to finishing two of the paintings I have been working on.
Both of them are large. The commission is getting very close. I
hope it is ready to sign tomorrow. I would love any feedback on
this painting, and if you like it as it is, what would you name it?
This painting has been a challenge, maybe because it is square?
It is 48"x48". As you know I love painting large. Well enough
said. If I go on anymore it will just be rambling.

Conquistador

"Conquistador", Oil and gold leaf on canvas, 40x30, SOLD

Well, no, as a matter of fact I have not finished a painting,
in fact I still feel a ways off on all three that I have up in
my studio. So I am posting an older painting.

I was thinking that I need a new title for my blog. It is
now called Treffinger Daily and it certainly is not been
daily as of late. Any ideas?

Susan's Day at the Beach

"Susan's Day At the Beach", Oil and Wax on canvas, 40"x30"
Collection of Dr. Susan Allen

I have been on my Summer pace lately which is not creatively
very productive I am embarrassed to say. It is difficult to stay
in the studio on these warm sunny days, besides I am doing
quite a bit of thinking about where I want to go with these 2
large canvases staring at me. I do way too much of that. I also
have been transforming my other blog as I get ready to make
the next step in promoting my healing profession. Now that I
have given you all my excuses I have posted an older painting
that is oil and wax. The proportions are not right on the image
but I do not know how to fix that in Photoshop.

It is Cherry harvest time and the tractors are driving by with their
trailers filled with crates filled with cherries to deliver to the 'Cherry
House' where large trucks will pick them up and take them out in the
world. I love this time of year when there is so much activity and the
pickers are living in our small town.

WIP

I am trying something many artists do, and work on several paintings at once.
This is a challenge for me. When I was a kid I would attack Thanksgiving dinner
methodically and eat all of one thing before going to the next thing on my plate.
That about says it all. I like to finish something before starting something else.

So I am working on this 48x48 inch canvas alongside a 24x18 inch canvas and
my commission. I worked on this piece yesterday and am liking what is happening.
Now that makes things more difficult, as it makes what is happening on a very
unfinished painting precious and I am going to have to bust through that. The colors
are a little earthier than I usually do. I like that. There is a tempo, a movement that
I like. There, however, is a sureness and complexity that is missing so far. Any input
is welcome.

Ready to Paint

"The Witness" Oil on canvas, SOLD

I am back from Portland and am inspired now to get going. I wish I could
say I visited galleries and the museum and saw tons of art. I did not, as I
was way too busy. I did see the delightful art of my friend Cindy Bilotti.
The pieces I saw and loved are on Cindy's Flickr. I really enjoyed her faces.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26076381@N02/
Check out her website:
http://www.cindybilotti.com/

"Crossing the Blues", Oil on canvas, 24x18, SOLD

At one time I showed my work at Roche Bobois in Portland, a high end
furniture store and sold tons of art. I have been wishing for another,
similar, situation with great people like the ones managing my art at
RB. The ex-manager called me and she works at another high end
furniture store in the Portland area and she wanted to represent my
art again. So we met and she took a painting I happened to have in
the back of my car. I am thrilled to be working with Jill again and to
be showing in a nice furniture store. I think people can really respond
to art when they see it in the context of living spaces.

"Jubilee", Oil on Canvas, 24x18, SOLD

The reason I had the painting in the back of the car in the first place
was to meet with Donna Guardino of Guardino Gallery to submit my
work for her 2011 calendar. Submissions are still open and I won't
know until the fall, but I am under consideration. I did an exhibit of
my drawings several years back at this gallery and would love to
show again. She was complementary of the work, which is always a
great thing to hear.

The other cool thing that went on while I was there was the phone
calls from Willow Galley in Walla Walla telling me I had sold 3 more
pieces of art. Rockin'!!

So off I go to paint. Have a great day.