“I take the view that life is a constant, flowing thing.” Mildred K. Walker

(photo of drawing I did in the Creation series, Mother Earth,this was a part of my independent studies as a student of Mildred K. Walker in the 1970's)

There are moments in ones’ creative life that stand out for various reasons. Those moments are often separated by years.

As an artist it will always be my time spent in Mildred’s life drawing classes. I know that very few reading my blog will be familiar with Mildred K. Walker or her drawings, but she was and will always be an inspiration. She was tough, as in tough love. I think of her often when I am alone in my studio, and the energy that she brought to the world is still with me as I move back to and forward in what drives me as an artist. I guess, in my own way, I am giving the best thanks that I can as I know she would smile, this is her immortality… us students/ artists that remember her and how she so gave of herself.

Los Angeles Times article about Mildred K. Walker

I made a very calculated decision three years ago to work on and complete paintings that were focused on the exploration of color and the urban surroundings that I move through. For the moment I have come to the end of that endeavor (This will never leave me, I will return. As an artist I live between two worlds… the painting and the drawing). I think the transition painting was “Midtown”, color with a painting style close to drawing and back to a large canvas.

I have taken down and packed up most of my paintings to clear my studio for this new body of work. As I move forward I am becoming surrounded in the ancient story of Greek and Roman myth. I am also finding that each new drawing and painting start to relate and are telling a story. It is the story of humanity at a time when what we now call civilization began… good vs. evil. I am also expressing my feelings about what is going on with our politics here in the U.S. as well as globally.

I am now working on two large paintings; each 48 x 60” as well as several large drawings. Most of these are still in progress, meaning, not finished... I move from painting to drawing, to painting to drawing.

Cheiron was among the gentlest, wisest, and most learned of creatures. As a result, he was asked to tutor several of the greatest of Greek heroes, including Achilles, Asclepius, Hercacles, Jason, Aeneas and Peleus. Being the son of a god he was immortal, but Heracles accidentally wounded him with a poisoned arrow when fighting the other Centaurs. According to one tradition, in order to be relieved of the unrelenting torment of the wound, he gave his immortality to the Titan Prometheus and allowed himself to die. According to another, he appealed to Zeus and was transformed into the constellation Sagittarius. (painting is in progress)

This painting is from a photo I took of the Pantheon while living in Roma. I walked by this building no less than 3 times a week for over a year. I sat in a café outside of it. I went inside and just hung out. This is a very spiritual place for me. Whenever I am in Roma I allow time to visit the Pantheon. I allow time to reflect on the dreams of humanity. (painting in progress)

One of the drawings in progress is of the giant Enceladus . He is moving the volcanic rocks as he stretched from his wound. Living in California this is an interesting way to think about earthquakes. I am so enjoying this new body of work.

From Wkipedia: During the battle between the Giantess and the Olympian gods, Enceladus was disabled by a spear thrown by the goddess Athena. He was buried on the island of Sicily, under Mount Etna. The volcanic fires of Etna were said to be the breath of Enceladus, and its tremors to be caused by him rolling his injured side beneath the mountain. In Greece, an earthquake is still often called a "strike of Enceladus".

And a drawing of Athena with her hawk.

This week I have been laying in a drawing of a Dryads/ tree nymph. She is apart of her tree, which is the myth; one could not survive without the other. (in progress)

This drawing is a bit hard to explain, the short version is that yes, it is about the mythical Gods and it is also about the struggle of the artist and the inner demons that drive creativity. This drawing is kind of the essence of this series. (not titled yet)

This drawing is titled Transformation. It is about the flight of birds, the human spirit (and yes, there is symbolism is the mask of humanity) and how we are and become apart of each other in our journey when we open ourselves up to the universe.

Nature. Two Rocks. While taking a walk with my dog, Taxie, I came across these wonderful large rocks along the road and needed to do a drawing of them. As I move into this body of work, I can now see how they are apart of the Giantess and nature.

I must say that this is probably the painting that started this series, Roman Villa, acrylic on canvas, 12x9". It did not fit into anything I was working on and yet it kept calling back. I had put this little painting away and when I got going on this new body of work I pulled it back out. I did this painting in 2009.

To wrap up this entry, there are many more gesture drawings up on my wall at the studio waiting and there is a new canvas waiting. This is a very exciting departure or rather a return for me as an artist. And I am looking forward to exploring my feelings about what it means to be human and what that means in today's world. It is said that the reason the ancient Gods left us was from broken hearts because we stopped believing.

I think about ancient mythology and can see how as modern science and archaeology discovers new and exciting links to our past, those beginnings to an intellectual understanding (Art, Science, Music, Philosophy, etc., well, those things that make us human and that we can't explain) truly is what keeps us human. This should be a reason to keep going back, to learn from our mistakes and keep going forward, to grow.

Our world is in trouble at the moment, we can not forget that we all have a common beginning. My family roots are in the Mediterranean and so this is why I am exploring this subject. We all come from somewhere, and it is so interesting to find and connect the dots, so to speak. We should not forget that all of us come from somewhere and that is what humanity is about, our differences and our commonality.

I don't paint things. I only paint the difference between things. ~Henri Matisse

Work

How true that statement is. As a painter, as an artist, I see the lines between the lines, I paint the colors between the colors. That is what I find fun and rewarding, the endless possibilities of color.

San Francisco Open Studios in the Mission is almost here (weekend 1)! Hope that you will visit me at Studio 202 @ The Art Explosion Studios, 744 Alabama Street (@19^th). So many wonderful artists and designers will also have their studios open. When? Saturday October 1 and Sunday October 2: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. There are so many studios to visit in the area, a great way to spend the weekend. www.artspan.org/artist/christielarussell

Also in October I am apart of a group show at Roll Up Gallery / Public Works; “Wayfarer, there is no path, paths are made by walking”. Very cool gallery and should be a good show! I do not have the names of all the other artists who are apart of this show as of this posting, so can not give credit, hopefully will be posted on the web page soon. Opening reception is on October 7ths from 6 to 9 pm @ 161 Erie Street. Below is the painting in the show.

"Still Dancing"

Last weekend Valerie Aigron made a special stop in San Francisco while traveling on business in North America. The occasion? Well two fold. Spend some time with us (such an honor to call her friend) and to pick-up her painting; “The Martini”. As I said on my Facebook Fan Page, I am very excited to have my painting go to France. As a painter I find this to be very romantic. Valerie is the Export Manager for Cave de Rasteau, located near Vaison-la-Romaine in the beautiful region of Provence. And BTW, the wines are quite nice and at an unbelievable price point… they are available in many fine wine stores and at Whole Food Markets, give them a try.

My partner Anne made us an amazing (Bond, James Bond) Martini to toast the transfer of the painting... a toast... viva la France! Viva la California! Life is so great. Viva your close friends from around the globe!

The total eat/ drink local (Slow Food) can be done for one fantastic Martini! Where there is a will there is a way. Vya extra dry Vermouth. Produced in Madera California. Meyer’s local lemons Vodka of your choice (in the case of the painting Grey Goose of course)… want to stay total local food shed? No problem, Hangar 1 Vodka (made in Alameda, California). I have never been one for distilled bevereges, so it has been an aquired taste. But that said I have always wanted to understand Bond, James Bond. Vodka = lemon. Gin = olive.

In Studio 202. I finally finished the 2^nd painting of Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Park #2 (oil, 20x20”)

and Summer Swim (oil, 48x36”).

I have three new paintings started, always have new paintings and drawing in the works, will have to wait to get back to them until after Open Studios.

Cars

Some very cool car sightings recently… this posting is the international tour! German, English, Italian and USA.

Check out this beautiful 1962 VW Bug that was parked in Hayes Valley.

Also spotted was this really nice Triumph TR4 (known as the TR4). This model was produced between 1961 and 1964, and a blast to drive!

Loved this Fiat 500 (I think it’s a 500, some of the models were very similar). How cute it this car! More like a pet.

And speaking of cars that seem to be more like cute little pets. This one is our new MINI Cooper S Clubman Ice Blue. We waited for 10 weeks for her to be made and delivered from England. Fun? Wow talk about the fun factor! So love having an English sports car again! Our new girl is a very fun shooting break!

And for the another cool car sighting in this posting check out this 1940 Chevrolet Special Deluxe model I spotted in Moro Bay, CA. This car is restored in original condition, meaning, there are some flaws, but that’s the beauty of it (well for us car buff’s).

As a wrap up to this postings car sightings, here is a little something you can pick-up for a mere $145k. Audi R8 V10 spotted in Avila Beach.

Street

And now to some of the cool new street sightings I’ve come across in the last couple of months.

This is a Colla stencil, lasted less than 2 days on Valencia Street (@18th). Probably the most beautiful stencil I have seen in a long time and I have my guesses as to why it was painted over so quickly, but, this is not a political blog, so I won't go there.

Here is a sidewalk stencil I came across in the Mission.

This Zoltron, also on Valencia Street, had additional graffiti on it within days. Also like the Fox News tanks, not sure who the artists is as of this posting.

Another street stencil that I really like spotted on Filmore Street in the Lower Haight.

This is very funny! If you live in San Francisco you are aware of the Koi Fish stencils by Novy. I love these fish, they bring color and whimsy to the street. Recently someone (still trying to get the name of the artist) has been following up with a cat eating the Koi. This photo was taken on Church Street in Noe Valley. Humor like this makes it so fun to live in such a vibrant city.

Hipster

To wind up this post I have a new category… Hipster watch. Well, kind of Hipster first dates and mostly on rooftops. Are they not just the cutest (if not like everyone on a date, a bit awkward). These cute little (at times, annoying) Hipsters have no idea that I can hear every word they say from my balcony, even when across the street. They seem to want to climb anything and everything... the Hipster 1st date watch is on!

This couple was so shy. My favorite. They were very cute.

This couple was trying to get it together... a lot of small talk.

These two guys cracked me up (I have a photo of them from a previous Friday night)... I call them the Hipsters with no date. They came back a couple of nights later and were taking photos of each other. My guess is that there is some new date site called Hipster.date.com. What do you think?

I did like this couple... they were actually talking. What a concept.

Life

To wrap up this posting. I know I get behind, but I do enjoy my random walks around San Francisco and the friends and casual friends that I come across everyday. What a wonderful city we live in. And, yes, how lucky am I to be able to be apart of this vibrant art community.

I hope you will take the time to visit myself and all the other hardworking and wonderful artists for the San Francisco Open Studios.