Monday, June 10, 2013
I very seldom take on commissions, but here is a rare exception, just finished -
marybeth, nico and annie
acrylic on panel
16 x 20
click to see large
detail - marybeth, nico and annie
acrylic on panel
click to see large
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understanding paint - a hands-on workshop
I'll be having a weekend painting workshop in my berkeley studio -
August 17th and 18th.
stop wrassling with acrylics, and get them to do what you want them to do :-)
learn how to make your paintings more luminous,
by understanding the mechanics of how paint "works".
In a relaxed, supportive environment, we will explore some of the ways acrylics can be used.
There will be demos, one on one help, creativity exercises, and the time to finish one small painting.
(plus, I throw in a bunch of useful painting and studio tips.
and a big pot of vegetable soup :-)
The workshop focuses on understanding how acrylics (and paint in general) works, and covers basic info on materials as well as a variety of techniques, such as glazing and scumbling. Not even sure what that even means? Don't be intimidated - past participants have included painting novices as well as professional artists - no past painting experience necessary.
some of what is covered…..
supports--
(the surface you are painting upon) - paper, canvas, wood panel, etc
grounds -
(how that surface is prepared) - gesso, acrylic medium, speciality grounds such as modeling paste, pumice gel, etc.)
mediums -
(the "glue" or binder that holds paint together). added to paint, can change the properties, (make it matte, glossy, stiff, running, gooey, transparent, etc) Also, works as an extender, and makes paint more transparent. Can be used as a "glue", for making collage, as a final varnish, to seal and "isolate" a layer of painting, for glazing, etc.
additives -
these change paint properties (but are not a "glue" or binder). For example, retarder, which slows the drying time, flow release, which breaks surface tension, or thickener
August 17th and 18th
10:30 to 5:00
Workshop is $200 + $25 materials fee if registered before
august 5th
$215 + $25 materials fee after august 5th
A deposit of $100 holds a place in the class, and is refundable up to 10 days before the workshop.
(If a participant needs to cancel after that time, the deposit can be applied to future workshops).
for more info, or if you have any questions, feel free to contact me
claire@clairebcotts.com
Monday, May 13, 2013
inspiration monday and new facebook page
inspiration monday- sculptor ann weber
I love these, the the organic forms - swelling, constricting, the sense of off kilter totter-y balance.
i also love the elemental quality of the material, just cardboard and staples.
she'll have work at the artMRKT this week, in san francisco and at a show at dolby chadwick later in the month
here's a link with more info...
ann weber
ann weber
Just to let you know…. (if you're not a facebook-y kind of a person).
I have started a new facebook page, claire b cotts art.
It will be away for me to posts inspiration, goings on, thoughts and general musings, without having to send out a deluge emails through my blog.
(It's a separate page from my personal facebook page, enabling me to continue posting videos of squirrels riding monkeys, etc)
All you have to do, is go to claire b cotts art on facebook and hit "like".
:-)
inspiration monday
i'm in love…..
it took me a while to catch on to pinterest, but for an artist, it's amazing way to collect images, discover new artists and new affinities, and fundamentally waste large chunks of time and yet still feel quasi-virtuous and productive. one thing I have always loved is sculpture - in many ways, I'm more interested in creating sculpture and making physical objects than painting.
After a long stint of heavy duty painting of abstracts, I'm looking forward to doing figurative work, and trying my hand at figurative sculpture. Sharing some of my new inspirations - drum roll….introducing inspiration monday!
agnes baillon
mère et filles
I really like the work of the sculptors olivia musgrave and agnes baillon - they remind me a bit of marino marini, and have that quality of volume, solidity, tenderness and quiet subdued emotion that interests me in artwork.you can see some images of their work on my pinterest board.
here is the link to my pinterest boards….
http://pinterest.com/clairebcotts/
http://pinterest.com/clairebcotts/sculpture/
(the categories are fuzzy, much of what interests me days straddles illustration and fine art.)
and here is a very nice video of olivia musgrave in her studio.
olivia musgrave - taking flight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKXT0S8CGnA
Friday, May 03, 2013
annual sfmoma artist gallery 1/2 off warehouse sale!
the nightingale's egg
mixed media collage
click to see large
It's that time again!annual SFMOMA artist gallery 1/2 off warehouse sale!
Lots of bargains on art work - I'll be there volunteering the first night, at the gala opening.
http://www.sfmoma.org/visit/
http://www.sfmoma.org/
Twentieth Annual Artists Warehouse Sale
A huge selection of original artworks at a savings of up to 75 percent!
Five Days Only
May 8 - 12, 2013
Opening night: Wednesday, May 8, 2013
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Be among the first to shop this annual sale, now in its twentieth year. With two venues of over 7,000 square feet filled with works by three hundred participating artists, it's your first chance to purchase at incredible savings. Opening night admission: $10 at the door; free for SFMOMA members.
Additional sale hours:
Thursday, May 9, noon - 8:00 p.m.
Friday, May 10, noon - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 11, noon - 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 12, noon - 4:00 p.m.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
pictures from an exhibition
some photos from the exhibit now up at the nüart gallery, in santa fe.
the show looks beautiful- it's always a surprise to see all the work together, on clean white walls, outside of the squalor of the studio
last minute -signing the paintings
Spring branches and willow withies, gathered from a beaver pond in a wildlife area outside the city, the afternoon of the opening. Leaving the park, I realized I couldn't find the keys to my rental car….. Racing back along trails, eyes darting back and forth, by a miracle of providence, I found them at the edge of a marsh.
Happiest moment of my life! Zipped back just in time to change and make the opening. Phew!
with a beautiful bouquet from my mother and sister (thanks!)
Sunday, March 31, 2013
new work - "the winter palace"
the winter palace
acrylic on panel
36" x 96 - (diptych)
(click to see large)
acrylic on panel
36" x 96 - (diptych)
(click to see large)
the winter palace
acrylic on panel - detail
(click to see large)
the winter palace
acrylic on panel - detail
(click to see large)
the winter palace
acrylic on panel - detail
(click to see large)
A little unusual - a much lighter color palette than I usually use, and a new format,
a long tableau. I think the feeling and the title perhaps derives from what
I was listening to while I painted it this winter - a lot of Russian history and fiction.
Boris Akunin, Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie,
Dostoyevsky and more. Inspiration from onion domes and winter white and from some
of Diebenkorn's wonderful abstracts. (plus it was SO cold in my studio!)
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Exhibit and new work - the river is…...
"the river is so much swifter,
so much darker, so much colder than you think"
48" x 72" (diptych)
(click to see large)
I'll be having a solo show of my work in april, at the Nüart Gallery in Santa Fe.
everything that rises
april 12th - 28th 2013
opening reception april 12th 5 pm to 7 pm
you can see some of the new paintings here
and additional work here -
I will also be posting the new work, with details, to my website and blog.
the river is….. (detail)
(click to see large)
the river is….. (detail)
(click to see large)
the river is….. (detail)
(click to see large)
the rubber band girl
Last year, I was commissioned to create a portrait to be used as a jacket cover for author Jennifer Nielson's book "The Rubber Band Girl". The book is about the experience of raising her daughter, Hadley, who was diagnosed with Marfan’s syndrome. You can read more about the book and learn about Marfan's syndrome at her site
Monday, October 22, 2012
Nuart Gallery, Santa Fe
I've forget to mention, I'm very pleased to announce that my work is now represented by Nüart Gallery, in Santa Fe. They have wonderful work, both abstract and figurative.
Friday, June 29, 2012
new abstract paintings and workshops
here is a batch of the most recent abstract paintings, which just got shipped off to santa fe last week......
carnival
acrylic on panel
36" x 48"
click to see detail
carnival
(detail)
click to see large
at first thought
acrylic on panel
36" x 48"
click to see detail
at first thought
(detail)
click to see large
vespers
acrylic on panel
36" x 48"
click to see detail
vespers
(detail)
click to see large
even song
acrylic on panel
36" x 48"
click to see detail
even song
(detail)
click to see large
tangle
acrylic on panel
36" x 48"
click to see detail
tangle
(detail)
click to see large
placed together as a diptych.....
studio shot - work in progress
Monday, June 25, 2012
new work - portraits
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aaron at the aquarium
acrylic on panel
click to see large
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aaron at the aquarium - detail
acrylic on panel
click to see large
maxine (morning)
acrylic on panel
click to see large
maxine (morning) - detail
acrylic on panel
click to see large
zane (twilight)
acrylic on panel
click to see large
zane (twilight) - detail
acrylic on panel
click to see large
conrad (dusk)
acrylic on panel
click to see large
conrad (dusk) - detail
acrylic on panel
click to see large
The last three portraits, two brothers and a sister, I wanted to work together as a group, as well as individual portraits.
I set them at three different times of the year, and three different times of the day, with a little something in each that reflects something about that child.
Labels: portraits

























































