Sizzling Summer Show

I’m finally back from my extended blog absence. I’ve been preoccupied preparing for my one woman show, traveling to the east coast, teaching and partaking in excessive socializing, drinking and eating. Phew!
Below is one of the paintings included in my solo show:

'LA River, Lincoln Heights'...........oil on canvas panel.............7x9" (SOLD)



"FORGOTTEN PLACES REMEMBERED" ~ A One Woman Show~


My solo show started off well, with a generous influx of guests which continued throughout the reception. Time flew by as I excitedly tried to greet everyone who attended. There were collectors, friends and family in attendance. I saw many old friends and made new ones. At one point the room got too crowded and warm forcing the guests to spill out onto the sidewalk outside the gallery. The exciting, prosperous and festive evening ended with an informal and delicious dinner with friends at Bella Sera Trattoria in Old Town Monrovia. You can copy/paste url to view complete online exhibit:
http://www.segilfineart.com/online_gallery/online_exhibit_mcc07.htm
I have included a few pix of the event. Enjoy!

L'Artiste


Hangin' out with good friend and art lover, Vivian Kubrick


Good times!


'Gallery Girls' very own Jennifer Fabos-Patton (mucho caliente bartender!)


This gentleman provided exceptional music throughout the evening


Workin' the room.....


....a buzz in the air.....


Vadim Zanginian, Michael Swofford and Ben Fried


Chatting amongst each other


Jennifer and gallery curator, Laura Segil


Pictured here with fellow artist Jason Situ


Outside looking in


Is this what a reverse Oreo cookie would look like??


....as the evening winds down....

Red Shack

'Red Shack'.......oil on canvas panel.......7x9 inches
Visited the Sunset Ranch stables with my sister Sophie one sunny morning and painted this little, antiquated red shack perched on a gently slopping hill overlooking horse corrals and an incredible view of Los Angeles. The ranch, nestled within a little canyon at the top of Beachwood drive, offers sunset horse rides through Griffith Park and has been extensively used for shoot locations for films and photography (including a scene from David Lynch’s, ‘Mullholland Drive’). A large, weathered 1920’s style barn that still retains it’s charm and character accommodates rental and privately owned horses.
Free roaming peacocks, chickens and a friendly golden retriever casually meandered throughout the grounds. An exotic looking spotted rooster sporting a cockscomb that resembled a punked-out hair piece made random and unsettling crowing sounds (like that of a cat being tortured) that repeatedly disturbed my calm as I painted within this serene equestrian oasis. Sunset Ranch is infused with a sense of nostalgia and a timeless quality of the old west. Painting amid it’s charming relics and natural beauty was extremely enjoyable and invigorating.
Yippe-ki-yay, mother f**ker!




Looking for love in all the wrong places.....




..........find Mr. Goat

Under the Overpass

'Do Not Enter - Wrong Way'.........oil on canvas panel........6x8 inches
Walking along Riverside Drive which runs adjacent to the '5' freeway, I discovered this delightful cityscape of concrete canyons draped in lush, green vinery. I set up to paint directly across a freeway exit while Jose settled for a more panoramic view of the overpass. Being engulfed by a swirling mass of exhaust fumes from cars exiting the freeway was exhilarating, and I hoped that some small grit from the freeway would imbed itself on my canvas like a gnat might for my country bumpkin counterparts. Two homeless men of good cheer emerged from the shadows, one carrying a sporty homemade spear created from an old broom stick, a sharp piece of rusted metal, all wrapped together by a coat hanger.  He claimed to use it for his fishing expeditions in the L.A. river. His compatriot was dressed in an old military jacket doused in vodka, and was incapable of human speech, making only gurgling and clicking sounds which attracted several squirrels to him. With large toothy grins they invited me and my painting buddy Jose to join them in a jaunty walk by the LA River in search of fairies and magic, talking catfish.  I declined, silently feeling inside my backpack for my pepper spray. Good times......;-)

Red Blouse

'Red Blouse'.........oil on canvas panel.........11x14"
I painted this portrait of Yolanda, an aspiring actress, during a three hour painting session at the Los Feliz workshop (please click on Los Feliz Workshop link to the right for more info regarding the workshops)
Initially I met the lovely Yolanda at a local diner Ben and I frequently visit. While Yolanda was taking our lunch order, I finally summoned enough courage and asked her to model for our painting workshop. She affably agreed and was a complete joy to work with. She conducted herself professionally and remained motionless the entire time she posed.

...........a few sketches


25 minute charcoal sketch










5 minute charcoal sketch












:: TOO CLOSE TO HOME ::



'Griffith Park Brush Fire' - May 08th, 2007
(picture taken from studio rooftop at 9:30pm)


A few days ago, Ben and I (as well as hundreds of Los Feliz residents) had to evacuate our home due to the rapidly encroaching brush fire that swept through one fifth of Griffith Park. I'll never forget the feeling of panic washing over me as I stepped out the front door to witness a wall of turbulent flames creeping down the hillside towards the homes nestled close to the park entrance. I raced back into the house to grab my cat and immediately fled the house and found refuge at our art studio located a little less than two miles from our house.
Throughout the evening we were barraged with numerous phone calls from anxious friends and family members who were concerned about our our safety......many generously and benevolently offering their homes for us to stay overnight or as long as we needed. My sister Sophie, her fiancé Andy and a few locals kept us company as we solemnly watched Griffith Park being ravaged by flames from atop the studio roof.
Fortunately (and thankfully) there were no major injuries or deaths and no homes were damaged. The newly renovated Observatory, the enchanting Cypress Grove I frequently hike to and the LA Zoo were also spared due to the tremendous dedication and hard work from our local firefighters. Wednesday night we were allowed to return to our respective homes safely and soundly.
Now that the dust has settled, the smoke has cleared and the embers have extinguished, life in Los Angeles is promptly getting back to normal and has already begun the healing process of physical and spiritual regeneration. Onward!

San Pasqual Stables and Chicago

'Brown Barn'.........7x9 inches........oil on panel
Visited the San Pasqual stables and painted this rugged and spacious, old brown barn shortly after my brief stay in Chicago. Jose De Juan, who joined me on this excursion, pointed out this wonderfully quaint and pastoral area located just south of the Arroyo in Pasadena.

:: CHICAGO ::

A few weeks ago Ben and I took a five day sojourn to Chicago. We lodged in a charming and cozy bed and breakfast situated in the historic district of Oak Park, Illinois (only a five-minute walk from the Frank Lloyd Wright Homes and Studio).
Sightseeing, museum visits and family gatherings were some of the many activities we crammed into our brief yet overwhelmingly satisfying respite.


Frank Lloyd Wright house







Frank Lloyd Wright house










Downtown Chicago

































:: CHICAGO ART INSTITUTE ::

While in Chicago, we caught the 'Cezanne to Picasso: Ambroise Vollard, Patron of the Avant-Garde' exhibition which runs through May 12th. Unfortunately, I was unable to take photographs of the current exhibition, however, I added a few pix of my faves from their permanent collection.


John Singer Sargent
















Elizabeth Sparhawk-Jones
















George Bellows














........satiated yet satisfied from two days of museum viewing.........

Red Bucket

'Red Bucket'..........oil on canvas panel...........7x9 inches
Revisited the Verdant Stables with an enthusiastic and talented painting posse a few weeks ago. While meandering my way throughout the grounds, I came across this little cranny between two horse stables. What caught my eye was the brilliant red bucket gleaming radiantly against the rich cast shadow on the cinderblock wall. The discarded green chair immersed in shade balanced befittingly with the warm, red color of the bucket. Overall, the arrangement of the randomly placed objects in this scene created a dynamic and amusing 'rural' still life.



Joining me on this plein air excursion were Joseph Stoddard and Jose De Juan, two wonderful artists who both produced deliciously delightful paintings of Verdant terrain.


Painting by Joe Stoddard






Painting by Jose De Juan

Green Trailer

'Green Trailer'.........oil on canvas panel.........7x9 inches
Embarked on another voyage to Verdant with painting companion Bill Moore last week and did this little plein air study of the Griffith Park Metro Region parking lot across from the equestrian center entrance. Bill opted for the red truck bed (see Bill's dandy painting on his previous post by clicking on his link) >>>>>>>>>>>>
What compelled me to paint this scene were the two unoccupied and slightly skewed trailers that looked somewhat out of place. The cool and overcast weather conditions accentuated the soothing and pale mint-green color of the foreground trailer.