Art Life/Brenda Semanick

Bridge Pier Revisted

Brenda — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 23:27:00 +0000

I have not made an entry to this blog since the end of July, which also means I didn't include pictures of the finished mural. School started at the same time with no rest in between and life has continued at a lightning pace since.

Wien Wien Nur Du Allein

Brenda — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:36:00 +0000

For you Dad!

WienWiennurduallein.m4p

Bridge Pier Project/End of Week 8

Brenda — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 01:37:00 +0000

I didn't make an entry last week because we were just too busy. Rebecca and I worked late each day and all weekend. The real stress was seeing what the glazed lizards would look like. We decided on three different but related color combinations for each. Below is a photo of how Lenny turned out and we couldn't be happier!!!! The two other lizard heads are in the kiln now and we will see them tomorrow morning.

We used cone 6 (cone 5 in electric kiln) Coyote glazes for the entire project, including the tile. We bisqued most pieces but during this last crunch time we did a slow single fire and everything turned out. What a blessing.

Thank you Beth Ravitz for all of your advice and cheerleading!

We now have only a few stray tiles to fire and then we will be ready for installation. At the recommendation of Beth Ravitz, we will be filling the lizard pieces with a mixture of perlite and thin-set to give them more internal strength.

Although a few of the girls will be coming in this week to help with sealing the unglazed parts of the background tile and boxing everything up for the installers, our project date officially ended on Friday. We cleaned like crazy and Rikki's mom even showed up with spray bottles, rags and cleaning supplies. We had a special celebration luncheon at Le Delice and the food and service were exceptional.

The girls took home individually boxed pastries.

After an excuse from the table and a short absense to her truck, Caitlin returned with a giant card. I have a sneaking suspicion that Ali was very busy the night before and a lot of manipulation was at play earlier in the morning. Rebecca and I never "caught on", so we were not only astonished, but very flattered. We have all become Starbuck addicts and we often did a run to the closest store to satiate our cravings for sweetened, cold java. The decorative envelopes in the card each contained a $20 Starbbucks gift card. What a sweet and wonderful gesture. Thank you so much girls.

Bridge Pier/End of Week 6

Brenda — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 01:11:00 +0000

David and Rebecca picked up the first load of glazed tiles Monday morning and we immediately set about to put them together. It was so exciting for everyone. We were all so excited when we began to place out the tiles and see the design begin to emerge. Starbucks for everyone!

A second load of tiles goes to Aurore tomorrow. We did test glazes for the lizards today. Lizzette, our third lizard is almost completed.

Lizard Wall/End of Week 5

Brenda — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 02:39:00 +0000

It was a hot week here in the Old Pueblo. The first load of glazed tiles went to Aurore's studio on Thursday. We finished Lloyd, the second lizard and bisqued Lenny in our kiln. We have a meeting about installation with Lee from Foley's Tile on Monday morning.

We had a great and extended show of fireworks from Tucson Country Club Estates on the 4th. We have a front seat spot from our house. For years people have shown up from all over town and park wherever they can, and this year was no exception. It's one of the best free shows in town. The best fireworks I've seen in recent memory was in Kiel in 2004 when we visited my sister Silvana. They were dedicating a new pier. Scores of swimmers carrying torches made their way to the beach before the fireworks began. I hadn't seen anything like it since I was at Disneyland on the 4th of July in the 80's.
I was just too tired to go to the Reid Park pottery class tonight. I've started dreaming about the tiles and lizards.....................so I'm working in my sleep now.

Caught some of the acts on Live Earth-Genesis, Melissa Ethridge, John Mayer, end of UB40. Billy Corgan was amazing!!

Still managing to paint almost everyday.

Celebration

Brenda — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 23:19:00 +0000

Tres Amigas Bonitas! With Maria Elena and Carmela for a much-needed night out at Hacienda del Sol.

The foam for the green tiles worked perfectly. Rebecca and I spent several hours cutting and laying foam in David's truck and then placing tiles on layers. It was only 108 degrees outside.
The good news is that not one tile
broke in transit to Professor Chabot's studio. Aurore has a hundred plate setters from past public art projects and we loaded her massive Bailey kiln with almost 100 tiles. She believes in a slow bisque with lots of holds-3 days!
On some days I have been so tired I come home and take a nap-the heat and stress I suppose. On Friday, I was eager to meet two good friends at the posh Hacienda del Sol for a refreshing evening of good company, food and jazz. I don't go out often because I always seem to be working; my friends have learned not to take it personally when I say I no to invitations.

Images of Hacienda del Sol

Les Baxter Band

For three years now I've been throwing pots on Saturday nights at the Tucson Reid Park pottery studio. This session I decided to only do slab work and sculpture. I have never done sculpture before but surprisingly I can, and it is immensely enjoyable.

Bridge Pier/End of Week 4

Brenda — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:07:00 +0000

At the half-way mark of our eight-week project we are beginning to see the results of all our hard work. "Lenny" is finished and we have started "Lloyd", the second of the three high-relief lizards.

We had quite a few visitors this week: Patty Machelor for the Arizona Daily Star (thanks for writing a great article Patty), photographer James Wood, Lorraine Hernandez, Bob Peterson, Professor Aurore Chabot and friend.

Much gratitude goes to Professor Chabot who is generously allowing us to use her kiln, which can accommodate 100 tiles at a time!!! Rebecca bought a 50-foot roll of foam to cushion the transport of the green-ware tiles across town. Let's all keep our fingers crossed!

Renowned ceramicist Angelica Pozo has provided us with lots of good information for mounting the lizards. Special thanks also goes to Kristine Stoner and Susan Gambel from Santa Theresa Tile Works!

Rebecca beginning work on "Lloyd".

Caitlin and Rikki rolling slabs.

Tile meister Emily.

Public Art Bridge Pier/end of Week 3

Brenda — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:17:00 +0000

We accomplished a lot this week. Almost 230 of the 380 tiles are done. Elements in the kiln were finally replaced for 208 voltage. I did a test of glazes today. To expedite firing we are using a one-fire process at cone 5. We are only glazing the recessed part of the tiles so I am also running an experiment to see if we can stack the tiles in the kiln. My concern is if there will be enough oxygen circulating. So I am looking forward to opening the kiln tomorrow morning.

Detail of first lizard's head.

Lizard body in progress.

Tiles drying.

Rebecca and Rikki hard at work on "Lenny".

Lizard Wall-Week 2

Brenda — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 01:18:00 +0000

We are moving along quickly. Councilwoman Carol West, her assistant Lorraine Hernandez, TPAC liason Mary Ellen Wooten and Tucson DOT Bob Peterson came Monday to approve the final design. Bob took lots of pictures and was very impressed with the design. Everyone thought it was an ambitious undertaking.

We have lost two of our student workers since we began, but I anticipated that. We do have five incredible young women working with us who show up early and leave late!

After working on small high relief lizards it was time to start the tiles for the background. Each person is averaging six a day so we are on schedule. We will begin the large lizards next week. I plan on having Rikki work with Rebecca on the lizards while the rest of us roll slabs of clay and create the tiles. I am letting the tiles dry very slowly.

I am continuing to paint the small paintings from life I began earlier. What a wonderful excercise.

Fortune Cookies, 5x5, oil/linen mounted on panel

David has been working on a painting inspired by Marlowe's "Tamburlaine", Part 1. He recently received a commission to do a painting of Martin Luther. No one knows their history like David.

Public Art Project/Bridge Pier

Brenda — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 01:19:00 +0000

Aside from being in Germany, I can't imagine a better way to spend my summer. We began on June 4th and we have exactly 8 weeks to finish an artwork installation on a bridge pier at Wrightstown and Tanque Verde. The following are two images of the design concept. The lizards are blue for placement purposes and will not be that flagrant.

The design motif in the background is borrowed from a pottery pattern on a Hohokam pot. The ancient Hohokam had many settlements in the Tanque Verde Basin. Although the design appears to be simple, it is really quite complex.

The background pattern will be constructed from 8"x8" relief tiles using a terracotta clay. The lizards will be created in high sculptural relief using a B-mix clay with grog. The wall is almost 12 by 15 feet, so that means a lot of work and a lot of clay!

I am fortunate to have six wonderful young art apprentices to help. Rebecca is my artist assistant and I don't think I could do the project without her. BTW, Rebecca finally has her website up: Rebecca Macaulay

A big thank you goes to principal Hans Raymond at Tucson Accelerated High School for allowing us to use their art classroom.

I am amazed how quickly the girls are learning to use the clay. We began with learning how to cut clay, then to make relief, and now they are doing small sculptural lizards to prepare them for working on the real ones, which will be six feet in length.

Rikki

Trenna

Rebecca's experiment with a small lizard.

Rebecca at the slab roller.

Caitlin

Emily

Ali

Brittany

Painting from Life

Brenda — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 02:06:00 +0000

For some time now, I've only been painting from life. Painting is always a solitary experience, but painting from life takes so much of one's concentration that the solitude almost disappears into a state of an "absent self". There is nothing but the process. There is no outcome, no expectation, only observation. There is very little cognizance of self, and little or no perception of physical "place." We are often transported to something similar when we are watching a good movie, reading a great book, playing with a child or interacting with a baby. Time is suspended and has no meaning. There is no chatter of the mind. It is total engagement.

Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Art for Music 2007 at La Paloma a BIG HIT

Brenda — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 01:17:00 +0000

Wow, what a great night to be had by all at the beautiful La Paloma Resort. Over twice as many in attendance as two years ago and although crowded, everyone was having a good time. The silent auction was huge and there was something to offer for everyone.
The thrill of the evening for me was the live auction! My guitar spurred on a bidding war and when it was over it sold for $2000. All proceeds from the event go to pay for much needed music education programs. My friend and co-chiar of the event, Diana Maderas, brought in the highest auction price for the live auction instruments for her exquisite Lizard Rhapsody. One of my other favorites was The Four Seasons by the renowned artist Barbara Gurwitz. I want to give a special thank you to conductor George Hanson's beautiful and gracious wife Petra Boehm, who told the audience my piece was her favorite.

At dinner we sat at the table with Charles and Candace Johnson, who purchased David's Lorenzo d' Medici violin two years ago.

With Mr. Robert Buhler and his lovely wife Yvonne who purchased the La Loteria guitar.

Lizard Rhapsody (left) by
Diana Madaras
The Four Seasons (right) by Barbara Gurwitz.

TSO's chamber music ensemble began the pre-dinner entertainment with the Overature to Mozart's Marriage of Figaro and ended wonderfully with the last two movements of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto.

La Loteria Guitar

Brenda — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:09:00 +0000

More pictures of my guitar.

You can see a video segment from Arizona Illustrated featuring the submissions of several of the artists, including myself.

Small Paintings

Influenced by Duane Keiser's A Painting A Day, I have had a lot of fun recently painting small still lifes. I know of no better way to improve painting skills than painting from life.

Tucson Symphony Orchestra Art of Music 2007

Brenda — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:47:00 +0000

Just after my last post I suffered a concussion and it took several weeks to become a normal person again. I am happy to say I now have a large painting on the easel and I've been busy finishing a guitar for the Tucson Symphony Orchestra's "Art of Music 2007" benefit, a biannual event to be held this year at Tucson's Westin La Paloma.

I was going to do a theme around Dia de los Muetos but I wasn't sure how receptive most people would be to that so I decided to use the images from the very old and still quite popular Mexican bingo game Loteria. I chose my favorite images as well as all of the cards pertaining to music. It has been a tedious process but I have had a lot of fun along the way.

The guitar has taken priority over finishing the large cactus.

The Best Painting A Day Site

Brenda — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 01:20:00 +0000

Maybe I'm a little behind the times in the cyber art world because I discovered this incredible painter quite by accident on YouTube. After watching a few of his painting videos, I did a search, and he has found quite a niche for himself and the "painting a day" concept was his original idea. His name is Duane Keiser and he posts a painting a day on his blog and then sells them at bid on ebay. Needless to say, they all sell. He has inspired many painters to do the same.

He has ten "painting in the making" videos on YouTube that run from 3-6 minutes. They are worth watching. I appreciate an artist who is willing to share that kind of skill level with others. The painting above is one of my favorites by Duane Keiser.

Hello Kitty Pumpkin

Brenda — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 01:26:00 +0000

Those who know me well, graciously accept my infatuation with HK. David and Rebecca were busy carving pumpkins Saturday night while I was at the pottery studio. When I got home I was thrilled to see the glowing happy face of my favorite icon emblazoned on a pumpkin. Thanks David! Rebecca carved the spider.

I love Hello Kitty because you can't look at something so ridiculous and not smile or laugh. Simply put, she makes me happy.

Dinner at Connie and Jinou's

Brenda — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 02:03:00 +0000

It's always so nice to put work and obligations aside to spend time with friends. We recently had dinner with our best friends Connie and Jinou, and true to form, Jinou prepared a wonderful dinner of scallops and wild rice, and topped it off later in the evening with berries and heavy cream!

They have one of the best painting collections I have ever seen, with some of the best of the California Impressionists and major southwest talent.

A few years ago they started collecting pottery from the American Arts and Crafts period and they now have some exquisite pieces.

To the left is a pair of birds by Jinou. They stand about eight inches high and their heads are actually "lids" and can be removed. I love these!
Jinou's pots have become very successful; he is selling an average of two a week at El Presidio Gallery.

We each had to have a go at relief carving on some of the pots I threw, but Rebecca's koi wins the blue ribbon!

To the left is David's carving of dragonflies. Of course I had to do flowers on mine.

Newest paintings. To the left is a painting of Torch Cactus which will be used as the 2007 Tucson Chamber Music poster. David took along his latest painting to Connie and Jinou's. It is a brilliant painting of Christopher Marlowe.

Whad Up: Tucson Pima Arts Council Award and other stuff!

Brenda — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 03:39:00 +0000

Finally getting a little tease from the upcoming monsoon season here in the Baked Apple. Tomorrow promises to be 109 and Thursday the mercury rises even more. I need the respite from heat the thunderstorms bring. The temperature dropped a good twenty plus degrees a few days ago preceding a magnificent display of lightning and a true July Tucson storm.

Lots been goin' on. On first mention, I am totally flattered on being selected as the Tucson Pima Arts Council Arts Educator of the Year. I always wanted a piece of Tom Philabaum glass and this is the best way to get one. I have a Lumie Award!!!!!!!!
The award winners were announced at the luncheon, and believe me, I was shocked. I think you can clearly see my surprise in the picture below.

I went to an intense AVID workshop in San Diego for a week in June. I did manage to get to the ocean and to art museum. The picture is from Crystal Pier at Pacific Beach. I am always reminded how much I love the ocean when I actually see it and smell it.

Rebecca has been visiting with us the last few days. We subjected her to the Tour de' France and the World Cup. She brought her most recent portfolio of work and David and I are both impressed with her progress. She is good! I am sure you will agree. The following are three self-portraits in oil depicting three different episodes in her life.

On the Easel

Brenda — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 01:06:00 +0000

Here is the primavera painting with the canvas covered. The challenging part will be maintaining enough value contrast not to lose the image of the goddess of Spring.

On the Easel

Brenda — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 00:22:00 +0000

Has it been almost a month since my last post????
March and over 125 days without rain, we finally did get 1/10 of a teasing inch yesterday. Just enough to smell.

This is a new painting but I am so excited to post it. David reminded me that I have had this idea for over ten years! Well, its about time. Do you recognize the face? It would be great to get some feedback about it.

This is one I recently finished of a night blooming cereus, 30x24, oil/wood panel.

This is one David finished last week.

Up for Air

Brenda — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:07:00 +0000

Gee, where do I start? I'm glad to be back because it means my life has slowed down enough to get back to things I enjoy most. I took a grad class during the fall semester which turned out to be a grueling endeavor sucking most of my time and energy. I did get an A, but it was the hardest A I ever earned.

Lots and lots of great stuff has happened over the last few months and I am confident 2006 is going to be an exciting and fulfilling year in many ways.

Okay, so what's been goin' on: David was in a show at Liz Hernandez; I was selected for my first public art piece; I was surprised and delighted to be inducted into the Sunnyside School District Hall of Fame; Northwest Medical Center in Tucson purchased a painting for their collection; and even though I didn't get to paint much last semester, Renee Taylor has been selling paintings.

Linger awhile and check out the pics below.

Connie and Jinou next to David's painting at the Liz Hernandez Gallery. The painting, "Lance and Crab" is a continuation of David's obsession with Shakespeare and is based on characters from Shakespeare's Two Men of Verona. If you have never read this play, at least skim the parts about the dog-one of the best laughs I have ever had.

This is the public art design for the new Lawrence Community Center.

It will be approxiatemately 3 feet by 18 feet and constructed of overlapping painted steel.

Picture from the Sunnyside School District Hall of Fame Induction dinner. It was a very special evening. It was a surprise when Dad, sister and niece showed up from Albuquerque to attend.

Christmas is my favorite day of the year. This is the table set for dinner.

Students from my video class helping me celebrate my birthday. I told them to pose as their "true selves". They are the funniest and smartest people I know.

Painting recently purchased by the Northwest Medical Center.

Jinou's Latest Relief Vase

Brenda — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 17:53:00 +0000

Isn't this a beauty!

Draw On Line

Brenda — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 13:11:00 +0000

At You Draw Online Drawing you can can use their drawing pad to submit a drawing to their site. You can also do a drawing on their email pad and send it to someone. Cool.

Watercolorist Joseph Raffael

Brenda — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 13:10:00 +0000

Joseph Raffael is an amazing watercolorist. I enjoyed lookiing at his work. Check out the studio images where you can see much of his work in progress. The painting below is more than six feet in width. It must be stunning to view.

Pond for F. Garcia Lorca 76x76

Prickly Pear Fruit Painting

Brenda — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 22:33:00 +0000

It's finished. Oil on ragcoate, 29x39
Let me know what you think.