In the Studio Today...Claudia Chapline Gallery

Claudia Chapline Gallery, originally uploaded by arawak812.

I just mailed 60 postcards out for the upcoming March show at the Claudia Chapline Gallery and Sculpture Garden in Stinson Beach, California. What an exciting venue for "Art on the Farm". I am really looking forward to seeing a piece from each artist I have enjoyed painting alongside over the last year on Marin Organic Farms.
Click below event promo to read:

Please email me if you would like a postcard mailed to you, or if you would like information about the March 7th, catered, preview dinner and sale (the night before the artist's reception).

A separate event, the Artists' Reception, with over 40 artists, will be Sunday, March 8th, 3-5pm. You may find the information on the card above, or learn more about "Art on the Farm" at the blog, or website

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In the Studio Today... 50th Anniversary of the Life & Death of Frank Lloyd Wright

April 2009 is the 50th Anniversary of the passing of architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Well known here in Marin, Mr. Wright's design for the Marin County Civic Center represents the culmination of his career; it was his final design, the building completed only after his death. A colleague of mine from the California Institute of the Arts has been working on a film, chronicling the history of several architectural descendants of Frank Lloyd Wright. She hopes to have a portion of the film available to celebrate Mr. Wright's 50th, this April 9th. Her film is supported by the San Francisco Film Society. Please view clip, below:

Selected sequence from feature length documentary in progress:
Our Pace Setters; A Chronicle of Organic Architecture
A Film exploring three student descendants of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Film by Holly du Rivage. Principal photography by Ezra Stoller © Esto Photo.
Original music, by Gunnar Proppé.


This 16 minute portion of a feature film in-progress was recently exhibited at the University of Florida(September 2008) where Alfred Parker is a professor of architecture. For his 92nd Birthday, University of Florida honored Parker with an exhibition, lectures on the campus, and tours of his homes in Gainesville, Florida.

These sequences are an introduction to Alfred Parker, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, and his 92 year career as an architect and teacher in Florida. The clip documents Parker's early career, his relationship with Elizabeth Gordon, editor of House Beautiful magazine, and his relationship with Mr. Wright.

If you would like to make a donation to Holly's film in honor of Frank Lloyd Wright's 50th Anniversary, she is currently accepting funding in the form of checks made out to "San Francisco Film Society" or SFFS*, with a note at the bottom of the check, "For Holly du Rivage, Producer". (*Soon, you will be able to make an online, tax-deductible donation for this film directly from SFFS's secure server on their website, but until then, Holly requests that checks be made out SFFS and mailed to her). Holly is offering gifts for the top donations, as well as the first to donate, and those who tell the most friends! Please email Holly for further information. To read more about Holly or this film, please visit her blog.


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In the Studio Today... Art Couples and
the Art of Life;
Embracing the Past, the Present,
and Hoping for Pleasant Surprises in the Future

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
I've been thinking a lot about artists who are couples, and what that was like for me at one time in my life. My previous post on Martha and Ralph Borge, the couple that painted in West Marin for MALT,and would have celebrated their 60th Anniversary this year...
I am also reminded of René and Georgette Magritte, made more famous in the lyrics of a Paul Simon song. They too enjoyed a happy and long, healthy marriage while being constantly involved in successes in the new and exciting surrealist art world.Photo: René and Georgette Magritte with their dog Loulou at Brussels airport before leaving with Sabena for New York. (http://www.musee-magritte-museum.be)

I was once married to an artist and musician, and being with him for a decade in my adult life truly affected the way I have learned to love art and view the world. It was a relationship that felt right to me. Artist's have a way of being able to discuss the world in a way that others do not have. We draw on a palette of colors, textures, senses and musical chords that some, I believe, truly can not see or feel; or, sadly... they never had the luxury of learning this language, like any other language that must be learned from youth. I was so lucky to have parents that fostered my art from a young age. I want to thank them both at this time, and tell them how much I love them. They still house dozens of my paintings in their home, and share my art with their friends, as if each painting I produce for them is a gift from the gods. They have never made me feel my art was anything but special.

In my recent reflection on my past and memories of my former husband, I have revisited my post I wrote years ago on "Motivation; Advice for Artists", to address how the loss of an artist spouse can affect an artist, and how I have found ways to work on my grieving and continue in life. It is no easy task. I think that "art couples" bond in ways that are truly unique, and my hypothesis is that these couples have a harder time with separation and divorce due to the very nature of their shared language of art. It is my hope to feel better about this loss someday, and explain it to my children. I hope others may understand as well, and may learn from my shared experiences. To read the revised post, click here.

Some successful, Marin County "Artist Couples":
Kathleen Lipinski and Steve Emery
Richard Blair and Kathleen Goodwin
Linda Larsen and Larry Bryson
Judith Selby Lang and Richard Lang
Martha and Ralph Borge

In the Studio Today... Connie Smith Siegel

Saturday, February 7, 2009
(click newsclipping to read)
Tomorrow, Sunday, February 8th, at 4pm, is a reception for Connie Smith Siegel at the San Geronimo Cultural Center Gallery, in Woodacre, CA. I hope to attend. Connie is a native of West Marin and has taught numerous artists over the years. She is a remarkable artist and inspirtation. I took this photo of Connie at Mt. Barnabe farm, in 2008. You can read more about that farm visit, here. Article reposted as a clipping from The West Marin Citizen.
Post script, Sunday night: I attended Connie's opening and really enjoyed the show and listening to Connie share her thoughts on some of her students and their work. It was well attended; the gallery was packed with 100 or so adults. Connie is offering 1 day workshops on Drawing and Painting later in the month. She released two new books, and I am excited to read these treasures by a local art gem. My highlight of the evening was Connie telling my that my photo of her on Mt. Barnabe is one of her favorite photos of herself. What a nice thing to say! View and purchase the books:

In the Studio Today... Graphic Design

February 6, 2009
Project: Flyer to promote Wedding Floral Design
Client: Local Flora
Single page design that will be displayed in Hotel and Wedding binders in SF and Marin County. The client wanted something that showed off her unique and organic, local flower designs. I chose to use this close-up image of a bouquet from her photos. The photo itself was really well shot, clear and it draws the viewer into the intimate intricacies of the flowers; a goal most weddings hope to share. I included images of veils from a wedding I photographed in Nicasio.