June & Susie at the Brand Library “Joan Quinn Captured” Exhibit

During the last several months my artist friend June Futamase and I have been going to Los Angeles area  galleries and events each weekend. Our adventures are planned in blocks of 3 events or gallery visits per trip. This wasn’t a requirement, just something that seemed reasonable since we each live more than 50 miles away. Sometimes it’s comical how it works out.

We attended a local art fair in Newport Beach a couple weeks ago. It was to be followed by early dinner and then our reception at Showcase Gallery. On our way through the restaurant’s parking lot, we were bemoaning the fact that we didn’t have that “third gallery thing” happening.  Like magic just to our left was a fabulous gallery having a reception! After dinner, we attended and were able to count it in our 3-for-a-night tally!

June and I have met amazing artists, gallerists, art dealers, journalists and made new friends on our jaunts. We are new to the L.A. art scene and find ourselves delighted at the visual and emotional stimulation we encounter.

Susie & Launa SPARC opening reception Duron Gallery – works of Edward Biberman

Collage artist Launa Romoff advises us on the “must see” and “who’s who” about town. She’s generous enough to drive us around so we just relax…well, sort of. Imagine taking Laurel Canyon’ s winding steeps  (35 mph limit) at 60 with a reincarnated race car driver!

June’s and my journeys (one way) to destinations in L.A. usually take   1 – 2 hours depending on the traffic. We alternate driving duties. Last Saturday we had a late-afternoon sushi dinner and drove to West Hollywood to my new Gallery 825 for the opening reception. Then off with Launa to the Brand Library Gallery in Glendale for “Joan Quinn Captured”, followed by Liz’s Loft event “Diverted Destruction” showcasing collage artist Tm Gratkowski. He is called Tim – just met him so not sure why the missing “i” in his professional name — someday I’ll ask.

Susie with Tm Gratkowski’s collage at Liz’s Loft

Liz’s Loft gallery is over her hardware store – a potpourri of everything global and vintage for the West Hollywood/LA  homeowner.

Are you wondering what I’m creating with all of this inspiration? How about sales of four paintings? City Shadows, City Streets, Golden Feather and Coming Full Circle.  City Litter won second place and a cash prize in “Artists’ Eye” exhibition. The big City Runways paintings are in The Showcase Gallery through August 3rd and are very much for sale. Please come take a look!

City Litter Wins Prize!

Several competitions have been entered – ’tis the season for this. Lots of entry fees and then the big wait to learn if a painting is accepted. It’s a bit of a racket, but some shows are important places to show your work. Also attended “How to Get Gallery Representation” sponsored by the LA Art Association. This is where I met Rob Grad an amazing human being, artist and musician. Also serendipitously met the daughter of an old high school friend Steve Blume!

Ted and Susie

My Headache collage was included in Ted Meyer’s postcards of “Pain” exhibition at UCLA’s LRC Gallery – Geffen School of Medicine. Here I am with Ted at another event – his “Exploding Tattoos” party.

Recently, I left the Studio Gallery. It was a great experience, gave me a solo show and some wonderful introductions. Many thanks to Antoinette Sullivan for her friendship and kindnesses to me.

I’m painting and collaging at home for now – in 645 square feet. How, you ask? My dining table – now my art table – is on 7” risers so I can paint and collage flat and move around. The studio lights are on a side wall over the table and they work really great. I’m surprised at how happy I am with this arrangement. Of course, I now have too much furniture and it’s the wrong scale. But it’s a small problem to be worked out over time. I’ve put my finished works in a temp-controlled storage unit. It has pretty good light just outside the door, so I put paintings on my easel to show them off. Just sold a painting this way.

Please contact me about adding to your art collection – and possibly your furniture collection, haha!  You can see several of my paintings and collages by clicking here on the Gallery link. I don’t put prices up online for many reasons, so just contact me by return email or click here for phone.

If you want to get updated more often, than every couple of months, follow me on Facebook. I’ve posted links to my favorite artists and galleries here on my blogsite. See “Love These” in the sidebar. New digital paintings are in the making, as well as some interesting smaller collages. I will keep you posted.

Happy July, Love, Susie