I had an idea for a painting I wanted in my show at Guardino Gallery. I envisioned a grid of smaller paintings hung together to create a large 40×40 inch piece of art. I decided the small paintings would be 8×8 inches. But the initial problem was how to hang 25 paintings in a manner that would allow me to work on all 25 at the same time, as if I was actually painting a 40×40-inch piece of art. My studio assistant came to the rescue. He devised a system using Velcro. He attached Velcro to the back of the 25 8×8-inch cradled panels, then matched up the other piece of Velcro to the wall, allowing all of the paintings to hang together, but could easily be removed for me to 1) paint the edges, and 2) work on each piece individually when it became time to resolve each piece as a single painting.
After I secured the 25 panels (thank you Art Department for ordering so many boards for me), they were primed with fluorescent pink and orange acrylic paint by my studio assistant. I decided to start the painting process using acrylic paint to get lots of layers of color and marks. It was such fun to paint across the surface with grand swaths of paint, and occasionally pull the panels off the wall to wrap paint around and onto the edges.
Priming the 25 boards.Howard measuring and attaching the Velcro.An ingenious system.Snapping the last panel into place.My grid of smaller panels is a reality!The backs are taped and Velcroed.Acrylic paints below the works in progress.A section of painted panels. Can you see where they are nestled close together?Art quotes were added across the surface of the 25 pieces.
After a few layers of acrylic, I switched to oil paint mixed with cold wax, and began enhancing and adding more layers, words, and marks.
Refining each piece individually.Layers, layers, and more layers of oil and cold wax.Making progress. The view from standing on a chair.Documenting the progress.Drying across the bathtub on a warm, sunny day.A stack of completed paintings. I love the edges!
And today the grid was hung at the gallery!
Getting started.I was Howard’s assistant for a change.One by one, Howard got all 25 pieces hung.My art next to three of Nadine Gay’s beautiful sculptures.It was sure wonderful to hang the show with three red dots!
Daily painting is still happening in my studio (and sometimes when I’m on the road and not at home). One time I forgot to take my painting journal with me, so I painted on little pieces of watercolor paper I had available and then taped the pieces into my journal, a couple of make do entries (you’ll see them below). Here are some selected pages since my last post on May 28.
May 30, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJune 5, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJune 7, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJune 12, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJune 13, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJune 14, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJune 22, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJune 23, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJuly 8, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJuly 13, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJuly 15, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJuly 20, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJuly 21, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJuly 23, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJuly 26, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJuly 27, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJuly 28, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJuly 29, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsJuly 31, 2019 Dayna J. Collins
I started doing a daily painting in my visual journal on January 1st and believe it or not, I’ve stuck with it. I got a little behind over the past couple of weeks, but I’ve been slowly doubling down on my daily paintings and I’m almost caught up. I did my first post about this project on January 25 and then an update on March 27. In both of my previous posts, I shared a selection of daily paintings from my journals (I’m on journal number 3). I figured it was time I did another update and share more paintings. Going through the pages of my journals, I am reminded why I’m incorporating this practice into my daily schedule: 1) It gets me into the studio, and 2) I’m experimenting with composition, colors, and ideas. All very good things.
March 25, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsApril 1, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsApril 3, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsApril 4, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsApril 7, 2019 Dayna J. Collins100th Painting! April 10, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsApril 17, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsApril 20, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsApril 21, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsApril 22, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsApril 23, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsApril 27, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsApril 29, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsMay 1, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsMay 3, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsMay 5, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsMay 9, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsMay 10, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsMay 15, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsMay 16, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsMay 18, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsMay 21, 2019 Dayna J. CollinsMay 25, 2019 Dayna J. Collins
About a year ago, I was invited to have a show along with my artist friend Nancy Eng, at Borland Gallery in Silverton. The gallery is part of the Silverton Arts Association, a long time artist organization in the quaint community of Silverton, which is located about 20 minutes east of Salem. Nancy had the idea for the theme of our show, Pathways & Passages, which was easy to translate into abstract landscapes and non-representational work.
Last week I stopped by the gallery for one last look before we hang next week.
I finished my pieces last week, and this week I have been doing the tedious, but necessary, work of assigning inventory numbers, giving them all titles, signing and pricing them, taking photos, and then packaging everything for transport.
Here’s a preview of some of the pieces that will be in the show. They range in size from 6×6 inches up to 30×60 inches, with lots of pieces in between.
“History Racing Past,” plaster, oil, and cold wax by Dayna J. Collins.“A Glimmer of Understanding Took Hold,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, by Dayna J. Collins.“The Thrill of Discovery,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, by Dayna J. Collins.“Memory Had Vanished,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, by Dayna J. Collins.“A Moment of Stillness,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, by Dayna J. Collins.“The Garden Seemed Enchanted,” plaster, oil, and cold wax by Dayna J. Collins.“Along the Shore,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, by Dayna J. Collins.“Symbiotic Relationship,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, by Dayna J. Collins.“Looking Backward in Time,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, by Dayna J. Collins.
The opening reception is Friday, August 4th, from 6-9 pm. If you can’t make it then, a great weekend to visit would be the weekend of August 19 and 20, when the Silverton Fine Arts Festival is going on. The gallery will be open, and the festival will be taking place at the same location, nestled in the woods of the historic Coolidge-McClaine Park on the banks of Silver Creek.
Happy are the painters, for they shall not be lonely. Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company to the end, or almost to the end, of the day. Winston S. Churchill
A dream came true last week when I taught a four-day class at Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, located on the Oregon Coast at Cascade Head. I have taken many classes at Sitka over the years and many of those classes helped shape me as an abstract artist, so it felt satisfying and exhilarating to be standing on the other side of the table.
I arrived at the forested campus on Sunday evening and got settled into my private cabin, located just a few steps from Boyden Studio, where my class was to be held.
A couple of people offered to help me get the studio set up, but this was something I wanted to do by myself. I was feeling emotional and sentimental about teaching at Sitka, and I just wanted to fully experience it in solitude.
Monday morning I arrived early, ready for the day to begin and feeling just a tiny bit anxious.
Students began to arrive and get settled in. . . . . and then the next four days were a glorious blur of demos, activating boards, spreading paint, discussing how to let go, experimenting with new techniques, and making brave, bold marks.
Throughout the week, some artists arrived early in the morning, some stayed a little late into the evening, but there were three hearty souls who arrived early and stayed very late into the evening.
One night several of us went out to dinner in Pacific City and stopped to visit Lynne’s studio.
Boyden Studio was a blur of camaraderie and activity with artists working independently at times, other times soliciting feedback and ideas from each other.
The weather was good for three of the four days and we were able to take advantage of the outdoors to eat lunch, lay out our boards, and occasionally relax.
I had fun doing demos every day (even when they didn’t turn out exactly as I had planned!).
At times everyone worked hard, other times they kicked back.
I went into the studio early every morning to prepare for the day and enjoy the remnants of the previous day’s energy.
For the majority of time, everyone got into a zone, the flow state of letting go and laying down layers for the pure pleasure of experiencing the paint.
On Thursday afternoon we did a show ‘n tell and walkabout.
Here’s a sampling of what was created over the four days.
Pam’s work in progress.
Casey’s work in progress.
Kelly’s work in progress.
Louise’s work in progress.
BJ’s work in progress.
Louise’s work in progress.
Jan’s work in progress.
Cindy’s work in progress.
Phil’s work in progress.
Terri’s work in progress.
Lynne’s work in progress.
Pam’s work in progress.
Terri’s work in progress.
Cindy’s work in progress.
Terri’s work in progress.
BJ’s work in progress.
Phil’s work in progress.
Kelly’s work in progress.
It was an amazing experience and the perfect mix of students.
Go and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here. Make. Good. Art. Neil Gaiman
Lunaria Gallery in Silverton is celebrating their 20 year anniversary and as part of their celebration they are inviting former gallery members to participate in themed shows. I, along with Tory Brokenshire and Frank Lord, were invited to participate in their August show, Out of the Box and Over the Top. I wonder why they invited us to participate in this particular show (ha!).
The show is beautifully curated and is worth the trip to Silverton, but hurry, the show comes down on Monday, August 31st.
Tory and I were unable to attend the opening reception, but we made the short trip to Silverton last week to see the show for ourselves. We had both sold work, so there were a few holes, but it is always exciting to see red dots (or blank walls!). These are the two that have sold:
My show opened Thursday night at Guardino Gallery in NE Portland. It was a hot night, but that didn’t keep people away. There was a steady stream of friends and art lovers. No need for words, I’ll just share a series of photos from the evening.
I’ll have Funky Junkyard Birds, Curious Elements, cards, and plaster, oil, and cold wax paintings. I’ll also have a few sale items. (Note: This is where my mother lives. It is an independent senior living community and the Christmas Bazaar is open to the public.)
Artful Gift Show
Left Coast Artist Collective
Multnomah Art Center Gym
7688 S.W. Capitol Highway
Portland, Oregon
Friday, December 5, 2015: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday, December 6, 2015: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
I’ll have Funky Junkyard Birds, Curious Elements, cards, and plaster, oil, and cold wax paintings.
Little Things 14
Guardino Gallery
2939 N.E. Alberta
Portland, Oregon
Show opens Thursday, November 27, 2014 and runs through December
I’ll have a grid of 6×6 inch plaster, oil, and cold wax paintings
An opportunity to tour the Art Studios at Mission Mill
Our very first Open Studios, on the second floor, and the grand opening of Compass Gallery on the first floor. Come see the art fort that Tory and I created: Studio F.
Willamette Heritage Center
1313 Mill Street S.E.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
5:00 – 7:00 pm
I’ll have a selection of Funky Junkyard Birds, Curious Elements, cards, and new paintings.
An opportunity to take a class
Oil and Cold Wax: Abstracted Play With a Punch of Texture
Art Studios at Mission Mill
January 16-18, 2015
Friday 1:00-5:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Limited to six participants
$300
For more information or to register, contact me: dayna@daynajcollins.com/curele
Last week I had the privilege of taking three consecutive classes at Art and Soul from Jane Davies (she did a blog post about the classes, which you can see by clicking here). I thought it would be fun to break the classes down, sharing a bit from each day. It was a great three days of art-making and although I didn’t finish any of the pieces, I have a lot of good beginnings and I learned so much.
Day 1 – Layering With Transparencies
Day 2 – Working in Series
My friend Katy and I took the class together.
Day 3 – Balancing Opposites: the Ying and Yang of Composition
Artist Serena Barton was in the class and it’s always a treat to spend time with her.My new friend Karen. She lives in Portland very close to Guardino Gallery!
Just a nice leisurely walk from my house is the Oregon State Capitol. Today I leisurely walked to the capitol to see a piece of my art that is on display. I’m a member of Artists in Action, who put out a call for art to be on display the week of March 3rd – one week only. My art was accepted and is now hanging in the lobby of the capitol.
