Happy VD

February 14th 2011:

Happy Valentine's Day....

and...

4 month anniversary...

and...

still happily married (heehee)...

and...

11 year anniversary,

but it doesn't really count anymore, now that we are starting from zero

again...

Busy Floating

I haven't blogged in a while, despite my valiant New Year's resolution to do so... it seems that so much is happening all at once, there is hardly the time.

Since the last post, I completed a new piece for the "Stories From the Sea" series and have preliminary sketches done for two more. I've also been toying with the idea of tattooing, a little obsession of mine... but more on that another time.

I have also been doing a little photo-a-day project (also known as the infamous 365 Days on Flickr)... when I started the project, I had no idea how huge a commitment it was going to be, especially on those days when the mirror seems to be my worst enemy, my hair untamable, the bags under my eyes epic... but good bad or ugly, the pics are up at flickr.com/christenshaw

Wedding plans are cranking along, despite my tiny budget... I can't believe it is actually happening, this whole "getting married" thing... true to my chronic lack of girlishness, I now realize that I know absolutely nothing about wedding ceremonies, traditions and rituals, but I'm doing my best, and like all things I do, it is going to be a little bit dark, definitely unusual, and hopefully fun for all involved.

Paintings are still up at the Sunset in Ballard, those interested in purchasing a piece (or ordering a print) can email me at info [at] christenshaw.com

Will post the new painting once it is dry... for now, back to work...

Thanks to All Who Came Out!

Wanted to say thanks to everyone who came out to the Sunset on March 13th, and a huge thank you to People Eating People for playing an excellent show (and for the mid-set sales plug)!

**Nouela Johnston/People Eating People

Music, Art, Drinks and Friends - Saturday!

This Saturday I will be at the Sunset Tavern in Ballard, drinking my heart out, enjoying the music of the ever amazing People Eating People... oh yeah, and awkwardly showing off the exceptionally creepy art installation I have going on.

The place has some incredible, old, fuzzy red, Victorian wallpaper, which I have to say, is the perfect backdrop for my work...

Anyhoo, if you're in the neighborhood, stop on by!

Starts at 10pm, 21+, $8.00 cover
Bands playing: Spanish for 100, People Eating People and We Wrote the Book on Connectors

5433 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107

The Pirate's Daughter

Stories From the Sea.... to be continued.... 

The Things We Do To Stay Sane

It's been a busy year so far, and we're only a month into it. I've got a lot of irons in the fire, too many perhaps. There's a wedding to plan, two art shows coming up, a whole batch of images swirling in my head just waiting to get out, and I recently discovered the hazards of shipping paintings.

In a valiant effort to allow each painting time to develop, dry, evolve and layer, I ended up starting a second one, a third then a forth... numbers five and six are scratching away wildly behind my eyes, begging to be put to canvas, but so far, I've held them at bay.

Was doing my daily photo entry -- found here for those interested: http://www.flickr.com/photos/christenshaw/sets/72157622993073285/ -- and thought I'd share today's picture on my ever neglected blog... here are the four paintings I've been working on in various stages of completion, from color blocking to done (or almost, I keep futzing with the last one).

For now, time to feed the dogs...

Day One

New Years day... a fresh start, a new decade... a day of recovery from the gluttony (cupcakes for lunch, pizza for dinner) and eleven hour drinking binge (a bottle of wine with a friend at 2pm, beer and tequila shots from 7pm to 1am at a friend's rock show at El Corazon) that was New Year's Eve.

Resolutions for the coming year:

1. No more eleven hour drinking binges
2. Get off my ass and get in shape for Hawaii trip in May
3. Stay in shape for wedding in October
4. Make afore mentioned wedding actually happen this year
5. Take more time for my art, music and writing
6. Keep up on my blog and photo journal
7. Be more patient

I was going to be ambitious and add "quit smoking" to the mix, but hey, let's not push the envelope (besides, that has to be the most cliche resolution on the planet, right?).

Tonight, off to lands farther north for yet another rock show where tequila will definitely be avoided.

People Eating People

Today, I emailed off the album art for the infinitely talented Nouela Johnston's solo project, People Eating People. The album comes out November 3rd. You can check out some of the tunes on myspace.
This is the cover, the image and name were created using Corel Painter X. The texture was added in Photoshop.

Enjoy!

A review from the Fremont exhibit!

While at the opening for my exhibit at Fremont coffee I met Anthony, a local art blogger, and his daughter, Natalie. He wrote up an excellent review of the show. I am reposting a snippet below.

"Do you remember horror movies before the in-your-face death and destruction and bloodletting that began with Alien, perhaps, or maybe Halloween? The horror then was psychological, and always perceived, than shoved in your face.

That is the type of art Christen brings us. There is no way to label her work other than dark. Dark, is a given. But the questions that her work poses - what is going on here? - are much more potent and thought provoking than what lies on the surface...."

You can visit his blog by clicking the title of this post to read the whole review. If you are a fan of local art, enjoy Seattle's frequent artwalks and/or just want to know what's happening in the art world, I recommend his blog. It's both informative and all encompassing.

Goodbye Capitol Hill... Hello Fremont

It's about time to take the paintings down from Bauhaus Coffee... they will be up through July 30th, so if you want to get a look before they go, best high-tail it over there. I will be taking everything down around 5pm on the 31st if anyone wants to stop by to heckle me.

So, goodbye Capitol Hill... hello Fremont!!

New Paintings will be up!
August 6th through September 2nd
@
Fremont Coffee
459 N 36th St
Seattle, WA 98103

Reception on Friday, August 7th from 6-9pm
Meet the artist and enjoy booze, coffee and snacks!

After the Blitz

Gone is the Unicorn... the Tiger, Zebra and Deer still await loving homes. They are available for the low adoption fee of $45 each. Stop by Bauhaus Books & Coffee to see if one or all would be a good match for you!
Last night was good fun, thanks to all for making it out and then staying up way too late drinking at Linda's to benefit VERA Project and the kids and the future of rock n'roll.

Tonight, off to VERA to watch Black Houses and Schoolyard Heroes tear it up.

Art is Officially up at Bauhaus

Paintings are officially hung and available for viewing (and purchasing if the mood strikes) at Bauhaus Books & Coffee. This is the first time I have ever hung on a bookcase... very odd, but kind of cool... the Fear, Phobia paintings are hanging upstairs... sorry, no pic, you'll just have to go see for yourself!!

They will be up through July 31st, and Bauhaus will be participating in Capitol Hill Art Blitz (2nd Thursday of the month).

Black Houses

I have new paintings in the works! Nothing I am ready to show yet, but maybe soon... the series will be called "Secret Animals" and I am pretty stoked about it so far. It is going to be a little lighter than my usual fare, a little softer.

I will also be hanging artwork from the "Age of Innocence" and "Fear, Phobia & Pharma" next week. They will be up at Bauhaus Books and Coffee throughout July, so please stop by and check it out next time you find yourself on the Hill.

In the meantime, I thought I would share some artwork I did a while back for a band called Black Houses (the title links to their site if you wanna check it out!). Hope you enjoy!!

The past is never dead...

Ever have one of those days where things just seem off? You put on your favorite t-shirt and it fits funny, your shoes feel too big, you struggle with your hair and it just won't sit right, you knock over everything you touch... the kind of day where the only thing you can do is say screw it...

So, screw it.


This is an older painting, the only one from a batch I did in 2005-2006 that I haven't sold. I don't know why. I just like it. There's something magical about poppies, they make me happy.

Quote for today: The past is never dead. It's not even past. -- William Faulkner

Clarabelle's Secret

I love raccoons. Something about their cunning intelligence, their bright eyes shining mischievously through their dark masks. In pictures, they look so cute and cuddly, in reality, they are huge and can be completely evil.

I thought they would make a perfect backdrop for Clarabelle, the perfect guardians of her nasty little secret. Included is the daguerreotype photo that served as inspiration for the painting. Surly, pensive, just a hint of anger... I wonder what this little girl's secret could be?

The Cabinet of Curiosities

I found an old cabinet in a free pile down the street from my house the other day. It was filthy, covered in plaster and caulk and painted a chipped and disgusting primer grey. It had clearly been being used as a work cupboard in someone's garage. On the upside, it was on wheels for easy transport, has doors that latch to keep the dogs out and is the perfect size and shape to house a stereo and records.

I spent most of yeste

rday and a good chunk of this morning sanding it down, painting it and sealing it with a coat of polyurethane. I decided to go with a carnival/freakshow kind of theme, and the Cabinet of Curiosities was created.

Apparently, Billie thinks it would also make a nice, new dog house. My next domestic project will be to refinish the dinner table and chairs.

I have also had an idea for a new series of paintings rattling around in my head. The images are becoming clearer in my mind every day, and I think soon they will start calling to be put to canvas. 

In the meantime, I am working on finishing up a couple more paintings from the Fear, Phobia & Pharma series. I will post as they are completed. Click the title of this post to go to my gallery and check out the ones that are done.

That's it for now... time to go out and enjoy some sunshine!