today...

just taking a short break from gessoing some canvas to make a pot of coffee. i plan on being up quite late tonight getting some much missed painting done... or at least spend some time wrestling with those dreadful canvasses i turned around to face the wall. i guess i'll find out soon enough exactly how in the mood i am for a fight. good thing i'm not so easily defeated when it comes to this whole painting thing. :)

i've got the house to myself, i've been working on one art-related thing or another all day, and am feeling pretty at peace since the new year finally crawled out of hiding and wrapped its big, fat, hopeful arms around me.

i visited Martin Showroom to day in St. Helena - what a jewel of a gallery! i mean, wow. drop dead gorgeous. every object, painting, item, curiosity in the place was stunning. everything was a work of art, even the pile of rope that welcomed me at the front door. whoever the buyer/owner/curator/person is for this joint proves the point that curation is an art in its own right. all the work on display was of such a high caliber, completely thought-provoking AND thoughtful - my kind of place. and that's to say nothing of the predominantly black and white, grey and beige aesthetic that encompassed the gallery. :) put a bounce in my step for sure. it always feels so great to find a gallery that you understand the intentions and concerns of. the website doesn't do any justice to the actual venue. if you'll be in wine country any time soon, swing through. you won't be disappointed, it's absolutely bone-chillingly beautiful in there. it reminded me so much of Ashes and Milk (another one of my personal favorites and cause of uncontrollable drooling).