my love for you is a stampede of horses.

Studio Visit: Catherine Ryan.

I hung out with Catherine Ryan a few weeks ago in her east bay studio. I have been waiting to get this post live for a while, but the plague seemed to keep me down. But no more! It should be said that Catherine's work in person is way more stunning than my camera can capture. Catherine creates this beautiful smoky sheen in all of her paintings that really needs to be seen upclose. It's stunning. A few of the pieces you see here are now on display in the group show Highly Contagious at Gallery Hijinks, here in SF.

As always the rest of the visit will be up on the blog's flickr.

Thanks Catherine!

Studio Visit: Brett Amory.

Brett Amory's solo exhibit, Oakland Anticipations opens at Sandra Lee Gallery here in SF next week, I stopped by his studio to get a peek at what he's been working on. Brett's studio is evenly filled with work in all states of progress. His signature buildings and expressionless people were in various states of formation waiting to come alive. What I like most about Brett's paintings are that it's really difficult to tell the era in which his subjects exist. They could be from the past or the future, yesterday or today you just never know.

As always I have posted the full visit on the blog's flickr.

Oakland Anticipations opens October 4th, with an opening reception October 7th. It runs through the 30th.

Studio Visit: Sarah Applebaum.

Wow, I am still sick! Can you believe this nonsense?! So I am going to keep the posts pretty short word-wise, but that should be cool as I know you are all here to just look at pretty pictures. Which is a good thing as I have a ton today to post!

First up is my studio visit with Sarah Applebaum. Gah. I was mesmerized in her studio with the layers and piles of so many different textiles of color. I was starting to not feel well when I stopped by her studio a week and a half ago...and I have to say the shots of color and inspiration I got while I was there for such a short time was like a shot of vitamin c. I almost skipped home. I can't describe what color does to me. So I'll just let these photos of Sarah's work and studio do the talking for me.

More pics in the blog's flickr stream.

Studio Visit: Mark Warren Jacques in SF.

Contributor and gallerist, Jillian Mackintosh shares with us her latest studio visit with newly transplanted artist, Mark Warren Jacques. Mark's studio is a pretty remarkable place, however Jillian's pics make it look even more inviting than ever. They make me want to grab a sleeping bag and sleep under the stars surrounded by Mark's work. - meighan

Mark Warren Jacques admittedly has an amorous disposition and this time he’s fallen in love with San Francisco. While embracing different cultures, ideals and perspectives he’s undergone a metamorphosis in his painting, both conceptually and symbolically. Last week I dropped by the warehouse where Mark has built himself a zen tent in the attic studio space. A skylight reflects bright light into the white cotton tent filled with succulent plants, a guitar and new paintings for his upcoming solo exhibition I'm Here Now at Gallery Hijinks this October.

Introspection of the mind, body and soul are divulged figuratively while remaining abstract. Bright colors cluster together with patterns and stark edges as elements of the natural world take form with bare boned foliage and starry constellations. Mark tells me he's experimenting with form, figures and anatomy for his next show which should be an interesting addition to his existing spectrum of symmetrical and organic shapes.

You, Me, Oui: Studio Visit with Pakayla Biehn.

Contributor Jilian Mackintosh shares with us her latest studio visit with SF based artist Pakayla Biehn. I love that it's hard to tell where the paintings stop and the real photos begin. It's true Pakayla's paintings are gorgeous and instill double takes. - meighan

As a recent graduate, Pakayla Biehn has taken no time to jump-start her career in art. In the past year she has shown in London, Los Angeles and San Francisco, to name a few. Her double exposure oil paintings have continued to impress and intrigue viewers, as well as give some insight into the mind of this emerging artist.

Miss Pakayla Biehn begins her process of work by experimenting with double and sometimes triple exposure photographs. Using her friends and colleagues as models for inspiration she captures moments of tenderness, beauty and lots of hair.

I stopped by her studio to catch up on her new work, chat and play with her lovely assortment of furry hats. Her newest paintings will be on display at Gallery Hijinks in the Inaugural Exhibition opening on August 21st, from 6-10pm.

To see more on what inspires Pakayla Biehn's work visit her blog. Also don't forget to come see her work in person at Gallery Hijinks!