collaborating..

my drawings.. everything else by Hollyce..
this was the test





crappy cell phone pics.. but the idea is there.

Everytime I Go To Sleep..

art in 2010

I'm slowly getting ready to head home for the holidays.. on my list of things to do while I'm there is hook up with an old acquaintance Jake. Jake and I hooked up via facebook.. isn't that the way you hook up with old acquaintances?
Jake is interested in booking me for a solo show in 2010 at his tattoo shop. I'm very excited at the possibility of doing this show. His shop is called SLC ink and you should check it out if you live in the area. His shop is part of the Utah gallery stroll which is equal to the art murmur in Oakland.

I'll keep you posted on this.

books books and more books

I think I may have mentioned that I used to make books. Well.. I do. This past year I focused mainly on shadow boxes and collage work. I'm now working on making more books.. hopefully all goes well.

Here are some pages and covers.

I'm super excited to see what unfolds.

Other than Norah Jones, I've been listening to:
The Black Heart Procession.

They remind me of Devotchka a bit.

checkin' in.

Here we are one week from Christmas and I'm wondering what happened to the year? Things just seem to flow faster these days. Realizing that the year went by so fast makes me reflect back and give thanks. I'm thankful for the millions of blessing that have gone on or are going on... big and small.
On the art front I have had such a successful year, I have learned a lot. I look forward to creating and pushing myself more next year.

Lately I've been trying to relax and work some things out.. seems fitting due to the nature of the season. It sorta reminds me of this new song from Norah Jones new album The Fall.



I just got the album.. and I love it. Many tracks are different from her previous stuff which is a welcome change. I also like the song "I Wouldn't Need You".
enough of that... this isn't a music review blog.. but I do always try to write about the music I'm into.

I've been doing this fun lil' project lately.. I honestly just happened by it. I found this dinky lil' toy house at work not too long ago and started taking pictures of it. The picture I took got me to thinking with a friend.. wouldn't it be fun to do a photo project with this toy. I carry it around with me every place I go and take pictures of it. In the vein of "The Red Couch Project" or the traveling gnome.
It's turned into a fun side thing to do with all my free time not crunching for a show or event.

Here are some pictures:






You get the idea.. I'm thinking of putting these on my flickr account as a series. All photos are taken with my iphone, it's got a pretty good camera don't cha ya think.

anyway... back to it I guess.

stay tuned

I'm in the middle of crunch time and won't be back until after Saturday..

wish me luck.

see this guy..

I see him almost everyday here at work. There is a guy that looks exactly like him and it throws me off every single time I see him. Creepy huh!

it's the little things really...

I'm feeling super nostalgic lately... and really who can blame me. In the last several months my life has changed in such a positive way just by moving. I had forgotten the little joys in life.. like:

-having space to spread out.
-sitting at a kitchen table with the sunlight coming through the windows while having coffee.
-having my bedroom be separate from my kitchen.
-sleep and lots of it, deep sound dream filled sleep.
-silence - not listening to someone above me pounding around like they are 3 times their size. Putting Tibetan chants on at a very ungodly volume and hour.
-having a hot spacious shower to melt in.. as opposed to my old shower that you could barely move in.. it was like a hibernation pod or some crap.
-being able to sit on the couch and curl up with dogs.
-having a yard..

I could really go on forever. My last place was pretty hard for me to be in.. I never invited anyone over during the entire time I lived there. It was dark and depressing. I feel like my health has improved by 200%.

ahh.. now back to my coffee and sunshine.

oooh.. it's Friday the 13th

Remember how scary it was when you were young.. freaky troubling things were supposed to happen on this supposed cursed day. Now it just seems mundane and another day..but it's special because it is Friday. Anyway....

I found myself in the studio last night.. which is great! My studio is in itself a work in progress but I'm happy. I have a little space set up in the garage of my new place. I was sitting by the comforting low rumble of the dryer while I worked. It was perfect and just the way it needed to be plus kept me warm. I made several pages for future books and also was inspired to paint. I haven't painted in a very, very long time. I'm happy for the inspiration and the challenge. We shall see what is to come next.
I need to keep working though because the event is nearing.

What I'm listening to...
Lhasa de Sela's new self titled album - yum
I have recently been enjoying an oldie.. Panda and Angel. I hope they come and sleep on my floor again soon.

Watching:
Ken Burn's National Parks Documentary.. Pure awesome goodness!!

There are a couple of things..

I dislike.. and mushrooms are one of them. I know, I know.. you must think I'm strange.


I especially don't like these
bleh.. gross.

Okay.. but they are sorta cute..... in a phallic sorta way.. which makes it even more gross for me. ew!

The reason I'm chatting about this is that I just had to pull about 300 mushrooms out of my Chinese food.

bleh.. gross.

puke
puke
puke
puke

PUKE

just sayin'

sweet and wet

It smells like rain and doughnuts at work today.. hmm interesting.

so now you

know what I have been up to.

Please check out the last post.

Oakland Under $100

Oakland Under $100 is a show featuring affordable art made by local artists.In addition to art, there will be live music. This event promises to a lot of fun.

Featuring Local Artists

Emily Coker o mixed media

Rachel Coker o jewelery

Casey Fay o painting

Ross Kennedy o sculpture

Cassie Leone o painting

Daniel McChesney-Young o photography

Anne Pinkowski o sculpture

Roxy Rogalski o photography
Paul Solis o drawing

Heidi Struble o photography

Mike Woolson o photography

Featuring Musicians

Hugh Fox o Val Esway o Chris Larson

Temescal Art Center511 48th Street @ Telegraph Oakland, CADecember 4, 2009 7pm -10pm

Print a flyer and hang it in your workplace!
Oakland Under $100 (Black and White PDF)

Oakland Under $100 (Color PDF)

Please note that Temescal Art Center does not permit alcohol so this will be a dry event.

This event is sponsored by Lanesplitter Pizza and Pubs.

Nothing quite like

the moment between fall and winter. I feel like everything builds up to Halloween and once that hits.. it's all downhill so to speak.. not in a bad way. It's more like this... the food becomes abundant and the shadows and blue hues become overwhelming. The weather suddenly is much more brisk and mysterious. I crave fires and roasted root vegetable soup with homemade rolls and butter, chicken pot pie, pumpkin anything, spicy cider, and all the warm comfort foods I love. I also crave staying in bed longer, reading a good book and cuddling with my dog or a sweetie. Things that I am missing during this time of year.. studying and being in school, the first snow flurries, the colors in the mountains, and, and, and... I bet I could go on and on being nostalgic. This, right now is my very most favorite time of year. I am even a sucker for the holidays that are soon to come.

Sadly, I feel that I haven't had the same gusto as previous Autumn's. I feel just too dam discombobulated.. just like someone that has had three solo art shows, moved homes, and is just trying to wake up most the time (that's me). I think I'm starting to feel the typical Emily Autumn mode start though.

Artistically I'm feeling that it might be time to start journaling again and making my books. It is my first true love with art and I can pour myself out onto paper which I love. I do still want to continue with the shadow boxes, the heart series, etc. I would like to pull together my past styles and incorporate it with what I have been doing now.

Here's to the in-between time of fall and winter. Cheers.

Music I'm listening too (esp. this time of year):
Anything by "Rachel's"
Anything by "PJ Harvey"
Can't get the song "Heavy Cross" by "The Gossip" out of my head.
Noe Venable
Ultralash
and so, so, so so many more there are too many to name is in just this one post.

Latest inspiration:
The Hermitage which was just featured on Blogs of Note. I love her style of art and her gypsy lifestyle.

show at Premium

cruuuuunch time

eeeeps!!!

Can't think.. must make...

Oct. 10th 2009

Yes.. that's right.. it's my next show series. The opening is October 10th and it should be fun.

I know you must think that I'm the most together person and am ahead with this show... NO.. that would be too easy and logical. I'm behind as usual and fighting off anxiety and agitation. In fact, I think I have been in a bad mood of sorts for about 3 months.

Not only am I working on this show.. I'm also contemplating what makes people happy.. is it temporary relief or a long term sort of happiness, etc.

oh well.. I'll figure it out when I win the lotto.

hmm..

it's burnin' up over here... whew

Basically.. Northern California has turned into the desert. The weather today was off the charts HOT!!. The weather channel reports a high of 86.. yeah right. It feel like I'm sittin' on Satan's lap right about now. sheesh.

On the bright, hot, sweaty side of things... when walking Dean tonight.. I got to hear the crickets chirp. I'm not sure I have heard that since I moved from Utah. It suddenly reminded me of all the wonderful summer nights I had growing up.

Now if only I could get some lightening and thunder in the sunshine.

Really?

Can you believe that one of the hearts is now missing? Who does that? The boxes are all there but now one of the hearts is missing. I'm not sure if it fell out or someone stole it. If someone stole it.. all I can say is... if someone stole it well that's just rude. Don't steal peoples artwork, it's just wrong.

Now I have to try and replace it properly and try my best to match the heart.. since it was already purchased.

grumble grumble grumble.

Art Closing was a success..

My art has a very big affect on people as you can see.

I am now starting to work on my new show for October. No time to rest...ever.

Bolinas day drive

This is from the end of my trip to the beginning.

Nothing like a picture of the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge.. ooh la la. Everyone needs one, even if you live here.

This is on Highway 1 - pictured is Stinson Beach. Not bad for a moving car picture.

In Bolinas they had a cute little farm stand that still used the honor system. I got butter lettuce, zucchini, cucumber, garlic, and an heirloom apple.

Bolinas is a strange town.. Old hippies are abundant. I also noticed dogs were allowed to be loose and they just sort of ran around the town doing their own thing.

There were kitty pictures all over town, like this one below. meeeow.

This is a very old saloon named Smiley's. I think it was built in the middle to late 1800's. Some strange ducks hung out in there.. but the coffee was strong.

They had a little town museum too.. It basically brushed on the local history and had gobs of artifacts that I adored. This is a beer bottle from a brewery in San Francisco from the early 1900's.

Oops! Someone forgot their shoes. Aren't these the coolest. Look how delicate they are. Can you imagine walking around the muddy town trying not to get these puppies dirty. They don't make shoes like this anymore.

Another strange kitty..

My friend and I ate at the "Coast Cafe". They actually go out and catch their own crab and seafood. These were just hanging around the yard.

More of the yard.. does this remind you of something?? Think - Short Circuit.

Floaties

The drive started in Oakland and made our way to Fairfax, just above Marin. Then from there we went on a little road west.. off the beaten path. The road was dominated by bicyclist and had tricky tight turns.

This is the very top of our journey. The drive went from dry to fog and rain with redwoods.

Before the redwoods we came across a dam and this gem. Breathtaking.

awww..

more lake

It was a great day!!

Does this look like someone you know?

Source

Haha.. It looks like me if I were er.. 7 maybe. Oh and in the 1920's

haha

art closing

Tomorrow is my art closing, details are:

Lanesplitter (Temescal Location) 8/24
4799 Telegraph Ave.
Oakland, Ca. 94... damn if I know.
7-9 pm

Finger food/pizza/drinks.

I was so lazy this time around that I didn't make fliers.. I'm hoping that doesn't ruin the whole experience but it is what it is. I still feel that I will bring in some people.

The show has had tremendous success which I am so thankful for. I couldn't have imagined it would do this well. Not only have I almost sold the show.. but I am in demand with commission pieces. I need to get to work!!!

I'm going to try and be more diligent about writing in my blog a bit more and setting up my long lost website, so sad.

Today I'm off on a little driving adventure. We are going up to Marin and then cutting west through a back road to Stinson and Bolinas beach. Should be a beautiful fun day.
Yesterday after work I went to the Country Cheese shop in Berkeley and got some top of the line salami, gruyere, and spicy mustard for a snack on today's adventure. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Don't you just love little mom and pop places that are cozy with quality organic products. They sliced the salami fresh right there and I got to sample everything before deciding on it. The mustard I bought is from the Mendocino Mustard Company, I can't wait to dive right in. Maybe I will have to visit them when I go to Hopland in the near future.

Well I better hop in the shower and wash the stink off me.

Music these days have been:

Roots n' Blues - A retrospective 1925-1950 (various artist) 4 disc set
and
Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys: The Golden Years of Western Swing [BOX SET]
and
Bessie Smith and some old ragtime.

Soooooooo good!

grateful

The show has been up for one week now and has been so far a success. I have already sold 24 small boxes in the 30 piece and 1 large box. I am so grateful and flattered, it's unbelievable. I wasn't very sure what to expect when I hung this show and while making it. There were definite moments I was worried that the hearts were too hokey... but my dark side saw the irony and fun distorting them.

Once the show was hung I thought they would be popular but I wasn't prepared to have sold over half my show by now. Again... I'm a bit astonished and taken back.

Coming into this show I knew that I wanted to try and keep it simple. My last show seemed busy and intense, this show I tried to be light hearted and easy about it. I think for the most part I succeeded. I forgot to mention that I have even had a commission already for some of the hearts that were already sold.

I think this will spark my interest to start selling on Etsy. I do have a shop but have not posted anything as of yet. In fact I hope I can remember all the log in info etc. I just tried to log in and it's still there.. so I guess I'm good.

Here are some more pictures of the current show (30 piece). Sorry about the blurry pics. I'm a terrible shot at times. I can't seem to steady my hands with a digital camera.

From top to bottom: "Happy n' Bleeding" - "Round-Up" - "Natural"

All 3 of these are sold!! I think the other trick during these tough times was to make the art small and super affordable. The small boxes are only 25.00 and the large are 100.00 each.

Until next time..

In current music rotation:

Brandi Carlile - The Story (LOVE this album)

Alison Krauss and Union Station - Lonely Runs Both Ways (might be too twang for some peeps but I love it)

tootles

very long overdue..

It's been a while eh.. I have been very very busy with life and art. I just hung my show at the Lanesplitter Temescal 48th and Telegraph in Oakland. If anyone is in the area.. please stop by.

The show is called "Road Traveled Heart"

The above picture is a 30 piece that symbolizes my life thus far. The center of the boxes are paper mache hearts and each box is different.

Here are some details

Above is one of my larger pieces in the show. And...

I love the piece above, the birds nest is real!

Well I think that is enough for an entrance back to Blogville.

I wonder

if I'll ever post again?

Recent book:

Look:
The subject of the book is "Gratitude"..
(it's magic.... in here, come on)

oooh

aahhhhh..

wow.

all sewn up and purdy.

Look!! just 0.69

The tree is made out of paper.

wood.

Standing up and looking good.

I didn't include every single page detail.. but you get the idea.