Back to murals and faux finishes here....

If you've been following this blog, you'll know that I've ranged all over my different activities here despite the very specific title "hand painted murals, faux finish walls".

Well, now that I've decided to follow my own advice an develop my primary online catalog with WordPress software (sorry, Google), I'm going to get this blog dialed back down to specifics of my mural and faux jobs only, and talk about the rest of my various work on johnhiemstra.com, a new WordPress blog which will cover my fine art projects, promotional and marketing work for my clients, updates on my teaching project for artists and small creative business at the San Diego Finishing School and all the other bits that don't really belong here under the current title.

So check out johnhiemstra.com when you have a chance, even though its brand new, for updates on other projects, back catalog pictures of jobs in process, and what will eventually be a truly comprehensive portfolio of my work, including old furniture design from San Francisco, stage work from North Carolina School of the Arts, and my web and print work for my marketing clients.

The first posts will be about my upcoming show of original paintings here in San Diego's Little Italy at Bedford Designs with furniture designer Joe Bedford. The show opens July 10 in conjunction with NoLi Notte, the latest incarnation of the Kettner Nights evening art walk in Little Italy.

I hope to see you there!

Distinguished Artist & Designer Franco Colavecchia in San Diego!!

If you've been following this blog, you may remember how excited I've been for Franco's annual arrival in San Diego this year, partly because Franco is a dear friend and mentor to me as an artist, partly because we are presenting a show of his original paintings at The Frame Maker this summer, with an opening reception for Franco next Thursday June 4, 2009.

Called "SoHo Memories" after the series of paintings Franco began as he battled to retain his eyesight 1997-98. These paintings focus on the New York of Franco's career in the 1980's designing stage sets for New York City Opera and Luciano Pavaratti, among others.

Franco was also honored this year by the United States Institute of Theater Technology for his carrer achievement as a stage designer, so I'm reprinting this text from the USITT website here:

Franco Colavecchia has designed internationally for opera and theatre, working with Luciano Pavarotti, Gian Carlo Menotti, Frank Corsaro, and Ian Strasfogel among others such as Tommy Tune.

Mr. Colavecchia has designed productions for locations as varied as the New York City Opera, Chicago Lyric, Houston Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Washington Opera, New Opera Theater at B.A.M., Pittsburgh Opera, San Antonio Festival, The Music Opera Association/Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, Den Norske Opera in Oslo, The Wexford Opera Festival in Eire, and Glimmerglass Opera.

He designed the Italian tour and the Broadway version of La Boheme for Mr. Pavarotti. His work has been seen in numerous locations around the world and he has worked for The Oxford Playhouse, the Roundhouse, the Edinburgh Festival, and the York Festival in the United Kingdom.

He was the assistant to Julian Beck of the Living Theatre on the London Production of The Brig. His designs have also been seen on PBS television for La Boheme for Pavorotti in Philadelphia, Faust for the Opera Company in Philadelphia, Carmen for New York City Opera (Live from Lincoln Center) and Treemonisha for Houston Opera.

He has also worked on several documentary films and has exhibited his paintings and drawings extensively through out the country. His designs have been included in the Prague Quadrennial three times, and some of his work is in the permanent collection at the Tobin Collection in San Antonio.

He has taught and mentored numerous students at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he continues to paint and to design. He also has taught at DePaul University, Colgate University, SUNY Purchase, Carnegie Mellon, and Harvard University. He continues to be a guest lecturer in rendering all across the country.

Look for more on Franco and this show here and on The Frame Maker Events blog.

Rachael McDaniels at SDSU School of Art tonight

I've been busier than expected this week with many different projects coming to fruition some new and unexpected and most welcome, too!

I'm creating this post for artist Rachael McDaniels, who I had the pleasure of meeting at ArtWalk, and whose initial presentation and smart follow through as an artist representing herself.

When I finally saw images of her work in my email, I made a note to share them, and news of Rachael's graduation installation, with you.

THIS SHOW OPENS TONIGHT, details below.

(sorry for the late notice, when someone decides to fund my personal assistant, please email me here!)

Timescapes
an Art Installation by Rachael McDaniel

Timescapes is an exploration of human and environmental transience. Extreme Landscapes, Scientific Imagery and other Curious Illustrations of Time created with Painting, Photography, Lithographic Prints, Found Objects, and Book Art will be on display.

Come to the Artist's Opening
Thursday May 21st 7pm-9pm

Or to the Commencement Show
Saturday May 23rd 4pm-6pm

School of Art at SDSU
Rm. 418

See http://art.sdsu.edu/school_information/
For Maps and Parking

New Ocean Abstract for SD Coastkeeper

If you've looked at the fine art pages of my online portfolio, you may recall this piece, "Ocean Abstract #1".



Created from plasters, wax and other materials from arsenal as a faux finish artist. I've developed a few other paintings out of this ideas of industrial, textural materials and the endless horizon-line division and interplay between ocean and sky.

One of these pieces was inspired by a fit of shop cleaning and recycling of unused materials at The Frame Maker, San Diego's premier custom framer, where I am now the general manager. Faced with a bin full of old rippings and cutoffs from our custom molding and construction endeavors, I began to consider all the different surfaces, grains and sizes of maple, ash, pine and basswood assembled there, and how differently they would take color, varnish and polish.

The long strips spoke "horizon" to me, and the piece was under way, utilizing only waste materials from The Frame Maker, and leftover paints, varnishes and wax from my shop.

This seemed a logical choice to donate to the annual gala and fundraiser for the San Diego Coastkeeper chapter this weekend, given their mission of removal of manmade debris and repair of manmade damage to our beaches and coasts.

Here are some progress pix of "Ocean Abstract#3".

John Hiemstra, Ray at Night, Saturday May 12, 2007

Just finished hanging the show with Arie Harrison at Innovative Realty at 3827 30th Street next to Dino's in North Park. Its a bright, modern looking space shared with three other artists.Thanks for staying late, Arie!!

I have 17 paintings hung in the show, including everything at Artwalk except the big one I was working on over the weekend (and is now featured in the new header of my online portfolio www.john-scenic.com thanks (again) to the lovely Sylvia who took the photos.)

Anyway, there are a couple of other cool things hung, including a huge canvas I did in chalk of Van Gogh's "White Roses". If you missed ArtWalk or have never been to Ray at Night, there are several venues in the immediate area featuring art, music, food & drink this Saturday May 12, 2007 from 7pm on. I hope to see you there.

Here is the flyer Arie did up for the show:

New Art Show Open this Saturday May 12, 2007

I will be showing some of the paintings from ArtWalk plus some other good stuff from the studio at a cute little office/gallery space in North Park. We hang the show this Wednesday and the opening is this Saturday May 12 7-10 pm in conjunction with North Park's monthly Ray at Night event.

Ray at Night features over a dozen local venues all with unique shows of art from photography and painting to sculpture and craft, with music, food, wine and more all revolving around Ray Street at University Avenue in North Park, home to more than a few intersting coffee shops, bars and restaurants.

My work will be shown at Innovative Realty, 3827 30th Street at University, around the corner from Ray Street. I hope to see you there.