Long Overdue

The long lost blog of 2015. It's been a bumpy year and also a full one. Family obligations took up most of the first 6months of the year and painting for shows has filled in the rest. Many shows is a good problem to have I won't complain. Hanging on the walls currently are small gouache paintings included in Sullivan Goss 100 GRAND here in Santa Barbara. It is the holiday kick off party every year. The show runs through the end of January. It's always a must see before or after Christmas. There is lots to see and much to discuss. Take the family!

Fog Bank 5.5x3" Gouache on brown paper

Opening the same week in Santa Monica were MORE gouache paintings exhibited at the Craig Krull Gallery in Bergamot Station. It was the debut of critters and a weather study project I've been working on for the past year. Small works that were the perfect way to stay connected in my studio while distracted by family concerns. They were both an escape and a blessing I must have needed as there are 125 little beauties that were compiled for the show. This show runs through January 16th, 2016.

Arctic Hare 6x4" Gouache on Arches Board

Weather Pattern #63 3x5.25" Gouache on Arches Board

In the midst of all this I've been painting for my next solo exhibit with Sullivan Goss which opens First Thursday, January 7th, 2016 from 5-8pm. The show 50 / 50 will celebrate the two things that make Santa Barbara a beloved destination, both the sea and the mountains. I can longer decide which I love more, I only know that I don't want to do without either. There will be plenty of work to see and YES more gouache paintings too. The show runs through the end of February. Hope to see you in the new year. Until then, warm holiday wishes to all.

12x12" paintings for the 50/50 exhibit at Sullivan Goss January 2016

Worktable Wednesday

Mile High Color 22x60" ©

Roughing in new mountain image, dreaming of the snow and rain shower those clouds dropped during the winter last year. It wasn't much but it was glorious all the same. It made the plants perk up and give a great show of sparkling color as they drank in the moisture.

Friday Easel

Les Deux Gingembres 12x12"

 

Spending time with the pooches today.

Worktable Wednesday

Today's easel

A Dream of Rain 24x48"

Worktable Wednesday - at the easel

...well, trying to be. Plenty of distractions to go around this fall and not enough time in the studio. Still.... I'm working this week and starting new paintings for upcoming deadlines. These are just the first pass, getting the drawings right before really diving in.

Mule Deer, Dixie National Forest,Utah ©

Wee Birdie ©

California Bushtit ©

Worktable Wednesday - pooches

In the Meadow ©2014 12x12"

Worktable Wednesday

On the easel today, new winter water vertical

Worktable Wednesday

Back to the easel...

snow path, low tide, foggy shore, roiling clouds

after a printmaking workshop using copper drypoint.

Wilson's Warbler in the shrub

Worktable Wednesday

Spring Fog {in progress} 48x24"
©2014 N Strasburg

Worktable Wednesday 2014

A new year, a new start. 

New oil sketches on the easel.

It feels good to be back at work.

September Countdown

A new exhibition of paintings at Sullivan Goss, Santa Barbara will open First Thursday in September. I'm marking the weeks as the show creeps closer and tethered to the studio finishing paintings. As in the past, there will be a large grid of 12x12" panels. I keep finding new source material so the number increases with each passing week. Recently finished:

Spring Meadow 12x12" ©2013

Spring Thaw 12x12" ©2013

New Terrain

New paintings by Nicole Strasburg 

Sullivan Goss

September 5 through December 1, 2013

Opening reception, First Thursday 

September 5 from 5-8pm

11 East Anapamu, Santa Barbara

Worktable Wednesday

Critter Crush

Island Kit Fox 12x12" ©2013

Working towards my next show with Sullivan Goss in Santa Barbara. The show will open First Thursday in September 2013. Stay tuned for more details.

Sundance + paintings

Refugio Road 12x12" + cool chair

New Year Sky 18x40" + beautiful sideboard

See more paintings and furniture at Sundance online HERE

Home Again

Paintings home from abroad are welcomed with open arms and eyes. They were finished and shipped off before there was time to absorb them. It's nice to look and be reminded, feel, the path, the journey.

Los Pinos 6 12x12" ©2013

Los Pinos 1 12x12" ©2013

Worktable Wednesday

On the easel today:

Flora and Fauna

Inspiration from the mountains. Wild Santa Barbara Milk Vetch {Astragalus Trichopodus}and a most elusive/evasive coyote, Canis Latrans or otherwise known as the American Jackal, brush wolf or prairie wolf.

SB Milk Vetch 12x12" ©2013 {in process}

Canis Latrans 12x12" ©2013

Spring Plein Air

Outdoorsy, high in the pines, on the deck, mountain dwelling, painting. It doesn't stink. Another spring trying my hand at plein air painting. I like it and I don't. It's distracting and nervy, not to mention frustrating toting equipment to locations and the time setting up just to make a mark. Still, I try.

In the pines 10x12" oil on panel ©2013

Ode

... to the long disregarded blog. Sadly, Facebook has usurped your power, made you a distant object in the rear view mirror of my to do list. You are a passing thought, a "should" and then dismissed with a sigh.

Facebook has made it so easy to share, too easy for the slovenly, with it's quick 120 character punchlines. Does anyone really regard those as ambient intimacy as we are told we should? Or are they merely easier to brush off than a lengthy blog post, or even the briefest of blog entries, that requires more clicking of keys to acquire the meat of a thought.

Like many things, dearest blog, you will morph, you will transform. Let us be mindful of the possibility that your new incarnation may be the Monarch that once was the caterpillar and not another application that lulls us into sleepy discontent as the time wiles away.

Los Pinos 12x12" oil on wood ©Nicole Strasburg

On the Easel Today

New doggages ... dog images, dog likenesses... pupper love.

Snow Dance

Sea, Molly, Run

 
Stay tuned: Sundance Catalog will soon be featuring new paintings, some of them pooch related.

Worktable Wednesday

Today is an easel day.

Bliss

Miss Molly, happy on the trail.