Gone Cruisin'...

Juried into the Utah Watercolor Society Spring Show...

UWS 2010 Spring Open Exhibition will be held at the Schorr Gallery at 8000 South Redwood Rd. located in the West Jordan City Building, 3rd floor. The show will open May 7 with the UWS Reception taking place from 6 to 9pm and Awards presented at ~ 7pm.

Above: Santorini Revisited was painted with watercolors I purchased within an hour of landing on the island.

Whatever happened to HOUSE & GARDEN magazine?

HOUSE & GARDEN folded in 2007. I had a subscription for many years and when they closed, the publisher sent me Domino magazine in its place. After a while I grew fond of Domino, though it was quite different, more trend and budget conscious and aimed at a younger reader than HOUSE & GARDEN. Then Domino closed, and the publisher sent me Glamour. At that point I called up and said, "No thanks. I haven't been interested in Glamour magazine since I was about 18-20 years old." So they sent me Vogue.

I enjoyed HOUSE & GARDEN magazine and looked forward to reading Dominique Browning's monthly letters from the editor. I enjoyed her writing so much that when I discovered she had written two books, I read those, too: Around the House and in the Garden-A Memoir of Heartbreak, Healing and Home Improvement (2002); and Paths of Desire-The Passions of a Suburban Gardener (2004). I recently learned that Dominique has written a third book, Slow Love, and has a blog: SLOW LOVE LIFE. The title refers to living a slower life and loving it, versus having a slow love life. I've added her blog to my blog list, so I can read a little Dominique when I get the notion. The new book, Slow Love is excerpted in The New York Times Sunday Magazine, dated March 28, out now.

Poster for Tracy Aviary April 16th Gallery Stroll...

Above: The painting on the left side of the poster is one of five of mine that will be for sale during the Ready to Hatch Fund-raising event and the April Gallery Stroll show.

The annual Ready to Hatch fund-raising event for the Tracy Aviary will be held Thursday evening April 15th. Besides helping support the Aviary operations when you purchase a Ready to Hatch $35 ticket, there are several opportunities to you when you purchase a $50 ticket. A $50 ticket comes with the opportunity to have your ticket drawn for a Green River Rafting trip worth $2600.

There are multiple opportunities with the purchase of more tickets, of course, but once you've purchased one $50 ticket, the additional tickets are available for less. See the examples below:

Ready to Hatch

A - RTH Ticket Ticket for Ready to Hatch PRICE: $35.00

B - RTH Ticket & Drawing Opp Ready to Hatch Ticket and Opportunity Drawing ticket for a Green River Rafting trip worth $2,600 PRICE: $50.00

C - RTH Add'l Opp Ticket Ready to Hatch Additional Opportunity Drawing Ticket PRICE: $20.00

D - RTH 3 Opp Drawing Tickets Ready to Hatch Three (3) Opportunity Drawing Tickets PRICE: $50.00

E - RTH 7 Opp Drawing Tickets Ready to Hatch Seven (7) Opportunity Drawing Tickets PRICE: $100.00 purchase of

On-going, every day, there are "in kind" ways to help the Aviary:
Donate Wild Birdseed for the wild bird feeding area that is located in the southeast corner of the aviary.
Volunteer to be a bird observer or help enhance the bird's environment.
You can "man" the Biofacts Cart or be a Site Interpreter and Bird Show Usher.
You can be a member of the Botanical Enrichment Team that cares for the landscape at the Aviary and work with other avid gardeners to beautify the park.
And you can Adopt-a-Bird!

I LOVE BIRDS!

News Flash ~ This just in From the Utah Watercolor Society: Congratulations, Toni! Your entry, Santorini Revisited, has been juried into the Spring Show.
Yippee!!! Details will follow.

Out and about tying up loose ends...

Why architects should not design bird house support brackets...

The photo above was sent in by an architect friend who (as the designer) wishes to remain anonymous. At least this architect can chuckle at him/herself. ;o)

Sweet signals of Spring!

The tiny Violet (Viola odorata) with a pretty BIG scent. If only photos could relay fragrance! (Photo: by Toni Youngblood)

The Changes Paint Colors Make in a Room

Above: Before

Above: AfterAbove: Before

Above: After

This upstairs spare bedroom has many appealing architectural features: two dormer windows that create useful and cozy niches and capture extra daylight, a very interesting ceiling configuration that soars upwards within the steeply pitched roof. However...the existing wall finish and paint colors when I moved into the house were not so appealing. The walls were very heavily textured, looking like gooey icing or meringue, even to the point of swooping into little curls like the top of a Dairy Queen ice-cream in a couple of places. There was an intense pink (Pepto Bismol) color on the walls and a paler version of pink on the ceiling and the woodwork trim and doors. At first, we thought the paler version was simply the reflection of the intense pink on the walls...until we started the repaint work. So, mid-project it was necessary to purchase a couple of nice white paints for all the trim, doors and the ceiling.

For the new color on the walls, I chose a soft buttery yellow similar to the color of the walls in my own main-level bedroom. It is a delight to wake up in, and the changes the color takes on throughout the day are subtle and beautiful. One thing I approached differently than the previous pink paint work was to continue the wall color all the way up the sloping planes and to make the transition into the ceiling color at the horizontal plane of the ceiling. The previous work made a color transition where the vertical wall planes "broke" into the sloping walls. By painting the sloping "walls", the apparent height of the room was "lifted" and it accentuated the volume in the overall space. I used a paint scraper to remove a large amount of the heavy impasto texture prior to painting the new color. When the painting was complete, I added an old chandelier to allow the option of more brightness at night and character that suited the room more than the existing flush-mounted ceiling fixture. The room turned out to be as pleasant as planned!

This Friday's Gallery Stroll...March 19th 6-9 pm

Currently showing at Charley Hafen Jewelers - Gallery

A STEP BACK: BROMOIL PRINTS

by Elise LaJeunesse
Elise LaJeunesse was trained in the rare art of bromoil by one of the great living masters of the art, David W. Lewis, and what started out as a hobby, rapidly turned into a passion. Elise LaJeunesse is an accomplished and prize winning photographer. She soon started taking on more complicated and unique projects, such as taking photographs of objects long past their prime and creating the time intensive bromoils from them.
The art of bromoil is a labor intensive process, which began in the late 1890’s and is currently practiced by a small number of artists worldwide. It is a unique art form and begins with a carefully chosen black and white photograph. The photograph is printed on a specialty paper and the silver is removed through a bleaching and tanning chemical process. Permanent lithograph ink (a hard printer’s type ink) is then added back to the bleached image with a variety of brushes and the ink is stippled into the print. This results in a beautiful painterly quality and rich textures, thus creating a one of a kind art image.
The art can be seen at Charley Hafen Jewelers • Gallery from 3/17/10 through 4/13/10.Artist Reception to be held in conjunction with the Salt Lake City Gallery Stroll, on Friday, March 19th, from 6–9 PM.

Salt Lake City

March Gallery Stroll - March 19th, 6-9 pm.
A Gallery – 1321 S 2100 E; 801-583-2100Please join us for new works by Andy Taylor.
Alpine Art – 430 E South Temple; 801-355-1155Del Jou Art Exhibition. Presenting published fine art work originals on paper for home or commercial spaces.
Art Access – 230 S 500 W; 801-328-0703 Art Access is hosting Landscape: Shaken Gently with a Twist, featuring 10 Utah artists with unusual views of what constitutes a landscape. Access II is pleased to present Outside is In, showcasing 9 Utah artists who have little or no formal art training.
Art at the Main – Ground floor of the Main City Library, 210 E 400 S; 801-363-4088 Presenting Country and Western, artworks by Amy Miller.
Artistic Framing and Sugarhouse Gallery – 2160 Highland; 801-486-4893Doors, a series of photographs by local artist Nic Tucker. This show takes vernacular imagery under assorted circumstances, then abstracts them between light and constructed physical form.
Beans and Brews – 268 S State; 801-328-4148Beans and Brews is proud to present Impressions, SX-70 Polaroid photography by Elliott Fraughton. His impressionist style moves pigments inside of the photograph around to create an image with a painterly quality.
Caffe Niche – 779 E 300 S; 801-433-3380 Caffe Niche is proud to present Pointillism on canvas and wood by Kathy Simpson and Synapse, an abstract photography project by Michael Brown.
Charley Hafen Jewelers – 1409 S 900 E; 801-521-7711A Step Back, Bromoil prints by Elise LeJeunesse.
Evergreen Framing Co. & Gallery, Inc. – 3295 S 2000 E; 801-467-8770Evergreen Framing Co. & Gallery welcomes the vibrant landscape work of Aaron Fritz and moody figurative and landscape paintings by McGarren Flack.
Finch Lane and Park Galleries / Art Barn – 1340 E 100 S (in Reservoir Park); 801-596-5000Through April 9: Rod Heiss, exotic wood and Paul Reynolds, oil and graphite on wood.
Hope Gallery and Museum of Fine Art – 151 S Main; 801-532-1336Featuring a distinct collection of European masters from the 16th to 21st centuries, including the largest collection of original Danish works (outside the national museums in Denmark) by notable artists such as Bloch, Kroyer, Henningsen, Wegmann and Molsted.
HORNE Fine Art – 142 E 800 S; 801-533-4200Presenting Phyllis Horne Paints Spring and Summer. This series captures the charm and color of gardens, country lanes and lush meadows. Also on view are new selections in Karen Horne's series, the Art of Dance.
Kayo Gallery – 177 E Broadway (300 S); 801-532-0080March is the Print Exchange at Kayo Gallery. Curated by Camilla Taylor -group exhibit featuring mini, limited edition prints on sale for twenty dollars.
Mestizo Gallery – 631 W North Temple #700; 801-596-0500The Fourth World, works by Favianna Rodriguez.
Michael Berry Gallery and Custom Framing – 163 E 300 S; 801-521-0243 Presenting work by Jake Reese and Dan Baxter. Live music provided by Tango Noir.
Phillips Gallery – 444 E 200 S; 801-364-8284 Oil on paper, abstract paintings by Carolyn Coalson and ceramic/stoneware structures by Francesc Burgos.
Salt Lake Art Center – 20 S West Temple; 801-328-4201 Jamie Wyeth’s Seven Deadly Sins, Launch-11: Recipients of theInternational Sculpture Center 2009 Student Awards and Salt Lake Art Center School: Ceramics and Photography.
SLC Ink – 1150 S Main; 801-596-2061Photography by Ron and Adriann Carter.
Tin Angel Cafe – 365 W 400 S; 801-328-4155Presenting Sonya Dinsdale with Abstractly Yours, a collection of acrylic paintings that depict the things which cannot be seen such as emotions, memories and the dark corners of the soul. Live music by Jon Shuman. Call for reservations.
UTah Artist Hands – 61 W 100 S; 801-355-0206Celebrating the opening of the Artful Cup - locally roasted coffees and teas served in handmade pottery from local artists, and featuring a collection of artful teapots in both pottery and paint. Live jazz from the John Flanders Trio.

Hound's Roo

"Hound's Roo" is the name of our little cottage. One of our favorite things we do at Hound's Roo is take care of retired racing greyhounds...two of my own and an occasional "babysitting" of a beloved greyhound belonging to someone else. The "Hound" part of the name is obvious, but the "Roo" part is explained as thus: The greyhound was originally bred for hunting by sight, thus they fall in the category of "sight hound". In older times when they were used for the hunt, the human leader blew into an animal horn to call together the hounds for the hunt. The greyhounds would gather and lift up their heads and make a howling sound that came out as "roooooooo". It is amazing even today unrelated to a hunting environment, to hear the hounds roo. They will sometimes do it when a human makes the rooing sound. It's much like when a dog howls in "tune" with a fire or police siren. At our house, the hound's roo is pretty much the cat's meow!

I only take care of greyhounds, as they typically get along well together, having "served" in the racing industry and lived in group greyhound facilities. It has developed into a kind of "fraternity" for them. They always know another greyhound by sight! Another reason I keep greyhounds only, is that there are some greyhounds who have a high prey instinct (due to that ancient breeding to hunt) and smaller dogs would not be safe around around them.

If you have a greyhound or know a greyhound parent, keep us in mind for daycare or overnight stays...
I'm a seasoned greyhound owner and greyhound foster parent who will care for your greyhound in our home while you are away. Two gentle greyhounds are in residence here to provide canine company for your pup(s). Feeding is per your schedule and instructions. You provide your hound's food, meds, favorite toy or blankie. A large fenced back yard is available for play and we take walks around the park and sometimes go for a ride. Tell us about any special requirements and we will accommodate. For more details and to arrange a visit to Hound's Roo, click on my "Contact Me" button on the right side of my blog.


















Above: Jay's Weekender, aka "Ender", always a perfect gentleman.

If you are interested in learning more about adopting a wonderful greyhound pet of your own, visit these greyt sites:

GREYHOUND ADOPTION INFO:
Greyhound Gang
Greyhound Pets of America Salt Lake City
Royal Hounds Greyhound Adoption
Second Chance Greyhounds















Above: Harri-Berry (Creative napping demonstration---The inverted "L"---She can pose in all 26 letters of the English alphabet!)

For the birds...

I received the news this weekend that Tracy Aviary has chosen my work along with that of two other artists for their April 15th 2010 fund-raising event and spring Salt Lake City Gallery Stroll the following evening on 16 April 2010. Forty percent of art sales will go directly to benefit Tracy Aviary, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

A big Thank You! to lovely and stunningly talented artist Bonnie Posselli for letting me know about the call for submissions in time for the review!

Here is a link to more of my crow paintings: Crows

Above: Found a Peanut...Struttin' 2010

Sticking close to home...

a Travel "Log"...

One picture may be worth a thousand words, but a travel log in the old school/old world sense contained much more than a thousand words: Written words and sketches describing history, design, impressions, feelings, inspirations, enlightenment... Above: Photo of the town square in Montepulciano, Italy.

Above: from a daily journal of a ten-day London trip.

Above: Thumbnail sketches in the margin.

Above: Sketches of furnishings along with description of a contemporary restaurant located in the ancient crypt of St. Martin's in the Fields Church in London.

Above: Written description and a sketch of a screen found in a London high-end design housewares shop.

Above: Sketches made in Rome and environs.

Above: Photo of Santorini---a gorgeous town built on a volcano caldera rising up from the sea.

Upon arrival here, I inquired where I could find an art supply store, so I could purchase watercolors---and paint!

I focused in on a similar perspective of this dramatic hillside view, and painted this and one other watercolor in my favorite way---on location...

There's usually so little time to write about our travels or to sketch and paint the things we see. Thank goodness for cameras in recording the images, at least. However, to draw is to truly see. And 90% of drawing is seeing. To write about something is an exploration into understanding.

Above: Watercolor painting view of a church from my perch at the bus stop in Taormina, Sicily---the only painting I completed while on our eight-day group trip to Sicily. We had a couple of hours free from the group tour one afternoon. I took my time to wander the town to find a scene, to sit and paint.

All photography and art work by Toni Youngblood.

Pot Rack - Thursday Sight Hound

Design-it-yourself kitchen pot rack









Above: Over-the-window pot rack in my Seattle cottage kitchen.
My inspiration was a beautifully made pot rack that San Francisco sculptor, David Bottini made and left behind in the apartment I leased years ago. (I wish I had a photo of it!) He and his wife lived in the San Francisco Castro neighborhood apartment for nine years and had their daughter while living there. The 1904 Italianate-style flat had lots of tall windows and not much space for storage. To add storage, the sculptor designed and fabricated a pot rack that hung across the kitchen window. There were no other window treatments and it was possible to view into the tiny but magically landscaped back yard full of flowers and artichoke plants.

Above: Anthropologie wall bracket.

For additional storage in my little cottage in Seattle, I decided to install a pot rack over the window. I had a very long window over the kitchen sink. I found pretty wall brackets at the Seattle Anthropologie store which have a hook at the top allowing for placement of a rod. I purchased three of the brackets for the long window and found a suitable extension curtain rod in a brushed nickel finish. My Salt Lake City kitchen has a tall narrow window, so I used only two brackets for mounting the rod.

Above: Mounting a wall bracket on the window trim on each side of the window.

"S" hooks for hanging pots on the rod, can be found at most kitchen supplies stores.

If you have a wide window, you may need to use three brackets, one for each side and one in the center. In this case, the brackets would need to be mounted higher on the top trim of the window. (This was the case with my Seattle kitchen where the window was wide and low.)

Above: Back to tall narrow windows in my Salt Lake City kitchen with pot rack installed.

Happy Hunting, Houndies! ;o)

In NYC Today through Sunday...

John Berggruen Gallery was one of my favorite art galleries when I lived in San Francisco. I wonder how the really BIG KIDS in the art world are doing these days in our delicate economy.

Wayne ThiebaudThree Cupcakes, 2009Oil on board14 1/8 x 11 inches

Please feel free to contact the gallery at info@berggruen.com or (415) 781-4629 with any questions.
John Berggruen Gallery at the ADAA Art ShowFrancis Bacon, Christopher Brown, Alexander Calder, Mark di Suvero, Richard Diebenkorn, Helen Frankenthaler, Alexander Gorlizki, Stephen Hannock, Paul Kelpe, Roy Lichtenstein, Wayne Thiebaud, Andy Warhol, and William T. WileyMarch 3 - March 7, 2010The annual Art Dealers Association of America's art fair in New York, the 'Art Show,' will be held at the Park Avenue Armory from Wednesday, March 3rd to Sunday, March 7th. The John Berggruen Gallery will be a participating dealer, as we have been since the inception of this prestigious fair. We look forward to seeing you at our booth, number C12. The Park Avenue Armory is located at 67th Street and Park Avenue. General fair hours on Wednesday through Saturday are from noon to 8 p.m. and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Urban Homesteading...

No, that's not a photo of me. Yes, that is a chandelier in a chicken coup. I do have a chandelier installed in every room in my house and if I had a chicken coup...well, I believe my hens would deserve all the best that an egg-laying lady can have!

I just signed up for an Urban Homestead seminar through the U of Utah extension program of life-long learning at Osher Institute. It begins March 9 and meets for two sessions. I'll see what I take away from it that I can weave into my own life and skills.

Photo credit: Eleanor Mondale's coop from Country Living.