Catherine Mackey Art News

Winter Break 2012 - Works on Paper

2012-01-29T00:23:00.000-08:00

I'll be showing all my new works on paper together for the first time.
If you are local - join me for a drink at the reception!

Commission for T.

2012-01-22T00:36:00.000-08:00

I've just finished a commission for a client. The brief asked for a multi-panel pier painting with a repeated architectural module. I was also asked to include names and birthdates of family members.
Here are images showing it's development:

Five seperate panels developed with acrylic paint and collage.

Backing frame glued to panels.

One painting. Structure of pier added - acrylic.

More development with acrylic paint.

Development with oil paint. Finished piece. 30" x 60"

I really enjoyed working on this piece. Although I have done many paintings of old piers my interest in decaying structures is unflagging and I have great fun creating the water effect.

The Old Mint - San Francisco

2012-01-21T00:43:00.000-08:00

Old Mint SF (diptych)
60" x 72". Acrylic and Oil on wood panel.

A few years ago I had the opportunity to explore the Old Mint building on Mission Street in San Francisco. I had enough time to take photos and do some quick sketches. From this information I did a painting which was intended to be the first of many exploring the old empty spaces as they went through the changes proposed by the current restoration plan.

Unfortunately I found it impossible to gain further access to the building (apart from a wonderful late-night dance performance a couple of years ago). I submitted a proposal to the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society suggesting that they nominate several artists to record the changes to the building as the construction works were in progress - the Tate Modern did this so why not the most important historical building in San Francisco? But my pleas went unheard and this painting remains alone at the beginning of an idea.

It has been hanging on a wall in my studio for years now, attracting interest but never a buyer. And this week, as I am starting to clear out my studio for my impending move (more later), it has suddenly sold and will be shipped to its new home in San Diego.

Perhaps the idea still has life and this sale will galvanize me to resubmit my proposal!

New Bike Art Book

2012-01-11T21:40:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to announce that some of my bicycle paintings and drawings have been included in a lovely coffee-table book recently published called Bike Art by Kiriakos Iosifides. It is full of bicycle related art from all over the world.

Bicycle Drawings at Pegasus

2011-12-19T23:04:00.000-08:00

Framed bicycle drawings at Pegasus Bicycle Works, Danville, CA.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to place some of my bicycle drawings in a seriously cool bicycle store in Danville, CA. It was fun to squeeze framed pieces in between the latest model road bikes which were hanging on the wall. It's a dynamic space and all the action energizes the drawings. Much better than a white-walled gallery!

New Works on Paper

2011-12-14T14:46:00.000-08:00

Pier No 1. 17.5" x 11". Mixed media on paper.

Pier No 2. 17.5" x 11". Mixed media on paper.

Pier No 3. 17.5" x 11". Mixed media on paper.

Pier No 4. 17.5" x 11". Mixed media on paper.

Still on the theme of Piers I have recently been working on some smaller pieces on paper.

I am exploring the idea of using screen printing on my paintings and recently made a small screen depicting pier posts from one of my drawings. I applied the screen over collages created with fragments of street posters. I then developed the pier building and the water using acrylic paint, graphite and colored pencils.

After working on large paintings for the last six months I really enjoyed working at this intimate scale.

The Development of a Pier Painting

2011-12-05T22:18:00.000-08:00

Pier Posts (diptych). 36" x 94". Mixed media and oil on wood panels.

I've just finished the first painting of a group destined for a show in New York in the spring. The finished piece is shown above. The stages of development are shown below:

1 - Text and posters applied to two 36" x 48" panels.

2 - Pier structure added, allowing text to show through in some areas.

Nargilehs - Istanbul

2011-11-24T23:44:00.000-08:00

From my recent travels:

Narghile, Nargile, or Nargileh n. another name for hookah.(C19: from French narguile, from Persian nargileh a pipe having a bowl made of coconut shell, from nargil coconut).

Drawing Animal Woman

2011-11-20T14:55:00.000-08:00

Animal Woman No 1. 14" x 11"

I spent my evening yesterday drawing at the monthly Dr Sketchy's event in San Francisco: great music and lots of artists. One of my friends was modeling as “Animal Woman” and had made some great costumes for the evening.

Animal Woman No 2.
14" x 11"

Animal Woman No 3.
14" x 11"

Drawing: instant gratification and a lot of fun - what's not to like?

Getting back to the studio....

2011-11-12T14:36:00.000-08:00

St Pancras Hotel, London.

Istanbul, Turkey.

I haven’t posted since my Open Studios in early October.
After I closed my studio doors on the evening of Sunday 3rd October I went home to pack and the next day I flew to the UK to attend a family event.

Tate Modern - back wall exposed during construction for new addition.

I was away for most of the month. In between visiting family and friends I saw some great art and great buildings. I also squeezed in a four-day trip to Istanbul where I saw more great art and great buildings!

Warehouse on River Trent - Nottingham, England.

Tacita Dean - Film installation.
Tate Modern

I’ve been back in my studio for a couple of weeks now and, as is usual after a long break, have been finding it hard to know where to begin. (I am taking part in a two- person show in New York in the spring and have a large body of work to do between now and then.)

Aya Sofya. Istanbul.

I need a kick start to get the energy going in my studio and I’ve just got it – I’ve been asked to do a large Pier painting for next February’s Marin Showcase Home in Belvedere,CA. I’m working on it already and am having fun again!

Painting in The Huffington Post

2011-09-29T18:28:00.000-07:00

Huffington Post article.

Today the Huffington Post published an article which included one of my paintings. The article highlights the upcoming Open Studios events in San Francisco!

Patchwork Paintings

2011-09-28T12:20:00.000-07:00

Patchwork with Walter. 20" x 16". Mixed media on wood.

During my creative process I work on wood panels with posters, paint, and texture. I often end up trimming the panels to suit the final composition and the off-cuts get thrown into a bucket in the corner of my studio. Recently I have been using these discarded pieces to create small patchworks over which I have applied paint and stencils.
Framed with wood trim these are delightful little paintings – just in time for my Open Studios this weekend!

Patchwork with Hooks. 20" x 24". Mixed media on wood.

Open Studio

2011-09-24T22:51:00.000-07:00

Come and see me in my studio!

Art For Aids Auction

2011-09-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

Art for Aids Auction - San Francisco Design Center

Last night I attended the 15th annual Art for Aids Auction which benefits the UCSF Aids Health Project. It was an amazing experience: fabulous location; lots of really good art; tasty food and cocktails; interesting people; and extremely well organized. The live auction was run by an ex-Bonham’s auctioneer and he made it SO exciting! I had donated a small bicycle painting which was selected for the live auction. Despite the obvious skills of the auctioneer it was still nerve-wracking not knowing whether my painting would be bid over its reserve price. But when my turn came it was all over very quickly! Four people were bidding and it went for more than its advertized value. What a fun evening!

My painting - Globe Bike No 3. 24" x 24" - on stage during the live auction.

Pier 19 with Bicycle

2011-09-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

Pier 19 with Bicycle. 36" x 84". Collage, Acrylic and Oil on Wood Panel.

Here’s another Pier painting I’ve just finished: Inspired by Pier 19 on the Embarcadero in San Francisco the painting depicts the architectural rhythm of the building and construction of the piers. But is also a collage of street posters and old wall signage that I have found elsewhere in the city. The bicycle is mine – I often ride the length of the Embarcadero, armed with camera and sketchbook, looking for material for my paintings.

Pier 19 w. Bicycle - development in studio.

Two Bicycle Paintings - Two Auctions

2011-09-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

I have two bicycle paintings in two great auctions this month:

Globe No 3. 24" x 24". Mixed media on wood panel. Art for Aids Auction.

Art for Aids - An auction benefiting the UCSF Aids Health Project.
When: Friday September 23rd, 2011. 6.00pm
Where: The Galleria at the San Francisco Design Center
Globe # 3 will be part of the live auction which starts at 7.00pm

OS No 2. 31" x 18". Mixed media on wood panel.
HeartGifts: Artists supporting Doctors Without Borders

HeartGifts: Artists Supporting Doctors Without Borders.
When: Saturday September 24th, 2011. 6.00 – 9.00
Where: SomArts Cultural Center. 934 Brannan St. San Francisco.

Both events will have fabulous food and wine. Please come and join us for fun and great art!

Bayview Boat Club.

2011-09-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

Bayview Boat Club.
Collage, Acrylic and Oil on wood panel. 36" x 35"

My friend Trish and I were recently exploring and photographing the docks in the Mission Bay district of San Francisco. We got permission to go onto the back deck of the Bayview Boat Club and had to pass through the bar area to get there. I was stunned by the interior. The skylights directed the sunshine down through dozens of colorful flags hanging from the rafters and the walls were covered with paintings, photos, and sailing mementoes. I loved the Blue and Red lines created by the lights and the barstools. I haven’t painted an interior for quite a while but this one just had to happen!

Pier 36 Painting Completed.

2011-08-21T00:51:00.000-07:00

Pier 36. 48" x 120". Collage, Acrylic and Oil Paint on wood panels.

In late July I posted some images of the early stages of a new painting. Well….I think it’s finally finished. It is based on Pier 36 which is on the waterfront south of the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. The old pier building is unused and dilapidated and the Port of San Francisco has slated it for demolition. I imagine it will soon disappear in the clean-up frenzy which will precede the Americas Cup in 2013.

At work in my studio

City Streets - Group Show

2011-08-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

Pier Modules No's 5 & 7. Each 36" x 18"

Two of my small pier paintings have been selected for a group show at STUDIO Gallery in San Francisco.

City Streets – Urban Views of the Bay Area
August 10th – September 14th 2011

Gallery Hours:
Wednesday – Friday, 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Opening reception: Sunday, August 14th, 2 – 6:00 p.m.

New York Painting in New York Gallery

2011-08-02T23:08:00.000-07:00

NY Pier No 2. 48" x 72".
Stricoff Gallery. 564 W 25th Street, NY.

I was in New York a few weeks ago to spend time with one of my sisters and a friend. One morning, despite the extremely hot weather, we braved the streets and hit the High Line – part two had just opened. There’s not much shade on part two just yet as the trees are mere saplings, so half-way down the line we decided to descend to street level for a break and some shade. We headed for the gallery on West 25th St. which represents my work. As we approached we realized that one of my larger pieces was hanging in the window at street level and it looked really good! The painting depicts an old New York Pier which is located on the Hudson River just around the corner from the gallery.

Beginning a new painting:

2011-07-30T23:42:00.000-07:00

1. Setting out the architecture.

This week I started work on a new painting in my studio. It will be four feet high by ten feet long and it will be based on an old unused pier in San Francisco. Here are some images from the first days of its development - after I had constructed and primed the two cradled plywood panels:

2. Adding collage elements.

3. Spray paint and text stencils.

The painting probably won't be finished for a while as I am working on several others at the same time. I hope to display them all at my Open Studio in early October. I'll post more images of this one as it develops.

New York Sketchbook

2011-07-20T23:14:00.000-07:00

I’ve just returned from a long weekend in New York and boy was it hot! Most of my time was spent sitting and sketching in whatever shady place I could find: trees in Central Park, unused doorways, under an old building which straddled the High Line, and a 14th century cloister from a French monastery.

Here are some of my sketches:

Looking south from Central Park

Clouds gathering over Central Park West

Boating Lake - Central Park

Gansevoort Street NYC

Iced coffee on the High Line

Wall painting from a 12th century
spanish monastery - Cloisters collection.

The Cloisters NYC

Shadows in Architecture

2011-07-06T22:10:00.000-07:00

Bus Depot with Flowers 52" x 38"

I'm working on some paintings about shadows in architecture. I think this one is finished. It has several layers:
The bus depot outside my studio;
over...
Text copied from a wall in the Meatpacking district of New York;
over...
A vase of flowers on a checkered tablecloth;
over...
Some French posters given to me by a good friend.

It's an unplanned organic process which takes time, relies on accident, and is a lot of fun.

Framing "Dad's Army"

2011-06-24T22:19:00.000-07:00

I’ve just spent the better part of three days framing ten works on paper (my Dad’s Army series - see the post dated May 22nd). I ordered most of the components necessary for creating shadow box frames so you might think it would take me a day maximum. That’s what I thought too. But the required precision and cleanliness was time consuming and tedious. I began to understand why framing costs so much. But the final pieces look great!

Setting up my tables with all the components and artwork.

Lining them up - I still have to seal the backing and wire the frames.

On the wall.

Fort Mason piers

2011-06-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

Fort Mason No 13. 48" x 48". Mixed media on wood.

I started going to Fort Mason in 1996, a few months after arriving in the US. I wanted to see how I would fare as an artist so I signed up for a beginners painting class at the Fort Mason campus of San Francisco City College. I remember being stunned by the location right on the water’s edge – after having lived and worked in London for many years the freshness of the air was amazing. And having being involved in the architectural field for many years I was taken by the simple proportions of the utilitarian pier buildings. The colors also inspired me – who chose those two different Reds to use on the door openings? Did they know how, even when the paint is peeling, it would glow at sunset? These buildings never stop inspiring me! After a long gap, during which I have painted many other buildings and piers, I returned to Fort Mason to visit an art fair and saw the buildings again as if for the first time.
As you will see from the name of this painting I’ve just finished I have done thirteen paintings of the Fort Mason pier buildings so far, and that doesn’t count the really early works. Who knows when this will end?

Val's artwork

2011-06-13T23:11:00.000-07:00

A friend in of mine in Nottingham, England creates beautiful art pieces out of found and salvaged “bric a brac”. She uses everything from lace trim, sequins and buttons to packing materials and the foil from chocolate bars. Her work is often inspired by European religious icons and is based in sewing and fabrics.
Unfortunately she does not exhibit her work and it is not seen by many people. I get lucky every Christmas and birthday when a wonderful gift arrives for me in the mail.

I thought I’d share these recent acquisitions with you:

Birthday card. 7" x 6".
Fabric, sequins, buttons etc. sewn onto card.

Christmas card. 9.5" x 8".
Fabric, foil, buttons, photos, lace and crucifix
sewn onto silver padded packing material.

Fabric photo album. 7" x 6".
Front cover: Foil, beads, medals, and color
copy of British postage stamp commemorating
the late Queen Mother.

Thank you Val!

Dad's Army

2011-05-22T12:06:00.000-07:00

I’ve completed ten works on paper based on the concrete and wood fragments I discovered at the old Mare Island Naval Base.

Because of the slightly ramshackle military bearing of these pieces I have named them after the characters in an old British sitcom called Dad’s Army which is about the Home Guard in an English coastal town during the Second World War.

Private Godfrey
16" x 12" Mixed media on paper.

Captain Mainwaring

16" x 12" Mixed media on paper.

Lance Corporal Jones
16" x 12" Mixed media on paper

Private Frazer
16" x 12" Mixed media on paper.

Private Pike
16" x 12" Mixed media on paper.

ARP Hodges
16" x 12" Mixed media on paper.

Sergeant Wilson
16" x 12" Mixed media on paper.

Mrs Pike
16" x 12" Mixed media on paper.

Private Walker
16" x 12" Mixed media on paper.

Reverend Farthing
16" x 12" Mixed media on paper.

San Francisco Fine Art Fair

2011-05-11T19:52:00.000-07:00

I’m excited to announce that some of my paintings will be shown at the SF Fine Art Fair at Fort Mason in San Francisco May 20th – 22nd. My local broker Stephanie will be representing me and several other artists at booth 20.

The venue seems appropriate – Festival Pavilion is a beautiful old pier which I have painted several times over the last few years. Also my paintings on display are inspired by another old pier in San Francisco – Pier 26 by the base of the Bay Bridge.

Pier Fragment # 22

2011-05-03T22:32:00.000-07:00

Pier Fragment #22. Mixed media on paper. 16" x 12"

I’m now working at a slightly larger scale, using fragments of old posters to create a collage onto which I am painting and drawing the Pier Fragments. Here is Pier Fragment #22.

I still haven’t named them yet but I’m starting to think that they are chess pieces.

More Pier Fragments...

2011-05-02T23:11:00.000-07:00

Drawing table in my studio.

I’m loving drawing in my studio! I’ve made one big table in the middle of the space and am spreading out with my pencil crayons, scraps of paper, and glue.
I’ve been working on my Pier Fragment characters – I have twelve now. I haven’t named them yet. Here are a few more:

Pier Fragments 6, 2, 23 & 5. Pencil crayon and graphite on paper.

I’m starting to do larger pieces with collage and paint on paper. This is fun!

Pier Fragment Drawing

2011-04-26T21:20:00.000-07:00

Pier Fragments #'s 16, 17, 18 & 22. Graphite, watercolor and colored pencil on paper.

In my last post I talked about the fragments of old piers I found on my visit to Mare Island. I did this drawing today of four of the “fragments”. I keep thinking of them as soldiers in a ravaged army from days gone by. At the moment they just have numbers but I might give them names.

Mare Island Adventure

2011-04-25T22:08:00.000-07:00

Broken windows - Mare Island

Usually, after I’ve finished a major deadline, I need to take some time off to regain both physical and creative energy. This month was no exception –after completing work for a show in New York AND creating new work for Open Studios the following weekend I was exhausted!

Mare Island Naval Shipyard

In my search for fun and new ideas I decided to visit Mare Island – an old naval base on a peninsula in the San Francisco Bay opposite the city of Vallejo. I had visited once before with an architect friend who had to survey the old barracks building which was slated to be turned into luxury condos. (Followers of my work may remember a series of paintings I did back in 2004 of the empty spaces I found in the dormitories, classrooms and shooting range of this rather grand Italianate building.) Since then the recession hit and most of the development on the base ground to a halt. On this visit I was hoping to take photos of old industrial buildings and the dry docks on the East side of the peninsula where the shipbuilding industry had been located.

Cranes

A friend and I parked just off the freeway and got on our bikes to explore the base. The first thing we noticed was how deserted some parts were and how “edgy” it felt. I was glad that I wasn’t alone. Old buildings stood empty – some burned out and most with their windows smashed. But in other parts of the base there were lovely old colonial style buildings on a small university campus; a beautiful wooden chapel with Tiffany glass stained windows; enormous industrial steel and glass factories which used to house the steelworks for the ship-building; and smaller scale Victorian brick industrial buildings. There were cranes galore and lots of old de-commissioned ships being taken apart. The nicest surprise was when we approached the old barracks building, as yet un-developed, to find hundreds of goats on the adjacent hill - if the sky had been blue it could have been a Palladian villa in Italy.

Barracks building with goats

I took lots of photos of general “urban decay” – peeling paint, old equipment, stained brickwork etc.

And then I discovered my next source of creative inspiration: fragments of old pier structures which had been pulled out of the water and were lined up along the roadways by the shipyards. Old blocks of concrete with rusty bolts, water stains and old wooden fixings adding a surprising anthropomorphic aspect. As soon as I saw them I knew that they would find their way into my work. I’ve been wanting to work on paper for a while and hopefully these Pier Fragments will be my springboard.

Pier fragment - Mare Island

New Studio Sign

2011-04-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

My studio building, at 1890 Bryant Street in San Francisco, will be open to the public this weekend as part of Mission Open Studios. My space is at the end of a long lobby and the last few times I have opened I have noticed that some visitors didn't realize that there was a large studio full of fabulous work at the end of the lobby. I needed a sign to pull them in!

So I decided to make one..... My process was similar to my painting process except for the addition of lights. I had fun making it!

Step 1 - Under-painting on plywood panel....

Step 2 - Cut out arrow shape.
Apply text leaving background showing through...

Step 3 - Apply backing frame.
Drill fifty holes and push through fifty christmas lights....

Step 4 - Hang sign outside studio door and connect to power.

New York Show

2011-04-11T13:50:00.000-07:00

Mackey paintings at Stricoff Fine Art - April 2011

I have just returned from a fabulous few days of eating, exploring, and seeing art in New York. The main reason for my trip was to attend the opening of a group show in the Chelsea gallery which represents my work. The show - "Three British Painters" - included seven of my paintings. On the first morning after my arrival I went to the gallery to say hello and to see how the work had been displayed. It looked great! Large white walls have an amazing impact on paintings - they suddenly "pop". I had been living with these works for the last three months and had become accustomed to them. Suddenly seeing them in a large light gallery was like being re-introduced to old friends.
The opening that evening was fun and successful - two of the paintings have sold already.
The show is up until April 20th at Stricoff Fine Art on West 25th Street.

Spring Open Studios

2011-04-05T17:07:00.000-07:00

1890 BRYANT STREET STUDIOS

Joins 100's of artists for the Mission-wide

SPRING OPEN STUDIOS

Pier Modules 4-7. Mackey Studio

April 16th-17th.

11.00 - 6.00

1890 Bryant St, San Francisco, CA 94110

(Entrance on the corner of Bryant & Mariposa)

MissionArtistsUnited.org for maps and guide.

Come and visit me in Studio # 315

Accidental Painting

2011-04-05T14:38:00.000-07:00

In the few days I've had between shipping work to New York and getting on a plane to attend the opening reception at Stricoff Fine Art I've been trying to finish some pieces for Open Studios which is coming up soon.

I was developing a panel which has been hanging around my studio for a long time - adding more poster fragments and stencils - when something suddenly started to happen. I had been playing with the hooks I managed to retrieve from an old commercial laundry in my neighborhood which closed down recently and it became apparent that I needed to do a portrait of them. This painting came together yesterday.
It needs a bit more work but will hopefully be finished for my Open Studio on 16th & 17th April.

Clearing up.....

2011-03-30T23:28:00.000-07:00

After working for the better part of three months on my paintings for the show in New York it was an enormous relief to see them finally leave my studio. They were headed for a workshop in Emeryville where they will be fitted with a customized crate and be shipped to the East Coast. (I will hopefully see them there hanging on the walls of the gallery when I get to New York on April 6th.)

Re-entering my studio two days later was a shock - it was SO messy and dirty! Tools were everywhere. Oil paint had hardened on my palette. Brushes needed cleaning. Dirty dishes filled the sink. There was sawdust, charcoal, and goodness knows what else on the floor. I'm usually quite tidy and organized so this was traumatic. The process of getting everything ship-shape again is slow but theraputic at a time when my brain needs to rest for a while.

The show will be at Stricoff Fine Art in Chelsea.

The opening reception will be on April 7th 6.00 -8.00pm. I'll be there so please come along and say Hello if you are in town.

The Day Before Shipping...

2011-03-23T23:19:00.000-07:00

Paintings in studio - 3-22-2011

The paintings I've been working on for the past few months are leaving my studio tomorrow to be crated and shipped to New York. For the last two days I have been labelling and wiring the pieces and painting the side edges White (three coats). I always forget how long it takes.

This photo shows the back frames I have to build in order to link several pre-painted wood panels together to create the whole painting. It's a lot of work! I sometimes wonder why I developed such a physically arduous process. But then I look at the finished piece and see how all the differend under-paintings lend an air of fragmentation which I love.

These and other pieces can be seen on my updated website.

Four Stages of a Painting.

2011-03-09T22:43:00.000-08:00

I have just finished a painting of a pier in New York. Here are some of the stages it went through during the last month:

1. Panels are cut and under-paint color is applied.

2. Fragments of posters taken off the street are applied to the panels.
Then the basic structure of the painting is established with acrylic paint.

3. One narrow panel is discarded for compositional reasons.
The three remaining narrow panels are fixed together with a backing frame.
The painting now consists of two pieces, each 48" x 36".
Pier posts are added and the left panel is developed with acrylic paint.

NY Pier #2. 48" x 72" (diptych). Mixed media on wood panels.

4. The painting is developed in oils. Subtle lettering in the warehouse modules on the right panel (hard to see in this photo) come from an old "Carnation Milk" sign. Bands of paint to suggest water are applied with the edge of a piece of wood. Remains of old posts are added to the bottom right corner.

This painting is headed for a group show in New York which opens on April 7th. Watch this space!

Long Painting

2011-02-26T13:51:00.000-08:00

Pier 26 (SF) #3. 36" x 102". Mixed media on wood panel.

This is one of the paintings I've been developing for a group show in New York in April. The show features three British painters and will be at Stricoff Fine Art gallery in Chelsea. It opens on April 7th. www.stricoff.com

The photograph was taken by my friend Trish Tunney in her studio. For more of her work visit www.trishtunney.com

I still have a few paintings to finsh so I will be working around the clock for the next few weeks.

Mexico Memories

2011-02-19T18:34:00.001-08:00

In this week of rain and snow I'm thinking about my wonderful time in Mexico last year. I'm remembering the energy and color of the city of Merida. This photo shows some of the paintings I did in response to that trip. When I'm shivering in my cold studio this little corner of color makes me feel all warm again!

Street Posters

2011-02-04T22:18:00.001-08:00

Poster Hunt: I walk around the neighborhood looking for old posters which have been applied to plywood hoardings or old buildings. When they are thickly layered - about five or six layers - and it has recently rained it is usually quite easy to pull them off in one piece. After soaking them for a while in a large tray it is possible to peel back the layers to reveal the posters beneath. I then glue fragments onto panels to create vibrant underpaintings.
Above is a collection of fragments I found this week. Below is one of the resulting underpaintings. It measures 48" x 24" and I have no idea what it will turn into!

Upcoming Show

2011-02-02T08:45:00.001-08:00

I know it's early to send out a notification for a show in April but this one is in New York and some of you might be planning a spring trip to the Big Apple. If you are - come and join me for a drink at the opening on April 7th. I'll post this notice again nearer the time.

Now I'd better get on and complete the six to eight paintings I've promised!

Newest Pier Modules

2011-01-30T23:31:00.001-08:00

Pier Module #5. 36" x 18"

Pier Module #4. 36" x 18"

Pier Modules #'s 4-7.

I've just completed four more of my Pier Modules. Although they all have the same architectural proportions - based on Pier 26 in San Francisco - they are very different in their texture, details and colors. For the water area the oil paint is applied with the edge of a piece of wood. This process is time consuming but gives a great impression of reflections on water, creating a physical ripple effect which catches the light and adds great textural highlights.

Pier Modules

2011-01-09T00:56:00.000-08:00

Pier Module #1 36" x 18"

Pier Module #2 36" x 18"

Pier Module #3 36" x 18"

I've recently completed several paintings which explore the repetition of the architectural module seen in old piers around San Francisco. While these paintings are very well received they can often be too long for the average residential wall. The last one I completed (and sold) was 12'.6" long!

I'm now working on a collection of smaller works, each of which shows just one of the modules. The paintings have the same architectural dimensions and proportions but use a unique underpainting and colorway. They can be hung alone or placed together to create a sense of the architectural repetition and the fragmentation so often found in the urban environment.

Here are three of the twelve I am currently working on.

Third Street Bridge

2010-12-27T22:33:00.001-08:00

Third Street Bridge. 48" x 48". Mixed media on wood.

My fascination with the Third Street Bridge in San Francisco has endured for many years. Here is a painting I did back in 2005. My recent screen print, of which I am very proud, also showed this structure (see my post dated December 16th 2010). Unfortunately I have never seen the bridge in an open position - whenever I'm in the vicinity there are never any boats wanting to pass through!

Urban Laundry Closed Down!

2010-12-21T20:21:00.000-08:00

For the past six years I have been doing paintings of a building in the Mission District which housed a commercial laundry. What initially attracted me to the building were the old steel hooks which hung from rails outside the loading bays. They would transport bags of linens and uniforms from the delivery vans into the cavernous laundry space within. These wonderful hooks (which reminded me of sharper versions I had seen in the Meatpacking district of New York) are featured in at least five of my paintings.

A few weeks ago I was told that the laundry had finally closed. Yesterday I noticed that the hooks were gone! Today as I was walking past I saw men removing the rails which had held the hooks. I just had to ask....And now I'm now the proud owner of two old, heavy and greasy, red steel hooks!

Check out Trish Tunney's blog for great photographs of the laundry hooks.

Below are the five paintings shown in the order in which they were completed:

Urban Laundry (Diptych). 48" x 48". 2005

Urban Laundry # 2. 48" x 48". 2008

Urban Laundry # 3. 48" x 48". 2008

Urban Laundry # 4. 48" x 48". 2009

Urban Laundry # 5. 48" x 48". 2010

Loading Bays

2010-12-18T22:58:00.000-08:00

Loading Bay on White Wall. 48" x 39" (available)

Loading Bay Florida St. 36" x 23" (available)

Loading Bay Alameda St. 24" x 36" (available)

There's something about loading bays...simple, utilitarian, battered holes in walls. These paintings were inspired by bays I've seen in the neighborhood where I have my studio. It's an area of light-industry, warehouses, small businesses and, of course, artists. I find beauty in the most unexpected places every time I step outside.

Screen Print # 2

2010-12-16T22:13:00.001-08:00

3rd Street Bridge. 15" x 10.5"

My second screen print! The bridge on Third St. (outside the ball park) in San Francisco has fascinated me for many years and is featured in several paintings and drawings. And here it is again. I had a lot of fun in the printing class but it was way too short - just six three-hour sessions. I think I'll do another class in the spring.

New Pier Painting

2010-12-09T19:41:00.001-08:00

Pier 28 (North side) SF. 52" x 48" Mixed media on wood panels.

I've just finished this new painting of a pier on the Embarcadero in San Francisco which is still used by a small fishing company. The painting measures 52" x 48" and is constructed in two panels which relate to the architectural module of the building. The water effect is created by applying the bands of oil paint with the edge of a piece of wood. This creates thick ridges which look great but which take a while to dry. In the meantime it is hanging in my studio.

My First Screen Print

2010-12-01T22:24:00.000-08:00

I'm learning how to make screen prints!
I have spent he last three Monday evenings at a class run by a screen print artist called Hilary Williams - check out her work at www.hilaryatthecircus.com/ .
This is my first ever print - three colors on white. I know it's a little crude but I had fun and am really looking foward to knowing enough to be able to do it myself in my studio. I would like to print onto my paintings like my hero Robert Rauschenberg. In the final two weeks of class I will be working on a five color print.
As someone who allows my paintings to develop organically all the foward planning necessary for creating the different screens makes my head hurt!

New Painting - Port of Oakland

2010-11-22T22:09:00.000-08:00

Port of Oakland. 40" x 48"

Port of Oakland (detail)

I've just finished this painting which was inspired by a visit to the Port of Oakland to watch a friend take part in the weekly summer evening bicycle training. (I understand that cyclists refer to this as the POO ride!) The painting is built from four horizontal wooden panels which were all prepared seperately. Once they were fixed together the painting was developed as one. The lower panel is pasted with yard tickets which I collected while walking around the bicycle route. The colored squares are collaged paper to suggest the freight containers. The upper panel shows the cranes drawn onto vintage wallpaper.

I had fun doing this one!

Puppets

2010-11-17T21:03:00.001-08:00

The Senator and the Archbishop

Unfinished puppet

A few months ago I visited the work studio of my friend Bob who has been making wonderfully idiosyncratic puppets for many years. I was intrigued by the complex mechanisms he designs to make them move, and entranced by the personality each puppet exuded. Bob is very private so I kept my camera in my bag and did some quick sketches while he was telling his wonderful stories.

Coffee Time in the Studio

2010-11-15T23:02:00.000-08:00

Old Mint SF (diptych). 60" x 72"

Today I thought I'd hang a painting I completed in 2007. I've always loved this one. It shows a space in the Old Mint building on Mission Street in San Francisco. Looking down into spaces gives you a wonderfully exaggurated perspective which is always fun to draw. And I love solitary chairs!
Note: The chair in the photo is not a real Eames chair - it's a fake which I found on the street in San Francisco back in 1996.

Draw-Your-Lunch event in the studio.

2010-11-08T22:26:00.000-08:00

I gathered a dozen drawing pals in my studio on a rainy Sunday afternoon to draw and eat. Everyone bought visually satisfying food and we had great time sketching around the big table as the food gradually disappeared. The only rule was to check that no one was drawing what you wanted to pop into your mouth!
Here are a few of my sketches:

The last tomatoes off the plants in the garden.

Really tasty cupcakes!

Half-eaten chicken with colored pencils.

New Paintings - Stage One

2010-11-02T21:17:00.000-07:00

My studio feels empty now that Open Studios is over and my Merida paintings have been shipped to New York. This is when new things start to happen. I've spent the last couple of days getting messy with paint, sheetrock compound, posters, wallpaper and glue - this is how I develop my underpaintings. All of these panels willl eventually turn into paintings or parts of paintings. I'll keep you posted.

Shipping my Merida Street paintings.

2010-10-27T23:30:00.000-07:00

I'm just about to ship these four paintings to my gallery in New York. They are for sale individually but I think they look great as a set. Each one is a different house on one street in Merida (Mexico). They all link up, sit on the same sidewalk, and have the same roof line. But at each property line the architectural design and color changes radically. It was a fun street to walk down.

A Day in the Life of.....

2010-10-23T00:22:00.000-07:00

For all of you out there who think the life of an artist is one of leisurely creativity - here's what I have to deal with in my studio every winter:

Mopping up the flood after the first rains of the season. (The membrane on the roof above is compromised by construction works.)

Leaks in the ceiling over my painting area.

An afternoon spent (with a friend - thank you John!) fixing plastic to the ceiling to catch all the water.

A funnel, some 3/4" bilge hose, and some duct tape....

....and voila! My own drainage system. Thank you Ace Hardware!

Relaxing in my tent...

2010-10-21T23:23:00.000-07:00

In my opinion the only way to wind down after an Open Studios weekend is to grab your tent and head for the hills. The weather was great so that's exactly what I did. After pitching the tent by a creek, I inflated the airbed and lay back to listen to the sounds of nature (and the other campers nearby). I'm back in my studio now - rejuvenated and ready to go!

Will I be finished in time?

2010-10-05T00:10:00.000-07:00

Three days to go before Open Studios (see last posting). I've just got back from a trip, my studio is a mess, my ceiling is leaking, and I've got walls to paint. But instead of dealing with these issues I've been working on my Mexican street paintings - I hope to finish three of the four in time for the opening on Friday evening. So don't be surprised if I look frazzled when you visit!

Open Studios - October 2010

2010-09-12T08:27:00.001-07:00

Put this weekend in your calendar if you are in San Francisco and would like to see some art:

Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th October. 11-6pm.

Preview Friday 8th October. 6-9pm.

1890 Bryant @ Mariposa. San Francisco, CA 94110

I will be selling my 6" x 6" paintings which I have been posting here in the last couple of months. ($80 a piece.) If there's one you really want make sure you come to my studio for the preview evening.
Over 50 artists will be showing their work at 1890 that weekend. Come and have some fun!

Building a Mexican Street

2010-09-05T21:08:00.000-07:00

Merida Street - March 2010.

Paintings under development - August 25th 2010

When I went to Mexico earlier this year I walked down a long deserted street where all the buildings were linked, sat right on the sidewalk, had the same roofline, and were of competely different designs and colors. It inspired me to do a series of paintings and build my own Mexican street. Here are three of the four paintings I'm currently working on. Watch this space.....

I'm featured in a new book!

2010-08-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

I am one of the featured artists in a new book published this month about painters who use acrylic paint. It's called Acrylic Innovations by Nancy Reyner. Check out the link, especially pages 66 - 67. Oh, and that's my painting on the right side of the front cover.

50 X 50 Challenge Complete!

2010-08-30T21:19:00.000-07:00

I've completed fifty individual paintings in less than fifty days! Each one measures 6" x 6". I'm very pleased with myself. They'll all be for sale at my Open Studio (8th - 10th October). Watch this space....

Sinks and Shoes

2010-08-25T23:50:00.001-07:00

Stolte Grove Sink. 6" x 6"

Platform Shoe. 6" x 6"

... A couple more panels for my 50 x 50 grid (50 paintings in 50 days). I'm hoping to finish all 50 in the next week and will post a photograph of the full grid. Meanwhile other (bigger) things are happening in the studio - watch this space.

Urban BBQ

2010-08-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

Urban BBQ 48" x 31"

I've just finished this painting. It's already left my studio for it's new home where I know it will be much loved. I had a lot of fun doing it!

I'm starting to see in squares!

2010-08-17T22:37:00.000-07:00

#46 -Package. 6" x 6"

# 39 - Mexican Ruin. 6" x 6"

I completed another 5 squares since the last posting. Now only 15 to go. I can see the finish line!

Old VW Van

2010-08-09T22:41:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went to stay in a small cabin in the woods with my book group. I woke on Sunday morning to the smell of coffee and the sounds of the birds. I grabbed my sketchbook and a cup of coffee and sat in the sun to do this drawing. The old van seems to be a structural component of the wood storage system. The windows are so dirty you can't see in, and there was a dead, decapitated and dessicated coyote underneath. Fantastic!

Small paintings: 30 finished, 20 to go!

2010-08-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

#16 Toucan 6"x 6"

#6 Factory Worker 6"x 6"

#12 Chair 6" x 6"

I've done 10 more small paintings since my last posting. Here are three of them. Now only 20 to go before my wall grid is full. More later.....

Additions to my Wall:

2010-07-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

# 47 - Bee. 6" x 6"

# 37 - Male Portrait. 6" x 6"

# 41 - Hose Holder. 6" x 6"

Here are a few more of my "small" paintings. I committed to doing 50 and I've done 19 so far - just another 31 to go! I'll be selling them at my Open Studio on October 8th-10th. If there's one you're interested in come to the Friday evening preview. Watch this space for future postings.

Mission Scooter

2010-07-27T22:25:00.001-07:00

Mission Scooter. 25" x 48"

Don't these old scooters have lovely silhouettes? This painting is done in layers:
Layer 1 - Circus poster from France (Thanks Diane!);
Layer 2 - Painted copy of old hand-painted sign found in the Mission district of San Francisco;
Layer 3 - Paint applied to adjacent panels to reveal silhouette of scooter found on Harrison St.

Embarcadero on a sunny day.

2010-07-24T10:49:00.000-07:00

Pier 26 (south side)

Pier 28 (north side)
I've explored the old piers in San Francisco several times, from Fort Mason around to the Dog Patch neighborhood, but yesterday I saw some things I'd never seen before. Admittedly I walked through a couple of gates which are usually closed and that's how I got to see the harbor between piers #26 and #28. It was a sunny day and the colors of the flaking paint and decaying concrete were beautiful. A really inspirational day!

Three more small paintings:

2010-07-20T23:35:00.000-07:00

#36 - Mels Diner. 6" x 6"

# 29 - Red bathroom. 6" x 6"

# 31 - Pink. 6" x 6"

50 x 50 - More images

2010-07-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

More of my small paintings......

# 25 (Jenny woodcut) 6" x 6"

#50 (Shoes with stockings) 6" x 6"

# 42 (Female figure with ink) 6" x 6"

50 x 50 x 50

2010-07-14T23:55:00.000-07:00

My new project is to paint 50 paintings in 50 days and have them for sale at my Open Studios (in October) for $50 each. They will all measure 6" x 6" and be on panel. Each morning when I arrive at my studio I work on a painting while I'm drinking my coffee - it's a fun way to start the day! Each painting is then placed on the grid (above) in a position determined by pulling a number out of a jar.

# 15 (tape measure)

# 4 (Alex portrait)

Panels under development.

Barbeque on Bryant

2010-07-12T00:27:00.000-07:00

Don't ask me why but I just decided to create a Weber barbeque on one of my Mission underpaintings. I think I may call it "Barbeque on Bryant". (Photo courtesy of my talented friend Trish.)

Manhole Covers

2010-07-05T18:10:00.001-07:00

On my way to lunch in the Mission last week I saw a collection of old manhole covers in a secure PG&E parking lot. I nipped into the lot (when a car was entering) to take these photographs. Unfortunately I had to wait 10 minutes before another vehicle entered so that I could get out! It was worth the wait though. I'd like to go in again and do some rubbings with graphite on paper.

Chicken Soup Anyone?

2010-06-22T22:19:00.000-07:00

Caldo de Gallina # 1. 20" x 20". Mixed media on wood panel.

Caldo de Gallina # 2. 20" x 20". Mixed media on wood panel.

One one of my past walks through the Mission district I came across a hand-painted sign advertizing Caldo de Gallina (chicken soup). A couple of weeks ago I found my drawings of that sign and decided it was time to paint a chicken. Sometimes you just have to! So here are the two small paintings which resulted.

Bicycle Link Upgrade

2010-06-15T22:24:00.001-07:00

Globe painting # 1. 24" x 34". Mixed media on wood panels.

Improvements have just been made to the link to my bicycle works so it's now much easier to navigate and see the prices. Check it out again: http://stoneground.com/mackey/

Mexican Patchworks

2010-06-14T14:30:00.001-07:00

Merida # 2. 36" x 36". Mixed media on wood panel.

Merida # 1. 24" x 54". Mixed media on wood panel.

So far two patchwork paintings have emerged from my collection of images of my trip to Mexico. Each one includes signwriting found on buildings, bits of posters "appropriated" from the streets, and a re-creation of a typical stucco design I saw everywhere - usually in Pink. Each painting is made up of 4 seperate images on wood panels fixed together with a backing frame. I had a lot of fun putting these together and making them work as larger pieces.

Bicycle Works Available

2010-06-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

All the bicycle pieces I did earlier this year (drawings and paintings) can now be seen at:
http://stoneground.com/mackey/

Availability, sizes and prices are included. Drawing prices range from $50 - $200. Paintings from $425-$1050. Please contact me at catherine@catherinemackey.com if you are interested in purchasing a piece.

The image above is: "Limited # 5"; charcoal on paper; 18" x 13"; $200

What we will do for the right photo.....

2010-06-05T21:43:00.000-07:00

There is a wonderful old steel factory in San Francisco on the East end of 22nd Street almost as it hits the bay. It sits on land which is part of the future Pier 70 re-development plan and is probably slated for demolition. As some of you will know I love abandoned industrial-scale interiors and have painted many in the past.

The only way I could get a photo of the interior was to climb onto a ledge and hold my camera at the broken window. My friend (and partner-in-crime) Diane took this photo - I never even noticed the sign I was standing against!

Old sketch re-discovered...

2010-05-19T20:26:00.001-07:00

For Jane.

Mexican patchwork

2010-05-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

In the last few weeks I've been painting some panels with signage and images I found on walls on my trip to Merida, Mexico. (Even the fragments of posters are Mexican.) Now I'm going to start composing some "patchwork paintings" using these panels. I have no idea what is going to happen - watch this space.

Girls on Bikes at Dr Sketchys

2010-05-12T15:08:00.000-07:00

Last night the monthly Dr Sketchys event at 111 Minna St. in San Francisco featured girls on bikes as our models for the evening. How could I resist?

The models were avid bicyclists and one had built her own bike from scratch. It was a fun evening, helped along with great music and a bar. Here are a couple of quick drawings from my sketchbook.

Art in the Headlands

2010-05-09T22:05:00.000-07:00

I love this faded stencil number on an old concrete wall....

I found it on the old bunker in Kirby Cove in the Marin Headlands......

It looks through the Golden Gate towards San Francisco.......

I cycled 20 miles round trip through the Marin headlands to get there.

Art is worth the journey! Now back to the studio....

Thank You for coming!

2010-05-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

A big "Thank You" to everyone who came to see me at Open Studios. It was a fun weekend and I enjoyed chatting to you all. At the end of every Open Studios weekend all the artists in 1890 Bryant St. gather for our traditional photograph taken in the freight elevator. This year there were so many participating artists we had to spill out into the corridor as you can see above. The photo was taken by one of the artists in our group Jeremy Sutton. Thanks Jeremy! (www.jeremysutton.com)
PS. Yes, that's Elvis in the back!

One more day.....

2010-04-24T21:55:00.001-07:00

There is only one day left of Open Studios - tomorrow (Sunday 25th April). Come and see my bicycle paintings and drawings as well as some new urban patchwork paintings. My studio will be open 11.00 - 6.00. I'm at 1890 Bryant Street (@ Mariposa), Studio # 315.

I look foward to chatting to you all!

Open Studios!

2010-04-20T20:58:00.001-07:00

Don't forget my Open Studio this weekend. (See previous posting for address and times.) For a map and catalog showing all participating artists in the Mission please go to:

http://www.missionartistsunited.org/catalog/springos2010%20mau%20catalog.pdf

See you there!

More Mexico Sketches

2010-04-18T21:36:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more sketches from my Mexico trip. The drawing above was done in Merida in front of the Cathedral on the main square. There was a festival to celebrate the spring solstice and I found a quiet spot behind some food stalls where I could sketch undisturbed. My friend Diane drew the same stalls from the front and had a crowd around her for most of the time - it didn't seem to bother her as she did a great drawing!

This is a scene from the municipal market in Merida on a Saturday morning. I loved the juxtaposition of the pots and pans with the Virgin Mary. The stall just to the left of this scene fixed religious statues. You could get your broken statue glued back together and repainted. And if you had lost some pieces they had plenty of spare wings, angel heads, hands etc. The woman who ran the stall gave Diane and I stools to sit on while we drew. Everyone was SO nice!

Spring Open Studios

2010-04-09T12:22:00.000-07:00

It's that time again...Artists in the Mission district of San Francisco will be throwing open the doors of their studios and inviting the public to see their art. Open Studios weekend is Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th April. (Visit www.missionartistsunited.org for the online catalog showing participating artists in the Mission.)
My studio is at 1890 Bryant Street (corner of Mariposa) where there will be 35 artists showing their work, one taco truck, several coffee shops and restaurants, and lots of parking. The building will be open 11.00am-6.00pm on both days.

My show will be mostly about the bicycle work I have been doing recently (35 drawings and 12 paintings will be for sale) but I will also be showing two new large paintings which have just been finished and which have NOTHNG to do with bicycles!

I will be previewing my work in my studio on Friday 23rd April 6.00-9.00pm. I look foward to seeing you all over that weekend!

Yet more bikes!

2010-04-01T22:25:00.001-07:00

This bike is on loan from a fellow artist in my studio building. It's a strange cruiser/chopper hybrid with big "ape-hanger" handlebars. Unfortunately both tires are flat so I can't test ride it in the long corridor outside my studio as I have done with previous models. Here are a couple of drawings I did today. I'm also working on a small painting.

Bikes in Mexico

2010-03-30T21:45:00.001-07:00

We saw a lot of bikes in Mexico, no-nonsense, utilitarian models desgned to get you, your family, and/or your cargo from A to B. We saw the three-wheeled model (above) everywhere, mostly being used as taxis but sometimes converted into a mobile newspaper stand or drinks vending stall. The one in the sketch was being used to transport a large cactus (!?).

We saw this fabulous drawing on a wall as we were driving through a town called Santa Elena.

You can't tell from the sketch but this bicycle had wonderfully painted mudguards with ornate patterns. It belongs to the owner of the Sausalito Taco Shop in Tulum and stands outside the restaurant, unlocked, all night. Great food by the way!

On a different level (literally) this is a "Sky Bike" designed to allow tourists (yes, me) to propel themselves through the canopy of the jungle. It was fun!

Drawing in Mexico

2010-03-29T23:13:00.000-07:00

The day after my last posting I went to Mexico on a ten day drawing trip with my friend Diane. We had a great time on the Yucatan penninsular going between Merida, several Mayan ruins, and the beach at Tulum. Here are a few drawings from my sketchbook. Above is a fruit stand in Tulum.

This drawing shows a traditional thatched-roof house in Ticul.

This ink sketch was done at the Mayan ruins at Coba. It was swelteringly hot and humid and the mosquitoes were biting so it was a very quick drawing!

More to come - watch this space!

"Limited" 70's road bike

2010-03-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

Here's another one of my pieces based on the beautifully restrained "Limited" bicycle lent to me by a friend. It's going back to its owner today and I'm going to start drawing a very different model which someone else has been kind enough to lend to me. Watch this space.

El Burro

2010-03-03T22:50:00.000-08:00

No I haven't gone crazy after drawing too many bikes! I saw this gorgeous wire donkey in my friend Diane Komater's studio today. She's a "wireist" and usually does figures, portraits, and sometimes shoes. But donkeys? - this is new! You can see her work at www.wireist.com . She also does classes - you can contact her at didikomater@netzero.com .

Save the Date!

2010-03-02T18:51:00.000-08:00

For all my bicycle-loving fans out there I have a date for you to put in your diaries:
In mid-April I'll be having an Open Studio along with the other fabulous artists in my building.

Friday April 23rd 6-9.00pm; Sat & Sun 24th & 25th 11-6.00pm.

I'll post a more detailed announcement nearer the time. I'll be selling my bicycle drawings and paintings so if you are interested watch this space!

More Bicycles - as requested

2010-02-22T21:58:00.000-08:00

Some people have been asking for more bicycle drawings so here is something I've just done. A friend has lent me this beautiful "Limited" bike from the 70's. It's more delicate and refined than the other bicycles I've drawn to date. It has some beautiful components like the Campagnolo ("Campy") rear derailleur I've shown above. I'll be doing some looser sketches of this bike in the next few days.

Fast Figure Drawings

2010-02-20T10:29:00.000-08:00

We had an amazing guy model for the drawing group this week.

He did some poses where he made himself look like a character from a Dickensian novel.

Here are a few of my 1-2 minute gesture drawings in charcoal.

Catherine Mackey Art News

Winter Break 2012 - Works on Paper

Commission for T.

The Old Mint - San Francisco

New Bike Art Book

More Wooden Pier Posts...

Bicycle Drawings at Pegasus

New Works on Paper

The Development of a Pier Painting

Nargilehs - Istanbul

Drawing Animal Woman

Getting back to the studio....

Painting in The Huffington Post

Patchwork Paintings

Open Studio

Art For Aids Auction

Pier 19 with Bicycle

Two Bicycle Paintings - Two Auctions

Bayview Boat Club.

Pier 36 Painting Completed.

City Streets - Group Show

New York Painting in New York Gallery

Beginning a new painting:

New York Sketchbook

Shadows in Architecture

Framing "Dad's Army"

Fort Mason piers

Val's artwork

Dad's Army

San Francisco Fine Art Fair

Pier Fragment # 22

More Pier Fragments...

Pier Fragment Drawing

Mare Island Adventure

New Studio Sign

New York Show

Spring Open Studios

Accidental Painting

Clearing up.....

The Day Before Shipping...

Four Stages of a Painting.

Long Painting

Mexico Memories

Street Posters

Upcoming Show

Newest Pier Modules

Pier Modules

Third Street Bridge

Urban Laundry Closed Down!

Loading Bays

Screen Print # 2

New Pier Painting

My First Screen Print

New Painting - Port of Oakland

Puppets

Coffee Time in the Studio

Draw-Your-Lunch event in the studio.

New Paintings - Stage One

Shipping my Merida Street paintings.

A Day in the Life of.....

Relaxing in my tent...

Will I be finished in time?

Open Studios - October 2010

Building a Mexican Street

I'm featured in a new book!

50 X 50 Challenge Complete!

Sinks and Shoes

Urban BBQ

I'm starting to see in squares!

Old VW Van

Small paintings: 30 finished, 20 to go!

Additions to my Wall:

Mission Scooter

Embarcadero on a sunny day.

Three more small paintings:

50 x 50 - More images

50 x 50 x 50

Barbeque on Bryant

Manhole Covers

Chicken Soup Anyone?