Spring Open Studios

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!

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

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

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

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

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!

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!