Art I'm Making: Show at Hammerfriar Gallery

I'm pleased to announce that I'll be participating in a show of collage and mixed media work along with Molly Perez and Deborah Salomon at Hammerfriar Gallery, in Healdsburg, from February 24 to May 11, 2024. There will be an opening reception on Saturday February 24 (3PM-6PM) and I will be doing a collage demonstration at the gallery on Saturday, April 13 at noon. I hope to see you there.

Art I'm Looking at: Botticelli at the Legion of Honor

I found a recent article on Hyperallergic about drawing on blue paper interesting (actually a review of a book on the subject) – particularly interesting having recently seen the show of Botticelli drawings now at the Legion of Honor, in San Francisco.

It was striking that so many of the Botticelli drawings were done in ink on tinted paper, mostly pink paper in this case, heightened with white chalk. 

While at the Botticelli show, I was startled when a living Botticelli appeared beside me, gazing at the drawings on the wall. Her hair was long and blonde, flowing in loose curls, and her doe-eyed face was dainty with a pointed chin. Had she not been dressed in modern, casual clothing, she could have emerged from Botticelli's Primavera. It was all I could do to keep myself from staring at her. I had to wonder whether it was pure coincidence or whether she had done her hair that way purposefully, to create a stir. If she hadn't been wearing headphones, listening to a taped tour of the show, I would have approached her and asked her to pose in front of one of the drawings. Surreptitiously, I photographed her. She gave me goosebumps. 

Rain: New Precipitation

It's raining this morning, January 13, 2024, a light drizzle. There is 3.55 inches of rain accumulated in the rain gauge, but that's rain from earlier in the month that I haven't yet recorded. Adding that to our last total of 6.90 inches brings the total so far this season to 10.45 inches at my location in northeast Santa Rosa, which is on the low side for this time of year, but it's supposed to rain most of today and there's more rain in the forecast for next weekend. 

Art I'm Making: Untitled Colage No. 283 (Santa Rosa)

Still catching up on posting recent work. This one, a small piece measuring 9.7cm x 12.3cm (3.8 x 4.8 inches), completed July 13, 2023, is Untitled Collage No. 283 (Santa Rosa). Acrylic on paper, acrylic monotype, collage. Matted to 11in x 14in. Signed on the mat. Signed and dated on the reverse.

Click on the image for a larger view. For more of my abstract monotype collage, visit my website http://ctalcroft.wix.com/collage-site/

Books I'm Reading: New Art City

2023 has not been a great year for reading. There was a time, when, living in Tokyo, when I had a long commute, that I read a book a week or more using my time on the train to and from work. Since returning to the US, 22 years ago now, I've been reading a book a month or so, but this year, with the death of my mother in January and all the responsibilities that stemmed from that, I've been able to get through only a handful of titles. 

I most recently finished Jed Perl's New Art City (Vintage, 2007), which was an interesting look at New York in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, but rather dense and I was slow to get through it. It starts off with a chapter that underscores the importance of Hans Hoffman as a teacher in New York in the 1930s before moving on to look at the major artists of the period based in New York – Joseph Cornell, Jackson Pollack, Robert Rauschenberg, Ellsworth Kelly, Willem de Kooning, Joan Mitchell, and others – as well as the critics who were writing about these men and women. Inspired, I'm now reading a book about Helen Frankenthaler, and I have another on deck specifically about the women who were working as artists in New York during the period. So many books, so little time....

Art I'm Making: Untitled Collage No. 282 (Santa Rosa)

A collage from earlier this year, again incorporating some pseudo-calligraphic brushwork. For me, a comparatively large piece. This is Untitled Collage No. 282 (Santa Rosa). 30 June 2023. Image size: 32.3cm x 41.2cm (12.7in x 16.2in). Matted to 20 x 24 inches. Signed on the mat. Signed and dated on the reverse. 

Click on the image for a larger view. For more of my abstract monotype collages, visit my website at http://ctalcroft.wixsite.com/collage-site/

Rain: End-December Rain

Today, 27 December, it's been raining most of the day and the rain continues. So far there's 0.80 inches of new rain in the rain gauge, but it's supposed to continue to rain into tomorrow, at which time I will update our total precipitation so far in the current rain year. 

Art I'm Making Untitled Collage No. 281 (Santa Rosa)

Here's a small collage from the middle of this year. This is Untitled Collage No. 281 (Santa Rosa). June 14, 2023. Acrylic on paper, acrylic monotype, collage. Image size 11.7cm x 9.2cm (4.6 x 3.6 inches). Matted to 14 x 11 inches. Signed on the mat. Signed and dated on the reverse.

Click on the image for a larger view. For more of my abstract monotype collages, visit my website http://ctalcroft.wix.com/collage-site/.

Rain: New rain in December

In the past few days, mostly December 19 and 20, we have had rain on and off. This morning there was 3.05 inches of new rain in the rain gauge. That brings our total so far for the 2023-2024 rain year to 6.90 inches at my location in northeast Santa Rosa, which seems low for this time of year, but more rain is forecast for next week. 

Art I'm Making: Untittled Collage No. 280 (Santa Rosa)

Earlier this year, I made seven or eight collages using my usual handmade monotypes but also several sheets I had made simply by painting with black paint on paper, mimicking calligraphy, although this was asemic writing – that is, gibberish; I was simply using the brush as if writing characters, drawing on my informal study of Japanese calligraphy (I lived in Japan 19 years). Here's another in that group of collages.

This is Untitled Collage No. 280 (Santa Rosa). Completed March 23, 2023. Acrylic on paper, acrylic monotype, collage. Image size: 10.3cm x 11.8cm (4.1in x 4.7in). Signed on the mat. Signed and dated on the reverse. 

 

Click on the image for a larger view. For more of my abstract monotype collages, visit my website http://ctalcroft.wix.com/collage-site/.

Rain: November-December 2023

I've not been diligent in recording rainfall this season. I've a lot to deal with in the past few months, but I note here that we've had rain on and off in the past few weeks, although nothing in the way of a major storm yet. There is 3.80 inches in the rain gauge, which I haven't emptied recently, so that may be fairly accurate (it is raining now, so it will go up). In any case, I'll use it as my starting point recording rainfall going forward for the 2023-2024 rainy season.

Art I'm Making Untitled Collage No. 279 (Santa Rosa)

Earlier this year, I made seven or eight collages using my usual handmade monotypes but also several sheets I had made simply by painting with black paint on paper, mimicking calligraphy, although this was asemic writing – that is, gibberish; I was simply using the brush as if writing characters, drawing on my informal study of Japanese calligraphy (I lived in Japan 19 years). Here's another in that group of collages, a small piece.

This is Untitled Collage No. 279 (Santa Rosa). Completed March 23, 2023. Acrylic on paper, acrylic monotype, collage. Image size: 10.3cm x 11.8cm (4.1in x 4.7in). Signed on the mat. Signed and dated on the reverse.

Click on the image for a larger view. For more of my abstract monotype collages, visit my website http://ctalcroft.wix.com/collage-site/.

Wines I'm Making: 2023 Grape Pressing

Yesterday, November 11, the fermentation of this year's wines largely over, I racked the Sangiovese rosé into the container it will rest in until it clears. I added the yeast on October 23, so it was a long, slow fermentation of 19 days (8-12 days is typical for the rosé). Because of the late harvest this year, we had much cooler weather during fermentation than usual. We'll get 15 bottles of 2023 rosé. The wine should be ready to drink before Christmas.

I also pressed the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc. We ended up with 12 gallons of pressed wine, which will yield 60 bottles of wine. I added the yeast to the Cabernet on October 26 after a four-day cold soak. Fermentation took 16 days, which is slightly longer than usual (typically 12-14 days). The next step will be to inoculate the new wine to start malolactic fermentation. In addition, it will soon be time to bottle our 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc wine, which has been resting since this time last year. Thanks to my friends David and Kimiko for their help with the pressing yesterday. 

Art I'm Making: Untitled Collage No. 278 (Santa Rosa)

In the early part of this year, I made seven or eight collages using my usual handmade monotypes but also several sheets I had made by just painting with black paint on paper, mimicking calligraphy, although this was asemic writing – that is, gibberish; I was simply using the brush as if writing characters, drawing on my informal study of Japanese calligraphy (I lived in Japan 19 years). Here's another in that group of collages.

This is Untitled Collage No. 278 (Santa Rosa). Completed March 22, 2023. Acrylic on paper, acrylic monotype, collage. Image size: 12.4cm x 10.7cm (8.4in x 4.2in). Signed on the mat. Signed and dated on the reverse.

Click on the image for a larger view. For more of my abstract monotype collages, visit my website http://ctalcroft.wix.com/collage-site/.

Music I'm Listening to: Concerts at Davies Symphony Hall

I attended San Francisco Symphony concerts at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco on October 6 and then again on October 13. Esa-Pekka Salonen conducted both concerts. The first one featured an electronically augmented, very abstract violin concerto by Jesper Nordin (a world premiere). Pekka Kuusisto was the soloist. 

The second concert featured Emanuel Ax playing The MAX Concerto, written for him by Anders Hillborg, another world premiere, and, after intermission, a strong performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 2. During intermission, I took an opportunity to photograph some of the double basses, which are always photogenic. 

A Visit to SF MOMA

I recently purchased a collage made by artist Sara Post out of a show in Danville called "Paper Trails." The show closed last weekend. This weekend offered the first opportunity I had to go pick up the art.

 

On my way home, I decided to stop in at SF MOMA. I enjoyed seeing some old favorites in the permanent collection as well as a few new things, including some small pieces by Paul Klee, among others.  

The last photo here is a detail of Diego Rivera's mural "Pan American Unity," temporarily on display at SF MOMA.

Wines I'm Making: 2023 Cabernet and Sangiovese Harvest

I tested the grapes this year on October 5. The Cabernet was at 22º Brix and a pH of 2.95. The Sangiovese was at 21.5º Brix and a pH of 3.00. The seeds were still noticeably green. It was clearly too early to pick, and that was consistent with the sense I had that, because of the cool weather we've had this year, that we were still about three weeks away from harvest. At the same time, there were a fair number of clusters starting to turn to raisins, which, in moderation is not an issue, but too many raisins is not ideal either. In the end, this past weekend seemed like a good compromise. 

I harvested on Saturday, October 21. The grapes were generally in very good condition. There was almost no mildew or any animal damage until the night before I harvested. While picking, I discovered that something tore a big hole in the nets and stripped an entire plant of grapes. In the end, though, the harvest was a fairly typical 22.8kg (or 50lbs) of Sangiovese and 56kg (123.2lbs) of Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc. 

After crushing, the Sangiovese tested at 22.4º Brix, ideal for the rosé that we normally make from it. The Cabernet tested at 23.8º Brix, just shy of the 24.0º I shoot for, but close enough. Those sugar levels will theoretically yield wines of 12.3% and 13.1% alcohol, respectively, which is just about right. The Sangiovese has already been pressed and inoculated with Epernay II yeast. Pressing yielded a little over three gallons of juice, which will translate into 15 bottles of rosé. 

The Cabernet is resting. I usually add the yeast to the Cabernet after a cold pre-soak of two to three days. It was a very tiring weekend, but most of the hard work is done for the year. The Cabernet fermentation will take about two weeks after the yeast is added. Until then, I'll just be watching the rosé fermentation.

Art I'm Making: Untitled Collage No. 277 (Santa Rosa)

There was a lot going on for me in the first part of 2023. I completed a collage in early December of 2022 but didn't complete another until March of this year. This is Untitled Collage No. 277 (Santa Rosa). It is the first of about eight pieces I did in the first half of the year using papers I made drawing on my experience with calligraphy. Completed March 21, 2023. Acrylic on paper, acrylic monotype, found paper, collage. Image size: 15.3cm x 12.4cm (6.0in x 4.9in). Signed on the mat. Signed and dated on the reverse. This piece recently sold to a private collector.

Click on the image for a larger view. For more of my abstract monotype collage work, visit my website at: http://ctalcroft.wix.com/collage-site/

Wines I'm Making: Harvest 2023

I plan to harvest our backyard vineyard this coming weekend. The grapes are almost ideally ripe. The recent, very light rain has not caused the berries to swell and crack (this year, I have been able to dry-farm them; they've received no supplemental water at all), and we're starting to get some raisining, which is not an issue, as long as it's not extreme. I tested the Cabernet at just under 22º Brix last week (October 5) and a pH of 2.95 and the Sangiovese at 21º Brix and a pH of 3.00. The problem is that it is ideal to pick when the grapes are physiologically ripe; sugar level alone is not enough. I wanted one more degree of sweetness, the pips still looked a little green, and the pH is on the low side, so I waited, but I won't be able to wait much longer. It will be a busy weekend. 

Plants I'm Growing: Hot Peppers

I bought several pepper plants at the start of the season and one of them has done extraordinarily well. These were supposed to be Jimmy Nardello peppers, which are a sweet variety. I harvested some recently and roasted them with a little salt and olive oil and nearly died after the first bite. They turned out to be very, very hot, about as hot as a cayenne pepper. 

I was rather confused until a couple of weekends ago I talked to a grower at one of our local farmer's markets and he said that there was a seed mix-up at one the major suppliers of starts and that it was likely mislabeled. I have no idea what these actually are, but I'm going to dry them and use them (very judiciously) as a seasoning. 

Art I'm Making: Untitled Collage No. 276 (Santa Rosa)

Here's a collage from the end of last year. This is Untitled Collage No. 276 (Santa Rosa), Acrylic on paper, acrylic monotype, found paper (fragment from Carol Dalton). Image size: 41.4cm x 32.0cm (14.8in x 11.0in). Signed on the mat. Signed and dated on the reverse. 

Click on the image for a larger view. For more of my abstract monotype collage work, visit my website at http://ctalcroft.wixsite.com/collage-site/. 

 

Better yet, if you're in Northern California or you're planning a visit soon, stop by my studio during the second weekend of this year's Art Trails open studio event and see my work in person. October 7 and 8. Studio open 10:00AM to 5:00P.

Art I'm Making: Untitled Collage No. 275 (Santa Rosa)

Here's another collage from about this time last year, around the time of Art Trails 2022. Art Trails 2023 is this weekend and next (more below).

This is Untitled Collage No. 275 (Santa Rosa). Acrylic on paper, acrylic monotype, collage. Image size 29.7cm x 14.8cm (11.7in x 5.8in). Matted to 14 x 11 inches. Signed on the mat. Signed and dated on the reverse. 

 

Click on the image for a larger view. For more of my abstract monotype collage work, visit my website at http://ctalcroft.wix.com/collage-site/. 

 

Better yet, if you're in Northern California or you're planning a visit soon, stop by my studio during this year's Art Trails open studio event and see my work in person. More than 130 artists all over Sonoma County will be opening their studios to the public on two weekends – September 30 and October 1 and October 7 and 8. Studios open 10:00AM to 5:00PM on all four days.

Miscellaneous 2023 Alameda All-Italian Car and Motorcycle Show

Yesterday I attended The Alameda All-Italian Car and Motorcycle Show, in Alameda, for the first time in six or seven years. I was able to go this year because for the first time in that many years it didn't coincide with Art Trails (this coming weekend and the following weekend). 

 It's always fun to see what shows up – tiny Fiats and luxury Fiats, sporty Lancias, all kinds of Alfas, Ferraris, and some obscure vehicles I'd never even heard of this time around. I washed, waxed, and spruced up my 1978 Alfa Spider and she got more attention than in the past. Several people stopped to admire the car. A few people were interested enough to take pictures. Perfect weather. A nice way to spend a Sunday morning.

Art I'm Making: Untitled Collage No. 274 (Santa Rosa)

A collage from around this time last year. This is Untitled Collage No. 274 (Santa Rosa). October 16, 2022. Acrylic on paper, acrylic monotype, collage. Image size 32.2cm x 41.4cm (12.7in x 16.3in). Matted to 20 x 24 inches. Signed on the mat. Signed and dated on the reverse.

Click on the image for a larger view. For more of my abstract monotype collage work, visit my website at http://ctalcroft.wix.com/collage-site/.

 

Better yet, if you're in Northern California or you're planning a visit soon, stop by my studio during this year's Art Trails open studio event and see my work in person. More than 130 artists all over Sonoma County will be opening their studios to the public on two weekends – September 30 and October 1 and October 7 and 8.

Art I'm Making: Untitled Collage No. 273 (Santa Rosa)

I'm pleased that one of my collages has been included in the juried 19th Annual Wabi-Sabi show at the O'Hanlon Center for the Arts (616 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley, through October 12).

My Untitled Collage No. 273 (Santa Rosa) is in the show, which features work reflective of the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi – a rather slippery term, but one that usually connotes simplicity, impermanence, imperfection and the effects of the passage of time, and an acceptance of these as beautiful.

Click on the image for a larger view. For more of my abstract monotype collage work, visit my website at http://ctalcroft.wix.com/collage-site/.

Better yet, if you're in Northern California or you're planning a visit soon, stop by my studio during this year's Art Trails open studio event and see my work in person. More than 130 artists all over Sonoma County will be opening their studios to the public on two weekends – September 30 and October 1 and October 7 and 8. Studios are open from 10:00AM to 5:00 PM on all four days.

Food I'm Eating: First fresh figs of the season

It's that time of year. We're just starting to get the first figs of the season. These are a variety called "Brown Turkey." Fresh figs with yogurt and honey from our beehive make the best of all breakfasts – well, maybe except for smoked kippers, buttered toast, and tea....

Wine I'm Making: Harvest likely to be late in 2023

When wine grapes start to take on their mature color, they begin to ripen. Red wine grapes go from green to pink to whatever color they will end up being – anywhere from a pale red to a deep purple-black. The French call the start of the color change veraison. In my little backyard vineyard (34 vines – 21 Cabernet Sauvignon, four Cabernet Franc, and nine Sangiovese), veraison is usually in mid-July. In a normal year, the grapes have taken on their full color usually by the end of July or early August at the latest. This year, reflecting the very long, cool spring season we had, veraison is still not complete in the middle of September. I usually harvest the grapes in the last week of September in an early year, in the second week of October in a late year. This year I suspect the grapes may hang until early November. 

Miscellaneous: Strange dreams

Strange dreams: Recently I had a vivid dream in which I was playing American football, wearing a white jersey, in a large stadium. I say "playing" football, but actually I was a quarterback at practice, lobbing long passes to a receiver far down the field. 

The odd thing is, instead of a football, I was throwing large yellow lemons. They fit my hand perfectly. After a good catch, my receiver came running back to me and I explained how my hands are not that big and that I was never able to comfortably hold a regulation football with enough control to be a good passer, but the lemons were a perfect fit. 

It was odd to be throwing lemons like a football, but it was even odder that my receiver was Barbra Streisand.

Art I'm Making: Untitled Collage No. 272 (Santa Rosa)

This is Untitled Collage No. 272 (Santa Rosa). Acrylic on paper, acrylic monotype, found paper (fragment from Carol Dalton), collage. Image size: 15.1cm x 15.7cm (5.9in x 6.2in). Signed on the mat. Signed and dated on the reverse.

Click on the image for a larger view. For more of my abstract monotype collages, visit my website at http://ctalcroft.wix.com/collage-site/

Better yet, come see my work in person during Sonoma County's Art Trails open studio event. 130 artists around the county will open their studios to the public on two weekends. Studios will be open from 10:00AM to 5:00PM on September 30 and October 1 and October 7 and 8. This year, I'll be Studio 99.

Art I'm Making: Untitled Collage No. 271 (Santa Rosa)

Here is a collage finished during our Art Trails open studio event here in Sonoma County last year. This is Untitled Collage No. 271 (Santa Rosa). October 1, 2022. Acrylic on paper, acrylic monotype, collage. Image size: 9.1 x 11.8cm (3.6 x 4.9 inches). Matted to 11 x 14 inches. Signed on the mat. Signed and dated on the reverse. 

 

Click on the image for a larger view. For more of my abstract monotype collages, visit my website at http://ctalcroft.wix.com/collage-site/. Even better, if you're in the Northern California area this autumn, come visit the studio and see recent (and older) work in person. The Art Trails event dates this year are September 30, October 1, 7, and 8. More than 120 studios will be open around the county on all four days from 10:00AM to 5:00PM.