Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Selma Brown's 1960's Art


Selma Brown
San Francisco Artist

It isn't every day that I get a scoop on a newly discovered historical cache of 1960's original San Francisco art!

Selma Brown arrived in San Francisco's Hippie Haight Ashbury District more than 40 years ago, during the "Summer of Love."

She is a San Francisco treasure who has contributed to many of the city's famous murals. 

I've had the good fortune to befriend this lovely artist.

She has taught me a lot about art and life. She continually inspires me with her creativity and productivity. She is always working and experimenting with new techniques and ideas. And I love to visit her in her cozy, colorful apartment that is filled with her art.

Recently she called me with news that she had found a portfolio of paintings in a closet, that she hadn't seen in about 40 years!

Seeing the work filled her with emotion.

She thought these pieces had a freedom and intensity that truly reflected the turbulent 1960's and the spirit of San Francisco.



Of course, I had to interview Selma and feature these works on my blog, Artists Up Rising

Click on the link below to get the full story and see the paintings!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Tree in Autumn

Painting by Rosa Phoenix


I love the trees in all seasons. I roam the parks of San Francisco with my sketchbook, pens and pencils. The stark, bare limbs of this tree called out to me. I simplified the shape and turned it into a black silhouette against an autumn sky.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Day of Souls


Devil face and Reina de las Rosas skull face
polymer clay sculptures by Rosa Phoenix


I made these faces with colored Sculpey (polymer clay). Tin foil is the base underneath. Sculpey is fun to play with, very easy and it doesn't make a mess. To harden it, you simply bake it in the oven. With the colored Sculpey, no painting is required. I glued magnets to the backs and made them refrigerator magnets. I think that I should do something else with them, though. One day maybe, I will make dolls, and these will be the faces. Wouldn't that be cool, Day of the Dead dolls?