Trying Something New

Keeping things new and exciting is always a challenge and I'm not just talking about my marriage (hee hee). As an artist I try challenging myself regularly, I figure there's always something to learn and I don't want to just settle into one thing and become a Thomas Kincaid type, cranking out the same crap day after day. (Note: His stuff is crap, not mine, but I guess that's a matter of opinion) Anyways, you gotta grow, change and part of that means trying new things in order to keep it fresh, peoples.

OK so I'm a painter, but I'm always experimenting with new materials, I'm a freak for inks, odd rubber stamps, fancy art markers and all kinds of art supply store goodies. I often work in clay, handbuilding sculpture and for my day job I make alot of handmade tiles for architectural projects. However, I've never been able to master the art of throwing pots. While in college many years ago I attempted this great feat and was a complete failure. Of course back in those days they were kick wheels, none of this silent electric wheel stuff, it was hard work. The fact is I never did get the hang of it, my pots all looked like some kinda rumpled tube top on the laundry room floor. Yes, this was the 80's.

Well so recently an old friend who is an amazing ceramicist opened a studio called Higher Fire and I decided to take a class. The owner Dan, is an amazing teacher and has been super patient with me. I'll admit I didn't take to it right away, but I'm starting to get it and and after sort of putting my own take on it, I actually like my pieces. I've been using letter stamps for some recessed phrasing and then when the clay is leather hard carving in some of my images. I then hand paint them with glazes and fire. Check out some of my first pieces and some still in progress.

Another new thing I recently tried was making mono-prints. A couple of weeks ago I also got the opportunity to take part in a workshop at The Institute of contemporary Art here in San Jose. I was sponsored by a member of the board there for this workshop where the idea was to take artist who work in other media, like painters, photographers, sculptors etc. and teach them to make prints. The teacher was Fanny Reznek, an accomplished printmaker, who was wonderful in teaching us the basic use of materials. Anyways, check out my results!

Upcoming Show!
This summer I'll be a featured artist in "Mischief" at Studio Gallery in San Francisco. Spend a day in the city and come see the show!

Mischief, characters, creatures & comics
July 13th - August 7th
opening reception: Sunday, July 17th, 2-6 pm
http://www.studiogallerysf.com

Read About Me!
Awesome outsider artists The Nally Boys, father and son duo Wm B. and David "Big Dutch" Nally have featured me on their blog, please check it out! They're both amazing artists from Pennsylvania.
http://thenallyboys.blogspot.com/

Like beer?
Exciting news...I've been commissioned to design a beer label for a local brewery, this red ale is supposed to come out soon and will be sold at BevMo. More on this later! I'm hoping to do an art show/beer party...sounds fun, huh?

As always, I'm always listing new stuff in my Etsy Store http://www.etsy.com/shop/murphymae, take a peek

There's also some new work including lots of affordable prints at Kaleid Gallery, if you find yourself in downtown SJ check it out http://www.kaleidgallery.com

Feel free to contact me with any questions, commissions, suggestions, you know, whatever, I always love hearing from you all!

Happy Summer!
Murph
www.murphyadams.net

2010 in a Nutshell: A so-so year in review

2010, what can I say...not my best year, but not my worst either.

Good things that happened: I had a successful solo show. I went whale watching in Mexico and got to touch whales, even a baby one! Both my kids graduated. My daughter got into the art college of her dreams. My son started high school and is still there. I (nervously) did an overhead presentation of drawings about my life. I made some rocking mosaics. I started teaching again. I'm still married, and better yet, I still really love my husband. I got 6 more chickens. I rode a horse for the first time after being afraid to my whole life. I'm healthy. I started baking (big time). I made some new friends. I drove by myself from Portland to San Jose (this is kind of a major one, I used to be afraid to drive in unknown territory and I don't really like cars). I'm still making art, everyday.

Bad things that happened: My dad passed away. I got a little bit fat. My daughter moved away to go to college. I got bi-focals. I started teaching again.

So the good outweighs the bad, mostly, except for the dad part. I hope they're right about the whatever doesn't kill you, business.

What I hope to accomplish in 2011: Overcome another fear (snakes, public restrooms, knitting?), make more clay art, learn again to throw pots, start my illustrated novel (really, its about love, revenge and PTSD), sell enough art so I don't have to teach much, get rid of my little bit of fatness, grow lots of things, smile more, be patient and don't fight with others, love, make creme brulee, sleep 8 hours a night, actually write my blog every now and then.

Upcoming Shows (more on this soon):

"The Bird Show "
January 8 - February 6
Cactus Gallery
4534 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Eagle Rock, CA 90041 - 323.256.6117

"Love Crazy"
Jan. 24th to Feb. 15th
Psycho Donuts in Campbell.
reception: Sat. Feb. 5th from 10AM to 3PM.

Image above: "I'll Rip Your Head Off (Bitch)" 2010

Tainted Love at Psycho Donuts - February 14

I Gave YOu My Heart

If Valentine's Day had an evil twin, it would have been conceived at Psycho Donuts! We have so much killer stuff going on, it'll be positively demented! Mark your calendar now for Sunday, Feb 14 - for TAINTED LOVE at Psycho Donuts! That's right - none of this stodgy, lovey-dovey, romantic, everyone's-in-love Day... our Valentine's Day is rooted not the real world, but in the surreal world!

Want a seriously memorable Valentine's Day? You gotta be at Psycho Donuts. Here's what's going wrong at Psycho Donuts on Feb 14, beginning at 10:00am:

Tainted Love Donuts. You've never seen donuts like these on Valentine's Day. Sure, we'll have some heart shaped donuts - but that's sooooo expected, right? Let's face it - any donut shop can make a heart-shaped donut, and they probably will. So let's get to the heart of the matter... Love takes work, and so does the creation of monstrosities like our "Aphrodisiac Donut," and "The Abstinance Holes." That's right, let your imagination wander... it's ok, The Department of Homeland Security has not implented thought monitoring yet.


Tainted Art. Not your typical love paintings - but original local works from artists who understand that love comes at a cost. Check out whack art from Christine Benjamin, Nic Caesar, Murphy Adams, Skip Crank, Sid Enck Jr., Michelle Waters, Lacey Bryant, Michael Foley, Sherwin Viray, Denice Vaughn, Tamiko Boiko, Carlos Villez,Keith Bowers and Deborah Barba! Let's admit it - real love encompasses psychotic pain - we are out to expose the truth this Valentines Day... channeling art as our medium. Purchase a piece of original art for your Psycho Valentine, starting as low as $35!
If I Could Only Sleep with My Cat



Tainted Songs. If you've not been to Psycho Donuts for Psycho Karaoke, you are missing out on some scarious loopy fun. Join us with our fearless Karaoke ringleader, Korkaraoke. Our standing offer applies - sing a song, get a free donut! Check out Batman singing karaoke last December, and Nurse Dylan killin' it this past weekend! Check out Psycho Karaoke, and you'll know why The Metro voted Psycho Donuts the Weirdest Place to see a Live Show (oh, and Best Donut Shop too...).

Show runs form Feb. 5th to March 14th, 2010
Store Hours:
Monday - Thursday 6am-5pm
Friday 6am-11pm
Saturday 7am-11pm
Sunday 7am-5pm

Psycho Donuts
2006 S. Winchester Blvd
Campbell, CA 9500
408-378-4540
http://www.psycho-donuts.com/

Looking forward to some Psycho times together on Valentine's Day!

Happy Twenty Ten!

"Sneaking a Beer" mixed media on wood 2010

Happy 2010?
You're not serious, January is just about over and I'm just getting started on the new year? Well, yeah. I guess I needed a few weeks to catch up on old 2010, think about what's up for me this year and even make a few resolutions. For one, stop procrastinating, get on the ball Murph! Like this blog for example, writing it was supposed to be fun, but it's become a chore like the ding dang dishes. All that is going to change I tell you! New blog posts galore in 2010! Number two, I need to get outta my pj's before noon...or four, a shower would be a good idea as well, and scrubbing the paint out of my fingernails and off my elbows might be a nice change. Numero three, just because I'm an artist doesn't mean I have to have a messy house. I'll attempt to keep the art in the studio and not on every flat surface in the house. I'm purdy lucky to make art for a living, sure beats other jobs that I've had like teaching comedy traffic school or my one day stint as a 1-900 phone "actress"...so it's time to get with the program!

New Stuff:

I'm now showing at Azuca Gallery in Los Gatos, there's a nice little window display of my work happening now..thanks Amy! The address is 11 1/2 Santa Cruz Ave in downtown Los Gatos. Check out the brand new originals and prints there!


"Be Mine" mixed media on paper 2010

There's a Valentine show at Psycho Donuts called "Tainted Love," that I'm currently working on new pieces for. Bring your sweetie out for a donut and some art Valentine's morning for a cool little reception to start your day. Check out the event on their blog The Psycho Buzz: http://psychodonuts.blogspot.com/

Upcoming in March is the Sketchbook show at Kaleid Gallery, you'll get a chance to peruse through my sketchbook along with I think 30 other artists, and see some killer art...more on that later. I will also be participating in the "Food" show at Studio Gallery in San Francisco, I'm thinking bacon and borscht.

I'm still working with Lizard Skin Studios on a public art piece in Milpitas, where we've erected a 20 foot steel tree and are hanging strands of recycled objects from it. We're still looking for CDs and bottle-caps, give me a holler if you have any! I'm also busy making clay forms for some new projects in the works for Sacramento and one in Poland!

Thats all for now...off to work, work, work!