Copyright © Keiko Stong Artist 2011

Sorry it has been so long since we last communicated! Things have been busy…and interesting. We trust that every one is enjoying a good 2011 so far.

Anyway, I am exhibiting art at two shows currently:

Spring Blossoms

Sponsored by the Gallery Concord/California Watercolor Association

Featured watercolor artist is Pablo Villicana-Lara

Guest artists are

Keiko Stong (Acrylics)

Kay Van Hoesen (Gourd Artist)

Venue:

The Gallery Concord

1765 Galindo Street

Concord, CA 94520

            Located one block south of Willow Pass Road

            Free parking is available off Clayton Road behind the gallery

Gallery hours:

Thursday – Sunday, 11 am – 4 pm

Telephone:        925-691-6140

From March 31 – June 26, 2011

I am exhibiting eleven (11) oil and acrylic paintings; mostly patterned and Japanese heritage paintings

Art Show at the Old Port Costa School

Sponsored by the Port Costa Conservation Society

Featuring works by over 35 local artists

Venue:

The Old Port Costa School

Port Costa, CA

            Located on Canyon Lake Drive & Reservoir Street

Old Port Costa School hours:

Weekends in May 2011, Noon – 4 pm

From May 7 – May 29, 2011

I am exhibiting five (5) paintings for the show; a range of works: a watercolor, a print, an acrylic and a couple of oils.

Hope you are having a great spring!

Keiko

Keiko Stong

E-mail:               keikostong55@hotmail.com

Blog #:                    11-05-031

“Art communicates emotion.”

Copyright © Keiko Stong Artist 2010

As I have pursued painting, time and again I have become fascinated with a particular topic, subject, or even medium. Sometimes my eagerness to follow a particular trail, or series, is simply because it’s a new technique and I want to try it several times to learn its secrets and improve my hand at it. Other times I come across a subject that entrances me and, like with learning a new media, I find myself drawn to painting different subjects of similar kind…again, to experience the creation of that particular art, to understand a bit more of its challenges and depths and secrets.

And, so, over the years I have ended up with several series of paintings. I didn’t start out to create them. Rather, they just happened along the way of my journey as an artist.

So far, my series are:

● Tropical Marine Life

- A celebration of the strange shapes and vivid colors of fish and other life forms in our oceans

- Watercolors

- Approximately 15 paintings

● Hands

- Focus on human hands: they reflect out lives

- Acrylic

- 2 paintings

● Flowers

- Another celebration of shapes & brilliant colors; this time land-based

- Watercolors

- Approximately 8 paintings

● Landscapes and Waterscapes

- Finding the beauty of our earth

- Acrylic or oil

- Approximately 13 paintings

● Heavens

- Exploring the beauty and mystery of space & the universe

- Oil

- Approximately 10 paintings

● Things Japanese

- Delving into my heritage, especially cultural aspects, aesthetics, and the patterns embedded in kimono, washi-paper, and family crests

- Acrylic or oil

- Approximately 9 paintings

● Pattern Painting

- A fusing of landscapes and Japanese (-like) patterns; adding a bright overlay to the beauty of earth

- Acrylic or oil

- Approximately 46 paintings

So many subjects,

So much beauty,

So little time!

Keiko

Keiko Stong

E-mail: keikostong55@hotmail.com

Blog #: 10-10-029

“Art communicates emotion.”

Copyright © Keiko Stong Artist 2010

We are beginning to experiment with making “derivative” products from Keiko’s artwork. We don’t know much—yet—about derivative products, but we imagine these are anything of interest to which, somehow, a digital image of one of Keiko’s art pieces can be attached.

A ubiquitous example might be art on a coffee mug. That is definitely a possibility, but we started on a simpler one: glossy photo prints made into cards. We created a few from Keiko’s series:

● Tropical Marine Life

(8 different subjects)

● Flowers

(6 different subjects)

● Things Japanese

(6 different subjects)

For this first test-effort, we selected a minimum of six from each series. At the Port Costa Art Show on September 19, 2010, our “inventory” included these cards, sold either individually or in sets. People were impressed when told that the photos were of paintings done by Keiko. They sold rather well—and that leads to the next stage.

Which is, we are working with a company that specializes in such derivative ideas. Some of the possibilities involving digital art images include:

● Giclee prints

● Coffee mugs

● Large canvases

● Printed cards

● Posters

There are many more possibilities, we understand. More on that as our experiments continue!

Bill

William A. Stong

Telephone:            925-202-6244

E-mail: william.a.stong@gmail.com

Blog #: 10-09-028

Copyright © Keiko Stong Artist 2010

Only a few more days to the 2010 Port Costa Art Show. As mentioned in my earlier announcement, I will be selling my hand-crafted desk organizers. What you might not know is that these beautiful, utilitarian items are also eco-friendly in their own way.

How? Well, they are crafted from half-gallon wax-board beverage cartons. So, every one is an act of recycling—or, even better, re-use for many more years. Our landfills will be happier and last longer. You can take home an interesting desk-top item and help the environment at the same time!

Raw Material

Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Drink all the orange juice (or whatever beverage is inside!)

Step 2: Clean & dry carton

Step 3: Cut the carton up to specifications

Step 4: Pick out the right washi-paper by envisioning what the final product will look like and what kind of feelings it will evoke through its colors and designs

Step 5: Affix the washi-paper to the pieces and assemble everything

Step 6: Decide and put on complementary borders and a felt bottom

Washi-paper Desk Organizers in use

Viola! A unique and stunning desk accessory to hold your pens, pencils, markers, rulers and other desk-top supplies.

As a reminder, here are the show’s specifics:

Port Costa Art Show 2010

Sunday; September 19, 2010

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Port Costa School

Canyon Lake Drive and Reservoir Street

Perhaps we’ll see you there!

Keiko

Keiko Stong

E-mail: keikostong55@hotmail.com

Blog #: 10-09-27

“Art communicates emotion.”

Icons/Photos:

1. Raw Materials

2. Washi-paper desk organizers in use

Copyright © Keiko Stong Artist 2010

Now that summer is over and all the kids are back in school, is it too early to think about Christmas shopping?

"Red Hawk"

Sandwiched between “Christmas in July” and the Thanksgiving kick-off of The Holiday Season, the Port Costa Conservation Society is holding their 2010 “Port Costa Art Show” on Sunday, September 19^th. A popular regional event, the day is built around the Art Show featuring work by local artists. I will be exhibiting up to four paintings.

Washi-paper Desk Organizer

But the art is just an excuse. There will be delicious barbecue along with a wine & beverage bar, a silent auction, and lots of local handicrafts. In addition to prints and cards of my art, I will be offering washi-paper desk organizers for sale. These make wonderfully colorful and unique Christmas gifts.

The show is sponsored by the Port Costa Conservation Society and proceeds will be used to restore the Port Costa School. The event is also supported by the Crockett Community Foundation.

Here are the specifics:

Port Costa Art Show 2010

Sunday; September 19, 2010

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Port Costa School

Canyon Lake Drive and Reservoir Street

Hope to see you there!

Keiko

Keiko Stong

E-mail: keikostong55@hotmail.com

Blog #: 10-08-26

“Art communicates emotion.”

Icons/Photos:

1. Red Hawk

2. Washi-paper desk organizer

Copyright © Keiko Stong Artist 2010

Just to let you know that three of my paintings are on display at the New Deli Café in downtown Walnut Creek:

1. Slide Rock Pool

Oil; 3 x 2 feet, portrait orientation

2. Oak Creek

Oil; 3 x 2 feet, portrait orientation

3. Misty Valley

Acrylic; 3 x 4 feet, landscape orientation

Please stop by to see them. I was introduced to the New Deli Café through my husband, who was introduced to them through a writing colleague, Peter Hjersman. In fact, Peter came up with the idea of exhibiting my paintings here.

My husband is now addicted to their bacon-egg-&-cheese breakfast croissant; which he claims is the best he’s ever had.

New Deli Café is open during the week from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (closed on weekends). It’s located just off Main Street and Parkside at:

1600 Riviera Avenue,

Suite 140

Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Telephone:        925-988-0900

Fax:                  925-988-0910

Who knows, maybe we’ll run into you there over breakfast, coffee, or lunch!

Keiko

Keiko Stong

E-mail: keikostong55@hotmail.com

Blog #: 10-08-25

“Art communicates emotion.”

Copyright © Keiko Stong Artist 2010

This is the third and final installment on the list of Art World denizens: dedicated to The VIP of art, and the infrastructure within which art…well, happens.

Parenthetically, there is also a very special group of people who, while on the periphery of the art world, are very important: those people who support and provide encouragement to artists.

So far this mini-series has covered “Creators” and “Purveyors”: the list may not be all inclusive. If people or functions are missing, please let me know and I will happily add them.

Completing the list of Denizens of the Art World:

● CUSTOMERS

Those who are providing all the business! Artists love customers. Well, at least they should!

(● Supporters

These are all the folks who support, encourage, are “there for” artists during the titanic struggle with the creative process. These people are from all roles: spouses, family, friends, colleagues, and, sometimes, casual acquaintances.)

● Government

Every silver lining has a cloud. As artists create all that art, do all that business, and make all those sales, government pops up in a couple of places. There are the regulators who are there to make sure things are done safely (e.g., a wood-burning kiln should not be operated inside a house with hermetically sealed double-paned windows). License-providers are there to let you practice your art. And the tax-collectors to take their itsy-bitsy-teensy-weensy cut of all that money pouring in.

Man! I never realized the Art World was such a jungle!

Such a diverse, beautiful, Darwinian jungle!

Bill

William A. Stong

Telephone:            925-202-6244

E-mail: william.a.stong@gmail.com

Blog #: 10-08-024

Copyright © Keiko Stong Artist 2010

One of the most interesting, and helpful, activities in the “working world” of art is the critique session. Each artist is unique, and they work on their craft in their own way; learning and evolving as more art is created. The act of creation is pretty much a solitary effort, although experience and input comes from many, many sources.

Like with most endeavors, it’s good to get feedback. It’s better to get feedback from people who know something about—or at least appreciate—art. It’s best to get feedback from other artists. Who better to:

● critically eye a work that is a piece of art?

● provide comments couched in the same terms used by artists?

● touch on those views, issues, and techniques that an artist might be struggling with?

In the critiques I go to, each artist brings a piece that they introduce and explain to the group. Then, members of the group give feedback—which can be questions, feelings, reactions, advice.

It’s very interesting to watch the process because each artist is different; and each one of us handles the steps differently:

1. Presenting the piece              by the Artist

2. Giving feedback                                by members of the group

3. Reacting to the feedback                   by the Artist

For me, the best critiques are honestly and directly given. Favorable or unfavorable, nice or rude, it doesn’t matter because art is truly in the eye of the beholder. Therefore, all feedback is valuable. I can always learn.

In the end, I may not make any changes in my painting. That’s my choice. Ultimately, the art I create is solely mine. For better or worse. But it’s always good to know what reactions, what passions my art causes.

It helps me grow and become better.

Keiko

Keiko Stong

E-mail: keikostong55@hotmail.com

Blog #: 10-07-023

“Art communicates emotion.”

Copyright © Keiko Stong Artist 2010

This is the second installment regarding the list of Art World denizens: dedicated to those who bring art to the wider world. These are the folks and companies who provide marketing or wholesale/retail services for artists, as well as any number of services that allow derivative products to be created, and sold, from original pieces of art.

Last month, we covered “Creators” and mentioned that the denizen list may not be all inclusive. If people or functions are missing, please let me know and I will happily add them.

Continuing with those most involved with promoting the visibility and sale of art:

● Displayers of Art

With art flowing out the end of the pipeline, coupled with budding confidence, artists need places to display their creations. That’s where galleries, shows & festivals, and even local coffee shops and eateries come into play.

● Communicators of Art

Now that their art is out there for people to see, artists need somebody to tell everybody else that it’s there to sooth, or excite, their eyes and souls. This is when “event reporters” step forward, followed closely by critics.

● Service Providers

With word of mouth spreading the good news about their creations, artists will find themselves in need of all sorts of services. Printers for their catalogues and other collateral materials. Special derivative products such as prints, cards, postcards, posters. Internet services since it seems that the entire world has left the planet and gone there. And, double-edge sword that it is, bookkeepers and accountants to keep track of all the business one is doing.

Caramba! I never realized the Art World was so full and active!

Next Time: Denizens of the Art World – The VIP & its Necessary-Evil Twin

Bill

William A. Stong

Telephone:            925-202-6244

E-mail: william.a.stong@gmail.com

Blog #: 10-07-022

Copyright © Keiko Stong Artist 2010

Of all the paintings I’ve done, this one is not my all-time favorite. But it’s close.

Kamon

It was inspired by an interchange with two women, also artists, who were interested in purchasing “Kamon.” The two had seen Kamon while dining at Terzetto’s restaurant in Moraga, California where I was the featured artist from the Moraga Art Gallery. The painting reminded the two artists of mandalas and they were very excited about being able to meditate in front of Kamon.

In the end, economic realities caused the sale to fall through, but by that time I was already hard at work on “Embracing Inner Peace.” I had figured: if Kamon is sold, since I like it and it is part of me, I need to replace it! That replacement painting is a diptych acrylic. Each canvas is 40×30 inches.

Embracing Inner Peace

I put a lot of time and energy into creating this work. The designs and their placement on the canvas represent my origins. The individual squares are filled with Japanese motifs (such as those found on kimono cloth or washi paper) and Japanese family crests (called “mon”).

The bright colors represent intense emotions and passions from different periods of my life. It took a long time to get the shapes in the right places, with the right details, and the best colors.

My Hubby's Ju-hachi-ban

As soon as I finished Embracing Inner Peace, it was displayed in the June/July 2009 CC14 “Peace & Cake” show at the Diablo Valley College (DVC) Art Gallery.

My husband has a favorite design, among all of the ones on the two canvases.

Perhaps there is a favorite one for each person who views the painting—at least I hope so. And, if it helps the world with meditation, so much the better!

Keiko

Keiko Stong

E-mail: keikostong55@hotmail.com

Blog #: 10-07-021

“Art communicates emotion.”