I've just discovered a wonderful new art blog -- written by Marie Cameron.  She is a Bay Area artist and passionate blogger who writes with perception, curiosity and a wonderful inner "eye" on her artistic discoveries.

I met her at Art Silicon Valley/SF -- and I was delighted to read today that she mentioned my work in her recent overview of Art Silicon Valley -- and posted a pic she snapped of me in front of one of my paintings in the Gallerie Citi booth.

Here is what she wrote:

"I had the pleasure of meeting San Francisco based artist,Elizabeth Barlow, represented by Gallerie Citi of Burlingame. Her “portraits in absentia” are still lives of personal possessions that paint a portrait of their owners. Her work is meticulous, flawless realism that is embued with a sense of fun and lots of personality."

BRAVA Marie -- thanks for sharing the things that delight your eye!

And here is a link to her fantastic blog about making and creating art.....

http://mariecameronstudio.com/category/blog/

Yesterday at Art Silicon Valley/San Francisco, gallery owner extraordinaire Andra Norris gave a symposium on two of her artists -- Kim Frohsin and myself.

Kim has a new series titled Cautionary Tales -- in which she has explored (on foot, with camera in hand) the changing cityscape of her beloved San Francisco.  She has documented the changes she sees -- old buildings being replaced with high rises -- and the resulting displacement of long time residents -- into her paintings.  Her paintings are colorful, beautiful yet eloquent collages of these changes.

My new paintings are the latest evolution of my "portraits in absentia" series, in which I paint portraits of people -- real or imagined -- using their belongings to recount their stories, choice and lives. Lately, I've chosen the clothing that we choose to cover (or adorn)  ourselves with -- our uniforms, our flamboyance, our circumstances, our celebrations.  I believe that our clothing retains something of our essence -- our truest selves -- even after we have discarded it.

Andra spoke deeply and perceptively about Kim's and my journeys of discovery and alchemy -- as we explored and then brought to life our newest work.

What a gift it is to hear a passionate art lover, art thinker, art collector discuss one's work!  Thank you Andra!

Art Silicon Valley/SF is produced by Art Miami and I'm thrilled that my work will be presented there this week by Gallerie Citi -- Oct. 8-11.  It's an exciting showcase for contemporary art from around the world -- and I can't wait to see what wonders I will find there....

 I will be unveiling my newest "portraits in absentia" -- these paintings are "portraits" using belongings (clothing) rather than faces or figures to describe people's lives.   I believe that our clothing retains the shape of our essences and leaves behind a symbolic trace of our selves and our stories.

"Spooned," oil on linen, 24 x 36"

"Pas de Deux", oil on linen, 20 x 30"

I could have stayed all night!  I am usually so nervous for the opening of an exhibition -- it's like being an actor before the curtain rises on opening night -- wishing I were anyplace ELSE.  But for the first time EVER, I was excited for the opening of "REAL: Elizabeth Barlow and Willard Dixon" at Gallerie Citi.  Maybe I have a few enough of these openings under my belt by now?  Or maybe I am just so proud of this new work and wanted to share it with my friends and collectors.  It was truly a pleasure to see familiar faces and be able to show them what I've been working on for the past 8 months.

It was also such a privilege to share the exhibition with Willard Dixon.  He is a noted Bay Area artist, who paints beautifully in every genre -- landscape, figurative and still life.  In this exhibition, he is sharing some of his new trompe l'oeil paintings -- they are astonishingly "real" -- but still retain an other worldly air found in most of his work.

"REAL", at Gallerie Citi, 1115 Howard Avenue, Burlingame, CA, until November 6, 2015.
www.gallerieciti.com

This is another new painting waiting to be revealed at the Opening Reception of REAL -- a two person exhibition with Willard Dixon and myself at Gallerie Citi -- September 19, from 5-7pm.  The exhibition runs through November 6. 

"Yin/Yang," Oil on Linen, 24 x 30 

For several years now I have been working to entwine the traditions of still life painting and portraiture.  I call these paintings "portraits in absentia."  I use people's belongings, most recently their shoes, as stand-ins for their visages or bodies, to create "portraits" that illustrate their lives and stories.

On September 19 at Gallerie Citi I will unveil a new evolution of these "potraits in absentia."  In these new paintings I am using the "uniforms" that many of us have in our closets -- jeans and white shirts.  These uniforms are ubiquitous in our society, yet they are highly personal.   A pair of jeans or a white shirt is a form of cultural anthropology -- a piece of archeology from our time -- but each garment also retains the very real essence of the person who wears it.

My new series will be shown at Gallerie Citi in Silicon Valley (Burlingame, CA) in the two-person exhibition REAL (which I will share with the extraordinary Willard Dixon), from September 19 -- November 6.  There is an opening reception on September 19 from 5-7pm -- please come if you can!

Here is a peek at one of the new works.  It is a "portrait" of a couple and it illumines their love story and their zest for living.

"Embrace," oil on linen, 24 x 36"

I married my wonderful husband nine years ago this summer.  He has been a joy and a gift to my life in countless ways -- and so has the privilege of honoring our partnership in a marriage.   And now, many of our dearest friends will also have the right and privilege of celebrating their unions in legal marriages.  I believe in the privilege of marriage so deeply that I've created several paintings over the years illustrating marriage in its various forms.  Here are a few of these paintings -- in support and celebration of the institution of marriage.

"Portrait of Sally and Donald"
Oil on Linen
25 x 25"

"Portrait of a Marriage"
Oil on Linen
18 x 24"

"Portrait of a Marriage"
Oil on Linen
12 x 12"

"Portrait of a Modern Family"
Oil on Linen
22 x 28"

I've been reading a monograph on the amazing realist artist Alan Magee.   I love his work and how deeply he reveals the essence of an object.   He writes "the beauty of a thing reveals itself with attention."

I have always felt this way about my own painting.  I relish the long hours of deeply looking at the curve of an object, or the many colors in a shadow.  And with all the hours, days, and weeks of looking, I feel that I get a little closer to the "unseen" that is always present in our lives.

                                          "At the Chelsea Flower Show (Begonia)"

                                           Oil on Linen

                                            20 x 20"

                                           By Elizabeth Barlow

                                           

On April 17 we attended the opening night of my father's (Philip Barlow) new exhibition at Phillips Gallery in Salt Lake City.  He keeps getting better and better in his technique and artistry.  So that must mean that 82 is the new 62!  I'm so proud to be his child and to have inherited a small portion of his amazing talent.  Thanks for sharing so much beauty and wonder with the world, Dad!

"Sharing the Real Thing"

by Philip Barlow

16 x 20"

Oil on Canvas 

"Lost and Found"

18 x 24"

Oil on Canvas

"Three Guesses"

16 x 20"

Oil on Canvas

My 81-year-old father, artist Philip Barlow, is my teacher, inspiration and mentor.  He still paints every day, and in April will be featured in a two-person exhibition at Phillips Gallery in Salt Lake City, Utah.   I LOVE this recent painting of his -- titled "Sharing the Real Thing."  It spotlights a great American icon and infuses it with playful romance.  In this 100-year anniversary of Coke, it is so inspiring to see an 81-year-old artist, who continually strives to keep his own work fresh and vibrant, celebrate an iconic part of Americana with a nod to the past and a dose of whimsy and wit.  Here's to getting better with AGE!

"Sharing the Real Thing"

Oil on Canvas

16 x 20"

by Philip Barlow

(courtesy of Phillips Gallery, SLC, UT)

#cokebottle100

Sometimes dreams do come true -- and one just has for me.  Last year, I was approached by a lovely professional couple in the Bay Area.  They are world travelers and adventurers and also contemporary art collectors.  In addition, they each have a highly cultivated appreciation for exquisitely designed and made shoes.  They asked me to create a "portrait" of them using some of the delectable shoes from their closet.  And here is the "dreams do come true" part -- they gave me carte blanche in terms of composition.  What a gift! I worked on their portrait for many months, and yesterday, along with my art dealer Andra Norris of Gallerie Citi, we presented their portrait to them.  There are two paintings, a diptych, and I titled them "His & Hers."  What a pleasure it was to work with these smart, kind, vibrant, open people -- and it was truly a joy "walking in their shoes" for so many months.  Thank you, dear collectors, for giving this artistic gift to me!

"His"

Oil on Linen

30 x 30"

by Elizabeth Barlow

"Hers"

Oil on Linen

30 x 30"

by Elizabeth Barlow

My amazing artist father, Philip Barlow, was a winner in The Artist Magazine's Annual Over 60 Competition (March 2015 issue) -- with his painting "Pooh's Favorite Tales."  In the interview, he shares some wisdom for other artists -- but it is applicable for anyone trying to live a vibrant, engaged, rich life:

"Always paint what excites YOU.   Don't be content with a certain style.  Be sure you keep striving to evolve and change.  It is important to have respect for your talent and hard work -- treat your painting as a business and always strive to be professional in your dealings with galleries and collectors.

Art has been my life.  I have never been far from the magic of creation. I paint almost every day and am working on paintings for a show at one of my galleries in April.  I am always searching for a new direction in creativity and that's what keeps all of us wanting to move on."

Gallerie Citi celebrated the opening of the new exhibition "Awaken" last night.  I am thrilled to have two works in the show -- and to have the show titled after my paintings.  But the real thrill is to have my work shown alongside the Bay Area legends Joan Brown and Elmer Bischoff -- and with my friend Kim Froshin who continues in their expressive artistic footsteps.   It's an honor to be there!

"Awaken I" 

Oil on Linen

9 x 12"

By Elizabeth Barlow

"Awaken II"

Oil on Linen

9 x 12"

By Elizabeth Barlow