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Tappen Studios Grand Opening exhibit

I’m honored to be invited to participate in the Grand Opening of Tappen Studios along with four other local artists (Shauna Meiri, Dawn Tappen, Pegguin Pfenniger Reed and Alexis Terry Bouchard). Join us on May 27 to celebrate the opening of this new gallery and workshop space in SE Portland!

Sold!

I’m very happy to find out that my “Sancho” is one of the paintings that have already sold at the Black + White + One show. There’s still lots of art to see at the new Insomnia on Main St in Hillsboro until the end of April!

Mixed media cat painting, "Sancho," by artist Riis Griffen.

Riis Griffen, “Sancho,” mixed media on 12×12″ canvas.

Black + White + One

I have a show coming up with my Westside ArtShare group in April. We decided to challenge ourselves by limiting our palettes to shades of black, white, and one other color. It’s been amazing to see how differently each artist approaches this, and how different the results are! You can see all of the work at the brand new Insomnia Coffee location in downtown Hillsboro, starting on April 1.

If you’re local, stop by and see us at the reception on the evening of April 4! It will be part of the Hillsboro Art Walk.

Big 500 paintings

This is the fourth year I’ve been involved in the Big 500 show and it’s always a great show with a huge variety of work and a ton of enthusiastic art fans.

Because I’m working in a makeshift studio after the tree incident and I’m in the process of getting my real studio rebuilt, I decided to paint five pieces this year instead of my usual ten.

People’s Art has closed but Chris Haberman and Jason Brown, the show organizers, found a new location at the Ford Gallery (2505 SE 11th, Portland). Can’t wait to see all the art in this new space.

The reception will be on Saturday, December 10 from 2 pm to 7 pm. Another change this year is that the show will only run until December 23, so be sure to stop by!

Close call

It was a close call for me and a direct hit for my poor studio. On October 15, I was painting during a big windstorm. Just as I was thinking that being in the studio was like being right IN the storm, the neighbor’s huge pine tree crashed down onto the roof. I was able to get out by climbing through a window but the damage is extensive.

“Going on Record” show is up!

going-on-record-art

This morning, bright dark and early, several members of Westside ArtShare hung almost 50 pieces of art at Insomnia Coffee Co. (5389 W Baseline Rd, Hillsboro, Oregon 97123). All of the art is created on old vinyl LPs. It was so much fun to see what people did with them, and the variety of styles. Each piece will sell for $85.

Right after we put the show up, one of my paintings sold! That’s an exciting way to start off.

Come and see the artists and the art at our reception on Tuesday, October 4 from 6:30 to 8.

artshare-going-on-record-flyer

Are you coming to the show on Saturday?

Affordable Art collage

This collage shows only a tiny fraction of the wonderful art that will be available at Affordable Art for Everyone this Saturday, September 24, at the Washington County Fair Complex.

I’m honored to be working with these artists and to see the amazing reaction to the show–and it hasn’t even happened yet! I’m so excited I’ve been losing sleep, but it’s only two days away now. Hope to see you there!

Save

11 days left!

aafe-postcard-2016

It’s been a whirlwind around here as I get ready for the event. This has been such a learning experience. I’ve worked on graphic design, lined up sponsors, placed ads in local publications, promoted on social media, and probably dozens more things in addition to getting the artists situated.

All of the hard work is so worth it. As the day gets closer, I’m getting butterflies envisioning the booths all set up. Last year it was amazing to see the artists arrive and to see the variety of work that they brought, and I can hardly wait to see this year’s show!

Details are on our website and I’ve also been posting sneak previews of the art daily on our Facebook page.

Remember when I said I entered the Lake Oswego festival?

With some of my paintings at the Open Show of the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts.

With some of my paintings at the Open Show of the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts.

“Rumpelstiltskin” won an award and “No More Candy.” found a new home. What a good day at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts!

It’s an amazing show. I had so much fun walking around recognizing work by familiar artists and finding new ones to look up when I got home. Definitely worth a trip this weekend!