Cosmic Fox

"Cosmic Fox"

graphite on postcard

$90.00

for Modern Eden's Wanderlust 3 show, opening tonight

SOLD

Here's my little postcard drawing for "Wanderlust 3", opening tonight at Modern Eden in San Francisco.

The theme of the show involves the desire to travel to far off places, and mine the desire to travel to the farthest of places; space!

Bullies No More

"Bullies No More"

acrylic on birch panel

20 x 20 inches

2015

$1,100.00
info@moderneden.com to purchase

Here's my painting for "Storybook", curated by Michael Cuffe of Warholian for Modern Eden gallery in San Francisco.

For this show, each artist chose a childhood book to reinterpret in their style.  I picked my favorite children's story, "The Littlest Rabbit" by Robert Kraus.  I've loved this simple, illustrated tale since childhood, and not only have used it as inspiration for another painting in the past as well as this one.

In "The Littlest Rabbit", a tiny bunny's life is made miserable by the bigger bunnies just because he's smaller.  When he finally grows, he seeks revenge against his bullies and stands up to protect the new littlest rabbits against their foes.  The title in this piece comes from the line in the book,
"All bullies are cowards!"

In my painting, I wanted to focus on the dark, ominous tone of the book, despite it being a children's story.  My Littlest Rabbit sits between altar candles lit upon the bullies' skulls.  Black magic may have been used to off the foes, who stand guard over him now, in death.

In the book, the Littlest Rabbit was described as being no bigger than a flower, so I wanted to use a lot of Floriographic (the Victorian language of flowers) imagery to compliment elements of the story; sunflowers (the bullies' haughtiness), morning glories (the evanescent loveliness of life), plum blossoms (courage, happiness, perseverance), and iris (promise).

Fly With You

"Fly With You"

graphite on postcard

4 x 6 inches, framed

2014

$90.00

SOLD

Here's my postcard for Modern Eden's second Wanderlust show, opening this Saturday, December 12th.

It's the first time I've worked with just graphite on paper in a very long time, and it was really fun.  I love how soft the image came out, and I'm very happy with it.  I plan on doing more pencil pieces in the future.

From Within Us

"From Within Us"

acrylic painted wooden birdhouse

7.5 x 7.25 x 5.5

2014

available HERE

Here's my contribution to Modern Eden's "Home" show; entitled "From Within Us".  The imagery is very personal to me; barn owls depicting aspects of life/death/birth, amongst human skulls and other bones.  One side has a juvenile barn owl, another a baby, and the front is the adult (parents).  

In this world, animals such as these magical owls have outlasted "The Uprights" (humans) who have destroyed each other with their savage wars and the creatures are left to a peaceful existence.

It was a fun challenge painting these wrap-around scenes on a three dimensional object; it was my first time doing so besides a nesting doll set several years ago.  I hope to do more three dimensional objects in the future, and hopefully take it even further to making my creatures three dimensional.....

The Astral Ones

"The Astral Ones"

acrylic on cradled birch panel

12 x 12 inches

2014

$900.00
available HERE

Here's my painting for Modern Eden's "Universe: The Art of Existence" curated by Warholian's Michael Cuffe.

For this piece I wanted to step a little bit outside my comfort zone and paint my ghostly animals as constellations among the stars in the sky.  There is also a reference to Hecate, in the triple moon symbol at the top; the triple face goddess.

The show opens this Saturday, April 12th in San Francisco and boasts an impressive lineup of artists' interpretations of the universe and cosmos.

Clawdeen

"Clawdeen"

acrylic on birch panel

5 x 5 inches, framed to 7.5 x 7.5 inches

2014

$290.00

available HERE

Here's my painting for Modern Eden's "Nostalgia" show, celebrating favorite childhood toys.  I chose Clawdeen, who was one of the She-Ra action figures/dolls, and one of my toys that I particularly remember loving to play with.

This is the Clawdeen doll and

This is me playing with her as a child. :)

And here's the flyer info for the show, opens February 15th in San Francisco.

The Snow Fell Like Stars

"The Snow Fell Like Stars"

acrylic on birch panel

5 x 7 inches, framed to 9 x 11 inches

2013

$350.00

SOLD

 Here's my Nordic winter scene for Modern Eden Gallery's Wanderlust show, opening December 14th in San Francisco. 

The show features an amazing lineup of artists' portrayals of far away places they'd like to visit.  

For me, the place I'd most like to visit would be one of the Scandinavian countries; especially Sweden in winter.

The painting features two arctic foxes along with a weasel and owl, illuminated by candles, under the snow-filled night sky.

The Moongazer

"The Moongazer"

acrylic on birch panel

5 x 7 inches, framed to 7 x 9 inches

2013

$300.00

SOLD

The Moongazer appears at dusk, taking her place amongst the foxgloves and mushrooms, deep in the magic forest.  As she sits, staring, hypnotized by the heavenly orb, her horns glint in the light and her feathers twitch like her tail; as if with a mind of their own.  Her friends, the little mouse and two headed squirrel light a candle for her, and keep her company on her nightly ritual.  Upon the first rays of sunlight, the spell is broken, and the Moongazer disappears.  

"The Moongazer" will be a part of Modern Eden gallery's "Curiosities" show, opening August 17th in San Francisco.

Springtime Pride

"Springtime Pride"

acrylic on birch panel

5 x 5 inches framed to 7.5 x 7.5 inches

2013

$200.00

(SOLD)

Two albino robins gaze upon their carnation nest of new, blue eggs.

One clutches sprigs of rosemary, the other, bunches of blackberries.

The pink carnation symbolizes maternal love, lively and pure affection, beauty and pride in Floriography, the Victorian language of flowers.  

The rosemary stands for devotion, and the blackberries for dangerous pride.

I wanted there to be a duel way of seeing the painting; the birds are both gazing lovingly at the eggs and fearlessly guarding them against predators.  Poised on either side, they are ready to defend the young ones at all costs.

This piece is headed to Modern Eden's show, "The Language of Flowers", which is a subject near and dear to me. Floriography is something I've been using in my paintings for years now, since I first discovered it.  The show opens 5/11/13 in San Francisco.

Several of my other Floriography-themed paintings from my 2012 solo show, Talisman will also be on display for this show.

Here's the flyer, featuring the amazing work of Redd Walitzki.  

The artist lineup is incredible, sure to be a beautiful show just in time for spring.

Eight of Pentacles

"The Eight of Pentacles"

acrylic and silver leaf on birch panel

11 x 14 inches, deep set panel

2013

$600.00

(SOLD)

Here's my painting for the Eight of Pentacles card for Modern Eden's show, "Tarot: Art of Fortune", curated by Warholian's Michael Cuffe.

This is the traditional imagery of the card:

Per Wikipedia, the divination usage is as follows:

An artist in stone at his work, which he exhibits in the form of trophies.  

Divinatory meanings:  Work, employment, commission, craftmanship, skill in craft and business, perhaps in the preparatory stage.  Steady patience with achievement kept in mind.  Reversed: voided ambition, vanity, cupidity, exaction, usury.  It may also signify the possession of skill, in the sense of the ingenious mind turned to cunning and intrigue.

On learntarot.com, I found that the card means diligence, knowledge and detail.

So, for my interpretation I wanted to create a creature that represents knowledge and wisdom, hence the eight winged-barn owl.  The creature is based on Glaucus, Athena (the Greek goddess of wisdom)'s owl, that was seen as a symbol for wisdom and vigilance for it's ability to see in the dark and keep itself awake at night.  

My owl has a third all-seeing eye, silver-leafed pentacle for each wing, and represents new knowledge overcoming old, dead ideas (the skull that it is perched upon) and clutches a magnifying glass to better read by candlelight. It wears the 4th Pentacle of Mercury talisman around it's neck, which gives knowledge and understanding of secrets and hidden things. 

Along with the magnifying glass, the owl holds a bunch of clover (signifying hard work and education in Floriography, the Victorian language of flowers), rosemary (wisdom) flanks the pentacle above it's head, and blue salvia (wisdom) and cherry blossoms (good education) peak out from behind the book.

Here's the flyer for the show, opening this Saturday, March 16th in San Francisco.

It will be an amazing show with a ton of fantastic artists interpreting the tarot.

Venetian Fox

"Venetian Fox"

acrylic and gold leaf on birch

approx 5 x 7 inches framed to approx 8 x 9.5 inches

2013

(SOLD)


Here's my new painting, "Venetian Fox" for Modern Eden's upcoming show, "Venice".

The gold leafed cat mask is one of the types worn during the annual Carnival of Venice, and the purple lily symbolizes "majesty" in Floriography, the Victorian era language of flowers.

The show opens in San Francisco this Saturday, February 16th, with an amazing artist lineup and runs alongside Archer Dougherty's equally lovely solo show.

Demon Bird

"Demon Bird"

inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven

acrylic on birch panel

8 x 10 inches, plus frame

2012

$350.00

available HERE

Here's my painting for Modern Eden Gallery's upcoming Nevermore show, based on Edgar Allen Poe's immortal poem, "The Raven".

I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this show, as I've been a fan of Poe, and especially this poem since I was a kid.  I remember reading it in elementary school on my own, and being fascinated by the imagery it conjured in my head.

And then I memorized it after seeing the episode of "The Simpsons" where they did their own version of The Raven in a Halloween special; Bart was the raven, and Homer, the narrator.

I still can't read the poem or imagine the words without hearing Homer's voice in my head!

For my version, I decided to focus on the idea of the raven being seen as a demon; evil, taunting the narrator, like a "devil bird".  Poe refers to books that the narrator is reading, alluding that they are about the occult, or black magic, so I decided to give my albino raven ghostly horns, and added the Death and Devil tarot cards.  I added champagne colored roses, which mean "devotion" in Floriography, since the overarching theme of the poem is undying devotion.

My raven is perched on the bust of Pallus, where her face is that of the long departed Lenore; the narrator's lost love that he cannot forget.

The show accompanies the amazing new work of one of my favorite artists, Leilani Bustamante, and there are many more of my favorite artists showing in the Nevermore show as well!

Check it out this Saturday in San Francisco!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A few pictures of baby turkeys so you remember that it's not necessary to eat dead animals or birds to feel thanks for all the good you have in your life.

I will be enjoying another meat free Thanksgiving today, and I hope you will do the same.

I'm so very thankful for my husband, Justin and daughter-cat, Moogle, my wonderful parents and being able to  make paintings.

Amphisbaena

Cory Benhatzel and Heather Gargon

"Amphisbaena"

8 x 10 inch painting, 10 x 11.5 inches overall

mixed media (acrylic on birch panel, polymer clay, faux fur, etc)

2012

$400.00

available HERE

(details)

This is the collaboration between Heather Gargon and I for Modern Eden's Allied Forces show.

I did the painting based on Amphisbaena, the mythical two headed creature, and Heather made the cool bat on the frame.

I really love Heather's work, so I was very excited when she agreed to collaborate with me on this.  I love the way it came out!

It's available now at Modern Eden, along with many other amazing pieces.

Doubleparlour's solo show is incredible also, and is showing now too!

Moon Goddess Google+ Hangout

Can’t make it to the Moon Goddess (Oct 27) opening?

Join us for a Google+ Hangout at 4:00pm (PST) before the reception for a Q&A discussion with Modern Eden Gallery Director Kim Larson, Moon Goddess Curator and artist Aunia Kahn and featured artists Cory Benhatzel Scott Holloway and Tina Imel.

We’ll be fielding questions from twitter (@moderneden) and our FB page (facebook.com/moderneden), ask away!

Ceryneian Hind

"Ceryneian Hind"

acrylic, graphite and gold leaf on birch panel

11 x 14 inches plus frame

2012

$500.00

for inquiries, please contact Modern Eden gallery at info@moderneden.com or call 415-956-3303

Here's my new painting for the Moon Goddess show, that the lovely and talented Aunia Kahn has curated for Modern Eden Gallery.

My painting is about the Ceryneian Hind; the sacred, gold-horned deer of Artemis, goddess of the hunt, forests and hills, and the moon.

In Greek Mythology, the Ceryneian Hind, also called Cerynitis, was an enormous hind (deer), who lived in Keryneia, Greece. It was sacred to Artemis, the chaste goddess of the hunt, animals and unmarried women. It had golden antlers like a stag and hooves of bronze or brass, and it was said that it could outrun an arrow in flight. 

Deer were the only animals held sacred to Artemis herself. On seeing a deer larger than a bull with horns shining, she fell in love with these creatures and held them sacred. Deer were also the first animals she captured. She caught five golden horned deer called Elaphoi Khrysokeroi and harnessed them to her chariot.

In the painting, I depicted the Ceryneian Hind and his mate, along with a buzzard, which was also a favored animal of Artemis.  The animals are spirits; incapable of being harmed by the arrows of men or gods.  The bow is Artemis'; which she was never without in the hunt.

The hind holds the moon between his golden antlers, and the flowers at the hinds' feet are asphodelus; one of Artemis' sacred plants.

Rose Gold Tattoo Show

moderneden:

Last night we hung some of Cory Benhatzel’s paintings from her debut solo exhibition ‘Talisman’ at Rose Gold’s. Her pieces look amazing with their beautiful interior, be sure to stop by and take a look! While you are at it, get a tattoo or piercing from one of their amazing artists…

Artwork is on exhibition at Rose Gold’s Tattoo and Piercing at 1157 Masonic Street (@Haight). For any questions, please contact us at info@moderneden.com or (415) 956-3303. Thanks!