Only today and tomorrow left in 2023.
This year passed so fast and I did a lot of things.
Now I just want to lay down and stare at sky while watching fluffy clouds go by.
After my show is up at the Northcoast Artists Gallery, I had to deal with business including filing Sale tax.
Now I started to relax and watch my plants.
I’m doing natural farming which doesn’t use pesticide nor fertilizer.
First cut weeds, leave their roots in soil, that is how the sprouting new weeds is slowed.
I make raised rows, disturbing soil as little as possible, making holes with water for seeds or baby plants.
This year I was busy preparing for my show, I didn’t have time to seed tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and basil, so I purchased them.
Finally I planted them in ground in June.
I’m doing natural farm, so roots grow slowly at first, then the plants suddenly get big and strong.
This year soaker hose had problem, didn’t water plants properly and plants got a lot of holes by bugs except tomatoes.
My favorite natural farmer, Imahashi, always says when getting plants from nurseries their soil has fertilizer that attracts bugs, but not to worry keep and let them grow with your love, when bugs finish their job they go away.
His idea is bugs come to try to fix problems.
Anyway, after we got better soaker hoses and started watering properly, plants are getting healthy and growing bigger.
I planted garlic which started sprout in our cabinet. They have very thick healthy leaves now.
Watching the lovely lights at the end of a day, which gives us smiles and very positive energy for tomorrow.
I think everybody has tried and failed.
I found a way to get through that period.
Just watching the situation like the third person outside of it, like watching waves.
Then it starts to untangle itself.
Or you can see from the other side of the issue, we may find it’s not an issue, just a way of nature.
We don’t need to be upset nor unhappy, just going with the flow as believing in ourselves.
We felt our world got in a vortex of chaos from covid 19, big fires, drought, then floods and economic fluctuations.
These dramatic events can lead to anxiety.
Stop thinking in that direction.
Go to a beach, a forest, somewhere you find yourself in nature.
Sooth yourself and feel peace and safety.
Your peace of mind and happy feelings are contagious to your friends, family and surroundings.
Vibrations, photons can make our world a beautiful and happy place for tomorrow.
This is my belief, that is the way I paint.
If you would like to know my journey according to my paintings, please visit my blog here.
I just updated “my show 2023” at http://www.mariko-irie.com/Show%202023.html.
Now I started to write blog again.
I will be at the Northcoast Artists Gallery all day July 7th from 11am to 5pm and after 5pm for my show reception, please join us.
We set up my show on July 4th.
It looks very peaceful and cheerful.
Show date: July 5 – 31, 2023
First Friday Artist Reception : July 7, 5-8pm
Place : Northcoast Artists Gallery
362 N. Main St. Fort Bragg CA 95437
707-964-8266
Also I will be at the gallery July 31, 11am – 5pm.
Hope to see your smile at my show😊💞.
Have a wonderful and happy summer,
Mariko
www.mariko-irie.com
My artist friend who has an art studio at Sonoma Art Farm where my studio is now, gave me information on the “Cake” show:
The show is a nod to Wayne Thiebaud and his long life of painting.
This show is about color, feeling, pleasure and memories we hold from our experiences with Cake.
Wayne Thiebaud is one of my favorite artists.
When I was painting my “Museum” series “Art Lovers”, I painted “ 562. Cakes & Boy”
and, “563. Thiebaud & Skateboarders” at http://www.mariko-irie.com/thiebaudskateboarders.html
My painting for the “Cake” show was on very short notice. But I wanted to paint something new.
I try not eat sugar, but I ran to get a piece of cheese cake😊 and painted
while listening Wayne Thiebaud’s interviews on YouTube.
I had a great time.
My submitted painting was accepted.
When I delivered the painting, I also brought “ 562. Cakes & Boy” as well which the manager loved for the show’s display.
The opening reception had a very happy mood to it. Does cake make everybody happy? All the show’s paintings and sculptures were very happy creative ones as were the cakes at the reception.
My “ 562. Cakes & Boy” was sold before the opening. The gallery sitter was exited to report the sale of the painting, which will go to Saudi Arabia😊💞
The show will display through June 25 at CAMI Art + Wine Gallery.
The address: 1333 B Lincoln Ave Calistoga CA 94515.
Have a beautiful day,
Mariko
This location is a view of Mendocino Main Street from the other side of Mendocino Bay.
It’s a sunny idyllic day.
The painting makes me feel at ease and nostalgic.
Like once upon a time in the 1980’s, when I came to Mendocino from Tokyo in 1982.
Mendocino village has been changed but still has the same feeling😊💞
It’s a special lovely place😊💖
#www.mariko-irie.com #oilpainting # mendocino #naturelover #artlover #california #art #fineart #californiaartgallery #northcoastartists.org
These paintings were a commission.
The customer is a bird enthusiast.
He wanted me to paint birds.
We decided on oil paintings of four different chickadees: Black-capped, Boreal, Chestnut-backed, and Gray-headed, all on 6” x 6” Artists’ Panels which are 3/8” thick, gessoed.
I love Chickadees, I enjoyed painting these very much.
The customer loves them which makes me happy😊💞.
#www.mariko-irie.com #oilpainting # birdlovers #naturelover #artlover #california #art #fineart #californiaartgallery #northcoastartists.org
We don’t need to explain instinctive love.
We feel it and smile.😊💝
I love this theory, “Love ourselves.”
If you know of champagne towers, you have to fill the top champagne glass, otherwise can’t fill other glasses.
When you fill your feeling with plenty of happiness, the vibration effects other people around you.
So let’s love ourselves and be happy😊🌈💞💝.
Mariko
Day 9 #stradaeasel
My day 9 painting is
“1203. Cow Ranch”
Oil painting on 6” X 12” Gessoed panel
By Mariko Irie
It was cool this morning.
During painting it was overcast weather.
This location is at Watmaugh Rd., Sonoma CA, east side of Hwy12.
Traffic is very different from west side.
It’s so peaceful.
There were cows, they move slow but still moving constantly.
Someday I have to study how to paint cow from life.
A blue bird visited me😊.
Day 9 #stradaeasel
#oilpainting #landscape #sonoma ca #www.mariko-irie.com #www.marikoirie.com#mendocinoheadlands #naturelover #artlover #california #art #fineart #californiaartgallery #northcoastartists.org