_Paint Pens in Purses_female urban art collective

Here are few favorites from the 2013 artMrkt at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. I was surprised to see so many of these great galleries were based right here in San Francisco. Here are the artists and galleries from left to right, top to bottom.

1. Hyon Gyon Park, Shin Gallery (New York, CA)
2. Taro Hattori, Swarm Gallery (Oakland, CA)
3. Joel Daniel Phillips, Spoke Art Gallery (San Francisco, CA)
4. Jess Hess, Spoke Art Gallery (San Francisco, CA)
5. Andy Diaz Hope and Laurel Roth, Catharine Clark Gallery (San Francisco, CA)
6. Laurina Paperina, Fouladi Projects (San Francisco, CA)
7. David Mach, Forum Gallery (New York, NY)
8. Todd Hildo, Stephen Wirtz Gallery (San Francisco, CA)

My work uses science and mass media as metaphor for our emotions about the inner chaos of our world. I aim to reflect the isolation of those who may be ignored or shy but still want to be seen. The beauty is there, waiting for be discovered, but we don’t see it because we cannot shed our prejudices.

The Mission Spring Open Studio - Highlights

Over the weekend I went to check out The Mission Wide Open Studios. This event, which is organized by the Mission Artist United group, is quite an endeavor. With approximately ten major art studio buildings, each made up of lots of stairs and rooms, and easily over a hundred artists on the participation list, it’s hard to be sure you’ve seen it all. 

I took the challenge and came back with a handful of postcards, and a list of a few of my favorites, to share with you nice people. From top left to right: Liz Hickok’s jello city series, Denise Laws’ hair collages, Meredith Hudson of Clandestine Press, large-scale paintings by Kellen Breen, the intricate & surreal worlds of Michael Kerbow, drawings by Sarah Newton, painting and taxidermy by Michael McConnell of ArtFarmSF, and paintings by Paul Morin.

Kelly Rose Dancer is a pet portrait artist by day and a fine artists/puppeteer by night. We first fell in love with her Meme Cat portrait series and are thrilled to be the very first to share her newest series. Her newest collection of work, ”Pet-rifying Cults”, was inspired by Kelly’s interest in cult films and includes some of her favorite characters.

You can catch Kelly Rose Dancer at the Oakland Internet Cat Festival on May 11. You can also see more of her work, or commission her to draw your lovely furry friends through her website or on Facebook. 

Did you guess all the characters? Left to right: Big Lebowski, Barbarella,  Clockwork Orange, Bladerunner, Death Race 2000, Eraserhead, Gray Gardens, Faster, Pussy Cat! Kill! Kill!, Rocky Horror Picture Show, & Pink Flamingos

Part 2 - Art Explosion Open Studios

Here are a couple more photos from the Art Explosion Open Studios. Today I visited the 2427 17th St location which is one floor packed with artists. Here are a couple pictures from resident artists: Ytaelena Lopez, Marina Loeb, Tim Svenonius, Georgianne Fastaia, and Simon Cox. 

Yesterday I went to the opening event for Art Explosion’s 13th Annual Spring Open Studios. Art Explosion has two location in the San Francisco’s Mission District and is San Francisco’s largest Artist’s collective. As a former member at this studio, it was great to see some of my old colleagues as well as lots of new faces. Here are a few images from a few of my favorite artists in the 744 Alabama St. building; Molly Campbell, Headphone Record, and Kelly Rose Dancer. The Open Studios will continue through the weekend, so in case you missed the opening event, there is one more day to stop by! 

Art Explosion’s Website

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!! Here are two cards from two of Paint Pens in Purses’ faaavorite artists, Tofusquirrel and Allison Bamcat. These were originally printed for the Boston Phoenix. You can actually print out the cards here and give them to someone. The third image, well…what’s Valentine’s Day without our most beloved one-man show, Morrissey, in the mix? 

Also if you are short on date, or gift ideas, AND you live in San Francisco, then we got you covered! Head down to D-Structure in Lower Haight for a chance to purchase artwork from our group show, “Ice Cream Girl”. Here you will find work by Allison Bamcat, Tofusquirrel and many others from the collective! Show closes Feb 28th. 

Featured Artist ||| Tofusquirrel (Boston, MA) ||| Illustrator

Tofusquirrel is this week’s Featured Artist and long-time friend of Paint Pens in Purses. We are very pleased to have her ice cream creatures flying ALL the way here from freezing Boston, Massachusetts to come chill with us in San Francisco for the “Ice Cream Girl” show at D-Structure NEXT Friday!

With Prismacolors, pens and paper; Tofusquirrel can create magic. You will also never meet someone more excited to watch the Planet Earth documentaries. Tofusquirrel loves animals, bugs, and all creatures times a zillion. True story. 

Tofusquirrel has been displayed at galleries, store fronts, New England Comics during Free Comic Book Day, The New York Comic Con, The Boston Comic Con, The Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, The Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo, and the world famous Art Basel Miami. Tofusquirrel has done art events for companies such as Apple, ADIDAS, Converse, Karmaloop, and Wizard Sleeve Toys. She has also had billboards and wall murals advertising Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer in cities across America.

In 2009, Tofusquirrel was flown to LA to do live painting along with Tara McPherson at the Hive Gallery during the very first Feminality show, all female art, hosted by Wizard Sleeve Toys. In 2011, Tofusquirrel’s work was displayed in Tara McPherson’s Tiny Trifecta art show, also the grand opening of the Cotton Candy Machine art boutique in NY. Dozens of low brow/pop surrealism artists were also in the show. Fans camped out in front of the boutique the night before, and the event was filmed by MTV.

Tofusquirrel has been published in LA Weekly, The Boston Phoenix, ColorInkBook Volume 11, The Boston Metro, The Boston Herald, The Weekly Dig, WIRED.com, STUFF Magazine, The FAT CHUNK robot anthology, MTV.com, I Luv Halloween 3, Juxtapoz.com, and more. She was featured in the Best of Boston 2008 and 2010 issues of the Boston Phoenix Newspaper, highlighting her gig posters and Paint Pens in Purses (an urban female art collective). In 2010, FuelTV flew to Boston to film Tofusquirrel and her work. The Tofusquirrel segment aired internationally during Mountain Dew’s Green Label Experience Action Sport Championships. Her artwork was also shown during the championship commercials. In 2011, she illustrated an octopus for the cover of “The Best of” issue of the Phoenix for Boston, Providence, and Portland. In 2012, she won the 1st place award for illustration at the New England Newspaper & Press Association Awards (weekly newspapers, circulation more than 6,000), for the Phoenix’s “Best of 2011″ octopus cover illustration.

At the event we will have Tofusquirrel pieces for sale, however, if you a.) can’t wait, b.) you need to get something N-O-W, or c.) you can’t attend the show, then you can purchase her work here.