SALI conventioneers invade local studios

Last week the Stencil Artisan's League held its annual convention in the San Francisco Airport Hyatt. I'd never attended such a convention before, and as it was local to me, I signed up for some classes being taught by Lucretia Moroni and Tania Seabock, and dragged my arse to Burlingame at 8 am every morning. I had a lot of fun, met a number of nice painters from all over the world, and got no sleep for 6 days straight.

Lisa Làzàr and I planned a progressive studio tour for some of the visitors for Friday night. Around 7 PM a boisterous group of artists showed up at my hastily cleaned up Dogpatch studio, where Vera greeted them with Salvadoran food and tequila.
Among the artists in attendance: Sheri Hoeger, Ryan Hoeger, Jeff Raum, Pat Ganino, Mike and Matt from Creative Evolution, Tom McPherson, Ian and Tania Seabock, Lis Wolfin, Cleta Grant, Kathy vanGogh, Arlene Mcloughlin, Mimi, Margo, Sass Lassley, Bruce Thalman, Pamela Hernandez, Anne Halaby, Elena Ortega, Heather, Stacy Carney, Pat Strong, Kristen Lerner, Kristin McNeill...

We then carpooled over to West Oakland where Lisa runs the scenic studio for the Berkeley Repertory Theater : her amazing shop is housed in a 25 gazillion square foot zeppelin hangar, clean, well organized, stocked with every tool you could imagine.

Afterwards part of the group wound up at the DNA lounge for some after hours dancing. whew!

Vera- Blogdom's popular party girl

Of course you notice her, the luscious dark-haired girl in the jazz club, cooling her brow with a martini glass and giving the guy right behind you a cold come-hither stare.

Yes, I mean you, bloggers, taking Vera's picture, and using your story to tell her story. Go ahead and project onto her all your bitterness, desires and dreams.

"Vera has a Martini" was commissioned as part of a group of paintings for the (gone but not forgotten) Cobalt Tavern in San Francisco's North Beach. Since then, she's been inspiring musings all over the internet with her icy mixed message, and, she has become something of an alter-ego for me as well, since I use her as my avatar in some places.
I've found her in many blogs and websites over the years. Vera sure gets around.
here are some of the more interesting entries:

"Stirred, Not Shaken" Mantis in a Teacup, February 2007
The Perfect Friday Night Pegasus News, January 2007
Cleopa is Here! Cleopa - Pensieri Disordinati, Christmas, 2005
John Gilbert's Home Page

As Seen on TV

KPIX Evening Magazine catches Lynne on a good hair day, in this rare TV appearance.
Featured in the video are "Vera has a Martini" and "Maxi-Max" in progress, during the time I was using my living room as a studio.

Lynne Rutter Murals & Decorative Painting