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Category: Painting (Page 1 of 12)

Mary Ciofalo at Sanchez Art Center

Mary Ciofalo artist

Mary Ciofalo holding her art pieces created using sumi ink. Photo by Mary Gow Pincus.


Ah, the world is opening up and we’re returning to in-person gatherings and that means ART OPENINGS!

With delight, I saw Mary Ciofalo recently at Open Studios at Sanchez Art Center, 1220 Linda Mar Blvd., in Pacifica. I first met Ciofalo in an artist’s portfolio course, taught by Nancy Elliott, at City College of San Francisco over a decade ago.

The last time I had been to Sanzhez Art Center prior to this was for a splendid show titled “All Over the Map,” featuring paintings by Hung Liu, in March of 2018. I plan to write more about Hung Liu in a future post. You can download a PDF describing the Liu’s show by clicking on “All Over the Map.”

The two pieces Ciofalo’s holding were created using sumi ink. I love the her roll-up-able scroll format which reminds me of the portability that Faith Ringgold so eloquently demonstrated with her work on quilts as I saw at her DeYoung Museum show, “American People” in 2022.

Lately I’ve been experimenting with painting watercolors on sheets of card stock with portability in mind. In other words, bravo to works that appeal not only to the eye but also to the beauty found through simplicity of transport and storage.

It was good to see Mary Ciofalo. For those in the San Francisco area, you can see her work at Open Studios in October at Hunter’s Point. I have no idea how portable those pieces will be but it’ll be worth finding out 🙂

Wabi-Sabi-ish Painting

Pink Watercolor by Mary Gow

“Wabi Pink,” watercolor on paper by Mary Gow.


Recently I took “Wabi Sabi Abstract Painting” with Sherrie Lovler. (A few years ago I took a two day class with Sherrie called “Calligraphic Abstraction,” in person, in Sebastopol, Calif.). This Wabi Sabi class was virtual thanks to the O’Hanlon Center For The Arts in Mill Valley, Calif. The whole class description is here.

I might already be painting wabi-sabi style and not know it. Going with the flow and relaxing into what is – is that what wabi-sabi is about?

After some research I found out wabi-sabi is about finding beauty in every aspect of imperfection. Perfectly imperfect.

Could spontaneous, automatic, gestural painting also be synonymous with wabi-sabi?

In the class we reviewed what wabi-sabi art is. We practiced painting the enso – fluid circles early in the class. With Sherrie leading the way with suggestions on starting our paintings, we went through the exercise of creating a few compositions.

This pink purple exploration is what flowed yesterday morning.

Here’s one piece I created in Sherrie’s class.

Mary Gow- Wabi-Sabi-Painting-2021

Wabi-Sabi Painting by Mary Gow

At times I found myself ‘working at” creating something to look naturally at ease without trying. I made a few examples of pieces I wanted to share with the class that I felt were truly wabi-sabi — many I felt were my explorations ink brush work. . . which I loved.

My natural artistic painting style is to go with the flow of what I’m feeling. . . enjoy the process more than fixate on what the end must look like.

Create a Fluid Painting in Minutes


Recently I got to see Zlata Rabinovich demonstrate her fluid painting. She uses Flood Floetrol Additive mixed with acrylic paint – and in the video you’ll see the mixture poured on a canvas can to create something spontaneously gorgeous! I can’t wait to try it myself.

The sound on the video isn’t that good and the images can tell the story.

You can find Flood Floetrol, 32 oz., at Lowe’s for around $7.98.

More about Zlata at her website: https://zartfun.com

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