More fabrication.

Here are some photos from the Artspace opening reception on Friday night, May 1st:

Des fermes, avec beaucoup de chèvres

I forgot to mention it... the weekend before this past one, John and I went on the Piedmont Farm Tour, sponsored by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association – we went out both Saturday and Sunday because, man, there were a lot of farms to cover. Plus, the area covered by the tour was fairly spread-out – the first place we went on Saturday was up in Person County, and the last place we went on Sunday was down near Siler City. Perhaps that doesn't mean anything to you if you don't live in North Carolina... suffice it to say, lots of driving involved (we rented a car for the occasion).

I already posted a number of photos on Facebook, so in the name of sheer laziness, I will direct you thusward: CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS. Here's a sneak preview, though, of John getting up close and personal with a goat at Celebrity Dairy:

I'll bet you big bucks that many of the critters encountered on this tour and therefore photographed by yours truly will make appearances in future paintings of mine. Big bucks! Stay tuned.

P.S. As a result of this farm touring, there were fresh, organic hand-picked strawberries for our pancakes on Sunday morning. Scrumptious!

From the other side.

So here's an item coming from the other end of the real estate spectrum, far away from my previous post about the wee, humble condo John and I are selling here in Raleigh... my awesome sister and her awesome husband (and their awesome dogs) are selling their awesome home in Park City, Utah. It's a beauty (did I mention it's awesome?) – check it out here! Pic below is the exterior in winter.

The King.

Before I forget to mention it, allow me to announce here that I will have work showing at Artspace in downtown Raleigh from May 1-30, 2009. The works on exhibit are some paintings in the series entitled "Fabrication", paintings in oil paint on printed fabric.

The opening reception is on this Friday night, May 1, from 6-10pm; if you're in Raleigh, please stop by! The painting below is a new one in the series, which will be on display at the exhibition - the fabric I used came from French Connections:

it's tiring being the king, 2009, oil on printed fabric, 10"x10", by me, Diane Feissel

Des pieds.

The view from my side of the bed, late Saturday night:

Libby to the left, John to the right. That's one relaxed cat.

Chez Feissel, à vendre.

Anybody want to buy a comfy, wonderful 2-bedroom, 1.5 bath condo in Raleigh, North Carolina? We're trying to sell it before we move back to California, click here for details.

The front of our condo building. Click on this link for more photos and detail.

Glass fully half-empty.

Things that have been good of late:
1. Carolina Rollergirls bout on 4/11/09. Yes, their butts were whupped by both the Philly Rollergirls and the Austin, TX team, but Ladies, you are still winners in my book. Go Carolina Rollergirls! Woot!

2. Neko Case at Memorial Auditorium on 4/7/09. Neko, you are perfect and I love you. And man, whatta voice. Sigh.

3. Thanks to the awesomeness and generosity of my former studiomate Shaun, who gave me a groovy book on artists' materials and techniques (yes, I'm woefully ignorant about these things, it's true), I have learned how to marouflage – very simply, how to glue fabric to (wood or other) panel for painting support purposes. So far, my trial samples seem to be working out well, once I have some time to actually finish priming them and such, then *maybe* I will actually find the time to paint on them as well. Whooyeah!

Little marouflaged panels, which I shall one day paint upon. Fabric comes from French Connections in Pittsboro, North Carolina, an awesome place with awesome fabric (among other things).

Things that have been not-so-good of late:
1. Raleigh drivers, who are surely going to kill both John and I as we walk to work one of these days. Good God. If this blog goes un-updated for an extended period of time, please know that it is because I have been mowed down mercilessly by a clueless driver all hopped up on Bojangle's fried chicken. Until people learn to look both ways before peeling out into traffic or around a corner or anywhere, really, we the pedestrians of Raleigh are doomed.

2. Our refrigerator, which died an extremely untimely death. We currently appear to be living under the rule of Murphy's law when it comes to all things home-related, probably because we are trying to sell our place and move back to California. This, I understand, is the time when everything will go wrong and be costly and painful. Let the seller beware, or something...? Caveat venditor, baby.

3. The most recent Depeche Mode album ("Sounds of the Universe"). Now, to be fair, I need to give it another listen... if I can stand it. Man, is this a lousy album. Yipes. I think they were trying a *wee* bit too hard, and they ended up kind of tripping over themselves. Alas. Though I must admit the video for the song "Wrong" is good, in a deliciously disturbing sort of way. See it for yourself here.