wish list.....

i would love to go "green" this way.

this is a vertical garden created by Patrick Blanc - see story at www.wired.com

just awesome.

when i was young, i thought i might only be able to afford to live in a tool shed - i bet this vertical garden would look great on the outside though. i wouldn't mind if i could have this garden and a tv set.

easy glam paintover, 1, 2, 3.........

tear out magazine image, paint over the background, paint the dress ........

"banana hat"

this painting is called "banana hat" - she is not exactly carmen miranda, but i like her hat.
let's see what have i been doing lately - everything has become a smear on my calendar - so many things going on. i was about to write up an updated bio so that i can get a new website up, but i got stuck rethinking about the impact my college education made in my development as an artist. why? because it suddenly hit me, i was trained in abstract expressionism...of course i KNOW i was trained in abstract expressionism, but i only now realize --- what a different starting of point i have from most other artists. yeah, i know, i don't know why it took me so long to figure that out. i did get traditional training as well, but that came later. i had the cart before the horse. it wasn't just me, everyone going to college for an art degree at the time in the *ahem* 70's did it much like me. the reason? i think it had to do with the 1950's pop art culture and the abstract expressionists and the color field artists were finally understood and accepted in the fine art academic world. they were fully recognized in our text books and taught as 20th century art history. there were also studio class studies in abstract art. a few years earlier in art schools, these now well established movements were mere subjects of debate - mind expanding debate.
by the early 1970's they were history to be studied as part of the total curriculum and fully and excitedly explored in the classroom and studio.
so while writing my updated bio, i had to stop and ponder on these long ago things. it caused me pause....to reflect.
most of the time i hate that i'm getting old, but for this moment of personal reflection, i am nodding...it all makes sense - i see the growth from my foundation on up. i have always approached my personal history timeline in a "first i did this, then i did that"- segments that happened in my life that only marked the passing of time. but now i am approaching it this way: "first i did this which caused me to become that".

then, after all this serious reflection, i went on facebook and started playing a silly game called farmville - which has taken over my life and mind. which reminds me---- i gotta go soon because i need to check if i have full grown crop of squash that i need to harvest.
BUT FIRST, i think i will pop this red hot jawbreaker in my mouth. i love these things but my husband hates to hear me crunch....which is strange because i am downstairs and he is upstairs. i guess i'm THAT loud. my philosophy is, i might as well enjoy jawbreakers while i still have teeth.
anyway, none of this has anything to do with "banana hat" (at least intentionally) - except i painted her the other day and that was part of the smear or blur of events on my calendar this week.....
OH and by the way, today is my husband's birthday. i bought him a coupla ammunition boxes. no, he doesn't have ammo - he has cigars! these boxes (from the army surplus store) are air tight and will keep his cigars fresh. so why 2 boxes? one is for his cigars and the other one i am going to suggest he uses for his socks.

the apron kathy olsen made me...

what a wonderful surprise when i got to my workshop yesterday - kathy olsen presented me with this apron.

she made it from scratch material that was won at the stampington launch party.   she didn't have a pattern, she just started stitching up the 10" x 10" squares of cloth.  she even lined it and finished the ties neatly.  if it had been me, i would finished it by ripping a straight line at the bottom and sewing in elastic somewhere. 

i didn't wear it during class though, cuz i woulda messed it up with paint.

and, its so cute - it would be lots cuter if there was not a lump of laundry in my tummy area, but oh well.

that lump of laundry has seen some really good eats and drinks in this lifetime.  i shouldn't complain i guess...

(hey can you spy my set of copic markers which i use for fleshtones and my "the Knot" magazine for painting ideas on the table there)?

paintover workshop at the stamp addict today

hey everyone, thank you fo coming.  if you missed it i will be doing some more local teaching - just check my sidebar here.

my next gig is a free demo for the east county art association - just show up at the rancho san diego library at about 10:30, there are plenty of chairs.  there will be first a general meeting, then my demo which should last about 1 1/2 hours. which is about lunchtime - then you can take me to lunch!  did i mention FREE.  the demo, that is.  (don't get any funny ideas, mister)

bring a notebook to jot down notes.  i will amaze you.

i know, because i amaze myself.  everyday.

er, maybe even more than once a day.  in fact - i amaze myself when i look in the mirror with a "start".  who is that jolly old person....?  who is not always so jolly.

but i digress.

so it is the second monday of the month, sept. 14 - be there or be square.

"paintover" workshop tomorrow

I am so excited to meet new artists at my paintover workshop tomorrow.

we will be doing glam girl paintovers - 

at the Stamp Addict

San Diego

(619)  667-5060

call em and see if there is still room for you -

i provide everything.

$60

noon to 4 p.m.

learn to transfer pics to cloth...using only water...

(drum roll)

my newest article will be coming out in the next somerset studio's art quilting studio magazine.

"the water transfer"

it's easy and fun and easy and fun some more.

this week.......at the Stamp Addict

Wed. 8/26 12Noon-3PM

Lisa Bebi is an 'Artist on Call' for Somerset Studio andtheir many publications. Many people know of her "Paintover" technique from her many contributing articles and specifically from the Somerset Studio workshop 2008 publication which lays out the technique. No experience is necessary for this specialized workshop. All supplies are included in the cost of this class. Cost $60.00 

The Stamp Addict, Inc.

Event Details

Paint Over Workshop by Lisa Bebi

August 26, 2009   12:00 PM

Lisa Bebi is an 'Artist on Call' for Somerset Studio and their many publications.  Many people know of her "Paintover" technique from her many contributing articles and specifically from the Somerset Studio workshop 2008 publication which lays out the technique.  No experience is necessary for this specialized workshop. All supplies are included in the cost of this class.  Cost $60.00

Old Ladies Bday party published....

just got my advanced issue of somerset holidays and celebrations - looked to page 127 - and there is a 3 pager on my old lady bday party package.
i love these old girls. i felt it appropriate that they should have cranky sayings on their party hats like, ""well at least you look younger than your mom" or "go on, have a fun filled birthday, your age could get discontinued" instead the normal cheery ones that younger folks say for (i guess) encouragement.
when you are old, your party face takes on a different angle, take it from me!

Ally BlingBling at The Currant last night....

i LOVE Ally BlingBling- i met her a couple of years ago when she interviewed me on her live radio show, ArtRocks. () there is a clip of that interview on my website www.lisabebiart.com (warning: there is a commercial first in the tape, then i get very annooying repeating my website address)

anyway, she just makes me smile whenever i see her.
so, last night at the reception at The Currant - it just felt like "party complete" when i saw her pop in with her new boyfriend in tow.

don't get me wrong the party was BIG anyway. in fact, it was crammed...i could hardly hear myself talk - maybe that was not so good, lord knows what i said. thank you everyone who came - it made my day!

**********

So, I have been referring to my painting as the "bigass" painting instead of its real name, "max, the party animal". then i realized just before I got to the sophisticated reception, that someone might come in and ask to see "bigass". which of course did happen. i was really hoping that the ones around either thought 1. what a dirty mouthed guest, she's probably drunk already 2. maybe this person just stepped into here from the street 3. maybe she was calling for her husband. 4. maybe she said "big glass", i.e. a big glass of wine 5. or "big class" , i.e. big class-y show.
i don't know, but i tried to run interference with a mighty "ahem" clearing of the throat. didn't work because about 7 other guests within ear shot (whom were my guests) pointed to the bigass painting on the wall.
i just wore the "i don't know why anyone would refer to a painting of mine is such a low brow wayyyyy." expression. which no one notice - but the party enveloped the statement like a wave crashing to sand - no one paid it any mind, cept me.
it was a wonderful reception, i hope someone had a camera...we left around 8:30 an hour after it was suppose to end (we had a child to take home - school night) and it was still in full swing.
if you weren't there - i'm sorry....next time which will happen again next quarter.

tonight at the currant, downtown...

what an amazing event judi and ken winslow who owe the currant restaurant downtown put on.  the wine and appetizers were to die for.   the art, of course, was fantastic.

d.goth who i knew from her series of painted broken tiles was there.  she has one of her jackson pollock style paintings in one room - the piece is massive - look like fun to do.

julia c.r. gray of super realistic koi fame was also there with her husband. her art is spectacular.

it was very, very crowded - especially on a tuesday night!   i got to see many of my collectors too.  that is always huge to meet them and have a small chat.

tomorrow more work for publishing - i must continue on.

today - tuesday night - come!

invitation artist reception

come meet the artists at the Currant restaurant
Come meet me and 5 other very talented local artists at artist reception:

The Currant, (Sophia Hotel) Reception this Tuesday, August 18,
6: p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The Currant Restaurant (downtown)
140 West Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 702-630


bring a friend

the Launch Party....thanks to monica mouet...

who put together this montage and other friends from stampington and company.
i got this youtube from jenny doh's typepad blog.

what a night to remember!

take the paintover class in tuscany..

paintover fans:

spend a week with me in italy, tuscany - i will teach you more than just paintovers....= exciting agenda includes some travel to florence (galleries) and orvietto (church).

http://www.toscanaamericana.com/images/2009_Bebi_Cortona_Enrollment_Form.pdf

click lisa bebi. my week long workshop is in the last week of oct. 2009.
save lots of money and reserve your space today.
thanks, lisa bebi

pretty baby...

i saw this photo of my daughter on my laptop tonight and had to post it - she is long alseep, so she can't protest. i will hear about this is the morning no doubt.

she starts her junior olympics swim meet tomorrow. her event tomorrow is the mile. then friday, saturday and sunday - she swims a lot of other things.

tonight at the artbar!!!

pictures to follow: but what a night. i loved it. great peeps, great peeps.
a nice affair.
downtown santa ana is very artsy. i saw there is a show of r. crumb of 1960's album cover fame in the precinct. i wanna to go, but i had other things to do.

my only complaint about the stampington magazine launch - it was impossible to hear - it was so noisy - a very crowded event. but as expected.

i went up with kathy olsen - who drove (bless her) because my prius was too small to take everyone, diane chen, edna morton and davielle huffman. fun people - and great times. i won't forget tonight anytime soon.

PARTY - at the ARTBAR in santa ana tonight!

my paintover demonstration begins at 8 p.m. but the festivities begin at 6 p.m. - i plan to be there then - with my san diego group of crazies - er, girls.....
come by it's the stampington launch party - celebrating the 2009 launches of all their new magazines.

brush essentials....

i could not go without these sized brushes for my smaller work. just saying.

************************

i have had a few events in the last couple of days that have put a mild stress into my life. but it is not so bad, really.
first my son, jamie, set off for buffalo, NY, driving, (not that experienced of a driver) to go to SUNY university of Buffalo for a 5 year stint to get his masters and PhD in literature. he received a full ride plus a large 5 year stipend to do this. although i am very proud, i miss him already. he has lived away from home for 6 years now - he moved to santa barbara when he started UCSB and stayed there after he finished- he was only a 4 hour drive away. but san diego to buffalo - that's different! he set off last friday driving with his friend zuri who will be attending the rhode Island school of art (i'm jealous). if you are a long time member of foothills art association, you might remember zuri and my son doing a demo together a couplle of years ago. i think zuri was probably our youngest demo instructors. my son was the model, zuri the painter. very talented. anyway, they got there all in one piece - so i am thankful.

next my daughter, brooke, is taking her summer school break traveling mexico city by herself. she wants to see the various museums and practice her new second language, spanish. i am happy for her - but she is by herself.....in mexico....a mother's biggest worry...

then rosie already started back to high school. she is a sophomore. actually i am not too unhappy about this - i think old mom v. 14 year old had had enough for one summer.

then yesterday i had a sudden and mysterious crop of welts on my chin and ear. i thought for sure i had spider bites...after facebooking about it and causing alarm to my friends, i found out later it was an allergic reaction to my new medication. the welts were so large it looked as though i got a hammering on a glass jaw from Ali. today with plenty of benadryl - it is going away. slowly.

i hope i don't have this swollen mess on my face for the big launch party tomorrow night in santa ana, the Artbar with all the somerset studio folks. see previous post ("have launch with me..")

this wednesday's launch at artbar...

i will be demonstrating for stampington and company at the artbar in santa ana this wednesday night.
anyone want t come with me? i will be leaving san diego around 3:30 p.m.

the launch of all the new 2009 magazines for stampington will have many artists and contributors at the artbar, lots of demonstrations and make and takes.

in this photo here i am prepping several canvases for a series i did called "1940's swimsuit fashion".

Paintover Workshop in August

Paintover Lovers:
i will only be conducting workshops in my hometown, san diego, CA (or italy) until 2012! (see sidebar here)

reserve your spot, limited to 12 people:
(619) 667-5060

August 24, noon to 4 p.m.
Stamp Addict, San Diego, CA
7151 El Cajon Blvd, STE K
San Diego, CA 92115

the stamp addict is conveniently situated next door to the famous Rosie's Calico Cupboard, one of the largest quilt fabric stores in USA - for all you fabric/fiber lovers.

have launch with me!

join me! at the ARTBAR in santa ana, CA!!!! (south of LA) this coming wednesday night!

i will be conducting an exciting demo - along with other cool-ass artists from stampington and company!!!!!! learn lots and lots!

see below:

bigass painting, no. 2

this is the second bigass painting i have underway. there is lots more to do - i need to finish the baby's face and hands (which is me and the kid to my left (facing me)is my brother - i don't remember the kid to our right (facing out)). i only have the umbrella blocked in right now. and the lower half is only the underpainting...it will be fun to complete.

it is 4 foot by 6 foot tall. let me tell you there is no easy place to store this thing.
i feel like it is opposites day - i am going to go from bigass to littleshits - i am doing some ATC (artist trading cards, baseball trading card size) for the swap or trade THIS SATURDAY at the escondido municiple gallery at 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.(262 east grand, (near the hospital) escondido).

at 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. same day artist renee richetts and i will be at the gallery instructing how to make ATCs we will have all the makings to do this. all you have to bring is your sweet self. it is free.

Heliotrope: New Line - Studio Avo

Heliotrope: New Line - Studio Avo