I’ve painted outdoors and I’ve painted indoors… on location and in studios all over the world. People often ask me: Which do I prefer? Is one more authentic? Is the other easier? Over the years I’m thinking it is all up to the individual, what gets you stoked as a painter, what inspires your process.
MFA Studio: Oakland, CA
I suppose that when it comes to art studios, I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked in some amazing spaces in the world. Some were corners in a room, others covered patios, basements, cantinas, spare rooms, garages and shared spaces with other artists. Some spaces I have lived and slept in, some had great surf and snowboarding right outside the door. Some studios have been the backdrop for tea parties, holiday parties, and art shows…others transformed into movie sets for numerous film projects. From the ancient olive mill in Tuscany to the the old Del Monte Cannery in San Francisco, all these spaces impart their energy into my work and inspire in their own unique ways.
In this, my 30th year as a professional artist, I’m looking back at those places with many fond recollections. The hundreds if not thousands (!) of paintings I have created over those years!
This last weekend I had the honour of exhibiting my work at Lahaina’s 39th Anniversary Show. Along with seven other master artists, we celebrated with some of Lahaina Galleries’ patrons and collectors at a private unveiling the evening before.
I consider myself very fortunate to do business in one of the greatest cities on Earth, and delivering paintings to Graham Fine Art is an excellent excuse to spend a week there.
It has been a wet autumn here in Tuscany, and that following a very wet summer. Italy has been inundated by November’s storms adding to the heaviness of an already disastrous olive harvest. Makes for a slightly maudlin mood for the locals. Rainy weather means more time for me in the studio, happily working away… of course, on my newest water paintings. Continue reading “Autumn Reflections from a Tuscan Studio”
Summer has at long last come to the Southern California Coast and these last few evenings have been gorgeous enough to tempt me back into the water. In anticipation of my upcoming exhibition at Gallery McCollum, No Bad Paintings, No Bad Waves, where Mickey Muñoz will be signing his new book, we had the pleasure of a sunset surf together at Doheny.
I suppose you could say Mickey has been my “surf mentor” over the years… if you equate “surf” = “life”. Since our first surf session at his beloved Middles in 1984, I have shared many many waves with Mickey – since long before he became my brother-in-law – and looked to him as a role model in how to live Life to the fullest degree.
My Precious Michel Junod Patagonia board has been my favorite for over 16 years…. and a pre-surf waxing up still one of my Life’s greatest pleasures….
Checking the surf… and check out this board: Mickey shapes all his stand-up paddle boards. Fabulous.
Mickey will be signing his book, “No Bad Waves: Talking Story with MickeyMuñoz” from 3:00PM on, and he’ll be showing some of his unique photographs as well. It will be a very rare opportunity to buy an original photograph by Mickey Muñoz – and celebrate his 75th birthday!
Books will be available for purchase at the gallery. You can also pre-buy the book at your local book shop, from Patagonia, or at this link on Amazon.com.
UPDATE (Sept 1): For those who missed the Artist Reception for “No Bad Paintings, No Bad Waves” Caroline will make a special appearence at Gallery McCollum for First Thursdays Art Walk in Laguna Beach. September 6 from 6 – 9PM. More info. View paintings.
UPDATE (August 15): The exhibition is now set for Saturday August 25, 2012 at Gallery McCollum. Mickey’s book signing begins at 3PM and the artist’s reception runs until 9PM. For invitations please sign up for my Mailing List.
I’m very excited to announce an upcoming exhibition of my latest paintings at Gallery McCollum in Laguna Beach this summer. I’ll be showing a whole new series of seascapes and tropical water paintings as well as my recent work from Tuscany and Provence.
My brother-in-law, surf legend Mickey Muñoz, will be signing his new Patagonia-published book “No Bad Waves: Talking Story with Mickey Muñoz”.
From Patagonia: “Mickey Muñoz has been called the “surfer’s surfer,” and is loved and respected among the cognoscenti for his contributions to surfing and the surfing life for the past 60 years as a surfer, a pioneer of Waimea Bay, a stuntman (stand-in for Gidget), a board shaper and designer, and as a sailor and boatbuilder (America’s Cup). Mentored by the Malibu greats of the ’40s, and an influence on generations of surfers since, Mickey weaves the story of a California waterman using his own life and that of his friends.”
Mickey MunozMickey Muñoz and Caroline Zimmermann
Mickey’s take on life has always been an inspiration to me and I’m looking forward to our little colaboration. The show is now scheduled for Saturday, August 25, 2012. Mickey’s book signing begins at 3PM and the artist’s reception begins at 6PM. Mickey will also be showing some of his unique photographs, running a slide show, and we’ll all be celebrating his 75th birthday! If you’d like to be added to the mailing list please sign up here.
Mickey’s book “No Bad Waves: Talking Story with Mickey Muñoz” will be available for purchase at the gallery. You can also pre-buy it at your local book shop or at this link on Amazon.com.
After more than 23 summers at the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts, times are a changing and I am moving on. It was not an easy decision to relinquish my exhibitor’s space at the Festival as I have spent almost half of my life’s summers there. Many of those involved with the Festival are like family to me, and I will miss their company. I am greatly indebted to the Festival of Arts. As a fledgeling artist, it gave me the opportunity to make a career of the Labor I Love. My heartfelt thanks goes out to those dedicated people who have made the Festival what it is today: A piece of California’s history that for 80 years has done much to promote and sustain the Arts in Laguna Beach.
My decision has allowed me to spend more time with my family and has opened up new opportunities to paint the summer light of Tuscany and Provence and also complete the production of some additional scenes for our independent film, Terroir, directed by my husband John Charles Jopson.
Jonathan Bragg (Keith Carradine) with my “King Oak” painting.
As I’m both the Producer and the Art Director, I consider Terroir my biggest work yet!
We’ll be editing for the rest of the summer, and into the autumn in Berlin, then in December it’s back to Ealing Studios in London for final post-production.
On the set of “Terroir” – Villa Petrolo
And a spectacular explosion of color from this spring’s poppies coincided with my completion of this large commission for dear clients in Texas…
A Recent Commission
Those visiting Laguna Beach this summer and expecting to find me at the Festival of Arts can see my work in the Summer 2012 Group Coastal Show at Gallery McCollum, which runs from June 23 through the end of summer.
“Vintage South Laguna” Laguna Beach
Later in the summer I’ll be returning to the Hollister Ranch Hoedown benefit where this year 50% of the proceeds of the Art Show will go toward the Hollister Ranch Fire Company. Then on August 25th I’ll have my solo show No Bad Paintings, No Bad Waves at Gallery McCollum featuring a book signing with Mickey Muñoz.
And of course you can always visit my Virtual Gallery to see my latest paintings available for purchase online – a few of which are featured below…
“Three Lemon Still Life”“Mid-summer’s Dream, Tuscany”“St Augustine’s” Hollister Ranch
I hope you enjoy the new look and feel of my Muse and News Blog. Please bear with us while we change a few things on my web site as well as the blog. To view posts on my old blog please click here.
Caroline Zimmermann, Laguna Beach Festival of Arts
It is really quite an honor: My work, along with the fabulous ceramic work of Marlo Bartels, has been selected by the Festival of Arts to grace their front entrance façade. The concept began last May, inspired by this year’s Pageant theme: Only Make Believe.
Board of Directors member Tom Lamb asked me if I would be interested in collaborating.
