A Woman's Place is...

"As I always say, a woman's place is in the home (painting murals!) " Ha Ha!
My mom recently unearthed a photo album documenting the life of my artist/grandparents Ralf and Jeanette Johnstone! Old photos set onto velvety black paper pages - and the writing in white ink! Oooh! It's just beautiful scrapbooking at its finest!

My favorites were the photos of the mural that is currently in my living room (previously their living room). I love how my grandma is wearing her bathing suit while she paints! Who needs a smock? I think this photo was taken in the mid 1930's.

Poem to Mischievous Maeve

Pursuing this career in art can have its ups and downs, but every now and again I'll get a nice note from a fan of my work, or an email that makes my day. That really connects and makes me feel that my work has a higher purpose, that it's getting to people, giving them feelings of joy - or sorrow, or a different awareness.

This poem/letter above was hand written and given to me by a dear and creative girl named Nikki! It is written about one of my character creations "Mischievous Maeve".

It reads "Dearest Maeve, You live in a spidery cave. There's nothing but fireflies on the swamp in the dark and in the light, they're always ready for full flight. She is independent and sweet, I love it every time we meet! Even though you can look mean, you love your little lima-beans! In daylight you always fly your kite. You may not be the nicest of creatures, but you are underneath it all. I love you! Don't forget to call!
From Nikki."

Wow. Thanks for this Nikki! I love it!

World Changing

Many of us feel lost, feel angry, feel hopeless about it all... How did we get here? Where exactly were we? After years of big "eating" expensive cars, enormous houses, products, stuff - America has become this obese, exhausted, abused mass of a thing... We lay on the bed as infusions are administered, CPR and life support given... What is it that will get our pulse rate back to normal?

Luckily for me, I've found that I'm more of an optimist than I had previously known. When given lemons - make lemonade - and such right? Hearing the pragmatic, inspirational, philosophical speeches of our president-elect, listening to my own insides waxing and waning, hearing words from my artist friends - I feel a sense of unity, a connectedness through adversity that gives me hope. And now, much to my delight I have come across this book - at first drawn to it for it's striking and beautiful bird on the cover, but now to it's massively deep content. It is an epic compilation of information spanning from "Holistic Problem Solving", discussing how our things "define us" and how to develop new relationships with "stuff", and how "business can be a vehicle of change". It provides great insight into the many layered scenarios that plague our country, and practical solutions - many of which are already in practice on different scales.

I have only begun my journey into digesting and discovering all the insight this book has to offer, but I'm already certain that book will have profound impact on how I approach my creative career. I plan to surround myself with inspiration, information, solutions, kindness, collaborations, and friendships. To submerge myself in goodness that can only beget goodness. Be the change I want to see, etc. I encourage anyone to pick up a copy and see how we can all become that "vehicle of change" in the coming decades.

Super FUN VINYL TOYS!

Yipee! It's time for toys! It's the annual Vinyl Toy Network show in Pasadena!
I'm going to swing by and see all the fun new toys along with my hubby and kiddo.
I designed one of series of collectors cards for the event (See above). I wish
my Maeve Toy was going to be there... Not sure if the other color versions will ever be released at this point... Well, I guess that makes the existing Mischievous Maeve Dolls that much more special right? Hope you are all enjoying your holidays (turn off CNN - it's bad for your health! and just keep optimistic!) Things will have an upturn soon - I feel it in my bones!

Yipee! Obama Art!

I practiced a little escapism and ran off to Yosemite during the monumental election. I needed to just clear my head with some fresh air and trees. It was nice not feeling submerged in all the CNN coverage, it was sooo quiet in the forest, so peaceful. But I just had to hear the news so at around 9:00 I began pacing madly trying to get a cell phone signal in the woods! I got a few bars and found out that Obama had won - and my heart lit up - almost as bright as our campfire. It felt like New Years Day! So much excitement and promise. For the first time in a long time I felt truly delighted and proud to be an American! One of my favorite artists Anahata Katkin was also inspired and while on her retreat in Belize, and experienced first hand the effect of our election abroad (check out her blog). She featured this poster here from a Southwest Campaign by artist Date farmers based on Mexican revolutionary posters. Wow!

Lost At Sea - New work

I try to venture into new techniques every once in a while. Painting the same way, with the same materials sometimes drives me nuts! Aren't artist's supposed to experiment? When falling into a design rut, one must shake things up a bit. This piece isn't a total departure from my "Secret Live's of Dolls" series of girl/woman portraits, but it felt really good to do. This is a 24x24 inch piece (a larger size for me!) I've been working a bit more with layering decorative and graphic elements in my pieces as well as using pencil and colored tissue. I love how it layers meanings, and makes you want to look deeper into the piece.

My next pieces I'm delving into some Monster derived pieces that pay homage to the King o' the wild things - Maurice Sendak. It's a group show at the Wonderful World Art Gallery, in Culver City. I'll post some images of art in progress soon.

Inspirado from Grandpa

I create my artwork in my back/house studio that belonged to my grandfather Ralf, and my grandmother Jeanette - both whom were artists and illustrators in the 40's, 50's & 60's. All day long I'm surrounded by all the great stuff that they created. Just being submerged in this stew of artistic goodness soaks into my brain and comes out in all sorts of ways. It surely supplies me with a steady stream of inspirado. But then there's a fine line between "inspired by" and the sinister act of copying. I feel that observing other artists work can be tremendously helpful with the creative process, but you must let it come through you in your own way - create your own interpretation. Oh well, that 's just my two scents. I could rant about this for hours.

In any case, above is a piece my grandfather did in the 60's. Hope you find it inspiring!

Coming in October: CJ Metzger & Miss Mindy

Miss Mindy and CJ Metzger are excited to announce their upcoming 

show in San Diego at Subtext. 

More information about this upcoming show to follow soon!

What's Cookin'

Hi folks, been a while since I last made an entry. This time of year is always especially busy for me. Somehow I managed to secure 3 shows at around the same time (am I nuts?), and am preparing for the almighty Comic-con once again ( I say again - am i nuts?) : ) 

 So much work to produce!! I wish I could paint in my sleep.  In anycase, if you are interested (which I'm assuming you are since you are on my blog and reading this! hee hee): My show at the Black Maria Gallery is going well. New clients buying new work is always a good thing! I am especially grateful that people continue to buy my work - even in such an economically stressful time...So, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU who continue to support the arts, buy my art, attend openings, and buy my books! You keep the brushes in my hands and the food on my table!

FYI - above is a sneak peek of some pieces going to Gallery Revisited- Silverlake, and POP Gallery-Santa Fe. Both will be super good shows. I'll provide links to see the works online as soon as they are posted.

xoxoxox. cjm

My Daughter - Five Year Old Fashion Designer!

So okay, I've got to boast about my own kid right? Sophie got her hands on a big box o' fabric scraps and my dress form and had a blast! She used safety pins, clever knots and ties, and even a needle and thread to make this creation. She even asked me to make her some business cards! I'm so proud of her ingenuity and creativity. It just shows that you should never underestimate what your child is capable of!  So here's to letting your kids play with sharp scissors, needles and mom's sewing machine once in a while! (yikes?)

An Artist a Day makes the ----- go away.

Yesterday I was featured on Artistaday.com's website. It's a website that features - an artist a day (go figure!). It is linked as a widget on my Google page and I just love it! When my art was posted, I got so many responses and so much great publicity. I feel like trying to find things on the web can be a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. This site makes it easy to find art treasures. Check out the site and submit your work if you are an artist/illustrator
Here's the link to my pageCJ Metzger on Artistaday.com

New Paintings by moi

Hi Folks, Just wanted to give you a sneak peek of some portraits that I've been working on for my upcoming show at the HIVE Gallery in Downtown.

Lately I'm drawn to creating portraits of women and girls with animal features protected by predatory birds, snakes. And I've become increasingly inspired by a Hawk that sits perched high in a tree outside my Studio window! If all goes according to plan. these paintings will be part of my forthcoming book titled "the Secret Lives of Dolls". A book which will hopefully be ready for Comic-con (if the planets align correctly!).

This year is chugging along already and I've been selling and exhibiting at the Pop Gallery in Santa Fe! Sharla the owner/director is terrific! Things are going well at The Wonderful World Art Gallery in Culver City too. Miss Mindy and my work is still there, and we'll be rotating some new work in as we make it!

For now I'm just trying to stay inspired and creative and not to force the work. I often struggle with feeling like an "art making factory" at times, so one of my goals is to "find the love" in the work and find new ways to encourage the creative process, ways to nudge it along without sending it into shock! I'll keep you posted with how it goes and if I come across any major emotional break throughs!

Best wishes to you in all your creative endeavors for 2008!

New Owl Painting + a Poem

There was an owl
who lived in an oak.
The more he heard,
the less he spoke;
the less he spoke,
the more he heard -
We all should be
like that wise old bird.

(Found this online. Poignant huh?)

Happiest of New Years Wishes to ya'll!

What a wonderful way to start off 2008! My honey Pete snapped this photo today in the early morning outside our house. Many believe that a visit by a hummingbird brings good luck in love! So with that we send lots of love, hugs and warm wishes to you and yours in the new year to come!

Xoxoxo,
CJ Metzger & Family

“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”
Frank Lloyd Wright

Show at the Wonderful World Art Gallery

This is a show I'm in! Very cool gallery in Culver City! And my work will be up in the same room as Dr. Seuss and Tim Burton! How rad is that??

I lived on the moon

video clip by Yannick Puig. My friend Christina Conway put this on her blog and I can't get it out of my head! It's amazing!

Comic-con Update: Books, Toys and art OH MY!

Well, it's over and somehow I managed to survive! I can't even begin to explain what a monumental task it is to have a booth at the almighty Comic-con, yet it is at the same time it holds some of the most memorable moments of my year! This year was the most successful by far! My sister Miss Mindy and I debuted our vinyl art toys "Mischievous Maeve" and "Dink" (by Kaching Brands, showcased and sold by Toy Tokyo). We also were selling copies of our Artist Sister's Box o' Stories (Children's book collection). We had tons o' art, prints, collectors pins and other things for sale. We made tons of new friends and had a blast all around. (See photo of our booth with Miss Mindy posing, and the b/w photo of us signing our toys at the Vinyl Toy Network event!) If you'd like to get a toy, there are still a few available through 3-D Retro. See the links page to visit their site.

Open Studio + Backyard Bliss

Hey ya'll! The Open Studio and Backyard Boutique was a super fun day! Lots of people and art lover's milling about and we couldn't have asked for better weather. Thanks to all those who came by to visit and to shop and to all my uber talented friends for being a part of it! Also, I'm getting a bit tired of always tootin' my own art-horn on this blog. So, check out the inspiring collage portraiture of my friend Michelle Caplan. She does some beautiful work and I am now the proud owner of one of her pieces!
Comic-con is coming up next! I'll have more photos of works and works in progress soon!

Up & Coming

Much is happening! The Comic-con is fast approaching, and my sis and I are feverishly putting together paintings, updating websites, creating promotional materials...Whew! It can truly be exhausting. But I have an especially great feeling about this year. Books, vinyl toys, gallery shows - it's all coming together.

Oh yeah! and I'm even preparing for an open studio event this July 8th. Check out the card + ad I placed in the Verdugo Monthly. That same day I'm having some friends over to sell their wonderful creative wares in the courtyard at my studio. If you are local, you should come on by.

I made a painting today!

Here's a painting I started today! It was so nice to turn off my computer and just paint, uninterrupted for a few hours. The piece is untitled right now, and is part of a series of robot icons I'm painting for my Windup Gallery Show in Arizona in August. I'm thinking of framing it with a bulky cheesy gold frame. Hope you like it!