Apr 23, 2015 | For Crying Out Loud, Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market, Tools-of-the-Trade |
Northwest Coast Tlingit graduation cap designed by Clarissa Rizal painted and modeled by Ursala Hudson at her BA graduation — 2014
I have a new website with a few new tweaks to my blog, just launched last week on April 13th; I HAVE GRADUATED to a simpler, cleaner, and easy-to-navigate format to update: It’s time to celebrate! (Most artists that I know would rather spend their time creating instead of working on the computer, so the easier and faster computer time, the better for us all…!)
This is my fourth website since 1998; the first was created by my friend Cecil Touchon (www.ceciltouchon.com) nearly 20 years ago when there were not very many Native American artists’ websites.
I have been blogging since July 2010, nearly 5 years! Unlike the past blog entries randomly posted when I could fit in the work, I will post new blog entries 3/x weekly with this schedule:
- on Mondays and Thursdays and Saturdays by 12 midnight (Alaska, Pacific or Mountain time — all depends on where my business travel takes me!).
Blog posts will include the usual latest projects, art business travel, tools of the trade, people, classes, health topics, etc., though to continue helping out my fellow weavers in a more efficient manner, I have added a new section to my categories (column on the right) called “Tricks-of-the-Trade.”
All photographs on my website and blog were shot by myself unless otherwise noted.
- For over 20 years, most of the photographs of my button robes and my chilkat weavings were taken by professional photographer Jeff Laydon at www.pagosaphotography.com.
- I make an effort to give credit to any other photographers.
- Thank you to my ceremonial robe models the late Russ Eagle and my grand-daughter Amelie Haas.
- My friend Russ had been modeling for me for nearly 15 years until his passing in 2009.
- Five-year-old Amelie had her debut this past March modelling my “Chilkat Child” 5-piece weaving ensemble.
I have begun formatting my photographs larger; people want to SEE!
- I also will aim towards shooting more interesting shots, maybe at different angles
- maybe I’ll even tweak them too, because I CAN!
- Click photos on my website to enlarge; the blog photos are what they are
- Ursala says I ought to buy myself a SLR camera to produce better photos, though at this time I cannot afford spending $500-$1000.
- Blogs and websites are much more interesting with better photography and golly, shooting from my old iPhone I guess just doesn’t tickle anybody’s fancy does it!
- Hold on, dear readers, the money for a real camera will come some day!
As time permits, I will be adding one more topic to my website: a “Tributes” page to honor mainly Tlingit elders who have helped me on my path as a full-time Tlingit artist for nearly 40 years. My “Tributes” page will include those of have passed including:
- grandparents, Juan and Mary Sarabia
- parents William and Irene Lampe
- very first mentor/teacher Tlingit chief from Yakutat, Harry K. Bremner, Sr. who gave me my very first sewing lessons along with Tlingit song and dance instruction, and
- mentor/teacher of Chilkat weaving, Jennie Thlunaut
- my apprenticeship with Jennie Thlunaut
Thank you to my daughter, Ursala Hudson for working hard last weekend to create and launch my website by my deadline! Check Ursala’s graphic design/web design work on her website at: www.whiterabbitstudio.us
Aug 23, 2014 | Honoring Others, Relationship Overdrive |
Two of my favorite friends who are excellent artists, Preston Singletary (L), Cecil Touchon and I — @ Preston’s annual show during Santa Fe Indian Market, Blue Rain Gallery, Santa Fe, NM — Friday, August 22, 2014– photo by Nisa Touchon
I don’t know why, but I always wanted these two people to meet. Maybe it’s because they are “famous” — maybe it’s because they are almost like two peas in a pod — maybe it’s because one is an Aquarian and the other a Leo…! Guess which is which. Whatever the case, I think I wanted them to meet because they are a couple of my favorite people and this evening during Preston’s annual show opening at the Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe, Cecil and his wife, Rosalia and daughter Nisa, showed up! I forgot I had told them about the show opening; I am so happy they came, so happy for these two guys to meet — (don’t ask me why I wanted them to meet, all I know is that I was happy for them to finally meet one another; you ever feel that way about two of your favorite buddies meeting?)…
You may check out Cecil’s paintings and collages at his website: www.ceciltouchon.com
You may check out Preston’s glassblowing at: www.prestonsingletary.com
Sep 18, 2013 | Honoring Others, Latest Art Projects, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
the first of several illustrations for a children’s book by Hannah Lindoff
Alaskan-born writer, Hannah Lindoff is writing a children’s book about a child’s experiences in putting up foods for winter from Southeast Alaska’s sea and land. Another artist formerly born and raised in Juneau, Nobu Koch and myself are collaborating on the illustrations. Above is an example of our combined efforts.
Under the influence of my friend, the infamous collage-artist/painter, Cecil Touchon, I began making collage about 12 years ago in 2001. He encouraged me to take the Northwest Coast form line art and “play” with it. I copied his technique, using similar materials and added the form line elements. Such fun!
I am currently working on the last few collages for the book. By the first weekend in October, I will then scan and email them off to Hannah for approval before she then emails them off to Nobu to complete image. I am working on these collages in my studio in Colorado, Hannah writes in Juneau, Nobu is living and working in Seattle; how cool is technology that the three of us, who live miles apart, can collaborate on a project together like this?
May 25, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others |
Clarissa Rizal with artist friend Cecil Touchon at NuArt Gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico
I include Cecil Touchon in my blog posts on occasion because this is the guy that influenced me to get into painting and collage-making back in the late 90s. Here we stand before a two-piece painting he recently completed for his show opening May 24th in Santa Fe at the NuArt Gallery. The colors in this set jumped out at me bopping me on the head to paint my own rendition! Of course, it will not be anything like Cecil’s but, like most of the things that I “copy”, I do my own interpretation.
At the beginning of this year, I told myself this is the year for anything to do with Chilkat weaving; which by the way, is truly happening – let’s be careful what we ask for – however, I think next year it will be the year of painting, and I want to include my interpretation of Cecil’s painting above. Thank you for being a great inspiration and friend, Cecil Touchon!
Nov 6, 2012 | Honoring Others, Latest Art Projects, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
In honor of my cousin, the late Pat Mills from Hoonah, Alaska, for the upcoming koo.eex (pay-off party), I drew an ink & acrylic sketch of Pat, as if dancing in a Chilkat robe that could have been his – the robe includes his infamous “FV Mary JoAnne” sailing along with salmon and halibut
With my friend Cecil’s assistance, we printed 88 copies of the “Mary Joanne Chilkat Robe” as gifts for Pat’s koo.eex coming up on November 17 in Hoonah, Alaska. Why print an edition of 88? Simply because that’s all the paper I had. This printer is the Epson 7880 24″ model. I’ve had it for about 4 years, however, I find it difficult to make time to print all that I want to print. There is only so much time in 8 days a week!
Oct 25, 2012 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
Close-up beginning a series of mixed-media collage drawings on replaced cabinet doors; the series is called “Tlingit Cabinet” Series
Several years ago, when the way-too-little sewing room got replaced by a cedar sauna, I saved the cabinet doors. Because I cannot stand to throw away perfectly good wood, and these ones where already “framed”, I told myself that “…someday I’ll do some paintings on them…” (even though I hadn’t really painted much except one of the “Painted Ponies” of New Mexico). Finally, after about 10 years storage in the attic, I have begun the series. Again, this style of work is inspired by my collage/painter friend, Cecil Touchon. Partner Dan Shanks prepared the small boards (there are three small ones; three big ones) using acrylic matte medium to glue down sheets from a couple of old books. Then I use a couple of graphite pencils, dark and light with some cinnamon-colored, and do some shading – it’s a lot of fun – and like the rest of the contemporary work that I do, I just never know how it’s gonna turn out! Stay tuned for the completed triptych of this first set of cabinets. – And by the way, if you know of anyone who is remodeling their kitchen, etc., and they are getting rid of cabinets that are in good shape, send those folks my way! Thank you!
Sep 6, 2012 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Just finished this collage directly at high noon today. It’s a part of my ongoing series of mixed-media collages started in 2001 – this one is “Tlingit World Series #099”
This collage is part of an international exhibit commemorating 100 years of Collage art (1912 – 2012) featuring collage artists from the world over opening on Friday, September 14th at the International Museum of Collage, Assemblage and Construction in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. This exhibit is curated by Cecil Touchon, director of the Museum. For information on the exhibit, visit the blog spot. For more information on the museum, to become a contributor and to view a few of the artists’ work, click here.
Stay tuned; I’ll post photographs of the exhibit opening after September 14th!
Jul 19, 2012 | Latest Art Projects, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
“Totemic Mosaic” by Clarissa Rizal – first of a series of canvas “mosaics.”
okay, I’ve got to admit I am surrounded by artists and musicians and quite frankly I like it that way. My son-in-law, Chris Haas was over at my friend’s Cecil and Rosalia Touchon’s house – and when you are at the Touchon’s you cannot help but be influenced by one thing or another and sure enough, Chris came home with the idea of using the left over canvas pieces (from stretching canvas for the Touchon’s) and he created these really cool “mosaics” of geometric imagery – and Chris said with a big grin “oh yeah, I can see the wheels turning in Clarissa’s head…before ya know it, she’s going to do her version of this simple work of mine (which is based on Touchon’s work),…!
Yep, he’s absolutely right. I am so hooked on these mosaics, I’m already cutting, pasting, painting and laughing with delight on a couple more. Stay tuned for the next ones!
Jun 17, 2012 | Latest Art Projects, Poetry Alaskan, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
Pasting pages with matte medium onto old recycled cabinet doors
Back in March I cleaned out the attic; 18 years of accumulated family, personal, business and theatre stuff were set in the driveway. I let go of lots of stuff, however, I hung onto other things I felt I would use later. About 10 years ago, I had saved three, wooden cabinet doors from a remodel. I told myself that I would use them someday whenever I got into doing paintings for a living. Although I began painting about 10 years ago, I never really took it seriously until lately when a number of things accumulated this past year one of them being the return of my friends Cecil and Rosalia Touchon. Undoubtedly my contemporary works in paintings, collage and charcoals are influenced by Touchon. Check out their work at Cecil Touchon.com
Once all three panels were covered with pages and were given a couple coats of matte medium over the entire surface, Clarissa sketches shadows here and there to give a 3-D appearance
Rummaging through my box of collage-making papers, I came across a book of international poetry published in 1961. The pages were weathered; I liked the look – pasted them onto the gesso-ed cabinet doors which I will from now on will refer to as my “canvas.” I then pasted a cut up paper print of my Chilkat robe design pattern called “Jennie Weaves An Apprentice.” I edged each strip with a bit of golden yellow acrylic paint. I am having fun.
I order most of my acrylic paints, canvas, matte medium, brushes, etc. from Artist Supply Warehouse (ASW); as far as I know, they have good quality products at the lowest prices. If you find anything better, would you mind letting the rest of us know? Thank you!
A better view of the 3_D shading example
After a bit of shading with a soft lead drawing pencil, I stood back and liked the effect; like wow, now I am really having fun! – If I am not mistaken, this is my very first mixed-media collage on wooden cabinets done with this type of effect. If you want to see more of this effect, make sure you visit Cecil Touchon’s website. He’s an expert at this!
So far, so good, but not quite finished with this triptych
Each panel measures about 40″ high and about 20″ wide. They are available for sale as a unit at the Alaska Juneau Public Market during Thanksgiving weekend in Juneau.
Jun 7, 2012 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
Although messy, charcoal is fun to work with. I enjoy the instant contrast from dark to light depending on pressure and the number of strokes in a given place.
You may visit the previous blog ent
Adding more charcoal to obtain higher contrast
I used a workable fixative; next time I’ll use a non-workable fixative for the final coat!
Clarissa sprays fixative on her "Argillite Totem" stapled to the studio wall outdoors
I started this charcoal back in March; you may visit the blog entry that posted the beginning of this charcoal at by clicking here.
The finished piece waits on a table for the body of the wood frame column
I waited for the frame to be built before I sprayed and applied the canvas to the column frame.
“Argillite Totem” with a mirror behind it to see a glimpse of the other side of this totemic column. – This won 2nd Place in the Contemporary arts category of the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Juried Art Show 2012.
See a video of the awards ceremony:
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