Check out the latest "indoor plein air" by Bill Shelley. Bill is developing new paintings each day at his phantom gallery Frontburner, in Windsor, California.

Alicia Bock's photography collection, For Japan. Proceeds from this collection will be donated for relief efforts in Japan.

Ivy Jacobson’s love and fascination of the natural world transpires in her recent paintings. In these latest pieces, Jacobson explores the constant motion of life cycles of flora and fauna with abundance of forms, colors, and lines. Ivy has stated that she tries “to capture moments of stillness in this constant motion of everything.”

Ivy’s choice of material enhances her inspiration further. In her piece “Earth”, the combination of red dyed rice paper imprinted with metallic ink creates a unique foundation that resembles the layers of the earth.

Susan Friedman sent us this captivating image from her recent show at Cliff Lede Vineyards in Yountville. Susan took this photo near dawn, it looks to be from the wild, wild West, Northern-California-style with the dreamy, fog-enshrouded trees framing a Lusitano running wild and free. Title: Mystical Orpheo.

Here is another of David Mayhew’s dense works in ballpoint pen. In this piece, David’s intricate line work is built up to create a symphony of pattern and form.

One of our favorite pieces from Bill's contemporary landscape paintings, titled Spring Lake, 15 x 19, watercolor.

The latest series from Barbra Ziemer is inspired by vintage murals on the walls of an old beach house in Pelham, New York. Each photograph captures a dramatic scene in stop motion. As if in a dream, these pieces evoke an otherworldly peacefulness and grace.

HaveMuse’s featured photographer, Susan Friedman’s recent works Equus is showing at the gallery of Cliff Lede Vineyards.

Date: April 24 – August 18, 2009

Cliff Lede Vineyards
1473 Yountville Cross Road
Yountville, CA 94599

Visit Susan Friedman’s web site at to see more of her works.

Rob Dunlavey recently created a new series of drawings, entitled Crystal Cities, that utilize various media to explore complicated and mostly decorative cities and buildings.

This past Saturday afternoon, we had the pleasure of attending the Nichibei Potters sixth annual Kiln Opening ceremony at their studio nestled in the rolling hills of Sebastopol, California, 60 miles north of San Franciso.  Nichibei Potters – the husband and wife team of Cheryl Costantini and Mikio Matsumoto – two potters steeped in Japanese tradition, yet injected with a contemporary flair.

A large number of enthusiastic friends, supporters and collectors showed up to witness the exciting reveal of a still-warm kiln. It contained a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind pieces created since January of this year. The green pieces are placed at the top and the bottom of the kiln, where the temperature is slightly cooler. The unique green color is achieved by applying a copper glaze to porcelain clay.

Many of the larger pieces on the top tier came out first and caused quite a stir among the assembled devotés, some who have followed their work for over 20 years.

As each new piece was removed, Cheryl and Mikio held them up for oohs and aahs and reveled us with talk of their process, the different types of clay and glazes and the occasional one that got away due to the glaze running too much.

They shared with us the pieces that took a whole day to make and the ones that came off the wheel in a couple of minutes. Each piece tells a unique story of inspiration and master craftsmanship.

Once the pieces got a proper viewing in front of the kiln, they were moved by their assistants to a table in the back yard for closer scrutiny and purchase. Almost all of the larger pieces were purchased by the genteel crowd that politely chose their treasures without argument or jostling.

We were mesmerized by the last piece out of the kiln, a beautiful Mikio vase in the unmistakeable Nichibei jade green, with a hand carved bamboo grove. The bamboo vase came home with us along with a lovely Cheryl tea cup.

Thank you to Cheryl and Mikio for giving us a truly “open studio” experience, sharing with us part of your art making process. To learn more about Nichibei Potters, visit their Web site at nichibeipotters.com.