American Graffiti Tribute Art 2020 & 2022

 The 2020 Event Art for Petaluma's tribute to American Graffiti was complete and awaiting its time in the spotlight when the world created other plans. We all recollect where we were when the pandemic happened, so it should come as no surprise that we lost some black top during that difficult time. What follows is my summary for last year's exhibit in dedication of Petaluma's deep connection to the movie American Graffiti. 

In hindsight, we got a lot of extra millage with our 2020 artwork. In a bargain package, we also got 2021 and 2022 in the same painting! It’s funny now, but when Elise painted the 2020 piece in late 2019, obviously we didn’t know how it would stand the test of time…. and a worldwide pandemic. But with a little luck, her piece that was created to acknowledge 15 years of car show celebration held up well. Similar to the 10th year celebratory artwork, Elise painted fifteen car characters, including two that were not from the movie. We showed love to our founders, John and Joetta Furrer and had their pristine Chevy added to a heavily detailed Petaluma Boulevard perspective, quietly parked in front of fictional “P-town Auto.”  Wayne & Rhonda Van Patten were honored by capturing their gorgeous (not yet born in 1962, the fictional timeline for American Graffiti) Pontiac, in a brick-side advertisement for “Future Pontiac.” This original fine art painting showcases the best of what we have come to count on Elise’s in work: there are too many details to acknowledge but we implore you to study this one. It features so much of what most of us love about the crusin’ culture and history of Petaluma, and also the universal experience of small town USA.

“The Fastest Car in the Valley” by Elise A. Durenberger ©2020
Original, Acrylic on Canvas 24 x 30” $4,000.00  SOLD!

I was beyond honored to win Best of Show, 1st Place and Best of Section in the Sonoma Marin Fair, 2021. A wise and discerning American Graffiti enthusiast and Car Show participant purchased this art during the 2023 event directly from the Petaluma History Museum. Although the tasteful customer had to patiently wait to receive the painting until after the show, he was glad to do so and we were delighted! 

For information on how to purchase remaining, original paintings and reproductions, please contact Elise Durenberger at mamacow@comcast.net

Gratefully yours, 

Elise

Dramatic Northern California Sunset with Windmill

The day this dramatic sunset scene enveloped our lovely county, I knew I had struck creative gold. My heart raced, because I was driving home from visiting my mom, in Marin County, south of where we live. My conundrum was WHERE and HOW could I view and photograph the setting sun, as time was of the essence and I am greedy. The more inspirational pictures I have in my file, the better.

Adding to the rush of my excitement was the sight of our annual Sonoma Marin Fair, visible from my position on the crowded freeway at rush-our. Against the unfolding drama of the heavens, I could see the Ferris Wheel and other attractions starting to glow with their neon goodness against the darkening midway. What to do. I couldn't think straight and I wanted to be in the right spot to get the scene I could already picture in my head.  Then I remembered: MY SON WAS AT THE FAIR! Frantically, I called him praying that he would somehow accept my phone call, amidst the joy and chaos that is the summer fair at dusk, teenagers, freedom, COTTON CANDY, kettle corn... 

But he is a good boy. He ANSWERED! (And he HEARD me!) He took the exact picture I was lusting for...Fodder for a future painting (which I have actually started!), but it freed me up for this baby:

Sunset over Stony Point ©2014           Acrylic on Canvas 24 x 18"

Lucky me! Although I was fairly squirmy with anticipation, I was able to calmly plot another location to hoard a different photo exploration of the crazy-beautiful sky. The above painting is the result of my terrific fortune. This gorgeous setting was already in the que for a painting with a late summer brooding, grey sky (that I have NOT painted yet), but I had a feeling it would look good in these colors, too. Before I started to paint, I entered it in a different local fair, later that summer. Proudly, it won first place and I sold it to a very dear friend in time for it to become the ultimate anniversary gift for my OTHER very dear friend. Wow! That was a fortunate sequence of events!

Post fair {#1!} mania...

and some CHALLENGE fun!

Wahooooooooooooo! Howdy friends! So delighted to be dipping a toe back into Blog-land after the vortex of FAIR {and I don't mean that in a "so-so" kind of way...} excitement...! Thanks for all of the fun comments on my previous post! Those projects turned out to be a lot of fun AND the produce.... produced some RIBBONS!!! {But more on that later!}

My kitchen table is full of decaying produce creatures, scrapbook pages, decorated shoes, paintings, fimo art, mail art, textile art, a Christmas ornament, stale cookies... and all sorts of artifacts to celebrate the summer season, including a healthy pile-o-ribbons... But, friends, today I gave myself a chance to play somewhere WITHOUT cotton candy, carnival rides or hot dogs on sticks... SCRAPLAND {aka. my playland!} and I got some challenge on!

FIRST of all... add some c-o-l-o-r!!!!!! {MMMmmmmm, babies!} This was certainly my CUP-o-color palette, offered by the lovely and talented gals from Play Date Cafe....

Might of guessed I'd run with these little gems... and head WEST.... WESTERN THAT IS!

Plus, multi-fun combo possibility with this super fun sketch from Card Patterns....!

Can a girl get a "YEE HAW" !?!?!?! I sure hope so! THESE two challenges and my LACK of paper-crafting withdraw equaled a whole lotta' happy paper-play time for this old mare!!!



And, just 'cause I'm a little {heat stroke!} giddy... Here's a picture of my sweet BABY girl and her proud potato RECOGNITION! Best of Show, babies! {She was pleased as a pickle... or a potato... uh, you get the idea!!!}

Yeah, her mom was, too. {Hee Hee!}



Thanks, so VERY much for stopping by and let me share my challenge THRILL for the day and even, brag on my sweet one {aren't we mother-types predictable!}....

Have a GREAT rest of your day!


Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up!
D/P - Cosmo Cricket
Stamps - Dawn Hauser for Penny Black & PSX
Cloud technique - ME!
Chipboard Stars - S/U!
Ribbon and Charm - S/U!
Border Punch - S/U!
Circle and Star punches - Marvy
Flocking Powder - Doodlebug

Eat your veggies!

Orrrrrr! Use them to make some ART!

We all know that fresh vegetables are critical to healthy living... But here at Rancho Durenberger, we believe in "healthy crafting!"

{Yikes! It's a herd of wild POTATO pigs!}

Quick! Get them back in the corral!

Phew! Our pet lamb, Cauliflower, is in her pen!

Her pasture is the greenest! No need to covet thy neighbors grass....

But don't go overboard, though... Grains and proteins are important, too. If you don't have
a well rounded diet, you could turn into Produce Sally... She's had a little... too MUCH ruffage! {hee hee}

It's fun to play with your food... AND, it's healthy!

In case you didn't guess what we're up to, the wee-gal and I were finishing up our PRODUCE ART entries for a local fair...! Today was the LAST step and our last day to deliver exhibits to the Sonoma Marin Fair - tomorrow we'll be regular old civilians, enjoying the fruits {& VEGGIES!} of our labor! Can't wait!

So, yeah, I'm a little paper-deprived, but I couldn't help but share these funny {and somewhat disturbing} creations with my craftiest friends! Hope you're finding some GOOD craft in EVERYTHING you do!

A little slice of Americana!

For your consideration on the 4th of July, I give you my scrumptious little daughter celebrating some sweet victory at a local fair. She submitted work for the first time, as this was her first year of 4H! Although I didn't have time to share a card with ya'll today, I thought you'd enjoy ANOTHER type of creation.... hee hee I give you: my daughter!

We were pretty proud of the diversity of craft this little child completed for the fair! Callan had a marvelous time making her art and then delivering it to the fairgrounds on the various dates of registration and drop off and then, best of all: seeing her ribbons! What a way to kick of summer!

Hope your summer is getting off to a glorious start! Happy 4th of July from all the fine folks and critters here at Rancho Durenberger!