Today — Renée DeCarlo

This is a pretty close to daily snapshot of what I’m seeing and experiencing…in how it feeds into my work in the studio. If you’re not already, please follow my Instagram feeds @studioreneedecarlo & @drawingroomsf

Tracks and shadows.
#mtshasta #snowboarding #snowdays #contourlinedrawing #drawing

I like to keep adding things to my drawings, usually until I have to deconstruct them and take away what becomes too much. This is a printed, embossed, collaged, perforated and hand stitched drawing.
#artistprocess #collage #art #maker #artislife #lifeisart #sewingisntjustforfabric #layers #artoninsta #details

Digging though my pics, I came upon a series of my "dichotomies" - something I find or see lined up with something I made or am working on. The top of this is a clay piece, which felt and looked like a pinecone but was smooth and made of porcelain lined up with a detail of one of my embossed and dyed paper pieces.
I love clay - in fact I think it was my first true love. Over the years I've found a similar kinship with paper - it can be more accepting and forgiving than clay - sometimes.
#duality #dichotomy #comparecontrast #sidebyside #lines #textures #art #ceramicart #paperart

The group show "For the Love of Line" is opening today @drawingroomsf. I will be showing one of these "First Impressions". The paper has first been screen printed in white ink, then soaked, then blind embossed with a drawing that is the negative space of the printed drawing. Does that make any sense at all? Well, the point is that what you see first is the deep embossing, but upon further inspection you see the white ink. Whether people get the positive/negative space thing, is likely not but it is what it is and so true to human interaction most times. Hence, the title of this series.
Check it out if your in the city this weekend - Sat 12-7, Sun 12-4.
#firstimpressions #drawing #printmaking #paperart #artistprocess #whatyouseeisntalwaysallthereis #details #lookcloser

The rain really brightens things up - both inside and out despite how gray and gloomy it appears.
#plantbath #citygrimewashedaway #rain #sfweather #neonyellow #succulents #lookcloser #details

"Thumbprints" a detail/side view. This piece is comprised of a mountain of collaged strips of embossed, painted and printed drawings. @drawingroomsf
#art #collage #paper #printmakingprocess #slivers #cutpaper #contemporaryart #artoninsta

Impressions. This piece has been subjected to every one of my printmaking experiments over the past few years. I think I finally consider it to be finished.
22x30. Ink and pigment on screen printed, embossed and stenciled paper. 2015-19.
#process #drawing #printmaking #mixedmedia #valentinesday #processartist #whenisiteverdone @drawingroomsf

I love working on lots of things all at the same time. These bus drawings, when all put together remind me of map or a quilting project. It's fun to play with the straightedge and the simplicity of a good ink pen on smooth paper.
#drawingprocess #pointsofdeparture #busdrawing #workinprogress #maps #bumpyroads #sanfrancisco #muni @drawingroomsf

I've been working on this tiny mountain of drawings. All began as a scribbly mess as I traced the boys rolling back and forth and around a skatepark - a place I start most of my work. I do not skate - sometimes I wish I did, but most days my common sense reminds me how clumsy I am. Anyway, I'll be posting these on my website in the "shop" as I get a lot of inquiries about these little works and they're inexpensive and small, easy to ship but pack a lot of love.
#drawings #givethegiftofart #smallworks #inkonpaper #drawings #mixedmedia #process #ink #paper #artforsale
@drawingroomsf

Impressions. Piles and piles of them.
#mixedmedia #printmaking #paperart #worksonpaper #purple #blue #art
@drawingroomsf

Today and more. Final touches on these bus drawings. What I most love is the size of 4x8” paper and this paper - in general. This paper can take so many processes - water, scratching, scraping, homemade inks, and who knows what else - I may them through the press next. I judge a paper by its forgiveness, #
openness and longevity.

#fluidwatercolorpaper #busdrawings #pointsofdeparture #drawing #contourlinedrawing #sfmuni #artislife #lifeisart #artistprocess #paperart #workit

Bus drawings. I draw on my way to and from the studio while riding the bus. Basically I start them as the pen traces the morion of my body at the mercy of the bumpy and pot hole riddled roads here in SF. I start my journey on Arguello snd traverse through the Haight, Ashbury Hts, Castro and the Mission. These drawings are from today and yesterday. I added all the straight lines at the studio. To me these are people maps. Everyone on the bus has a different final destination but for a brief time we all share a mobile destination. Maybe tomorrow I’ll just ride the bus all day...drawing.
#meditativeart #neveridlehands #lifeisart #artislife #busride #drawing #lifedrawing #blackandwhite #lines #instart

And today. More color.
#workinprogress #blue #drawing #instaartist #penandink #process #layers

While everybody else was watching the Super Bowl, I was nibbling on this...more to do but like where it’s going so far. I literally have mountains of these pen and ink drawings just piling up all over my studio, home and who knows where else. I’m not one of those artists who doesn’t know what to work on or where to start. I guess that’s a blessing. There’s always something to nibble on...
#workinprogress #workingmom #artistlife #studio #artistininsta #artininsta #drawing #neveridlehands #maker #creator #doodler #artislife #lifeisart
@drawingroomsf

Storms a brewin’. #lovetherain #sutrotower #weatherforecast #theskyalwaysknows #today #nofilter

I’ve been riding the bus to the studio now and cut back on driving - for many reasons bu mostly to cut that stress put if my life. I began a series of drawings on the bus a couple if weeks ago where I trace the movement of the bus and the bumps and such of the ride with a simple line that bounces around the paper. Yesterday I added color and this is what I’ve got so far. I they are 4x8” and have become quite a narrative about movement and journey.
#penandink #drawing #process #paperwork #journeys
@drawingroomsf

June Lake. This ink and pigment drawing reminds me of so many things, but more than anything, literally bathing in it with the boys back a couple of years ago after a week of camping, and building our own layered surface of dirt and sweat. It's the most surreal lake as it's warm and crystal clear, Tahitian-like water.
#junelake #mammoth #camping #skatetour2017 #roadtrippers #drawing #artislife #lifeisart

@drawingroomsf

Murmurations. One of five hanging @themillsf . If you haven't been in yet, check it out and treat yourself to something yummy to eat.
#localart #artshows #notyouraveragecoffeeshop #murmurations #green #layersuponlayers

Under, over and in the Between. Detail. 1 of 6 noe @themillsf.
#painting #details #postivenegativespace #artistprocess #artinplaces #artislife #lifeisart #mixedmedia #sflocal #shoplocal