Bee Pile at Figueroa Produce

Sonia Romero's work flees the gallery and lands in Figueroa Produce, Highland Park!
Curated by The Craft and Folk Art Museum, Folk Art Everywhere

"Bee Pile" by Sonia Romero, block printing on felt, 2010

On exhibit from now until July 30th, 2010


Figueroa Produce Market
6312 North Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90042

Cheech Marin Collection

Three paintings by Sonia Romero have been added to the Cheech Marin Collection!

"Fledgling"
Acrylic and Block Printing on Canvas
7.5 x 9.5 inches, 2010

"Swifty's Devil Tongue"
Acrylic and Block Printing on Canvas
7.5 x 9.5 inches, 2010

"Tina's Tattoo"
Acrylic and Block Printing on Canvas
7.5 x 9.5 inches, 2010

Art Activity! Free Download for Kids and Adults

Collaborate with artist Sonia Romero! Download a free drawing and coloring activity.

Print out your 8.5x11 coloring page here!

Recommended Ages: 5 to Adult

Activity Hints: Print your coloring page out on regular paper or heavier cardstock. Parents, spend a couple minutes with your kids visualizing there wishes and dreams before you start. Try to stretch your imagination to the limits! I recommend drawing with pencils, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, glitter glue, watercolors, and more!

This download is intended for personal and classroom use only, and not for commercial reproduction. Copyright Sonia Romero, 2010.

Share your results! Email pics of finished drawings to SheHoldsTheRabbit@yahoo.com

Sonia Romero at Toyota and the Boys and Girls Club of East Los Angeles!

Explaining the project

I was invited by Cause Connect to be the guest artist at a special Toyota sponsored event for the Boys and Girls Club of East Los Angeles. They made a t-shirt and poster of my artwork and I did a custom art project for the kids. It was really fun!

Click on the pictures to see larger versions

Signing Posters

photos courtesy of Ted Meyer: ted@artyourworld.com

Coming soon: "The Gardeners", a free download of the project you see above!

Sonia Romero in panel discussion at MOLAA

Sonia Romero speaks at the Museum of Latin American Art!

In honor of International Women’s Day, Target Free Sundays @MOLAA proudly presents our annual

Women’s Day Festival
Sunday, March 7, 2010
12-4 p.m.

Schedule of Events
12-1:30 Screening of the film Who Does She Think She Is?
1-3 p.m. Printmaking Workshop: The Women in my life are Superheroes.
1:30-3 p.m. Panel Discusion/Reaction to the film with L.A. Based Artists

Join artists Maria Guadalupe Torres, Sonia Romero, Carolyn Castaño, and Margaret Garcia as they share their work, experiences and views on the film Who Does She Think She Is?

3:15-4 p.m. Live Performance by ELLAS SON!

This event is FREE and open to the public.
MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART
628 Alamitos Ave Long Beach, CA 90802
www.molaa.org

Tierra Del Sol, Canoga Park

My newest public art piece, "Tierra del Sol", was unveiled this Thursday at the Dennis P. Zine community center in Canoga Park. It hangs in the entry hall of the center. The piece was originally created as a mixed media linoleum cut and painting, and was transformed into an 8 x 12 foot powder coated mural on metal. The piece was commissioned by the Community Redevelopement Agency of the city Los Angeles and NEW Economics for Women.

Bea Stotzer of NEW Economics for Women and Councilman Zine

Sonia Amalia Romero on LXTV on NBC!

NBC's 1st look visited my studio to do an interview. I'm the second interview after the Museum of Latin American Art :)

Linoleum Cut Best Kept Secrets #3

Stay Present

In linoleum cut there is no going back. Each line must be cut with confidence and presence of mind. To do that, you must focus on the act of cutting itself. Feel the resistance of the linoleum to your blade. Feel your drawing coming to life.

Often, I will cut entire pieces of lino and realize that my mind had wandered, yielding unsatisfactory results. In these cases I always do the cut over, and feel stronger connection the second time through.

There is joy in printmaking, there is joy in making prints. The art happens as you cut. The print that comes later is but a shadow of the art-making experience.

All Things Bee

"Bee Pile" limited edition print

"Found 'Em! Bee Pile" by Sonia Romero, Block Print and Painting on Wood Panel, 2009

I'm sure we'll all agree! Bees are fascinating creatures. There have been a lot of articles about colony collapse disorder, or the sudden disappearance of honey bees. Recently I saw a lecture by LA's Backwards Bee Keeper, at Farmlab. Did you know there is a difference between commerical bees and wild bees? Commericial bees are kept to pollinate giant orchards, are larger and more sluggish then wild bees, and are given antibiotics and corn syrup! According to Kirk Anderson, with the absence of chemicals, wild bees are surviving just fine. We love and depend on the bees of the world! Love them and leave them alone!

Bee Barrettes

Bee Brooch

Fifth Annual Holiday Sale & Party!

I'll only be showing at one holiday show this year, at my studio! Mark your calendars!

Celebrating another wonderful year of art and community!
Avenue 50 Studio, Two Tracks Studio, Hi Tree, and She Rides the Lion cordially invite you to our Fifth Annual Holiday Sale & Party!

Saturday, December 19th from 7:00pm to 11:00pm, and
Sunday, December 20th from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm

Original and affordable prints, paintings, jewelry, scarves, etc. by the following artists:

Lalo Alcaraz, Carmen Argote, Joseph Botello, Joe Bravo,
Mary Lucille Nunez Delira, Raquel Escobar, Jack Fenn
Margaret Garcia, Rosie Getz, Roberto Gutierrez, Pola Lopez,
Jose Lozano, H. Luna, Robert Palacios, Beth Peterson,
Nancy Romero, Sonia Romero, Jaime Sabatte,
Marianne Sadowski, Victor Rosas with Los de Abajo
Hector Silva, Stormie, Richard Valdes

Delectable finger foods, Spiced Cider, Tamales, and Good Cheer!
Festive Attire encouraged!

Timba y Pasteles!

Salsa Dance at She Rides the Lion

9pm-10:30pm Rueda Dance Class (beginner and intermediate)
10:30pm-1am: DANCE DANCE DANCE to PURE TIMBA CUBANA

Where:
She Rides the Lion Gallery, 133 N. Ave 50, Highland Park, 90042
Studio entrance along driveway directly between building and train tracks
Very limited parking in lot behind building

When:
Friday November 20th, 2009 (9pm-1am)

How much:
$10

Free H20 and guava pastelitos from Portos!
(no alcohol, just music and dance!)

Organized by the great poet Gabriela Garcia Medina
http://www.gabrielagarciamedina.com

DJ Reyes

Dance instructor: Patricia Martínez Quintero

Fall Workshops at She Rides the Lion

Linocut Workshop for Beginners and Advanced
Beginners: Learn the basics of linocut. Draw, carve, and print your first edition!
Advanced and Return Students: Come prepared and use this time to print, refine your technique, and share your ideas with the class

November 7th and 8th, 2009 (Sat and Sun)
11:00 am – 4:00 pm, including lunch break
Instructor: Sonia Romero
Cost:
New Students: $100 per person, all materials included
Return Students: $75 per person, all materials included
Age: 14 to adult
Size limit: 10
Contact: Sonia Romero at sheholdstherabbit@yahoo.com to reserve your spot ASAP

** This is a great time to make artwork and or gifts for the holidays!!!
I am now collecting payment in advance. Pay online with paypal or send a check. Email me to reserve your spot.


Linoleum Cut Best Kept Secrets #2

Buy Linoleum at a Flooring Store!


Using a lot of linoleum? You can save a lot of money by purchasing linoleum at a flooring store in large quantities. I buy 6 feet at a time. Make sure to ask for a non-coated, non-decorated variety. Sometimes the owner of the store can point you to the right variety. If not, take one of your cutters with you and test the sponginess or hardness of the linoleum on a scrap piece.

For you Los Angelinos, check out Linoleum City in Hollywood.

Bison Skull Pile

"Bison Skull Pile" by Sonia Romero

This piece is inspired by the famous photograph from the 1870's of the great American bison slaughter. Hundreds of thousands of bison were killed for their hides, and to remove an important food source from the Native Americans. It speaks to our nation's history of mass consumption and waste.

Mixed Media Block Print
2009

Linoleum Cut Best Kept Secrets #1

"Linoleum Cut Best Kept Secrets" is a new series of blog posts I've created to share some of the techniques I've learned or made up over my years of relief printmaking. Check back for new ideas and let me know what you think!



Linocut Secret #1
Harness the power of sunshine! Linoleum is a very hard material to carve, but can be softened with heat. When I'm carving very large pieces, the most convenient heat source is the sun. Park your set up in the sunshine, and enjoy the free, even, source of energy, and save yourself some backache!

New Felt Brooches!

New! Fuzzy felt brooches from She Rides the Lion! Hand-printed and sewn from original hand-carved stamps. $12 each - buy online or in studio. They look great pinned to clothing and bags.

Trip to Havasupai Tribe in the Grand Canyon, AZ

I was lucky enough to tag along on this Cal-Earth excursion to visit the Havasu 'Baaja people, to see about building an eco-dome. To enter the village, you must park at the top of the canyon and hike down over 7 miles down and through the canyon bottom. In this picture, we are just starting our journey.


The village and canyon is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It was an extremely mentally and physically demanding trip. We were invited to do a sweat and swim in the most exquisitely colored blue-green river.


Although I became very sick on the journey, our kind host Fidel led me on horseback to see the Havasu falls - 'nough said, just look at the pictures!


Fidel, Jason, Ulises, Maria, and Brooke, thank you so much for sharing this experience with me!

New Spring Workshops

Make Your Own Stamps!
Carve your own stamps using Speedball “Speedy-cut” material. Material is softer and faster to cut then linoleum, and can be printed without a press. Learn the best techniques for designing, carving and printing. See instructor’s collection of over 200 handmade stamps! Use your stamps for fine art, stationary, and crafts of all kinds.

Saturday, April 18th: 12-3pm
Instructor: Sonia Romero
Cost: $40 per person, all materials included
Age: 10 to adult
Size limit: 12
Contact: Sonia Romero at sheholdstherabbit@yahoo.com to reserve your spot ASAP



Mono-printing with Fabric Textures
Have fun experimenting with fabric textures. Create one of kind prints using lace, burlap, linen and other fabric impressions. Make abstract or figurative pictures. Participants will be able to make 4 – 10 prints on the etching press.

Saturday, April 25th: 12-4 pm
Instructor: Sonia Romero
Cost: $50 per person, all materials included
Age: 14 to adult
Size limit: 10
Contact: Sonia Romero at sheholdstherabbit@yahoo.com to reserve your spot ASAP



Spring Linoleum Cut Workshop
Learn how to cut and print linoleum!
This workshop is great for beginning and advanced linoleum cutters alike. Participants will spend the weekend drawing, cutting and printing their own edition of handmade linocut prints on an etching press. Print in black and white or in color!

Saturday/Sunday – May 2nd and 3rd
11:00 am – 4:00 pm, including lunch break
Instructor: Sonia Romero
Cost: $100 per person, all materials included
Age: 14 to adult
Size limit: 10
Contact: Sonia Romero at sheholdstherabbit@yahoo.com to reserve your spot ASAP

Fresh for Easter

New edition:
"Pink Leaping Rabbit" by Sonia Romero
Hand printed linocut on lana cover paper, pink ink
edition of 10
Buy online here

Wild Hogs and Fiery Salamanders!

Two species I happened upon last weekend in Madera County. Each sow had six piglets, and I saw at least six sows!

Macarthur Park update

The ceramic tiles which are being fabricated for the Macarthur Park/Westlake Metro station are almost finished!

Check out Mosaika's blog to see more pictures!
http://mosaikadesign.com/blog/?cat=16

This is what is say's on Mosaika's blog:

Mosaika is working on a new project with public artist Sonia Romero for the Westlake McArthur Park Station subway station in LA. A departure from traditional mosaics, these 13 ceramic medallions and frames are hand carved, then cut into in irregular fitted sections, then fired, glazed, re-fired and re-assembled to achieve this original and highly customized look. This process was developed in order to translate Sonia Romero’s lino-cut artworks into a durable medium suitable for the LACMTA.

New Edition: The Lion in the Cage

New edition printed this week at She Rides The Lion:

"Lion in a Cage" by Sonia Romero

2 color hand-printed, hand carved linoleum cut, on arches cover paper, red and blue ink

edition of 14
image size: 3 x 3 inches
paper size: 6 x 6 inches

Say Goodbye to the Animal Alphabet!

Some of you may be familiar with my very first linoleum cut series, an animal alphabet, created in the year 2003. I have discontinued the series, and the remaining letters are on sale!


To purchase the remaining letters, go to my etsy store!
http://www.SheRidesTheLion.etsy.com

Spring is Here!

Spring is Here! Some pictures I took at my grandfarther's ranch - Hope you find them inspiring!