Announcing Glimpse | Selected Works by Lara Hoke, Ned Axthelm, and Elena Zolotnitsky

Added on July 23, 2019 by Lara Hoke.

July - September, 2019
There are moments of recognition — the tilt of a stranger’s head as they laugh with friends, a shared look, a familiar repose — that spark something within us. We see ourselves in others as we glimpse these fleeting moments. The paintings of Lara Hoke, Ned Axthelm, and Elena Zolotnitsky allow us to explore human connection through shared encounter and observation. It is work that is both intimate and informative, a glimpse into the spaces where we seek ourselves in others.

Opening Reception

Wednesday, August 14, 2019 | 5:30 - 8 p.m.
1820 Solano Avenue, Berkeley

Help us celebrate these amazing artists and their work with an the evening of great art, good conversation, and delicious food and wine.

Join us. Bring friends. Share the word.

Let us know if you'll be coming

Artist Reception at Montclair Gallery | Thursday, February 23, 2017

Added on February 13, 2017 by Lara Hoke.

Join me for a casual artist reception at Montclair Gallery on Thursday, February 23rd from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This solo exhibition includes some 20 paintings and drawings created over the last several years. The exhibition is up from February 2 - March 26, 2017.

Montclair Gallery is located at 1986 Mountain Boulevard in Oakland, CA.

East Bay Open Studios 2015

Added on June 6, 2015 by Lara Hoke.

Hard to believe it, but it's time once again for East Bay Open Studios. Over the this weekend and next, my studio, as well as ~500 other studios throughout the East Bay will be opening their doors to the public.

If you're in Oakland today, tomorrow, or next weekend, please swing by Norton Factory Studios and say hello. We are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. More details here.

In the meantime, here's a great post on Sarah Milstein's blog on last night's opening event at Norton.

New Drawings Added

Added on November 29, 2014 by Lara Hoke.

After way too much time, I've finally added a handful of new sketchbook drawings to the Drawings > Moleskine Japanese Sketchbook section. I do my best to post my daily drawing to instagram, so be sure to follow me there! instagram.com/larahoke

BAYcentric at the Pacific Art League

Added on July 16, 2014 by Lara Hoke.

I learned today that my painting of the South Bay (view from the Dumbarton Bridge) was accepted into BAYcentric, the August exhibition at the Pacific Art League in Palo Alto, CA. The exhibition will be up from August 1 through August 28 with an opening reception on Friday, August 1 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Hoke, South Bay, 2014, oil on panel 36 x 48"

One and half weeks in to 50 | 50

Added on June 20, 2014 by Lara Hoke.

The Sanchez Art Center in Pacifica hosts an annual 50 | 50 show. Participating artists must complete 50 pieces in 50 days. The pieces must be done on the provided 6 x 6" panels. I'm about a week and a half in to this project. I'm enjoying the challenge. Some pieces are clearly more successful than others, but because of the time sensitivity, I can't fixate on what is not perfect. This is a good exercise for me.

Below are the pieces I have completed to date. Each drawing will be sold for $95 through the Sanchez Art Center.

East Bay Open Studios

Added on June 6, 2014 by Lara Hoke.

I'll be opening my studio along with 30+ artists at Norton Factory Studios this weekend and next as part of East Bay Open Studios. We'll be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Join us!

Two New Landscapes in Progress

Added on April 15, 2014 by Lara Hoke.

I recently begun two new landscapes. One is from a photo taken from Iowa in December of a farm house on the horizon. The other is of the Suisun marsh area here in the Bay Area. I am enjoying the challenge of trying to capture the smoke in the distance.

Iowa Snowscape

Added on January 8, 2014 by Lara Hoke.

This week I began two new paintings based on photographs taken while I was in Iowa over the holidays. Both pieces are of the snow covered landscape, appropriate given this week's weather news and the Polar Vortex.

*Iowa Snowscape, oil on canvas, 20 x 30"*

Understanding my painting process

Added on December 31, 2013 by Lara Hoke.

I've come to realize that I need at least three hours of dedicated painting time per studio session. My process seems to be that during the first two hours, I make a mess. In the last hour, I fix the mess and move forward.

I stopped working on this portrait months ago because I found myself only making a mess, never having that third hour to fix and improve things.

Today I had a good chunk of time in the studio and believe me, I made a mess. But I also made some progress. It is closer than ever to complete.

Scroll down to view several stages of the portrait and the source image.

Isabella, oil on board, portrait commission in progress. 1/1/2013

Isabella, oil on board, portrait commission in progress. 12/31/2013

Isabella, oil on board, portrait commission in progress. 4/30/2013

Today's Sketchbook Entry

Added on December 29, 2013 by Lara Hoke.

A drawing of Ben and Scraps enjoying the final episodes of Orphan Black.

A Christmas story in progress

Added on December 27, 2013 by Lara Hoke.

Tonight's sketchbook entry is not complete. Any resemblance between the tree and Snuffaluffagus is purely quincidental.

Sketchbook Entries From Iowa

Added on December 26, 2013 by Lara Hoke.

I am on my way home from a lovely, if a bit chilly, holiday in Iowa. We spent several evenings by the fire watching movies. Below are several drawings from the week.

Goodbye Forest at Claremont!

Added on December 8, 2013 by Lara Hoke.

Today I sold one of my favorite paintings. It's hard to let a painting go, but it feels so good to know that it will be on someone's wall and not in my painting rack. And this painting couldn't have gone to a better home!

Forest at Claremont, oil on canvas, Lara Hoke

Coasters and Ornaments Galore!

Added on December 5, 2013 by Lara Hoke.

Over the past few weeks, I've been working towards this weekend's Holiday Fair at Norton Factory Studios, designing new stamps and creating over 100 ornaments and coasters. These will be on sale in addition to my drawings and paintings this weekend, December 7 and 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 3094 E. 10th Street, Oakland, CA 94601.

Painting of my commute: the Dumbarton Bridge

Added on November 30, 2013 by Lara Hoke.

Six years ago, when I first moved to the Bay Area, I thought the land around the Dumbarton Bridge was stinky, ugly, and to be avoided by any way possible. The last several years have seen a restoration of the area, from a solar salt industry back to native salt marsh.

One of my clients is located in Palo Alto and once a week I drive over the Dumbarton Bridge. Last week, the bridge was a parking lot due to an accident near Facebook headquarters. Being stuck in my car for an hour gave me the opportunity to look at my surroundings and appreciate their beauty. I snapped several photos of the sky and the marsh. Later that week I began my first painting of the area.

Dumbarton underpainting, Lara Hoke, oil on panel

New Pen and Ink Drawings

Added on November 24, 2013 by Lara Hoke.

I created these three drawings over the past two evenings. I spent the first evening laying down the washes, creating a base layer of light and dark. Last night, I added the lines and few more layers of wash for added dimension.

New Sketchbook Entries

Added on November 22, 2013 by Lara Hoke.

I haven't been as productive in the studio recently as I would like. I am, however, trying to work in my sketchbook every day. Below are several recent entries.

Catalog from upcoming exhibition "Structure" at Arc Gallery

Added on October 20, 2013 by Lara Hoke.

One of my Moleskine Japanese sketchbooks is included in the catalog for Structure, an upcoming exhibition at Arc Gallery in San Francisco (11/9 - 12/7/2013).

You can preview and purchase the catalog online.

Spread from a Moleskine Japanese sketchbook

Side Project: Coasters and Ornaments

Added on October 19, 2013 by Lara Hoke.

In addition to showing my recent paintings and drawings at Norton Factory's Open Studios and Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair on December 7th and 8th, I'll be selling my woodland creature ornaments and coasters.

You may remember them from a few years ago,

http://www.larahoke.com/larasblog/2010/2/21/rollercoaster.html

Here's a shot of some of the coasters in progress. Ideas for new creatures are welcome!