This month, I have a story about jumping in on an unexpected mural project, updates about my solo exhibition, last call for NYC commissions, and some new plein air paintings.

For those just joining us, BEACONS is a series of paintings of San Francisco’s neon signs, celebrating queer spaces. It’s up at Queer Arts Featured through March 29. I spent the three months before the exhibit opened in February in a concentrated painting spree, working indoors and/or on nocturnes. I am so proud of this as my first solo exhibition. Celebrate one last time with us on Thursday, March 26, from 7-8pm!

The majority of my art practice previously has been painting San Francisco from life during the day, so I’m excited to get back to that and see what I’ve learned in the meantime.

Although most of my days are dedicated to my art practice and business, I also work part time at ARCH Supplies. ARCH is the oldest independent art supply store in San Francisco, and is locally and woman owned. I run the workshops and events programs at the shop, and we have an exciting lineup, so check out our upcoming workshops here, or even better, sign up for the store’s email newsletter (at the bottom of their webpage) for updates!

One day a few weeks ago, I was working at the shop when a very tired guy came in, and told me that he was working on a mural project. I learned that he had flown out from New York City for this project, and was still extremely jet lagged. Also, he’s not a muralist-- he’s a ceramicist. I told him that I have experience with murals and offered some suggestions. The next day, I woke up to a message asking me to help with the project! He found me by looking up my mural at Sour Cherry Comics.

That guy turned out to be Dave Zackin, whose work has gone viral several times for its relatable wit. Dave takes rejected pieces from others in his ceramic studio and carves, glazes, and sculpts characters, statements, and illustrations onto them. I quickly adjusted my plans for the week, and ended up spending as much time as possible helping him with the mural. It consisted of not just one wall, but two full rooms, a closet, and the sides of a staircase, all improvised by Dave.

My brother, Reese Bice, who is an illustrator, was visiting me and was also roped into helping. I was able to offer some know how for preparation, process, and general tricks of the trade that helped a lot, and I appreciated Dave’s sense of humor and whimsy.

Dave also gifted me a fantastic mug, who will stare at me forever from my work table filled with various tools and brushes.

I convinced Dave to come to CROONERS, and he’s going to introduce me to his friends in New York City when I visit next month! It’s a beautiful cultural exchange.

Speaking of my New York trip, I still have availability for NYC commissions! If you have a special place you’d like me to go sketch or paint in person, this is your chance. Sketches are $175 and approximately 5”x8” on paper. Full color gouache paintings will be on cradled wood panel, 6”x6” or 5”x7” depending on the subject, and $350.

Locations must be reasonably reachable by public transit from Manhattan. Commissions are otherwise closed due to a long wait list. Just respond to this email or reach out to me at nathaniel@njbice.com if you’re interested!

You have just two weeks left to see BEACONS, my solo show at Queer Arts Featured, which closes on March 29th. It’s been wonderful making connections with people through my paintings and their stories. I’m proud to say that most of them are going home with collectors, so this is your last chance to see them in person!

We had SF Neon (Al Barna, Randall Ann Homan), and Jim Van Buskirk in the gallery with their sold out talk, “Neon Comes Out,” exploring the photography of Henri Leleu and the history of queer spaces and Neon in San Francisco.

For this month’s Castro Art Walk, I worked on a new Twin Peaks painting live in the gallery, and then EnSeanté read their brand new book of poems, What’s Your Sign?, inspired by BEACONS. Copies are available at QAF! They got to the heart of why this series is important to me, and why it has connected personally with so many people. There’s also deep neon lore, plenty of good humor, and a tribute to QAF itself.

With BEACONS finally completed, warm weather, and the time change, I’m finally back out painting in the sunlight! Though I enjoyed all my nocturnes, I’ve really missed plein air painting in the daylight. I was worried I would feel rusty, but I’m just eager. I’m catching up on commissions and annoying life administration tasks after my period of intense focus on BEACONS, but I have managed to sneak in a few quick painting sessions.

In both of these, I was drawn to the bright green grass, and I’m finding it exciting to include more foreground. 

I have to get back up to snuff on plein air painting, because I have been asked to participate in this year’s Morgan Hill Paint Out, with Cura Contemporary! Paintings from that event will be displayed at Cura Contemporary from May 3 through June 28th.

Thanks for reading! As a reward, here is a picture of Ruby.

While you await the next newsletter, you can check out my website to see my portfolio!

Stay tuned for next month, and let me know what you’d like to hear about in the newsletter in the future by responding directly to this email or reaching out at nathaniel@njbice.com.

-Nathaniel J. Bice

he/him

njbice.com