This is a lovely tribute to Tom Prochaska, who introduced me to etching (and, less successfully for me, monotype) and was so instrumental in me finding my voice as an artist. I remember him talking about working with frit, and I heard the “Not me” in his voice when I read this.

I’m giving an artist talk tomorrow! Saturday 11:00 am (doors 10:30) Russo Lee Gallery 805 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR After touching on grief, memory, & climate anxiety, I’ll bring out a UV light so we can peek at the glow in the dark bits in several of the paintings. It’ll be fun!

quote with your faces!? (that's mostly all i put on socials these days)

Barista, in the usual way of chitchat, asked how my week is going—and I absolutely blanked. I finally said, after an awkward pause as they swirled steamed milk, “I don’t even know,” and we both laughed ruefully. Small talk success, I guess?

Thanks to everyone who came out for the opening! It was really gratifying to see all these works together

tomorrow night my partner's @smidgeonpress.bsky.social show "Forgetting and Remembering" opens at Russo Lee gallery. went by for a quick preview and it's an absolutely gorgeous show. we'll be at the gallery from 5-8pm

A friend just asked if I’m ready for my exhibition opening tomorrow (Russo Lee Gallery here in Portland, 5–7 PM!), and I said yeah. As much as I ever am. Until an hour before it starts and my nervous systems forgets that: A, I’ve done this sort of thing plenty; and B, no one is going to maim me.

I still mask indoors because we as a society have chosen not to implement indoor clean air standards despite absolutely having the technology and ability to do so. We left what is a social burden on individuals, with terrible consequences.

We just received word that the vote for 1.25% for Wildlife is happening tomorrow! Please click this link and take a moment to urge your senator to vote YES on HB 4134! Your email will help protect the wildlife and wild places we all love: birdallianceoregon.org/.../support-...

It’s that time again! Anyone can nominate a book for the Ursula K.Le Guin Prize. Less importantly, but exciting for me: Help build my next reading list!

Since this photo was taken, all my art’s been delivered to Russo Lee Gallery, ~15” of hair got cut from my head, and I’m just waiting (while trying to have “down time”) for my exhibition to open on March 5th. Come see it with me on First Thursday, 5–7 PM! www.russoleegallery.com/exhibitions/...

This article is short but makes good points. What isn’t said that I’ve been shouting for 15 years: The arts need a thriving middle class. We need the majority of workers to have disposable income so we don’t have to rely on rich assholes. 👏 Workers’ rights are vital to artistic freedom. 👏

I know it’s difficult right now, but I insist that you seek and enjoy beautiful things, even if it seems frivolous or irresponsible in the face of overwhelming horror. I want you to feed yourself artistically, spiritually, and literally, because you can’t Do The Work when you’re starving.

Fresh hair cut for March! Every several years, I let my hair get long, then whack it short, and invariably share a photo of the shorn-off locks instead of the new haircut. Once dry, I add the hair to a bag “for future art projects”. Do not ask me what these projects might be.

Carnation Contemporary, the artist-run co-op gallery where I was a member (2022-2024), is taking applications for new members: carnationcontemporary.com/Call-for-New... Feel free to ask me questions if you want to know what my experience was like.

New edition of the culture edit auction goes like today! Check it out there are some BANGERS.

Want to get your hands dirty? Next Thursday (February 26th) we are hosting a planting work party in Forest Park, and we need your help! forestparkconservancy.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/...

I absolutely hate that the new Mac OS dramatically rounds the corners on windows and file thumbnails. Who TF came up with this? It's inconsistent, wildly distracting, and so impractical. I will be angry about this forever, thanks.

Lovely time tonight at Holy Moly. Show up through March!

Library hold finally came in. I’m so excited to read this book by @sarahebond.bsky.social! The subject hits such a specific confluence of my personal interests.

Happy Valentines to all my friends out there. May you be loved even if it's just platonically 🥰

I have rewritten/edited this artist statement into gibberish. I know this is just part of the painful process of trying to verbalize what is fundamentally non-verbal, but it's the part that makes me want to break things.

Painting in progress: Detail shot after turning off the studio lamp. Blue Lit pigment (glows blue in the dark when “charged” with UV) makes night feel like twilight. The glow in the dark is an homage to the late artist, and my friend, Julie Green.

Finally properly photographed this painting (Echoes of Nothing) from 2024 and therefore immediately made it the background for my website landing page. A companion piece (Echoes of Something), just recently finished, will debut on March 5th at Russo Lee Gallery in Portland. heatherleebirdsong.com

The absolute decadence of dropping art for an upcoming show at a frame shop instead of having to bully (affectionate hyperbole) my partner-cum-studio-assistant into doing it! Feels so freeing

Substack is making bank from white nationalist content. Email [email protected] to tell them to change their content policy. Then let your favorite substack authors know you're canceling your subscription to their newsletter but that you'd be glad to venmo them the $ instead.

“Nocturne II” An Emperor Moth in iridescent blue with shifting color. One of four prints in the 16th annual ‘Love in Print’ show at Bite Studio 🗓️ Opening tonight, Feb 6th 6-10p 📍2000 SE 7th Ave, PDX #artopening #printmaking #sciart #entomology

This piece is on view for the first time since needing cleaning after the fire that closed Russo Lee for several months! Check it out by the gallery flat files during First Thursday this evening. Main galleries exhibiting work by Dirk Staschke and Michael Paul Miller

I’m so tired 🫠 Come see my new paintings at Russo Lee Gallery on March 5th

We have a chance to push this over the line, to establish dedicated Oregon funds for the recovery and conservation of species and habitats—and wildfire prevention. A demonstration of public support could make a huge difference.

There’s often a moment when I’m painting where the figure (abstract portrayal of a person) is like a ghost, barely discernible as separate from the scenery. I always like this moment. If it wasn’t for the masking tape (a non-archival material), I’d be tempted to leave it.

i will forgive a great many sins from mediocore-to-bad tv shows & movies if they are shot well enough and have a few interesting lookin actors. strong lighting that helps describe rather than hide forms is so much more fun to look at & draw than the washed out crap produced on greenscreen heavy sets

My favorite “person reading” paintings are by Gwen John

Working out values in Flashe. Matte paints like this look different wet v. dry (especially re: value), so this is generally the most tedious part of my process. Mix, paint swatch, wait for it to dry, compare; repeat as needed. Pray I mixed enough, because re-mixing to match takes 3x longer.

I’m going to be shutting my shop down for the day and providing links to places where you can put your money instead. Do what you can, keep pushing

For anyone even remotely interested in Bertha Morisot, or the Impressionists in general, or how women navigate being artists, I recommend Anne Higonnet’s biography of the artist. I read it in my early 20s and revisit it periodically. I’m on my 3rd or 4th copy because I keep giving them to people.

An amendment that would have prevented ICE from deporting US Citizens was *removed* from the Bill that has passed the House. 🚨 The Senate has the power to restrict the additional *$10 billion* in funding for ICE. Sharing this again. Thank you to those who have made one or multiple calls.

Even the idea that application fees “filter out the unserious” collapses under scrutiny. The ability to gamble on rejection has nothing to do with seriousness. It has to do with liquidity. buff.ly/KDdZcfi

On a fundamental level, the tech industry runs on uncritical celebration of their perceived genius. Artists tend to engage critically and ask hard questions. This is anathema to the slick, hype-beast marketing ethos on which tech companies rise and fall.

tonight's quick study

I love Brenda Mallory’s work (and her as a person, too). Always delighted when I see her name, art, and/or face appear on my screen

A little slice of good news. May contract negations not be riddled with anti-worker fuckery. Directors and board trustees too often forget that they’re dealing with colleagues, essential workers in the institutions they claim to love—many of whom are also artists. All deserve fair compensation.

Pro tip: If you’re an introvert you can call after hours and leave a voicemail. 😁

This series is taking longer than I planned (typical, alas). But I’m seeing the home stretch: just need to paint in the polygon figure and fill out the foreground foliage. (“Just” haha—as if I can do that in one sitting.) Having to take breaks to stretch my hand and fingers.

It is a winter sale! Help me clear out some stock and get 25% off all prints, stickers, and even an original painting. Low national and international shipping rates on all flat items (can't say the same about originals, so sorry!) No code needed🧡 Sale runs until next week! samanthamash.etsy.com

An over-sized capital campaign project tanked them (it happens often enough that it’s ridiculous how many vulnerable institutions gamble on this route), and they—an art school—partnered with Nvidia to add AI throughout their curriculum in a desperate bid to scrape up more millions? Ick.

A petition to save the WPA murals inside the Wilbur J. Cohen Building in DC (which the GSA has put up for sale) now has almost 7,000 signatures. Murals are by Ben Shahn, Philip Guston, Seymour Fogel, Richmond Barthé, Ethel and Jenne Magafan, among others. www.change.org/p/save-the-w...

This Saturday, 1/10, join lead curator Theo Downes-Le Guin for an exhibition walkthough of A Larger Reality: Ursula K. Le Guin at Oregon Contemporary. The walkthough will be followed by a Q&A and community reading featuring selections from Changing Planes. www.oregoncontemporary.org/a-larger-rea...

Who knew a suddenly dead keyboard could cause so many problems? Wireless tech is such a pain in the ass.

(some Demian DineYazhi' stuff)