Show week

The term "show week" in my house means ready yourself for a bit of chaos. Art piled by the door. Vehicle seats stacked in the garage so the van can be used as a u-haul of sorts. All the little bits that make a show enjoyable and successful have to be put in place. Of course, every show I tell myself I will be SO prepared that on the Friday morning of the show I can have a leisurely breakfast before I head down to 3150 C Street to get the show in place. I haven't experienced that leisurely breakfast yet but I know it's going to be fabulous when it happens.

If you have never done the First Friday art walk you really should. Most galleries in town feature an artist and have an opening with the artist on site, snacks and drinks. It is a fun free night out and for the artists involved it makes the chaos of "show week" all worth it.

I hope to see you 5-8 p.m. Friday, April 3 for "Asian Brushstrokes" at Gallery 31 Fifty at 3150 C Street ( 31st and C in the Yukon Building) Come and enjoy hands on art demonstrations with Jean Shadrach and Gail Flotre. The show display will continue 11-5 p.m. Monday, April 6.

The love of Comics

If you haven't opened the pages of a graphic novel you're really missing out. For someone like me who loves art and loves book it is the perfect marriage. This photo is of my most recent graphic novel find "Mouse Guard" by David Petersen. Think Star Wars theme but the Jedi are mice. The art is fantastic and this little mouse world the author takes you into is crazy creative.

I spent a good portion of my summers at my grandparents cottage on Chippewa Lake in Michigan. After I finished my list of chores that my grandfather ALWAYS had waiting for me (washing and waxing their huge cargo van was the most dreaded) I would head to the lake. We had a paddle boat and a German Shepherd named Skippy who thought riding in the passenger side was how every dog spent his summer. We would paddle across the lake to the country store and buy comic books and candy. The rest of the day would be spent floating around the lake with me reading, soaking up the sun and trying to prevent the boat from tipping as Skippy leaned over to see what was going on down below. Now at the risk of aging myself I must mention that I think at the time comics were about .25 cents or maybe .50 cents. A comic book today is about $5.00! That is a lot of cash for a 20 minute read with mediocre art! This is why graphic novels are so exciting!

My first graphic novel was Eric Drooker's "Blood Song". The book has no words just fantastic art to carry you through the story. There is even a graphic novel version of Henry David Thoreau's' Walden! Now I will add a word of caution. Many, if not most, graphic novels are....well, GRAPHIC! Buxom babes in metal thongs, blood splatters across panel after panel. Sadly man's lust for violence and sex has even crept in to the world of comics. But great work is out there and it's worth searching for. The few I have mentioned are very G rated and thoroughly enjoyable.

Next time you're in a book store just stroll through the graphic novel section. There are some amazing artists out there ready to take you on quite a entertaining journey

Mojo Flow

I often read about other artist's exercises for getting in the creative mind set. One artist does a doodle every morning on the same sheet of paper. When the paper is filled he has this wild combination of drawings that fit together even though the style and subject matter doesn't match. I sometimes sit in on a figure drawing session with some local artists. The model will do 30 second poses to help us warm up. Again, the idea being you're firing up the mojo to get it flowing. I love the doodle a day idea and promise myself that someday I will incorporate it. My problem is that I often have something on the easel that is calling out to me and I can't concentrate on a doodle. But now I have bigger problems. We are replacing our leaking, flat, garage roof. It is going to be awesome. My honey and I keep telling this to each other to lessen the sting of the outrageous cost. A dry garage will be a thrill but the awesome part will come from the huge patio the roof will become. I can already see myself painting away on the patio on a sunny day with the circling ravens and munching moose down below. But as you can see by the photo my view from the studio is anything but creative!! The scene of my plastic bubbled roof and dumpster don't inspire. Hammers, shouts from the construction crew, knocks on the door to tell me they found MORE rotten wood does nothing for mojo. NOTHING! I worked Friday afternoon on a painting that was painted over by that early evening. I have a show coming up and nothing is going right. How can it? Noise, expense stress, people in my space. Maybe that doodle page will start today.

Asian Brushstrokes

Asian Brushstrokes

5-8 p.m. Friday April 3rd

at Gallery 31 Fifty, 3150 C Street

featuring Jean Shadrach and Gail Flotre

I am very excited about my upcoming April show on Friday the 3rd! Jean Shadrach, an art icon in Alaska and Gail Flotre, silk painter extraordinaire, will be doing hands on demonstrations at the show titled "Asian Brushstrokes. You know that artist inside you just waiting to get out? Well this could be the moment it emerges! Jean is an amazing artist and a certified sumi-e painter. She actually lived several years in Okinawa. Sumi-e is traditional Japanese one brush ink painting. My sumi-e book defines it this way: "To be sumi-e, a black-ink painting must be like a thing alive with the power to stir the hearts and emotions of all who see it." Wow, no pressure there uh! Maybe an easier explanation a simple image done with simple brush strokes using black ink. I will admit it is much harder than it looks. Jean has an image of a bird that she is holding in the photo of her that is excellent. This content, plump little bird was created with just a few ink lines. Jean will be giving instructions and then allowing you to give it a try. By the way, the line forms behind me.

Gail Flotre is from Kodiak originally and is a popular silk and watercolor artist. I have several of Gail's scarves. I will warn you they are pretty much irresistible! Some have painted images of fireweed or poppies while others are a gorgeous swirl of color. In the last show that Gail joined me in she even had a man buying her scarves for himself! I have seen this gentlemen in his scarf and it is nothing but classy. Gail is also a noted watercolor artist. She will have original paintings and cards available at the show. If you have been wanting a nice watercolor piece for your home but have a very limited art budget check out Gail's items. You will be impressed with the quality and affordability of her work. Gail too will be showing you how to paint on silk and will then hand over the brush for you to give it a try. It's true, your attempt at a flower might look like a bunny rabbit but that is okay. You gotta start somewhere!

So maybe you're asking, "What is Gina doing for this show?" Excellent question. Funny, Gail and Jean asked me the same thing. Sadly I don't really have an art skill that translates well to demonstration. I will have several Asian inspired works and will be helping Gail and Jean with their demonstrations. This show is going to be great! It's like a free art class. OH, I almost forgot another great part. Every 30 minutes a piece of art will be given away. Gail, Jean and I are all contributing items for visitors to go home with. Wow, free classes, free art... now if I only had free Ginsu knives to add to the package.

Here is the info to jot on your calendar: Asian Brushstrokes 5-8 p.m. First Friday April 3 at 3150 C Street. (31st and C) The art will still be on display 11-5 p.m. Monday, April 6 (but the classes are only available on Friday night !)

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting my blog! I'm excited to have a venue to visit about art, share with you what's new off the easel and tell you about upcoming shows.

My recent Signore Greve show at Snow City cafe at 4th and L was a huge success! Signore Greve was a character I created on a bike trip through Italy. I took a photo of an Italian man in a business suit straddling his basket adorned bike as he chatted with a friend. I was so charmed with that image and the spirit of Italy it embodied that I couldn't help but translate that into paint. Greve's dog Celli was patterned on a smaller version of my hound dog Beezil. He is a world traveler and loves to take you on virtual trips. I created 16 paintings for the show and left with only 2! People seem to love Greve's energy and style and really seem to connect with him. There is no better compliment! My goal this summer is to start a children's book featuring Signore Greve and Celli. Keep checking the blog for progress.

I have included a photo from a piece I just finished. I haven't come up with a name for it yet so your comments and suggestions are welcome.

My April show is going to be extra special. Check back for the details!

Have an art filled day!

Gina