Art Filled Summer

Doesn't this picture make you want to stroll around in the sun, enjoying all the colors and styles of art? This summer there is a special art show on Saturdays on G Street in downtown Anchorage. It's called "Art on G Street, from studio to street". The street is closed off between 3rd and 5th to allow for casual art booth browsing. Some galleries were featuring artists that decorate their walls. Other booths were independent artist excited to have a greater audience.

My goal was to simply check out this great art happening. Say hello to any artist I knew and see how the whole program was working. I didn't get far before a booth dragged me in. Yes, dragged! I wasn't planning on buying anything and my walls are quite full. But WHOA NELLY did my heart insist I come home with some art. Keep checking the blog for pictures of what we brought home. Anyway, I highly recommend putting G Street on your summer to do list. You are sure to enjoy the 2 block trip.

This Wednesday Portage Glacier Cruises is featuring their "Art on the Lake" trip. It starts at 6:30 and is a two hour cruise around the lake and glacier. There will be music, food, wine and of course lots of art. Check my past blog for more details. Also, the Saturday market is in full swing. Many artists have booths there and it's a great way to see some Alaska art.

Here is to sunshine, relaxing days and an art filled summer.

Suitcase Art

It is the season of tourist. You can spot them a mile away. No, it's not the camera or the comfortable walking shoes. It's usually the woolly coats and hats. 65 degrees is summer here. An Alaskan will of course be in sandals and shorts soaking up the hot weather. The tourists will be huddled together sipping a hot drink.

Tourist season is good for artist. Whenever I travel I find the perfect piece of art to bring home. It's a great souvenir. The cheesy back scratcher seems like a great idea when your mind is free of worry and schedules. You get home and think, did I actually buy this and haul it all the way home? Not so with art. Usually you pull it out from your suitcase, carefully unwrap it and fall in love all over again.

Hence the term 'suitcase art'. It is a word used a lot this time of year. Art that can travel safely in a suitcase to it's final destination. I have been creating suitcase art and nothing else these days. It does get a bit tedious I have to admit. I create items that I think I would buy if I was seeking the perfect art item or art gift. But creating dozens of the same work wears on the creativity. For most artists these items will pay the bills for the next several months. I know I am grateful for that. Now the trick is to keep that creative fire burning while I create a beautiful Alaska scene.....again.

Children's section

I had the privilege of illustrating a children's book called "Super Sprouts". A doctor who specializes in obesity related disease saw my web site and thought I might be a good fit. I was estactic! I have always wanted to do children's illustrations. The subject fit me as well, the book is all about healthy eating and exercise. I am quite the greenie when it comes to eating. I bike everywhere and really dislike cars, malls and gamers. I am all about fresh air and food grown from the earth. The book turned out well. You can check out what people have to say about it on Amazon.com, just search "Super Sprouts". The project was fun and a HUGE learning experience. It took much more time than I expected. The author was awesome to work with but creating someone else's vision has it's challenges.

I had my book on display at a recent art show. A customer picked it up and paged through it. He approached me and said he was looking for a book illustrator and didn't know I did that kind of work. After a lunch or two together the characters of the book are coming to life. That is the most fun part. Watching pencil and paper create a being that makes you smile or think. A little drawing that becomes it's own personality and energy.

I will pass on more details about the book's subject and direction in the future. The author and his wife are working out all the details in the story line. The drawing you see will be a character in the book. He has no name yet but already his personality is creeping through.

I like to think that some where in the world a child crawls into bed with his cozy cartoon pajamas while his parent opens and reads a book I've illustrated. Maybe they smile or laugh at something I have drawn. I hope so, because that is a fulfilling thought.

Sell, Sell, Buy, Buy

When a person decides to save their money there are certain places they just don't frequent. If you are a lover of shoes you don't decide to stroll through Nordstroms shoe department. If jewelry is your weakness you aren't hanging out at Tiffany's on your lunch hour. But what if art is your money burner and you're an artist?

Artworks Gallery in Eagle River is a dangerous place for me. The pottery makes me weak in the knees. The jewelry makes me drool and the stained glass.....I don't even want to talk about it. But here is the problem, among the awesome pieces of art hangs a collection of Signore Greve. Yes, I am honored to be among the fabulous art that resides in this gallery. This means that at least every other month I am FORCED againsts my penny saving judgement to enter this haven of delicious color and texture.

You know the lectures you give yourself? The ones that start with," Okay, now listen!" Well I give myself that every time I pull into the parking lot. I almost made it out on Friday without distraction. But right next to the door were these adorable, irresistable hand thrown cups. Perfect for tea. "Be strong, step away", my inner voice warns. But the hand thrown turtle bowls were right next to it! Then I turned to tell Iris, one of the owners, how fantastic they were I saw the glazed metal necklace. I wavered, I began to do math in my head. I started to mentally refine the explanation dialouge to my husband.

I came off victorious. I practically ran screaming out of the store. Iris gets that all the time I am sure. Maybe my money from the next sale at the gallery can become my next purchase. Besides, it's summer in Alaska with 2o hours of daylight. Who needs to pay the electric.

Fresh off the easel

Here is my latest Signore Greve titled "Musical Note". I had planned to put the musical instrument onto the back of Greve's bike. Artistically it just wasn't working so I removed the instrument and added the instrument case. At first I was frustrated that I couldn't make my mental image translate to canvas. But later as I looked at it drying on my studio wall I decided I was glad for the mishap. I think Signore Greve has a bit of mystery to him which is part of his appeal. Being his creator I know what instrument he plays but what does the viewer think? I think that is part of the fun in art, seeing the obvious and also imagining the unseen.

I sold a Greve painting to a wonderful patron of mine who gave it as a gift to his 80 something mother who lives out of state. He sat in the mornings of his visit drinking coffee and looking at the painting hung in the kitchen. As the mornings went by he saw little nuances he hadn't noticed before. On his return home I received an e-mail from him asking me about the little details he noticed. I hope all my art buyers find more and more to enjoy about my paintings as it becomes a fixture in their daily lives.

I hope "Musical Note" makes people wonder what instrument Greve plays. Does Celli howl along? What does your imagination say?

The Tourist are Coming!

That is the hope at least, that soon our streets will be filled with people gazing about at the wonder of Alaska. It makes me happy to live here when I see visitor's faces lit up as they take in their surroundings. Here I am enjoying a HUGE low tide we experienced yesterday. Ahhhh, Alaska.

As I mentioned in my last blog, sunny weather makes concentration somethings difficult. I worked feverishly to get new art into all my venues in April. First because I wanted nice full walls for the tourist but also because you can't help but have your production drop a bit in the summer. I hope to sit on G Street on the end of June during a new art sidewalk show the city is adding this year. (Keep your eyes on the blog to hear more.) And I am busy getting our Art on the Lake trip organized. That takes away from time at the easel.

Here is the good news/bad news of an artist. "GOOD NEWS, we sold three of your paintings and we need more ASAP!" Then comes... BAD NEWS I don't have time scheduled for that since I have these other projects in the works. It really is a good problem to have but a scheduling problem none the less. I am always warmed when someone feels my art was worth laying down money for and taking home. It's what my job is all about.

Time to drag the easel on the deck, ignore the phone and get some paint brushes flying!

Sunshine Days

The weather has been amazing the last week or so. It's hard when the sun is calling me through my window to stay at the easel but I have managed to stay focused. Of course, the logical thing to paint on a sunshine day is Signore Greve. The painting you see it titled "Paisley Forest". It is a paper collage background with oil painting over top. I really love this technique since my options are limitless. Fortunately art buyers love the style too so I get to keep creating.

I hope you are enjoying sunshine days where ever you are!