Big Cup O'Blog: Lederer Gallery

January 2011 found me resolved to change a few things about the way I run the business of being an artist. One significant new behavior I had decided to incorporate was to begin to "show" again, after a long hiatus to concentrate on editorial work. I wanted some small project, not terribly demanding, and I began to look around. I decided to answer a call for entries from the Lederer Gallery at SUNY Geneseo.

The project is called "Art Blizzard" and if I recall correctly, funds raised from the sale of the art will go to help build a new wing. They sought donations of 5 pieces, any media, 5x5" each. This sounded like just the sort of thing I needed. I got right to work and created five pieces.

http://www.geneseo.edu/galleries/home

"Yellow House" 5x5" gouache
© Kathy Ferrell 2011 All rights reserved.

The first is a painting of a house across the street from my studio. I changed it from blue to yellow, but at the time I took the photo, there really were colorful hollyhocks and a flag in a flowerpot. Unfortunately, what was once a lovely home has fallen into pitiful neglect since the photo was taken. But that's why art is good for you. Imagine it better.

Next is a small version of what I hope to someday turn into a large oil painting. I used this as an opportunity to work out how I want the water ripples to look. When I make the large painting, I will need a model to pose coming up from water holding a large bead, while I take photos. I asked my son the photographer if he could find a model and take some shots at a pool...

"Oh, Mom. No."

"Pearl of Great Price" 5x5" ink on watercolor paper

This is why I do so much work from memory and imagination. My little digital camera died and needs replaced. A perfectly adequate little machine for it's purpose. My expensive actual-film-using Pentax died long ago and I can't find any one in town who repairs them. I envision a "Circe Invidiosa" type of piece, an homage to John William Waterhouse, an eerie green glow pervasive throughout.

"Sunrise" 5x5" watercolor & Rapidograph

Above is a piece created because of a "vision" I had one early morning, of a beneficent spirit shining down inspiration on my studio. I did the blacks with a Rapidograph pen. It was my first use of Da Vinci Watercolor's "Green-Gold". I love that shade.

"Dishrack" 5x5" acrylic on canvas

Here's one for fun...a little acrylic of my dish drainer. I do not actually have that grouchy sign, but I do have a tin sign depicting R. Crumb's "Mr. Natural" doing the dishes.

"Delia" 5x5" colored pencil on paper

The final piece is a little colored pencil work, with the treasured stubs of very old Prismas...the ORIGINAL formula. I do not care for their new type. Too waxy. Meaning I don't get to do many colored pencil pieces anymore. I would love to discover a brand that has the feel and richness that my favorites once did. That's an experiment for another day.

Despite some technical difficulties that delayed the opening on SUNY Geneseo's on-line gallery, they did get it up & running, and Gallery Director Cynthia Hawkins was gracious enough to e-mail me the day the site went up. When I logged on, I was delighted to see that four of my five pieces had already sold! Only "Delia" was left. Exotic nudes aren't for everyone. The show is still going on, however, and I think someone will give the piece a good home. I do hope that I will hear from each buyer (using the contact info from the back of the art), so that I may add them to my treasured list of patrons.

http://www.geneseo.edu/~lockgallery/artblizzard/artblizzard_details.php?id=1063

All in all, dear reader, this re-introduction to "showing" was a pleasant experience for three reasons...

1. A responsive, professional Gallery Director, clear and straightforward with her information.

2. While I waited, I made sure to keep busy with lots of other work. (Digital, mostly).

3. Best of all, I got to see SOLD! on a lot of my work, and I am the kind of artist that loves that validation.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Art Blizzard