This series of paintings is inspired by the wetlands and native plants at Magnuson Park. As the old Navy base is repurposed and the wetlands rehabilitated, the native plant life is reclaiming its space in natural history. Some of these paintings are based in reality, and some in my imagination. I am exploring casein and gouache as alternatives to my traditional oil paints, and I’m enjoying the fresh drawing quality I get with this approach.
Today at 2pm we have Chuck Reininger up from Walla Walla to show his wines. Chuck is a class act in Washington winemaking if there ever was one.
And Sunday at 3 pm is the Artist’s reception for Suzanne Brookers show of New Landscape Paintings. The paintings are from Suzanne’s upcoming book on landscape oil painting due out in late 2014 from Watson Guptil.
Also on Sunday we’re pouring two interesting wines from South America — A Petit Verdot from 25 Lagunas and a Bonarda from Altos las Homigas — that’s all day so stop in and give them a try.
“(S)he winged away on a wildgoup’s chase across the kathartic ocean and made synthetic ink and sensitive paper for h(er) own end out of h(er) wit’s waste.”
— James Joyce (1882–1941), Finnegans Wake
Observational studies of nature and landscapes are central to my practice. Since we moved to Phantom Lake in Bellevue 11 years ago, I have painted my wetlands surroundings, especially the birds. It’s a privilege to live in the wetlands. Smaller birds fall prey to other predators or are misled by window reflections and become the subjects of my drawings or paintings. Most recently I began to study the winged insects, too. They are beautiful and fascinating creatures with the benefit of having 2 perspectives-their view from the ground and their view while aloft.
My medium is usually watercolor and acrylic ink although I paint more like an oil painter than a watercolorist. For this series, I collected unfinished tile, porcelain and concrete tiles from a salvage yard in Seattle to use for my insect paintings while others are painted on clayboard.
This Sunday we will be tasting two lovely French wines.
2012 Paul Buisse Les Domaniales Rosé $9
A very crisp Rosé made from Cabernet Franc, Gamay, and Pineau dAnuis with aromas of fresh strawberries, raspberries and a slight herbal note.
2011 Galtier Garrica $10
A light and herby French red from the Languedoc named after the brush that grows there. 12.5% alcohol by volume
And just for the fun of it, let’s throw in an Italian Sangiovese in a box.
2010 Giacomo Sangiovese Toscana $30 Ruby red in the glass with aromas of cherries, plum and a hint of red currant. The palate is loaded with rich, dried cherry flavors that are backed by a note of tangy acidity and moderate tannins. This is an ideal mid-week red that is perfect with pizza, pasta, burgers and roast chicken. 3 liters which works out to $7.50 a bottle.
Artist’s Reception, Sunday August 3rd, 3 to 5 pm Portraits: Man & Beasts Eden Hopkins Laura Grover
Hanging from July 3rd to August 31st Artist Eden Hopkins presents six, lively and whimsical portrait paintings of dogs. Several of these lovable canines attentively make eye contact and feature their tongues lolling out. One painting showcases a Chiweenie dog, or a Chihuahua/Dachshund Mix mouthing a tennis ball, ready for play. These original oil paintings are created on 12″H x 12″W cradled panels. See more of Eden’s artwork at www.edenhopkins.com Artist Laura Grover’s portraits of her family are a way of reflecting on the time spent with them. It’s a personal time with each individual, to think upon what they look like, conversations we held together and how we first met. Each paint stroke is intimate and comes with personal feeling. These paintings are just moments that gave me pleasure. Not all family moments will be remembered with such joy and surely need to be recorded.
Artist Eden Hopkins presents six, lively and whimsical portrait paintings of dogs. Several of these lovable canines attentively make eye contact and feature their tongues lolling out. One painting showcases a Chiweenie dog, or a Chihuahua/Dachshund Mix mouthing a tennis ball, ready for play. These original oil paintings are created on 12″ x 12″Wcradled panels. See more of Eden’s artwork at www.edenhopkins.com
Artist Laura Grover’s portraits of her family are a way of reflecting on the time spent with them. It’s a personal time with each individual, to think upon what they look like, conversations we held together and how we first met. Each paint stroke is intimate and comes with personal feeling. These paintings are just moments that gave me pleasure. Not all family moments will be remembered with such joy and surely need to be recorded.
We are tasting some thoroughbred wines whole we wait for the Kentucky Derby at 3:24. Come pick a favorite.
Sunday
New works by Bob Perlman grace our walls and Bob will be here from 3 to 5 for the Artist’s Reception.
The imagery is mainly non-referential and admittedly ambiguous although I ultimately try to make a picture, that is, a composed image that has a visual logic to it: a top, a bottom, a near, a far, a sense of light, something implied or depicted with a feeling of completion and resolution. While I’m concerned about each aspect of the work, in the end the whole needs to be greater than the parts – the painting needs to come together. More important, it should invite the viewer to journey into its space and sense of place. –Bob Perlman
Saturday we are pouring wines from the Southwest of France that you won’t want to miss.
Sunday is the artist reception for Seth Thompson’s new show of photographs.
Reception 3pm to 5pm.
Seth Thompson is showing a selection of prints from his Mexico, Cuba, and Night series. The prints are traditional chromogenic dye coupler prints made from color negative film. The artist is fascinated by the richness of color in seemingly dark scenes, at night and in naturally lit interiors, which can be recorded and made visible through long exposures of negative film. Neither the printing paper nor the color films used are available today, and these images cannot be reproduced with exactness.
The artist, trained to be both a literature scholar and a painter, has shown his work in New York and Mexico, as well as the Northwest. He taught color at PCNW from 1999 through 2011 and now teaches at Pratt Fine Arts center.
Seth Thompson Photographs March 6th through April 28th Seth Thompson is showing a selection of prints from his Mexico, Cuba, and Night series. The prints are traditional chromogenic dye coupler prints made from color negative film. The artist is fascinated by the richness of color in seemingly dark scenes, at night and in naturally lit interiors, which can be recorded and made visible through long exposures of negative film. Neither the printing paper nor the color films used are available today, and these images cannot be reproduced with exactness.
The artist, trained to be both a literature scholar and a painter, has shown his work in New York and Mexico, as well as the Northwest. He taught color at PCNW from 1999 through 2011 and now teaches at Pratt Fine Arts center.
Come meet Kelly and check out her amazing eye candy…
Artist Statement: My latest paintings are of Candy: it’s colourful, visual, nostalgically evoking childhood memories in a lot of adults (whether it had positive associations, as in rewards or bribes, or conversely the lure of “forbidden fruits” in the stricter households). It’s also Universal, all nations share a love of sugary treats, it’s a common bond of simple happiness the world over. But this is a personal theme for me as well as universal – I always keep candy in my studio (as a lure to begin work), and live in fear of the doctor telling me to give up sugar…
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