Stormy Weather Arts Festival at Cannon Beach, Oregon.

This weekend is the Stormy Weather Arts Festival in Cannon Beach, Oregon and I will be there with Archimedes Gallery for their group show opening this Saturday evening from 5-8pm. Also I will be doing a painting demo that afternoon as well from 1-3pm, so if you're in the area stop on by! (The gallery is located on the second floor, just look for the owl sign near the stairs to lead the way!)

If you haven't been to Cannon Beach it is such a magical treat, and the local marine life was the inspiration behind my contributions to the group show. I love all the flora and plant life that grows near the coast, and the tidal pools and ocean are simply wonderful!

"Twilight at Haystack Rock"
12x12 inches (image size)  |  Gouache ink on paper
©Nicole Gustafsson 2016

"Anemones"
5x5 inches (image size)  |  Gouache ink on paper
©Nicole Gustafsson 2016

Please contact the gallery with purchase inquiries.

New Paintings Featuring Spell Cats

It's been a crazy summer year and I'm afraid that I've neglected my blog here too long. So I will be refocusing on writing and sharing here in the future. To start with I wanted to share some new paintings that I've been working on for Inktober! Inktober is a fun game for artists who do a daily drawing using ink...while I haven't been able to participate everyday, I have been able to work on some of my cat character designs.

Each of the original works are created using Holbein Acryla Gouache, India Ink, and pen on tan Rives BFK paper. I love exploring themes of autumn and see these cats as heralds of the fall season. Bring a change of weather, new seasonal foods and festivities.

I will be listing these 5 new original drawings in my Etsy shop around 1PM (PST) today. 

Visit www.nimasprout.etsy.com 

I currently have a variety of items currently in my Etsy shop like postcards, coin pouches, prints, bookmarks and more! If you like to see process photos...I post daily at instagram (under username "Nimasprout") and you can easily follow my work there too :)

"Celestial Spaces" opening at Flatcolor Gallery

I am very excited to announce my new solo show Celestial Spaces opening at Flatcolor Gallery in Seattle this Thursday May 5th! This show features new paintings and prints of select pieces revolving around space and celestial landform theme. 

 

I will be there in attendance for the reception this Thursday, May 5th. The reception is from 5-9 in downtown Seattle in the Pioneer Square.

Celestial Spaces

Opening Reception: May 5th from 5-9pm
Part of the Pioneer Square First Thursday Artwalk

Flatcolor Gallery

77 S. Main Street, Seattle WA

Show runs thru May 28th
(Regular Gallery Hours: Wed - Sat 12-6pm)

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Here is the press release from the gallery about the show:

Flatcolor Gallery welcomes Nicole Gustafsson to Seattle for her first solo exhibition at Flatcolor Gallery entitled "Celestial Spaces" opening May 5th, 2016 5-9PM as part of the Pioneer Square First Thursday Artwalk.

Gustafsson's illustrative work features exquisitely detailed microcosms floating in the radiant ether of space. New laws of physics, gravity and perception are presented to the viewer as they explore the fine details depicted in these new worlds.

Show Statement

For Celestial Spaces I created landform and mineral studies as a visual for the infinite possibilities our universe holds. As we voyage further in our solar system, we discover more and more surprises, and reevaluate what we thought we knew about our universe. It's this idea of wonderment and discovery that I seek to depict in my work.

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Below are some work-in-progress photos of the paintings in progress. I used Holbein Acryla Gouache on wood panel for the show. 

The Once and Future Weird Kids at Gallery 1988

Last weekend was the opening to my solo show "The Once and Future Weird Kids" at Gallery 1988 (East) in Los Angeles, California! I flew on down for the reception and had a great time. Thank you everyone who stopped on by. The show will be viewable in person thru Jan 23rd, and always available online.

View original paintings and prints available at Gallery 1988: here

Pre show - paintings waiting to be hung on the wall. I always love to see these gatherings of paintings. I specifically wanted to create a variety of shapes and objects for this show. Here you can see magnifying glasses I created, a gumball machine painting, some wood panels in the shape of coffins and triangles, as well as some framed art pieces on paper.

Signing up some prints to have available for the show. We created three new prints for this show, and this one is of my lego mystery house piece.

Views of the gallery exhibit installed at Gallery 1988.

Gathering of people at the opening reception on Friday, Jan 8th. I always enjoy meeting people that I chat to online, then get to meet in person finally! So fun to see everyone.

The attendees also got a free enamel pin I designed featuring a magnifying glass and gallery logo.

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Below are all the paintings that I created for the exhibit! I love mystery stories and there was a loose them of mystery in most of the pieces. Unique characters from mystery tv series like Piorot, or mysteries within the plot of some of my favorite pop-culture movies like The Shining. Some like the lego pieces I felt were mysterious fictional places that I would love to explore in person if I could. 

Come Play With Us, 12 x 12 inches, Gouache, ink on cradled wood panel (Prints available at Gallery 1988)

Believe, 11 x 14" inches, Gouache, ink on cradled wood panel

Damn Fine Dreams, 12" trangle x 1.75" deep Gouache, ink on cradle wood panel (trangle shape) 

 Pinball Wizardesses, 12 x 12 inches, Gouache, ink on cradled wood panel

Sick Tricks Pugsley, 12 x 12 inches, Gouache, ink on cradled wood panel (Original Available at Gallery 1988)

Can't Put a Good Game Down, 7 x 14.25 x 1.75" deep, Gouache, ink on cradle wood panel (coffin shape)

Can't Put a Good Book Down, 7 x 14.25 x 1.75(deep), Gouache, ink on cradle wood panel (coffin shape) 

Goon Dock Friends, 12 x 12 inches, Gouache, ink on cradled wood panel (Prints available at Gallery 1988)

Goon Dock Friends, 12 x 12 inches, Gouache, ink on cradled wood panel (Prints available at Gallery 1988)

Star Chart, 14 x 14 inches, Gouache, ink, glow-in-the-dark paint on cradled wood panel 

Magnifying Glass - "Cabot Cove" and "Elementary"6.5 x 10.75 inches Gouache, ink, resin on wood cutout (magnifying glass shape) 

Magnifying Glass - Little Grey Cells, 6.5 x 10.75 inches Gouache, ink, resin on wood cutout (magnifying glass shape) 

Mystery House, 11 x 14 inches, Gouache, ink on cradled wood panel (Prints available at Gallery 1988)

The Tower Ruins, 12 x 16 inches, Gouache, ink on cradled wood panel 

Pac-Dot Machine, 11 x 20 inches, Gouache, ink, wood cutout (gumball shape)

Pizza Planchettes - Cheese and Supreme, 5.25 x 6.25 x .75 deep Gouache, ink, resin on wood cutout (Planchette shape)

The Dining Room, 8.25 x 10 inches, Gouache, ink, wood cutout (House shape) 

What a Glorious Evening, 10.25 x 13 (image size), Gouache and ink on paper (framed)
Prints available at Gallery 1988

It's Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus, 10.25 x 13 (image size), Gouache and ink on paper (framed)

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The custom shaped cut-out wood pieces I designed myself in illustrator and had cut on our X-Carve that me and my fella bought this fall. It is machine created by Inventables that is an open source kit that you can customize to what you needs are. I had been interested in painting different shapes for quite a while now and had to outsource the cutting before (like with my terrarium shapes or ornaments I've had available in the past). But NOW with the machine we can do all the cutting ourselves and basically the sky's the limit! 

Also want to give a huge shout-out to my fella for putting this whole machine together, troubleshooting it, and babysitting it when a cut was in progress (because of course, the second anyone left something would go wrong!).

Gumball machine cut out of plywood. The lines here are engraved.  

Pieces for "The Dining Room" piece. Here I wanted to try using two thinner pieces of wood to create a single layered piece. 

With the magnifying glass I just routed out the center area I wanted to paint. Also went with a darker wood that I would leave natural on the outer edge. (Later I would fill the center area with resin to complete the "glass" in the center circle. 

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That's it for this post of the show. Again, if you are interested in any of the pieces visit the Gallery at: http://nineteeneightyeight.com/collections/nicole-gustafsson-the-once-and-future-weird-kids

Thank you again for everyone for your support in this show and my artwork! - Nicole

All the shows I forgot to post.

This summer was very busy, and before I knew it, it's October! So here is a big ole blog post featuring all the shows that I forgot to post over the summer. If you are interested in more up-to-date information on all my shows, works-in-progress, etc - my facebook, instagram, and twitter are the most up to date real time on my artwork!

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First up for art shows is the Jurassic Park show at Mondo! This was my first contribution to Mondo and super pumped to be part of this exhibit.

"I Should Have Been There By Now"

12 x 12 inches  |  Gouache, ink on wood panel

©Nicole Gustafsson

I love these scene in the first Jurrasic Park film where Dennis get's lost and has an encounter with a dino.

Photo via Mondo

Gallery shot of the installation at Mondo.

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In June was the opening to the "Clue" themed show at Gallery 1988 in LA. I LOVE Clue, it is my favorite movie in the whole world and wanted to do something extra special for the show.

I created a vector drawing of the clue house that I had laser engraved, then painting the whole piece and made the windows open with little hinges. When the windows are closed, you can see the silhouettes of all the characters, then when you open the doors you can see the whole cast with their weapons.

And of course Tim Curry the butler had to be included so he's there waiting for you when you open the main doors at the bottom.

I had been wanting to do more interactive pieces for a while now, and had a fun time figuring out this piece. I hope to create more of these little houses perhaps in the future :)

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Last June was the opening to the Rahl Dahl show at Galerie F in Chicago. I selected Dahl's work "Esio Trot" which features lots of tortoises and a cute older couple. 

"Tortoise, Tortoise"

18x24 inches

Gouache, ink on wood panel

©Nicole Gustafsson

UPDATE: Prints are available of this piece via Galerie F! 

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Late August featured a group show of the Prisma Artist Collective that I'm a member of. Antler PDX gallery in Portland hosted our show, and I had the pleasure of being there at the opening with fellow artist Casey Weldon who is also in the show.

"Windmill Root Village"

13 x 13 inches (image size) | 17 x 17 inches (outside frame dimension)

Gouache, ink on paper

©Nicole Gustafsson 2015
Available

The theme of the show had a nature influence, so I created a piece based around a village nestled among giant tree roots. This painting is available through the gallery. Contact them if you are interested in this painting!

Antler PDX on Alberta street in Portland, Oregon. Love this area of town with lots of galleries, shops, and awesome food.

Little look at preview night at Antler.

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In September was the opening to the Guillermo Del Toro: In Service of Monsters (curated by Chogrin & Gary Deocampo) hosted at Gallery 1988 in LA. I'm a big fan of the film Pacific Rim so that's what I choose to pursue for my contribute to the exhibit. 

"After Kaiju"

12x12 inches  |  Gouache and ink on wood panel

©Nicole Gustafsson 2016

SOLD

Photo via Gallery 1988.

Here they are setting up the show at Gallery 1988. I LOVE the arches that were installed for this exhibit. Also Gillermo Del Toro himself was a featured guest at the exhibit and awesome to see photos of him amongst all the tribute works of his films.

Mid painting work-in-progres shot. Layering the gouache on wood panel. 

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A while back you may have seen this piece I was working on...and it is now available for bidding at the More Than A Cone Charity event online. My own pup Toshi modeled for this painting I did of a Shiba taking a nap in a field of flowers.

"Sleepy Shiba" 

Gouache ink on woodpanel  |  ©Nicole Gustafsson

Here is a little information about the project: "More Than A Cone is a non-profit fundraising organization. Our unique and informative art campaign calls on leading artists to transform the "cone of shame". Our goal is to change attitudes about the cone, and in turn raise awareness about pet adoption, wellness, and recovery." You can read more about it at their website: http://www.morethanacone.com/

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That's it for shows I can think of! I'm exited for the fall season and lineup for 2016! Yay!