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

Solo show premiering at Gallery 1988 (East)

It's been a bit quiet on my blog these last few months, but I've been hard at work preparing for a new solo exhibit at Gallery 1988 (East). The Once And Future Weird Kids opens at Gallery 1988 THIS FRIDAY from 7-9 pm in LA. This show features all new paintings and prints I've created for this pop culture themed exhibit. 

I will be there in attendance at the reception this Friday. The entire show will be online Saturday, Jan 10th, and viewable in person from Jan 8th  -  Jan 23rd. Visit Gallery1988.com to learn more about the gallery and show! Also there are free enamel pins for those in attendance to the show (while supplies last)...have to wait and see what the design is!

Here is a painting featuring the Goonies! This piece in particular is close to my heart because I frequently visit Cannon Beach in Oregon, which features the Haystack Rock in the background when the pirate ship comes from the cave. Love that whole area, and what is better than a good treasure hunt to boot!

Pumpkin Grove Print Set

Just a quick update on all the goodies in the "Pumpkin Grove" print set going live in less than an hour in my ETSY shop!

Pumpkin Grove Print Set: Available at www.nimasprout.etsy.com at 10AM (PST), Oct 16th

This print and sketch set includes:
1 - Pumpkin Grove print
1 - RANDOM original sketch of a pumpkin.
1 - RANDOM halloween postcard
1 - Printout of a mini ghost story accompanying the print.

Below are more details of the items included in the Pumpkin Grove Halloween set
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"Pumpkin Grove" Giclee Print
Professionally printed on archival Epson Cold Press Bright 305gsm
Image size: 10 x 10 |  Paper Size: 12 x 12 inches
Each print is signed and numbered | Print edition of 30.

"Pumpkin Themed Sketch" (Chosen at random, you can see examples in the photos above)
Hand-drawn with ink and colored pencil on handmade orange paper
5 x 5 inches

"Halloween Postcard" (Chosen at random from my Spooky Postcard illustrations)
4 x 6 inch postcard

"Mini Ghost Story" written by C.M. Galdre (Etsy shop - Galdrecraft)
Printed on cream colored paper

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Here is the full ghost story written by C.M. Galdre:

The castle came with the mists each autumn, nestled in the river-bend where the ground was bare and black. In the day it loomed within the hills, its gaunt face hiding in shadow and fog.

In the night though, when the moon rise high every window flickered to life with light and sweet music lilted from somewhere deep within. The pumpkins came shortly after, growing 

over-large on the castle grounds, bursting from the damp earth like cyclamen. They gleamed like pale waxen moons in the dark. 

No one knew from whence the castle came, who lived there, or even its name. The castle had always been, coming with the first turning leaves and leaving before the last leaf fell. The villagers knew better than to pay it mind but travelers often wandered in, drawn by the promise of

mirth its music carried. 

Some would be found in the pumpkin fields, jubilant and smelling of drink. They would speak of the great castle in the mists and hummed its cloying music as they carried on their way. 

Most, however, never left those candle lit halls once entered. At least until the castle left, and their bones were found amongst the blackened stones the castle left in its wake.  

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Thanks everyone for your interest in my annual halloween print! 

Halloween Prints and more!

Halloween and autumn are one of my favorite times of year. Changing leaves, crisp fresh air, and pumpkins galore. It's become a new annual project of mine to release a Halloween print with original sketches in a fun festive package. This year I have a few more surprises to go with the set, but for now here is a look at the new print to be released later this week.

"Pumpkin Grove"

12x12 inch print

Signed/numbered limited edition of 30

©Nicole Gustafsson

Halloween print set: $47 (+ shipping)

I plan to release this print set on Friday, October 16th at 10AM (PST)

in my Etsy shop - www.nimasprout.etsy.com

The print set also comes with a 5x5 inch original pumpkin-themed drawing on handmade orange paper. The paper is orange all the way through and has a rough tooth to add to the spooky little pumpkins. Each sketch is unique and randomly assigned to each person who purchases a print. 

A selection of some of the original pumpkin drawings!

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There are also a few other Halloween goodies already in my Etsy shop, including this open edition Shiba Halloween print, and a 5 card postcard pack featuring spooky trees, ghosts, and candy!

"Shiba Halloween 2015"

7x7 inch print

Signed - Open edition print (there is no set number that will be printed)

Currently available in my Etsy shop

This print was based on my two dogs who also love autumn and partners in crime for trick-or-treating!

"5 Card - Spooky Postcard Set"

Currently available in my Etsy shop