Birds + Crystals

"Poof", 5x7, Gouache & Ink, 2010

Here is a little piece I did a couple weeks ago for the Holiday Showcase at Graham Gallery, in Hastings, NE. It is part of my bird + crystal series inspired by a recent trip to a sweet Rock & Gem exhibit.

There was this incredible crystal there, and it just mystifies me how they got it from the site intact without any of the delicate crystals breaking. 

I also got some bird seed to incise some birds to my porch, so far I haven't been able to identify what kind they are but they are super adorable and make me smile (and my cats tail flick with keen interest!).

This painting and the others in the series are available at Graham Gallery till the end of the month.

The Geologist's Study

The Geologist's Study, 11x11, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2010,  Available at Graham Gallery.

This painting is for the science enthusiast that still goes to Hobby Town to look at the different science stuff for "kids" - ant farms, crystal growing kits, terrariums. Or for the person that has the book Rock & Gem - the definitive guide to rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils and other such things on their coffee table.

Growing up I was constantly digging at the nearby park for little pottery pieces and different rocks to take home. My parents picked up on this and got me a rock tumbler to polish my rocks. Add the different powders and polishing agents and let it tumble! The best part was that the crummiest looking rock to polish into something pretty spectacular.

Just this summer the talk of a cave with crystals growing in it, suckered me into crawling into a hole to see what treasures it might hold. (Not all that great I'm afraid). But it was still fun and I enjoyed the thrill of the "hunt".

Twisty Tree Tavern

 Twisty Tree Tavern, 24x24, Gouache & Ink on Wood, Available

Here is a new piece for an upcoming show at Graham Gallery. The show theme is "A Career in Art Will Not Pay the Bills  (it will this month)" 

"Artists will submit entries and the entry will be accompanied by a bill, payment, desire or financial obligation.  The sale of the art will finance the artists wish."

 If my pieces sell I will put the money towards my letterpress venture. Even though I lucked out and traded artwork for the letterpress, the cost of ink, rollers, paper, and other equipment is still expensive. And if I happen to sell both my pieces in the show the rest of the money will be put towards financing a book that myself and another are working on and will be ready this X-mas season.

Everyone has all sorts of bills to pay and YES a career in art DOES pay the bills (sometimes) and it is my living. A goal of mine is to eventually focus on my art, design, illustration, and bookmaking full time and every art piece I do is a step closer to achieving that and essentially running my own business.

So thank you for supporting artists and helping to debunk the "Starving Artist" stereotype!

One Day PRINT SALE!

Nicole's Wondrous Etching Sale - 1/2 Off Prints!

Graham Gallery is participating in the Hastings downtown sidewalk sale this Saturday, and I decided to have my unframed etchings 1/2 OFF. I also may have some *secret* pieces for sale too!!! You'll just have to check it out!

Just for this Saturday only!

Oil Painting Workshop

I'm taking a Plein Air Oil Painting workshop this weekend, and boy am I out of my comfort zone. My style of painting is sitting, painting with gouache, watching TV with my cats lounging next to me. I like having the painting on my lap rather than an easel and I discovered that wind + wet paint flying towards my face is not enjoyable on a hot day. BUT this class is a great experience for me and my painting so far is going better than I expected. I'm with a talented group of artists and ones that I'm glad to call my friends.

If your in Hastings, NE tomorrow come on out to Prairie Loft. We'll painting out there all day and there will be lots of activities for people to participate in. Plus, there's a PANCAKE FEED at 10:00. I mean really...just plan on being there!

Plants, Plants!

It seems these past couple weeks I've acquired some pretty great plants! This lovely gift showed up on my doorstep just yesterday (Thanks Lindsey!). It had all these little packets and all I had to do was assemble it. My favorite part is that it can hang on the wall! Still Lily created this plant and has an etsy site with more. Check them out!

My other plant was won from An Evening of Art Lovers at Graham Gallery. If you purchased a ticket you would get a piece of art. I had the lower level ticket so I didn't get to choose my art, it was randomly selected for me. And I got this sweet terrarium by Jay Bayles!!! Complete with hanging Christmas ornaments with plants inside. (Terrariums within terrariums!) Jay a couple years ago showed me how to make terrariums and I've been featuring them in my artwork ever since!

Winter Rabbits!

Winter Hovel, 5x7, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2009

Afternoon Tea, 7x5, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2009

Here's two pieces that are currently at Graham Gallery in Hastings, NE. There's no snow on the ground right now, but I know it's coming sooner or later! Check out Graham Gallery for more great artwork in our Holiday Showcase.

Cottonwood!

I had a great time at cottonwood festival last weekend. Our tent was by a nice shady tree and there was a pretty cool breeze the whole weekend. It was such a pleasure hanging out with all the other Graham Gallery artists in the tent.

Here's my booth. Todd Brown made the wooden shelf stand with lights. It's able to come apart and fit in my car (So excited!!!). It also works well keeping my prints in place despite the wind. (I remember the year when there was a massive storm and all my paintings blew away, not in bags OR frames of course!) I think every artist has their experience of being unprepared and witnessing the elements reek havoc on their art so this year I had a better plan of attack!

Thanks everyone who made it out!

Cottonwood Festival this Weekend!

Just a quick note to say that I'll be in Hastings, NE this weekend with a great group of artists selling artwork at the Cottonwood Festival. Check us out in the Graham Gallery tent in Brickyard Park. I'll have original paintings on wood, some framed pieces and prints.

Stop on by! The Festival runs June 19-21st.

Winners!

Thank you everyone who participated in our "Landskipping" Art Raffel at Graham Gallery. Winners could choose from one of three collaborative paintings by Jamie Krueger, Sarah Fettin, and myself.

Here's the winners!
1. Lindsey & Tom Kluver
2. Jeremy Daniels
3. Chelsie Wilson

Thanks!

Thank you everyone who made it out to the "Landskipping" artists reception last Saturday. We had a great turnout, some yummy food with some wonderful people, and lots of artwork!


We're also having an art raffle! The three collaborative pieces that Jamie, Sarah, and I worked on are being raffled off as a fun promotion. We each started a piece and then passed it around until finished. Just one ticket can get you one of the pieces above! Tickets are $5 each and the drawing will be held at the end of the month when the show is over. Stop by Graham Gallery to enter!

Thanks!

Drawings pt. 2

Here's a installation view of some of my smaller drawings / paintings at Graham Gallery . I think that I'll do some more of these to have at art fairs this summer.

Show's up!

We hung the show on Sunday and it was really great to see everything come together. It's really fun to show with Sarah Fettin and Jamie Krueger. We all met each other at Hastings College and it's pretty crazy to think that we graduated over 2 years ago. Here's some photos of the exhibition!

Here's an installation view of some of my paintings.

Mixed media work by Jamie Krueger

Mixed media work by Sarah Fettin

The reception is on Saturday, April 4th from 5:00pm - 7:00pm
at Graham Gallery in Hastings, NE.

Hope to see you there!

Drawings

I've been wanted to small drawings that were looser and more spontaneous, so I did a bunch of 5x7 drawings on paper that explore similar themes and ideas as my larger more elaborate paintings on wood.

Lake Time Fun, 5 x 7 , Gouache and ink, 2009

I usually use Arches 300lb watercolor paper, but for these drawings I used Rives BFK paper in a soft yellow color. Yellow used to be my least favorite color, but now it's worked it's way in my main color palette! Oh how things change...

Rainy Cove Island

Rainy Cove Island, 11.25 x 24.5, Gouache and ink on wood, 2009

This is my personal favorite for the show opening next week. It is the piece that set the mood for the rest of my paintings. Again there's metallic rain that shimmers as you view the piece (I can't get enough of shiny paint lately!).

The white tree house in the upper right is one of the more accurate depictions of a tree house that my dad built in an old crab apple tree in the backyard. I hated raking up the crab apples that fell on the grass ever season, but it sure was a fun old tree.

Terrarium Town

Terrarium Town, 11.75 x 23.75, Gouache and ink on wood, 2009.

Here is another new one. I've been experimenting more with metallic paints so the background wall pattern shimmers as the light hits it. One of my friends showed me how to make terrariums and got me hooked. (The secret to success is in the soil!)

Yup!

Cozy Quarters, 11.125" x 11.125", Gouache & ink on wood, 2009.

Postcards are here and you should be receiving one in the mail soon. Here is another piece for the show. Each of these paintings is related to another painting in one way or another. As I post new pieces keep a look out for the clues!

Sneak Peak No. 2

Three Tier Treehouse, 11.125" x 17.75", Gouache & ink on wood, 2009

Here's another painting for the upcoming show "Landskipping" at Graham Gallery. I'll preview new pieces of mine leading up to the show opening in April.

Floating down the Crystal Caves

"Floating Down the Crystal Caves" 11.125" x 17.75", Gouache & Ink on wood, 2009.

Here is the full image of my painting on the Graham Gallery show postcard.

Today I got up and had to chip a layer of ice off my car, and I thought that it would be much better to go tubing down a lazy river...

"Landskipping"

Graham Gallery Presents:
Jamie Krueger
Nicole Gustafsson
Sarah Fettin

"Landskipping"
April 1st - April 25th

Gallery Reception
Saturday, April 4th 5pm - 7pm

www.graham-gallery.com