The Still Life, Elliott Fouts Gallery, and Harmonia Axyridis

The Still Life  

An Invitational Group Show

Elliott Fouts Gallery

Sacramento, CA

October 1 - November 2, 2011

Elliott Fouts Gallery

  Opening this weekend is The Still Life at 

Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA.  

Other participating artists include Jeff Cohen, Jelaine Faunce, 

Todd Ford, Russell Harris, James Neil Hollingsworth, 

 Mary Ellen Johnson, Judy Nunes, Alvin Richard, 

and Christopher Stott. 

Link to the show:

The Still Life

 

 Harmonia Axyridis

16" x 20"

oil on panel

Growing up in the farmlands of the Midwest, I took delight during the Summers chasing and catching butterflies and various beetles. One particular Summer when I was around 8 years old I had caught quite a few, and poured over my families insect books trying to identify all the varieties. The following Summer there were hardly any butterflies. I believed it was because of all my chasing and catching. I never caught another live one after that Summer. Many years later I learned it was because of a particularly harsh Winter we had that year and not because of my 8 year old self.

I still love bugs. I have added some bugs to my collection, but of a tin wind up variety. The title Harmonia Axyridis is latin for Asian Lady Beetle. I thought it was appropriate for this Japanese tin ladybug wind up toy. The orange handled school scissors remind me of my young self.

 

detail from

Harmonia Axyridis

 Monkeying Around

12" x 12"

oil on panel

In Monkeying Around I really wanted to explore transparency. More glass. More marbles. The star being the green plastic monkey

playfully balancing on the marble. 

The Real Thing Opening and Spare Tire

The Real Thing

Mason Murer Fine Art

Spare Tire

16" x 20"

oil on panel

Spare Tire is a third painting I did for The Real Thing. I love cars and I have recently discovered pinewood derby cars. Each one being handcrafted and unique, each has their own story. 

For this painting I imagined a derby car who lost a tire. What to do? You look around desperate for something. There on the workbench is a coffee can of various nails, bolts and screws. While digging something red catches your eye,  Coca Cola soda caps. They are the perfect shape and size.  Just what you need. They might not give you the fastest roll down the track, but they will do and look pretty cool at the same time.

Friday,  September 16th, was the opening of The Real Thing at Mason Murer Fine Art in Atlanta, GA. Fellow participating artist Neil Hollingsworth was at the opening and shared this delightful photo with me.  There is so much wonderful art in this fun show. Here is a link to Neil's blog which shows a few other photos from the opening. Neil Hollingsworth. Thank you Neil!

 

Mason Murer Fine Art

The Real Thing, Mason Murer Fine Art

The Real Thing

Mason Murer Fine Art

Atlanta, GA

Friday, September 16, 2011

The Real Thing is an invitational group show held at 

Mason Murer Fine Art in Atlanta, GA. This is a special event

for the Coca Cola Company to help celebrate it's 125th anniversary.

I am honored to participate along side Todd Ford, 

Neil Hollingsworth, Otto Lange, Michael Naples, Alvin Richard, Christopher Stott, Sally Tharp, Vic Vicini, and many more.

Date Night

20" x 16"

oil on panel

When I thought about Coca Cola, my thoughts went beyond just soda. It has become so much a part of our life. Family reunions, ball games, family game nights, movies, first dates. 

For Date Night I focused on the 1950's. Going out to the movies. The movie theater popcorn bag is from the 1950's, as well as the cup. The cup is the type that would have been used in the automatic drop down vending machines. The cup would drop, then the crushed ice, then the soda selection. 

The ticket stubs are from the Crandell Theater, Chatham, NY. It was built in 1926 by Walter S. Crandell as a vaudville house. Later it became a movie theater. Until recently, the theater still used the vintage automated drop cup soda machine. The experience took you back in time. 

And of course the vintage toy car. It's the type of car that I would hope my date would pick me up in to take me to the movies in the 1950's.

For Pappa, Very Special Delivery

30" x 24"

oil on panel
sold

While working on this painting I learned my Pappa worked for

the company in Memphis, TN that made these crates and the year matched my crate from 1965. Although my crates were not made in Memphis, I felt a connection to him as I painted it. He also harvested and sold fruits and vegetables in Memphis. Even though his truck was not this large in real life, it reminds me of his produce truck I have seen in photos. 

My yellow crate is dated 1965. The red crate is dated 1973. Both were made in Chatanooga, TN. The truck is a 1950's Coca Cola Spriteboy Truck made by the Marx Company.  The soda bottles are current. They are the 125th anniversary commemorative bottle.

Mason Murer Fine Art

Atlanta, GA 

404-879-1500

Mason Murer Fine Art

Affordable Art: Principle Gallery

Affordable Art

Principle Gallery 

Friday, September 16, 2011

6:30 - 9:00pm

Principle Gallery's Affordable Art focuses on 

new original paintings ranging from $300 to $3000. 

Other participating artists include Jorge Alberto, Justin Anderson, Rett Ashby, Jennifer Balkan, Gary Bowers, Bethanne Cople, Valerio d'Ospina, Kevin Fitzgerald, Greg Gandy, Richard Hall, Francis Livingston, Jessie Mackay, Brian Martin, G.C.Myers, Daniel Ochoa, Martin Poole, and Nobuhito Tanaka.

Link to the show:

Affordable Art

Sky Is Falling

12" x 9"

oil on panel

sold

While at one of my favorite flea markets, I came across this little chick sitting by himself on top of a glass case. I scooped him up and bought him. He looked as if he had a tough life, I am sure at times feeling like the sky was falling. To me this image speaks a lot about many things going on in the world,and how we may feel as a result. 

This tin windup toy was made 1950's or earlier, made in Japan, hand-painted. When wound up he pecks at the ground.

The acorn is from a bowl of acorns I gathered with my daughter when she was 4 years old. 

 Hover

12" x 16"

oil on panel

sold

Growing up watching The Jetsons I would dream about their hovering space cars. I still wonder if someday that dream will come true in my lifetime.

The cars in Hover are from the 1930's, made of bakelite.

Principle Gallery

208 King Street, Alexandria, VA

703-739-0528