April Receptions photo blog

The April 11 reception for the Ken Caryl Art Guild's open themed show, Dan Fyles' solo exhibit and the open themed show in the LAC Members' Gallery was well attended. Enjoy the photos.

My Perspective on Drawing

 A work in progress, "Csikos", graphite

They say you don’t really learn something until you have to teach it.  Maybe that’s the case with some things, but I just seem to have a learning block with regard to perspective!  I was asked to teach a basic drawing class for the City of Lakewood Adult Continuing Education Classes, and of course, this would include a lesson on perspective.  Yes, I managed to convey a basic understanding of one-point perspective, scale and proportion.  I even made up plastic picture planes with cross-hairs to help understand foreshortening: representing a three dimensional object on a two dimensional plane, just like the Albrecht Durer contraption shown at the recent Van Gogh exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. But I still don’t quite get the whole perspective thing myself.  I blame it on my dad, a mechanical engineer, and perfectionist, I might add.  He is the critical father figure, who points out my mistakes to be corrected before (if I’m lucky) stating any positive aspects of a work of mine.  And of course, perspective should be painstakingly exact to please an engineer.  Am I still acting like a rebellious teenager by refusing to learn how to render a mechanically correct, architecturally sound illustration?  Maybe so. 

"Santa Fe Boots", graphite.  Hanging in the LAC Gallery

Drawing: The Art of Seeing consisted of eight, two-hour sessions on Monday nights.  Make the classes fun, but educational, and be sure the students complete a project they can take home, the director specified.  So I spent many hours pouring over drawing books (thanks Gene Smith – many were yours and I’m happy to share the knowledge found in those pages), flipping through art magazines for fun exercises and illustrative examples of principles of design.  Not having a formal art education and being primarily self-taught made this research especially rewarding for me.  I devised each class to consist of a fun warm-up exercise (one-minute drawings anyone?) then demonstrate a concept – tone, texture, mark-making, composition etc, show examples of such, then have the students work on a project incorporating that principle.  And you know what – you really do learn something well when you have to teach it.  Just don’t ask me about perspective!

"The Dropped Note", graphite

"Colorado's Best" Now on Exhibit

Last night's reception for the "Colorado's Best" exhibit offered fun with friends, tasty refreshments and of course lots of great art from Colorado artists.

 Fresh spring flowers graced the tables for a spring-like ambiance,

 highlighting the "Spring Holidays" artwork of Lakewood Arts Council members downstairs,

 and Andi Sahlen's artwork on the rental wall,

 while upstairs, folks enjoyed the Colorado's Best exhibit.

So many entries were received that award winning paintings were displayed downstairs in the classroom area.

Katy Haas was unable to attend the reception, but her artwork is an award winner!

 Jim Rothrock

 Susan Gordon                                               Charlie Casper

 Donna Sorensen

Patti Tyler

 Barbara Williams

 Winners were announced and with great big smiles on their faces, accepted their monetary awards.

  The show will run through April 5 -- come on out and see Colorado's Best!

And me (Gail Firmin) upstairs with my watercolor "Poppies for Mother".

Do You Suffer from Exhibit Anxiety?

Many people stop in the LAC Gallery, look longingly at the artwork, and when engaged in conversation, admit that yes, they paint, but are too unsure of themselves to exhibit their artwork, they’re afraid of being rejected from a show, don’t want to pay the expensive fee required, or simply haven’t made the effort.

It really is so simple and rewarding to enter an exhibit at the LAC Gallery.  If you’re one of those artists making excuses not to submit your work, let me convince you to participate in an upcoming show.

First of all, you must be on the LAC’s mailing list in order to receive exhibit flyers.  They are mailed out well in advance of delivery dates, so paintings can be planned around themes.  Just read through and fill out the entry form -- it contains all the information you will need, and mail it or bring it in with the very minimal fee required – it’s usually only $6 or $7 which goes toward keeping the LAC going, and toward prizes if it’s a juried show. 

                                 Colorado's Best Exhibit Flyer

   Note the artwork delivery dates and times, the reception dates and times, and when to pick up unsold works after the show.  At delivery, just pick up your premade label, check for correct info, place it on your painting and leave your art to be hung and juried (if a juried show). 

                             Charlie Casper checks his label for correct information

                Always good news to see when delivering artwork!

        Artist and Juror Jim Pedersen with Best of Show winner.

  That’s it!  You’re now an exhibiting artist, and who knows, you may win a prize from the juror.  For the most popular shows, when more submissions are received than we have space to hang, there will be some rejects, which must be picked up at a specific time – but don’t worry, even professional artists get rejected at times too.  It all depends on what the juror is looking for – and there’s always another show to enter.

     Artwork carefully stacked, arranged and ready to be hung.

 The current show in the loft gallery is Colorado’s Best.  Open to all Colorado residents with no specified theme, all mediums accepted and many prizes given, this is a great one to enter. Although already juried and hung for this year, the reception is Thursday, March 7 from 6:30 to 8 pm. 

     Co-op gallery members work the front desk and have all information about upcoming shows and events. It is difficult to get a straight answer from Charlie Casper though with his silly sense of humor, but you will get a smile!
  
  Come on out to the reception for some refreshments, conversation and great art.  Downstairs in the LAC Members’ Gallery is the Spring Holiday show and on the LAC rental wall is artwork by Andi Sahlen. And while you’re there, ask about upcoming shows and events at the gallery.  In May, there’s the Cat exhibit, which also includes dogs and birds this year.  So get your cat paintings ready (or dogs or birds) and take pride in seeing your artwork on the walls of a gallery!  It’s exciting!

     Katy Haas helping to hang the Spring Holiday show downstairs.

What's Going On?

I stopped in the LAC Art Center today since I was in the area, and I was greeted by Loraine Miller's smiling face at the desk.  Dressed in a bright pink shirt, she complemented the pretty floral artwork hanging on the wall behind her.

 The co-op gallery has been changed out with new selections and judging by the many pieces with bright colors and floral motifs, many of us are looking forward to spring!  Across from the desk is art in a cooler palette of blues and greens, peaceful to gaze at while gallery-sitting.  Kathy Berls always arranges an exhibit so beautifully.

A lot of chatter was going on in the classroom area -- the colored pencil workshop had just finished.  Workshop instructors Heidi Snyder and Dorothy DePaulo were talking with some of the participants.  Their workshops are always very popular.

                                                                                               

Being hung in the classroom area is art by the co-op members and it is priced-to-go.  Deep discounts make these very affordable.
 And upstairs is the art-supply sale--lots of brushes, paper, frames, artwork and paints to be had for a donation. Also, new this year -- a recycled clothing boutique.

There's always something new at the LAC Art Center.  Stop in for some good buys, a chat with a fellow artist, and see what's going on!