Visual Artist Studio Tour: Alley Art Style

Artists in Action sponsored their 17th annual Visual Artist Studio Tour (VAST) over two weekends: September 15-16 for Salem and September 22-23 in Silverton. Since Alley Art Studio is in Salem, that's when I participated. The weather was perfect and I was set up and ready to receive visitors by the 10:00 start time.

I offered treats and used the opportunity to hold a studio sale.

 

 

 I shared a few pieces in process . . . .

. . . . and a brand new piece.

I had a steady stream of visitors new to the studio, several who came back after visiting last year, and lots of friends stopped by, too.

Deepen

Last week the Portland Art Collective held a special luncheon to honor the passing of a tradition: Our group will no longer be hosting the annual Open Doors Art Show and Sale. You can read about the changes in store for our art group by clicking here. As for the luncheon, it was held at Maggie's beautiful historic mansion in NE Portland. It is always a treat to hang out in her lovely home.

Before we ate, a special art journal project was planned for us and we got to play for just a little bit.

We had lovely food and a champagne/sparkling water toast to honor this time of transition for our group.

It was a beautiful day and we dined outside.

Finally, the party planners had each of us take a bird with a word on it.

The word I chose was deepen.

Alley Art Studio: The Beginning

My art trajectory actually began with a single bowling pin. I was taking a 12-week Artist's Way Creative Cluster with Gretchin Lair through Scarlet Star Studios in 2005 (It's where I got my start in offering my own version of Artist's Way Creative Clusters). Gretchin had all of us do a final art project, our Omega Project, and I chose to collage on a bowling pin; I honestly don't know where I got that particular random idea. I had gone to New York during the 12-week session, so I tore up my subway map as the base, then added an iconic yellow cab. That simple project got my mind spinning (well, so did the 12 weeks of studying the Artist's Way under Gretchin's brilliant tutelage) and I decided I would make bowling pins to sell. My husband was bowling at the time and I asked him to get me some pins. He brought home about 20 boxes of ten pins per box. That's a lot of pins!I started creating bowling pin art -- every subject matter I could think of - gardening, poker, diva, well, you get the idea because the possibilities are endless. I did commissioned work where I created pins based on people's hobbies and interests. I sold them at the Salem Saturday Market, got juried into the Silverton Fine Arts Festival, and did a couple of holiday shows. We were living on an alley at the time I started my business, Alley Art Studio, then eventually I got my own little studio, which also happens to be on an alley. My art evolved and I moved away from creating bowling pin art. Over the last few years I've sold some from my inventory and given some away, ending up with a few remaining boxes. With the Visual Artist Studio Tour this weekend (I'm on the tour), I thought it was time to dig out the pins and sell them - cheap. These are some of the embellished pins I have left; I also have several that have handmade paper on them, but no embellishments - waiting for YOU to add your personal touch).

I've kept just two pins. The New York one above and one other than still makes me smile: Chi Chi.

My husband has also kept one that is in his office.

Gallery Sitting 101

I experienced my first day of gallery sitting on Monday at Lunaria Gallery, the artist cooperative that I am now a full-fledged member of. The day begins with a glamorous bit of housekeeping.

And choosing music for the day.

Excited about my space.

I sold a big piece of art in the first week, so I needed to replace the empty area with a new piece.

In between customers I photographed the gallery.

It is such a lovely gallery. If you've never been in before, I hope you'll stop in for a visit.

New Space at Lunaria Gallery . . . and New Show

MY OWN SPACE IN THE GALLERY

I became a full-fledged member of Lunaria Gallery this month after being a guest artist in August. Once my show came down from the special exhibit area upstairs, I was given my own space on the main floor. It was pretty exciting to walk into Lunaria on Friday night and see my space for the first time.

GROUP SHOW: LAY OF THE LAND

In addition to having my own permanent space on the first floor (well, always a space, but the Hanging Committee is constantly moving the artist's spaces around to keep it interesting), I have the opportunity to participate in group shows. For September, there is a group landscape show, Lay of the Land. I love landscapes, albeit abstract landscapes. I submitted five pieces and all five were used! A big, a medium, and three littles.