KALEIDOSCOPIC EXHIBIT, Intimate Views of Foliage: Romancing the Curves--Seven Feathers Convention Center, 10/15/11

"Kaleidoscope" 30x24 acrylic ©Sandi Whetzel

A seductive flirtation with captivating, curvaceous shapes and vibrant color sparks my passion for creating contemporary acrylic paintings. I embrace the nuances in forms, color and patterns drawn from the plant world.

My fascination with engaging designs in nature entices me to play with the subjects in preliminary thumbnail sketches to enhance their formation. Part of the seduction is discovering how to integrate the figures and emphasize their tantalizing contours. The decision of where to crop the images makes them intimate with the edges of the canvas. The resulting spaces surrounding the objects become intriguing configurations in the design. I toy with the elements until I've coaxed them into a pleasing arrangement of energy and rhythm that accentuates their distinctive qualities.

My excitement builds as I brush the concept on canvas, anticipating how exquisitely the objects can be embellished with luscious color, sculptural brush strokes and tangible textures. My hand and the pigment-loaded brush become graceful dancing partners, tracing the silhouettes to reveal their structure on canvas.

I savor the freedom and the challenge of going beyond merely reproducing images; to paint them as I choose to visualize them. I hope to achieve an animated, sensuous or playful quality with the graceful motifs that are a recurrent theme in my art. When things are going well, the brush strokes express flourish and a sculpted, carved quality, softness or energy; whatever is needed to convey the character and emotional energy of the structures. Viewers are escorted through the paintings; impregnated with the emotions the configurations and colors convey. I consider my work to be most successful when people express how my paintings make them feel.

I hope the celebration and interplay of forms, patterns and colors in my art provides joy, inspiration and sanctuary to individuals during stressful times of their lives. I create because it gives me pleasure to discover and embellish beauty in nature. I delight in having some degree of control in this one aspect of my life where I can see and render subjects as I choose to visualize them.

You can see Sandi Whetzel's upcoming exhibit, KALEIDOSCOPE, thirteen intimate views of foliage, during the South Douglas County Festival of Arts, Saturday, October 15, 2011. This one day festival will be at Seven Feathers Casino Resort Convention Center in Canyonville, OR. Admission is free and the hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The festival features Douglas County's finest painters, jewelry designers, potters, artisans and live music.

Sandi is very excited about showing this body of work because she rarely gets to share her flora genre. Whetzel is also known for her popular wine images that have promoted the wine industry in Oregon. The popularity of her wine series preoccupies available booth space at most of her exhibition opportunities. In addition to the floras, Sandi will also display reproductions of her popular wine series and her classy wine inspired apparel for men and women.

Currently Whetzel's wine series is hanging at Liquid Assets Wine Bar, 96 North Main, in Ashland, Oregon through November 11th. First Friday Art Walks at that venue are from 5-7 pm, October 4 and November 7th. To see more of Sandi's art, click here.

Artist, Sandi Whetzel Featured at SUVA Gallery: Gala Grand Opening Celebration in Canyonville, OR, March 5, 2010

Earth, Wind, Fire 30x24 acrylic ©Sandi Whetzel

SUVA Gallery, (South Umpqua Valley Arts) is the new tourist attraction located in downtown Canyonville, Oregon at 525 Main Street.  The First Friday Artist Reception and Grand Opening Celebration of SUVA Gallery is Friday evening, March 5, 2010, from 5-8 pm at the SUVA Gallery.  Refreshments, Hors d'oeuvres and  live jazz music will be served  against the backdrop of amazing art by some of the area's local artisans.  This is a great opportunity to take in the art and meet the artists, while celebrating  the opening of the gallery.   SUVA Gallery's normal business hours are 10 am-5:30 pm, Tuesdays -  Saturdays. For information, call 541-839-4282.

The Bead Mecca, next door to SUVA Gallery, will also be open the night of SUVA's opening and is having a 25% off sale.  Bead Mecca is a retail Bead Store committed to providing quality beads and beading supplies with superior customer service.  They offer a creative and supportive environment for learning the art of beading and jewelry making with free tutorials and beading tips. You can visit Bead Mecca's website here . That makes two storefronts brimming with creativity and curiosity, side by side on Main Street, Canyonville.

A number of artists are represented in SUVA Gallery.  Among them is Sandi Whetzel of Days Creek, just 10 minutes from the gallery.  As you walk into the gallery, Whetzel's vividly colored abstract works nearly pop off the wall opposite the entry door.  Her current exhibit is in keeping with the focus of the gallery: contemporary craft that makes you feel good--Colorful, whimsical and nature inspired.  Her current exhibit is all of that and more.  Anchoring her graceful, playful abstract series of dancing trees is a a larger painting of a curvaceous trio of trees swaying in the wind; rooted in a brilliantly colored swell of earth and silhouetted against a scarlet blazing sunset. It lives up to its title, Earth, Wind, Fire.  It is a painting that stimulates your senses.

Sandi is excited to be involved with SUVA Gallery which is practically in her back yard.  She will be hosting the gallery on the first Saturday of each month as her schedule permits in between other exhibitions.  "I always enjoy meeting the art viewers, getting their feedback about my work and answering any questions they have.  This will be a unique opportunity to meet new people and be involved with the sales process in a completely different venue.  How many artists get to be part of the gallery experience?  I hope to learn a lot in the process," Whetzel stated.  "It is exciting to think that Canyonville may become an even more popular hub of tourism.  Canyonville needs a gallery to entertain visitors from Seven Feathers Casino and RV Resorts that border our town and to contribute to the culture of our community.  This is a great opportunity to help Canyonville prosper, " Sandi continues.

Canyonville is a small historic town in Oregon, located 98 miles North of the California border and 25 miles South of Roseburg on the I-5 Corridor  With easy access off and on the freeway, Canyonville is the perfect stopping point for travelers.  Stroll down Main Street through the historic and picturesque downtown and shop for antiques and gifts, or visit Pioneer Park.  The quaint 4 block downtown has a nice mix of retail and service businesses, including a Post Office, Bank and restaurants.  Canyonville is a pedestrian and bicycle friendly community.  The charming city is also home to Seven Feathers Casino and RV Resort.  Seven Feathers is a luxurious resort, Indian casino and versatile conference center.  The RV Resort offers a quiet and pristine setting for RV guests, located in Southern Oregon's beautiful "Land of the Umpqua".