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.

ALTERNATIVE ART VENUES: 3RD FRIDAY MEDFORD ART WALK, AUG 19, 2011

"...and Let There Be Wine!" 30x24 acrylic ©Sandi Whetzel

A balmy summer evening in Medord, OR and there's plenty to do. From 5-8 pm you can wander through dozens of venues participating in this month's 3rd Friday Art Walk, August 19. Numerous businesses up and down Main Street and surrounding areas of historic downtown Medford stay open to participate in the 3rd Friday Art Walks each month. The locations are approximately within a six block radius of one another. In addition to the art displays, there are always musicians, dining and shopping available.

Many forward-thinking artists are stepping outside the box to put their art physically in front of people's eyes. They want to give their audience the opportunity to get up close and personal with the art; to see it, touch it and have opportunity to interact with the artist. That is not always possible in a traditional gallery situation. Regularly scheduled monthly art walks hosted by city businesses are a good alternative. The events draw onlookers to the downtown area one evening each month to experience dining, music and shopping at the businesses, as well as experience great art. It's a win for attendees, businesses and the artists.

This month a contemporary artist from Douglas County, Sandi Whetzel, of Days Creek, Oregon will exhibit under one of the10'x20' tents placed in Vogel Plaza, a spacious park-like setting at the corner of Main and Central and next to the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater. Each of Whetzel's acrylic paintings have curvaceous, fluid movement in common. Some of the pieces are fanciful, while others suggest elegant, sensuous qualities. The radiant chroma, stimulating motifs and rhythmic movements throughout Sandi's art works are sure to tickle your senses.

Whetzel is also known for her signature paintings to promote Oregon wine industry events. This month Sandi will introduce Medford to her stunning acrylic wine series originals, high quality reproductions, art magnets, greeting card art and exclusive art inspired wine-theme apparel for men and women. Wine enthusiasts are in for a memorable experience because Sandi's art stands out. Her colors will grab viewers and her content is unforgettable.

Recently Whetzel has shown her art at nearby Ashland, Main Street venues. She currently has art at Ashland's new LOVE Revolution boutique and gift gallery. Some of her wine series will exhibit at Liquid Assets Wine Bar in Ashland mid-September through mid-November and at Ashland's Pangea Restaurant next Spring. You can see more of Whetzel's art here or view a slideshow of her art here.
  

Although Medford is an hour and a half drive from her home, Sandi Whetzel is anxious to share her art with Medford during the 3rd Friday Art Walk August 19th.

A few years ago a small group of dedicated artists and downtown business owners launched Medford's 3rd Friday Art Walk to help draw more patronage to the downtown art scene. Their vision was to create an event which would revitalize downtown Medford into a vibrant, prosperous place by bringing culture, art and more commerce to Main Street. The hopes and aspirations of these merchants and artisans has grown into a monthly event which has transformed downtown Medford into a walkable art gallery featuring art from many different spectrums, such as paintings, sculpture and performing artists.

Downtown Medford's 3rd Fridays are a production of the Heart of Medford business association and the Arts Council of Southern Oregon. The Art Walks are sponsored by Premiere West Bank, US Bank, Lithia Motors, Old Town Medford and Southern Oregon University. The mainstay of art in Medford is the Rogue Art Gallery which is always open during the Art Walks, plus there are occasional shows at the Higher Education Center just across the street. An additional venue for art will debut in the buillding that housed the former Neoglassic studio, on Middleford Alley this month. In the Middleford space these artists will display:

Cauker, acrylics and watercolors, Chris Licata, mixed media paintings, and prints and Peter Van Fleet, wood assemblage w/ paint and other materials.  In addition to Whetzel's art in the Vogel Plaza, will be art by Linda Evans, oils and pastels; Children's Advocacy Center paintings, ceramic, sketches and music by G.R. Nelson.  Come see what Medford has in store for you in your stroll through the 3rd Friday Art Walk August 19 from 5-8 pm.

Coos Art Museum opens its galleries to new works by artists from Oregon: The CAM BIENNIAL and the People's Choice Award, October 10-December 6, 2008

I am happy to announce that I have three acrylic paintings on display at the Coos Art Museum in Coos Bay, OR as part of the CAM BIENNIAL: The Art of Oregon. Continuing the tradition of supporting contemporary Oregon artists, Coos Art Museum opens its galleries to new works by artists from around the state. The CAM Biennial provides Oregon artists an opportunity to exhibit their work within an art museum setting without the extensive jurying process. The artworks exhibited in the CAM Biennial range from paintings to photography, ceramics to glass, textiles to metals and more. Galleries will be covered from floor-to-ceiling with participants’ works, professional and amateur hung side-by-side. CAM Biennial 2008 will be displayed throughout all five of Coos Art Museum's Galleries from October 10 through December 6, 2008. Come to CAM and see The Art of Oregon.

Voting for a People's Choice Selection will be conducted by Museum visitors during the entire run of the exhibition through the closing at 4:00 pm on Saturday, December 6, 2008. The winner will be given a solo exhibition at CAM in 2009!

Two of my wine series, Wine on the Vine II and Wine on the Vine III are displayed on the wall facing the entrance to the main gallery and one of my succulents, Tequila Sunrise, is hanging in one of the two galleries upstairs. I don't happen to have any friends or family living near Coos Bay to cast votes for any of my paintings but I am hoping that enough visitors will vote for my red orange Wine on the Vine II painting. This surrealistic painting was conceived and executed entirely from my imagination. It is defined as surrealistic in that it involves the combination of images that would not normally be found together, as if in a dream. I'd say it's only slightly surrealistic because it's not too far from reality. The images of grapes growing inside wine bottles suspended from grape vines aren't normal but I think I've portrayed them in an almost believable fashion. The painting and it's predecessor, the original Wine on the Vine, have drawn a lot of favorable attention. You can preview this painting by clicking on my wine series of paintings.

It would be great to win the solo exhibit at the CAM in 2009! If any readers plan to visit the Coos Bay, OR area between Oct. 10 and December 6, 2008, I highly recommend checking out the artists of Oregon at the CAM and please vote for your favorite painting. The museum is located at 235 Anderson in Coos Bay, OR. Museum hours are Tues.-Fri., 10 am - 4 pm. Sat. 1 pm-4 pm. Closed Sun., Mon. & holidays. Group tours available upon request.

Sandi Whetzel's Art Displayed at Upcoming Exhibit at the Hult Center in Eugene, OR, 7/18 to 8/23/2008

I'm pleased to announce that I will be one of 17 artists to display several paintings in the Jacobs Gallery at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, One Eugene Center, Eugene, OR 97401 from July 18 - August 23, 2008. The opening reception is Friday, July 18, from 5:30-8:30 pm. The title of the exhibit is "An Oregon Crafted Sampler".

Also, earlier in the day of the opening reception from 3:30-4:30 pm there will be an informal gathering of some of the artists to meet the public to speak about their art and answer questions. Please join me for the Artists Insights Talk. It will be an opportunity for you to learn more about our art.

I will be displaying several of my succulent series of paintings. Two of them are just finished and haven't been displayed anywhere else. I love playing up the vibrant colors and unique shapes of succulents and doing some fun stuff with textures on them. I am really excited about and proud of this series of succulent delights.

The Lane County Chapter of Oregon Crafted members was instrumental in making this exhibit happen at the Jacobs Gallery. A number of Lane County Oregon Crafted members submitted to the jury process for acceptance into the show. Then the Lane County Chapter invited members of the Douglas County Chapter of Oregon Crafted to submit to the jurying process for the exhibit. To my knowledge, only three of the seventeen artists accepted into the exhibit are from the Douglas County Chapter. I feel very fortunate and excited about being a part of this event.

You may be wondering what is Oregon Crafted? Oregon Crafted is a project designed with one over-riding principle: to promote stability and prosperity among Oregon's artists, handcrafters and related businesses. Soon after the Lane County Chapter formed, the Umpqua Valley Chapter formed.

Both chapters have produced an Oregon Crafted guidebook for their respective counties. The books are self-guided tours to art studios, galleries and points of interest within their county. The Oregon Council for Business Education has worked in partnership with Umpqua Valley Arts Association in the production of the Oregon Crafted guidebook for Douglas County. Yes, I am listed in the Douglas County Oregon Crafted Guidebook. If you would like a copy of that guidebook to aid you in your explorations of the studios of participating artists, contact me with an email addressed to artist1atfrontiernetdotnet and I will get a copy to you.

I hope you will check out the exhibit. I'd love to meet you at the Artists' Insights Talk from 3:30-4:30 July 18, and/or the opening reception that evening from 5:30-8:30. If you can't make it that day, the exhibit runs through August 23, 2008. The gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday, 12-4 pm, Saturday 11 am - 3 pm, and one hour before and during all Hult Center performances.

Earth, Wind, Fire: A Painting to Stimulate your Senses

Earth, Wind, Fire 24x30 Acrylic
Originally uploaded by sandiwhetzel

I am happy to report that this painting is hanging in the Coos Art Museum at present from April 26, 2008 through July 5, 2008 as part of the Expressions West 2008 Exhibit in Coos Bay, Oregon. Over 200 artists from the thirteen states of the western United States, including Alaska and Hawaii submitted over 400 painting images to be juried by Gary Faigin, the juror for the exhibit. Faigin is the Artistic Director and co-founder of Gage Academy of Art in Seattle. He is the monthly art critic on Seattle’s NPR station, KUOW. A retrospective of his paintings was presented at the Frye Art Museum in Seattle in July and August of 2001. Faigin selected 65 paintings by 60 artists to be included in the exhibit. I was very glad to be among the artists accepted into the show. You can tour the entire exhibit by visiting this link: http://www.coosart.org/expressions/expressions_entries_index2008.html

The inspiration for this painting came from a photo of a very washed out, almost entirely pale green wooded scene on flat ground. Because I admire the grandeur of gracefully leaning trees, I could see the opportunity to exaggerate the curves and colors and invent the curvy patterns in the barks to create my vision of a dramatic early evening scene. In a thumbnail sketch I arranged the trees and branches with exaggerated leaning curves and anchored them into rolling banks of earth. Then I decided to add the flaming sunset. The whole painting is about wondrous curves, luscious colors and movement; a painting to stimulate your senses. When I was done painting, the rolling earth, fiery sky and leaning trees said "Earth, Wind, Fire" to me.