Succulence, Too! A Painting So Three Dimensional It Casts its Own Shadow on Itself!

Succulence, Too! 30x30 acrylic ©Sandi Whetzel

Succulence, Too! 30x30 Acrylic
Originally uploaded by sandiwhetzel
Succulence, Too! is the companion to an earlier painting, Succulence! in which I really went three dimensional with one leaf that actually physically extended outward from the canvas.  I really got carried away with this sequel. The two lower leaves actually come out of the canvas and fold up to themselves as they near their tips. The biggest leaf in the center actually folds down and dangles free of the canvas, casting its own real shadow below it on the painting.

First I poured the shape of the three dimensional leaves with a co-opolymer pour on a sheet of glass.  After the poured leaves dried on the glass sheet I  pulled them off the glass and glued them to the canvas, shaping them into the folding positions.  I allowed the end of the leaf in the center to dangle free from the canvas. Then I applied molding paste texture with a palette knife to a number of the leaves. The glazes of color came last. The two large three dimensional folding leaves near the bottom cast their own real shadows on the leaves at the very base of the plant. This delectable succulent outdoes its predecessor in succulence!

SUCCULENCE! : Fantasy Blends with Reality: ACRYLIC PAINTINGS OF INTIMATE SUCCULENTS BY SANDI WHETZEL, CONTEMPORARY FINE ARTIST, FEATURED AT DIVA

SUCCULENCE! Fantasy Blends with Reality in intimate views of succulents by acrylic contemporary fine artist, Sandi Whetzel, this July at DIVA, the Eugene, OR Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts in the Membership Gallery, one of six galleries at DIVA.

This lively collection of acrylic paintings celebrates luscious, stimulating colors, graceful lines, textures and intriguing motifs inspired by the artist's fascination with organic shapes in the world of succulents. Her art embraces and explores the nuances in shapes, patterns and color drawn from the plant world. Seventeen intimately cropped succulents are generously spaced along six white walls of the space devoted to Sandi's exhibit and two succulent paintings are mounted in the lobby entrance to DIVA. Many of her paintings in this exhibit feature very tactile textures and a couple of them are quite 3-dimensional. All nineteen paintings have brilliant chromas and graceful curvy lines in common.

Whetzel makes her home in Days Creek, Oregon in the southern part of the state. For the past twelve years she has been instructing Community Education art classes for Umpqua College in Roseburg, OR. Recently she has exhibited twice at the Coos Art museum in Coos Bay, the 2009 Inaugural National Art Exhibit in Gold Beach, OR, the Jacobs Gallery at the Eugene Hult Center in 2008 and solo exhibits at the Umpqua Valley Arts Association in Roseburg over the last few years.

Whetzel's painting design, Wine on the Vine II, won DIVA's Art Pour Favor competition for the Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 wine label gracing a special bottling of the wine for DIVA fundraisers in 2009. The Oregon Glide Wildflower Society selected her image of the Oregon Grape to promote the premiere Wildflower Show held in April 2009. Sandi is best known for her use of vibrant color and graceful shapes inspired from the plant world as well as her signature pieces to promote the wine industry in Oregon.

The opening reception for Sandi's exhibit at DIVA, 110 W Broadway, is Friday, July 3, 2009 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The event is a part of Eugene's First Friday Artwalk. Typically, the first Friday of each month is devoted to the "First Friday ArtWalk" in downtown Eugene. The public is invited to tour several art galleries, see diverse art and enjoy meeting the artists and community leaders at the receptions as they stroll the comfortable distance between art exhibits. For more information regarding the details of the featured stops of the First Friday ArtWalk, hosted by Jeff Geiger, the Artistic Director of NO Shame Theatre of Eugene, click here .

Whetzel's Succulence! Fantasy Blends with Reality solo art exhibit is on display at DIVA from July 3 through August 1st, 2009. Regular gallery hours at DIVA are Tuesdays through Saturdays from noon to 6 pm. For more information about DIVA click here

Sandi Whetzel's Art Accepted in National Art Exhibit: 2009 Inaugural National Juried Exhibition of Art

Two of my acrylic paintings, Succulence! and Wine on the Vine III, were juried in to the 2009 Inaugural National Exhibit of Art at the GoldRush Center in Gold Beach, on the Oregon coast. The judge was internationally renowned watercolor artist and instructor, Sterling Edwards. He selected the art of 54 artists to be included in the exhibit and competition. Being accepted into art exhibitions locally and especially those open to national participation is cause for celebration. While my art did not win any of the awards presented, it was an honor to be selected to participate. To my knowledge I and one other artist were the only artists representing Douglas County. Other areas of Oregon were represented as well as other states across the nation.

The Gold Rush Center is Southern Oregon's largest art Gallery and hosts many events, including art shows, educational events, and community gatherings. The exhibit opened May 1st. I attended the opening reception held that evening and the awards ceremony May 2nd. The collection of art was impressive. The art will be on display through June 5, 2009 at the GoldRush Center, 29692 Ellensburg, Avenue in Gold Beach, Oregon. Gallery hours are Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm and Saturday - Sunday 9am - 5pm.

Succulence! A Painting That Reaches Out to Be Touched

Succulence! 30x30 acrylic ©Sandi Whetzel

Succulence! 30x30 Acrylic
Originally uploaded by sandiwhetzel
This is the most recent addition to my succulent series. This acrylic painting has an added element of three-dimensional texture that literally reaches out to be touched. Near the center right of the painting the succulent leaf is actually physically bent and extends outward from the two dimensional surface of the painting. Yes, if you closely examine the photo, you can see the real shadow that is being cast from the outward bent leaf.

I accomplished this third dimension by first pouring a co-polymer shape of the leaf in its flattened dimension onto glass. When it dried into a plastic-like shape, I peeled it off the glass and glued it to the canvas, leaving the right edge free to bend forward. Then I glued the bottom leaf edge to itself in the folded position. I applied molding paste with a palette knife to it and several other leaves.

The central leaf in the middle of the plant was built up in its rod-like shape with mounds of molding paste that was sculpted with a palette knife. This is the first time I've tried anything quite so three-dimensional. The painting measures 30 inches by 30 inches. Its vibrant chromas, impressive size and dimensional qualities called for an in your face title. It is a succulent after all, and Succulence not only means juicy but highly interesting or enjoyable, delectable, luscious. I hope the painting lives up to its title. 
Succulence! 30X30 Acrylic

This is the most recent addition to my succulent series. This acrylic painting has an added element of three-dimensional texture that literally reaches out to be touched. Near the center right of the painting the succulent leaf is actually physically bent and extends outward from the two dimensional surface of the painting. Yes, if you closely examine the photo, you can see the real shadow that is being cast from the outward bent leaf.

I accomplished this third dimension by first pouring a co-polymer shape of the leaf in its flattened dimension onto glass. When it dried into a plastic-like shape, I peeled it off the glass and glued it to the canvas, leaving the right edge free to bend forward. Then I glued the bottom leaf edge to itself in the folded position. I applied molding paste with a palette knife to it and several other leaves.

The central leaf in the middle of the plant was built up in its rod-like shape with mounds of molding paste that was sculpted with a palette knife. This is the first time I've tried anything quite so three-dimensional. The painting measures 30 inches by 30 inches. Its vibrant chromas, impressive size and dimensional qualities called for an in your face title. It is a succulent after all, and Succulence not only means juicy but highly interesting or enjoyable, delectable, luscious. I hope the painting lives up to its title.