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.

This year as every year, The Glide Wildflower Show held a competition to determine which artist would create the image for the 2009 poster to promote their annual event. Since Oregon will be celebrating 150 years of statehood this year, they wanted the poster to feature the Oregon Grape, (Berberis aquifolium), Oregon's State Flower which grows in the wild. I was happy to take up the challenge and pleased when they chose my art image to illustrate their 2009 poster.

As in all my work I was not content to merely reproduce an image of the subject. I wanted to give these small yellow budding blooms the recognition they deserve; poised alongside their holly-shaped leaves, which sport more than just shades of green at different types of the year in different weather conditions. After becoming familiar with the plant's anatomy, I took pleasure in designing the image of the young clustering buds beginning to open on a grander scale than reality. Many of us never experience an intimate view of smaller blossoms to truly appreciate their intricate beauty. Normally, these buds and blooms just appear as masses of yellow; too small to be noticed individually.

The Glide Wildflower Show was founded in 1965, with a mission to promote appreciation, education and conservation of our native flora. Not only is it the largest and oldest such event in the Pacific Northwest, it has also been responsible for an enormous amount of research and documentation of species, habitat change and preservation of rare and endangered plants. Each spring since 1965, thousands of nature lovers have visited Glide, Oregon to see hundreds of native wildflowers on display. Botanical experts answer questions and give informative talks.

Posters bearing my rendition of the Oregon Grape have been on display throughout Douglas County for the last several weeks. The Glide Wildflower Show will be held at 20062 N Umpqua Hwy, Glide, OR this weekend, April 25 & 26, from 9-5pm. Photographers are welcome to photograph any of the plant species. The original painting of my Oregon Grape will be on dispaly during the Wildflower Show and also during the Summer Arts Festival the last weekend of June.

Other related events in the area this weekend are the Botanical Art display by my artist friend, Judy Waller at Roseburg's Umpqua Valley Arts Association and the 9th Annual Douglas County Earth Day & Energy Fair held at the fairgrounds, April 25th.

Recently DIVA, Downtown Initiative for Visual Arts in Eugene, OR, issued a call for artists to design a wine label for their first juried Art Pour Favor wine label competition. I thought one of my acrylic wine paintings just might be a good fit. Boy was I was excited when I learned that my Wine on the Vine II won the competition for the Cabernet Sauvignon label. It captures the essence of a sun drenched vineyard with engaging shapes of vines and bottled grapes.

My winning label appears on a special bottling of a 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon wine from the Desert Wind Winery in Washington's Yakima Valley. The wine is being featured at the DIVA Center's receptions and fund raising events in 2009. I and the winner of the Pinot Gris label were honored during a wine bottling party at the RainsSong Winery in Cheshire, OR, Feb 14th.

This is the second time my Wine on the Vine II painting has received reccgnition. It was favorably reviewed in Coos Bay's The World while the painting was exhibited at the Coos Art Museum in October 2008. Nor is this the first time my art has been used to promote the wine industry. My Uplifting Spirits painting was the promotion poster for the 2006 Greatest of the Grape and my first Wine on the Vine in shades of blue promoted the 2005 Umpqua Valley Art and Wine Festival. My appreciation for wine is growing.

succulencewithshadow
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.

through the eyes
Originally uploaded by sandiwhetzel

I enjoy the challenge of conceiveing concepts for paintings to fit themes imposed by various organizations looking for artistic pieces to promote their events. The process of inventing an image to illustrate the themes forces me to use my imagination and creativity to envision paintings that would not otherwise occur to me to paint. Some very successful paintings have come about by accepting these challenges. Whether or not mine are chosen to promote the events, I get a great satisfaction from dreaming up the concepts for the paintings and their execution. This Through the Eyes of a Child painting was my concept to fit the theme of "A Feast for the Eyes" for the Umpqua Valley Arts Association Annual Summer Arts Festival to be held in Roseburg, OR the last weekend of June 2009. Although it was not selected to promote the festival, I did enjoy dreaming up the concept and doing the painting. I feel it successfully conveys the wonder of seeing through the eyes of a child.

The third Winery Trail Artisans Sale will be held Nov 28-29, 2008, 10am-6 pm along the Umpqua Valley Wine Trail at the Melrose Grange on Melrose Road, Roseburg, OR. This is a juried event featuring mostly useable and wearable handcrafted creations by local artisans presented in boutique fashion. In addition to Sunstone goddesS jewelry, Alpaca knitwear, handwoven scarves and shawls, handmade soaps and lotions, upscale pottery, handwoven baskets, vintage obi handbags and more, Sandi Whetzel's art will be offered for sale. For further information please contact Sunstone GoddesS jewelry at www.sunstonebeadandarts@yahoo.com .

This event is held in conjunction with the Thanksgiving Open House at Umpqua Valley Wineries, Melrose Vineyards and Abacela Winery from 11 am - 5 pm November 28-30, 2008. For information contact: http://www.melrosevineyards.com/ , http://www.abacela.com/ and http://www.umpquavalleywineries.org/ . The boutique is conveniently located between Melrose Winery and Hillcrest Vineyard at the Melrose Grange, 3711 Melrose Road in Roseburg, Oregon.

I was so excited to be invited to participate in this holiday kickoff event. Three of my smaller paintings will be featured, Grape de Chine, a painting that resembles a stained glass rendition of a cluster of grapes, Lady in Red, an enchanting hosta painting and my newest creation, Sunstone Goddess, a metallic acrylic painting of a succulent with texture that resembles stone or metal. Since most of the items for sale are of a wearable or useable nature, I was so pleased to be invited to offer my jewelry for walls paintings. It promises to be an artful event featuring the work of multi-talented local artisans.

The third Winery Trail Artisans Sale will be held Nov 28-29, 2008, 10am-6 pm along the Umpqua Valley Wine Trail at the Melrose Grange on Melrose Road, Roseburg, OR. This is a juried event featuring mostly useable and wearable handcrafted creations by local artisans presented in boutique fashion. In addition to Sunstone goddesS jewelry, Alpaca knitwear, handwoven scarves and shawls, handmade soaps and lotions, upscale pottery, handwoven baskets, vintage obi handbags and more, Sandi Whetzel's art will be offered for sale. For further information please contact Sunstone GoddesS jewelry at www.sunstonebeadandarts@yahoo.com .

This event is held in conjunction with the Thanksgiving Open House at Umpqua Valley Wineries, Melrose Vineyards and Abacela Winery from 11 am - 5 pm November 28-30, 2008. For information contact: http://www.melrosevineyards.com/ , http://www.abacela.com/ and http://www.umpquavalleywineries.org/ . The boutique is conveniently located between Melrose Winery and Hillcrest Vineyard at the Melrose Grange, 3711 Melrose Road in Roseburg, Oregon.

I was so excited to be invited to participate in this holiday kickoff event. Three of my smaller paintings will be featured, Grape de Chine, a painting that resembles a stained glass rendition of a cluster of grapes, Lady in Red, an enchanting hosta painting and my newest creation, Sunstone Goddess, a metallic acrylic painting of a succulent with texture that resembles stone or metal. Since most of the items for sale are of a wearable or useable nature, I was so pleased to be invited to offer my jewelry for walls paintings. It promises to be an artful event featuring the work of multi-talented local artisans.

I'm so delighted to report that my art at the Coos Art Museum, CAM Biennial, has received a very favorable review in the Friday, Oct. 31st edition of The World, Coos Bay, Oregon's local newspaper. From 323 art entries/reasons to vote for the People's Choice, Teri Albert, columnist for the newspaper described two of three of my works displayed at the CAM Biennial:

"Brilliant hues and a light touch with her subject bring Sandi Whetzel’s Wine on the Vine paintings to a place near the top of my list. She combines acrylic with a co-polymer pour to fashion transparent, glass-like textures on her paintings. The fiery palette of Wine on the Vine II fairly pops from the museum wall, while Wine on the Vine III sports a cascade of plump grapes, tumbling into a beautifully rendered goblet. No wonder that Whetzel’s work has been used to promote the wine industry of the Umpqua Valley. To this imaginative artist I say, cheers!"

And on top of that, one of my wine paintings, Wine on the Vine III, I think, is also pictured in the actual newspaper, I'm told. I'm getting my hands on that newspaper issue ASAP. I was mildly hopeful about winning the People's Choice Award before this, but now I'm really hopeful.

Teri started her review by piquing readers' interest in voting for their favorite art works to determine which lucky favorited artist will receive a SOLO EXHIBIT at the CAM in 2009. She also commented on the work of two other artists. You can read all of Teri's reviews of the CAM Biennial at: http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2008/11/01/entertainment/doc490a3a355ca7c507300424.txt

I'm so delighted to report that my art at the Coos Art Museum, CAM Biennial, has received a very favorable review in the Friday, Oct. 31st edition of The World, Coos Bay, Oregon's local newspaper. From 323 art entries/reasons to vote for the People's Choice, Teri Albert, columnist for the newspaper described two of three of my works displayed at the CAM Biennial:

"Brilliant hues and a light touch with her subject bring Sandi Whetzel’s Wine on the Vine paintings to a place near the top of my list. She combines acrylic with a co-polymer pour to fashion transparent, glass-like textures on her paintings. The fiery palette of Wine on the Vine II fairly pops from the museum wall, while Wine on the Vine III sports a cascade of plump grapes, tumbling into a beautifully rendered goblet. No wonder that Whetzel’s work has been used to promote the wine industry of the Umpqua Valley. To this imaginative artist I say, cheers!"

And on top of that, one of my wine paintings, Wine on the Vine III, I think, is also pictured in the actual newspaper, I'm told. I'm getting my hands on that newspaper issue ASAP. I was mildly hopeful about winning the People's Choice Award before this, but now I'm really hopeful.

Teri started her review by piquing readers' interest in voting for their favorite art works to determine which lucky favorited artist will receive a SOLO EXHIBIT at the CAM in 2009. She also commented on the work of two other artists. You can read all of Teri's reviews of the CAM Biennial at: http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2008/11/01/entertainment/doc490a3a355ca7c507300424.txt

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 BIENNAL: 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. Cosed Sun., Mon. & holidays. Group tours available upon request.

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 BIENNAL: 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. Cosed Sun., Mon. & holidays. Group tours available upon request.

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.

I had vowed never again to display my art at the local art festival. It was just too much work without a booth buddy to share the responsibility. But when the members of Umqua River Gallery Dot COM decided to display as a group at the Roseburg Umpqua Valley Arts Festival, I decided to get on the band wagon. And I am glad I did. The whole thing took place this last weekend, June 27th-29th in a big way.

Umpqua River Gallery dot COM is comprised of 14 local artists of Douglas County who are represented in an online virtual gallery. Besides the shows the individual artists enter and their studio spaces at their homes, the online gallery is home to their art at www.UmpquaRiverGallery.com . John Galvin, photographer artist and his wife, Linda, business manager and website developer, are the driving force behind the organization.

Any way, back to the art festival. Our group of artists secured the Gallery East inside the arts center building and nine of the artists' works were represented. It was quite a challenge to get that many artists' works displayed adequately in one room while maintaining good visibility for all and optimal traffic flow through the exhibit. It turned out rather well. Even though it was a very hot three-day weekend without air conditioning, we had a lot of people visit our displays.

I got to meet lots of interesting people, pass out business cards pointing to my blog and postcards describing my upcoming exhibit at the Hult Center, July 18-August 23, 2008. (See my earlier post about the Hult Center Exhibit.) But the most exciting news is I sold a phenomenal amount of art, greeting card art, art magnets, and high quality giclee reproductions of my work. One of my previous art collectors increased their collection of my work from four to now six pieces. I gained another collector who purchased not one, but two pieces of art. I do love my art collectors! And it was fun to hear everybody's reactions to my art. It was a very good weekend.

I had vowed never again to display my art at the local art festival. It was just too much work without a booth buddy to share the responsibility. But when the members of Umqua River Gallery Dot COM decided to display as a group at the Roseburg Umpqua Valley Arts Festival, I decided to get on the band wagon. And I am glad I did. The whole thing took place this last weekend, June 27th-29th in a big way.

Umpqua River Gallery dot COM is comprised of 14 local artists of Douglas County who are represented in an online virtual gallery. Besides the shows the individual artists enter and their studio spaces at their homes, the online gallery is home to their art at www.UmpquaRiverGallery.com . John Galvin, photographer artist and his wife, Linda, business manager and website developer, are the driving force behind the organization.

Any way, back to the art festival. Our group of artists secured the Gallery East inside the arts center building and nine of the artists' works were represented. It was quite a challenge to get that many artists' works displayed adequately in one room while maintaining good visibility for all and optimal traffic flow through the exhibit. It turned out rather well. Even though it was a very hot three-day weekend without air conditioning, we had a lot of people visit our displays.

I got to meet lots of interesting people, pass out business cards pointing to my blog and postcards describing my upcoming exhibit at the Hult Center, July 18-August 23, 2008. (See my earlier post about the Hult Center Exhibit.) But the most exciting news is I sold a phenomenal amount of art, greeting card art, art magnets, and high quality giclee reproductions of my work. One of my previous art collectors increased their collection of my work from four to now six pieces. I gained another collector who purchased not one, but two pieces of art. I do love my art collectors! And it was fun to hear everybody's reactions to my art. It was a very good weekend.

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 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.

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.

Wine on the Vine Giclee on canvas or paper
Originally uploaded by sandiwhetzel

This painting was my answer to a challenge to create a painting to illustrate the theme, "Wine on the Vine". The Umpqua Valley chapter of the Oregon Wine Growers was seeking original artwork to promote the 34th Annual "Greatest of the Grape" event held at Seven Feathers Convention Center, in Canyonville, OR. I wanted to compose a painting that would convey "Wine on the Vine" differently than any other artist might do.

I started playing with the placement of wine bottles in thumbnail sketches, with the idea that I just might do a painting of abstract wine bottles. Then I started playing with adding grapevines and finally gravitated to the idea of the bottles growing on the vines with grapes inside the bottles. Then I got excited about that concept and I painted it in acrylics on canvas, adding texture which resembled craters in the moon and the moonlight radiating outwards in the sky. I feel like it does truly say "Wine on the Vine".

But more importantly, it really opened me up to my own creativity; forcing me to expolore how I could imagine and invent subject matter for a painting from nothing other than what I might conjure up from my own imagination. I'd never done that before. I''d always been inspired by something that I'd actually physically seen which became the catalyst for a painting. Allowing myself to work within the confines of an imposed theme opened the door to my creativity and gave me a great satisfaction.

Though not commissioned for that event, the painting was used to promote two other wine-themed events in Roseburg, OR. A reproduction of the painting was the promotion piece for the "Art About Wine" Exhibit in the Hallie Brown Ford Gallery at the Umpqua Valley Arts Center in 2004 and the Umpqua Valley Wine and Art Festival in 2005. The cover of Currents: The News-Review's Guide to Arts, Entertainment and Television, July 15, 2005, Roseburg, OR, featured the painting and I was interviewed regarding my painting. The painting is also featured in a book, Northwest Artists: A Collection of Works by Notable Artists of the Northwest, released May 16, 2005, ISBN 0-97600170-5. The original acrylic painting was sold prior to those events during the Umpqua Valley Arts Summer Arts Festival in 2005.

During that art festival a mature gentleman seemed genuinely interested in this painting. He collected original art only and told me the painting spoke to his heart. He was going to need a few weeks to come up with the $900 to purchase it and I didn't think to offer him the option of putting down a cash deposit to hold it for him. Later a very young man expressed interest in the painting also. It was to be his first major art purchase. He told me that right after he first looked at it he bought a glass of wine and sat at a table accross from my art booth; just sitting there thinking about how much he'd like to buy it and how he would probably have to live on Ramen noodles for three months if he decided to buy it. He finally took the plunge and paid for it in several monthly installments. I was so endeared by his falling in love with the painting and having to own it. It was my first personal major sale apart from the gallery experience where the artist usually has no personal contact with the buyer. I was so impressed that someone so young was willing to make financial sacrifices to purchase something I had created from my imagination.

I got such wonderful feedback on this surrealistic painting. I've sold a few high quality giclee reproductions of it on canvas. One was auctioned off at the Palate to Palette fund raiser for Umpqua Valley Arts Association. High quality giclee reproductions in limited editions are available on canvas or archival paper upon request and greeting cards of it also. Later I used the same composition of the painting to compose the second in a series of "Wine on the Vine" paintings. The overall color is red-orange in that one, which created a completely different feeling and energy in the painting. I'll be posting "Wine on the Vine II" in another post later.

Wine on the Vine Giclee on canvas or paper
Originally uploaded by sandiwhetzel

This painting was my answer to a challenge to create a painting to illustrate the theme, "Wine on the Vine". The Umpqua Valley chapter of the Oregon Wine Growers was seeking original artwork to promote the 34th Annual "Greatest of the Grape" event held at Seven Feathers Convention Center, in Canyonville, OR. I wanted to compose a painting that would convey "Wine on the Vine" differently than any other artist might do.

I started playing with the placement of wine bottles in thumbnail sketches, with the idea that I just might do a painting of abstract wine bottles. Then I started playing with adding grapevines and finally gravitated to the idea of the bottles growing on the vines with grapes inside the bottles. Then I got excited about that concept and I painted it in acrylics on canvas, adding texture which resembled craters in the moon and the moonlight radiating outwards in the sky. I feel like it does truly say "Wine on the Vine".

But more importantly, it really opened me up to my own creativity; forcing me to expolore how I could imagine and invent subject matter for a painting from nothing other than what I might conjure up from my own imagination. I'd never done that before. I''d always been inspired by something that I'd actually physically seen which became the catalyst for a painting. Allowing myself to work within the confines of an imposed theme opened the door to my creativity and gave me a great satisfaction.

Though not commissioned for that event, the painting was used to promote two other wine-themed events in Roseburg, OR. A reproduction of the painting was the promotion piece for the "Art About Wine" Exhibit in the Hallie Brown Ford Gallery at the Umpqua Valley Arts Center in 2004 and the Umpqua Valley Wine and Art Festival in 2005. The cover of Currents: The News-Review's Guide to Arts, Entertainment and Television, July 15, 2005, Roseburg, OR, featured the painting and I was interviewed regarding my painting. The painting is also featured in a book, Northwest Artists: A Collection of Works by Notable Artists of the Northwest, released May 16, 2005, ISBN 0-97600170-5. The original acrylic painting was sold prior to those events during the Umpqua Valley Arts Summer Arts Festival in 2005.

During that art festival a mature gentleman seemed genuinely interested in this painting. He collected original art only and told me the painting spoke to his heart. He was going to need a few weeks to come up with the $900 to purchase it and I didn't think to offer him the option of putting down a cash deposit to hold it for him. Later a very young man expressed interest in the painting also. It was to be his first major art purchase. He told me that right after he first looked at it he bought a glass of wine and sat at a table accross from my art booth; just sitting there thinking about how much he'd like to buy it and how he would probably have to live on Ramen noodles for three months if he decided to buy it. He finally took the plunge and paid for it in several monthly installments. I was so endeared by his falling in love with the painting and having to own it. It was my first personal major sale apart from the gallery experience where the artist usually has no personal contact with the buyer. I was so impressed that someone so young was willing to make financial sacrifices to purchase something I had created from my imagination.

I got such wonderful feedback on this surrealistic painting. I've sold a few high quality giclee reproductions of it on canvas. One was auctioned off at the Palate to Palette fund raiser for Umpqua Valley Arts Association. High quality giclee reproductions in limited editions are available on canvas or archival paper upon request and greeting cards of it also. Later I used the same composition of the painting to compose the second in a series of "Wine on the Vine" paintings. The overall color is red-orange in that one, which created a completely different feeling and energy in the painting. I'll be posting "Wine on the Vine II" in another post later.

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Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

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Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

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EXHIBITIONS
2008 “An Oregon Crafted Sampler”, Jacobs Gallery at the Hult Center, Eugene, OR, (juried)

2008 Expressions West 2008, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, OR (juried by Gary Faigin)

2008 Solo Show, Gallery II, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR (juried)

2008 “The Harvest and the Feast”, Red Gallery, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR

2006 Annual “Greatest of the Grape”, Umpqua Valley Chapter of the Oregon Winegrowers Assoc, Seven Feathers Convention Center, Canyonville, OR

2006 “Midsummer’s Night’s Dream", Ashland, OR (juried)

2006 37th Annual Umpqua Valley Art & Wine Festival, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR (juried)

2005 Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, the Red Gallery, solo show, Roseburg, OR (juried)

2005 36th Annual Umpqua Valley Art & Wine Festival, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR (juried)

2005 “Showcase of Homes” Exhibit, Roseburg Builders Assoc, Roseburg, OR (juried)

2005 Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc “Palate to Palette” Dinner & Auction, UVAA, Roseburg, OR


2004 “Art About Wine”, Hallie Brown Ford Gallery, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR (juried)

2004 Home & Garden Show, “2nd Annual Botanical Art Show”, Expo Center, Portland, OR (juried)

2004 “Women in Art”, Douglas County Library, Roseburg, OR

2003 Two-person juried show, “Waterscapes”, Hallie Brown Ford Gallery, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR (juried)

AWARDS
2006 “Uplifting Spirits” signature painting selected to promote the 2006 Umpqua Valley Winegrowers “Greatest of the Grape”, Seven Feathers Convention Center, Canyonville, OR

2005 “Wine on the Vine” signature painting selected to promote the 36th Annual Umpqua Valley Art & Wine Festival, UVAA, Roseburg, OR

2004 “Wine on the Vine” signature painting selected to promote the “Art About Wine” Show, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Northwest Artists: A Collection of Works by Notable Artists of the Northwest, released May 16, 2005, ISBN 0-97600170-5

“Wine on the Vine” signature painting featured on the cover of Currents: The News-Review’s Guide to Arts, Entertainment and Television, July 15, 2005, Roseburg, OR

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1997 TO THE PRESENT, Art Instructor, Community Art Education, Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, OR

COLLECTIONS
My works are in private collections in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Northwest Artists Association (NWA)
Umpqua Valley Arts Association, (UVAA), Roseburg, OR
Oregon Crafted, Douglas County Chapter, Roseburg, OR

EXHIBITIONS
2008 “An Oregon Crafted Sampler”, Jacobs Gallery at the Hult Center, Eugene, OR, (juried)

2008 Expressions West 2008, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, OR (juried by Gary Faigin)

2008 Solo Show, Gallery II, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR (juried)

2008 “The Harvest and the Feast”, Red Gallery, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR

2006 Annual “Greatest of the Grape”, Umpqua Valley Chapter of the Oregon Winegrowers Assoc, Seven Feathers Convention Center, Canyonville, OR

2006 “Midsummer’s Night’s Dream", Ashland, OR (juried)

2006 37th Annual Umpqua Valley Art & Wine Festival, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR (juried)

2005 Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, the Red Gallery, solo show, Roseburg, OR (juried)

2005 36th Annual Umpqua Valley Art & Wine Festival, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR (juried)

2005 “Showcase of Homes” Exhibit, Roseburg Builders Assoc, Roseburg, OR (juried)

2005 Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc “Palate to Palette” Dinner & Auction, UVAA, Roseburg, OR


2004 “Art About Wine”, Hallie Brown Ford Gallery, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR (juried)

2004 Home & Garden Show, “2nd Annual Botanical Art Show”, Expo Center, Portland, OR (juried)

2004 “Women in Art”, Douglas County Library, Roseburg, OR

2003 Two-person juried show, “Waterscapes”, Hallie Brown Ford Gallery, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR (juried)

AWARDS
2006 “Uplifting Spirits” signature painting selected to promote the 2006 Umpqua Valley Winegrowers “Greatest of the Grape”, Seven Feathers Convention Center, Canyonville, OR

2005 “Wine on the Vine” signature painting selected to promote the 36th Annual Umpqua Valley Art & Wine Festival, UVAA, Roseburg, OR

2004 “Wine on the Vine” signature painting selected to promote the “Art About Wine” Show, Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc, Roseburg, OR

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Northwest Artists: A Collection of Works by Notable Artists of the Northwest, released May 16, 2005, ISBN 0-97600170-5

“Wine on the Vine” signature painting featured on the cover of Currents: The News-Review’s Guide to Arts, Entertainment and Television, July 15, 2005, Roseburg, OR

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1997 TO THE PRESENT, Art Instructor, Community Art Education, Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, OR

COLLECTIONS
My works are in private collections in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Northwest Artists Association (NWA)
Umpqua Valley Arts Association, (UVAA), Roseburg, OR
Oregon Crafted, Douglas County Chapter, Roseburg, OR