From Doubt to Discovery: Preparing for Upcoming Shows (SNEAK PEEKS)
Relocating from Portland, Oregon to Astoria, Oregon on the North Coast where the force of the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean has been a big life change. Admittedly, I love the storminess of this part of the state and my work often references meteorology, climate, and geology. I can watch the storms land ashore from the constant horizon line surrounding me. Observing weather patterns and the greater connection to wild nature aligns with my creative practice, inviting me to focus. Now, as Winter makes way for Spring, the recent solar eclipse has ignited a surge of creativity that will catapult me to the completion of these twenty new works for my upcoming exhibition.
At Home with Willo Photo: Rebekah Johnson
This particular body of work was begun on May 3, 2020. We all know where we were at then and these works carried me through that time. It was a project I started to stay focused on despite enormous uncertainty in complete isolation with my ailing dog Cleo and cat Rothko. I had this vision of twenty pieces inspired by a 2017 series of 51” x 46” glacier-related pieces I had scaled down to 14” x 11”. As these works began their evolution of progression, I experienced the devastating losses of both my pup Cleo in 2020 and my father in 2021. In 2022, I had to set the twenty pieces aside to produce two commissions and three solo exhibitions for Seattle, New York, and Astoria all opened within four months of each other. Then I moved to Astoria, set up a working studio in my basement, and began again. Yeah, a-LOT right? Looking back, I am amazed at the resilience I somehow mustered to meet these losses, challenges, and life changes.
Unpacking the panels.
Members can view MORE work-in-progress photos here.
All of this change in my life has allowed feelings of uneasiness and imposter syndrome to creep in as I prepare for upcoming shows and exhibitions. The upheaval and enormous amount of work involved with the move took such a toll on me that I didn’t feel like I was an artist anymore. I didn’t think I’d find my flow again, I allowed distractions to get in the way of my growth. Having moved past all the noise of self-sabotaging derailments and doubts, I can see my work evolving in new and exciting ways. A coalescence needs to occur and trusting that it will come is the key to any successful artistic practice but not always easy to remember! The process of creating art is dynamic, and as an artist, I constantly challenge myself and experiment. Evolution is an essential part of my artistic practice, allowing me to grow and develop.
The title of the show Navigating Place reflects its starting point and its evolution leading to the present moment. Words can hold so many meanings and references both personally and creatively. Art knows no words but, being a bit of a writer, I found it essential to begin another “process” journal for this body of work as I create them. Navigating and Place, these words pertain to experiencing the work and to me personally. This is a very meaningful body of work and encompasses the vast arsenal of techniques and approaches that I have taken with my work over the past few decades. There is more of an emphasis on oil painting over the relief surface of the wax texture which results in more depth and transparency.
Navigating Place, holds a special significance for me. It represents more than just physical spaces. It captures the emotions of life changes and the deepening of my painting practice. Throughout all the challenging, triumphant, and tumultuous passages that life has laid in my path, my art has prevailed. The longevity of my art career is now extending its hand to me to look back at all approaches to my practice and hand pick from a vast arsenal of self-reference in my work that I am now stepping into. This is the longest I have taken to complete a body of work. The slowness of the process allowed for these pieces to be obsessively detailed, creating landscapes within landscapes. Through the merging of techniques, textures, and personal experiences, I visually aspire to evoke a sense of both wonder and wander. I liken the four-year process of their making to my rebirth and reinvention.
As an artist, I am constantly exploring new territories, both within myself and in the external world. The surface or terrains of the wax that the oil paint reveals, have me traveling down various "mindscapes" transporting me in their making to a realm where the tangible and intangible intertwine, and where the beauty of the natural world converges with the vast landscapes that not only reside in my immediate surroundings, but within us all. This exploration of place, whether it be physical, emotional, or conceptual, informs my artistic expression and adds to my work. Life has navigated me here to this moment and this place to do the work and continue making what I want to make. This is what Navigating Place means for me and I hope to see you at my opening!
The first order of business in the newly set up studio was to get the twenty pieces onto the wall to just look at each with a fresh eye and how they correlate in an entirely new place and surroundings. Now, a year later, I am working on this first body of work in the new space. I’ve settled into the studio and it has taken on an inviting sanctuary feeling to it that I love. It became clear that each piece had to sing its song, they all had one thing in common; the abstract landscape making a comeback onto my picture plane. More detail and attention in these particular pieces went to oil painting over an encaustic relief texture something I began doing in the 1990’s. Using alkyd mediums and basic fat over lean oil painting techniques allowed me to build several glaze layers of oil paint on top of the wax.
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I wanted to share this journey with you, as you are a source of support and encouragement for me. The upcoming show at Imogen Gallery provides me with a platform to showcase a pivotal point of my growth and exploration. It's a celebration of the emotions of change and the deepening of my painting practice.
Thank you for being there for me, reading my blog, and for believing in me and my art. Your friendship means the world to me, and I am grateful for your unwavering support.
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Sneak Peek
〰️ Sneak Peek
2024 Faculty Plus Show at Royal Nebeker Gallery Opens!
Glacial Topography, encaustic and oil on panel, 20 x 30 inches. All Photos by Rebekah Johnson
As Juror of the 2024 Annual Clatsop Community College Student Show, I am thrilled to be included in the 2024 Faculty Plus Show. This special group exhibition highlights the diverse artwork created by the Clatsop Community College Art Faculty Plus, a selection of invited practicing artists from the local community.
Two pieces of mine are on loan for the exhibition through the generosity of a private collector. I am particularly excited to have my piece Glacial Topography included as this show marks the first time the public is seeing this particular piece.
The show will be on display from April 11 through May 9, with a reception on Thursday, April 11 at 6 p.m. The gallery reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. The featured artworks encompass a wide range of media representing the various disciplines taught in the art curriculum: drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, and photography.
Exciting News from Surfsand Resort in Cannon Beach, Oregon!
I am thrilled to share a sneak peek into the ongoing installation at Surfsand Resort in Cannon Beach, Oregon! Five of our incredible pieces have been chosen by Studio Art Direct to be reproduced and installed in over 40 oceanfront rooms. These custom framed giclees will surely add a touch of beauty and elegance to the resort. I am grateful for this opportunity and extend a big thank you to Studio Art Direct for their support. Special thanks to Rebekah Johnson for capturing stunning shots of my work.
The grand opening of the newly remodeled resort will come just in time for the opening of Navigating Place in Astoria just 30 minutes away! So, if you are thinking about coming to my show on June 8th, book now!
New Town, New Art Friends!
Finally, to celebrate the wonderful friends I am making in my new town, I thought I’d add a feature to this month’s newsletter spotlighting a member of our vibrant creative community here in Astoria! Meet artist Jenny Rideout…Jenny and I were both exhibiting artists in Portland back in the day or to use a Portlandia phrase “the dream of the 90’s Portland”. We knew “of” each other but only met in passing. It turns out that we have a lot of mutual friends! We both moved to Astoria from Portland within a year of each other, we are exactly two months apart in age and live on the same street! We even had the same Portland realtor who reacquainted us by way of a lunch date and we’ve been pals ever since.
Spotlight On: Jenny Rideout
“I come from a long line of people who draw and paint for fun. And, also, seamstresses and quilters. In a recent, somewhat arduous move to a small town, I wanted to heavily downsize before moving. I was intrigued by the commonalities and history of some of the items that made the cut; my great-great-great-grandmother’s ancient treadle sewing machine, a feed sack quilt made by my great-grandmother, an intricate and colorful quilt by my mom (every stitch made by hand), and my dad’s sailmaker’s seaming palm (which is a kind of heavy-duty thimble used in sail repair). I noted the comfort, utility, protection, and beauty passed down for generations through the humble use of needle and thread. This realization combined with moving to a quirky small town at the majestic meeting of river, mountains, and ocean (Astoria, Oregon USA) has provoked a dramatic change in my work, from painting to textile-based work. I still paint and draw on my pieces but I find working with the texture, history, and patterns of textiles irresistible.”
To learn more about Jenny’s work, check out her website and this recent feature about her in Discover Our Coast Weekend.
