Notes from Smelly Rhino Studio: June 2012

You can't always get what you want...

but if you try sometimes, you just might find....

you get what you need.

There have been many times that I've tried and not got what I wanted, but found somehow I got what I needed: A lesson.

That is changing. I have asked for a great year and I'm getting it so far!

I have spent the last 4 years learning about the fine art business and the art of social networking, marketing, selling, and more, and I've made two distinct short term goals: Exhibit in at least one fine art brick and mortar gallery this year, and illustrate a book.

So far, so good.

I just had an opening reception for a groovy 7 woman group show in Atlanta.

I'm exhibiting in a new gallery in Woodstock, Ga.

I have been invited to exhibit in a local gallery in historic Marietta Square (Marietta, Ga) next month for their type themed show!

I am about to get working on illustrations for a local author and very excited about the opportunity!

I am busy busy busy! I asked for this. I have worked very hard to get to this stage.

There are times when you are swamped and just want things to calm down. Not me, not now. I have asked for this, I have prepared 4 years for this, and I am ready for the challenge and the opportunities. Bring it on! I deserve this.

Wow. Thanks to all yous guys and gals who are my chronic cheer squad. I am really grateful!

I'm excited to be part of the 7 woman show, The Paper Dolls, at The Defoor Centre this Summer, June 10th - August 31st! (no paper dolls actually in this one, just Southern Dolls). I will be exhibiting my work along with Casey Olsen, Helen Ferguson-Crawford, Adriana Antequera, Teri Levine, Robin Fay and Diana Bidulescu.

If you are in the Atlanta area this weekend and want to take in some fresh art, I hope that you will join us for our opening wine reception and visit with the 7 artists exhibiting in the show. We will have wine, a few nibbles and live music from 5-7 pm this coming Sunday afternoon, June 10th!

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My style focus for this show is heavily Illustrative and graphic, which is quite a departure from my more impressionist roots as a fine artist and trompe l'oeil painter. I will have about 15 pieces in this show. Many of you know that I have been actively illustrating custom work for about 3 years, but this will be my first show with my own unique graphically styled art. I wanted each piece to have a story behind it, and many of the pieces literally have writing on the canvas, that you may be able to make out in bits and pieces, but much of it will be left to your imagination to fill in! I am really enjoying the fun and freedom that illustration allows. I particularly find it interesting how different interests can be intertwined into ones' life and profoundly affect the evolution of style. I hope that my work will bring you joy and amusement!

The Paper Dolls Prepare For a Summer Show!
So Cut It Out For June 10th Opening Party for the All Girl Showing At the Defoor Centre
Musical Guest: Spooky Partridge

Atlanta GA – Defoor Centre prepares itself for hot summer fun with the summer all girl show, called The Paper Dolls, a group of emerging artists from all over the Atlanta/Athens area plus Venezuela! These talented girls will be up from June to end of August, showing off their colorful designs of life, love and being a girl in the South! Reception party will be on June 10th, Sunday from 2-4PM the event is free to the public and there will be a cash bar for drinks. Live band, Spooky Partridge will be the music for the afternoon, led by local girl band heroine, Katy Graves it will surely be an afternoon to remember.

Here are the Artists:
FORUM:
Helen Ferguson-Crawford– with a foundation of architect Helen walks a crooked line on her journey when she approaches the canvas. She plays with adjacencies of color, form, texture and line to uncover the sublime nature of familiar places and situations. This wraps the viewer into her story and leaves them breathless.
For more information: http://www.helenfergusoncrawford.com/

ENCORE: Robin Fay – from library to canvas to computer software programming again we have another wayward daughter of the arts. Robin’s curiosity for painting begins at curve and ends at color. Her layers of colors create texture and that brings out character inner imagery. Robin has shown at the Defoor before but not on this large of a platform. So welcome her back!
For more information: http://www.robinart.com/

RHOMBUS: Casey Olsen – A self taught artist with an eye for composition with nature. Her depictions of Big Sky landscapes are inviting you to step in and walk around. She has always been a creating spirit earlier with stained glass or stone mosaics – “When I’m painting, I feel open and totally present” she states. She has show here before and she always brings her peacefulness with her.
For more information: http://caseyolson.com/

BAR/CAFÉ: Rebecca Salcedo – Illustrator by day, Rebecca is a great capture artist – to grab the face and thought of her subjects whether it’s a dog or a character she has designed herself. She is a vibrant personality in the arts scene and through her works; she is able to send a story as well as imagery.
For more information: http://smellyrhino.com/

LOBBY: Teri Levine – local artist is one that mixes up genres and comes up with her own. Cubism, surrealism and with line and color gives it personality. She is has a master in Psychology she takes her mind off by exploring paints. Levine pays homage to the surrealist trajectory and the transcendent potential of a fluid and painterly line. A self taught creative spirit she has become one of the newest emerging artist in the city.
For more information: http://www.agora-gallery.com/artistpage/teri_levine.aspx

COFFEE HOUSE: Adriana Antequera – our most southern artist, from Venezuela brings her wonderful colors to Atlanta, GA for her debut. Again, we are saturated with visions of color in her landscapes and formal compositions. Maybe it’s the water and the pigment mixing together to come up with a different tone to the painting.
For more information: http://www.wix.com/adrianaantequera/adriana-antequera

GATSBY: Diana Bidulescu – European born, Diana came to the US to expand her love of teaching art to others. Her use of color is wonderfully done in either her abstracts or figurative. She has shown around the world but always loves coming home to Georgia. She teaches at the Peachtree Arts Academy in Peachtree City, a Christian
based organization that provides a vast education to children on all levels. For more information: http://www.peachtreearts.org/

Musical Guests: SPOOKY PARTRIDGE
Local Band, Spooky Partridge, will play during the opening in the Forum. Led by Nick Christian, son of local heroine, Katy Graves (Dollsquad), brings his young rock heart to song along his dad, Shawn Christian and Katy on bass. The three of them play like only family does, together. Who says rock needs to go bed late?
Check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spooky-Partridge/144628035580688?sk=info
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About the Defoor Centre:
The Defoor Centre is located off Howell Mill Rd in Atlanta in the reviving Westside neighborhood, where a lot of local vendors that cater to the interior designers have been going to for years. The Centre has been a growing facility hosting major fundraisers to corporate meetings to private weddings all in house catering with a full bar. 100 years ago this place was a hospital for the soldiers fighting at the Battle of Peachtree Creek and to this day they are “still there.”

For more information on the Defoor: www.defoorecentre.com or just come by Tues-Friday to get something to eat and browse – 1710 DeFoor Ave Atlanta GA. On Facebook-www.facebook.com/defoorcentre or search for the Defoor Center ARTS group!