shauna lee lange arts advisory

retired and moved

2008-11-21T07:19:00.002-05:00

this blog site http://shaunaleelange.blogspot.com has been retired and relocated to over to wordpress at http://shaunaleelange.wordpress.com.

or, to keep things simple - just click on www.shaunaleelange.com. we hope you like our new pages!

a glimpse of our design center

2008-11-15T22:55:00.002-05:00

Believe it or not, most of our ideas, work, and inspiration comes from a very small "hub" or "design studio" or "artists studio." Any artist worth his salt will tell you that NOTHING comes unless first there is a major understanding of color, form, function, and placement.

The face of the work surface changes often because as one of Washington DC's premier art advisories, first we are on the go OFTEN and second we have to look at a tremendous amount of art. Believe me, we do. Both over the Internet, in print, and via submissions sent by mail.

Once you know art, you know the exercise of viewing others works can be tremendously draining. One of the ways we keep on top of it is to use our creative outlets as often as possible. Whether it is lounging on the couch or using a Moleskine journal to mind-map ideas and new ventures, it all happens here. You know what they say, good things come in small packages.

The thing I love about this small converted space and that you can't see is a gorgeous triple vertical window overlooking careful landscape. The thing I'd most like to change about our studio is the chairs and maybe the lighting. Rolling chairs would just make the world spin and bring all the tools to immediate reach. Oh, and we recently upgraded to an iMac - so our visual windows to the art world have been greatly enhanced.

somerset art journaling

2008-11-15T22:24:00.004-05:00

Stampington & Company will be launching a new periodical in the new year. Somerset Art Journaling magazine promises to take you inside the pages of some of your favorite artists for a personal look. Detailed photos and insightful commentary will help the artist discover a personal journaling style, with tips on creating stand-out pages. Learn techniques, find inspiration, and take your own art journal to the next level.

BookEnds: the book as art

2008-11-15T22:09:00.003-05:00

Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory is entering a book arts international call for entries in Alexandria, VA with exhibition dates of January 22 - February 22, 2009. BookEnds: the book as art is sponsored by the Torpedo Factory Art Center and will show at the Target Gallery. Jurist Helen Frederick will be selecting top prizes for the exhibition that focuses on the book as art. This will be Lange's first venture in this art form.

Images: (1) Lange, Red/Read, 18" x 12", book arts, 2008; (2) Lange, Flight of Words, 24" x 24", book arts, 2008: and (3) Lange, Gardens of New York, 12" x 26", book arts, 2008.

lange arts advisory joins washington project for the arts

2008-11-15T22:01:00.003-05:00

We recently joined the Washington Project for the Arts and will be featuring our arts advisory, artists' agent, and artists' representative services as well as our journal and book arts. WPA offers a weekly newsletter, an ArtFile Online, Artlist DC featuring current metropolitan DC art events, and several exciting calls and projects.

Image Credit: Bookarts - Lynn Sures of Wheaton, Maryland as featured on ArtFile Online.

lange arts advisory participates in national sketchbook project

2008-11-14T07:36:00.005-05:00

We are thrilled to be participating in Art House LLC's newest event, The Sketchbook Project. Moleskine notebooks are being sent to artists who register and will then go on to be shown at a seven city tour of galleries and museums throughout the nation. The theme of the Sketchbook Project is "Everyone We Know." Man, that's a LOT of people. The Sketchbook Project's event is similar to the recent 1,000 Journals Project that received much publicity. Personally, we're amazed at the inventiveness, revenue generating schemes, and community art projects designed by Atlanta's trendy gallery. You can also participate in The Timeline Project or The Ten Thousand People Interpret One Word Project. Here are the upcoming show dates which will be featuring some of DC's based Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory's finest work.

Atlanta - Art House Gallery - Starting Point

DC - Museum of Contemporary Art - March 3, 2009

Philly - Chris' Jazz Cafe - March 4, 2009

Boston - Laconia Gallery - March 6, 2009

Chicago - Antena Gallery - March 8, 2009

Brooklyn - 3rd Ward Gallery - March 13, 2009

Atlanta - Museum of Design - April 2, 2009

make art everyday!

2008-11-14T07:04:00.000-05:00

paper marbeling, marbled paper, turkish paper = EBRU

2008-11-13T20:15:00.003-05:00

We came across a fantastic article from World Bulletin explaining the origins and the method of creating EBRU or Turkish Paper (we know it as marbled paper or paper marbeling). The link is here.

university of washington allen library

2008-11-13T20:03:00.002-05:00

The Allen Library has an amazing collection of book arts which includes over 14,000 examples of historical and modern aspects of the physical book. We just love this one for inspiration.

Image Shown: Sande Wascher-James, How Long? Renton, WA, 1994. Silkscreen and color photocopy printed

the soundry's grand opening

2008-11-13T14:00:00.002-05:00

Vienna's The Soundry is moving its Grand(er) Opening Party to Saturday December 13th. It will be a jolly time and artists will have items at the show that will make unique and wonderful holiday gifts. They will also have plenty of good food, drinks, and even a few surprises.

December 13, 2008

JEN & THOR

THE SOUNDRY

318 Dominion Road

Vienna, VA 22180

www.soundry.net

703-698-0088

capitol hill art league - wraps it up!

2008-11-13T13:57:00.002-05:00

The Capitol Hill Art League (CHAL), a program of the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW), features small, original works at its popular, annual show, “Wrap It Up” which opens with a reception for the public. The unjuried show features works by CHAL members who submit five pieces of ready-to-hang small works. Three pieces are hung for the opening and as the pieces sell, the two pieces in reserve replace sold works. Artists receive a 90% commission on the sales. “Wrap It Up” exudes a shiny, fun spirit as shoppers eagerly purchase bargain, quality art and announce “wrap it up.”

Saturday, December 13, 2008, 5-7 PM

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop

Capitol Hill Art League - A program of the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW)

545 7th Street, SE Washington, DC 20003

202 547-6839 Fax: 202 543-1723

CONTACT: Geoff Ault, gcault@yahoo.com

sidney lawrence ink cities @ district fine arts

2008-11-13T13:19:00.003-05:00

We could not have been more excited to receive Todd Savitch's press release about Sidney Lawrence's Ink Cities Book Signing where Lawrence will provide personalized inscriptions and sketches for his new 200-edition artist's book.

Inspired by pocket-sized sketchbooks artists often carry while traveling, the 32-page, spiral-bound publication ($26) presents Lawrence's highly detailed, often fantasy-laden drawings of 24 cities from around the world-DC, Shanghai, Fez, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen and Sydney, to name a few---with a handwritten fact, anecdote or impression to accompany each image. Ink drawings, Lawrence says, are "my Ouija Board for capturing a city's buzz and sense of adventure."

Ink Cities is meant to appeal to all ages, Lawrence stresses. "At the end, readers may use their own words and images to portray their favorite cities on five blank pages," he says. The reproduced drawings date from 1987 to 2008; several are in local and national collections. Ink Cities appears as part of Lawrence's current show at DFA of paintings, reliefs and works on paper (Nov. 15, 2008 to Jan. 17, 2009), and is much appreciated after all the photography we will have seen during DC Fotoweek. Lawrence has exhibited in the DC area since the early 1980s and also in California and Massachusetts.

Saturday, December 13, 4-6 pm. , from 4 to 6 pm

District Fine Arts

1639 Wisconsin Wisconsin Ave. N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20007
202-328-9100

dfa1726@earthlink.net

www.dfaonline.com

Hours: 11 am - 6:30 pm, Tuesday - Saturday (after hours by appointment)

french painter seeks us gallery representation

2008-11-12T12:52:00.002-05:00

French painter Christophe Villedary is currently showing in Languedoc-Roussillon in France and is looking for a US gallery to diffuse his work. www.villedary-c.com.

lynn boggess at principle gallery

2008-11-11T17:17:00.003-05:00

If it weren't my 45th on November 21st, I'd be headed over to Old Town Alexandria's Principle Gallery where Lynn Boggess is showing some of his finest "realism landscapes." Borgess recently taught as a Professor of Art at Fairmont State University and he holds a MFA from the esteemed Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, MI. In addition to his landscape paintings, Borgess wishes to draw attention to the diverse nature of West Virginia and its flora through the use of vertical painting formats where the viewer is drawn into the deeply receding spaces. Free from human influence, the scenes invite contemplation of time, the cycle of the senses, and the alternating character of river rocks.

Images Shown: Lynn Boggess, Image 1 - Rapids on the New River, 30 x 26, oil on Canvas (Gallery #11516); Image 2 - Gallery #10807, 46 x 40, oil on canvas, 2007; Image 3 - Tea Creek, 46 x 40, oil on canvas, 2008

william greenfield photographs - fauxto

2008-11-11T17:03:00.002-05:00

William Greenfield sent us a nicely organized notice of his upcoming 3-volume boxed set of photography published by Axios LLC under the title FAUXTO. Designed by Tessa van der Waals and printed by Mart.Spruijt bv in the Netherlands, the accomplished work contains approximately 30 photographs. Greenfield, of Pennsylvania, also received a MFA from Pratt Institute and his work can be seen in the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, the Musee de l'Elysee in Lausanne, the Munchner Stadtmuseum, Stiftung Moritzburg in Halle, Germany and the Brooklyn Museum.

max rodriquez art - natural impressions

2008-11-11T16:50:00.002-05:00

max rodriquez sent us a note on his natural impressions series. A one-of-a-kind work, actual impressions are created in plaster on canvas, then painted, stained and colored to resemble fossils, artifacts, and aged botanicals. The art is textural and colorful and can be mixed and combined to create individual and unique art pieces. Two sizes are available, 10 x 10 or 10 x 20. Max will also custom design, color, and size pieces on commission. Rodriquez is a Cuban born artist with television and movie credits to his arts resume.

Images Shown: Max Rodriquez Natural Impressions Numbers 164, 185, and 176.

three new supply trials

2008-11-11T16:20:00.003-05:00

A few days ago, we were sharing about our first experience with gouache and thought better to try with savoir faire's yellow ochre opaque gouache. While not as smelly as the winsor newton, the product was also not as luxurious. We thought it had rather a flat feel and appearance and was more difficult to spread over the paper.

Another adventure led us to Tyson's Corner's The Container Store where we were looking for clear storage drawers for small artists' tools. We found an 11-drawer stacking unit (very similar to the one shown) and so far it's working for us except for the fact that the drawers pull all the way out of the unit and the drawer edges appear to be able to chip easily.

Lastly over at DC's Utrecht, we picked up a bottle of Tombo Mono Aqua Liquid Glue with two applicators in nontoxic acid free. The two applicators are great and the glue is good for paper crafts, even with very glossy weights.

thena smith's poetic license

2008-11-11T16:04:00.002-05:00

Thena Smith's written a great little piece she calls "Scrapbooking" - maybe it applies to artists everywhere. We've reposted it in her honor.

francisca sutil transcending with nohra haime

2008-11-11T15:43:00.006-05:00

Nohra Haime's Gallery is showing at PINTA next week and she's bring a cadre of artists with her - notably Francisca Sutil. Born in Santiago Chile, Sutil's had four major exhibitions in the U.S. She's been taught by the Southern Methodists in Dallas, The Universidad Catolica de Santiago, Parsons School of Design in New York, Whitney Museum Seminars, and she holds a MFA from Pratt Institute. In 2000, Sutil completed a series of 12 paintings commissioned for the private Cruz Chapel in Santiago de Chili.

PINTA

The Metropolitan Pavilion

125 West 18th Street - Booth 313

Between 6th and 7th Ave.

New York, NY 10011

Nohra Haime Gallery

41 East 57th Street

New York, New York 10022

212.888.3550

gallery@nohrahaimegallery.com

Image Shown: Francisca Sutil: Transcending, 2002, pigmented gesso and oil on linen mounted on wood, 31 1/2 x 23 5/8 in.

sohan qadri: the colors of india

2008-11-07T10:14:00.003-05:00

Sohan Qadri is an artist, poet, and Buddhist yogi from India. He's lived in Copenhagen for the last 30 years. His paintings result from states of deep meditation, and are informed by the colors of India: luminous, dye-infused works on meticulously serrated paper. Over his long career, Qadri has interacted with a wide array of cultural figures including Surrealist painter Rene Magritte, Nobel laureate Heinrich Boll, and architect Le Corbusier. Qadri has had more than 70 exhibitions in the US, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The Sundaram Tagore Gallery (New York, Beverly Hills, Hong Kong) is exhibiting Qadri's work under the title "Seer: The Art of Sohan Qadri" in their Hong Kong location. All works are ink and dye on paper and 55 x 39 in. You can get a sneak peak at www.sundaramtagore.com.

susan calloway's excellence in complementary works

2008-11-06T09:06:00.005-05:00

A complement is something that completes, makes up a whole, or brings to perfection. It is also either of two parts that complete the whole or mutually complete each other. Susan Calloway has demonstrated excellence in selecting Robert Rea and Linda Press as demonstrable works in complementary vision.

Linda Press’ architectural paintings make use of the play of light and shadow across buildings in dense city centers including Paris, New York, and Washington, DC. Robert Rea’s works, influenced by memories of his Alabama childhood, embody that same light in its purest form, in their subtle studies of color. See more at:

http://www.callowayart.com/gallery.php?E=ID_exhibit&T=current&ID=3

Robert Rea and Linda Press, Recent Works, November 7 through December 6.
Opening Reception Friday, November 7, 6-8:30 pm.
Susan Calloway Fine Arts

1643 Wisconsin Ave NW

Washington, DC 20007

V 202.965.4601 F 202.338.1660

gallery@callowayart.com

jill banks: jordan award painter is on the rise

2008-11-06T08:53:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Jill Banks and her "Orange Peeled" which won the Jordan Award for "Best of Show" in the "Small Works" Exhibit at the Art League (Alexandria, VA). That's number 1 out of 532 entries. The awards ceremony will be held at the Art League on Thursday, November 13 around 7pm. The reception runs from 6:30 to 9:30pm. We've been absorbing Banks' choices in color tonality since her recent well-received solo exhibition.

Banks also appears in the December issue of Artist's Magazine -- as she was a finalist in their Annual Art Competition. Just a note: in 2005, Banks won her first Best of Show at the Art League and was a finalist in Artist's Magazine's Annual Art Competition for the first time. This year is her second time winning both of those honors. The Art League is located at 105 North Union Street, Alexandria, VA.

jonathan b. french: working, growing, showing and shooting

2008-11-06T07:33:00.005-05:00

I have long been an admirer of Jonathan B. French's photographic works, going back to when I first saw him at Honfleur. Now he's being shown over at the new Hamiltonian Gallery and here's what he has to say:

Being an African American I find it of the utmost importance that this story be shared. Africans in the Americas have been marginalized from participation in the economics and mainstream of their countries. Many subsist in conditions of chronic poverty, and institutionalized and individual discrimination. This body of works draws on their heritage giving them visibility and opportunity to enable them to better their conditions.

“Family Pictures” is a photographic series that will bring visibility to the plight of the Afro-Latino populations in Latin America. For too long wide watery oceans and barren information deserts have kept apart Descendants of Africa in the Americas… For too long history has made them invisible and unknown to their extended family in the United States. Though there was no interaction between these African Descendants in the past this project will help establish a relationship.

And Hamiltonian writes, the Hamiltonian Gallery and Hamiltonian Artists proudly present the works of photographers Jonathan B. French, Michael Dax Iacovone, and Anne Chan through DC FotoWeek. Through process and subject matter, each artist uniquely investigates relationships between themselves and their environment via the thread of dislocation and reconnection.

Hamiltonian Gallery

1353 U Street, NW,

Washington DC

202.332.1116 fax: 202.332.0569

info@hamiltoniangallery.com

http://hamiltoniangallery.com/

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday noon - 6:00 pm and by appointment.

Map: See our location on Google Map (We are located near the intersection of 14th Street and U street NW).

Metro: Hamiltonian Gallery is easily accessible by metro. We are located one block west of the green/yellow line U St/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo metro station, 13th Street exit.

foto week dc @ multiple exposures gallery

2008-11-05T08:51:00.003-05:00

The Multiple Exposures Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria will be presenting several free events in celebration of Fotoweek DC. Kicking off the festivities is an informal opportunity for artists to get feedback at Coffee + Critique + Conversation, Sunday November 16, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. To secure a spot at the table, contact the gallery at 703-683-2205 after November 1.

The Mind’s Eye is a member show juried by Steve Uzzell. Be sure to hit the reception on Saturday, November 22 at 5:30 p.m. and stay until 8 p.m., when Uzzell will present Open Roads; Open Minds: An Exploration of Creative Problem Solving, an inspiring challenge to make any venture an adventure.

“All of us are enthusiastic about Fotoweek and are pleased to be part of it. We are totally supportive of the first celebration of the art of photography in the Washington area and appreciate all the work that has gone into making it happen, ” -Grace Taylor, member & Treasurer, Multiple Exposures Gallery

Multiple Exposures Gallery
Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union Street #312 Alexandria, VA 22314
T: 703.683.2205 http://www.multipleexposuresgallery.com/

alex gallery mythology exhibition 11/7

2008-11-05T08:41:00.005-05:00

I have had the honor of seeing Vander Zee's new series "Sacred Earth/Mythic Body" and cannot tell you how elegantly Rob has re-interpreted the Gods - whether Pan, Narcissus, Demeter or other, if your eyes need a color treat and an exhibition in technique, don't miss Friday's opening reception.

The series is based on Greek and Roman Mythology set in juxtaposition to the Contemporary Landscape. Most of the paintings are life-size human figurative pieces.

The Alex Gallery - Gallery A

2106 R Street, NW Washington DC 20008

A few blocks away from the Dupont Metro

November 7th, Friday6 to 8:30 pm (early crowd)

DC's Foto Week - Fixation

2008-11-05T08:28:00.004-05:00

DC's Foto Week is proving to be stuffed to the brim with interesting photographic related activities. Here's one I thought you might like. Nine photographers each create a narrative with a short series of images, building the viewer a bridge between the image of our Nation's Capital and the people actually living inside it. Their photographs inspect our city's subculture and the people who thrive in it, whether it is the pure ecstasy of a public baptism or the discovery of an elusive quiet moment as 18th Street rages nearby. Some create their own scenes, driven by the absurdity or crucial absences in our cityscapes. Others sneak in the backdoor of highly defined alternative lifestyles, finding characters dolled up for prime time, squeezed in the underbelly of the D.C. club scene. What they all have in common is a fixation on the individual in the hands of a much bigger picture.

Fixation: A Photography Exhibit during FotoWeek DC November 14-23
Brought to you by:Ten Miles Square The Pink Line Project Scion Duplex Diner
Music:The JonesDJ Anish
Suggested donation: $10
Friday, November 14 8:30 pm - 2 am

Fight Club1250 9th Street, NW

(enter through the rear in Blagden Alley, from N St., between 9th and 10th)
Food by On the Fly will be available for purchase.

letter from hugeaux

2008-11-05T08:06:00.003-05:00

Here's a letter I received from Hugeaux on the President-Elect and the Arts.

Dear Humanitarians; Our New president Barack Obama is truly CHANGE. I predict that in the up coming seasons there shall be a HUGE increase on the importance of artists of African and American descent. We shall see a changing of the guards in many major and minor art institution / galleries and dealers. A new breed of collectors are coming into the arena. It has been a long wait for such a movement. For artists, it is now more important for you to create your on HISTORIES. The Internet is the key source. You have seen it work to it fullest with president Obama campaign. Old ideas are truly respected HOWEVER a CHANGE is HERE. GO AND GET IT!!!!!!! Hugeaux

Image Credit: The Bullfighting Cowboy, oil pastel, Hugeaux.

celebrate election day

2008-11-04T13:50:00.000-05:00

schmincke aquarelle watercolors lunchtime lesson

2008-11-03T16:09:00.006-05:00

I have a confession. I had a small green plastic container from Herbalife that Lord only knows where it came from and I had been hanging on to it for ages. Years maybe. Anyway, this plastic container is divided into six neat little compartments, too small for anything significant, and too big for really small things. So when I started thinking about incorporating watercolor washes in artists journals, I knew I was on to the perfect container for pans of watercolor.

I knew nothing about what I was doing, and I have since learned that you can purchase nifty little watercolor containers made perfectly for watercolor pans for cents on the dollar - AND they come in packs of 12, 24, and more. Lesson learned. So I went over to Pearl and stood in the watercolor aisle for like 45 minutes, bearing in mind all I had read about how you really only need 2 or 3 or maybe 4 colors to get started. And this made perfect sense to me, so I decided on the Schmincke Horadam line Aquarelle Watercolors and bought a 102 (permanent Chinese white), a red and a blue (I lost the labels and now could kick myself), a Payne gray, a lemon yellow, and a magenta because I needed one more to finish out my six and wanted to stay in the primaries.

Oh joy when I brought the watercolor pans home and they fit perfectly in my little case. These are the things that make artists happy - when tools work, when systems do not collide, when organization frees up brain space so one can think about really important things. Here's what I learned. The white is a bit light for me, the red is beautiful, the blue looks like two completely different pans of color whether applied light or dark, the Payne gray is gorgeous in light application, the yellow is a bit cheery (neon) for me, and the magenta is lovely. I made an attempt at mixing an orange with my yellow and red - this was successful. My attempt at mixing a green with blue and yellow was less so and my next trip to the store will involve buying a green.

I used my very favorite plastic watercolor paint brushes with barrels that hold water so you don't have to mess with it, and learned two important things in watercolor application. One - keep aside one specific brush for darker tints - the tints stain the brush bristles and you may want to only use your dark bristled brush for dark tints. Two - the watercolor water-holding paintbrush has two strange features: a) it holds the paint in the middle of the bristles when it appears to the eye that the bristles are clean. You have to give the brush another squeeze and out will drop an eyelet of color. b) the watercolor seeps into the brush's plastic chamber - this happened particularly with the lighter colors of white and yellow (which I know makes no sense at all, but you try it and you'll see).

All in all, the Schmincke watercolors are absolutely beautiful when dry. The little pans are perfect for traveling and I am very excited about their potential uses. Only one problem - my artists journal's pages aren't made to hold watercolor ... time to look for a journal with coarser paper. Also, if you're going to buy these watercolors, invest in the sets - it'll save you money and time. If you want to purchase some Schmincke for your very own use, here's what DickBlick has to say:

Schmincke has been developing and manufacturing its Horadam line of watercolors since 1881, and the company is now owned by the fourth generation of the original family. Schmincke has a reputation for using only the highest-quality natural gums, water-soluble resins, and pigments.
Schmincke is the only watercolor manufacturer in the world that uses the exact same formula for their tube and pan colors. Other manufacturers extrude their pan colors. Schmincke hand pours the same watercolor paint that is in their tubes into convenient pans. Then the pans are left to air dry. This process is repeated three more times. The pan colors are consistent all the way to the bottom, and they last and last!

designer gouache's lunchtime lesson

2008-11-03T15:38:00.006-05:00

I tried England's Winsor & Newton's Designers Gouache in Permanent White (Series 1 in 14 ml tubes) today as a mask for my artist's journal. The Gouache is part of Winsor's opaque watercolor series renown for color brilliance and matt finish, produced since 1935.

I had been reading that you could apply the gouache direct to paper to act as a background tint or direct on collage pieces to act as a mask which would allow subsequent layering effects. This was my first time with Winsor Newton and I found the Permanent White was maybe a bit too white for the type of vintage-y collage I like to do, and definitely too white for the graph paper I was using as my test sample (which has a greenish/blueish hue). The gouache also carried a strong odor for this non-painter (although is AP certified).

When tried over red pen ink (Uniball Signo 207 Red), the ink gel ran a bit however I wasn't completely sure it was dry to begin with - I can be impatient in these areas. Come to find out, Winsor & Newton offer a bleed-proof white - who would have thought. When tried under ink, the application of ink on top of the gouache was a bit splotchy (kind of like trying to write over white-out, but not as thick). The gouache definitely acted better when applied in straight, flat, thin layers with a German Loew-Cornell 6F fabric dye flat brush and was not at all chalky at application or at drying.

Visual art journalists would want to use the opaque gouache when trying the watercolor as a mask, but transparent colors might be nifty with words and layers and color application in artists journals. However, when tried over other collaged pieces already adhered to our journal, the gouache made the collage paper buckle slightly which gave a textural feel, but not a smooth and flat surface.

I was happy with the gouache - it dries relatively quickly. I'm thinking my next trip to the store might result in purchasing a Naples Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Raw Sienna or Raw Umber as tints. I was surprised to find there was no availability in a nice Eggshell or Antique White - it looks like you might have to mix your own. I'd also like to try the higher level formulas to see how they compare.

wishing i could meet elena del rivero

2008-11-03T10:19:00.008-05:00

Art is a funny thing. It has a way of seeping into your unconsciousness and when you least expect it, has you waking up at 2am with obsessive thoughts. A month or so ago, I attended a Business Women's event at the Corcoran. There on display, but roped off with yellow-do-not-cross-ticker-tape, was Elena Del Rivero's work (it was being filmed).

When you're an artist and art enthusiast and everyone is looking to "see" something, yellow ticker tape doesn't necessarily keep you from doing everything humanly possible to drink in an interesting subject, and the first image above is what greeted my eyes as I twisted and turned around the door jam under the watchful eyes of the very bored and mean security guards. Out of paper. The whole thing. Translucent and impermanent and free-floating and light-capturing. Gorgeous. Is it textile, is it paper, is it composition, is it really there? Called A Chant, 2001–2006, it is an installation of found papers mended, burnt, embroidered, and stitched to five rolls of muslin.

What I didn't get to see that day, but later saw via the Internet, and the image that's stuck with me over the past several weeks, and has now become "my purpose in life," "my cause," or "my addiction." It is the second image above called Home (Reference Library) (detail), 2000–2001, mixed media and paper. It is the detail of paper art, art journals, and visual diaries the artist used to chronicle items found immediately after September 11th - which is not only an admirable project (to have the state of mind to systematically collect and chronicle items during a world crisis) but is also so powerful because I'm not sure any of us are over THAT big one (even seven years later), especially reflecting on the state of the country on this historic, dramatic, and imperative Election Eve. Let not any of us ever forget that Tuesday for any reason.

del Rivero's bio from the Corcoran's exhibition reads: Elena del Rivero’s art inhabits the boundary between domestic space and public activity, between experience and memory, and between the desire for control and the surrender to chance. Both [exhibitions] explore the passage of time and the ways that daily routine and large-scale events intersect to shape our ideas about place and home. Fundamentally concerned with how materials gain and transmit meaning, Del Rivero works primarily with paper. For the two projects presented at the Corcoran, the artist drew and walked on, ripped, stained, bound, embroidered, wove, spun, cleaned, mended, and archived the paper that ultimately became her finished works of art. In this way, paper became a medium through which to both register and present the effects of activity and time.

On view through September 21, Home is, according to Del Rivero, “the story of a year.” She began the project in July of 2000, conceiving of it as an ongoing performance which would attempt to capture the entirety of her life during that period. Placing twenty large sheets of handmade paper throughout her home and studio in lower Manhattan, Del Rivero marked them with the traces of her daily existence—walking, eating, washing, and working. At the end of six months, she gathered the trampled sheets and transformed them over the second half of the year. They became the basis of [Swi:t] Home, where they hang amongst drawings, maps, books, and sculpture. Using the phonetic spelling in the first word of the title, Del Rivero’s piece evokes both “suite,” as in a series of works, but also “sweet,” with all its attendant associations of the memories and comforts of home.

In one sense, [Swi:t] Home: A Chant grew organically from the concerns of the earlier work; in another, it is the product of pure chance and outside intervention. When the World Trade Center was attacked on September 11, 2001, Del Rivero’s living and working space—located just across the street from the towers—was also a casualty. Returning home to find her windows blown out and every surface covered with ash and debris, the artist began the process of making sense of an event that had, in an instant, supplanted the memories made and recorded there during the previous year.

Over the next five years, Del Rivero painstakingly collected, catalogued, and, ultimately stitched together the bits of paper and debris that she found in her apartment. The result is a majestic curtain of sewn paper, more than 500 feet long. Installed in the Corcoran’s rotunda through November 16, the work cascades from the ceiling onto the floor—at once dramatic and humble, mournful and reparative. Like [Swi:t] Home, it speaks to the complex intermingling of daily routine and chance events, and the ways in which life intersects with art.

Elena del Rivero was born in Valencia, Spain, and has lived in New York since 1991, gaining U.S. citizenship in 2003. She earned her BA from the University of Valencia in 1974 and a diploma in English Literature from Cambridge University in 1977. Del Rivero has had one-artist exhibitions at the Drawing Center and Art in General in New York, and at the University of Salamanca, the Museo Nacional Centro Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, and the Caixa Foundation, Barcelona, in Spain. She has also been included in group exhibitions in museums in the United States and abroad.

In 1995, Del Rivero represented Spain at the Johannesburg Biennale. In 2006, the Institute of Modern Art in Valencia (IVAM), along with Patio Herreriano in Spain, organized At Hand, 15 Years of Works on Paper. Del Rivero has been the recipient of two grants from Creative Capital (2003, 2001), two NYFA grants (2002, 2001), and two grants from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation (2002, 1991). In 1988, she won the Prix de Rome. In 2005 the Rockefeller Foundation awarded Del Rivero a residential fellowship at the Bellagio Center in Italy.

She has been a visiting artist at the University of Barcelona; the College of New Rochelle; Wellesley College; the Whitney Museum of American Art at Champion, Stamford, CT; and Brooklyn College. From 1993 to 1997, she was on the artistic staff of the Studio in a School, New York. Del Rivero’s work is in the collections of IVAM in Valencia, Spain; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Yale University; the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.; the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard; and the Museo Nacional Centro Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, among other institutions.

Where is elena del rivero today? If anyone knows, please contact me. I'd love to meet her to thank her for my awakening and ask her what she thinks of our new President-to-be.

Images Credit: Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., and the artist. Home image is (Courtesy of Patio Herreriano, Valladolid, Spain, 2007, and the artist. (c) Elena del Rivero

shifty shifts

2008-11-03T08:05:00.003-05:00

This is why November's always such a strange month for me. Shifting sands, shifting thoughts, shifting tides and shifting ideas. I have been unable to control my growing excitement about artists journals, art journaling, visual diaries, collage, mixed media, art on paper, book art ... and I'm giving serious thought to putting aside the arts business end of Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory to instead focus on a research, teaching, writing, creativity workshops, and arts working ends oriented around journaling. As I study artists' pages in various books and as I study methods of paper manipulation, I find that art journaling and visual chronicling seem to be all I can think about. And I already shared with you that I have this arts journal idea tied into the holy prayer cards. I keep thinking about how to present the idea and I seem to be on a rabid hunt for anything and everything paper related. To that end, Art Whino's offering an upcoming show on the art of stenciling which I thought I'd share here. Who in the DC area specializes in the art of the book? If anyone knows, please contact me.

calligrapher joei lau

2008-10-30T22:05:00.002-04:00

I recently found Joei Lau, calligrapher and designer, through the 1000 Art Journals Pages. Joei's work is stunningly executed and gorgeously matched with color and meaning. A group of work varied from an exhibition in December 2006. 40 canvas were painted with watercolors, covered with ohp sheets with hand writing. Pieces found in this set are scanned from the original canvas combining another set of hand painted watercolors postcards. Digitalized by Photoshop.

http://www.joeilau.com
http://majoart.exblog.jp

my latest series: beginning stages

2008-10-30T20:33:00.003-04:00

Here are some beginning stages of my latest spiritual art series in holy prayer cards. I haven't figured out exactly what I'm going to do yet. They will likely stay in small works and will likely be enhanced with mixed media, collage, ephemera, perhaps some inspirational words ... they are the cornerstone of a much larger project I currently have in mind. I hope you enjoy these as I've enlarged the three pieces that make the strongest artistic statement.

on my desk: artists' studios blog

2008-10-30T20:05:00.003-04:00

Lauren introduced me to one of my newest and most favorite art sites, the on my desk: creative spaces blog. We love the idea of artists' studios, their functionality, their design, their locations, and their themes. This blog is a space where artists, illustrators, designers, and creative folk share the stuff on their desk by submitting pictures and writing a few blurbs about it too. We've shown you one of Ximena Maier's photos, an illustrator out of Madrid, Spain. You can learn more about her at
http://www.ximenamaier.com
http://ximenitadibuja.blogspot.com
http://lobstersquad.blogspot.com

On my desk is a great space to gain inspiration, organizational skills, to pick up a few tricks of the trade and to constantly remind yourself how small and simple really CAN be better. Enjoy!!

lesley venable's flatwood folkart

2008-10-30T19:18:00.004-04:00

I was sharing with you the fact that I've been turning my attention to serious art journaling which has proven to be a fantastic and wonderful voyage. It's brought me to new challenges in my artwork and new Internet sites about artists' studios. I've seen traveling journals and it's opened my eyes to some of the established authorities on the subject - but the thing that leaves a lasting impression is the images.

Now my art journaling is taking a surprising spiritual or religious twist and I'm finding that the works I'm creating, the journal I'm keeping (I'm actually keeping two), my blogging, and my momentary artistic interests are melting to one blurred and indescribable pot. I'm not sure I can explain it, and I'm not sure I even understand what is happening artistically.

I'm drawn to works of a spiritual bent, I suddenly love works that feature some element of flying or travel, and the soft and quiet works are gathering my attention. I've had to do much inner searching of late, particularly in some professional settings that have been less than comfortable, and it's the quiet place that holds my rest.

Anyway, this is a long introduction to tell you how I came upon Lesley Venable's site Flatwood Folkart. The images above are courtesy of her vintage eye. Lesley's a kindred spirit in that she is also a mixed media, altered art, assemblage, collage artist. Raised in Louisiana by a mom who is a more traditional professional artist and a Dad who was the resident artist in the kitchen, Lesley's sister's creative knack came out in garden and landscape design.

Lesley has what she calls my "necessary" job that she goes to on a daily basis and then, like many artists who have yet to become full-time professionals, she creates her art work at night. She says her muse seems to be the busiest when she has the least amount of time to devote to her suggestions. Lesley thinks when she is not creating, it frustrates the muse to no end.

Lesley's family consists of herself, a husband, a step-son who lives in Northern Virginia, 3 dogs (two golden retrievers and a mixed breed who they rescued from an abusive past) and 1 cat who thinks he owns the house. She says she's been blessed in so many ways by God and she is forever thankful for the people He has sent into her life to touch her heart.

artful thoughts

2008-10-30T15:54:00.002-04:00

A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience. (Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr)

Wisdom is ofttimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar. (William Wordsworth)

They know enough who know how to learn. (Henry Adams)

The rays of happiness, like those of light, are colorless when unbroken. (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

artist relocation programs

2008-10-30T07:49:00.003-04:00

We've been keeping an eye on several artist relocation programs; notably Paducah's well-established program, Peoria's attempt to bolster and establish a more formalized program; and now Fall River's attempts to bring commerce and the arts to an area much threatened by the current economic crisis. Michael Holtzman did a fine job reporting on Fall River's Artists in Residence in this 10/26/08 article.

nathan durfee @ robert lange studios

2008-10-30T07:40:00.002-04:00

We have lots to update you on as we've been extremely busy with events over the past week. In the meantime, Robert Lange Studios (no known relation) is showing some thoughtfully whimsical works by Nathan Durfee in Charleston, South Carolina.

Stay tuned for much more on art journaling, my new creative series involving holy prayer cards, pictures of the studio, notes on art and panel discussion events last week, and thoughts about the direction Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory needs to take in 2009.

art whino and shauna lee lange arts advisory's october collaboration

2008-10-09T09:34:00.004-04:00

Art Whino and Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory proudly announce an exciting art panel discussion event scheduled for Friday, October 24th at the Adidas store in DC's Georgetown (1251 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington, DC 20007).

Art Whino's National Harbor presence continues to inspire and invigorate the DC art world by bringing forth challenging ideas of contemporary art to the masses. Art Whino's creative vision for a strong DC university and northwest presence will certainly come to fruition as the gallery begins fully utilizing the Adidas Loft location in swanky Georgetown for premier, never-before-seen events.

Art Whino is fully committed to encouraging new forms of art collection and stewardship by offering cutting edge works which communicate new voices to those scouring the marketplace. They may include often overlooked works, reasonably priced (below marketplace) works, international artists establishing a US foothold, or other generally unexpected works.

Gallery managers are professional, open, relaxed, and forward-thinking in wanting to establish gallery spaces that encourage conversation, critiques, and collaboration. It is in this spirit that they agreed to work with Lange, a metropolitan DC arts advisor, in presenting a DC forum for the 2008 Americans for the Arts Creative Conversations events being held throughout the nation during October.

Art Whino has already established themselves as a viable and trustworthy art source and with Lange as a quickly rising art expert in the area of art business, they make a formidable team. Together they embody the words of William Shakespeare, "Things won are done: joy's soul lies in the doing." If you are interested in receiving an invitation to the event, please contact this writer.

Image: BAT Boulandi, People Under the Stairs, 16x20", acrylic on canvas. See http://www.artwhino.com/.

nyc gallery bound for columbus day

2008-10-09T09:17:00.003-04:00

Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory is headed to New York City over the Columbus Day weekend. We'll be stopping in to see some arts professionals, visiting some new galleries to see new works, making a trek over to Brooklyn to drop works, having dinner with a very special someone, and generally getting a feel for how the economy is impacting NYC art sales, the overall art market, and obtaining a sense for what's hot and what's not on the street level. We'll be bringing back fresh NYC ideas to our metropolitan DC arts arena. Stay tuned for more.

Image: P. Buckley Moss, Amish Homeland, 2008, 8 x 18 3/4" see www.pbuckleymoss.com.

deborah davidson @ sue greenwood fine art

2008-10-09T09:09:00.002-04:00

I love to see what's being shown on the west coast, and Sue Greenwood Fine Art seems to always have something exciting. Her gallery embodies the words of Will Hays: "Things do not happen in this world - they are brought about." Greenwood's helping well known artist Deborah Davidson exhibit her reflective and pensive works.

Davidson's bio says: This body of work is about mysterious places that, when we go to them, we feel connected with the universe. There, nature is the physical manifestation of emotion, magic, and grace. Jung once described the possible phenomenon of an intelligent and responsive universe, one that acts and reacts in our interest. I am reminded of a power outside myself and that something sacred, rather than merely physical, is at work.

More than light and space, these painting are about perception and the ability to be aware. They are about the use of intuition as a position of knowledge. They are memories of landscapes transformed by the mind into images akin to those in dreams. Nature used as an embodiment of my subjective self, a projection of my emotions of ecstasy, fear and wonder. These works are about nature's vastness, the majesty of its storms, its loneliness and terror and its profound peace. These images are moments. They are the heartbeats, the breadths by which we affirm each instance.

"…so the darkness shall be light, and the stillness the dancing." -- T.S. Elliot, "Four Quarter"

Image: Deborah Davidson, Pearls of Wisdom, 48.00" x 36.00", oil on panel.

cassandra barney's the incumbent: loving and growing strong

2008-10-08T11:19:00.002-04:00

The Incumbent by Cassandra Barney. Don’t pick it up, and don’t put it down. - African Proverb.

“I once saw an interview with Maya Angelou,” says artist Cassandra Barney, “in which she talked about praise and criticism. She said that if you keep to yourself—here symbolized by the figure’s hands folded in her lap—then the harsh words of others won’t bring you down and their flattery won’t over-inflate your ego. This regal woman understands the importance of community and family, but she knows, too, that in the end you must believe in yourself and be able stand on your own two feet. It is her inner strength that gives her such beauty.”The popularity of Cassandra Barney’s elegant portraits has gained momentum over the last few years, from gallery walls to the Internet. “Thanks for making my heart happy with your art,” wrote one recent visitor to Barney’s weblog. This is essential art for a new generation—loving, growing and strong.

Text and Image courtesy of: Greenwich Workshop Fine Art Giclée Canvas:limited to 100 s/n. 12"w x 18"h. $395Ask About Availability

brooklyn artists gym hosts lange's dc photography for BKLYN:111 show

2008-10-01T10:52:00.013-04:00

The Brooklyn Artists Gym Gallery gave a resounding New York nod to metropolitan-DC's Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory's photographic works. The works were selected as finalists from a wide field of entrants in support of the organization's upcoming fundraising event and show "BKLYN:111."

Lange's original works (Mirror, Mirror, digital photography, 2008 and Wild Berries, digital photography, 2008) will be premiered during the opening reception on Saturday, October 18, 4:00-7:00 with full show dates running from October 17th to the 25th. The show runs in conjunction with the Annual Gowanus Artists Studio Tour (AGAST).

The Gallery's fundraising event, BKLYN 111, is scheduled Saturday, October 25th 4-7pm. On the final day of the show, the fundraising party will be held. Collectors who purchase tickets will have the opportunity to take home any one of the works on display. The order in which they make their choices will be decided by lottery, but everybody will get art!

Representing Ms. Lange of Alexandria, VA, as artist representative, will be Brooklyn's own Ms. Lauren Turnbull, a promising student artist, photographer, and filmmaker at Pratt Institute.

The Gallery is found at 168 7th St., Brooklyn, NY (between 2nd and 3rd Ave.). The nearest subway is the F train (4th Ave. stop) or the R train (9thSt.stop). More info is at Brooklyn Artists Gym show@brooklynartistsgym.com http://www.brooklynartistsgym.com/ or 718.858.9069.

artist of the year competition: friends of the torpedo factory

2008-10-01T10:20:00.007-04:00

Each year, the Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center host an Artist of the Year competition among resident or affiliate artists. Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory is honored to accept the President of the organization's invitation to serve as the 2008 independent blind juror. Entry submission dates for this competition are still being organized, and the Friends hope to announce the final winner by year's end.

Earlier this summer, the Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center hosted a reception for 2007 Artist of the Year Joyce McCarten. Joyce served as an associate picture editor at Smithsonian Magazine and studied at NOVA, George Mason, The Art Leage, and The Corcoran. She began teaching at the Art League in 1999. Her greatest influences come from land forms she has seen. Of late, she has been making mixed media paintings with pieces of metal found in her late husband's garage. These pieces, along with paper have become "pieces of paint" on her palette.

In filling a jurist's duties, Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory will honor the words of Martin Buber: No limits are set to the ascent of (wo)man, and to each and everyone the highest stands open. Here it is only your personal choice that decides.

Good luck to all the entrants, and may this year's competition be spirited and invigorating.

torpedo factory's 3rd annual art collector's panel: cultivate your taste for art

2008-10-01T09:49:00.010-04:00

The Torpedo Factory Art Center will hold their 3rd Annual Art Collector's evening panel: Cultivate Your Taste for Art (CYTFA) on Sunday, October 26th.

Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory is thrilled to have been asked to serve as a panelist. The by-invitation panel consists of a high-profile DC arts events promoter; a vibrant gallery's co-director with experience in VA, MD, and DC; and a national full-service arts advisory firm headquartered in Alexandria and specializing in the metropolitan DC area.

This panel event is a great opportunity for arts enthusiasts to build their art holdings and to learn about the components of art collecting. Attendees will also learn the basics of wine tasting while sampling a variety of Virginia wines in honor of the 20th anniversary of Virginia Wine Month.

The Torpedo Factory's Director of Special Events is serving as organizer of the fun gala which mixes art, wine, and good times. The event will be held from 6:30-9:00pm with a panel discussion beginning around 6:45pm. Some Torpedo Factory artists will have artwork priced at $350 and below for sale, and many artists will be on hand to speak with and answer any of the public’s questions about their work and their process.

Ticket Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door.For more information call 703-838-4565 x 2 or email events@torpedofactory.org.

Image: Partytime by Maggie Stewart.

americans for the arts - october creative conversations events in virginia

2008-10-01T09:25:00.007-04:00

Alexandria, Virginia is representing the arts in the Commonwealth of Virginia by hosting two upcoming events: Creative Conversations. The conversations are multi-disciplinary panel talks designed to help encourage emerging art leaders in incubating arts awareness, advocacy, and involvement by working with the national non-profit Americans for the Arts. The events celebrate October's designation as National Arts & Humanities month. Americans for the Arts says:

"National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM) is a coast-to-coast collective celebration of culture in America. Held every October and coordinated by Americans for the Arts, it has become the largest annual celebration of the arts and humanities in the nation. From arts center open houses to mayoral proclamations to banners and media coverage, communities across the United States join together to recognize the importance of arts and culture to citizen's daily lives."

Alexandria's co-hosts include Vander Zee Foundation and Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory. The two will hold panel discussions on Thursday, October 9th and Thursday, October 23rd from 7 - 9 pm at the Vander Zee Gallery, 205 South Lee Street (above Why Not), Alexandria, VA 22314.

Scheduled panelists include an esteemed composer, a prolific writer, a fine arts painter, a well-heeled photographer, and several others. The conversations promise to be lively and engaging. The events are open to the public and street parking is available. Metropolitan DC'ers can metro to the King Street station and take the free red trolley to lower King Street. Click here to register for the event (scroll down to Virginia listings) or arrive last minute to participate. http://www.americansforthearts.org/networks/emerging_leaders/events/creative_conversations/2008/002.asp

lange photography selected for children's textbook

2008-10-01T09:10:00.007-04:00

Q2A Media is a company that produces children's books for publishers in the U.K. and U.S. They have a current project for a textbook named "Beep, beep, beep clocks and watches" for worldwide distribution. Q2A came across Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory photographs on Flickr and asked whether the full-service arts advisory firm could provide permissions and hi-resolution versions of the images. We are very excited about this opportunity, and more thrilled about potnetially helping children learn about time.

Image Above: Dali's Melted Clock sculpture with Photoshopped second clock added.

judy morse travel photographer

2008-10-01T08:56:00.005-04:00

Judy Morse's travel photography is currently on exhibit at Café Pizzaiolo in Arlington. Interesting groupings, various sized prints, beautiful frames, and photography on gallery-wrapped canvas highlight the exhibit. Morse's works are archival pigmented ink prints from from the photographer's travels in Italy, Hawaii, and at home in Washington, DC. We've highlighted three images from her Eastern Sierra series. Ms. Morse is scheduled to appear on an esteemed panel of speakers discussing creativity on October 23rd in Old Town, Alexandria. Contact Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory at 703.960.0616 for more information.

Images above: Ghost Town at Bodie State Historic Park, CA; Fall Colors on the June Lake Loop near Mono Lake (2004); and Monument at Manzanar National Historic Site in Owens Valley (2004).

shauna lee lange arts advisory set to join eisenhower partnership

2008-09-26T15:39:00.003-04:00

Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory is set to join Alexandria's Eisenhower Partnership in September 2008. The partnership, comprised of corporations, professional firms, and local business people, promotes economic growth and quality of life in the Eisenhower Valley of Alexandria, Virginia. The coalition of partners looks to proposed transportation improvements, development proposals, and community forums to effectively represent the community’s needs. The Eisenhower Valley is strategically located and offers fine retail/shopping, recreation, work, residential living, and citizen convenience services. The arts advisory founder, Shauna Lee Lange, has happily lived in the area since 2003 and her arts advisory firm will be the first art specific entity, full-service art advisory, and art consultancy to join the group to date.

business & professional women of the corcoran celebrate richard avedon

2008-09-26T15:12:00.003-04:00

The Business and Professional Women of the Corcoran recently commemorated the launch of Richard Avedon's photography exhibit by hosting a networking/business meeting luncheon. The event was very far removed in style and time from many of the 60's and 70's era works on show by the esteemed late photographer. Having seen the success of the Leibovitz past opening, I expected the same curatorship with Avedon and was not disappointed. Historically, socially, commercially, culturally - it's a fascinating look at the personalities that exist(ed) on our little blue marble.

Attendees from Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory were moved to tears with two photographs in particular, both taken in 1963. The first features a woman standing on the sidewalk holding the newspaper headlines on November 22nd and is completely striking in its shock and show-stopping tone. The second (above), with heartbreaking honesty, was taken March 24, 1963 in Algiers, Louisiana of William Casby, born in slavery and was not printed as gelatin silver print until nearly three decades later. Several photographs of black leaders underscore their importance, rise to power, and mark on humanity. See the show whether you're a history, music, or arts buff to take a walk down memory lane - it'll make you think about our future.

collaborating with a painting master

2008-09-26T13:48:00.003-04:00

We are so pleased to announce our loosely defined and still developing relationship with master painter, Rob Vander Zee. Rob is a consummate oil painter who also sits at the head of the Vander Zee Gallery, the Vander Zee School of Painting, and the Vander Zee Foundation. His painting students have formed a close and strong allegiance and show an exceptional group promise for the future.

Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory will serve over the next three months, as a volunteer service provider, a professional art advisor, and an innocent observing by-stander. Make no mistake, Rob has an impressive list of accomplishments and an aggressive list of goals. Jointly, all the entities that contribute are busy from dawn to dusk. Watch this site for future announcements of happenings.

Image Credit: Rob Vander Zee, Yellow Earth 1-Z008, oil on panel, 42" x 36", 2006

your local chamber: get involved!

2008-09-26T13:17:00.003-04:00

We try to regularly attend our local Chamber of Commerce meetings, business after-hours, and other events to meet and greet fine business professionals in our community. Not only is the Chamber an excellent way to get the skinny on upcoming happenings, but it is also a great learning tool, an important networking tool, and a fine relationship building tool. Join Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory at one of the many October Alexandria Chamber of Commerce events scheduled in and around the Old Town district. It is entirely possible that your business line is under-represented and that means you get to shine! Hone your speaking, presenting, and listening skills by visiting an event soon.

client case study: leaving volunteer work

2008-09-26T11:06:00.005-04:00

Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory was contacted in September by a woman artist client who was faced with a difficult decision that many artists face. She had been dedicating part of her time to a prestigious institution by volunteering her ideas, energy, enthusiasm, and management skills and over the course of volunteering, had happily seen the organization stabilize and solidify.

Problem is, she wasn't getting paid for the volunteering and her own works weren't selling. She was feeling that her own interests were suffering and she was seeing that others who were more centrally dedicated and focused were achieving the "success" that she aspired to. She battled a "Type A" personality trait to "do it all" and worried that in giving up this activity, she would be falling short of all she could give.

I grew up on the east coast, near the water. One of my first childhood memories is walking the beach in the middle of winter, so cute with my little artificial fur coat on. I've lived on a few islands. I drink water even when I'm not thirsty. When you are a water sign, you live near the water, you long for island life, you might even collect shells and you develop a somewhat watery personality - always looking for the ground to next flow. When you're not near the water, you look at all the travel magazines to see where else in the world people are living happier than you and near the coast. Well - water's in your blood and there's no escaping it.

We who are water people have a saying. And our saying goes that when it comes to personalities, there are two kinds in the world. There are surface swimmers and then you have your divers. All my life I wanted to be a diver. Divers know what they want and they go after it with a single mind. They're the people who knew in second grade that they'd end up a car mechanic. They're the ones who order hamburgers just so, because they know exactly what they like. Or the ones you see walking down the street with a Phillies baseball shirt on, because Phillies are the bomb, and there will never be another team like the Phillies, and when we go to a game, you betcha' the Phillies will be a'playin, and oh yes they can name every Phillies baseball player since the inception of the team. Divers. They know what they want, they know who they are. They know where they've been, where they're at, and where they're going AND how they're going to get there.

A surface swimmer sort of floats around. He or she is a fantastic generalist. They try every little thing and they've been around every little block. They're amazing problem solvers because they have a WIDE range of options to chose. Sometimes, every little wave tosses them to and fro and this gives others the mistaken impression that what is in fact intellect manifests as flaky. Today I'm interested in wind energy and tomorrow I'm writing the President another letter about the homeless. A surface swimmer is reading three books all at once - all of them mid-stream. They stare at a menu for thirty minutes never having read item one. They're the kind that refuse to take one phone call at a time. They'll toggle the flash button on the phone to switch from call waiting conversations all the live-long day.

Being a surface swimmer has its benefits, but one of the greatest detractions is you can never really decide. You won't believe this, but in a period of three months once, I exchanged a new car. I then went on to purchase three separate and completely different makes and models in immediate succession (and I STILL to this day wish I had gotten the convertible model of the car I ended up with.) A surface swimmer is always looking for the next wave. They're trend setters, they're futurists, they're market indicators. They cover an awful lot of ground and they're great at cocktail parties because they can talk to anyone, but let's face it, they're surface swimmers.

For example, I love the tattoo culture. I love the idea of being able to express your experience on living flesh. I love the idea of marking your road map. Saying this is who I am, this is where my life turned, this is what I want to remember, and this is what I want to forget. If you can commit to that, my friend, commit to permanently marking your body, then you're a diver and I envy you. You plunged the depths. You braved the dark and the cold.

And I? Well I was the one floating up on top, soaking in the sun rays, calling out to the lifeguard to throw me a rope when I went in past my chin. I'm the one you'll see at all the conventions, in all the upcoming articles, in all the shops interviewing people and getting their stories, oh yes. I'm the one, the water girl, the blank canvas, the surface swimmer who won't quite be able to look you in the eye. We both know the truth. What an existence. (I am getting better!)

But you, if you're a working artist who has self-sacrificed for others for more than three or five or ten years, it is time to dive. And for this client, mid-life and trying to balance multiple tasks at once, it was time to (temporarily?) say good-bye to this fine institution. Choreographer Twyla Tharp wrote that the experience of single-mindedness is somewhat akin to being monastic. To giving yourself the gift of one-focus. Giving yourself the gift of the dive, the gift of seeing where dedicated studio work propels you as a person, the gift of stopping the giving to everyone else. Financial guru Suze Orman said she was always amazed when she was involved in the financial markets and would be attending seminars and when the topic of volunteer work came up, the men in the room sat still. Men generally have a different culture. They don't give away what brings home the bacon. Why should the women?

Yes, there's something to be said about community service, philanthropic idealism, nuturing and the magic generated back when you give to others. But if we're talking about a life's work, if we're talking about self-actualization, if we're talking about FINALLY doing something you always wanted to do, then it's time. You've prepared. You're ready. You've got your spare oxygen tank over in the corner. NOW DIVE.

meeting mike weber

2008-09-26T10:50:00.007-04:00

Mike Weber of Weber Fine Art graciously invited Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory to his working studio and home in Northwest DC to talk about the state of the arts in the mid-Atlantic region, the goals of each art advisory firm, the challenges in being an art consultant, and the possibilities for future collaborative efforts.

Weber consults, installs, frames, rents, and collects a host of local artists' works. He has a casual, hands-on and stress-free consulting process whereby collectors can immediately see and understand their personal vision for their residential or commercial properties. Weber's well connected in the DC arts scene and he's growing his firm to be able to form a quasi artists-design-studio-school-workshop. And he's a regularly featured entity in many fine magazines.

Weber & Lange are considering possible joint ventures for cutting edge, never-before-done, risky exhibition venues with a focus on the Maryland and Virginia markets. The two are hoping to be able to bring excellent works forward by virtue of controversial or thought provoking thematic displays. They are also considering how they can incorporate gallerists, younger aspiring artists, and art enthusiasts to the mix. Watch both these firms as they continue to make a mark in DC's art scene.

Image above: Brooke Fitts (featured photographer available through Weber Fine Art), Capturing the Fair.

self-improvement in communications

2008-09-26T10:33:00.003-04:00

Self-improvement is not a selfish activity. For artists, it is a necessity. For businesses, it is a critical element for growth. Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory is proud to have completed a 12-week communications seminar sponsored by the United States Health & Human Services. The seminar focused on the different styles of communication between men and women, the expectations we hold, the backgrounds we bring to any interaction, and the value in speaking from both the heart and mind.

In our Washington, DC based firm, we are founded by a woman who's made her career as an analyst and co-founded by a man who has made his as a commercial architect. Both completely different human beings, yet married to each other. Shauna was born and raised in the States - Alex overseas. Alex travels most days within corporate businesses where creative ideas in architecture are valued - Shauna spends hers largely within rigid hierarchal institutions where ideas can be slow moving. She reads art books - he reads biographies. She drives carefully - he not so much (ha).

The value of our differences is what they create as a whole. Our communications challenges need to embrace more diversity, more acceptance, more space and time and forgiveness. When you work with our advisory firm, you get so much more than nuts and bolts and big bills. You get real live people who are growing, and learning, changing and communicating! Stay active in your goals. Reach out and stretch yourselves. Keep yourselves open and try new things. And remember always to give yourself self-care.

channeling susan abbott

2008-09-26T09:30:00.007-04:00

It is important for art advisors and consultants to keep abreast of developments and changes within their own field. Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory attended a one-day seminar which was designed to teach the amateur artist tools on becoming professional. And although we feel that as an established national advisory firm, we have an excellent command of the paths artists can take to work with galleries, or to self-market, or to make a lifelong commitment to their craft - we also feel that it's important to hear how others are accomplishing the same goals.

It is more critical perhaps, that a qualified art advisor or consultancy firm also BE a working artist. One cannot understand the struggles, obstacles, and challenges of the art world unless one is in it (and I don't care how great a business person you may be) - you've got to live, breathe, eat, and drink art to grow in your understanding of it. And you have to continuously ask questions.

Is there a resource, a trick, a tool, or a contact the successful artist uses that we don't know about? So it was in that spirit that we went with the best of intentions and expectations to work under the tutelage of a highly accomplished water colorist, Susan Abbott. Ms. Abbott has at least two decades of exhibitions, consignments, gallery horror stories, and independent vision under her belt and with a seminar of about 25 mid-life attendees, she gave us everything she had on paperwork, taxes, books, psychological inspiration, and all that her experience has shown it takes to be both a working artist and a business.

The materials and information collected will only help our firm be of more assistance to those seeking professional advice. Ms. Abbott herself has left the Washington rat-race and now lives in rural Vermont where she talks about the trade offs between being able to stumble into one of DC's over 150 museums and the isolation (but frugality) of living remotely. Abbott stresses travel, work, and communication among artists - she encourages joining small artist groups and she believes in the power of the group as a cohesive element within the macro. And it was that thought, the power of the group, that led this artist to the inspiration to create a piece of collage work based on Abbott's "Dream Tables" series.

I took a small exhibition catalogue of Ms. Abbott's large thematic watercolor collections and separated individual works from the booklet. I then spent a block of time (hours) really looking at the pieces to understand the medium, message, and method. I continued by meticulously cutting one inch squares from the completed reproduced images and semi-randomly mixed the squares according to overall color, style, and content. I had been seeing exhibition notices on quilting and textiles pop up in the news and the idea of quilts, stitching, and assemblage was still floating around.

The square tiles were then painstakingly re-assembled by hand into a larger quilt square with a small windowing margin separating the tiles. The beauty of this re-interpretation of Ms. Abbott's work is not only that we've taken watercolor and re-presented it as collage, but also that one really sees the independent detail Abbott accomplishes in her overall theme. And focally, whether the eye zooms in or out, the result is quite stunning, original, and communicative. If that's not "becoming professional" then I guess more workshops might be in store!

Image Above: Shauna Lee Lange, Channeling Susan Abbott, 15" x 18", collage on paper, 2008.

linked-in networking blitz

2008-09-26T09:17:00.002-04:00

There's a host of social networking sites available, and the one Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory recommends for professional networking is Linked In. Linked In is resource where one can capture, record, and organize colleague e-mail contact information. The system is simple and easy to use and is based on degrees of separation. I know John, John knows Mary, I want to work with Mary and John is my connector link.

September 2008 has traditionally been a month of re-energizing, re-organizing, and re-focus for the Washington DC based arts advisory. Over 250 contacts were added to our networking circle through Linked In, and believe it or not, well over 1,000 invitations are still awaiting responses.

The arts world is well-known for its word-of-mouth referencing and resourcing. The times, well they are a-changing, and with all this information overload, one simply must get it down in writing somewhere. We encourage artists to consider moving from Facebook or MySpace or any other the other top networking sites and join a social network that's a bit more professional and a bit less social.

postcard marketing blitz

2008-09-26T09:05:00.007-04:00

To reach arts entities within the mid-Atlantic region, Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory mailed out over 5,000 artists postcards to designers, interior decorators, galleries, museums, arts organizations, developers, residents, arts personalities, press and media, art suppliers, art critics, art consultants and many more.

It is a daunting task to develop a comprehensive marketing database, and let no one fool you, it takes considerable time. But with each name added and each contact reached, this art consultant is learning, growing, and becoming more savvy as to the interconnectedness of it all.

Many low-cost, self-publishing companies are available for artists, gallerists, and museum curators looking to make a visual statement about the work they do or upcoming events they may be involved with. There is a bit of trial and error in getting your statement to say the right thing in the right way, and we're still learning. Make no mistake about it, while we transition to electronic newsletters and emailed notices, the artist's postcard is still a standard staple for exhibitions and events.

We're very excited about the new friends we've made and if art ever dies, there's always graphic design, printing, and publishing to think about!

regan vasconcellos - travel photography

2008-09-06T21:09:00.002-04:00

Regan Vasconcellos is a multi-talented artist. We especially love her travel photography, even though her ink drawings of ethnic groups are also quite remarkable. The photographs above were taken with a 6.0 mega pixel Sony digital camera while Vasconcellos was on vacation in Rajasthan, India.

Vasconcellos has been creating art since she was a child (her mother was an art teacher). Regan studied Graphic Arts for two years at the US Department of Agriculture. It was such a long time ago, but she can still remember those photography classes which she enjoyed immensely. She decided to take her photography skills to the next level and received a degree in communications with a concentration in film and media criticism from George Mason University.

After college, Vasconcellos decided to do some traveling. She presently lives in South Korea and has been there for two years. Even though she has taken a break from university, she has not taken a break from her art. Now she takes as many photos as she possibly can. In fact, she hardly goes anywhere without a camera of sorts. Vasconcellos now takes the photos and makes copies of them with a paint brush, implementing a marriage of painting and photography.

She enjoys painting greatly. It is a hobby, and one that she would like to turn into a successful career. She's been very successful in South Korea as an artist and has had three exhibitions to date. She has also written three books, two for children. Vasconcellos (artitup@gmail.com) plans to return to the DC area this month to publish her books. Although she has nothing set at the moment for an exhibition in DC, she is looking at The DC Center for the Arts and is planning on doing an exhibit with her ethnic groups ink drawings. View Vasconcellos' other work at artitup.googlepages.com.

art advisory and paint company partner for fine art

2008-09-06T18:26:00.004-04:00

Washington DC-based Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory is thrilled to announce our partnership with New Jersey based myperfectcolor.com and the Breslow Home Design Center. The firms are collaborating to provide specialized paint selections and color backgrounds for works of fine art for both commercial developers and residential owners. Myperfectcolor.com evaluates the painting and offers a special background paint color that would complement and accentuate the colors of the painting. Expert color matching is provided by Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory. If you have a special piece that you love and are considering a redesign project, the tools available at myperfectcolor.com can help you match everything perfectly.

Office Creativity

2008-09-06T17:48:00.004-04:00

This week's Harvard Business Publishing contains a great article on managing people and uncovering creativity in the workplace. The article, "Find the Creativity Hiding in Your Office" is by Gill Corkindale at the link above. Corkindale writes that creativity lurks untapped in most workplaces and lends a few clues on promoting creatvity.

Corkindale's advice is well-heeled. She is an executive coach and writer based in London who works with managers and leaders from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East to develop strategies for business effectiveness and personal change. Formerly management editor of the Financial Times, Corkindale uses her journalistic skills and business insights to bring a new perspective on global management and leadership.

Art for Obama with Organizer Bruce McBarnette 9/19/08

2008-09-06T16:56:00.006-04:00

Attorney, Real Estate Investor, and Political Organizer Bruce McBarnette returns to Georgetown Friday evening, September 19th from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm for another Art for Obama public reception in the galleries series. McBarnette hopes to gather community and generate contributions to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama.

The galleries, located in the courtyard of 1054 31st Street, are the Alla Rogers Gallery, the Cross Mackenzie Gallery, Legalerie Petite Gallery, MOCA Gallery, and the Parish Gallery, which hosted an Art for Obama reception early in June.

McBarnette said, “I am so pleased that gallery owners have taken the initiative to help this historic campaign. It truly reflects the leadership role that the artistic community is taking toward improving the country.”

Art for Obama is a series of fundraising art receptions that McBarnette, from Sterling, Virginia, has been hosting around the country. Since February, there have been several Art for Obama events in New York City; San Francisco; Maryland; Washington, DC; and Virginia. Early this year, Art for Obama events were held at the Addison/Ripley Gallery and the Phoenix Gallery, both in Georgetown.

To RSVP for the Art for Obama reception or learn about more Art for Obama events, visit www.mcbarnette.com/charity or call 877-323-4713. Bruce McBarnette, Esq. bruce@mcbarnette.com Attorney at Law and President of Summit Connection, LLC Real Estate Investing www.mcbarnette.com/summit or Myra Maslowsky at (703) 404-8429 mmaslo2677@aol.com.

Alexandria Arts Advisory Capitalizes on National Harbor Growth

2008-09-06T16:08:00.004-04:00

Here's an article we recently submitted to Virginians for the Arts. The organization is seeking short essays on how Virginia arts firms are contributing to community. Submit your story to Trish Poupore at VaforArts@aol.com.

Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory, based in Alexandria, Virginia, and serving the metropolitan Washington DC region since 2006, is now helping artists, gallerists, museum curators, arts non-profits, and arts advocates capitalize on new surges in commercial growth caused by the increasing development of the National Harbor complex.

The National Harbor is a mecca for residents, visitors, and corporations. This entertainment and tourism mega-site includes fine shopping, upscale-dining, five-star hotels, marinas and piers, and a host of convention and tourism related attractions. Water taxi service recently began transporting visitors to and from the National Harbor to the arts-enriched community of historic Old Town Alexandria.

Galleries, artists, and organizations who seek creative business marketing ideas to attract and retain the growth of this economic boom are turning to Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory. Lange, the original founder of her firm, brings business analytics, systems organization, and visionary and accurate genius to the community. Together, Lange and arts related Alexandria entities are improving the entire corridor to promote diversity, vibrancy, and staying-power within the arts.

washington city paper arts & crafts fair

2008-09-04T14:17:00.004-04:00

Washington City Paper's Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair is scheduled for Sunday, September 28, 2008 from 10 - 5 at the Marie Reed Learning Center on 18th Street in Adams Morgan. This fair is a great venue for unique, original, and crafty art - some of which may just surprise you!

color mapping contemporary masters for interior decorating and design

2008-08-24T19:05:00.002-04:00

We accepted the somewhat daunting challenge of color mapping Benjamin Moore paint colors to a master artwork. Because it was our first commercial attempt, we chose instead, a contemporary rendition of a master, David Hockney's "Homage to Vincent's Chair." With vellum overlay and using a white blind technique, we then meticulously mapped the colors from Hockney's monograph image to various paint and color tonalities in the Benjamin Moore line. The purpose of this exercise is to demonstrate the fact that if a commercial real estate or residential real estate owner wants to form interior design or interior decorating renovations around a particular work, it can be done and done to the degree that removes any second guessing by the design firm, the interior painters, or anyone else. We hope to be able to continue this line of work, particularly against masterful works in DC's museums. Imagine the applications and the possibilities.

shauna lee lange artworks exhibiting @ alexandria's a show of hands

2008-08-23T12:37:00.004-04:00

Alexandria's distinguished shop, A Show of Hands, which does double time as a hub of art and community activity, has taken on consignment twelve original, self-taught artworks by Shauna Lee Lange. Six pieces are photographic works taken between 2006 - 2008 and the remaining six works are reproduction pictorial archives of printer's ornaments in a variety of pencil types. Lange's pencil work is unlike any other currently on shop's display, where over 200 artists are represented.

Pat Miller, one of the locally made craft and artwork boutique owners, juggles interacting and conversing with shop customers, the city's Sheriff, two artists on consignment, and two babies all in the course of a half hour on a Saturday morning. Miller IS a mover and a shaker and her shop on Del Ray's Mt. Vernon Avenue not only promotes arts as a whole in the community, but serves as lifeline to Miller's investment in the arts. It is no wonder the shop was named as Virginia Retailer of the Year. Miller is involved with the City of Alexandria's Arts Commission and she is the vital linchpin in Del Ray's Arts on the Avenue (Oct. 4, 2008).

We thank Pat for her enthusiasm and support of this writer, and we look forward to working with her in a variety of arts capacities in the near future.

DC Arts Advisory Supports DC Educational Non-Profit: Beyond Talent

2008-08-23T12:23:00.006-04:00

Washington DC's Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory has donated an original artwork in pencils and reproduction renaissance printers blocks to the Washington DC non-profit organization Beyond Talent. Beyond Talent, headed by Ellie Phillips, will be holding a fundraising event in the upcoming months. The education fundraiser will feature a silent auction of donated artworks to support its causes of success.

More than 50 percent of the students who enter DC high schools do not graduate. For many, a GED or other high school-equivalent credentials offer a second chance to get the education they so desperately need to begin a career, and support themselves and their loved ones. Unfortunately the drive and intelligence needed to earn a GED are often not enough. Adult learners face a host of other financial, social, and emotional challenges that can delay or prevent graduation from a GED program.

Beyond Talent believes that no one is better equipped to help non-traditional learners face these challenges than the people who have already overcome them. Beyond Talent matches top GED graduates with current GED students in mentoring relationships that provide the current students with the insight and support necessary to overcome adversities and achieve their educational goals.

In addition to core mentoring programs, Beyond Talent provides financial and other support to program participants eager to continue their education at college or in vocational training and certification programs. Beyond Talent is also developing other innovative ways to build capacity and foster academic achievement among non-traditional learners beyond the high school-equivalent level.

Explanatory text about Beyond Talent is adapted from their website.

join over 40,000 for del ray's art on the avenue

2008-08-20T19:35:00.004-04:00

Last year's Art on the Avenue was hot. I mean uncomfortably hot. When I saw our good friend, painter, and silk-scarf designer Wynn Creasy melting in the sun, I really knew it was hot. Wynn doesn't wither away easy, you know.

Vendors lined up nice and early and they were the refreshing, cottage-y kind - moms trying to make a business out of nothing but elbow grease and intuition. Jewelers trying to out-design and out-create sustainability adornment. Or take the couple who had hand-pressed dried flowers into elaborate and careful garden inspirations. That's Del Ray's Art on the Avenue. It has a completely different feel, different flavor, and different fun for art lovers in Alexandria.

October 4, 2008 is the date set for the Mt. Vernon Avenue multicultural extravaganza, festival, and all around part-ay. If you're in for that kind of thing, you may want to check out the volunteer opportunities as exhibitor slots are now full. If you're a musician hoping to impress what is sure to surpass last year's 40,000 visitors count, you won't want to miss this Saturday soiree.

the surprise of de-installing an art exhibit

2008-08-20T12:03:00.007-04:00

De-installing an art exhibit, particularly one that's been running for several months, can be a strange experience for the artist. When you haven't seen works for a period of time, it's always a bit of a shock to view them anew. It's a strange out-of-body experience with the self telling the self, "I did that. I made that. What do I really think of that?" And so with that strange set of emotions, there is also satisfaction at having shown and sadness at seeing an exhibit come to an end. For a short time, you were an exhibiting artist and now that the display is down, what does that make you?

It's Shauna Lee Lange Art Advisory's experience that de-installation is also almost always fraught with technical de-hanging problems. They can't find the maintenance man with the keys, the gallery director is absent, you need to come back and sign paperwork, it's the gallery attendant's first day, the works are not in the condition you left them, and then there's always the nasty business of attending to any outstanding commission payments. Uuughh. What's worse, is then there you are, carting your little box of wares out to the car like you did on the day you were fired from the corporate job you hated before you even became an artist.

Like life, art exhibits are cyclical with definable stages. But remember, an artist exhibits to share a vision and to sell. And when one day, you go to do your de-install, and shockingly and surprisingly you find some of the works actually SOLD - it's such a joy and a great confirmation. Recently, we even had the pleasure of meeting a collector who purchased small pencil works inspired by antique printers blocks. And when the collector sees the beauty you see and the collector's sense of aesthetics clicks with yours, whew! It's like you can finally exhale - like you've been holding your breath and now you can relax, go back to the studio, and start all over again.

Image: "Basket" mixed media pencils and pastels by Shauna Lee Lange 2006..

a contemporary vermeer: edward j. (ted) reed @ the art league

2008-08-18T12:42:00.005-04:00

Excitement is building over The Art League's upcoming September exhibition featuring the solo works of painter Edward J. (Ted) Reed (http://www.edwardjreed.com/index.html). This author is the first to call Reed, with solid justification, "The Contemporary Vermeer."

Vermeer was a Dutch Baroque painter who specialized in ordinary domestic interior scenes, he is arguably most known by his work "Girl With a Pearl Earring." Although largely unrecognized while alive, Vermeer's work is now acknowledged as one of the greatest of the Dutch Golden Age. He is particularly famed for his use of light and masterly technique. Vermeer is said to have worked slowly, probably producing three paintings a year during which he produced unique transparent colors by applying paint to the canvas in somewhat loosely granular layers (a technique called pointillé).

Vermeer's works all contain distinctive and certain light and perspective effects including the earth colours umber and ochre which are understood as warm light within the painting's interior and which reflect multiple colors onto the background. Vermeer's works exemplify an understanding of Da Vinci's observations that the surface of every object absorbs the color of the adjacent object.

So too, we find modern day painter Reed seemingly unaware that he is channeling the spirit of Vermeer (but hopefully not the Dutch painter's financial troubles) in the former's acclaimed portraiture studies. Three of many masterful works are shown above: Louder (Pippi Takes a Ride), 46 x 28, oil on linen, 2006; Annalise, 15 x 15, oil on canvas, 2003; and Vigilant, 17 x 15, oil on canvas, 2005.

Reed, (known as Ted), lives in Vienna, Virginia and paints in his home studio. He teaches portrait, figure, and still-life painting at The Art League School. Reed won a variety of collegiate level awards. Sadly, from 1987 to 1989, while attending Harvard Law School, he stopped painting in the misguided belief that the demands of a legal education required him to forego all distractions. While practicing law, he rarely lifted a paintbrush.

They say gifts are embedded in life's hardships. Ted became disabled with a permanent, chronic pain condition and was forced to retire from legal practice at the end of 2000. The hidden gift was that in 2001, he began painting again to the extent that his disability allowed. His return to art was difficult. The pain he experiences was and is a constant impediment. Additionally, the decade of art talent neglect had stripped him of the few skills he'd developed through his college years.

By 2003, Reed began teaching art intermittently and in the fall of 2004, The Art League asked him to join the faculty. It is easy to understand how his newly re-found dedication has manifested itself through Reed's artist statement. Like Vermeer, Reed is captivated by people. Individual portraits dominate most of Reed's work to date and will continue to comprise a large part of his artistic efforts.

Reed says his work couples the structure of classical portrait and figure painting with clear, brilliant colors rarely seen in traditional or contemporary works in these fields. He portrays what he finds most compelling about his subjects’ character and personality through expression, gesture, setting, composition, color, and brushwork. We believe the devil's in the detail, and in Reed's work, the angel's in the light. Any lover of Vermeer can gaze for hours at streams of sunlight radiating through an open window, or streams of light hitting a balancing scale. For us, the light is the love of the work and is the most captivating aspect of it.

Reed likes to work from life whenever possible. This generates energy (or light) unachievable through other means. To bolster this energy, he rarely asks subjects to hold still, unlike Vermeer who is argued to have possibly used camera obscura as a technique method in captivating exactness. People reveal themselves to Reed when they relax, talk, and laugh. Because of their movement, he may catch a mouth at one angle and eyes, or other features, at a slightly different angle and this also is in direct contrast to Vermeer's stillness, stiffness, motionlessness, and rigidity. But still, there is the light and particularly, the light of the face. Pop a pearl earring on Annalise and you can't tell me you don't have the modern Mona Lisa of the North. Reed paints light shifts as faithful depictions of parts of the same person at different moments and this creates for him and for the viewer, both movement and a sense of timelessness.

Reed attributes his style to a dependence upon classical structure inspired by the works of John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Carravaggio, and traditions of realism tracing back to the Renaissance masters and it's interesting to Alexandria's Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory that he's not yet drawn the parallel to the Dutch masters.

The rich, vibrant colors Reed adds enhance his paintings’ emotional impact and this is in direct correlation with Vermeer's style. In fact, many scholars believe Vermeer must have been gifted paint (often expensive material paint) by virtue of the artist's poverty and indebtedness. However, Vermeer is credited with the detailed application of paint layers and color infusion. Reed, on the other hand, draws inspiration from the paintings of Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida, who he believes is perhaps his greatest influence, and also from the optics of direct color application explored by the impressionists.

Vermeer is said to have painted slowly. For Reed, injuries to his hands, which disabled him from a former legal career, cause chronic pain that ensures he will never be as prolific as other artists. Across time, the silvery cord that binds and ties all art lovers has magically united Reed with Vermeer. Both are said to cherish each moment they paint and both are driven to achieve as much as they can with each work. Well, why don't you just come and see for yourself.

In The Art League Gallery:

“Presence”
Exhibit Dates: September 5 – October 6, 2008

Opening Reception:
Thursday, September 11: 6:30 – 8:00 pm

Mr. Reed will give demonstrations, painting from a model in the gallery on the following dates:
Saturday, September 13, 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm
Saturday, September 20, 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm

Sunday, October 5, 1:00 - 4:00 pm

New Gallery Hours:
Monday – Saturday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, 12:00 noon – 6:00 pm
Open every Thursday evening until 9:00 pm.

Exhibitions and events are free and open to the public.

howard alan events to host 6th alexandria festival of the arts

2008-08-18T11:57:00.004-04:00

Having attended each of the past five outdoor annual arts festivals in Old Town Alexandria, Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory looks forward to this year's celebration slated for September 13 - 14th. Over all the past years, we walked away most amazed at the growth in glass art vendors (see the in-depth glass works article on this site) and most surprised by the year that had a young man of less than 13 years of age selling driftwood from a side table.

We're blessed to live in a community with such a rich arts culture and one that happens to be less than 15 minutes away from our nation's best arts archives. The Alexandria Festival of the Arts features jewelry, sculpture, photography, mixed media, incredible oils and watercolors, musicians, good weather, and dogs. Oh, you're going to see dogs. Dogs mixed in with bicyclists, kids in strollers, cups of coffee, and bottles of water. Bring your sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes, and an eye of discernment in selecting works for your business or your home.

Alexandria's own first woman veteran owned arts writing, arts designing, arts coaching, and arts consulting firm, Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory, specializes not only in acquisition and placement of art works, but also in determining appropriate market price points so you know you're getting value for your art investments.

cartoonist shaun boland

2008-08-18T11:46:00.002-04:00

Shaun Boland's got some pretty crafty cartoons on his site and we love this one about crayons and color as recently published in The Metro Herald.

arts advisory to attend connoissuership and collecting seminar

2008-08-17T22:39:00.005-04:00

Washington DC-based Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory is scheduled to attend an intensive September seminar in Connoisseurship and Collecting, held at the Ripley Center, Smithsonian and co-sponsored with the American Society of Appraisers and Weschler's Auctioneers and Appraisers. The session includes a private preview and reception where William P. Weschler and Thomas M. Weschler will address issues facing today's antiques market, the workings of auction houses, and will host preview displays of paintings, jewelry, and decorative arts. Additional session speakers include Sandra J. Tropper on "All About Fine Arts"; Paula Hantman on "Quality in Furniture"; Martin Fuller on the "World of Gems and Jewelry"; Louise T. Hall on "Silver as a Collectible"; Leatrice Eagle on "Contemporary Crafts and Design"; and John V. Lanterman who will serve as moderator.

Image Credit: Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory, "Antique Sign" August 2008.

bulger/lange photography and advisory collaboration ensues

2008-08-17T21:05:00.006-04:00

Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory earned the endorsement of New Hampshire's established Photographer Scott Bulger. Bulger says of the Washington DC-based arts firm: "Eager and enthusiastic, Shauna has the knowledge and ability to get things done." Top Qualities: Personable, Expert, Creative. Service Category: Promotion/Marketing. Year first hired: 2007. Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory has been writing, designing, coaching, and consulting for the art world since 2006.

About a year ago, Bulger and Lange worked together in taking an initial look at marketing Bulger's work. Many artists who live in rural-suburbia find it a challenge to find pathways to large metropolitan art markets. To some in the arts world, this is known as regionalism - a work in Paducah doesn't sell in Paducah, but bring it out to La Jolla and suddenly they're charging at the door. In New York markets, out-region artists are highly courted for representation. For many artists, regionalism is a double edged sword.

The metropolitan market doesn't necessary know who's out there in the yonder regions and the out-region artist feels (s)he can't get placed in the big city. For Bulger, Lange made detailed recommendations about presenting Bulger's work via the Internet. Lange also provided tips on creating a "branding" presence through a web site. The two then explored ways Lange could channel DC photographic opportunities to Bulger. Ultimately, Bulger decided to continue to do the day-in and day-out of what was working for him at the time. The effort of the two is a credit to the adage for artists especially in minding your relationships as they often return unexpectedly.

Photography chose Bulger at an early age. Purchasing his first 35mm camera at 16, photography became firmly entrenched as part of his self-identification. Studying the work of the photographers that he most admired; Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Alfred Stieglitz, Elliot Erwitt, and Henri Cartier-Bresson, a common thread was realized and switching to B&W seemed a natural transition.

Working solely with B&W film for the next 20 years, Bulger developed a style that notices the details and displayes them in a unique way by separating them from their surroundings to concentrate on their inherent beauty. Bulger's work has been displayed in many exhibits, published in text books, has won numerous awards, and is included in several private collections. In 2001, “A Portrait of the Yucatan,” a collection of photographs from Mexico was also published.

Like all masters, Bulger's turned to sharing and teaching aspects of photography to students with a different vision. Three years ago, Bulger switched to digital capture and output and he has slowly begun to reintroduce color into his work. Bulger currently teaches "Black and White Darkroom" and "Introduction to Digital Photography" at Kimball-Jenkins School of Art in Concord, New Hampshire where he also sits on the School of Arts Advisory Team.

In the future, when the opportunity arises, Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory looks forward to sharing with gallerists and museum curators the unique challenges Bulger's work represents. In the meantime, Lange is very pleased to hear of Bulger's continued photographic success.

Featured small scale images are directly from the artist's website. Arched Door, Concord, NH, Aug 08; Double Door, New Hampton, NH, May 07; and No Trespassing, Epsom, NH, Jul 06.

collage of a day's art journey: new images lead to new inspiration

2008-08-16T21:22:00.002-04:00

Julia Cameron, who wrote The Artists Way, encourages artists to set a day of the week as an "artist date" where the artist purposes to go out and see new images for new inspiration. While we haven't been able to keep to Ms. Cameron's schedule, recently, Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory did take a day to explore this advice. We've attached some images to hopefully inspire and revitalize you.

allworth press for photographers

2008-08-14T21:58:00.004-04:00

Allworth Press recently announced three helpful library staples for the aspiring photographer.

Professional Business Practices in Photography, 7th Ed., By The American Society of Media Photographers. This informative guide lays bare the necessary steps to a successful photography business including pricing, licensing, forms, copyright, digital business and much more.

The Professional Photographer's Legal Handbook by Nancy Wolff. With a look at cases, statutes, and news items from today's headlines, the handbook covers the issues photographers and their representatives face: requirements, limits, and enforcement of copyright and trademark; fair use and public domain; first amendment considerations; and the law of privacy and publicity.

Business and Legal Forms for Photographers by Tad Crawford. This volume contains thirty-one business and legal forms, step-by-step instructions, advice on standard contractual provisions, thorough discussion of contractual issues relevant to the industry, and unique negotiation checklists to help photographers operate with the highest standards of professionalism.

why vienna's soundry is just so arts snazzola

2008-08-14T20:05:00.004-04:00

Jennifer from The Soundry in Vienna, VA recently shared with Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory that after many trials, tribulations, and budgetary surprises, The Soundry is finally preparing to open their doors in the very near future.

The Soundry will offer artists of all levels and backgrounds a 5,000 square foot open studio that will be accessible 24/7 to members. In addition to creative space, there will be tables, easels, drying racks, and lockers available. During staffed hours, there will be a snack and coffee bar for members. The Soundry's goal is to have a creative community that benefits from working around a network of other creative souls. Future programs will include member shows, critiques, workshops, and classes.

The space, a converted auto body shop, has been undergoing a skillful transformation into a quasi arts-gym for artists, crafters, and musicians to create, jam, and network. Not only will artists get a space to create, but they will also have an opportunity to earn income by teaching a class or workshop, selling work in our gallery, or even selling a CD in the coffee shop.

If you are an artist looking for affordable studio space, memberships will be around $100/month for unlimited studio time, web site promotion, inclusion in art shows, etc. Well, it's not the same when someone else tells you - why don't you do what we plan to do this month and just see for yourself. www.myspace.com/thesoundrynet and http://www.soundry.net/.

Image credit from http://www.squidoo.com/pivotalpersonalbest.

can't get out to an art show? here's a nifty solution

2008-08-13T21:05:00.004-04:00

Not everyone can get out to an art show or gallery or to some of the more interesting community arts venues. But if you have a computer, you may wish to check out The Guild's e-commerce site, Artful Home. Artful Home presents the work of North America’s finest artists who are among today’s proven masters.

Each work for sale is selected by a jury of renowned artistic advisors. Artful Home artists have been selected by an advisory panel of experts from the art world. Knowing that every piece has met exacting standards means you can purchase with confidence. And if you're not sure what you want, Artful Home offers informed assistance. Based on 25 years of art world experience, their team of Artwork Specialists is at your service to answer questions and make suggestions.

Image credit "Nests" by Heather Palmer.

philadelphia museum of art craft show - 32nd annual features Israeli works

2008-08-13T20:50:00.008-04:00

Save your money for the 32nd Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show scheduled for November 13 - 16 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This amazing venue is sponsored by The Women's Committee and Craft Show Committee for the benefit of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

This year, 23 leading Israeli craft artists will showcase their work. The artists in conjunction with the Association of Israel's Decorative Arts (AIDA) and museum coordinators have been working to select and promote guest artists from Israel. In keeping with the spirit of cooperation, the Consulate General of Israel in Philadelphia has joined in the effort. The 23 Israeli craft artists will show and sell a wide variety of work, including: ceramics; fiber, jewelry, metal, and mixed media.

According to the museum's press release, the Israeli guest artist participation in the show reflects the eighth international cultural group to be featured. Past guest artist groups have traveled from: Canada (2007), Finland (2006), Germany (2005), Ireland (2004), Great Britain (2003), First Nation (2002), and Japan (2001).

washington craft show - 185 contemporary american craft artists

2008-08-13T20:43:00.002-04:00

Crafts America Shows have been producing some of the finest craft shows in the nation and this year's Washington DC Craft Show at the Convention Center (November 7 - 9) holds many continued promises. Over 185 contemporary American craft artists, juried exhibitions, and sales of fine craft are some of what's in store for craft show attendees. Information from the site further explains:

"Celebrating its 21st year, this major fall event includes 40 new artists among the established and emerging talent selected by jury to present their signature collections for the home and to wear. Each piece is one-of-a-kind or limited-edition, made with vision and mastery in the artist’s studio. The 2008 theme, “Making It Personal,” will be the focus of informative talks and visitors’ consultations with interior designers and fashion professionals."

smithsonian trunk show of jewelry & wearable art

2008-08-13T20:33:00.003-04:00

We doubt the wife of Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillon Ripley, Mary Ripley, knew what she was getting herself into back in 1966 when she founded the Smithsonian Women's Committee in an effort to benefit educational, outreach, and research programs within the Smithsonian Institution. And we doubt that in 1983 when the Smithsonian Trunk Show held its debut, that organizers could have imagined how the show would grow in size and esteem. If you want to see exhibits, displays, and the fine works of over 30 artists who have been previously juried in Smithsonian Craft Shows, then September 19 - 21st are now "unavailable" dates for you!

long's park art & craft festival - number 3 in the country

2008-08-13T20:22:00.004-04:00

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is the host of the 30th annual Long's Park Art & Craft Festival scheduled to be held over Labor Day weekend. Recently voted as the third ranking fine art & craft show in the country (American Style Survey Jan/Feb 08), this year’s event drew applications from artists living in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and 3 foreign countries. More than 1,200 artists vied to be selected by independent jurors for one of 200 exhibitors spots. Over 50 of these exhibitors will be new to the Long’s Park show. Any art consultant can tell you that one of the best and fastest ways to get a pulse on new developments in the field is to experience outdoor art & craft festivals where, quite literally, the rubber meets the road. Enjoy!

creativity, inspiration, self-actualization and you

2008-08-13T14:09:00.002-04:00

An unknown author recently said, "Stay young by taking inspiration from the young in spirit who remained creatively active all their lives: Goethe completing Faust at 80; Titian painting masterpieces at 98; Toscanini conducting at 85; Justice Holmes writing Supreme Court decisions at 90; Edison busy in his laboratory at 84; and Benjamin Franklin helping to frame the American Constitution at 80." In other words, it ain't over till it's over.

In 1996 when Hillary Rodham Clinton contributed to a monograph for the National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies, Americans for the Arts, she said, "Some of the most powerful works of art have been produced by older Americans by hands that have engaged in years of hard work, eyes that have witnessed decades of change, and hearts that have felt a lifetime of emotions. Our whole society benefits when older Americans use their talents and experiences to become involved in the arts as creators, teachers, mentors, volunteers and audiences.

Creativity studies have shown that for some, the approach of end of life and self-actualization actually stimulates creativity with increased urgency, intensity, and energy and that creativity may emerge during periods of intense loneliness and depression. Recall the lives of poet Carl Sandburg, violinist Pablo Casals, and folk painter Grandma Moses. Which stage of creativity are you in? (Ebersole & Hess, 1995)

Preparation - where time and experience foster opportunity
Frustration - expression and approach may be unclear
Incubation - ideas are taking shape
Illumination - an approach becomes clear
Elaboration - plans are developed and built upon

elizabeth stone gallery moves to internet only presence

2008-08-13T13:47:00.007-04:00

Our much loved Old Town Alexandria purveyor of children's book illustration and fine art is closing her doors and moving to Internet only sales after August 15th. Elizabeth Stone offered children's book illustrations, limited editions and prints, posters, and a special suite of children's gifts. Stone made a big impression on Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory when she revealed the work she was doing to bring children's illustration to local large hospitals.

Spending a few hours and going through Stone's flat files is like walking back in time through one's own childhood. While we wish Stone well, we (like many others in the business) wonder and worry about the balance of an Internet presence and a physical store front and it still deeply saddens us to see our ability as art lovers to view these precious works up and close coming to an end.

2nd annual DC international arts expo - sept. 08

2008-08-12T22:15:00.003-04:00

Starting Friday, September 19, 2008, 6 pm - 10 pm at the Washington Convention Center, you can be one of the first to meet international artists who will be participating along with notable corporate sponsors in the 2nd Annual Washington DC International Arts Expo. The event will feature special unveilings, live entertainment, tasty treats and tidbits, silent benefit auctions, seminars, and much more.

outsider art fair 2009's new venue

2008-08-12T20:22:00.003-04:00

For all of us who in years past weren't sure whether outsider art exhibits and booths at the Puck Building were paying off, organizers have moved the New York Outsider Art Fair 2009 to the Mart, 7 West 34th Street in New York. The preview gala slated for January 9, 2009 benefits the American Folk Art Museum. This is another great event for outsider art, art brut, and contemporary folk art aficionados - and was the first time Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory actually witnessed non-sponsored artists rolling up their U-Hauls and opening up shop on the street corner. Only in New York - there's no place like it!

folk art society of america's symposium to be held in DC

2008-08-12T19:42:00.004-04:00

All you visionaries and outside artists will want to mark your calendars for September 25 - 28, 2008 where you can join Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory in celebrating the Folk Art Society of America's 21st Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The theme of this year's symposia will be Folk Art in our Nation's Capital. Highlights include guest speakers, day tours, and a benefit auction. Auction proceeds donated to the Hemphill Jr. Memorial Art Fund contributes to the purchase of an art work each year for donation to a museum or university. The auction is the Society’s only yearly fund-raising event; its success depends on generous contributions and wide participation.

Image Credit to photographer Katherine Fogden, courtesy of the National Museum of the American Indian, and reposted from the Folk Art Society's Annual Conference web page.

a color school tissue mosaicist turns attention to acrylics: bryan jernigan

2008-08-11T21:32:00.005-04:00

Acclaimed Artist Bryan Jernigan "stopped by" the other day to let Washington DC-based Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory know that he's been working in a new medium - acrylic on unprimed canvas. Century 21 Gallery in Rosslyn (1711 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington) embraced the work in their show, "Dog Days of Summer," which runs through the end of August.

Approximately 14 of Jernigan's (bryan@nafisdc.org) older works, his tissue piece mosaics (previously featured on this site), are currently hanging in the Arlington County Circuit Court Judicial Chambers near Courthouse Metro and he has a couple of small works at Cassatt's Cafe and Gallery on Lee Highway, along with a handful of pieces at the BB&T Bank on Columbia Pike in South Arlington.

Jernigan's a rising star in the resurgence of the Washington Color School theory. He's another example of a very talented artist who is balancing the demands of a full time job, a family, and the challenges of marketing art works while producing at the same time. If that weren't enough, he's also teaching a Color Field class on Wednesday nights at the Dominion Hills Area Recreation Association on Wilson Boulevard beginning in October. You can see the course description here: http://www.arlingtonartistsalliance.org/Classes/AcademyFall2008Brochure.pdf.

Featured works by the artist are Exuberance II; Rain on the Grass I; and ZygoteI.

myperfectcolor.com - THE paint solution for artists

2008-08-11T21:07:00.003-04:00

Washington DC-based Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory firm was recently honored to be contacted by the founder and CEO of http://www.myperfectcolor.com/, Mr. Jason Shaw. My Perfect Color offers a very unique service and set of products - a sample-sized mini can that is available in over 100,000 paint colors from over 100 paint brands (and they can even make any color in lighter or darker variations). This is perfect for people who want to try colors to see how they will really look like or for people who are trying to match, for example, tones in the benjamin moore line.

But Shaw sees another really exciting application of his mini can paint products - and that is the potential for matching colors in art and making these available to people to purchase. Myperfectcolor.com are experts in color matching, and have built an Internet destination for people looking to find their perfect paint colors. Myperfectcolor.com can create paint color matches and post these online, making them available for people to buy in sample-size pints or gallons in a wide variety of paint finishes. The application for artists, art historians, art curators, and art advisors or consultants is very promising.

Myperfectcolor.com - simply find your perfect color. And don't forget to check out their paint colors and painting blog.

susan kopecky: iowa's fine art photographer

2008-08-11T20:37:00.004-04:00

Washington DC-based Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory has been, over the past several months, on the receiving end of the better half of a long-distance e-mail relationship with a fine arts photographer, Susan Kopecky. Working with medium and large format film cameras, Kopecky photographs subjects that evoke an emotional response. She strives to print the image the way it "felt" at the moment it was photographed rather than trying to replicate the way it appeared. Kopecky's images are a combination of simplicity and emotional response and they further illustrate how she thinks and feels about the subjects.

Kopecky has been involved in black and white, fine art photography for over two decades. Her work has received national attention by being selected for numerous group exhibitions, with several images receiving awards in galleries across the country. Kopecky continues to compete in national and international juried competitions and her prints are held in numerous corporate collections, as well as private residences.

She offers prints commercially through her website and like all artists has struggled with periods of productivity verses "leaving it alone for a bit". Each of her prints is handmade by the artist, signed, numbered, and part of a limited edition. At no time in the image creating process (from film exposure to film processing/printing, to toning, mounting/matting, and framing) does the image leave the artist's hands. Images are printed on black and white, fiber base photographic paper, in a traditional wet chemical darkroom. These are NOT digital prints. The prints are then Selenium toned, and once dry, they are mounted, matted and waxed to gallery standards for archivability. All images are mounted on acid free, four ply, mat board with over-mats cut from the same. These prints are guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Kopecky is amazing to me in all she does and strives to do (we're talking to one exercising - book reading - cat loving MACHINE), but I personally believe you can get a feel for her love of photography and for the process of photography through her careful revival of her grandmother's negatives. Featured above are three images from her 2004 series: Family Men; Young Brothers; and Boy and Horses. I am grateful for the artist's permission to represent her work in this forum. You can contact the ansel adam-ist at her email, kopecky-photo@hotmail.com.

yulia gorbachenko: fashion & model photography

2008-08-08T21:32:00.006-04:00

Yulia Gorbachenko (yulia.gorbachenko@gmail.com) has a series of original fashion shoots and model portfolio-style photographs at http://www.flickr.com/photos/gorbachenko. Gorbachenko's work has a self-admitted "Russian Girl" approach and perspective. Gorbachenko originates from Kyiv (Ukraine) where she held a 4.0 gpa in her marketing major. Early summer found her over at the Corcoran studying Digital Photography while working professionally as a photographer in event photography for a Maryland firm. Gorbachenko's got a Washington, DC vision and she's aiming towards it in a clear and concise pattern of fashion and model photographs - her work is well suited for commercial and advertising endeavors.

national arts marketing conference

2008-08-07T21:52:00.002-04:00

There's still plenty of time to get involved with the Americans for the Arts and their National Arts Marketing Project Conference held this November in Houston. For more information and a list of unique speakers see www.artsusa.org.

paint it perfect: museum salon wall color selection and you

2008-08-07T16:38:00.005-04:00

Anne Kenderdine's written a timely article for the Washington Post on museum wall paint selection, color in general, and how the two can be used for inspiration in designing your own living spaces. The article sites several DC area museum curators and their choice of salon paint color.

Seems like this is a new advertising angle for a variety of paint companies, Valspar (featured on HGTV) and Benjamin Moore (featured in many fine properties) included. And Washington's always had a soft spot for anything involving color - so why not?

If you're thinking about incorporating something new in terms of paint color, be sure to paint a small sample on your wall and look at the tone in varying lights and at different times of the day over a series of days before you commit. Take a color swatch to a variety of stores with fluorescent, halogen, or other lighting so you'll know how to complement it with fabrics. Also, if you're spending dough on top end products, it pays to consider having the walls professionally done. A tone applied with one coat looks very different from one applied with three - so check with your painter for his professional advice before you begin.

presidential paper doll candidates and the importance of national arts policies

2008-08-06T16:02:00.006-04:00

Our friends over at Dover Publications recently announced the release of their arts inspired Presidential Paper Dolls: The Fun Way to Support Your Candidate! Be sure as voting artists to make yourselves familiar with the respective arts policies - your future can depend on it!

Senator McCain. This commemorative set of wonderfully designed paper dolls features Senator John McCain—the Republican candidate for 44th President of the United States—and his wife, Cindy, plus casual and formal outfits they wore during his campaign. This colorful edition includes a brief biography, descriptive notes, and a bonus "Election Night Scorecard."

Senator Obama - Make the most of a key moment in history with these beautifully rendered paper dolls featuring Senator Barack Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters. The set includes a wardrobe of authentic outfits worn by the couple on the campaign trail. Features brief biographical notes and a bonus "Election Night Scorecard."

Free! Bonus Costumes for the Candidates & More. You can follow your favorite paper doll candidate with Dover's weekly Presidential Paper Doll Sampler! Each week, you'll receive a colorful email that's packed with cool giveaways: extra costumes for the candidates and their wives, free samples from other Dover paper doll books, and more. Plus, with the Campaign Countdown you'll find out which paper doll candidate is the most popular. Use this link to sign up now— http://www.doverpublications.com/McCain-Obama. Plus, each of these new books is a Dover "Green Edition" printed in the U.S. on recycled paper. So don't miss out on the hottest campaign collectibles around: our new McCain and Obama paper dolls are sure to become sought-after collector's items!

Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory is a non-partisan commercial enterprise and offers Presidential Paper Doll information in the spirit of a robust 2008 election campaign.

Keziah Kelsey: At the Foot of Buddha Photography

2008-08-06T14:55:00.007-04:00

Keziah Kelsey is a gifted and experienced photographer of over 12 years. She was raised in Rochester, NY (home of Kodak and RIT), and was bitten by the photobug early on! Keziah attended Buffalo State College for Art Education and minored in Photography. Her work is an effort to reconcile modern urban imagery with the mythological beauty of fairy tales and fantasy. Keziah tries to see the fantastic in all things and record it for others eyes. When she shoots fashion work, she attempts to bring a sense of dreaminess to each image. Although we like her fashion work, we L-O-V-E her At the Foot of Buddha series.

Keziah thinks all art is dreaming and so, we should relish each image as something we could only see if we were asleep. She is working on bringing femininity into imagery, as defined by a female gaze and she thinks women are at their finest when they are in powerful control of their feminine wiles. Keziah (kezzzke@mac.com) revels in capturing this glamour.

Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory is a metropolitan DC based full service arts advisory firm whose partners are able to help you navigate the arts world with savvy and finesse. More art is more to love.

peter "peat" malinoski: hyattsville's modern folk paintings

2008-08-06T14:34:00.005-04:00

"Peat" works alone in a studio in his home in Hyattsville, MD. He paints with acrylics, watercolor, and inks on canvas to create modern folk works. The paintings depict curious and often humorous renderings of common and uncommon observations, visions, intents, and relationships gleaned from our regular daily life.

Peat (petermalinoskiart@yahoo.com) has no intent to make sweeping profound statements. He uses his art to poke fun at humanity. His drafting ability is crude, but it lends itself well to a simple and sometimes sarcastic humor. He is not trying to shock, trick, bully, or otherwise cajole anyone into his secret vision. He is simply doing what he does best; rendering small stories of our existence - from the obvious to the obscure - in a funny manner.

He sells on etsy where he puts his finger on the obvious and his foot in the absurd. He says he is a fringe dweller, fascinated by the bizarre nature of our existence. He can't keep his mouth shut and he can't stop making things. He is full of sarcasm, but Malinoski married well and his mother still loves him and his works give us pause to remember the joyful persistence.

Some people look, some see,
others talk about things… most either complain or agree.
Few do anything else anymore
except to look into the mirror and see ... only themselves.
There is a lot more in the mirror
besides your own eyes.

IAFC - Decor Expo

2008-08-06T14:23:00.006-04:00

The International Art & Framing Conference (Decor Expo) is scheduled for Sept. 4 - 7 in Atlanta. Visit http://www.decor-expo.com/ to find information on the art-and-framing industry's resources. And be sure to get your hot little peach cobbler pie hands on the Art & Framing Sources Guide - the 39th annual listing issue of more than 800 publishers, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers in more than 600 product and service categories at http://www.artandframingsources.com/.

women artists & entrepreneurs expo

2008-08-06T12:22:00.006-04:00

Women artists and entrepreneurs in the metropolitan DC area are invited to attend the 2008 Women Entrepreneurs' Expo: "Reach for the Stars!" which will be held on Friday, October 24, 2008 from 8:30am to 5:00pm at the Waterford in Springfield, VA. The Expo will include an all-day trade fair with over 80 exhibitors, twelve workshops to help you start-up or grow your existing business, a VIP luncheon where you will dine with local politicians and subject matter experts, and a keynote address by Dr. Iyanla Vanzant, internationally recognized inspirational speaker, entrepreneur and author of over twenty books and audio books. Ebony Magazine calls Dr. Vanzant "one of the country's most influential African Americans." You can register online here.

Image Credit: Lyn Wolfson http://www.lynwolfson.com/ Warheads

simplifying the art studio visit

2008-08-06T04:11:00.004-04:00

We've been talking to a few of our artist friends lately and the discussions have been centering around the viability of offering studio visits to prospective art patrons. The golden rule of making a studio visit work consists of two elements. Keep your customer's decision-making relaxed, guided, and informational and secondly, be yourself without giving too much of yourself away. Studies have shown that one of the primary reasons an art buyer purchases is not only because of a love of the aesthetics of a work, but rather because of the relationship with the artist. Your relationships with your clients are your future opportunities. Remember, in the studio, you are at home and in control. Use this simple guide to help you navigate your open house sessions.

1. Clean and organize prior to the visit. The appearance of your studio is paramount in reflecting an image of success. I can't tell you how many times I've seen sub-standard work in a gorgeous and refined setting only to turn around and find top-quality work in a what amounts to a dark and dank closet. If your studio is orderly, clean, and holds an element of visual interest (use your imagination) you have a good launching pad. The studio visit should be comfortable whether you're operating out of your basement or a 2,000 sq. ft. loft.

2. Seek ye first to understand. This standard management technique shows that the most important thing an artist can do is to understand, identify, and help form what the buyer's artistic intentions and interests are. Is this piece part of a collection, will it stand alone, is it for a primary or secondary residence, is for commercial space, does the buyer seek works of personal interest or works for investment - what other artists attract the buyer? When you know your customer, you know your market base. Artists should be pre-qualifying customers by asking directed questions to the best of their ability.

3. Seek ye then to be understood. This is probably the most critical aspect of the studio visit. It is critical that the artist speak from his or her heart and have a spirit of confidence in the direction, vision, and statement of their work. When you are truly invested in the work you do, you'll be generating an electrical field that will attract simply because of your centeredness. It's entirely possible your art work may be entirely wrong for the studio visitor - it's also entirely possible it may be perfect for their friend. As you explain and demonstrate your artistic vision, it is important at this point to show three initial works which you are not trying to sell - one completed, one half completed, and one at the inception stage. This allows the visitor to get an inherent feel for your artistic process and it wordlessly shows that you and your work are works in motion.

4. Show as a professional. Look, outside of developing relationships with your buyers, the studio visit has one basic goal, selling a work. Real estate agents have a showing mantra - save the best for last. In our experience, we've found saving the best for MIDDLE is the way to sell without fail. One of the challenges of a studio visit (which eats up your time) is getting the prospective buyer to feel comfortable in leaving. When you save your best work for last, you are extending the length of the visit - now your buyer is charged up and leaving on a high, but you've not had a chance to wind down and close the sale and leave a bit of mystery and intrigue for motivation for the buyer to return at a later date.

5. The dreaded pricing discussion. This is another reason we believe saving your best work for the middle demonstration is an effective strategy. When you are showing your talent, you say something to the effect of "a piece this size, in this medium, framed or unframed, and delivered to spec runs approximately X dollars to Y dollars." You are initially demonstrating your lowest end of the pricing scale. When demonstrating the best work in the middle position, you are demonstrating your highest end of pricing. Therefore, you've neither undersold or oversold and the third example in the last position should be priced in the middle range. Certainly pricing discussions include touchy topics like artist's discount, repeat buyer discount, wholesale prices and other somewhat difficult topics - we will address these fuller in future articles.

6. Close with finesse. Art buyers may not remember a word of what you said, but they will remember almost all of how you made them feel. The artist should be sure to have a materials package with a statement, exhibit list, resume, business cards, postcards, and other advertising supplements ready for the client to take home. Offer to be of service to your client. Do they need you to visit their home to see interior decorating schemes or to evaluate which one of your pieces would best fit in their collection. Did you offer the client something to eat and or drink? We're also a big believer in the power of the unexpected. Reveal something about yourself or your work that's a bit unexpected. Teach the client in addition to selling - and most importantly, don't overwhelm the client with the temptation to show them everything you've ever done. One nice touch is having a portfolio book that the client can flip through at their leisure.

Artists who need help defining or designing how they can incorporate art studio and art workshop visits for their prospective clients should contact Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory, based out of metropolitan Washington, DC. Studio visits, when conducted properly, can propel your sales and reputation. And remember to have some fun and laughs along the way during the art studio visit. Life is short, don't take the studio visit so seriously. Artists should also remember the studio visit is a way for the artist to also garner new inspiration, new quirks, or a new path on the artistic journey.