Sheila M. Evans

I think that unless you live in New York City, if you are an artist you probably don’t think of your hometown as being an “art town.” I know it’s easy not to think of Spokane that way, but if I’ve ever said that, it’s time for a retraction. Spokane continues to surprise me with the amount of support I see for the arts. This weekend’s Little Spokane River Artists’ Studio Tour was yet another example. We had great attendance for a second-year show, and people weren’t just looking—they were buying art. And (from me at least) not only studio sale items, but major new works such as Golden Ascent, left. I was thrilled with the amount of support shown at not only this show, but Artfest, Arbor Crest and Eye4Art earlier this year, and many other shows over the past few years. So a big “thank you” to Spokane, Washington: Art Town!

I also owe some thanks to Casey Klahn, who linked to this site from a blog post full of praise for my work. Sheesh, Casey, you’re embarrassing me! Thanks! And by the way, your pastels are looking better than ever… your award in Sausalito is well deserved.

Now it’s just about time for me to disappear into the studio and prepare for the four gallery shows I have coming up between now and May. So be on the lookout for more new paintings (at last). Also, I’ll be writing a bit about how to make original art work in your home in my new “Living With Art” series. I hope to provide some simple tips for displaying artwork to its best advantage, while finally getting a few pieces up around my own house (bonus!) Stay tuned.

This Saturday is the Little Spokane River Artists’ Studio Tour. For the last outdoor show of the season I have some special things planned. Of course I will bring some of my newest work in pastel and oil. but I have also searched my studio for some of my favorite early pieces to offer at special prices for the day of the tour. Ripple 2, left, is one of the works I will have available.

If you haven’t taken this annual studio tour before, this weekend promises to be the perfect opportunity. The forecast is eighty degrees and sunny—a perfect early-fall day. All artists on the tour are professionals offering the highest quality work. The area is absolutely gorgeous and the studios are amazing. Hulda Bridgeman’s studio, where I am a guest along with Harold Balazs and Timothy Ely, is nestled in a secluded garden that instills calm the moment you enter. My paintings will hang in the wooden gazebo that sits, literally, on top of a stream running through the yard.

Beautiful weather, amazing studios and gardens, and of course lots of fantastic art—what a great way to enjoy a beautiful September Saturday.

Little Spokane River Artists’ Studio Tour – September 26, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For more information and a map go to www.littlespokanestudios.com

For a preview of more pieces I will have on the tour, click here.

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Today is my first day home from Sausalito, my last art fair of the season. I can’t quite wrap my mind around the fact that summer is almost gone. Although the weather is still beautiful, it was cold when we walked into our house last night, which seemed telling. At the moment I am debating whether to go get a hoodie, as the chill has lingered. Maybe this is for the best. Maybe it will help me transition into the studio season. But the fair season has been so fantastic that it is not easy to let go.

Fantastic comes in a lot of different forms. Of course we all hope our shows will be fantastic in terms of sales. In some places, this was true. But in other areas, the economy definitely seemed to be taking its toll. All in all, I was lucky enough to have a pretty much profitable season thanks to a few shows where the patrons really came through for us. To all of you who purchased art this year, thank you. It means everything to artists.

This year was also fantastic for me in terms of recognition from show juries. I won three awards this season: the President’s Award at the Edmonds Arts Festival, a Benchmark Award from Art in the High Desert (Bend, Oregon), and First Place in the Drawing Category from the Sausalito Art Festival. All awards include an invitation to exhibit at the following year’s festival, so I will happily return to all three shows in 2010.

One more aspect of the show season I will miss is the fantastic camaraderie that goes with the show circuit. Every summer brings an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, and I did more than my share of both this year. Over the past few seasons the shows have evolved from odd places filled with strangers to familiar haunts full of friends. With each passing year it takes longer to walk from one end of a show to the other as I stop to chat at more and more booths. And in the towns, annual traditions take root, such as shopping at Burnsies in Ketchum, eating at the Lotus in San Rafael (we ate there so often the restaurant bought our dinner on our last night in town!), and now lunch from Cafe Yumm in Bend.

Thankfully, there is still a little bit of summer left to savor. I have one more outdoor event ahead: the Little Spokane River Artist Studio Tour. It promises to once again be a beautiful event and a great way to wind down the season. Much more info to come, so stay tuned.

I just received the first place award for Drawing at the Sausalito Art Festival (tied with my friend Casey Klahn). This is my first award at Sausalito and a huge honor. Looks like there will be a strong Eastern Washington faction here again next year!

This weekend is the Sausalito Art Festival at long last. It’s hard to believe the festival season is almost over. But after my one day at home after Art in the High Desert, I am packing to leave for California tomorrow. I’ll be showing oils for the first time in Sausalito this year, including Serenity, above. Serenity is my most recent oil painting (save one), and was just varnished today for its first showing on Friday. In addition to Serenity, I will have lots of new work in both oil and pastel in my first double booth at Sausalito. For those that have seen me at Sausalito in the past, I will still be on the tennis courts in the farthest aisle from the show entrance. I hope to see many new and returning collectors there!

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Sausalito Art Festival

When: September 4 – 7, 2009

Where: Marinship Park, 2400 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA

Hours: Friday (Opening Gala), 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Saturday – Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m, Monday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

What I’m bringing: Pastels and Oils

Booth #416 (on the tennis courts, farthest row from the main entrance)