Sheila M. Evans

Just a quick note: my work and studio were featured in an article in the Spokesman-Review this week! See the thoughtfully-written article by Jennifer Larue here.

The Kress Gallery, Riverpark Square, Spokane, Washington

Metamorphosis is my premier exhibition to feature oil paintings exclusively. The title represents both a recurring theme in the work—the transformation of leaves into winged “creatures”—and my own growth as an artist through the exploration of a different medium.

For purchase or other information contact Tammy Gabbert at the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture.

Metamorphosis (works in oil) runs May 7 through July 20, 2010

Last weekend was the show In Belleville, Illinois, and we are back and pretty much recovered. Belleville is a three-day drive from Spokane, if you drive ten-hour days. We drove down in two days. I do not recommend this.

Horrendous drive aside, we arrived to find a very nice little show with a very high quality of art and one of the most helpful groups of volunteers I have ever encountered. This show staff treats artists like rock stars that they think are too skinny. Despite all the work of setting up and working an art fair, I think I actually gained weight with the constant barrage of treats (including homemade cookies in the shape of a #1 to commemorate the shows national ranking).

Once we opened up the booth Friday night (photo of my inexplicably Hello-Kitty-Pink booth above), the supportive and savvy local art collectors quickly relieved me of some of my prized work. The show drew large crowds Friday and Sunday. On rainy Saturday, when the masses stayed home, serious buyers braved the weather relieved to have the show more or less to themselves.

 Sunday morning I unzipped the tent to be startled by a pair of mourning doves fluttering and flapping around the ceiling, perching on my walls and critiquing my paintings. As much as they seemed to disapprove of the art, they very much liked the tent, and refused to budge. We had to leave them there during the artists’ breakfast and shoo them out later that morning. Fortunately Sprayway glass cleaner is a good multi-tasker.

The show went well overall which made for a pleasant ride home. During our more leisurely three-day return trip, we saw some sights that in a former life as a T-shirt illustrator, I drew repeatedly and ad nauseum: the Corn Palace, Mount Rushmore, Devil’s Tower, Sturgis. We even stopped in at Wall Drug. I had no idea you could see all of them in one day. If only I had seen a wolf, that day would have been complete, because yes, in my past life, I made WOLF SHIRTS. How cool am I.

Onward.

(p.s. I documented this show from the road on my Facebook fan page. To follow future odysseys, “like” my page here.)