Sheila M. Evans

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.)

Opening Reception Friday, May 7, 5 – 8 p.m.

The Kress Gallery, Riverpark Square, Spokane, Washington
Music by Haywire (Don Thomsen and Dan Black)
Catered by Twigs

I’m putting the last touches on paintings for Metamorphosis, my show at the Kress Gallery in downtown Spokane. I’ve been painting for this show for so long, I can hardly believe it’s almost here! Metamorphosis is my first time to exhibit oil paintings exclusively, and it will feature some of my most ambitious work to date. I’m so excited to see it go up. I’ve even hired a swing duo, Haywire, featuring Don Thomsen and Dan Black, to play at the reception. I hope to see you there!

Metamorphosis (works in oil) runs May 7 through July 18, 2010

This week has ended on a definite high note. Yesterday, I finished the last of my twelve miniature oil paintings. Today, I got invited to bring them to Sun Valley and Artfest. Nice! Of course I’ll be bringing pastels, too. But at this stage, getting in with oils still feels like an accomplishment.

A confession: I very nearly didn’t send in my application to Sun Valley this year. Last year the show was a little rough for me, to say the least. Economic troubles hit the area hard, and we artists definitely felt it. I vowed to be strong and wait a year before applying again. But months later, after some profitable shows and a long winter, I caved at first sight of a jury deadline notice. Because whatever else it may be, Sun Valley is seriously fun. And I was NOT going to risk missing out on a KB burrito—not deliberately, anyway.

But first, there’s Artfest. Or not, actually. For the first time ever, Artfest—my mellow, ease-me-into-the-season hometown show—is not first on my schedule. By the time Artfest rolls around this year, I’ll have opened my oils exhibit at the Kress Gallery in Spokane, then driven to Illinois and back for Art on the Square. I sure hope I can adjust to all of these gold-plated problems, as my friend Vicky describes them. I’m looking forward to trying. Just a few more “little” projects to get through beforehand. But that’s a story for another day.

(Above: three of the twelve miniature oils, currently untitled. What can I say, I’m busy.)

Apparently, the Pastel Journal’s Pastel 100 issue is out, and I’m happy to report that my pastel, Horizon Study (left), received an honorable mention in the contest. The Pastel Journal is an internationally-read magazine dedicated to the pastel medium. Their extremely popular annual contest gives awards to the top 100 pastels submitted. The awards are divided into five top prizes, then split into five different subject categories, within which there are first, second and third place awards, and honorable mentions. My honorable mention is in the Still Life and Floral category. The other categories include landscape, portrait, animal/wildlife, and abtract/non-objective.

The nice thing about this contest is that you can submit any piece done within the past few years—even if it is sold. Which reminds me: Lorraine, if you are reading this, I’ll send you a copy!

More good news! I’ve added a new show for 2010: Art on the Square in Belleville, Illinois. This show has been ranked #1 in the country by the Art Fair Sourcebook (the art fair artists’ version of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy). It’s going to be a long trip, but I am so excited to do my first-ever midwest show. By the way, I only got juried in with pastels. The competition to get into this tiny but excellent show is tough!

I am so happy right now! I just learned that I have been juried in to the Bellevue Arts Museum show again. This year, not only did I get in with my pastels, I get to show my oil paintings! This is a first for me in Bellevue, one of my very favorite shows to do. To celebrate, I’ve decided it’s time to fire up the Art Fairs 2010 page. Then I think I’d better get some painting done.

(Left: Frost Line, one of my newest oils. See it at the Kress Gallery in May.)

Etudes for the Equinox, my first solo show at the Tinman Gallery, opens Friday!

Opening reception will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the Spokane Visual Arts Tour. If you haven’t been to the Tinman, it is a great space in Spokane’s wonderfully eclectic Garland district (thus the Oz theme). The Tinman, owned by Sue Bradley, represents some of the area’s best-known artists—now more than ever with the retirement of Lorinda Knight last November.

I’m very much looking forward to the show, which will feature a large collection of my newest work in pastel (including Dewfall, above) and perhaps a few not-so-new, never shown in Spokane pieces as well. I hope to see you there!

The Tinman Gallery
811 West Garland Avenue
Spokane, Washington 99205
509.325.1500
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday

A little show preview:

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