I was intrigued by the feelings and emotions that her work conveys.

The first time that I saw Francene Christianson’s paintings, I was intrigued.  Rather than just being paintings of a place or thing, the texture and color of Christianson’s art elicits an emotional response from the viewer.   

Francene creates her art from photos that she takes both at home and while she is traveling.  She uses those photos as the setting for her art and infuses her feelings into the works as she paints.  I highly recommend that you see these paintings up close and get their full emotional effect. 

We will have an opening reception for Francene’s new show, Passing Views:  Paintings by Francene Christianson, on Saturday, June 2, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Abode Gallery in Stockholm, Wisconsin.  A regular member of the gallery, her additional works for the show will be on display through June 30.  Stop in and see them.  You’ll be glad you did.

Alan
Abode Gallery
Stockholm

PS  Let your friends know, too.

You won’t believe how he makes these beautiful works of art.

I am amazed by the beautiful work of J R Lince-Hopkins.  He has a distinctively different style which shows intricate detail.  He created his Cloud series at his studio in Alaska and his Great River Road works at his studio in the Stockholm area.  He has a third studio in Texas. 

On the Great River Road pieces, J R used palate-knife pointillism which offers intense detail and layer upon layer of color and texture.

He will be here this Saturday, May 19, during the Spring Art Tour.  Stop by, meet J R, and discover how he makes these stunning pieces.  Take time to visit several artists at their studios Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  You’ll be glad you did.

Alan
Abode Gallery
Stockholm

PS  Let your friends know, too.

June Featured Artist:

We are delighted to announce the opening of Passing Views by Francene Christianson, on view from June 2 through June 30, 2012. This is Abode Gallery’s premier exhibition of Christianson’s work. Passing Views represents the artist’s curiosity with the "passing view".  Her landscapes and portraits aim to capture moments in her life and travels. Photographing as she travels, Christianson uses those photos later in the studio as a setting and her memories as a point of view. That separation allows her to paint what she feels, and not just what she has seen.  Sue Canterbury, associate curator of paintings at the Minneapolis Institute of Art says about Christianson’s work, "Old photos remade into new art are like memories retold by a crafty storyteller".

The public is welcome to an opening reception on Saturday, June 2 from 2 pm to 5 pm, where they will be able to meet the artist and enjoy light refreshments.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Francene Christianson graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with a B.A. in Art. Her career in advertising and graphic design included art direction for several creative agencies in New York and Los Angeles, including Ogilvy & Mather and Grey Advertising. After her commercial career, she returned to fine art.  Her original portraits, landscapes and commissioned works have been shown or sold at The Grand Hand Gallery, The Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Hopkins Center for the Arts, The Minnesota State Fair and Art-A-Whirl. Her paintings have been placed in private collections across the country.

The element of fire is an important part…

The element of fire is an important part of Feng Shui and other Eastern design philosophies.  It’s an element that people really seem to appreciate.  At Abode, we are excited to show you some new pieces which will add the element of fire to your décor.  We brought back from the New York market handmade beeswax candles and handmade candles made from recycled wine bottles.  See them here.

We have new hand-polished, hand-cut, hand-finished granite candles from a local artist, too.

From Modern Elements, a Canadian company, we picked up tabletop, floor model, and wall mounted fireplaces that burn eco-fuel.  Stop by and see these soon.

You’ll be glad you did.

Alan
Abode Gallery
Stockholm

PS  If you can make the opening reception this Saturday, May 12, for J R Kingsbury from 12 - 5:00 p.m., you can meet J R in person and find out more about her inspirations. 

Kingsbury Pushes the Edges of the Box with Art That Enhances an Interior Environment

On May 5, a new show opens at Abode Gallery and runs through May 31.  I highly recommend that you take this opportunity to see the distinctive the paintings of J. R. Kingsbury.   Her use of color and scale and the idea of multi-panel pieces to create one whole immediately caught my attention.  Her work is ingenious; it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.  Take a look.

She creates large multi-panel acrylic-on-canvas paintings that adjoin to form an infinitely expandable image.  You will get ideas of how to use art to enhance an interior environment. 

See J R Kingbury’s work for yourself at Abode Gallery.  Remember, her paintings are only here during the show in May so stop by soon.  You’ll be glad you did.

Alan
Abode Gallery
Stockholm

PS  Let your friends know, too.

I am excited to announce that the pottery of S C Rolf.

I am excited to announce that the pottery of S C Rolf is now featured at Abode Gallery.  I have been waiting a couple of years to offer you his works.  Take a look at some of his pieces.  You will find a ceramic teapot in loose form design based on landscape and nature.  Crafted to be very functional, the teapot may be used with loose tea or a tea strainer.

The second piece is a ceramic butter dish with a carved design.  Designed to be used everyday, the dish holds one stick of butter.

The third piece is a comfortable cup which fits your hand.  Featuring incredible detail, the warm cup is microwave and oven safe, as are all S C Rolf’s pieces.

See S C Rolf’s work for yourself at Abode Gallery soon.  You’ll be glad you did.

Alan
Abode Gallery
Stockholm

PS  Let your friends know, too.

August 13: Summer Artist in Session: Julia Helen Rice, Painter

Julia Helen Rice, Painter:  In Session at Abode Gallery

Join Julia as she demonstrates artistry in oil and acrylic. Best known for her large scale pieces, Julia will be demonstrating and giving us a glimpse of other styles that in which she works.

"I was raised in Eau Claire, WI. At 18 I left the Midwest to attend Bates College in Lewiston, ME. I spent my junior year abroad in Florence, Italy. For nine months I studied Italian, art history, and was apprenticed to Massimo Giannoni. In 2007 I received a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art; for my thesis I painted sixteen portraits of the other art majors who were graduating with me. After school I moved to New York City for a year but found the art world vastly overwhelming and cutthroat. In the fall of 2008 I moved back to Wisconsin to live cheaply and focus on making art.

From 16 Portraits by Julia Helen Rice

"My work is about place, though not necessarily an actual, physical place but that can be part of the meaning. My paintings are more about internal, intimate places within me that get entangled in my physical surroundings. I make paintings to try to understand and express that entwining. 

"The landscapes are tangible, real places that define and structure my existence. They provide an order that I couldn’t otherwise establish for myself and are chosen mainly from the shock of how awesome the sky is. I wanted to talk about what to me is the most necessary of landscapes: the landscape of space. I have been continually surprised at how, even in unlikely places, there are still pockets of space left and that finding them has less to do with knowing of their existence then in being aware of their possibility. To me the awareness of openness creates innumerable possibilities; to me space allows multiple combinations of reality to be present at once."

Julia Helen Rice's blog
Julia Helen Rice Bio at Calhoun Art Crawl