Winter Solstice Fire and Ice

In honor of the winter solstice today, I thought it fitting to write something about the shortest day of the year. I am fascinated by the sun setting low against a frigid, icy atmosphere, and the winter light unique only to this time of year. While it may be the shortest, darkest day, the sky can be brilliant with color.

The painting posted below reflects my attraction to the winter sky. I was especially interested in the contrast of the warmth of the sun against the wintry sky. I love the idea that even on the darkest, coldest day of the year there is a sense of hope and beauty from the setting sun, emitting vibrant, strong colors. It gives me peace.

Winter Solstice Fire and Ice, 2007. Gouache and soft pastel on watercolor paper. 35 x 43.

Both Sides Now

I recently came across these photos that my brother had taken from a flight somewhere over Asia. I love the idea of being immersed between layers of atmosphere. This type of experience fascinates me. The photos will serve as an inspiration point for the painting I started last week. I began the painting with the idea that I would create the sense of flying between levels of atmosphere, when I remembered these photos that where taken last year. Given my artistic captivation with otherworldly atmospheric places, I think these photos offer a nice example of such. Although I don’t normally work from photos, I do love the dreamlike aspect of these skies, and I hope to create the same sentiment in my newest painting.

A New Direction

My latest painting continues with my recent theme of airplane skies. For me, this is a new direction in my work. I strive to create the sense of otherworldliness and the surreal. The jury is still out on whether I will continue with this new theme. All I can do is to paint what I feel, and currently I crave open, peaceful, and dreamlike spaces found in airplane skies. I desire to create these places. I really can’t explain the reason why. I am fascinated with them at the moment. I want to communicate what I feel through my work; things I can’t put into words.

Airplane skies captivate me for their quiet and tranquility. I am removed from problems and trivial matters when I am gazing out the window at 35,000 ft.

I feel as though I have entered a dream world cruising above the earth. There’s an unusual sense of peace in the high levels of atmosphere. That’s where I want to be.

Celestial Maypole, 2009. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 66 x 72.

Con Artists: Questions Every Artist Should Ask Before Signing a Gallery Contract

After spending my Sunday looking forward to a phone interview with a prospective gallery in San Francisco, I realized there are several essential questions every artist should arm themselves with when speaking with a potential gallery.

I was flattered that this gallery was interested in representing my art, and I hoped that it would be a good fit for my work. After previous negative experiences with a couple galleries due to my naiveté and strong desire to bring additional exposure to my work, I approached my interview cautiously.

Shortly into my conversation with the gallery director, I felt as though I was receiving a sales pitch. It turns out the gallery was asking a $400 monthly “membership fee” for each artist represented. This membership fee was to cover the cost of promotional efforts and advertising. The gallery represents 52 artists a month at the gallery. After some quick math I was able to realize that the gallery is collecting $20,800 a month from their artists alone. That’s a lot of promotional efforts! When I asked the gallery director if they were truly investing $20,800 a month into advertising for their artists, I was told that was not the case. The money was for other vague “costs” that he couldn’t explain further. I then asked for a financial breakdown of the $400 membership fee to see specifically where the membership fee would be applied toward marketing campaigns. He was unable to offer a breakdown of costs, or any more specifics about their promotional work. In addition to the monthly artist membership fee, the gallery had a 60% artist 40% gallery commission on any artwork sold. Further income is generated from party and event rentals held at the gallery several times a week.

To me, this seemed like a terrible business plan for the artist, excellent for the gallery. There is little to no incentive to sell art if the gallery is collecting a guaranteed $20,800 a month from the artists alone as well as the additional income from the frequent event rentals. It is unfortunate that galleries like this exist all around the world, seeming to prey on artists. These types of galleries aren’t interested in the artist but rather their checkbook. Artists as a whole are highly sensitive people, myself included. It is shameful that certain galleries prey on this sensitivity and desire to have art seen by a new audience.

I was motivated to write of my recent experience, in the hopes that other artists won’t allow these types galleries to take advantage of them. There are wonderful galleries out there, and I have had many positive experiences with them. However, as an artist it is necessary to enter any and all agreements with galleries fully aware of their conditions and business plan. Before my interview I compiled some questions to ask the gallery to see if they really had the best intentions for their artists. I hope this list will be of some help to other artists out there considering signing a gallery contract.

Here’s my list:

1. What type of representation agreement or contract do you offer artists?
2. How long is a representation agreement?
3. How many artists do you represent?
4. Is there a fee to show my work?
5. If there is a fee, what is the fee for?
6. Is there a commission in addition to a fee to exhibit?
7. What percentage commission do you take on artwork sold at the gallery?
8. What type of exhibition(s) will be planned for each artist?
9. How much space is allotted for each artist?
10. What promotional and marketing efforts do you plan for each exhibition and artist?
11. What is expected of the artist?
12. What costs must the artist cover?
13. In general, how many pieces of each artists work are at the gallery?
14. Is this an exclusive agreement?

I hope this is of some help. Artists, if you think there might be some questions I should add to the list, please comment! I’d love to hear your feedback.

Thank You!

In honor of Thanksgiving, I wanted to thank everyone for their support and kind comments about my work! It really means so much to me, and I do appreciate it. It motivates me to continue to create, so thank you! I am truly grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Migratory Sky, 2009. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 66 x 108

Can I Help it if I Still Dream Time to Time?

"I dream a lot. I do more painting when I'm not painting. It's in the subconscious."

-- Andrew Wyeth

North Atlantic Interchange, 2009. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 52 x 44.

Rousillon Sky, Flight AF 7681, 6:50AM

After all of my previous entries about the inspiration I have found from airplane skies, I figured it was finally time I delivered some proof of my work. I recently completed some studies of these skies, each piece being 12 x 12, oil on panel. I have posted the images below. The four pieces were created after a sky I witnessed high above the stunning French countryside at dawn. Currently, I am working on a large piece (66 x 72) based on these studies. I will have more images of this new series soon. I’ll keep you posted.

Open Studio is Tonight!

I can't believe it is already the first Friday of the month! I am having open studio tonight as part of Denver's Art District on Santa Fe First Friday from 6 to 9 PM. Please stop by if you are in the neighborhood.

My studio is located at:

Space Gallery

765 Santa Fe Dr

Denver, CO 80204

Have a great weekend!

Journey's Promise, Teelin Ireland, 5:32 AM, 2009. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 56 x 78.

Above the French Alps at Daybreak

A last minute trip to France recently brought me an unexpected sight despite the jet lag. I was flying over the French Alps right before sunrise, and was drawn to the sun rising over Mont Blanc. Continuing on my current theme of airplane skies, I enjoyed seeing a new perspective on the subject matter. I have already begun some small studies inspired by this sunrise, and I look forward to developing it further into a large painting, or possibly several paintings. I am excited about this new series, and I hope to post some images soon of these works. Please check back soon and thanks for visiting!

In Case You Missed It

My show with Viridian Artists in New York ends this Saturday. If you are in the New York area please stop by! If not, below are some shots of my show. Thanks to everyone who made it out to my opening!

My next post: An impromptu trip to France provides ample inspiration above Mont Blanc.

Western Luminosity Opens Tomorrow!

My first solo show with Viridian Artists, Western Luminosity, opens tomorrow, October 6. If you are in the New York area, please stop by for the opening reception on October 8, from 6 to 8 PM.

Viridian Artists is located at:

530 West 25th St. #407

New York, NY 10001

The Press Release:

Viridian Artists Inc. is pleased to present an exhibition of recent paintings by Laura Guese.

Open, vibrant and endless skies speak to the very heart and soul of human emotion. “Western Luminosity,” Laura Guese’s first solo exhibition with Viridian Artists, focuses on these infinite, haunting, and emotional skies. Drawing from her experiences growing up under the big skies of Colorado, Ms. Guese creates large-scale oil on canvas paintings purely from memory. Speaking of her work, Ms. Guese states, “The sky is ever-changing and never duplicated. The feeling of insignificance is overwhelming when observing the sky. The atmosphere has the power to evoke a full spectrum of true emotion, which I find fascinating. It is for these reasons that I am obsessed with exploring the emotional aspects of sky and atmosphere.” Laura Guese’s work can be found in private, public, and corporate collections, including various hospitals that have acquired her paintings due to their healing and therapeutic nature.

Thanks for your support! Hope to see you there!

Earthwood Gallery Reception and First Friday

Tomorrow, October 2, Earthwood Gallery in Boulder is hosting a reception of my work from 6 to 9 PM. Please stop by if you are in the area, I would love to see you there.

Earthwood Gallery is located at:

1412 Pearl Street

Boulder, CO 80302

Also happening tomorrow night, I am having my monthly open studio as a part of Denver's Art District on Santa Fe First Friday. I will have works in progress on display this month, as well as paintings by fellow resident at Jentel Artist Residency, Julie Strasheim.

My studio is located at:

Space Gallery

765 Santa Fe Drive

Denver, CO 80204

Have a great weekend!

Finishing Touch, Day's End, 2008. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 36 x 60.

My Empty Studio

Thursday this past week I was left with an empty studio, which is a rarity for me. I have been working on a large (5 ½ ft x 9 ft) painting that was shipped last week to its new home in California. Also contributing to my blank walls, seven of my paintings were shipped to New York for my upcoming solo show with Viridian Artists opening October 6. Currently, three of my larger pieces are on reserve for a show with Earthwood Gallery in Boulder, CO opening on October 2. Needless to say, the last few months have been quite busy at my studio in preparation for these shows, as well as perfecting such a large commissioned piece.

Whenever I am faced with an empty studio, I am inspired and excited to begin creating again. It feels like a blank slate in a way and I look forward to whatever may be next.

P.S. All of my newest work was photographed before leaving the studio. The new images will be posted here, so please check back here soon!

First Storm, Fall Equinox, 2009. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 52 x 44.

I’m Sensing a Theme Here

You can probably guess what this post is about if you read my blog regularly. As mentioned in my last few posts, I have become very inspired by airplane skies. I love the surreal qualities of these skies. I recently uncovered the sunrise airplane photo posted below and I wanted to share it here. The sun had not yet risen above the clouds as my flight ascended over DIA in the early morning, allowing for striking formations and colors.

At my studio, I am currently working on an airplane sky painting. It is one that I have imagined based on these photos and experiences I have had gazing out the airplane window. This painting could be the start of a series of airplane skies, which I am very excited about. Please stay tuned as I will have photos of the completed painting soon.

The Three-Hour Sunset

What can I say? I am inspired. One of my previous posts about the brilliant sunrise above LA from an airplane sparked me to remember a sunset I watched flying west from Charlotte, NC last September. The flight left Charlotte right at sunset. Our plane was chasing the setting sun for three hours as we headed west. Needless to say, I was glued to my window for the duration of the flight, trying to form the perfect mental picture. It was so captivating; of course the in-flight movie was completely forgotten.

Yesterday at the studio I began a new painting. I wasn’t really sure how it was going to evolve as I started the piece, but my thoughts continued to wander back to that three-hour sunset from last year. Although I don’t work from photographs, I thought you might enjoy seeing some photos I took from that flight. What inspires me most is the otherworldly feeling these skies evoke.

Stay tuned... I will post some images of my most recent work in progress soon.

Tonight is First Friday Open Studio!

My studio will be open from 6 to 9 PM tonight as a part of the Art District on Santa Fe's First Friday. Please stop by if you can and see what I have been working on this month. My studio is located at: Space Gallery, 765 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, 80204.

Have a good weekend!

Golden Sweep, 2008. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 64 x 64.

Amber Morning Sky

An amber sky greeted me when I awoke this morning. What amazes me is that for the last few days here in Colorado the atmosphere has been hazy and ashy from wildfires burning as far away as California. In my opinion, ash-filled skies make for some of the most extraordinary skies. I love the amber light that is cast. It makes everything look rosy and surreal. I'm excited for tonight's sunset.

Looking East from my backyard.

Early Morning Flight? Reserve a Window Seat

All complaints I had of a recent early morning layover at LAX just after a red eye flight were defeated by a red sunrise as we ascended over LA at approximately 20,000ft at 6:30 AM. Never have I seen a sun so brilliantly red as it rose from the mountains. The heavy smog only added to the vibrant sunrise. After a sky like this, I resolved to always request a window seat when flying. I would recommend you do the same!

The sun rising over LA.

Breaking out of the clouds.

Looking South, just after sunrise.

Above the Clouds on Mauna Kea

Rising above the postcard perfect beaches of Hawaii’s Big Island, looms Mauna Kea, or White Mountain, the world’s tallest island-mountain measured from the ocean floor. At an elevation of 13,796ft above sea level, this dormant volcano will take your breath away literally and figuratively.

While the geological history of Mauna Kea is fascinating, I was more interested in the atmospheric and astronomical aspects that this mountain offers. The extremely dry atmosphere on Mauna Kea makes for an excellent location for astronomy observatories and general sky watching. Far below the summit exists a tropical inversion cloud layer. By ascending the mountain to the summit you are able to climb above the clouds, as I had experienced on a recent trip. It was a moment of inspiration looking down on the clouds from such an extraordinary site, and certainly well worth the trip. Below are some of my photos from Mauna Kea.

Up next: What does LA look like at 6:30 AM from 20,000ft? Find out in my next post.

After sunset, just below the summit.

Descending Mauna Kea, below the summit, the sun sets.

At the summit looking at the tropical inversion cloud layer.

Above the clouds on Mauna Kea.

So New the Paint is Still Drying

As promised, below are some photos of my most recent work.

Tomorrow's post: Above the Clouds on Mauna Kea, stay tuned!

Golden Chalice, 2009. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 56 x 78.

End of Storm, Ucross (revised), 2009. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 56 x 64.

First Storm, Fall Equinox, 2009. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 52 x 44.

Stalactite Sky, 2009. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 52 x 44.

What Makes the Desert Beautiful...

"What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well."

--Antoine de Saint-Exupery

End of Storm, Ucross, 2009. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 56 x 64.

First Friday Open Studio Is Here Again!

I am having open studio tomorrow night from 6 to 9 PM as a part of Denver's Art District on Santa Fe First Friday. My studio is located at Space Gallery, 765 Santa Fe Drive in Denver. Please stop by if you are in the neighborhood, and see what I have been working on all summer.

Have a great weekend!

40,000 ft Sky, 2009. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 36 x 60.

There Are Two Ways of Spreading Light...

"There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."

--Edith Wharton

Winter Radiance, Jentel, WY, 2008. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 56 x 54.

Lenticular Marvels

Other worldly and often resembling UFO’s, the lenticular cloud is my favorite type of cloud. Usually these clouds form near mountains, giving me the fortunate chance to see them frequently here in Colorado. Lenticular clouds form at higher levels of the atmosphere, and although they appear stationary, they are actually in motion as the result of strong wind flow over more mountainous landscapes. A change of weather is usually in the forecast with the sighting of this type of cloud.

Lenticular clouds have often inspired my work because of their surreal shape and texture. The idea that they are constantly in motion due to unstable atmospheric conditions, yet appear to be still is both fascinating and inspiring.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Good News!

Eight of my paintings have recently been acquired for the lobby of a hospital here in Colorado. These paintings were chosen for their therapeutic quality, aiding in the overall healing process of the patients. It is such an honor to be a part of the healing process. Details regarding a reception at the hospital to celebrate this acquisition are to follow. Please check back here soon, and thanks for visiting!

Western Luminosity, 2009. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 52 x 44.

My Thoughts Exactly…

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for."

--Georgia O’Keeffe

Big Sky Sanctuary, 2008. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 64 x 64.

On the Easel

As promised, I mentioned that I would post an image of my newest piece, once it was completed. I should have a better image of the painting when my photographer comes to shoot my newest works at my studio. I will post the images here as soon as I have them, so please stay tuned!

Golden Chalice, 2009. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 56 x 78.

What Are You Listening To?

Often I am asked this question when people visit my studio while I am working. I listen to music constantly as I am painting. To me, music in the studio is as essential to the creative process as paints and canvas. Music helps to keep me motivated and tuned in to the emotions of the painting. There’s an amazing synergy between art and music, the inspiration process being so similar in the two. I like music that evokes the openness and energy of the works I am creating. Some of my favorites are: Wilco, Josh Ritter, Tom Petty, Pete Yorn, and Ryan Adams.

What does music inspire you to do?

Prairie Morning Prelude, 2008. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 56 x 72.

First Friday Open Studio Is Tonight!

Just a reminder that I am having open studio tonight during First Friday on Santa Fe from 5 to 9 PM. Stop by if you are in the area. My studio is at Space Gallery, 765 Santa Fe Drive in Denver.

Enjoy the holiday weekend!

Contrail Canopy, 2008. Oil and oilbar on canvas, 52 x 44.

What Causes New Yorkers to Stop and Stare?

A magnificent sky at sunset, of course. A few nights ago a spectacular display was seen above New York City that forced everyone to look up in awe. These clouds appeared shortly after a dramatic storm. They are known as mammatus or mammatocumlus clouds, and form usually underneath the base of a cloud, most often a cumulonimbus cloud. It is wonderful to think that even in Manhattan, a stunning sky can bring a few moments of fascination and marvel to everyone below. I love instances like those. Every worry is forgotten. So inspiring!

Photo courtesy of flickr