BLOG Submission for October and November, 20


We are excited to have for our October and November exhibit paintings by Jesse Reno, an award winning Portland artist.

He brings to Seattle his contemporary primitive abstract narrative style in a

series that will surely delight and please viewers. Here is what Jesse writes about this exhibit:
like everything in life, a throne is what you make it. we are taught to dream of a day where we
relax like retired kings -- rare even for those who strive for greatness within themselves. The true
throne -- the place you wish for -- is uninterrupted. a place in your life where you are satisfied -- your
accomplishments leaving you full.
the throne is creating in a way that is both driven and relaxed, allowing finish to arrive.
personal satisfaction is the reward. standing, sitting, observing when i am imagining the throne. i still
dream of it even though i have little use for it.

   
A self taught artist, Jesse has been painting for the last 21 years, showing in over 100 galleries,

creating over 4000 pieces, and selling almost 90% of his works. He has held workshops in Australia,
Canada, Mexico and 10 states in the US, and has been commissioned to create several murals in the
US and Canada.

  He describes his paintings as contemporary primitive abstract narrative:
Contemporary primitive as searching for understanding through introspection, seeking a basic
wisdom of things based on connection to one’s ideas, ideals, and dreams.
Abstract narrative becomes a visual narrative derived from the interpretation of creations
made up of intuitive actions manifesting as abstract shapes, forms and emotions a process without
preconceived plans – thoughts and feelings following one after the other to become an idea.
We are planning to have Jesse do demos at our reception on Saturday, November 14, 2020 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. All COVID-19 requirements will be observed.

Whitney Buckingham-Beechie is showing April, 2017.  Her show is called Elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water

April 6-8 Pamela Beer came to the gallery to teach techniques and new ideas in acrylic painting.  It was a great workshop! We finished with a layer of cold wax medium, I loved the look and feel.  A wonderful group of artists!

I'm thrilled to be able to put on the ICON Juried Show again after a 2 year break.  My new larger space in the Tashiro Kaplan Building has allowed for this show to continue.
Barbara Noonan, this year's juror did a fabulous job.  I am overwhelmed with the quality of the work that is being delivered to my gallery today to go up for the September show!
I love where the theme ICON takes different artists.

Lynn- What artist are you most influenced by?

Darlene- Katherine Chang Liu and Mark Mehaffey because Mark was my first watercolor teacher and Katherine has been my mentor for 5 years.

L-What famous artist in art history is your biggest influence?

D- Charles Burchfield because of his bold mark making, interpreting something that is sound, not something that is totally seen.
Joseph Raffael because of my love of watercolor, although he creates in acrylic and oils, he uses them in a watercolor way, capturing movement and puddling.
Arthur Dove, who also captured sound visually.

L- Why have you chosen watercolor as your medium?

D- Because watercolor is 2,000 years old and I like that idea.  And no other medium is so luminous and flowing as watercolor.  I love to watch the interaction of pigments.

L- Your watercolor paintings look like no one else that I have seen, how does this happen?

D-I paint for myself.  I enter shows by looking at the paintings I have and see where they might fit.  I don't paint for shows. I concentrate on my feelings.  I read a lot of physics and astronomy books.  I sketch, I draw or I paint every day.

L- Why does science have such a profound influence in your art?

D- I had good botany and biology teachers and I discovered physics 2 years ago.  Its exciting to live today when we have so many answers to what the cosmos is.

L-What music inspires you when you paint?

D- Andre Segovia and Egor Stravinsky and Abba.

L- What would you advise a young person wishing to become an artist?

D- Keep a sketchbook!  Draw every day.  Persist

L- With your busy schedule how do you find time to paint?

D- I grab 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there and a half a hour when I can and it adds up to a lot.  I grab the little minutes. Each moment is precious.

L- How much time per week do you spend on the business aspect of art?

D- I spend a average of 2 hours a day on the business of art.  More realistically I spend 2 days out of 7 on the business.

L- How do you find your inspiration when you feel stuck?

D- I'm never stuck because I have my sketch books.  

L- Any finishing thoughts?

D-My life is one joyous time from the moment I get out of bed in the morning till I go to bed at night I am so grateful.
​My epitaph should be "filled with delight day after day".

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First Thursday Art Walk, May 5, 2016, 5-8
​Featured Artist Darlene Gentry Lucas