ARTIST INTERVIEW

Every month LOCAL's Gallery does an interview with one of its artists.  The thought behind this is we can all get to know eachother.  This month's interview was with Trevor Sowder.  Trevor is one of the talented photographer's of the group.    He is one of the few artists that has a blog.  I encourage all of you to go sign up for his blog.  This will ensure that you are notified when he has a new post!

Let's take a look at his interview below.

LG:  Trevor, what has been an inspiration to you and your work?  Why?

Trevor: Anything having to do with the natural world inspires me. I have always been an avid outdoorsman that has been fascinated with nature and the beautiful features and life that are found in it.  The simple beauty yet complex origins of nature are what keep me going out and exploring.

LG: Are there themes that consistently run from one work to the other such as colors, style, etc.?

Trevor: One theme that tends to show up in my work the most is broad, sweeping landscapes. I typically shoot using wide angle lenses so that I can capture the immense amount of space and distance in a scene. Water features such as falls and streams/creeks are a common occurrence in my work as well.

LG:  What do you look for in deciding on what to make? 

Trevor: Finding a scene to photograph isn’t always easy for me. I will usually stop and photograph a scene that stops me in my tracks. The light on a scene is the most important aspect for me. What may be a dull scene at mid-day can come alive and be absolutely unforgettable during the golden hours though. So, visiting a possible scene during different times of the day or year is often the key to capturing it at it’s best.

LG: If someone were asked to make a comment about your work as a whole, what do you think they would say?  What would you say about your work?

Trevor: When people comment on my photos they often say that the image made them feel like they were there next to me standing on a mountain top or staring up at the milky way in the dark of the night. I think people enjoy the fact that I don’t “over-process” my photos and make them look like they are fake. I believe in making my photos as natural looking as I can.

LG:  What do you see, or have experienced, as the most effective way for you to market and promote you and your work?

Trevor: Word of mouth and Facebook have typically been the ways that people have come to find out about my work. I’m not very good at the whole online marketing process, so I don’t get many new clients or views via my website. However, I hope to change that in the near future.

LG:  From what I can gather, you do use social media platforms.  Which social media platform do you find to be the most successful for you? 

Trevor: Facebook

LG:  Just to wrap up this interview, do you have any final thoughts about you and your work, that you think would be important for others to know about?

Trevor:  I would just like everyone that views my work to know that I am very passionate about environmental issues and the protection of our natural resources. Not only do our National and local parks offer beautiful views to photograph, paint, or sketch, but they also offer us a place to go to get a break from the very stressful lives that most of us live on a day to day basis.  If we don’t take care to protect these places of peace and solitude then future generations of artists may not have the same chance at inspiration that we enjoy today.

Your website (if applicable): www.trevorsowderphotography.com

Blog (if applicable): www.norcaloutdoorlife.com

                 Local's Gallery Artist Spotlight

Each month Local's Gallery would like to feature one of the Local's artists.  An online interview so to speak, so that the other artists can get to know them.  This month's interview was with Barbara Lundeen.  At the young age of 86, Barbara hand crafts beautiful jewelry.  Below is her interview.

LG:  Barbara, what has been an inspiration to you and your work?  Why?

Barbara:  I have been creative since I was a very tiny girl.  My grandfather was a very successful artist and built a small easel for me in his studio so I could “paint” with him.  He encouraged my intense love of colors at a very early age.  I spent my youth and middle years trying every creative art and craft that came along but I always came back to creating jewelry.  I love nature and the beauty of our planet and I try to incorporate as much of that beauty as I can into my pieces.

LG: Are there themes that consistently run from one work to the other such as colors, style, etc.?

Barbara:  Perhaps my style, which seems to remain somewhat consistent no matter  what I'm working on, is the theme.  I prefer to keep things somewhat clean and simple so that the beauty of the components can be seen.  I especially like to work with jasper and agate stones and use them as pendants in the majority of my necklace work.  I did discover chainmaille a few years ago and enjoy making earrings from patterns I develop as well as some of the basic weaves.  Now my interest includes wire wrapping and it fits in nicely.  Many of the stones I use as pendants are now wrapped and it only increases the interest.  Of course, color is the most important and driving part of everything I do.

LG:  What do you look for in deciding on what to make? 

Barbara:  My workbench is against the window at the foot of my bed.  When the sun comes up in the morning it shines there directly.  I usually awake about 6am and the first thing I see is the glitter of crystals and stones and aluminum rings and I can't wait to jump out of bed and start working.  Sometimes I don't even get to the kitchen for coffee until after noon {grin}.  I have boxes and boxes of stones and every time I look through them I find something else that jumps out at me - “use me, use me” it cries.  Sometimes my ideas don't pan out like I think they will and I have to start over and sometimes the idea creates itself and is done to perfection in a flash.  I really never know ahead – I get so excited that I just go ahead without any preparation and that doesn't always work.  I am a perfectionist though so when an idea is not working to my liking it doesn't leave the workbench until it has been redone.  I love to do special requests from my customers – They tell me what they want and I get to create if for them.  It's exciting when I get it right and they are thrilled with the results.

LG: If someone were asked to make a comment about your work as a whole, what do you think they would say?  What would you say about your work?

Barbara:  Many comments I have heard refer to my workmanship being good.  This pleases me as workmanship is one of my highest criteria in a finished piece.  I love it when people ooh and ah over the beauty of a stone or finished piece – even when they are just looking.  Mostly, my customer, many of whom are repeaters, and I all agree that my work is a bit different and unique.  There is a lot of jewelry being created and offered at shows so it behooves me to always be experimenting and finding new ways to put things together.

LG:  What do you see, or have experienced, as the most effective way for you to market and promote you and your work?

Barbara:  Oh gosh, it's definitely word of mouth and repeat customers.  I have such a loyal following and they are all so wonderful about spreading the word and even bringing their friends to my house to look at what I have made.  Shows are fun but, as I'm getting a bit ancient, I have to look for indoor venues as I'm kind of unable to handle a so-called “EZ-up” necessary for outdoor shows.  That being said, I'm hoping to have more in-home and group shows in this coming year.   

LG:  From what I can gather, you do use social media platforms.  Which social media platform do you find to be the most successful for you? 

Barbara:  I had a website but took it down as it was almost always out of date.  I'd rather be creating than all the other stuff that has to be done.  I do take pictures of all my pieces for inventory purposes and it's easy to shoot those over to FaceBook where I have a page (https://www.facebook.com/beadsbybarb/) which I'm trying to get a store set up on.  Pictures, unfortunately, don't do total justice to jewelry unless they are done professionally and, with over 250 pair of earrings and 50 necklaces, pendants and other pieces at any given time, I'm pretty much limited to taking my own.  I use my cell phone mostly and that makes it really easy to upload to FaceBook and share.  I'm also on Etsy but, again, my Etsy store is sadly out of date and I really don't have the time or resources to keep it up to date and promote it so that it gets seen.

LG:  Just to wrap up this interview, do you have any final thoughts about you and your work, that you think would be important for others to know about?

Barbara:  I think of all creativity as art rather than a craft and I honor and respect all who possess creative genes.  I thank my wonderful grandfather for the genetics that allow me to be part of that group.  I'm told I should charge more for my work but I take great pleasure in knowing that my prices allow people from all economic stratae to enjoy beautiful things. My ultimate goal at age 86 is to sell enough to enable me to buy more stones and components to make more beautiful things.  

A Day In The Life Of An Alcohol Ink Painter

Recently, Julie Bullock was invited to showcase her talent in the art of Alcohol Ink painting at Bogbean Books and Music in Redding.  Below is Julie's account of the day.

"It was a new experience for me, as I usually don't paint in front of people, I was initially worried that it might impact my flow. To my surprise it did not, and actually, by having people around and asking me questions, I feel like the painting would not have turned out as it did with out them. They would ask me 'how do you get this effect' and then I would show them in the painting. I really enjoyed demonstrating the inks, and hearing all the 'oos' and 'awes' from the crowd. I had kids participate as well. When I would do a 'drip' session, I allowed the children to blow on the drips and we all watched to see what they would do. I felt a strong desire to include all the visitors into this painting. At the end of the day, I let each one of the Bogbean workers pick a color that I would apply and those was their spots. I have a passion for sharing this medium, as it brings so many reactions, and it gets people excited to create! I believe that we were all created to create, some of us have just lost our juice! I am hoping to bring that back! can you imagine if everyone was creative, what a colorful world we would have.  I would like to thank Tawny at Bogbean, for inviting me to the event, and giving me the opportunity to step out of my comfy box for a day! I hope to return soon." 

Way to go Julie!  Thank you for sharing your incredible talent!

It's Alive!

Due to demands of life  the Local's Gallery blog has fallen off the plate. But there is good news!  Joe has minions now!  All the artists know that in order to be successful we all have to rally.  It is the goal of Local's Gallery to post one or two blogs a month updating the goings on of our gallery.

The big news this month is the HUGE hanging and display of members of our gallery at a local Redding establishment, The Brew, 1320 Yuba Street.  There are over 60 pieces of art or jewelry being displayed.   You can see a video of the recent hanging below.

This will be an ongoing show that will be changed out every two months.

Please follow the blog so that you will be notified when a new one posts!  Good things are coming and we know that you will want to stay informed!

Until then, take care.