April & May

Well, even though we're well past April and May and the two major events where previously blogged about, I'm still going to write about what else happened!

Early April was spent locked in my studio late in the evenings, during naps and on the days where I wasn't at the office. I completed my past painting and you can read all about my Gibsons Public Art Gallery Exhibition here http://leannespanza.blogspot.ca/2012/05/my-first-solo-exhibition.html

'The Lights (Triptyck) 16" x 60"

Once back from the opening I took a few days break before starting on my next original for Therapy Vineyards and the release party May 10th. I completed two paintings, on Titled Mini Summerland and the other titled Spring as below. Both have since sold and you can read about the fabulous release party here http://leannespanza.blogspot.ca/2012/06/wine-label.html My art will be at Therapy Vineyards in Naramata throughout the summer.

'Spring' 18" x 24" $225 - SOLD

After the release party I had a commission to complete for my best friend Morgan and her husband Mike. They wanted me to create my largest painting and of the West Coast Wilderness Lodge where they were married last year. After a couple of sketches we agreed on a concept and I enlisted my friend Christina to help me build the canvas as Opus doesn't sell ones that large. After it was all built, this is how it looked in my studio, my largest painting yet, 60" x 60".

I had lots of fun painting it and it was the first time I've ever taken steps while sketching and painting! When it was done I took it off the frame, rolled it up and packaged it to go on the plane with me for the trip to Boston. I was  really excited, this was going to be my first solo flight and trip since Joni was born and I was really looking forward to spending some quality time with Morgan. The trip was wonderful and the painting made it safe and sound. Morgan and Mike were thrilled with how it turned out and below is the finished piece. They toured me throughout the city, saw a Red Sox game, spent the day at Crane Beach, ate at fabulous restaurants and had wine at lunch. 

'Westcoast Wilderness Lodge' 60" x 60"

The month went by so fast and it's hard to believe we're half way through June already. 

Below are the paintings that now hang on the walls of the wonderful people who purchased my art in April and May.

'A View Up Top' - 24"x 48" SOLD

'Mini Revy' 12"x12" SOLD

'West Coast Town' 12" x 12" SOLD

'Sailing' - 24" x 36" SOLD

'A Mountain Town' - 12" x 12" SOLD

'Arbutus Tree II' - 24" x 18" SOLD

'Rock Islands' 18" x 36" SOLD

'Garden Bay' - 36" x 48" SOLD

'The Falls' - 36" x 24" SOLD

'Sunday Afternoon' 48" x 24" - SOLD

'Rogers Pass' 18" x 36" - SOLD

 

The Wine Label

Earlier this year I saw a post on Twitter about an Artist Series wine label contest from Therapy Vineyards in beautiful Naramata. Having my art on a wine label has been something I've always wanted to do and they were looking for artwork of Okanagan landscapes. The deadline for submission was just a few days away which meant I didn't have time to create a new piece but I thought 'Okanagan Hills' would meet their requirements. So I contacted my favorite southern Okanagan supporters Jeannette and Ian who owned the piece to make sure they would be ok with me submitting the piece to Therapy (they were thrilled and very encouraging = reason why I love them).

Okanagan Hills, 24" x 48" 

Then on a cold February day, on my walk in to the office I got a phone call from Daphne telling me that my painting had been selected!!!! AMAZING! Over the next few months I anticipated the release, checked over the proof and then I was sent this beautiful photo.

Therapy Vineyards Artist Series Riesling Kerner

Thursday May 10th was the Artist Series Release Party, I took the day off work and packed the car full of art, prints and an overnight bag because I got to stay in their gorgeous guest house for the night! Daphne greeted me at the door with a glass of wine and after meeting Steve the winemaker and all the wonderful people that worked at Therapy I was so surprised to see the original painting hanging beautifully in the Wine Shop! Jeannette and Ian had arranged to bring it and it looked great with the wine bottles displayed below.

Photo courtesy of Therapy Vineyards

I had a fabulous time at the Release Party, listening to the band, signing bottles and sipping on wine all afternoon. After Carl got off work him and Joni arrived and we had a very relaxing evening at the guesthouse.

Thank you to everyone at Therapy Vineyards for all your support, selecting my art, the wine and for the wonderful day and evening spent there. I'm so happy and proud to have my art on your wine label. I love white wine and the Artist Series is a Riesling Kerner blend that is absolutely perfect for any sunny day. Or cloudy day. It's delicious.

-Artist Series Riesling Kerner is only available at the wineshop and selling fast but Therapy will be more than happy to package and ship bottles. For more information please go to  http://therapyvineyards.com/  or email at info@therapyvineyards.com

My First Solo Exhibition

Poster courtesy of the Gibsons Public Art Gallery

My first solo exhibition. For months I've been working away in the studio anticipating April 19th both extremely nervous and incredibly excited. Dreaming of paintings inspired by the beautiful west coast and coming up with a few different styles along the way. My studio walls were completely filled by the time early April rolled along and even Carl was busy wire mounting and packing everything up. My mom and mother-in-law came up the last weekend before the show to help out and together we all drove down to Vancouver on the 12th. The 13th was set up day and on that cold, rainy day I borrowed Shelley's van and headed for the ferry terminal to Gibsons.

Pat greeted me and introduced me to some of the wonderful volunteers that helped me set everything up. When everything was set up it was just incredible to see my art all lined up and so wonderfully displayed. 

That's ME!

Front Gallery - View when you walk in

Front Gallery, 'The Lights'

Front Gallery, 'Summer' & 'The Falls'

Main Gallery, right

Main Gallery center

Main Gallery, left

Opposite Main Gallery

Mini Paintings!

Third Gallery

 The opening was on Saturday April 21st and it was a beautiful sunny weekend. Carl, Joni and I took a ferry over on the Friday morning and rented a house 2 blocks from the Gibsons Public Art Gallery on the ocean. 

Joni on the Ferry

View from the House

Saturday morning arrived and I was so excited! 2 o'clock couldn't come fast enough. Friends and family were arriving throughout the morning on the ferries and we were all enjoying a beautiful sunny day. Joni especially, loving the attention and throwing about 500 rocks into the water. As everyone left the house to pick up lunch (I stayed home because Joni was napping) I received a phone call from Morgan's (best friend who lives in Boston) Mom saying should would like to stop by and drop something from Morgan off. We said we would have a skype date and do a champagne toast. She knocked on the door and jumped out of the way to reveal Morgan!!!!! She and her wonderful husband Mike had flown all the way from Boston for the opening. Lauren, Lyhle, Kerry and Dale had all told me there were not able to make it and they surprised me as well!! It was the most incredible surprise I have ever had and there were many tears (right after I had done my make up of course).

At 2 we headed over to the opening and it was packed! There must have been 50-60 of our friends and family that came to support me. I was completely overwhelmed and loved every minute of it, even pulled off an unrehearsed speech! A total of 9 paintings sold on opening day, it was just amazing.

 To all of my supporters throughout these last two years, to the Gibsons Public Art Gallery, to my wonderful friends and family who came from Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, Kelowna, Vancouver Island and Boston and especially my husband Carl, you truly made this one of the best days of my life and something I will never forget. Two years ago I would have never imagined having my first solo exhibition at a public art gallery, you encouraged me to follow this dream and played an enormous role to make it possible.

Thank you.

Kerry, me, Morgan & Lauren right after the surprise

Cousin Sara & her beautiful family from Port Alberni

Friends, family & Joni

March

Finally it seems like spring has arrived in the Okanagan! The greenhouse is cleaned out, seeds are planted and Carl has already turned over the vegetable garden and set up the veggie beds. It's been great being in the studio with my big window looking out at our backyard and seeing Joni and Carl chase each other around while I'm painting away. Hard to believe that March has ended and it's April, the month of my exhibition at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery!! I have been busy painting, creating some larger paintings for the show this month and working with the gallery for invitations, etc. I think I'm going to create two more paintings and then the show will be complete. Hard to believe all these months of planning, sketching and painting are coming down to the final weeks. I'm really looking forward to heading down to the coast, hanging the paintings with the gallery and, of course the opening!
Below are a few paintings I've worked on this month

'Summer, Garden Bay Pub' 36" x 48" $775

 My Aunt and Uncle have a house in Pender Harbour and I have spent many summer days on the beautiful sunshine coast. Many evenings were spent on the patio of the Garden Bay Pub.

'A View Up Top' 24" x 48" $500 (April 1 SOLD!)

With Spring arriving in the Okanagan I can't help but daydream of hiking up the mountains, A View Up Top reminds me of Okanagan Mountain, overlooking between West Kelowna and Peachland.

My daughter Joni is a lot of fun right now. She's two and a half and we've been 'hunting' for rocks in the garden to paint. She loves this and we now have quite the collection of multi colour rocks at our front door and throughout the garden.

A few of my originals sold this month to fabulous people (with great taste) and are now hanging on their walls where I hope they will enjoy them for years to come.

'Creighton Valley' 36" x 48" SOLD

'Northern Lights' 18" x 36" SOLD

I have been meeting with a lot of wonderful people who would like me to create a commission for them and after the show is completed in Gibsons I'm looking forward to starting these. I always enjoy working with commissions as it's fun and inspiring to hear ideas and stories of the places they would like me to capture. If you're interested in a commission piece please feel free to email me at leannespanza@gmail.com
Until next time!

February

Siren, my Studio buddy

The month of February was cold here in Kelowna. Some people say it was a mild winter but for me, any temperature that is not +12 is cold. I am NOT a winter person that is for sure.
So my hours were spent bundled up in my cozy studio watching the snow fall and running back to the house for a  coffee refill. This month it started to really sink in that my big solo exhibition was getting closer and some days I started to panic, worrying that I wouldn't have enough art, wanting to create more and realizing I am going to be just fine.Nonetheless I am working away, creating some fun, west coast inspired art for the show.
 I also took in a workshop at the Lake Country Art Gallery where the curator went over expectations for an exhibition proposal. I learned a lot and am working on my proposal for the Lake Country Art Gallery and maybe a few more for 2013.
February 12th was my birthday which was spent with good friends, good food and (lots of) wine. After many months of winter all I really wanted was to crank the heat in our old 1940's house to a point where we could wear tshirts and still be warm. My little taste of summer!
I meant to take some time off my day job to work on my art however I didn't seem to get around to it which is crazy. Already in March now I've taken a few days off with Joni in daycare where I can paint the day away. Below are some of the pieces I created this past month including my first Ogopogo!

Early Morning Sailing, 24" x 36"  $400

Tree, 18" x 36"  $250

A View from the Seabus, 30" x 40"  $600

Ogopogo! 11" x 14"  SOLD

Stormy Lighthouse Park, 24" x 24"  SOLD

Thanks for reading, stay tuned for my next update which includes an enormous 3' x 4' painting of the Garden Bay Pub in Pender Harbour. xoxo

January

Another month has flown by and the pressure is starting to sink in about my upcoming exhibition at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery. I now have two months and two and a half weeks to complete the rest of the paintings I've planned and do all the media, prep and party planning! I'm really excited and am so looking forward to April 21st, Opening Day.
This past month I've had some sales of original art, completed a commissioned Arbutus Tree painting and my prints sales are doing great too! I've been committed to Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/leannespanza and getting some positive response. I've also created and sold my first Gift Certificate as well.

Rattlesnake Island 24 x 24 SOLD

       

Okanagan Sailing 36 x 36 SOLD 

I've been in the studio a lot having visits and working away late in the evening after Joni is in bed and on weekends when Carl is home. It's been so nice to have my own place where I can crank the music and paint away. Below are the paintings I completed this past month, hope you enjoy them!

Vancouver & Mt Baker, 24 x 48 $500

Davis Bay, 36 x 36 $600

Rogers Pass, 18 x 36 $300