A+S Featured Artist Shawn Huckins Featured in Art Ltd Magazine
shawn huckins by leanne haase goebel May 2012 BF's Comment: Laughing My Ass Off2012Acrylic + pencil on canvas29" x 23 3/4"Photo: courtesy the artistShawn Huckins is a big fan of Ed Ruscha. In fact, a reproduction of Ruscha's well-known Standard Station, Amarillo, Texas hangs in the loft living room of the Denver apartment Huckins shares with his partner, Matt. From his spare bedroom studio, Huckins procures his prized possession, an autographed copy of Ruscha's book "Leave Any Information at the Signal," which he received from the artist in 2009. It's inscribed: "Thank you for your kind letter. Best wishes, Ed Ruscha." The book and note arrived in response to a fan letter Huckins wrote to Ruscha. "I read the book back to front and front to back," Huckins says. "He's a big inspiration to my work. It's very evident with the white lettering superimposed on the canvases."Huckins is 27, just five years graduated from Keene State College in New Hampshire with a BA in Studio Art. Prior to moving to Denver in January 2012, he worked as an architectural model fabricator and painter for a firm in New Haven, Connecticut. His paintings have already appeared at Aqua Art Miami and in New American Paintings. This June, he will make his West Coast debut in simultaneous two-person shows at L2kontemporary in Los Angeles, and Cain Schulte gallery in San Francisco. But his current 18th-Century-meets-Pop style came about as the result of a happy accident.Huckins created his first painting in third grade, of a barn with rolling hills, which he copied from a book, using an oil painting kit that he inherited when his grandmother passed away. In fourth grade he became fascinated with Colonial America: the Redcoats, the Freedom Trail, the formal portraits at the New Hampshire state capital. "I guess I'm a traditional kind of guy. I like baking a pie from scratch. Technology is awesome but sometimes it can be frustrating and overwhelming. Their way of life seems more simple, elegant and intelligent," he adds, somewhat nostalgic for an earlier time. Huckins' first explorations as a fine artist featured vivid color palettes, stark scenes of storefronts and cars, realistically rendered. They are more Wayne Thiebaud meets Edward Hopper meets Robert Bechtel. He didn't begin painting 18th-Century style portraits until two years ago. Truth was, Huckins didn't know how."I never took figure classes and was never taught to make flesh tones," Huckins admits. His cousin made fun of him and Huckins determined to prove him wrong. So he taught himself portraiture by copying his favorite paintings by John Singleton Copley, the artist who defined the realist art tradition in America. "I'm very technical and detailed with my paintings, and how things are composed," Huckins says. "I have the same style as he [Copley] does."He would paint, then toss the work aside and keep practicing. One day, a portrait he tossed on the floor slid under a piece of tracing paper in which he had written LOL, the texting acronym for Laugh Out Loud. It caught his eye, and he realized that the juxtaposition was arresting. His first major work in this style, GW's Comment: Rolling on the Floor Laughing, is based on a copy of Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington, with large, white lettering across his face: ROFL. "I really liked the composition and the contrast between our technology acronyms versus the 18th-century civility." He utilizes actual Twitter and Facebook updates, randomly copying them and matching them to imagery. His subjects range from the famous, such as Benjamin Franklin, with the letters LMAO, short for Laughing My Ass Off, to the obscure, like Mrs. Ezekiel Goldthwait, who is partially obscured by the acronym for Laughing Quietly To Myself. "I think they're funny. You're not supposed to know what some of it means. It's like a code you have to figure out. It's a new language."Huckins' paintings merge traditional American portraiture with Pop Art and of-the-moment language and symbols from today's digital communications in a way that is fresh, original, and visually striking. One suspects it could even make Ed Ruscha an admirer of Shawn Huckins.
*View the original article at the following link: http://www.artltdmag.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1336667786&arch...
A+S Featured in the Spring 2012 Edition of Luxe Magazine
Be sure to check out our feature in the Spring 2012 edition of Luxe Magazine as soon as your receive your newest issue. We are honored to be featured in the Editor's Picks ShopTalk section. It is always a great read, so pick up a copy of it the next time you see it! Trust us, all of the gorgeous homes and style ideas will inspire you!
Art + Soul Gallery is proud to be a new representative of the venerable contemporary artist Don Coen!!!
Don Coen’s life journey to become an influential contemporary artist began at a very early age while growing up on his family farm in Lamar, Colorado. Raised without a television, the young Coen began at the early age of five designing and building his own toys and drawing by kerosene lamps at night around the kitchen table. From those quiet nights until the present, Don’s work has been inspired by his experience working the land with his family and several Latino families that lived and worked alongside Coen throughout his childhood and early adult years.
Don’s arduous life on the farm unveiled a deep love and connection to the surreal beauty of the eastern Colorado plains and to the people that worked the land. His ability to see this landscape in its entirety began and continues to result in powerful artworks that capture the landscape, people, and fauna that represent the American plains.
Throughout his career, Coen’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and recognized by many publications, awards and museums. His work is widely collected throughout the world and part of permanent collections of many prominent museums.
Much of his early work in the 1960’s and 1970’s, while living in Boulder, was both abstract, and non-objective. It was in the early 1980’s, when returning to his family farm that he decided to dedicate the next significant part of his life to capturing the spirit of his homelands. He began photographing and painting oversize images in a bold and unprecedented manner, illuminating this visually beautiful and economically vital part of our nation’s production landscape.
“The Lamar Series” is a visual chronicle of everyday life within these rural American landscapes. A powerful statement of universal realization and intense reverence for life is created by Coen’s telling of the forgotten beauty and reality of farm life through fifteen oversized canvases.
The harmony of the agricultural fields, plains, grain feeders and livestock are unveiled by exposing the complex, often overlooked, dualities that exist everyday on the rural American farm. Coen’s large-scale paintings are surreal with a remarkably soft focus when viewed at close proximity but become riveting with life when viewed from a distance. “The Lamar Series” was embraced by the art community, traveling to multiple museums throughout the Midwest by the Mid-America Arts Alliance and purchased for permanent and private collections throughout the world.
Coen’s works continues to evolve and elevate our collective consciousness about our modern agricultural traditions. As an extensive and poignantly timely evolution from “The Lamar Series” and “Images of Contemporary Rural America”, Coen has begun documenting the American migrant worker. These workers are responsible for supplying much of the produce found in our supermarkets, co-ops and restaurants, yet there exists very little connection between the consumer and these vibrant people who work and harvest by hand. Coen traveled extensively throughout the nation, meeting, photographing and ultimately painting the migrant culture and the landscapes they work in. This new riveting series of large-scale canvases captures the lives and spirit of America’s contemporary migrant workers and can only truly be experienced in person.
Coen’s goal with the “Migrant Series” is to raise the consciousness of America to this very overlooked yet vital part of our society and to give the migrant workers an identity and voice through his paintings. Like “The Lamar Series”, this new work portrays the dualities of the spirits and worlds we often drive by or do not care to notice or research. Exposing the spirit of America’s migratory labor and the human spirit, Coen’s work inspires us to take notice, to respond and to care about these incredible people, their lives and contributions to our society.
The potential and power of the series is difficult to conceive considering the political climate we live in. The time to introduce this work on a large scale is now. Coen is working with several museums planning an initial museum exhibition followed by a national and international tour.
Jim Pittman just brought in "Moab Windows" this afternoon, with wet canvas edges and all. We always love getting new work in by Jim Pittman, because he is such a talented artist and wonderful person. Stop in to view this stunning 48 x 48" acrylic on canvas before someone falls in love with it as much as we already have and takes it home!
Also, if you are down in Denver in the upcoming weeks, stop by the Denver Art Museum to view another piece by Jim Pittman. "Marble Canyon" is currently on exhibit at the Denver Art Museum until July of 2012.
Art + Soul Gallery Proudly Presents “Gold Goes Green: Alex Sepkus Trunk Show”
Art + Soul Gallery invites you to recycle your unwanted white gold, yellow gold, and platinum with Jeff Feero for credit towards any new piece by Alex Sepkus. Saturday, April 14th 11-6pm, Sunday, April 15th, 11-5pm.
Haven’t worn that high school ring in 20 years? Have a tangled web of Grandma’s gold chains taking up space? Single earring without a mate? We present you with a unique opportunity to recycle your unwanted jewelry for a beautiful new piece by award winning designer, Alex Sepkus.
Next weekend, during our April 2012 Trunk Show, Jeff Feero from Alex’s studio will be accepting all forms of platinum, yellow gold and white gold. Based on the fair market value of the metal as well as the karat and object weight of the item, he will exchange your unwanted items for an equal credit amount towards any piece in Alex’s line.
The metal reclaimed from items that are brought in will be recycled into future designs. Ninety percent of the metal used by Alex comes from jewelry or electronics that have been scrapped many times over, refined and then re-fashioned into the designer’s unique work.
Born in Lithuania, Alex’s work creates a world of intricate design and precise craftsmanship that is truly unusual and immediately recognizable. His 18k and Platinum jewelry set with hand-selected specialty gemstones from around the world are coveted masterpieces and highly collectable.
Our Alex Sepkus Trunk Show will feature Alex’s exquisite 2012 collection including new designs, bridal, and one-of-a-kind pieces.
Gold Goes Green will be held at Art + Soul on Saturday, April 14th from 11-6pm and Sunday, April 15th from 11am-5pm. Jewelry exchange will be available during trunk show hours only.
Please call (303)-544-5803 for more information.
We look forward to seeing you next weekend!
Debbie, Laura J, Laura B, Audrey, Carole, Beth and Winston
Art + Soul Is Nominated For Boulder Magazine's REAL Award!
Please help us by going to our nominations page at the link below and commenting on the gallery to show your support for Art + Soul.
http://www.getboulder.com/small-business/art-soul
We are excited to be nominated for this award that honors individuals and businesses who make a significant contribution to our local community and "help define what makes Boulder County so vibrant and unique".
We are very excited to introduce Adel Chefridi's 18k Gold Line to his already amazing collection of silver jewelry.
The silver collection was so popular this holiday season, that we have decided to expand our selection to include his designs in 18k gold with diamonds, sapphires, rubys and tsavorite garnets. The work is beautiful, wearable, spiritual, and very unique. We hope you will stop in and take a look at his wonderful work.
Update on Lisa Jenks Pink Pearl Collection Donation Recipient
Lisa Jenks Trunk Show
Due to the recent statements made by Susan G Koman For The Cure regarding their relationship with Planned Parenthood, we have decided to modify our event.
When you purchase a trunk show piece from our exclusive pink pearl collection, you will have the option to have your portion of the proceeds go to either Susan Koman or Planned Parenthood. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to seeing you this weekend.
.jpg "New Work by Jim Pittman")
shawn huckins by leanne haase goebel May 2012 BF's Comment: Laughing My Ass Off2012Acrylic + pencil on canvas29" x 23 3/4"Photo: courtesy the artistShawn Huckins is a big fan of Ed Ruscha. In fact, a reproduction of Ruscha's well-known Standard Station, Amarillo, Texas hangs in the loft living room of the Denver apartment Huckins shares with his partner, Matt. From his spare bedroom studio, Huckins procures his prized possession, an autographed copy of Ruscha's book "Leave Any Information at the Signal," which he received from the artist in 2009. It's inscribed: "Thank you for your kind letter. Best wishes, Ed Ruscha." The book and note arrived in response to a fan letter Huckins wrote to Ruscha. "I read the book back to front and front to back," Huckins says. "He's a big inspiration to my work. It's very evident with the white lettering superimposed on the canvases."Huckins is 27, just five years graduated from Keene State College in New Hampshire with a BA in Studio Art. Prior to moving to Denver in January 2012, he worked as an architectural model fabricator and painter for a firm in New Haven, Connecticut. His paintings have already appeared at Aqua Art Miami and in New American Paintings. This June, he will make his West Coast debut in simultaneous two-person shows at L2kontemporary in Los Angeles, and Cain Schulte gallery in San Francisco. But his current 18th-Century-meets-Pop style came about as the result of a happy accident.Huckins created his first painting in third grade, of a barn with rolling hills, which he copied from a book, using an oil painting kit that he inherited when his grandmother passed away. In fourth grade he became fascinated with Colonial America: the Redcoats, the Freedom Trail, the formal portraits at the New Hampshire state capital. "I guess I'm a traditional kind of guy. I like baking a pie from scratch. Technology is awesome but sometimes it can be frustrating and overwhelming. Their way of life seems more simple, elegant and intelligent," he adds, somewhat nostalgic for an earlier time. Huckins' first explorations as a fine artist featured vivid color palettes, stark scenes of storefronts and cars, realistically rendered. They are more Wayne Thiebaud meets Edward Hopper meets Robert Bechtel. He didn't begin painting 18th-Century style portraits until two years ago. Truth was, Huckins didn't know how."I never took figure classes and was never taught to make flesh tones," Huckins admits. His cousin made fun of him and Huckins determined to prove him wrong. So he taught himself portraiture by copying his favorite paintings by John Singleton Copley, the artist who defined the realist art tradition in America. "I'm very technical and detailed with my paintings, and how things are composed," Huckins says. "I have the same style as he [Copley] does."He would paint, then toss the work aside and keep practicing. One day, a portrait he tossed on the floor slid under a piece of tracing paper in which he had written LOL, the texting acronym for Laugh Out Loud. It caught his eye, and he realized that the juxtaposition was arresting. His first major work in this style, GW's Comment: Rolling on the Floor Laughing, is based on a copy of Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington, with large, white lettering across his face: ROFL. "I really liked the composition and the contrast between our technology acronyms versus the 18th-century civility." He utilizes actual Twitter and Facebook updates, randomly copying them and matching them to imagery. His subjects range from the famous, such as Benjamin Franklin, with the letters LMAO, short for Laughing My Ass Off, to the obscure, like Mrs. Ezekiel Goldthwait, who is partially obscured by the acronym for Laughing Quietly To Myself. "I think they're funny. You're not supposed to know what some of it means. It's like a code you have to figure out. It's a new language."Huckins' paintings merge traditional American portraiture with Pop Art and of-the-moment language and symbols from today's digital communications in a way that is fresh, original, and visually striking. One suspects it could even make Ed Ruscha an admirer of Shawn Huckins.
*View the original article at the following link: http://www.artltdmag.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1336667786&arch...