Thursday, April 18, 2013

Real and Imagined in Bakersfield

I did manage to take a few photos of "Real and Imagined: A Collection of (Mostly) Animal Paintings" at Metro Galleries in Bakersfield, CA.





For scale: the blue abstract on the left is 48 x 48 inches.
The show continues through May.

I am giving away postcards and posters for the show designed by Don Martin, the owner of the gallery. If anyone would like either a poster (17 x 11 inches) or a postcard (5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches) let me know. Leave me a comment or email me and I will get one to you!
They look like the image below:


The show is going really well, and I am already working on new animal paintings for the second half of the exhibition!

I hope you all have a great weekend!!!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

In defense of art

Ten reasons to buy original art:
1. It has no calories
2. You don't have to feed it or pick up its poo
3. It will always fit, even if you gain a little weight
4. The software doesn't crash or need updating - ever
5. You won't have to get new tires for it or change the oil
6. It won't wake you up in the middle of the night
7. If you loved it when you bought it, you will always love it
8. It uses no electricity
9. It never goes out of style
10. No one else will have one like it.

Seriously though, if I didn't think art was a worthwhile investment, I wouldn't spend all day, every day making it, thinking about making it, reading about it or looking at it. I even spent four years (give or take) in college STUDYING it.

Do you realize that one of the things people travel to see is art? Do you realize that lawsuits are being fought all over the world because of art? Do you realize that when our civilization has gone, one of the things that will be left behind as a record of our time and culture is art? Art is important.

We spend money on so many things that are designed for our physical selves. Art is for the soul.

"Animal Intelligence." Dictionary pages, tissue paper, acrylic and oil on board 11 x 14 inches. ©Karine Swenson2013
The opening in Bakersfield last Friday night at the Metro Galleries went very well. It was a great crowd, and so many of my friends from the desert drove all the way up there to be there with me!!! Thank you to everyone who came, especially those who had such a long drive, but came anyway. I am overwhelmed by you all! The show is up until the end of May, and paintings are selling, thanks to the efforts of the owner, Don Martin. Hooray!