Monday, September 18, 2006

Julia Hensley Acrylics on Paper at Paul Thiebaud Gallery



Julia Hensley
Vegas Long Blue
Acrylic on Paper
8 X 4", 2003












The Paul Thiebaud Gallery, located in the lively North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, introduced this group of my seminal acrylics on paper last year at the San Francisco International Art Exposition, and at Art Chicago in the Park in 2005. These intimate works on paper are now available at the gallery (images and information below).

All works are matted and framed, price range is currently $1200-$1400. (Please note: the actual paintings are a lot more vibrant in color than their ghosts on the internet.)














Julia Hensley
Flatiron
Acrylic on Paper
7 X 5", 2003












Julia Hensley
Upper West Side
Acrylic on Paper
7 X 5", 2003



















Julia Hensley
The Old Frontier
Acrylic on Paper
3 X 10", 2003













Julia Hensley
Spring in Back Bay
Acrylic on Paper
8 X 6", 2003
















Julia Hensley
Houston Street
Acrylic on Paper
7 X 5", 2003














Julia Hensley
Walking From Queens
Acrylic on Paper
3 X 10", 2003

If you are planning a trip to San Francisco and would like to see the paintings shown, or the range of my oil paintings currently at the gallery, please contact them ahead of time and they will be happy to present the work, or contact me and I will arrange a visit for you.

You can also request an information packet with printouts from the gallery. Anne Morganti or one of the other friendly associates will be glad to answer questions.

PAUL THIEBAUD GALLERY
718 Columbus Avenue
San Francisco, California 94133
Tel: 415.434.3055
Email: info@paulthiebaudgallery.com

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Sue Danielson, Featured Student


Walk in the Park #12
Sue Danielson
Acrylic on Canvas
11x14"































Walk in the Park #13
Sue Danielson
Acrylic on Canvas
16x20"

Sue Danielson is one of my regular private students, and it's a joy working with her. This summer, she completed a series of plein air landscapes at her neighborhood Magnuson Park, where she discovered a palette of muted greens and golds.

The Walk in the Park series is now on view in Sue's first solo show, at the Roosevelt Square Starbucks (upstairs next to Blockbuster Video). Stop by and enjoy her affectionate take on a familiar landscape while you sip your coffee:

Roosevelt Square Starbucks
NE 65th and Roosevelt Ave NE
through October 2

Or visit Sue's studio on the coolest street in town during the Ballard Art Walk:

Ballard Art Walk
every second Saturday of the month from 6-9pm
Queen Hotel
5308 Ballard Ave, Suite 7

"I love working with Julia. Often times she sends me on my way with a new concept or painting technique to consider. These little gems are delivered in such a gentle manner that their full effect doesn’t really hit me until later, after I’ve picked up a paint brush again. Needless to say, Julia’s wise mentoring has significantly impacted me and allowed me to progress as a painter far beyond what I could have imagined."

Friday, July 28, 2006

New Fall Class at Pratt

The following class is now open for registration. Sign up soon!

Drawing and Dialogue with the Masters

Ever have a baffling visit to a museum or gallery? Get on familar terms with famous artists as you learn what to look for in their work AND how to talk about it with confidence in this hands-on art appreciation and drawing class. We interpret paintings, drawings, and sculpture from Michelangelo to Matisse using graphite, charcoal, ink, and colored pencil, then share our discoveries with one another in open discussions. Feel your confidence grow as you learn to see, use, and verbalize the concepts that build a work of art, including negative space, light and shadow, color, and composition, as well as mood, concept and viewpoint. We develop a vocabulary of art terms and practice using it in a fun and active environment. Class culminates with a visit to the Frye Art Museum.

10am - 1pm, 9/21 - 10/26
Number of Sessions: 6
Course Fee: $160

Pratt Fine Arts Center



Julia Hensley
Velazquez/Infanta Study 2
Graphite on paper
4 x 5 1/2"
2005





Diego Rodriquez de Silva y Velazquez
Maria Teresa Infanta of Spain
1561-1654
Oil on canvas
12 7/8 x 15 1/8"
The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Here are answers to some questions about this class from students. Let me know if you have others.

Q: "Master artists" - does that mean I have to be an advanced student?

A: No. The master artists are the ones we will be studying. The class is open to all.

Q: If we are "interpreting" does that mean I have to already have a "style"?

A: No, though you may find the class helps you uncover and explore personal ways of working. In making our own study of a work by another artist, we first learn how the work is designed. But we break free of the original and make the work our own by learning how to make variations on the theme and use it as a creative springboard.

Q: Will this class help me in my own work?

A: Absolutely. The class is designed to strengthen your drawing and creative skills. It also aims to give you a language for analyzing other artists' work that can equally be applied to your own.

Juried Show, St James, NY

Two of the collages I made on a residency at the Weir Farm Art Center in Connecticut earlier this year (see Residency Notes, posted May 4, 2006) have been selected for a juried show at the Mills Pond House Gallery in St. James, New York.

The juror is Colta Ives, Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Saturday, August 26 - Saturday, September 23, 2006
Opening reception: August 26 from 2-4pm

Smithtown Township Arts Council
Millls Pond House Gallery
660 Route 25A
St. James, NY 11780
631-862-66575
www.stacarts.org



















Left:
Julia Hensley
65th & Roosevelt; 2006
Gouache-on-paper collage
7 3/4" x 6"


Right:
Julia Hensley
65th Red/Green; 2006
Gouache-on-paper collage
7 1/2" x 6

Gee's Bend Quilts at Greg Kucera

If you see just one exhibit this summer in Seattle, make it this one.

Fifteen quilts and several dazzling prints by the quilters of Gee's Bend, Alabama are on view at Greg Kucera Gallery through September 2. More work will be on view in Tacoma, and again in San Francisco in the fall.

The Saturday after the show opened, I was lucky enough to attend a talk by three of the artists: Mary Lee Bendolph, Loretta Pettway, and Louisiana Bendolph. These extraordinary women are like messengers from another culture and time, and their stories, their warmth, and their sheer presence sent palpable ripples through those who saw them and heard them speak (and sing).

Built in larger blocks than conventional quilts, the Gee's Bend compositions are bold, alive and confident. The dynamic, surprising color arrangements place them beyond the category of pure craft and firmly in the realm of art (despite the fact that their makers had never heard the term "artist" until recently, much less applied it to themselves). While the designs are visually powerful, their impact is additionally poignant because of the function of the objects, the recycled fabric and the history of the makers.

Greg Kucera Gallery
Quilts of Gee's Bend

Image:
Lola Pettway
Housetop Variation, 2002
Tinwood Ventures

Friday, May 05, 2006

Private Mentoring

I am currently enrolling students for private art sessions at my home in north Seattle. Rates are $60 per hour. Come as often or as infrequently as you like. All levels welcome.

>>>Private mentoring is personalized support for motivated art students who desire professional feedback, encouragement and direction.

Email or call me for details
julia@juliahensley.com
206-931-7407

Details and FAQ's follow.
_____________________________________________________


Tamara Belland is a third-year illustration student at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.

She recently had three pieces accepted to the 1-2-3 Show at Cornish. This oil pastel won one of two honorable mentions for her year.

Tamara visits me every month for an hour-and-a-half private mentoring session.


Tamara Belland, oil pastel, 16 1/2" x 22 1/2"

"Julia truly cares and gives an honest assessment, as well as helping me through any blocks I have toward being the best artist I can be. My artwork, as well as my confidence, have grown tremendously." - Tamara Belland
_____________________________________________________
Every artist needs some form of encouragement and feedback. Private lessons or "mentoring" with the right teacher can be an effective way to further every aspect of your art practise, from what to paint to how to paint it, and where to go from there. Students of all levels can make great leaps in a short time with an infusion of one-on-one attention and encouragement.
___________________________________________________

FAQ's: Following are some answers to frequently-asked questions about my private sessions.

>Do I draw while you watch, or how does it work?

The mentoring sessions are driven by you and what you wish to achieve. While hands-on drawing and painting lessons are available, generally we focus on work you have done on your own outside of class, with drawing built into the discussion.

A typical session goes like this: I look at your work and listen to your questions. I try to get a sense of what you need and are ready to hear. Then I make specific, constructive observations, sometimes accompanied by short demonstrations. I offer creative exercises, simple explanations, and concrete techniques to address problems and stretch your abilities. I frequently suggest artists for you to look at that may be inspiring to you and pull out relevant art books from my collection. Together we propose projects to work on till the next time. I make suggestions, and you follow up on what sounds enjoyable or beneficial to you. Some students take notes. Everyone who is able to work between times shows marked progress from one session to the next.

>Should I take private sessions while taking other classes?

Mentoring can accelerate your absorption of material while taking another class. You get to ask me all the questions your teacher may not have time for. Taking private mentoring instead of a class is an excellent option, too, when you don't want to be tied in to six or eight sessions. A nice thing about private sessions is that you can cancel or reschedule up to the night before with no charge.

>I work in media other than painting or drawing. Would I benefit from mentoring from you?

Most likely yes. Most art projects involve the same basic principles of concept, design, form, color, content, and execution. I don't have to be an expert in your medium to offer insight into the artistic principles involved in mediums as varied as stained glass, silk painting, printmaking, and sculpture. For specific technical advice, mediums within my immediate expertise include graphite, charcoal, colored pencil/aquarelle, ink, pastels, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, oils, collage, pastels, and blockprinting.

>How often should I come?

Most students benefit from regular weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly sessions, depending on how much time they feel they will have to work on their art. Or you may schedule a session whenever you need a boost - I am flexible to your needs.

>How much is a session?

Classes are $60 per hour. Pay following each session with cash or check, or buy up to five sessions in advance.

>Where are they held?

Sessions are held at my home in the north end of Seattle, off Sand Point Way on 105th St. I do on occasion make house calls if you are in my general area.

>Contact:
Email or call me to set up a time, or to find out more
julia@juliahensley.com
206-931-7407

Upcoming Shows

My work will be included in the following shows in 2007

January 17-April 18 2007
John Raimondi Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts
New city images will be shown with photographer Joel Kershner's close-up urban views in this extended two-person show at the corporate gallery of Vitale, Caturano Inc.
http://www.vitale.com/R04/gallery/gallery.asp

Fall 2007
Sullivan Goss Gallery in Santa Barbara, California
The City Works group show will be shown in the new contemporary space of Sullivan Goss Gallery, on Anapamu Street opposite the Santa Barbara Art Museum. The gallery specializes in early 20th Century California landscape painters and carries a strong selection of urban imagery which will be gathered together for this show.
www.sullivangoss.com

Fall 2007
Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme, Connecticut
Weir Farm Trust Retrospective
Group show. Presented in the context of American Impressionism in Connecticut, this exhibit will showcase twenty artists of the 350 residents who have participated over nine years of the Weir Farm Trust program.
www.florencegriswoldmuseum.org

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Residency Notes

January, 2006
Weir Farm Trust Residency in Wilton, Connecticut
www.weirfarmtrust.org

American impressionist painter, J. Alden Weir, bought the beautiful New England property known as Weir Farm in the 1900's for a painting plus $10. He lived with his family and painted on the farm for the rest of his life, welcoming many prominent fellow artists to work on his property, including Childe Hassam, John Singer Sargent, and John Twachtman.

The farm has been preserved almost intact, and is one of only two National Parks devoted to art (the other being St. Gaudens in New Hampshire). It is run jointly by the National Park Service and the Weir Farm Trust, which hosts artists to enjoy the inspired setting. Only one artist at a time is selected for a residency; mine was two weeks long.

I lived in the former cottage of the farm manager and his family. In the lovely attic studio, I produced eight cityscape collages in gouache on Bristol board, which I am now translating, along with ten more done before and since the residency, into oils on panel. Below is a preview; high-quality digital images will be forthcoming on the website.














(left)
Julia Hensley
Cranium's Coffee
Gouache on Bristol Board collage, 2006
5" x 6"

(right)
Julia Hensley
Cranium's Coffee
Oil on Panel, 2006
9" x 7 1/2"

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Spring and Summer Classes



After a sabbatical of two semesters, I am ready to teach again and look forward to the following three classes. I'd love to see you! Please contact Pratt or Kirkland Arts Center directly to register, but feel free to contact me with questions about course content - or just to say hello.







SPRING

1. RE-ENERGIZE YOUR PROJECT
Bring in a painting, drawing, or other visual art project in any stage of development for an infusion of individual attention and fresh information. This workshop is designed to unstick the stuck, recharge the muse, and provide concrete options for problem-solving in a friendly studio environment. Focus points are tailored to each student but include drawing, composition, color, making studies, specific media techniques, content and intention. A stimulating class for those new to working on their own, for seasoned artists, or for anyone simply needing a fresh eye on their work. Everyone welcome.

PRATT Fine Arts Center
Saturday JULY 1-Sunday JULY 2
10:00am - 6:00pm
$140
www.pratt.org
(206)328-2200

SUMMER

2. SKETCHING OUTDOORS
(We meet at four spots around central Seattle. Exact locations will be sent to you when you sign up).

Practice your drawing in a relaxed summer environment with guidance specific to small-scale sketching, and lots of tips on technique. Basic drawing concepts (contour, angles and proportions, negative space, light and shadow) and an introduction to colored pencils are integrated into our explorations of prearranged spots around the city. Learn a variety of approaches to all manner of complex forms encountered out of doors, including trees, flowers, water, boats, cars, people, streets, buildings and animals. Play with compositional ideas as you examine and enjoy your environment. Lots of individual feedback and demonstrations.

PRATT Fine Arts Center
Thursdays, July 6-27 (four classes)
10:00am - 1:00pm
$140
www.pratt.org
(206)328-2200









Julia Hensley
Horse
ink on paper
4 1/2 x 6"



3. OUTDOOR SKETCHING (Kirkland)
Take advantage of the summer days to explore the neighborhood with a sketchpad. Lessons on contour, angles and relationships, negative space, light and shadows, texture and detail will be woven into our studies of the great outdoors of Kirkland. Four nearby local spots will be announced ahead of time, with Kirkland Arts Center Gallery as a backup in case of rain. We focus on ways to simplify trees, flowers and people, boats, buildings and streets into manageable drawing terms. This relaxed class is an opportunity to develop your drawing skills outdoors and to practice at your own pace. Lots of individual feedback and demos. Prerequisite: Some drawing experience helpful. Supply list provided.

KIRKLAND ARTS CENTER
Tuesdays, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
August 8 – 29 (4 classes)
Member: $85 Nonmember: $95
www.kirklandartscenter.org
(425) 822-9294