Long Overdue

The long lost blog of 2015. It's been a bumpy year and also a full one. Family obligations took up most of the first 6months of the year and painting for shows has filled in the rest. Many shows is a good problem to have I won't complain. Hanging on the walls currently are small gouache paintings included in Sullivan Goss 100 GRAND here in Santa Barbara. It is the holiday kick off party every year. The show runs through the end of January. It's always a must see before or after Christmas. There is lots to see and much to discuss. Take the family!

Fog Bank 5.5x3" Gouache on brown paper

Opening the same week in Santa Monica were MORE gouache paintings exhibited at the Craig Krull Gallery in Bergamot Station. It was the debut of critters and a weather study project I've been working on for the past year. Small works that were the perfect way to stay connected in my studio while distracted by family concerns. They were both an escape and a blessing I must have needed as there are 125 little beauties that were compiled for the show. This show runs through January 16th, 2016.

Arctic Hare 6x4" Gouache on Arches Board

Weather Pattern #63 3x5.25" Gouache on Arches Board

In the midst of all this I've been painting for my next solo exhibit with Sullivan Goss which opens First Thursday, January 7th, 2016 from 5-8pm. The show 50 / 50 will celebrate the two things that make Santa Barbara a beloved destination, both the sea and the mountains. I can longer decide which I love more, I only know that I don't want to do without either. There will be plenty of work to see and YES more gouache paintings too. The show runs through the end of February. Hope to see you in the new year. Until then, warm holiday wishes to all.

12x12" paintings for the 50/50 exhibit at Sullivan Goss January 2016

Now at Westmont Museum

VITAL

A Tri-County Juried Exhibit

Exhibition Dates: May 21 – June 20, 2015

Juror: Ciara Ennis – Director/Curator, Pitzer College Art Galleries

Boiling Storm 48x24" ©2015 N Strasbutg

There is only a couple more weeks left to see the annual show at Westmont!There are some real beauties in the show.

Museum Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 am – 4 pm Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm

Worktable Wednesday

Mile High Color 22x60" ©

Roughing in new mountain image, dreaming of the snow and rain shower those clouds dropped during the winter last year. It wasn't much but it was glorious all the same. It made the plants perk up and give a great show of sparkling color as they drank in the moisture.

Friday Easel

Les Deux Gingembres 12x12"

 

Spending time with the pooches today.

Worktable Wednesday

Today's easel

A Dream of Rain 24x48"

Worktable Wednesday - Dreaming of Coastal Fog

in progress, variations on a theme ©2014

Worktable Wednesday - Summer shore

Sea Grass Patterns 48x24" ©

On the easel today, in progress still,
but making my way to the finish line.

Sullivan Goss Celebrates

This Thursday Sullivan Goss 

opens the season with a group show 

celebrating 30 years in business. 1984-2014 

I will be celebrating 10 years with the gallery ... time flies.

See you there!!

February Shore 48x24" ©

Worktable Wednsday - Summer & Beloved

Newly started ode to summer and beloved, 

departed pooch, Athena.

Beloved 24x24" ©N Strasburg

Northern Exposure: Paintings on the road

Foggy Shore 48x24" ©N Strasburg

Santa Cruz Art League
84th Annual Juried Landscape Exhibition
June 6 through July 6, 2014

Mountain Swim 12x12" ©N Strasburg

California State Fair
Fine Art Competition
July 11 through July 27, 2014

Bare Limbs 1 28x19.5" ©N Strasburg

Slice:A Juried Cross-section of Regional Art
June 29 - August 24, 2014
Reception & Award Ceremony: Friday, July 11, 6 - 9 pm 

Worktable Wednesday - pooches

In the Meadow ©2014 12x12"

Worktable Wednesday

On the easel today, new winter water vertical

Winter Shoreline: another opportunity ...

to be seen. This painting, Winter Shoreline, was painted six years ago in 2008. It has hung in several different galleries, two shows and won one award in Santa Cruz. Yet it sits in my cupboard in my studio, waiting.

It's sad to me that many shows have expiration dates that don't allow older, viable, worthy work to come out from hiding in an artist's studio to grace the walls and be admired again. Not only do beautiful works sit in collector's homes to be admired by few but so do many wonderful works sit in the artist's collections because viewers want to see what's new, what is the artist making now.

This painting, one of my personal favorites, favorite for it's ethereal ambiguity, will be heading south to San Diego next week; selected by Peter Frank, juror for the San Diego Art Institute open juried show running from April 5th to May 20th 2014. It's a chance to hang on the gallery wall again, to be seen, at least for a month, by others, in a city south by the sea.

Winter Shoreline 36x48" ©Nicole Strasburg

Worktable Wednesday

Back to the easel...

snow path, low tide, foggy shore, roiling clouds

after a printmaking workshop using copper drypoint.

Wilson's Warbler in the shrub

Worktable Wednesday

Spring Fog {in progress} 48x24"
©2014 N Strasburg

Worktable Wednesday 2014

A new year, a new start. 

New oil sketches on the easel.

It feels good to be back at work.

Wintery Wednesday

 

Last week was a big week, New Terrain was dismantled, dispersed and the remaining paintings tucked away in the studio while new work continues to be made. Mountains and snow have not been worked out of my system yet and what a perfect time to celebrate snow paintings but the beginning of winter. Craig Krull in Santa Monica has mounted three shows celebrating winter with a few of my small paintings in the mix.

Stuido with New Terrain images

Winter Greys 12x12" © 2013

Craig Krull Gallery presents A Little Snow....

Showing at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica through January 11, 2014

Also opening last week, 100 GRAND at Sullivan Goss. 100 paintings under a thousand dollars for your viewing and purchasing pleasure. It's a visual feast with something for everyone.

Summer Light 12 x 12" ©2013

100 GRAND

Sullivan Goss

11 East Anapamu, Santa Barbara

Show runs through February 2, 2014

New work includes more of my mountain getaways, more animals and yes, the beautiful wintery seashore is also prominent. One of my favorite times of the year is winter at the seaside, the light on the ocean, the clear blue of the sky reflected on the water and the extreme tides. It's difficult to decide what to paint first!

Fall Willows {in progress}

Opening this Thursday September 5th

Thank you Susan for the beautiful video.

SGTV presents  NEW TERRAIN

NEW TERRAIN

Just a few days from delivering all the work and a few more until the reception next Thursday, September 5th. Happy Labor Day indeed.

Along the Greenbelt 2  10x48" ©2013 N Strasburg

New Terrain - Sneak Peek

Preserve Grazing  12x30" ©2013 N Strasburg

Coming soon to Sullivan Goss.