Western Exposure

Here is your chance to get to know some of our artists in the August 2020 gallery show and preview their art.

​Sheila Gioia
 
I have been interested in art for as long as I can remember.  When I was a child, you could often find me copying works from children’s books with pencil. My favorites were Beatrix Potter and Tasha Tudor. I dreamed of going to the Art Institute of Chicago and even sent in an application when I was in middle school (I wasn’t accepted! J) However, my interests expanded as I grew, and I married and raised 5 amazing boys. To keep making art, I painted murals on their bedroom walls and even painted a few murals for the children of friends. When my kids grew up and left home, I continued to express my creativity through music and became a Therapeutic Musician. However, I always kept up drawing here and there. Fast forward to Covid 19 times and I found myself with LOTS of time to create!  Alcohol inks fascinated me with their nature and unpredictable behavior, so I began experimenting and enjoying the way the inks flowed. But I really am a detail focused realist artist and I longed to be able to tame the inks without losing their innate beauty.  My works here today are the results of that experimentation process.
 
Making art to me is simply the creation and expression of emotion or the telling of a story, in whatever medium you choose. I choose to express myself through music and visual art.
 
This show has inspired me to look more closely at the flora and fauna of this beautiful state we live in and how these “creatures” make our world so much more colorful.  The inks really bring that out, I think.
 
When I was choosing subjects for this show, I sat down and brainstormed the flora and fauna of our state that I thought were “quintessential” Colorado.  After choosing a subject, I would find images that made me feel something strongly. Usually, I would find a specific feature or aspect that drew me in and made me “feel”.  I then used that feeling as I painted. I grew attached to the subject and its uniqueness as I painted, which, hopefully, comes through in the finished piece.
 
I would hope that the observer might see the amazement of nature in my paintings.  I use realistic detail because I am drawn to those intricacies and I hope others will see those details and say “wow, I’ve never noticed that before!”  I also hope to evoke a noticeable emotion in the viewer, like “those eyes are so Intense, I feel ________.” For me, evoking feeling is a very important aspect of any art.
 
I think my favorite piece in this show is “Gentle Strength”.  I loved painting the gentle curiosity I saw in this little fellow. Bears are often seen as vicious and to be feared, and rightly so, but I saw sweet gentleness in his eyes and wanted to bring that playful, curious spirit out in my painting.

“Gentle Strength”, 8”x10” alcohol ink painting

​Website:  www.backyard-studio-by-sheila.com
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/sheilagioiaart
Email address:  sheilagioiaart@gmail.com
 

Linda Newton
 
As an artist I have evolved over the years (as we all have), now I am taking time to enjoy and ponder all the beauty  around me.
 
Living in Colorado and traveling frequently to New Mexico has inspired me to paint ordinary vistas in a new bold, colorful  impressionist style. Mother Nature may not be pleased when my color palette is not what was expected.
 
Many of my paintings have been commissioned and sold to  interior designers and others.  My solo show in Scottsdale, AZ was very successful and a great experience. Since then I was a member of the Boulder Street Gallery in Colorado Springs and now have the privilege to be accepted as a guest artist  at the Commonwheel Co Op in Manitou Springs, Co.
 
Art fills my world!
 
 
 
 
Leti Wesolowski
 
About myself. 
I am a jewelry designer and maker based in Colorado Springs and I’ve been one of the jewelers at Commonwheel for the past 6 years. My jewelry is delicate and feminine designed with pretty gemstones and lots of wire, alternated with other jewelry techniques introduced through the years, such us crochet, macramé, and metal stamping. Some of these techniques came to fruition after exploring ideas for gallery shows, and such is the case for “Western exposure” where I am playing with painting jewelry.  You can read more about myself and my jewelry here.
 
Inspiration for this show.
Each show brings the opportunity to explore new concepts, so for “Western exposure” I wanted to create a bold and modern line for Summer, that is all about a pop of color in fresh organic shapes.
I originally envisioned some turquoise and leather designs, but all changed after a short Summer hike and a delightful encounter with a blooming cactus. It was mid-July, a dried arid Colorado trail under the blue skies and out of nothing, bright fuchsia flowers on fields of native cactus. Wow! I immediately knew I had to do something about it! (I promise I will work on those turquoise and leather designs later on) so this is how my pieces for this show were born.
 
About the process.
To create the earrings and pendants I used brass and copper sheets cut out into free-form shapes, aiming for organic and soft curves. I then textured the surfaces with a hammer and filed the rough edges. I also fabricated the ear wires in 14K Gold fill and copper; this time I tried a new elongated shape that works great for this particular design and it’s easy to put on and off-- a new favorite!
The best part—and the most fun!--was painting the shapes. Since I tend to err on the “perfectionist” side with most of my traditional jewelry (aka: Dolce de Leti) I purposely took this as a challenge to let go (just a little!) so I let the paint mix, flow and do its magic. Once glazed, dried and assembled, this jewelry is vibrant, fun and lightweight!
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​Favorite piece.
My favorite piece is the long eye-catching cascade of blues with gradual oval shapes dangling down. It has a lot of movement, beautiful blues and an irresistible casual look. All the pieces are one-of-a-kind, small wearable art treasures, something totally different from me for those who know me and own some of my jewelry. I am very glad that I had the chance to play with a new technique and medium and I couldn’t be happier with the results.
 
Contact.
You will find this limited collection at “Western Exposure” gallery show from  August 7-31, 2020 at Commonwheel Artist co-op.
Website: www.dolcedeleti.com
Facebook: DolceDeLetiJewelry
Etsy: dolcedeleti
CW website


​Arlene Wood
 
I have always been interested in Art.  Both of my parents were interested, and did it in many forms.  They also took my brother and me to see Art Shows.  When my husband, children, and I moved to Colorado Springs, and eventually Manitou, I was juried into Commonwheel with carved leather boxes, clock faces and pictures. In continuing exploration, I did Scratch Board Drawings, Pen and Ink Drawings, Painting, Sculpture, Batik and finally Pottery.  Pottery stuck.  Currently I have been part of Commonwheel for over 40 years.  
 
Art is a very important part of who I am.  My father once said to me that I look at the world through the eyes of an Artist and a Social Worker.  Art helps to maintain balance in my life. 
 
Thinking about Southwestern Landscapes has been very exciting because of the shapes and vivid colors.  My family (Husband and two children) loves to explore and camp in National and State Parks and Monuments, in the 4 Southwestern States.
 
In this particular challenge, depicting landscapes of the Natural World on my stoneware plates, using new glazes, a new color palate and glaze chalks has been difficult.  Plus trying to depict dimensionality, perspective and shadows with limited colors has sometimes been mind boggling.  
 
My canvas is a blank slab of light-colored clay.  I stand with my fingers poised and draw with my finger nails.  I have an image in my mind.  I draw an outline using large strokes first; then I fill it with lines of texture, dots of knuckles, smoothing with my finger pads.  Once the image is achieved, I cut out the plate and put it on a holder.  The clay plate dries slowly.  When the plate is dry I smooth the edges with damp fingers and put them in my kiln to Bisque-fire. 
 
Once the piece is fired, I use glazes or glaze-chalks to color the image.  When the color is on, and dried, I layer on 3 flowing coats of clear glaze to seal the colors.  The piece is then fired to cone 5.  Sometimes a piece is lighter, darker, or more vivid than I expect. 
 
I hope to trigger memories of their own explorations or encourage them to go exploring themselves.  I also hope to encourage feelings of joy.
 
My favorite piece is Grove of Aspen.  It was my first successful glaze chalk piece.  It was a joy to open the kiln and see it. 
 
The only place my work can be found is in Commonwheel. 

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