The e-ramblings of Artist S.J. Grogan

And boy-howdy, are they happening fast! I'm painting my little fingers to the bone in preparation of my upcoming one-artist show at the Framery Fine Art Gallery, Whittier, CA, opening July 7th. And in the middle of all that flurry of work and excitement (the paintings are coming out awesome; even Hubby admits that), I found a gallery in my neck of the Mojave that will have giclees of my work (and some originals as of August) during and after the show.

"What," you say, "we didn't know you had giclees again!" Well, I didn't until I located this little gem of a business in Phelan, CA. (There are many surprises in the desert, some of them astonishingly good.) It's called Hear 2 heaL Photoart Gallery, located in the Phelan Town Square, deep in the heart of Phelan. (Okay, I'll tone down the clichés. I just get excited when my plans for world domination start to fall into place.) Run by husband-wife team, Gregg and Sindi Short, not only do they have a storefront in Phelan, but they offer a high-quality giclee service for artists and also rep those giclees and artists at a circuit of shows they do around Southern California.

How cool is that!? It means that I can stay in my studio and paint-paint-paint--uh, maybe come out to eat and shower occasionally--rather than trying to be and do all things that promote my art business but don't get much painting done. (If you ever speak to an artist who is somewhat cranky, it's probably because they have been too long away from their art, and dealing too much with business details. Forgive them, if you can find it in your heart.)

"Okay," you say, "so what does that mean for reproductions?" It means that I'm hoping to have most of my newest work available in smaller sized giclees*, matted to a standard size and ready to be framed at an almost immorally low price. (It might mean that the very last pieces won't be available then; it's a little dangerous to do all the tasks needed to reproduce paintings when they're wet) but will be available in another month, so ask if you don't see an image that you want. It means that you can get giclees from me at the show, or from the Framery Fine Art Gallery in Whittier after the show, or from Hear 2 heaL Photoart in Phelan or at whatever show they're attending. (See their website for a schedule.) Your chances for acquiring S.J.W. Grogan art are increasing exponentially.

With the exception of one painting**, nothing will be available until July 7th, when the originals get formally unveiled. Yes, I am posting images to my website as I get the time. Yes, I am behind on doing that. Yes, I promise to post more this weekend. I am on track to have 24 (count'em: TWENTY-FOUR)  9" x 12" original oil paintings on display at the show, plus one big 24" x 30" that demanded to have it's time in the limelight. (Big paintings usually have a lot of attitude, I've found.) I am focusing on smaller works because: 1) They're easier for collectors to display; 2) They're easier on collectors' pocketbooks to acquire; 3) They're a challenge for me to paint since I'm used to bigger--like 24" x 30"--canvases, and it's always good for an artist to stretch herself; 4) They're turning out to be little jewels of images that I'm proud to call my current work.

So you see how much is going on? Come to my artist's reception, see the originals and giclees, and realize how wonderful it is to have a piece of art in your home/office/even your RV that makes you happy when you look at it.

And if you hear a distant "Mwuahaha!"--well, sometimes an semi-evil laugh escapes me as I look around and realize that my artistic planning is finally coming to fruition. Today, SoCal . . . tomorrow, the world!

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Info: Hear 2 heaL Photoart Gallery, 760-868-0392; 3936 Phelan Rd., #B-9, Phelan, CA 92371. Hours: Tues - Sat: 11-6.

website: www.hear2heal.com

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*giclee is an art term: pronounced ZEE-clay, it means "dot-spray" and refers to any reproduction done on a digital or computer-aided printer system. These giclees are on heavy art-paper or stretched canvas.

** The privately-owned painting, "The Mysterious Piano Player of Calico", will be available as a giclee before the show, probably around June 19, direct from Hear 2 heaL Photoart.