Gary Pruner: Decades of Color

Now showing: Gary Pruner - Decades of Color

This month we are featuring the work of local painter, Gary Pruner. "Decades of Color" consists of paintings from the 1960's to early 2000's, spanning Gary's long career as a successful colorist. With his juxtaposed subjects, hyper coloristic palette, and gestural application of paint, these pieces express a masterful understanding color and its emotive capabilities.

From The Top, 1964

Matrix, 1972

Peony, 1977

Gewgaw II, 1983

Bucolic McCalls, 1993

Prelude No. 7, 2005

Now Showing Chuck Seerey at EFG!

EFG is excited to announce that we are now showing the work of Sacramento artist Chuck Seerey! Chuck is a fulltime artist living and working in Sacramento, California for the last 18 years. He is originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma but has lived in New York, Texas and New Mexico before moving to Northern California. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Studio Art with an emphasis in Painting and Drawing, from Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas.

Check out the work we have on display:

November No. 3  -  35" x 30"  -  Oil on canvas

Network fragment 7  -  45" x 45"  -  oil on canvas

Unchained #1  -  53" x 63"  -  oil on canvas

Segmentation No. 10  -  45" x 45"  -  oil on canvas

November No.17  -  30" x 35"  -  oil on canvas

Micah Crandall-Bear: "New Horizons" Selected As A Second Saturday Pick In The Sacramento Bee

Sacramento abstract artist Micah Crandall-Bear's current one-man show at EFG was selected as one of Victoria Dalkey's Second Saturday Picks for July 2013. The selection was featured in the July 12th issue of the Ticket Section in The Sacramento Bee.

The image featured is "Red Alexander II" pictured below:

Micah Crandall-Bear: "New Horizons," a one-man show

Micah Crandall-Bear's upcoming one-person show was featured in the July 2013 issue of American Art Collector magazine. Read the editorial below: 

Sedge  -  acrylic and modified oil on canvas  -  12 X 30

Micah Crandall-Bear’s upcoming solo exhibition at Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento, California, features new abstract landscapes that are reminiscent of his native California lands. Having devoted more than a year to working on paintings for the exhibit, Crandall-Bear says, “I’ve never spent this much time preparing for a show and it really shows. I couldn’t be happier.”

In this, the first solo exhibit Crandall-Bear will have at the gallery, the artist continues a series he calls Develop. The term has several meanings but, in general, it touches upon “the retro, vintage Polaroid,” a theme that runs throughout the paintings and works feature a border similar to the iconic one found on a Polaroid.

Aside from the photography reference, Develop means the development of Crandall-

Bear’s painting process and, as he explains, “the development in abstract landscapes that find a connection to the development of natural beauty and the balance of organic elements.” He adds, “Not necessarily the developments of anything man-made. These are kind of meant to be abstract landscapes that inspire deeper breaths, a greater connection to a sense of peace. My hope is to transfer that sense of natural beauty with a composed balance of elements.”

Stylistically, collectors and patrons who know the artist’s work will notice more of a pop feel. “I am going a lot brighter with the colors and tones in the skies,” says Crandall- Bear, who has been using deep reds and some oranges in the latest pieces. “Some of the older ones are distressed and kind of saturated in the tones, a little more earthy and underdeveloped, if you will, while these ones have a little bit more of a pop to them.”

Paintings such as Sfumato and Ultra are two that are on the opposite ends of the spectrum of works that will be in the show. According to the artist, Sfumato has a bit of an Old Masters feeling landscape, while the sky is contemporary; and Ultra has a vibrant pink and could be thought of as a landscape or a color-field with the horizontal bands of color. “I am a huge fan of Rothko; I use a lot of color-field techniques in my work,” elaborates the artist. “The actual bands of color as opposed to the color-field give it a modern feel.”

The show will hang July 6 to August 1 and will feature approximately 20 paintings.

New Horizons

July 6 - August 1, 2013

Elliott Fouts Gallery

1831 P Street

Sacramento, CA 95811

Christopher Stott: New Paintings, 2013

This month we're featuring the work of Canadian still life artist, Christopher Stott. We're displaying twenty new original paintings, some of which can be found below:

Globe, Black  -  Oil on canvas  -  24 X 24

Going Places  -  Oil on canvas  -  20 X 40

Gumball Quintette  -  Oil on canvas  -  24 X 36

Wide Open Windows  -  Oil on canvas  -  24 X 24

Tell Me A True Story  -  Oil on canvas  -  20 X 20

The Story Teller II  -  Oil on canvas  -  24 X 48

Show Catalog  -  "Christopher Stott: New Paintings, 2013"  -  $20 each

Given that approximately 1,200 miles separate Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the home of Christopher Stott, and Sacramento, California, distance plays a huge role in the logistics of our relationship.  The delivery of Chris’ work doesn’t include a trip across town; it involves careful packing, coordination, and feelings of anxiety as his paintings make their way, one by one, south, across the Canadian border. This gradual development - piece by piece – is unique in that a one-person show is typically delivered to the gallery in its entirety. This unintended benefit of the process affords us an opportunity to connect with the pieces on an individual basis, much like the artist does in the process of creation.  

In addition, the progress photos that Chris sends to the gallery not only reinforce our connection to the artist but also grant us the opportunity to glimpse into his studio.  These images, purposefully black and white as to not give too much away, feature paintings in their various stages of completion, surrounded by carefully organized tools and a meticulously arranged palette.  A collection of vintage books, typewriters, clocks, fans, and other commonplace objects fill the surrounding shelves, bringing back fond memories of earlier paintings while amplifying the anticipation of future masterpieces. Chris’ clean working environment seems to mirror the exactitude with which he paints, revealing an authenticity that might not otherwise be recognized by merely looking at his paintings.

This sense of authenticity also applies to the fact that Chris’ subjects are not imagined or copied from images; they are depicted from everyday objects. While some books, such as the “Manual Of Psychology” have made multiple appearances dating back to 2009, others like “The Story Teller” and “The Perfect Woman” have recently found their way into his compositions. In this way, it seems that Chris’ commonplace subjects are transformed into characters as soon as they make the visual transformation from three-dimensional to two. Much like in a movie or play, these characters might occupy lead roles in one piece and act as the supporting cast in others. Their physical and emotive qualities are dependent on compositional placement, evoking underlying themes both subtle and obvious.

Chris infuses his paintings with a sense of humanity in which we can identify through our personal experience. In his recent painting, Going Places, Chris features a new book with a title that brings to mind adventure, growth, and progress. These themes are mimicked by the painting’s composition as the novel leans in an upward trajectory, bringing to mind ideas of optimism and future possibility. The piece, Going Places II utilizes the same novel, but with a different approach as it takes on a supporting role both literally and figuratively. The inclusion of the antique clock evokes ideas of time and an ability to capture the moment. Finally, in his painting, Gumball Quintette, the iconic gumball machines gather together as if posing for a family portrait. Though they are of varying colors, shapes, and sizes, they stand connected. 

Six years have passed since the first Christopher Stott painting made its way from Canada to the walls of our gallery. Since then, hundreds of paintings have filtered through, traveling on to collectors worldwide. Despite the distance, we continue to grow together, and it is no doubt that Chris’ passion, creativity, and artistic talent will continue to propel the success of his career into the future. 

Michelle Satterlee

May 2013

EFG Grand Opening 6.9.12

We're very excited for the grand opening of our new space at 1831 P Street in Midtown, Sacramento. Please join us on June 9th from 6:00 to 9:00 PM to view our new space along with our latest show featuring Christopher Stott and other new work by EFG artists.

"Deluxe Model 5"  |  oil on canvas  |  20" X 30"

"Rotary Phone, Off The Hook II"  |  oil on canvas  |  16" X 24"

"The Boy Next Door, The Girl Next Door"  |  oil on canvas  |  18" X 36"

"What Next? Only The Stars Know II"  |  oil on canvas  |  24" X 24"

John Tarahteeff, Gale Hart, and Gary Pruner are new to EFG, check out their work below:

John Tarahteeff  |  "The Artifact"  |  acrylic on canvas  |  36" X 48"

Gale Hart  |  "We The..."  |  paint on panel  |  15" X 22"

Gary Pruner  |  "Mime"  |  oil on canvas  |  36" X 48"

New work by other EFG artists:

Terry Pappas  |  "Avila Sunrise"  |  oil on canvas  |  30" X 40"

John Karl Claes  |  "Peaceful"  |  oil on canvas  |  16" X 25"

Kathrine Lemke Waste  |  "Dahlia and Kimono"  |  watercolor  |  18" X 22.25"

Gregory Kondos  |  "Lake Tahoe, 2012"  |  18" X 21.5"

Kari Tirrell  |  "Game Over"  |  pastel  |  9" X 12"

Sandy Delehanty  |  "Crimson Cactus Flower"  |  oil on canvas  |  24" X 30"

Micah Crandall-Bear  |  "Postage"  |  Acrylic and modified oil on canvas  |  60" X 72"

Jennifer Balkan  |  "81 Degrees, Chance of Rain 20%"  |  oil on panel  |  36" X 30"

Maren Conrad  |  "Cement Swimmer"  |  resin, acrylic, metal leaf on wood panel  |  36" X 36"

Michael Hockenbury  |  "African Jewel"  |  oil on panel  |  4.74" X 4.75"

New Work By Micah Crandall-Bear

EFG artist Micah Crandall-Bear just brought us five brand new pieces. Micah's style continues to develop and so too does his current "Polaroid" series, which is typified by an abstract focal point set off by a bold, white border. These abstractions have taken on a representational quality, as landscape elements have found their way into his colorful, linear compositions. Check out the new work below:

 Ashen  |  acrylic and modified oil on canvas  |  20" X 17"

Cloudbreak  |  acrylic and modified oil on canvas  |  24" X 36"

 "Reservoir"  |  acrylic and modified oil on canvas  |  16" X 16"

 

"Setting"  |  acrylic and modified oil on canvas  |  16" X 16"

"Carmel Valley"  |  acrylic and modified oil on canvas  |  30" X 26"

Mark your calendar: EFG Grand Opening 6.9.12

EFG is moving to 1831 P Street in Midtown, Sacramento at the end of May. We hope you'll join us for our grand opening on Second Saturday in June on the 9th from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

Here is a map showing the location of our new space:

Check out a few images of the space in progress...

The front of our newly painted building with our new sign!

The entrance of the gallery

The entrance to our main exhibition space

The interior of the main exhibition space

A formal email invitation will go out at the end of May, but if you have Facebook and would like to RSVP to the event, you can do so by clicking here.

During the month of June we'll be featuring the work of Canadian still life artist, Christopher Stott. Chris will have several new originals on display in our main exhibition space, and here's a sneak peek at a few of the paintings included:

"Natural History"  |  Oil on canvas  |  20" X 20"

"Strange Fruit"  |  Oil on canvas  |  24" X 24"

"Deluxe Model 5"  |  Oil on canvas  |  20" X 30"