I am honored to be one of eleven artists representing the United States at The Florence Biennale, December 3-11, at The Fortezza da Basso, in Florence, Italy. Over 600 artists from 60 countries are invited by a committee of twelve art curators, who represent major museums in Europe, The U.S., China, Mexico, Brazil, India and other countries. In 2001, the United Nations recognized The Florence Biennial as an official partner in their program "Dialogue Among Nations" in perfect harmony with Kofi Annan's statement: "Artists speak not only to people but for people. Art is a weapon against ignorance and hatred and a representative of the human conscience. Art opens new doors for learning, understanding, and peace among people and nations."

With that in mind, I created 2 pieces representative of my own Pacific Northwest heritage, which involves water- theme compositions and subject matter. They are titled "Passage" and "Diversion", done in 2011 in pastel, from field studies, drawings and paintings made en plein aire from Washington, Oregon, Idaho (my birth state) and Montana. Both measure 27.5 x 33.5 (framed) and are offered for exhibit at the Biennale. They are for sale at $8000, each.

My wife, Judy, and I will be in Tuscany for 10 days, before heading to Florence, on December 3rd. I plan to take full advantage of the painting opportunity this region offers and paint outdoors (alla prima or "plein aire"). I will blog new images as best I can, while we are on the road, and plan to have a special exhibit of the works sometime in late spring, after we return to our home on Lopez Island, Washington.

To access the official web site: www.florencebiennale.org

Seven of my newest works will be featured in a collective exhibit titled "The Persistence of Form" with eight other artists from around the world, at Agora Gallery 530 W. 25th St., Chelsea, New York, NY from November 2-November 23, 2011. View my new works at the gallery, for this exhibit.

You are cordially invited to attend the opening reception, Thursday, November 3, from 6-9 p.m.
I will be at the opening, with my wife, Judy. We both look forward to seeing old east coast friends, as well as meeting new patrons, art lovers and collectors. Openings at Agora Gallery are always very well attended and made extra special with the unveiling of all new artwork, together with wonderful foods and beverages, served by the gallery staff. The piece pictured here, "Infusion" is one of 4 new river theme pieces I will have on display. It is 27.5" x 33.5" (framed with museum glass) Pastel on board, available for $8,000.

A huge thank you to the hundreds of art lovers, patrons and collectors who made their way to our home, gallery and art studio this Labor Day weekend! I enjoyed seeing each and every one of you and always feel energized by your kind words and encouragement about the new directions my artwork has taken this past season.
Many folks signed-up for my classes and workshops, as well – I will be posting those as they come-up, starting this October 1st, with a 5 week (Saturdays) session in beginning/novice pastels at La Conner Art Workshops (now located at Dakota Art Pastel Store in Mt. Vernon). Then it's Ocean Shores Convention Center next April 2012, Lopez Island next spring and summer and The Pacific Northwest Art School in Coupeville, August 10-12, 2012. We are looking at another overseas painting workshop for 2013, independent of any galleries or travel groups, simply organized by and for artists who love to travel and paint, in either southern France or Tuscany/Umbria.

The 2 images here are plein air pieces I did a few days ago (a sunlit road leading to the local berry farm and my favorite neighborhood estuary at Port Stanley in morning fog). These are available at our home gallery, together with similar brand new works from the island, at Crow Valley Gallery on Orcas Island.



We are having typical early September “liquid air” mornings with marine layers inverting at dawn and giving way to full sunshine by mid-morning. It's a plein air painters' paradise, and I'll be out there! The sounds of the big ship horns on the ferry boats, plus the smaller voices of fog horns on reef markers, signals this change of season like flocks of migrating geese, but in a more staggered tempo . . . think trombones, tubas and the occasional clarinet, all practicing their parts before the conductor arrives. It's the relaxed conversation of sea-going traffic, thank you very much, not noisy freeways we hear in the morning.

Plein Air Artists-in-Action, August 13-14

I am pleased to announce that I have been invited to do live demos at The Pacific Northwest Art School this coming Saturday and Sunday in Coupeville, WA. This event coincides with The 48th Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival, a major annual event for thousands of art lover attendees. I will be working in pastel both days and always encourage questions from viewers during my live demos.
On the teaching front: I will be doing a 3 day pastel workshop (plein air) with The Pacific Northwest Art School, in August 2012. Brochures and info for this future workshop will be available at the festival and on-line, by this weekend. www.pacificnorthwestartschool.org for more info and to sign-up.

Note: The painting pictured here, was done last weekend on Orcas Island. It is titled “Deer Harbor Overlook” and sold to a private collector from San Juan Island, during the live auction for the San Juan Preservation trust and Plein Air Painters of Washington.

My painting pictured here and titled "Swift Bay Farm Barn" was awarded “Best of Show” at the Plein Air Painters of Washington and San Juan Preservation Trust Annual paint-out event, Saturday, July 30th. It has sold to a private collector on Orcas Island.

A second piece, titled "Deer Harbor Overlook" was painted during the event on Saturday and also sold to a private collector from San Juan Island during the art auction. Half the proceeds from that auction are donated to The San Juan Preservation Trust. Approximately one dozen auction benefit pieces were sold during the event, as well as several paintings displayed at the outdoor exhibit.

Summer Social and Paint-Out, 2011
I will be participating again in the 4th Annual San Juan Preservation Trust and Plein Air Painters of Washington live paint-out and fine art auction tomorrow, July 30th, at Turtleback Mountain Preserve on Orcas Island. Several artists from all over the state will be present and working on - site.
This is a great opportunity to view artists at work and experience “plein air” painting in many different styles and mediums . . . wonderful food, local wines, live music, children's activities plus the art show and auction all add-up to an event worth seeing!
1:00 - 6:30 P.M. at the south entrance to Turtleback Mountain Preserve. Go to www.sjpt.org for a map and complete details. Hope to see you there!

The painting here, titled “Estuary in Rouge” was painted on-site in early July, at Port Stanley, on Lopez Island and is one of 3 new island pieces I am exhibiting at Crow Valley Gallery on Orcas Island, through the month of August.

Friday, June 10th from 5-7 p.m,. marks the opening reception of a collective exhibit of work from 5 Lopez Island artists: Nancy Bingham, Richard Singer, Carolyn Cameron, Anne-Whirledge Karp and myself.
I am exhibiting work from my plein air painting trips in Portugal, Tuscany and the Pacific Northwest. One of my pieces, pictured here and titled “Spring Day, Lisbon” is from studies and reference photos done during a multi-country European painting trip 3 years ago.

The show hangs through July 26th . Food and beverages will be served at the opening reception and I hope to see some of you there!

We have just returned from a 2 week painting trip, highlighted by The Carmel Art Festival, a 4 day juried event, with 60 artists participating from all over the U.S. The 2 pieces pictured here, were both painted on location and sold at the festival. “Sunstruck” is the back courtyard of the famous Carmel Mission and the water piece, “Tide's Out” was painted at Asilomar Beach, near Pacific Grove.


I particularly like the water action and have been working towards presenting that subject in many different ways, as I prepare for my next big shows in New York (Agora Gallery, November 3 opening) and Italy, (Florence Biennale, Dec. 3-12).




As dates on the calendar are always closer than they appear, studio time and plein air time have become precious. Just a note: I have been invited to do a “live” demo at Art League North and will be doing a little presentation on “Travel”, especially the materials set-up I take on extended painting trips abroad, as well as a demo from Tuscany reference drawings and photos. That will be at The McLean Road Fire Station, (near Mt. Vernon) June 2nd from 10:30-12:30. I hope to see any local blog subscribers there.

I have been juried into the 18th Annual Carmel Arts Festival which will be held May 12-15, at Carmel, California. Sixty artists will be painting for 2 days and competing for recognition awards. This year, a guest judge, Mr. Jean Stern, executive director of The Irvine Museum, has been announced to jury the 120 entries that will be presented to the public on Saturday, May 14th. Mr. Stern is a noted scholar on plein air painting, especially works from the California Impressionists.
Go to www.carmelartfestival.org for complete event details and to see a list of the artists who were accepted into this year's event. This event is attended by thousands of art lovers and features both a silent and live auction of works made during the festival, 2 days of live music, a live sculpture demo, and a “quick draw” for award winners on Sunday. I hope to see any of you who might be in the area at the festival! The piece pictured here “Changing Tide” was one of my works from the 2010 festival.
Absentee Bidding: Sat., May 14th only for paintings displayed on the festival web site. To get on the mailing list for absentee bidding please email Hella at cafauction2011@yahoo.com

24th Annual Northwest Pastel Society International Open Juried Exhibit

November 13- December 21st at the American Art Company, 1126 Broadway, Tacoma, Washington. I had one original piece juried into this annual exhibit, pictured here and titled: “Resting Under Evening Skies”.


It was painted in August, 2010, en plein air near the village on Lopez Island, where I live and work. The opening reception is 1-4 P.M., and will be well attended.

I will also be showing giclee prints of this piece, together with a few originals and other prints locally, at The Lopez Island Golf Club Holiday Art show, next Friday, Nov. 12th at 5 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 13th 10-2 p.m. I hope you can make either of these two events.

Don't miss the annual Plein Air Washington and the San Juan Preservation Trust Summer Social and Paint out, this Saturday, July 31st

I will be participating again this year in both the juried art exhibit and invitational plein air “quick draw” event at the Hoedemaker Farm on Lopez Island. Dozens of artists from all over the northwest will also be participating and working on-site during this event, which features: a live art show and auction, on - site (plein air) painting, children's activities, food by renowned chef, Kim Bast, wine from Lopez Island Vineyards and live music by JP and the OK Rhythm Boys!

For a detailed map and directions: www.sjpt.org and view "calendar of events". Pictured here is a pastel I did about 3 weeks ago, in a practice run titled: “Marking Time and Pushing 100”.

The artwork selected for exhibit by jurors, will be exhibited and for sale, Saturday, from 4-7 p.m. Many painters will be arriving earlier than that to set-up and paint on Saturday. Many of the remaining works will then transfer to Crow Valley Gallery in Eastsound for a special exhibit through Labor Day weekend. www.crowvalley.com

I hope to see many of you there on Saturday, while we all work within the great range of landscape possibilities and subject matter provided at this historic old farm.

Agora Gallery, New York

I am participating in an exhibit titled: "A Maze of Milieu" starting July 23, at Agora Gallery, located at 530 West 25th St., Chelsea, New York, NY. Exhibition dates: July 23 – August 13, 2010. Gallery hours; Tuesday-Saturday, 11 am-6 pm.

An opening reception for the artists will be held on August 5, 6-8 pm. Both Judy and I will attend the reception and look forward to seeing patrons and meeting collectors, while in New York.

The piece here "Dubrovnik Promenade" painted from our October 2009 trip to Croatia, has already sold (together with “Gernika, Spain”) to a private collector prior to the show opening. I have shipped 2 more pieces to the gallery for this show and will have a total of 8 new works exhibited.

www.agoragallery.com to preview works in the exhibit

Steven R Hill Opening at Amsterdam Whitney Fine Art Gallery

Friday, January 8th, marks my inaugural exhibit in New York City at Amsterdam Whitney International Fine Art Gallery in the Chelsea District. Go to www.amsterdamwhitneygallery.com for a preview of the work I will be exhibiting during this show, which runs through February 2, 2010.

One of the major pieces in this show was published in the book "The Best of America Pastel Artists and Artisans", Vol. I, by Kennedy Publications in October, 2007. It is titled "La Mattina, Riomaggiore" . . . literally "The Morning" and was completed from studies done in Italy's Cinque Terre, in the southernmost village of Riomaggiore.

The piece pictured here, is from my recent painting trip to Croatia titled "Ancient Walled City, Krk, Croatia", painted in October, 2009. I hope any of my blog subscribers who live around the east coast or who might be visiting New York, can make the opening and see the show! The gallery is located at 511 West 25th Street, Chelsea, New York, NY. A gala opening champagne reception will be held on Thursday, January 14, from 6-8 p.m.

My painting “Arcady Barn at Deer Harbor” was awarded First Place in the San Juan Preservation Trust and Plein Air Washington Artists annual juried paint-out, yesterday on Orcas Island.

The event was well attended with over 300 people, all of whom share a common ground in helping to preserve open spaces in the San Juan Islands. Beautiful live music, wonderful fresh-grilled salmon and island garden bounty all made the event live-up to its name “Summer Social”. A live auction of artwork was also held, with nearly every piece sold from artwork done during the “quick draw”. 40% of those proceeds go directly to the San Juan Preservation Trust. My quick draw piece “Arcady Barn in Soft Light” sold for $850, netting $340 for the SJPT.

Other artwork done for this event has been entered into Crow Valley Gallery on Orcas Island and will be exhibited through the month of August. I will be joining other selected artists to participate in doing new plein air pieces around Orcas Island next week. A big grand opening event will be held next Friday, August 14th at Crow Valley. Be sure to visit their web site for details www.crowvalley.com .

2 Day Art Festival and Sale

Art on the Boulevard Gallery is celebrating its annual “Art in the Heart” weekend again this year, with many gallery artists demonstrating live painting techniques for the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Vancouver, Washington.

Other gallery artists, including me, are offering original artwork at “Festival Pricing” for this weekend only. You may take a 15% discount on any of my originals at the gallery, for 2 days only, Friday and Saturday, August 7 & 8.
Be sure to visit the gallery or their web site, click on my name, do the math, and find some excellent pricing – this Friday and Saturday only. www.artontheboulevard.org

Two of my works have received the honor of being selected for The 24th Annual Chelsea International Juried Fine Art Competition in New York City. This prestigious collective exhibit will be held at Agora Gallery, in the heart of the Chelsea District and is billed as New York's most anticipated annual art event.


The Chelsea International is typically juried by top art world professionals, like the directors of The Guggenheim or Chelsea Museums, with this year's event juried by Mr. Ira Goldberg, executive director of The Art Students League of New York.

My wife, Judy, and I will attend the opening reception for the artists on Thursday, August 20. Both pieces selected are pictured here and were painted en plein air, at Krk, Croatia, during our 3 month painting trip to Europe, in 2008.

Preview the collective exhibit at www.agoragallery.com

This Saturday and Sunday, August 1 & 2, I will be in La Conner, Washington with the Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters participating in a live “Paint-Out”. Several of our plein air landscape painting members will be all over the La Conner area working with pastels, oils, acrylics and watercolors working directly from the subject.
A special one month gallery exhibit of works from this group, as well as pieces finished during the paint-out, will be held at La Conner Seaside Gallery near the heart of La Conner (210 Morris St). The PSGNWP will also have a 2 day “artists' exhibit” and sale of their own artwork, directly adjacent to the gallery in an outdoor pavilion setting.
www.laconnerseasidegallery.com


The painting here, “Channel Rhythms” is a piece I did one month ago along the Swinomish Channel in downtown and will be 1 of 3 of my works showing at the gallery. Come see art-in-the-making, by some of the northwest's most accomplished landscape painters.

There are still some spaces left for the 10 day plein air painting experience on Korcula Island, in Southern Croatia, October 5-14, 2009.
I will be doing live daily demos at many sites around this beautiful island, including the ancient city of Korcula, as well as many seaside and hilltop villages, old vineyards, olive orchards and around the famous turquoise waters here.

Registration by August 5th. www.slikamilina.ca for full information and details. Only $1550 U.S. (funds are payable in Canadian dollars at current exchange rates) pays for all lodging, the workshop fee, all meals (full breakfasts, sack lunches for painting sites and beautiful dinners with wine) and ground transportation. (Non-artists spouses, travelling companions only $1350 U.S.).

The painting here is from my last trip to Korcula Island titled “Croatian Island Port”. I will be doing live daily demos at all sites, mainly in pastel, but other mediums (oils, watercolors, photography) are encouraged.

I just received notification that I will be one of 60 plein air painters accepted into this years Carmel Art Festival. It is a live event, with all artists painting around the Monterey Peninsula, next Thursday and Friday, May 14th &15th. The paintings are all juried Saturday morning, with an awards ceremony Saturday evening. A "quick draw" juried event is held on Sunday morning, for award winners from the juried show only, and allows jut 2 hours for work to be done within a short radius of the show site.

This year, the festival is hosting "Absentee Bidding" on-line for the first time, during the silent auction. If any of you are near Carmel-by-the-Sea on those dates, do stop-by to say hi and see what 60 different artists can do in just 2 days. I'll be there!

A new show at Art on the Boulevard gallery in Vancouver, Washington, opens tomorrow night, Friday, April 3rd and runs through April 28th. Seventeen gallery artists are exhibiting a lively and wide variety of still life paintings and sculpture pieces.

One of my 3 pieces "Cooking Italian III" is pictured here. This show celebrates the gallery's 3rd Anniversary and they are offering a "web special" for 2 days only. Go to the web site: www.artontheboulevard.org and click on the show to see what's in store for this weekend!

Announcing a new One Man Art Show
Steve Hill at Art on the Boulevard Gallery Vancouver, Washington


My first one man show will open with an artists' reception on Friday, March 6th from 5-9 p.m. at Art on the Boulevard Fine Art Gallery in downtown Vancouver, Washington. I am unveiling 28 new pastel paintings, many from our recent 3 month trip to Europe, as well as plein air paintings from the U.S. – all completed over the past year.




The gallery is hosting the reception with festive foods and wine throughout the evening. I am very excited to have a solo show featuring these new pieces and hope to see you at the opening reception! The gallery is located at the corner of Evergreen and Columbia, (210 W. Evergreen Blvd) (360) 750-4499.
Please visit their web site, to preview works for this show at www.artontheboulevard.org. Should you see a painting you would like to purchase, please call or email the gallery before the opening reception to have a hold placed on the original.

Special Note: Art on the Boulevard Gallery pays Washington State Sales Tax on any and all gallery sales!

Special Holiday Gallery Shows

This Saturday, November 29th, I will be among other gallery artists at the Gallery San Juan Holiday Show in Friday Harbor. Opening reception is at 5:00 p.m. They are located at 210 Nichols Street in Friday Harbor.

On Friday, December 5th during the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Vancouver, Washington, I will be participating in the annual Small Works Show at Art on the Boulevard, with other gallery artists. I have 5 new pieces in that show, including paintings from France, Croatia and Italy. Two of those pieces are pictured here.

Please go to their web site: www.artontheboulevard.org to preview the show. I hope any of my blog subscribers from these 2 areas will be able to attend openings and see the new work.





As a reminder, the show at La Conner Seaside Gallery in La Conner, WA is still hanging and we've had many very favorable reviews from patrons and visitors. This show hangs until January 5, 2009 and features paintings by myself and Mark Bistranin, photos by Mark Conley, glass work by Annette Tamm, and sculpture by Tamara Buchanan. Their web site: www.laconnerseasidegallery.com to preview the entire show.

If you are on Orcas Island, please visit Crow Valley Gallery in Eastsound to see some of my most recent plein air pieces from the islands and beyond! Crow Valley offers excellent annual holiday discounts on most items, from Nov. 28th through Christmas.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving Holiday! I am looking forward to a remodeled web site soon, complete with a "print gallery" shopping section for limited edition giclee prints made from my original paintings.

Steve Hill

Painting in Georgia, Tennessee and Upcoming show events

After having an opportunity to teach a 4 day Pastel workshop in a cabin northwest of Atlanta, Georgia, I enjoyed painting some brilliant fall colors . . . as we have now traveled across northern Georgia, southern Tennessee and are back at our mountain top retreat near Armuchee, GA. We have a stunning vista overlooking the blue ridge mountains on a very large old family property amidst wild turkeys, coyotes, raptors and deer. It is very peaceful, sleep comes easy and the painting sites are endless.

Two major art events are happening when we return home from this trip: The Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters annual auction in Lynwood, Wa www.psgart.org for details on this November 1st event.

I am also having an opening at La Conner Seaside Gallery in La Conner, WA on Saturday, November 8th with an opening reception for the artists at 5:00 P.M. I will have @25 paintings (new work) at the gallery and hope any area web site subscribers can plan to attend. I will be showing with Mark Bistranin (oil paintings), Mark Conley (photography), Tamara Buchanan (sculpture) and Annette Tamm (glass) for the month of November.

The show is titled “Synergy - Light, Glass and Stone” See their web site: www.laconnerseasidegallery.com for details.

The painting here “Afternoon Field” was awarded a First Place ribbon in the juried competition at the San Juan Preservation Trust and Plein Air Painters of Washington exhibit of artwork last Saturday, August 2. The painting was done en plein air, in pastel, at Swift Bay Farms on Lopez Island on July 27.

Over 100 pieces were hung at the paint-out at The Red Mill Farm on San Juan Island (from more than 30 artists) for this juried show, held on a beautiful 800+ acre working farm owned by Dodie Gann. A special exhibit for these works will have an opening reception at Gallery San Juan in Friday Harbor next Saturday, August 9, from 4-8 p.m. and will hang through most of August. Several pieces from the live paint-out were sold at the auction and show last Saturday, including two of my own.

All of the participating artists have work hanging in the gallery for this annual show. I hope some of you will be able to view this important exhibit of plein air paintings done by some of the best artists in Washington State. I am honored to be included in this show and to receive a major award from The San Juan Preservation Trust for my work. Half of the proceeds from painting sales benefit the San Juan Preservation Trusts' land acquisition fund.

The importance of these works are a benchmark from every artist involved in this show... as well as the people who came to buy paintings at the auction in support and all the volunteers who provided food, music and time to help create this major event. All of these folks posses a keen sense of helping to preserve the rural character of the San Juan Islands and should be commended for giving their time, money and talents to a higher cause. Gallery San Juan and The Plein Air Painters of Washington group should also be noted as major contributors to this effort, as they have proudly invested hundreds of hours to create public awareness and to make this annual fund raising event successful.

Giclee prints are available for this piece in a limited edition of 250, signed and numbered by me. Size (image) is 11 x 15”. Price is $85 unframed and includes insured UPS shipping anywhere in the continental US.. Half size prints (5.5 x 7.5 and 250 limited edition) are available at $45, including shipping. If you wish to order, please contact me.

A new print gallery will soon be available on my web site for ltd. editions from most of my artwork, including the European paintings made from our recent trip.

Tomorrow, I will be participating in the Plein Air Washington Painters paint-out on San Juan Island, to benefit the San Juan Preservation Trust. Over 30 artists are participating with works to be shown at the Red Mill Farm (Dodie Gann's) in San Juan Valley. We are also doing a “quick draw” at Red Mill Farm, for 2 hours starting at 12:30 p.m. It will be very exciting to be working among so many talented artists, in full view of the public and with a picnic to boot. I'm thinking some potato salad (I am from Idaho, you know) with carrot juice (for improved vision) will help me paint better. We shall see, but I can guarantee it will be fun and very interesting to see how so many artists can paint the same subjects in so many different ways!

The paintings (all plein air!) from this event will be displayed during the picnic and at San Juan Gallery in Friday Harbor (after the picnic), with a special opening on Saturday, August 9th. See their web site for details. www.gallerysanjuan.com

I am now showing my work in the Portland/Vancouver area at “Art on the Boulevard Gallery” in downtown Vancouver. www.artontheboulevard.org.

This gallery is managed by Kevin Weaver, formerly the curator/manager at Yoshida's Fine Art Gallery in Portland. It's great to be working with Kevin again, as he has managed to put together over 50 high quality artists (many of the best painters from Yoshida's are now showing here, as well) and is simply one of the best gallery managers I have ever had the opportunity to work with. If there isn't anything going-on around the art world, Kevin always finds a way to make something really cool happen . . . to wit, this evening is an art opening “Art in the Heart” from 5-9 where many artists are offering a one-time major discount on their works – it's ONE NIGHT ONLY, so get on down to the gallery and see what awaits! I have personally discounted a major piece (20%) titled “Boats at Vernazza Harbor and all of my other pieces are 10% off tonight only.





See the gallery web site and click on individual artists names for images. The gallery is located at Evergreen and Columbia in downtown Vancouver, Washington.

FROM IDAHO TO ITALY

On Friday, March 14th, I will be showing my first artwork in my home town of Boise, Idaho, since 1970, at the Woman of Steel Gallery in Old Town Garden City, directly adjacent to Boise. Six original pastels (mostly painted plein air) from Idaho to Italy, with stops in between, will be displayed along with other artists' work in the gallery.

While I cannot be in attendance for this opening and show, I will be there in mind and spirit. I hope any Idaho friends, patrons and family will be able to stop-by the gallery on Friday, March 14th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM for the opening.

We are in the midst of final preparations and logistics for a 3 month painting trip to Portugal, Spain, France, Croatia and Italy beginning March 29th. We will be traveling mostly around the coastlines of these countries to do plein air painting, with side trips into many hill towns. Watch my web site www.windsweptstudios.com and please pass this message onto friends who might have an interest in seeing new works as they progress. I will be doing ‘nearly daily' blogs and photos of actual paintings as the trip progresses and will be showing these new works in 3 galleries upon my return starting in early July: Crow Valley Gallery, at Eastsound, Orcas Island, Washington, The Gottlieb Gallery, Portland, Oregon and Woman of Steel Gallery in Boise, Idaho, next summer and fall. Openings and show dates will appear on my web site soon.

Pictured here is a piece titled “Hyde Park Revisited” from studies done last June on a trip to Boise. Much of the work in this show has been done similarly, either on-site or from studies as I travel around the northwest plus a couple of my favorite painting spots in Italy.

I am very pleased to be able to exhibit work in Irene Deelys' impressive gallery in Old Town Garden City and appreciate this opportunity to present my latest pieces. I am especially excited to be showing work in my home town again and look forward to hearing back from anyone who visits the show!


Woman of Steel Gallery is located at 3640 Chinden Blvd., Old Town Garden City, Idaho.

Gallery hours are: 11-5 Tuesday through Saturdays (open until 9:00 p.m. on Fridays).

Phone: 208-703-6461 email: IDeelinart@aol.com

I will be showing new works from my plein-air painting trips around the world with 6 other artists, through December, at Scott Milo Gallery in Anacortes, Washington. Opening reception for the artists will be Friday, December 7^th from 6-8 p.m. during the Anacortes First Friday Art Walk. The exhibit runs through January 22, 2008.

Other pieces include an Anacortes street scene and various new paintings from around the Pacific Northwest and Italy. I hope to see many of you at the reception next Friday and do have a wonderful holiday!

Scott Milo Gallery is located at 420 Commercial Avenue, just across the street form The Majestic Hotel. Regular gallery hours are: Monday-Saturday, 10:30-4:30. The Gallery will be open every Sunday through Christmas. 360-293-6938. Visit their web site: www.scottmilo.com

Steve Hill

Announces his first

One Man Show

at

Gottlieb Gallery – Portland, Oregon

“Travels with a Plein Air Artist”

An eclectic mix of paintings from Italy to the San Juan Islands and lots of stops in between

On Thursday, October 4^th I will be present at The Gottlieb Gallery in Portland, Oregon for the opening of my first One Man Show. Reception is from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

 

The show hangs through Friday October 26^th and I will have over 20 new works on display at the gallery. The opening coincides with the First Thursday Art Walk. I hope to see many of you at the opening and personally invite you to come to their beautiful gallery to see my latest works.

 

Gottlieb Gallery is located in downtown Portland at 220 SW Yamhill.

 

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11 AM – 5 PM.

503-241-1070

www.gottliebgallery.com

Portland, Oregon Gallery News Update

. . . When one door closes, another will open.

After 8 years serving the Portland fine arts community with flair and character, Yoshida’s Fine Art Gallery in Portland, Oregon, closed their doors on June 11, 2007. I would like to thank Linda Yoshida for the rare opportunity to exhibit at the gallery and to be involved in the annual “Observing Oregon” paint-outs and group shows.

My very special thanks go to the incredible gallery staff: mainly Kevin Weaver, David Baumann and Cherise Miller for 2 years of close affiliation plus successful sales and connections with clients while representing my artwork at the gallery. Fare thee well to all of you – it was a grand experience in so many ways!



New Portland Gallery


I am quite pleased and much honored to announce my new gallery affiliation at The Gottlieb Gallery in downtown Portland.

Since purchasing the business in the early 90’s, Julie Gottlieb has proudly positioned her gallery as one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading venues of the highest quality fine art.

Her personal approach to successful pairings of quality artwork, artists and clients is not only common knowledge in the Portland art scene, but comes from careful selections that rely upon her innate ability to identify and cultivate excellence in fine art at every level.

Visit the gallery website: www.gottliebgallery.com to see and experience the artwork and artists firsthand. I look forward to re-connecting with my Portland area clients and collectors at:



The Gottlieb Gallery
220 SW Yamhill
Portland, Oregon, 97204.
(503) 241-1070.
email: gottgall@msn.com

This Thursday, May 3rd, both Judy and I will be in attendance at Yoshida's Fine Art Gallery in Portland, Oregon, for the opening of the invitational show “Urbanscapes, Dusk till Dawn.” I hope to see many of you at the gallery for this fantastic show of work from 9 artists dealing with subject matter from the twilight hours of cities from all over the world. You may even find yourself walking down some of those sidewalks, about to cross a neon bathed street, floating the canals, riding the rails or just staring wistfully at back-lit buildings and storefronts.

Visit their web site www.yoshidagallery.com to preview the work, but better yet, stop by either at the opening or during the month of May to see this show first hand. I was especially pleased to make paintings on a theme that gave me some new challenges - I do live on an island, you know. It has also provided new directions to my more rural ‘regular' work, as well.

Pictured here is a piece titled “Rainy Night, Portland” painted last month. I also have pieces from Italy, England and Boston in this show, plus one of my personal favorites "The First and Last Chance Tavern" painted from Judy's class re-union in Ellensburg, WA last summer.

It's a joy to exhibit and work alongside so many talented artists especially with a gallery that really makes interesting things happen! A lot of thought goes into planning and coordinating shows like this (especially by the gallery) and even more preparation and work time by participating artists who could just sit back and say “New Works by Blah Blah”. This show has substance WAY beyond the mundane. Come see for yourselves!

On Friday, April 27th, there will be an opening at The Colin Goode Gallery of Fine Art in Lopez Village for our first annual “Miniatures” show, featuring 6 artists, all with pieces no larger than a 5” x 7” image area. The opening reception will be from 5-7 p.m. and you are invited to come view some great small art. All 2-D pieces in this show are priced at $350 or less, which is a great way to start or enhance your art collection with very affordable matted and framed originals.

One of the pastels I will have in this show is pictured here “October Sun/Flower Island” and is one of 2 ‘chiaro-scuro’ pieces I have for this show . . . in addition to some ‘plein air’ island theme pieces.


The other artists in this show are: Colin Goode, Daphne Morris, Karen Hattman, Bob Riggins and Matt Miller (Shaw Island artist). Refreshments will be served and live music will be provided by Leta Currie Marshall and Ginny Keith. I will be at the reception together with other artists from the group and hope to see any of you who might be on Lopez this coming weekend!

I will be teaching a 3 day plein air pastel workshop at the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle on June 4-6, 2007.

If you are interested in learning to take your studio skills outside and paint on-site in pure pigment pastel, this will be an excellent opportunity to spend three days on and around the docks working from live subject matter. Even if you are a beginner at pastels, this will be a good workshop to learn plein air basics.

I will be doing one live demo per day and will be giving students individual attention as they work on exercises after the demos.

You will learn to paint successfully in a "real life" setting and have a lot of fun in the process!

To sign-up for this class, contact Mareth Warren, program director, at marethw@comcast.net. You can also visit the Center for Wooden Boats website at www.cwb.org and click on the 2007 catalog. My class description is on page 14.

My newest work will be featured at Scott Milo Gallery in Anacortes, Washington, with an opening artists' reception during the First Friday Art Walk on April 6th.

Ten new pieces are from my most recent plein air painting trips to New England, Canada, Italy and of course, the Pacific Northwest. Every painting in this show was painted on-site, or from painted studies made on location.

I continue to pursuit and refine my plein air painting techniques with an emphasis on grabbing the light and weather conditions while providing the viewer with a sense of time and place through the medium of pure pigment pastel.

The pastel medium has become my favorite as it creates so many facets and refractions when it's mixed on the surface of the paper-and holds color permanence indefinitely. It doesn't have to dry (and turn dark with age), nor fade because it's been mixed with water or chemicals. It's really what the cave painters used and it's the exact same pigments used today to manufacture all other paints (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.,) but in the purest form!


I hope to see many of you at this opening and look forward to showing my latest work. This show runs through April 24th.

The "Seasons of Change" show featuring 12 gallery artists will open on Thursday, October 5th at Yoshida's Fine Art Gallery in Portland. "Springs Late Bloom" (Lavender Farm) is pictured here and was featured in a glossy ad in the last issue of "Fine Arts Connoisseur" magazine.

The show will highlight the 4 seasons, with my selected work from the Pacific Northwest and Italy included in the show.

You can visit the exhibit gallery on-line at www.yoshidagallery.com to see some of the artwork submitted for this show . . . but better yet, visit the gallery in person at 10th and Davis Streets in The Pearl District.

We're finally winding-down from the Labor Day Weekend Studio Tour which had a record turn-out of over 400 people through our home and studio in 2 days. The new addition to our home/gallery allowed 27 originals to be displayed as well as dozens of giclee prints out for full view (not in print bins).


I had many questions and comments about the works in progress which were on 3 easels throughout the exhibit,enough that I will be doing "live" plein-air demo pieces at next years studio tour.

We are already planning for the next tour as well as "Open Studio" weekends in the summer of 2007. Please remember, if you wish to stop-by anytime you are visiting Lopez Island, simply call or e-mail. (360) 468-2557 or islandartist@centurytel.net ... you and your guests are always welcome to view works-in-progress and have a private tour of my studio and home gallery.

My work is always available to view at the following galleries: Crow Valley Pottery, Orcas Island; Colin Goode Gallery, Lopez Island; Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA; Pacific Marine Gallery, Bellingham, WA; Yoshida's Fine Art Gallery, Portland, OR; and River Stone Gallery, Ennis, Montana. All of these galleries feature exquisite works by other artists as well and are well worth a stop anytime you are in those areas!!


I'd like to thank all who came to our studio and hope to see you next year, as well. I'll be sending "blogs" of the next few art events I’m participating in around the Northwest as they occur.

The 10th Annual Labor Day Weekend Studio Tour will be this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2 & 3rd on Lopez Island. I have dozens of new originals and giclee prints from my recent two trips to Italy as well as sojourns around the San Juans and Pacific Northwest on display.

It's an easy 2 mile walk or drive from the ferry landing to our home at 783 Port Stanley Road. Go south on the only road from the ferry landing and turn left in about a mile onto Port Stanley Rd., just across from the entrance to Odlin County Park. Proceed east one mile to our home which is on the left side of the road (water side) just 3 drive ways past Shoreland Drive.

There are 23 studios and 32 artists participating in this annual 2 day event. I'm posting two recent plein air pieces that I painted on Lopez this month. Both will be at the studio and have matching giclee prints as well.


My originals are all framed with high quality wood mouldings, real linen archival double mats, spacers and museum grade glass for the best possible presentation and are ready to hang in your art collection.

My pastels can be shipped anywhere in the world in special "Airfloat" shipping containers with a "made for pastel" triple foam layer for protection. I've had excellent results shipping this way with no breakage, dust or damage to any contents, in spite of the fact that some shipping companies use handling methods akin to a cub bear wearing boxing gloves or a soccer player on steroids. In fact, these conainers are so-o-o soft, I'm thinking of using one to sit on while I paint next time!

I hope to see you this weekend and as always, welcome visitor's to the studio by appointment. Simply call 360-468-2557 or e-mail: islandartist@centurytel.net

The Friday (July 21) opening at Crow Valley was very successful for all artists involved. Red dots were posted everywhere including on two of my originals that evening. "Preservation Path" pictured here plus one other which I will post on the site later, as it was purchased as a surprise for another party.




I was able to paint a live demo piece for show-goers, with the fields of Crow Valley forming a luminescent backdrop in late afternoon.






That piece is available for purchase during the show which runs through July 30th. There are still some great paintings available by all artists who participated in the "Home and Abroad" theme for this show. My work focuses on Orcas Island and Italy landscape and marine paintings.





Crow Valley Pottery is open 7 days a week. Go to their web-site www.crowvalleypottery.com for details.

I will be exhibiting 20 new pieces at Crow Valley Pottery on Orcas Island, including the piece "Bottom's Up" pictured here.

The show opens Friday July 21st with an artists' reception from 4-7 p.m. Please visit their web site: www.crowvalley.com for show details.

In addition, I will be participating in the annual "Observing Oregon" 3 day invitational paint-out at Yoshida's Fine Art Gallery in Portland, Oregon. There will be 10 artists altogether painting en plein air at three different sites during the event, including: The Sandy River, near Troutdale, Sauvies Island in the Columbia River and downtown Portland. The paint-out will culminate with an opening at Yoshida's Gallery during the first Thursday art walk on August 3rd, with an artists' reception from 5-9 p.m. Over 25,000 people come-out for these art walks and visit several dozen galleries. It's well worth the experience and the trip for art lovers anywhere and I hope to see some of you there! Please visit the gallery web site: www.yoshidagallery.com for show details.

I am participating in a new exhibit at Yoshida Gallery in Portland called "Fruit of the Vine" together with 18 other gallery artists. I hope you can come to the First Thursday Artwalk at The Pearl District in Portland on May 4th to see my newest pieces for this show, which will hang until May 28th.

The show coincides with Oregon's Annual Spring Wine Event and should prove to be a large and diverse collection of interpretive works on the subject. My particular pieces are all from our recent painting trip to Italy.


Check-out the show on the gallery web-site www.yoshidagallery.com


Yoshida Gallery is loacted at 206 NW 10th in Portland, Oregon 1-800-667-7655. Gallery hours are: Tuesday-Saturday 10-6 and Sunday Noon-5 p.m. Enjoy a lunch with a nice glass of wine from Italy (and beyond) at their bistro while you view this show. The piece pictured here is titled "Grape Harvest, Manarola, Italy"

This Friday, April 5th, will be the second artwalk at Scott Milo Gallery where I am showing as the featured artist. I will have two new pieces from the Italy series "Sommelier" and "Near Siena" in addition to pieces now showing at the gallery.




I will be in attendance for the artwalk and look forward to seeing all who can make it! The gallery walk is from 6-9 p.m. and Scott Milo Gallery is located at the corner of 4th and Commercial Avenue, in old-town Anacortes.
Get Directions to Scott Milo Gallery

I am very pleased to announce that I am now showing at Crow Valley Pottery, Orcas Islands' most venerable and finest venue for visual artists in all mediums. Presently, I have 5 pieces at the gallery (from the Italy series and some from the islands) with plans to add more over the up-coming season, culminating with a big show on July 21st called "Here and There" . . . which, if you know anything at all about Jeffri Coleman and Michael Rivkin's world travels, promises to be an extraordinary event.

Do check their web-site: www.crowvalleypottery.com and keep track of this season's events at the gallery. It's a joy to be able to show and participate with so many talented artists from all over the world, especially in a setting that fosters excellence and unsurpassed experience in selecting fine art with an eclectic spirit.

Watch for announcements closer to show time and contact the gallery if you would like to attend this event.

I have 8 new pieces showing at Scott Milo Gallery in Anacortes, Washington through April 25th. The opening reception was during the first Friday artwalk that drew a crowd of several hundred people to the galleries in Anacortes. I'm posting two of the images (one from the Italy series and one from the northwest series)to view here.


Giclee prints will be available for all pieces in this show upon request. Prices for the giclees are from $225 - $385, depending on size and will be sold only through the gallery. I hope you have as much fun looking at my new works as I had painting them.

I am having a special one man show at Macy*s downtown Seattle store through January 31, with 16 original pastels. Work is from my Pacific Northwest and Italy series of plein air paintings. Macy*s Gallery is located on the 6th (skybridge) floor of the store.

All paintings have been captioned with location/dates and all were done either on-site (plein air) or from drawings and color studies made on-site.

Here is a sample wall of work (click on the image for larger view)from my exhibit. Information to how contact the artist, as well as prices are also at the gallery. This show was made possible by The Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters and Macy*s store.

Special note: Giclee prints of most of these originals are also available directly from the artist and range in price from $225 to $385 each. Prints are made in very limited editions of 25 per series. The series consists of 25 full size and 25 half size or three-quarter size prints. Click on the link below for a map and directions to the store.

Get directions to the exhibit

Steve Hill's Art Newsletter, December 2005

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

JANUARY SHOW
AT MACY*S IN SEATTLE

This exhibit opportunity just came-up last week. I will be having a solo show at Macy*s downtown Seattle store in their gallery which is on the 6th floor. I will have newer plein air pieces from both Italy and the Pacific Northwest on display and for sale from January 5th (coincides with the first Thursday Art Walk) through January 31st. There will be 15-18 framed and matted originals.

The show was made available to members of the Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters for the months of January and February only. Another painting group (The Women Painters of Washington) has the gallery space during the other 10 months. I hope any of you who are visiting Seattle or shopping in the downtown area will be able to take a break and see the new works.

The store address is: 3rd and Pine Streets, Seattle. They have a large parking (Macy*s Garage) directly across the street from the store. It's easiest to take the Sky Bridge directly from the parking lot to the store which puts you on the floor with the gallery - located in a corner next to Crystal & Jewelry.

Get directions to the exhibit