"Human Nature" Opening!

33 pieces of art. Hundreds of hours of work, ranging from a few hours to 50 hours of work per piece. Small watercolors, hand-cut paper, layered cut paper over drawings, pencil drawings and black and white charcoal drawings on toned paper. The human figure. Leaves, branches, buds, shadows, images curving around the form on skin. Dense leaves and branches are seen in the shadows of a face. Eyes, arms, hairs, wrinkles, freckles, pores. This is the culmination of years of art in my current solo show called "Human Nature."

Friday, January 30th was the artist lecture and opening reception. It was a day I had been working toward for many months. It started at 3:45am, to be at the exhibit by 4:30am, to be on the news several times for the 5am and 6am shows. Then home to practice my artist talk one last time. Then back to the college, then talk for 45 minutes with large images projected behind me, in front of a full room of students, teachers, and others, then 20 minutes or so of questions and answers. Then home to relax a bit. Then change and back to the college, Gulf Coast State College, to the Amelia Center Main Gallery (a really beautiful gallery space, by the way) for my opening reception.

And at the risk of sounding too proud: it was a hit. The gallery was full the entire reception. The words "thank you!" poured out of my mouth so much the words seemed to pale in comparison to my gratitude. My gratitude was for people just showing up, for the compliments on my art, and for the recognition of all my hard work.

I'm humbled.

I'm grateful.

Seeing most of my recent works up on the clean gallery walls is satisfying. It's not often you get to see a giant room full of the results of hundreds of hours of work. I like to see the works next to each other, across from each other, and how they interact and build off of one another.

It also makes me feel a bit vulnerable. Any time you put a piece of art on the wall it can make you feel vulnerable. You've put your heart, soul, intellect, philosophies, years of experience and learning, and many hours of work into a piece of art. It's a piece of you, up on the wall, for anybody to see and judge. And a solo show is a full room of that.

I am so completely honored that I was asked to have this solo show at the Amelia Center Gallery. I have seen so many amazing works of art there from accomplished artists, national as well as international, and I am beyond honored to have my art hang on the same walls.

My sincerest thanks to all who came, all who have shared the exhibit with others, all who are buying art, and to all who have been supportive of my artistic endeavors over the years.

The exhibit is up until February 19th. The gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 10am-4pm, or by appointment.

Now for some photos!

A quick snap of the crowd gathering before my artist talk:

People shots during the opening reception:

When I realized a lot of the models for my art in the exhibit would be at the opening, I made it my goal to get photos with all of them and the art of them:

Then a couple buyers who I borrowed art from wanted in on the fun!

And I caught Carrie doing this right next to the newest drawing of her:

Near the end of the opening, and the end of a very long day for me, I started the trend of sitting on the floor.

 Thanks for visiting my blog!

-Heather