ArtSquared 2017

ArtSquared was a blast! I participated in Walla Walla's 5th year of sponsoring the event. 100 artists entered, displaying over a total of 1,000 works! (Wowzer!) On top of the multitude of 6" x 6" pieces,  there was a Juried portion of works. This portion allowed framed pieces to be viewed and judged with possibility of award. I also was part of an artist interview conducted for this event, which you can view here.

Juried Section

I am grateful to announce that I won the People's Choice Award for my illustrative piece, Vesta, during the juried portion of ArtSquared! This award was determined by viewer vote; and I couldn't be more excited to have been chosen! (Thank you!)

Ink, graphite, gouache, and watercolor or cold-pressed watercolor paper

Vesta was created with both Roman mythology and current events in mind. This piece is named after the Roman goddess, Vesta, whom embodied the Roman people's hearth and home. She was personified by the fire that was kept alive by the Vestals within her temple. As the historical nature of civilization would have it, the grand Roman Empire eventually fell.  Here, I liken the fall of Rome to our own impending demise. The goddess's flames couldn't be more fitting with the onslaught of climate change stretching fire seasons and cultivating drought in the state of Washington. I'm embarrassed to say that my personal hearth and home, America, is not leading in the face of climate change and thus, we too may end up in ruins.

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6"x 6" Section

I entered 10 pieces into the 6" x 6" section. All of these little guys were done with ink, tea, watercolor, and gauche. (You can see the process of creating these works here) Each piece was priced at a casual $38.00, with a portion of the proceeds allotted to Walla Walla's art education system. I went with a fun and simple theme; Walla Walla life! I did some quick illustrative renderings of plant and animal life commonly found in the Walla Walla Valley. Each illustration is finished with a custom postage-like stamp featuring our town name, postal code, and longitude x latitude. 

Walla Walla Wine | Sold
Ink, Tea, Watercolor, Gouache
6"x6"

If anybody knows anything about Walla Walla, it's likely the local's obsession with wine. Walla Walla has countless wineries and beautiful vineyards. The soil here is primed for for this grand fruit. I've spent seasonal months being a cellar hand at one of our local wineries, tending to tanks, loading barrels, and bottling the end product. Wine has deep roots here in Walla Walla.

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Budding Buck | $38.00
Ink, Tea, Watercolor, Gouache
6"x6"

I recall as a child peering through my living room window to see a few deer wounder casually up and down the street. They would stop to momentarily graze in the neighboring yards. Watching them mozey on by was one of my favorite morning past-times. And yes, they are still that common here!

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Apple Orchard | Sold
Ink, Tea, Watercolor, Gouache
6"x6"

Grapes aren't the only fruit that are tended to here. Apples are grown and farmed just at the edge of town, nearing the Oregon state line.

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Rooster | Sold
Ink, Tea, Watercolor, Gouache
6"x6"

​Chickens! Can't do without chickens! I've always enjoyed these loud mouthed fowl, even when the neighbor's rooster would wake me at 3am. They are a common animal here in Walla Walla, I've raised a roost of them myself. Fresh eggs are not hard to come by here.

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Walla Walla Weed | Sold
Ink, Tea, Watercolor, Gouache
6"x6"

Marijuana has become a growing sensation here. (no pun intended!) I've spotted several of these in neighboring backyards and vased handsomely in homes. Walla Walla has been leaning on its progressive nature and houses two pot shops in town; the Weedery and the Cannabis Company.

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Rattle River | Sold
Ink, Tea, Watercolor, Gouache
6"x6"

Hopefully you wont be greeted by a Rattler on your visit to Walla Walla, but I wouldn't be too surprised. They slither about in long-grass trails about Bennington Lake or off towards Tiger Canyon.

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Walla Walla Wheat | Sold
Ink, Tea, Watercolor, Gouache
6"x6"

Wheat fields stretch as far as the eye can see. The scene is nothing short than witnessing an ocean who's color went a magnificent goldenrod. The ample hills make for wheaty waves as the wind creates a gentle crashing. I love venturing out past the hills to catch a glimpse of this agricultural ocean at sunset.

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Opossum | Sold
Ink, Tea, Watercolor, Gouache
6"x6"

I've been surprised by a wild opossum or two (or several dozen...) while walking the trails. They don't greet you very pleasantly, but I still find them a treat to see. I'm always surprised by their size and vigor!

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Walla Walla Sweets | Sold
Ink, Tea, Watercolor, Gouache
6"x6"

Walla Walla Sweets, or Sweet Onions, are one of Walla Walla's pride and joy crops. These onions were the towns main icon before wine and winery tourism took the lead. We even have a baseball team named after these guys.

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Field Fox | Sold
Ink, Tea, Watercolor, Gouache
6"x6"

I've heard many coyotes at night, but the field fox is a quite and illusive individual. You might see their low baring bodies hunch through the field patches to catch small rodents in the summer.

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Thank again to everyone who came out to ArtSquared! This event raised over $29,000 for art education in the Walla Walla school districts. I'm so proud of my fellow artists and patrons for their participation!