ART-A-WHIRL SPECIAL OFFER

'What an artist is trying to do for people is bring them closer to something,
because of course art is about sharing: you wouldn't be an artist
unless you wanted to share an experience, a thought.'
David Hockney

I've written earlier about the classes in botanical watercolor I've been taking under the excellent tutelage of Marilyn Garber, founder of the Minnesota School of Botanical Artists. I wrote about how surprised I was to discover a discipline I didn't expect to fall in love with and about my discovery of an intense pleasure in a zen-like, focused experience. Just me, nature's gorgeous colors, and my paint brush.

I'd love to share with you the results of my studies. I'll be hanging these new watercolors in time for

ART-A-WHIRL (click here for directions)

May 14th, 5:00 - 10:00 pm
May 15th, Noon - 8:00 pm
May 16th, Noon - 5:00 pm
Northrup King Building
Studio 343

In addition I'll be offering for the first time ever an Art-A-Whirl special--50% off of selected oil paintings. If you're in the Twin Cities area the weekend of May 14, I hope you'll stop in. I'd love to visit with you!

SUNDAY IN THE GARDEN IN THE SPRING

Spring Tulips
by Judy Westergard
22" x 15"
watercolor on Fabriano 300# hot press
all rights reserved
available as giclee from FineArtAmerica

Spring in my hometown has been (insert your favorite superlative here; they all fit). My peonies are setting buds almost a full month early. The miniature crabapple in the back yard is promising a spectacular show of deep pink blossoms. The cardinals are staking out their territories and claiming their mates. Their bright flashes of red among the pale yellow leaves of my ash tree never fail to enthrall me. I spent a couple of joy-filled hours today in my garden. Psychologists tell us that when it comes to evoking memory, our sense of smell can’t be beat. And sure enough, a couple of whiffs of that warm soil and I was back in the tiny greenhouse my dad used for potting tomatoes and peppers. If I were good...and I mean really, really good (which didn’t happen too often; after all I had a kid brother to torment), I’d get to help my dad transplant fragile tomato seedlings to larger pots. I felt very important and very special. But unlike my dad, I don’t grow much in the way of anything humanly edible. My garden tends to run to perennials, and in the spring, it becomes a buffet of tulips that crows and squirrels love. Luckily this year I was able to nab a few blossoms before all that was left were the stems. I hope you enjoy the resulting watercolor as much as I enjoyed painting it.

ART-A-WHIRL 2010

Art-A-Whirl 2010
Click on the poster for more info

Art-A-Whirl, presented by the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association, is the largest open studio and gallery tour in the United States. This is a highly anticipated annual event that welcomes local and regional visitors to the Arts District in Northeast Minneapolis to see the art being made in this area and to meet the artists. As visitors come to see the art over the three-day weekend they also experience the unique and welcoming community of Northeast Minneapolis. More info at NEMAA.ORG.
New in my studio this year--my botanical watercolors. I'd love to see you at Studio 343, Northrup King Building.








Four Cherries
by Judy Westergard
Watercolor on Fabriano 300# hot press
All rights reserved
click on image for purchase info

ART-A-WHIRL - annual n.e. minneapolis art crawl

(Looking for my non-ad blogs? Just scroll down a bit.)
If you're in or near the Twin Cities, I invite you to Art-A-Whirl Open Studio Tours in the Minneapolis Arts District. Whether you're looking to add to your collection or merely looking, this is one of the most astounding collections of original works you're likely to see in one area. Studios of 600+ sculptors, painters, fibers artists, photographers, jewelers, clothing designers, and more will be open Friday, May 15, 5-9 pm; Saturday, May 16, noon - 8:00 pm; and Sunday, May 17, noon to 5:00 pm. Silent Auction (all three days) in the third floor gallery of the Northrup King Bldg, 1500 Jackson St., N.E., Minneapolis. And if you're in the Northrup King Bldg., stop in to in Studio 343. My studio mates and I would love to talk art with you!