Hello to All,
I have been thinking for some time of sending out a newsletter every once in a while. So, with show news and new artwork here is the first issue.
As always, if you would like to see and read more please check out the rest of the  website.  Links to all the other pages are at the end of the newsletter.
If you do not wish to receive these newsletters please let me know and I will take you off the list.
Thank you,
Skye Gentle
 

An Announcement from: The Holland Friends of Art in Collaboration with The Holland Area Arts Council 46th Annual Juried Fine Arts Competition Best of Show Skye Gentle's “Formation of a Naked Singularity” Mixed media (oil, acrylic paste, ink, pastel) on canvas 42” x 52”

Juror, Jim Markle, PSA – Parts of his Statement for the Show: Congratulations to the Holland Friends of Art for the fine quality of work entered in this, their 46th annual competition. The quality of work made it both a very pleasant show to judge but also a difficult one. Many very good pieces had to be eliminated because of both the physical limitations of the gallery and the large number of entries submitted. It was a very competitive show which I believe results in a varied and quite interesting exhibition. Jim Markle’s Statement about the Painting: Congratulations on painting such a lovely piece of art. It was beautifully painted and was a painting that I enjoyed spending much time looking at, admiring and trying to figure out how you painted it - an achievement that many pieces of art are lacking. Your concept, composition, subtleties, and colors are outstanding and you certainly deserved the Best of Show award. Congratulations on a job well done. Keep painting and sharing your talent. Artist’s Statement about the Painting: As is usual with most of my paintings, there are figures within the shapes and lines and many layers and textures. The painting looks more luminous when viewed in real life because the pastel dust and particles reflect light. Until the end of October, 2009, “Formation of a Naked Singularity”, will be in the Holland Area Arts Council Galleries, 150 East 8th Street, Holland, Michigan.

New work and a works in progress:

After doing many smaller paintings on plywood for the Gallery Uptown I have begun doing larger paintings on plywood. The painting below has been created with pastel, colored pencil, oil and acrylic paints.

"Escape Velocity"        26” x 30” The size of the painting allows for great detail of color and line, which are complimented by the unique texture of the plywood base. The painting can be seen at the Gallery Uptown, which is on the corner of 2nd and Washington in Grand Haven, Michigan.

Works in progress
In the first photo the lines are slightly raised and the radiating light areas are made from lightly painted sand. The new layer of color in #2 is from pastel and pastel dust. In #3 I’ve added areas of colored pencil and lines with paint. With #4 I am trying to balance the figure images with the more nebulous light design by adding color and light and dark. I always start out with specific ideas but to finish the painting I have to do what the painting needs.

"Young Star System"    #1	"Young Star System"    #2
"Young Star System"    #3	"Young Star System"    #4

The final version is almost done and will soon be on the website unless it’s a “new work” in the next newsletter.

And now, for the end of the newsletter here is the beginning of a new painting. The title at this point in time is: "From the Sea to the Stars".
 

Where to see more artwork
The home studio/gallery in Spring Lake, Michigan, has many older and newer works and works-in-progress, and can be visited by appointment. Please call: 616-607-8563 or email: skye@skyegentle.com  . Many of my paintings are in the Synchronicity Gallery in Glen Arbor, Michigan, until the end of October, 2009 and then in 2010 from May through October. Others can be seen at the Gallery Uptown in Grand Haven, Michigan, until the end of September. The Art Gallery in the Kowalski Design Center, also in Grand Haven, has several pieces of my work.

This has been a Happy Dog Production