Gretchen Wagoner

Recent Press on my print for The Working Proof

2009-11-02T14:19:00.000-05:00

I just want to give an official THANKS to My Love for you is a Stampede of Horses for the nice write up about my "Mating Hera Buckmoths" print for The Working Proof as well as some of my other work that will be in a show at Edge Zones in Miami, opening Nov. 14th.

Also, I wanted to thank Rose Deniz, a fellow Midwestern gal now blogging all the way from TURKEY!!! Rose does delightful drawings and illustrations and I was flattered to see her illustration of my print for The Working Proof with her post. Thanks Rose!

New Work

2009-10-28T00:28:00.001-04:00

Two new pieces that will be in a group drawing show at Edge Zones in Miami Nov. 14th.

Milbert's Tortoiseshell and Prusik knots
Gouache, graphite, and watercolor on paper
8" x 10"
2009

Turquoise Turtle Knot
Gouache, and graphite on paper
8" x 10"
2009

THE WORKING PROOF

2009-10-27T10:44:00.002-04:00

The limited edition Gocco "Mating Hera Buckmoths" print that I did for The Working Proof will be launched today at 1:30pm! The Working Proof was started by Anna and Sean of Sub-Studio, this is a great site that brings creativity, charity, and community together. 15% of the gross sale of each print goes to a charity of the artist's choice, I choose The Jane Goodall Institute for my print. You can see the print and read my interview here. I'm delighted to be in the company of some really great artistst, keep checking back to The Working Proof as they launch a new print every Tues.

I'm in love

2009-10-19T14:46:00.000-04:00

with Sweet Afton. I try to keep this blog as "art related" as I can but in this case, I just couldn't resist. Last weekend I paid said bar a second visit, I had a craving. It opened up in late August I think, dangerously close to my apt, I heard about it from the great Queens food blog Foodista. Everything from it's warm, inviting decor to the deep fried pickles has sold me (the mac & cheese is to die for too). I also have discovered that I really do LOVE dirty pickle martinis (made with Gin), who knew? Savoring every last sip to finally eat the pickle garnish that has just the perfect amount of spice and soaked up alcohol kick. Any true foodie New Yorker with tell you that Queens is by far the best borough for food but it seems like it's catching up as the best for bars too. God, I love my neighborhood.

Art season

2009-10-15T11:18:00.002-04:00

Art season is among us in NY, it starts in Sept. with non stop shows and openings through the Fall. Then to top it off-Art Basel in MIAMI in early Dec.!!!! I've been going for the past three years so it's become a bit of tradition for me.

So yesterday I saw two shows, the first was the Ree Morton show at The Drawing Center which had opened a while back but I only got a chance to see it yesterday. Her work and range was quite amazing, especially since she only made art seriously for less than a decade before her untimely death in a car accident at the age of 41. The show is up until Dec. 18th, check it out if you are in Soho.

Also, last night my friend Judith Braun (pictured above) was in a group show at Spattered Columns also in Soho. Judy did an AMAZING wall drawing piece, using white pastel and her fingers to draw on a wall painted black. I had seen images of these larger pieces but this was the first one that I saw in person and I'm SO glad I did. Her smaller pieces delicate yet powerful as well, Judy works in her small drawings by four rules.
1. Graphite
2. Square paper
3. Abstraction
4. Bilateral Symmetry
Definitely check out the show and Judy's wall, it's up until Dec. 16th

My friend Erik Benson is in a group show called "Relocation" curated by Aaron Smith that opened last night too at Sloan Fine Art on the lower east side. I wasn't able to make it to the opening but I look forward to checking it out in the next few days. Erik's work is always very impressive to see close up because of his technique, he collages paint that he has cut and pastes it together on the canvas to make urban landscapes which I find very melancholy.

Any other shows out there I should see?

THE WORKING PROOF LAUNCHES

2009-10-13T16:34:00.001-04:00

Today The Working Proof launched their website! This was started by Anna and Sean from the design team Sub-Studio. Below is their Mission Statement, explaining their great concept!

The Mission: Art + Charity

The Working Proof seeks to promote art and social responsibility. Each print is paired with a charity of the artist's choice, to which we are donating 15% of the sale of each print - creating what we believe to be a product with not just aesthetic, but social value. Besides showcasing emerging artists and great artwork, the intent of the Working Proof is to promote a variety of charities and to expose them to new supporters through the appreciation of art and creativity.

I am very excited to have been asked to create a print for them and to be a part of this. They release a new print every Tuesday at 1:30pm, I'll post again when my Gocco print is up.

You can also follow them on Twitter right here. Or sign up for their newsletter here to keep abreast of new prints.

Running Bowline

2009-10-07T21:55:00.004-04:00

Another small watercolor piece available in my Etsy shop !

Honestly Art

2009-10-06T20:33:00.002-04:00

Honestly Art made me "Artist of the Day" last Friday. Thanks Honestly Art !

Also today I got to meet and have a cup of coffee with Anna from Sub-Studio . It's always great to meet people in person whom you've corresponded with in the cybersphere. I've been a fan of Sub-Studio's work for a while now and chatting with Anna was a pleasure. I'm happy to be included in a new project of theirs, The Working Proof , due to launch Oct. 13th, so exciting!

Bowline and Shedding

2009-10-04T15:32:00.005-04:00

New piece in my Etsy Shop

Studio shots

2009-10-04T14:48:00.003-04:00

I love PS1

2009-09-27T19:21:00.002-04:00

It never disappoints me, there is always some interesting/inspiring exhibit going on. Luckily for me, I live in it's neighborhood. I ended up stopping by last weekend, and witnessed the transformation that had taken place in their courtyard. This is part of the Young Architects Program 2009 , Five finalists selected by an invited nomination process were asked to present an urban landscape for the large courtyard entrance of P.S.1, with the allotted project budget of $70,000. The architects were required to incorporate elements of shade, water, seating, and bar areas into a proposed project. The winning the architectural firm was MOS . Having had a few architect friends, I've heard how frustrating it can be to not have much creative freedom and having to pay their dues by "designing" toilets, etc. This is a great project that relies on creativity to solve the assignment at hand.

Last days of summer....

2009-09-21T12:26:00.001-04:00

I finally made it to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens after living in NYC for 12 years. They were gorgeous, despite it being the end of summer. I can't imagine how beautiful they must be in the Spring when everything is blooming. Saw some nice large Koi and turtles sunning themselves. Can't believe summer is over, it lasted about two seconds in NY this year. Oh well, on to Fall!

I'm officially a Twit

2009-09-16T13:25:00.003-04:00

Never say never....
Follow me here. I promise not to tell you what I'm eating.

Why I love the internet....

2009-09-11T01:36:00.003-04:00

One HUGE reason is meeting new talented, interesting people that are super passionate and great at what they do. A while ago I was introduced to Mothlove , a gorgeous, ethereal clothing line by Gretchen Jones out of Portland, Oregon. Inspired by one another's craft, certain winged ones, and a mutual namesake, there is something in the works.....stay tuned. And while you are at it, visit Gretchen J's blog, How We Develop , a new daily stop in cyberspace for moi.

Three

2009-09-11T00:58:00.002-04:00

Another small watercolor butterfly and knot study. I have some other big projects in the works so it feels great to take a break and do a small study now and again. I have also put this one up in my Etsy shop for sale here.

Eye Splice and Wing

2009-09-08T00:33:00.002-04:00

This is a small watercolor knot and wing study. I'll be doing more of these and adding them to my Etsy shop , you can find them here .

Entanglement

2009-08-31T18:03:00.007-04:00

22" x 30" (diptych)
Gouache and graphite on paper
2009
New one! Just got this back from the photographer.

A Saturday afternoon at the Met

2009-08-10T21:19:00.008-04:00

So I took in some art this past weekend. I went to the Met on Sat. afternoon to see the Francis Bacon show before it closes this weekend. It was great to see so much of Bacon's work all in one place and to learn a bit more about his life. He made work up until his death in 1992 at the age of 83, which is pretty impressive. I love the work from his last tens years the best. Posted is "Jet of Water" completed in 1988.

Afterwards we strolled up to the rooftop to see the Roxy Paine installation. WOW, I was blown away! I was excited to see it as I had viewed images but to experience in person is really fantastic. The piece measures 130 feet long by 45 feet wide and is made out of stainless-steel. You can read more about it here, I DEFINITELY recommend checking it out if you are in NY. The view of Central Park from the roof is breathtaking, the sangrias aren't bad either ;)

Sailor Cross

2009-08-04T23:39:00.000-04:00

A new Mylar piece, available in my Etsy shop. The translucent piece is shown on a black background on the top and a white background on the bottom. The medium is graphite, white acrylic, and iridescent pearl acrylic.

Mylar

2009-07-29T10:40:00.001-04:00

I started experimented working on Mylar. These two pieces are acrylic and graphite on Mylar. I'm selling them in my Etsy store. Looking forward to doing more, both small and larger. I especially like how the graphite looks on them. The Mylar is transparent, for photography sake, I placed these on black paper before shooting.

Nature in NYC!!!!!

2009-07-28T12:10:00.000-04:00

So last Fri. looking out a window in Soho, I saw a Red Tailed Hawk devouring another bird on a fire escape. These photos don't do it justice, I didn't have a better camera handy. Pretty crazy sight, wish I would have captured images of the NYers gawking below.

Summertime rolls

2009-07-22T00:24:00.000-04:00

Snippits of a nice summer weekend......

I have a NEW website

2009-07-15T17:24:00.002-04:00

With more recent work, press, etc. I'm going miss the beautifully designed site that the ever talented Francesca did for me but now I'll be able to update more regularly as I make new work or have news to share. You can see it here.

Progression

2009-07-02T19:37:00.000-04:00

An image of the final piece professionally shot. I have to admit, I like the graphite on black paper pieces much more in person. When they are photographed, they don't show the "life" and sparkle of the graphite as much. The knots are an illustrated step by step process of making a Butterfly Knot.

Slow moving.....

2009-06-14T15:35:00.001-04:00

This is a work in progress that I've been working on and off for the past month or so. I'm determined to try to finish this week because I want to include it in an application for a residency that I need to send out by Fri. It's 19"x25" graphite on black paper. The paper doesn't photograph well with this camera, it' a true black and the graphite looks silver, almost like a silverpoint photograph. It's time consuming because I'm constantly changing between different graphite hardnesses. I think it will be worth it though, I'm pretty happy with how it is turning out so far.