Solo show at Kaleid Gallery in October

I'm super excited about my upcoming solo show at Kaleid Gallery in San Jose, CA. “Intelligent Life Forms” will feature 15 new paintings and drawings all created this year. The opening reception will be on Friday night, October 6 from 7 - 11pm and the show runs through October 27. The postcard below features my painting, “Trees are the Lungs of the Earth”.

“It has always seemed strange to me that we talk about finding intelligent life on other planets, when we have plenty of intelligent life forms right here on Earth that we should be focusing on saving. Nature and animals have been healing for me in this life, and the natural world is now under attack like never before. In response, I'm drawn to making art about all that is still beautiful in this world, and all that needs protection.” 

Animal activist art

It's been a while since I've posted, and I've had a lot going on with my art the last few months. This year I've mostly been working on commissioned animal paintings, which I will be posting on my website michellewatersart.com very soon. At the beginning of the year I decided I wanted to get my animal activist art shown in as many venues as possible. I'm happy that I've had some of my farmed animal liberation paintings shown in three different galleries, this year, two in different areas of Chicago, and the latest in Northern Idaho. The Idaho show makes me particularly happy because until recently, Idaho had an ag gag law (it was struck down by a Federal district court judge in August).

The first show was a national juried show at First Street Gallery in Chicago (posted about here). Then in July I had 4 animal activist paintings shown at the Chicago Urban Retreat Center. From September 18th - October 16th, 3 of my farmed animal saints paintings are in the Compassion for Animal Art Show at the Pend Oreille Art Council's gallery in Sandpoint, Idaho.

A few new small pieces for the holidaze, and three big group shows!

I've been taking a little break after my solo show in October, but I do have three new small pieces in HARK! a big group show for the holidays at Kaleid Gallery in San Jose. The opening is Friday night, December 6th. I will be there, along with some of the other 60+ artists who have work in the show. The show continues through January 18th.

"Once, we were everywhere"  (c) 2013 Michelle Waters
9" x 12" - acrylic on wood.
Proceeds from the sale of this piece to go to the Center for Biological Diversity.

"Don't Say Goodbye" (c) 2013 Michelle Waters
4" x 6" - acrylic on wood.
Proceeds from the sale of this piece to go to Elephant Aware Masai Mara.

"Rhino Peace" (c) 2013 Michelle Waters
4" x 6" - acrylic on wood.
Proceeds from the sale of this piece to go to the David Sheldrick Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya.

I also have work in two other group shows for the holidays: "Tiny" at Studio Gallery in San Francisco (through December 24th), and "Tiny Treasures" at Cactus Gallery in Los Angeles (through January 31st). I've been showing at Studio Gallery for 6 years now, and at Cactus Gallery for 4 years. Both galleries are owned by great people who make the gallery experience stress-free and fun.

I'm extremely grateful for everyone who supports my art, and the art of other living artists, as well as the small mom and pop galleries who do what they do out of love for the creative spirit. It's not easy to keep an independent art gallery going in this economy, so please, support these folks who keep artists visible! Thanks so much for your support, and Happy Holidays!

Group show at Tasty Gallery in Seattle

I will have a  couple of new tiny paintings in a show of creature art at Tasty Gallery in Seattle. "Odd Birds" runs from May 8th - June 10th. This is the first time I've shown at this gallery that a few of my artist friends regularly show at. The new pieces are animal hybrids, something I hadn't painted in a few years, but they were requested. They were a lot of fun to do, especially as I'm working on a really somber new body of work for my solo show at Kaleid this Fall. So it was nice to get back into silly mode for a bit. Below are the paintings. If you're interested in purchasing, please contact Sheri at Tasty.

"Cat Finch" -  4 x 6 - Acrylic on wood

"Mockingcat" -  4 x 6 - Acrylic on wood

Forest Nativity

I am so bad at this blog business. I get involved in life and forget to post. So I'm not going to promise to be better because I won't, but here's a new piece.