Blumenschein's first solo show celebrates the 'Art of Still Life'
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Still-life artist Sarah Blumenschein has been painting since the early 2000s, with several group exhibitions over the years. Now, she has her first solo show at Weems Gallery.
鈥淪tillness Speaks: A Celebration of the Art of Still Life鈥� features 45 pieces by Blumenschein and will be on display starting Sept. 12.
Blumenschein began focusing on still lifes after encouragement from an art teacher.
Still lifes appealed to her because they allowed her some element of control.
鈥淚f I was painting outside, you鈥檇 have bugs, you鈥檇 have the weather, the wind, everything,鈥� Blumenschein said. 鈥淚 kind of like the control aspect of it and the ability to end with still life.鈥�
Blumenschein鈥檚 still lifes emphasize color and reflection and depict roses, sunflowers, carrots, beets, vases and more.
Inspiration can strike at any time, she said.
鈥淚 have a painting in the show of carrots. I was at the grocery store, and the carrots had purple ties on them. And I thought, 鈥極h, that鈥檚 cool, the orange carrots with the purple ties,鈥欌�� Blumenschein said. 鈥淪o I took several pictures, and I did the painting of the carrots.鈥�
鈥淐arrots,鈥� a 14-inch-by-18-inch pastel, is one of many paintings in the show. All the pieces will be for sale.
鈥淚 think still life gets overlooked,鈥� Blumenschein said. 鈥淧eople tend to gravitate towards landscape.鈥�
Weems Gallery manager Suzanne Woodworth said the gallery wanted to showcase still lifes.
鈥淭here鈥檚 something just so wonderful about the stillness in a still life, just capturing a moment, capturing the light in a moment,鈥� Woodworth said. 鈥淎nd so that鈥檚 kind of what she specializes in and so we just thought it just would be a fantastic theme for a show.鈥�
The show will include a live demonstration and talk with Blumenschein on Oct. 4.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 pretty amazing is the high number of layers of color that they use when they create a piece,鈥� Woodworth said. 鈥淎nd so she can talk to that, and they can actually see the process. And then they鈥檒l have a better understanding of not only her artwork, but that medium.鈥�
Blumenschein has done group shows with Weems Gallery, but this is her first solo exhibition there.
鈥淚t is a little daunting to think of. Oh my gosh, I have to do so many paintings for the show,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd so the number of paintings was kind of a little nerve-racking that I was so excited I made the deadline.鈥�
