Art Lives In Homer

Support of Artists is strong in Homer Alaska

I opened a month show in the Fireweed Gallery in Homer Alaska last Friday. Homer is a small Port town at the end of the road (as the saying goes). One of the beautiful spots in Alaska. Homer is one of the places I escape to from the "big city" of Anchorage. It is a fishing and tourist destination, but also a Art Community. Lots of really talented artists live in Homer and the surrounding area. More important to me is that the community really strongly supports the arts. This was a First Friday opening, and there was a lot of the gallerys having shows, since this was my first show in Homer, was not to sure how much of a turn out we would have, boy was I thrilled to see the response that the show recieved. We were busy the whole time of the show. Sold some paintings and was able to talk with customers that came to see the opening. Talking with another artist who had a opening also in one of the other galleries, there attendance was good also. The community routinely turns out for all the openings, it is a social event and they support the artists by coming, purchasing and appreciating the art. My prior shows have mainly been in Anchorage the "big city", the difference that I experienced was the genuine appreciation that the Homer citizens expressed about artists coming to their community and exhibiting their artwork. They were not near as reserved, they all were willing to talk and ask questions. I want to thank Fireweed Gallery for giving me the opportunity to show my work in Homer, and to thank all the folks who came to the show and made me feel so welcome. I look forward to doing another show in Homer in the future.

Off To Homer For Fireweed Gallery Show

March 6th, Art Show Fireweed Gallery, Homer Alaska - Kurt Jacobson Featured Artists

I am off on the 4+ hour drive to Homer soon. My show is Friday, and set up Thursday. The weather is suppose to get crummy so getting a jump on the weather (I hope). Look forward to seeing my sister in law and brother in law in Anchor Point. My brother and his wife will be in Homer also, so will be seeing them too.

This will be my first artshow in Homer, and really excited about it. As you can see from the picture, Homer is one of the Jewels of Alaska. I will let you know how the show goes. Hopefully I will not be bringing to many paintings back with me.

Vermeer's Muse

Girl With The Pearl Earring - Scarlet Johannsen 16 x 20 Oil on Canvas

I decided to take a Portrait Painting Class at the Anchorage Museum to learn skin tones: colors, values and figure painting techniques.  We have a gifted teacher, Linda Infante Lyons.   This is my first portrait from the class so far.  It is a portrait of actress Scarlet Johanssen from the movie Girl With The Pearl Earring.   

I hope to attempt a full figure painting in the future, and am hoping this will be the stepping stone to that goal.

Ready For The Homer Show

Halibut Cove - 11x14 Oil on RayMar Panel - Available for Sale - 

Finished up two paintings this weekend.  The one you see and another 6 x 8 I started this morning and knocked off today.   Just got back from KAKM Public Television Art Showcase Preview, all the art that will be auctioned off Feb. 19th, 20th and 21st was out for public viewing, it was also a chance for the public to meet the artists this weekend.   I have on painting that will be going up for auction around 8:30pm Alaska Time, and they will be interviewing me for a few minutes as it comes up.   I have been donating art for their auction for 4 years now.   It is a great way to support Public Television in Alaska, and a great opportunity for buyers to get artwork for good prices and a tax write off also.   So tune in Channel 7 live on Air Auction.

Blood, Sweat & Tears

Seafarers Memorial - 18 x 24 - This is a Acrylic painting I have been struggling with for the last month off and on.   I am painting it for the Homer Alaska show I have next month.  This one has been a real struggle since the Statue is in the shadow you can't see much detail, its there but the shadow makes it hard to see.

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated, I am going to let this one sit for a week before I decide to call it done or not.

Energized and Excited

Golden Crown - Oil 8x10 on Canvas Panel - Available for Sale -  For the last 2 days I attended the Alaska Arts & Cultural Conference in Anchorage Alaska.   I can sum it up in one word "Awesome".   I do not know the attendance figures, but I do know it was standing room only.  The energy level was incredibly high, everyone was excited and thrilled to be there, speakers and attendee's were feeding off each others emotions and energy.   The conference covered information for Artists, Educators in Art and Art Organizations.   The conference sessions were very well thought out, there was information for all the different groups.   The willingness of the speakers to share their knowledge with us was incredible.   One aspect of the conference that I was thrilled to see, was that we had attendees from all over the State of Alaska, from the major cities to the smaller rural areas.   No one left early at the end of the conference, we all did not want it to end, but as all good things do it must.   The rally cry at the end was "Lets not wait another 10 years for another conference."   I came home energized, excited and thrilled to be apart of the art world in Alaska, what a great group. 

When I got home I wanted to jump in the studio and paint, but realities of life, I had to snowplow away the 18" of snow we had the day before out of the driveway and off the roof of the house.   But today even though the Super Bowl is on, I hear the Studio whispering in my ear, so..............................

Back to learning

Baby Its Cold Outside - Oil on Raymar Panel 6"x8"

This is a little Oil Painting that I did and it was fun, to get the light in the tent effect.  Reminds me of a Winter Camp out my brother and I went on back in the 80's.   It was a gorgeous day, in the 20's we camped on a island at Lake Louise and it dropped to -40 degrees that night.  It turned into a Survival Trip.   Trying to stay warm was a struggle.  It was to cold to cook anything, even the bottle of Black Velvet froze that night.   What a learning experience that was.

I have started taking a Portrait Oil class at the Anchorage Museum from artist Linda Infante Lyons.   I have not done portraits in a long, long time, and never in Oils.   Have done them in Pastels, so this is a new learning experience.  I a real excited about trying to expand my abilities.  I believe Linda has a blogspot here on Blogger.com also.   

I have a Art Show the first weekend in March in Homer Alaska at the Fireweed Gallery.   So this weekend I will be working up paintings for the show.