Giselle Gautreau: Paintings

New Year, New Work

2012-01-19T13:30:00.000-08:00

January is often a time for new goals and looking ahead. I am not an exception to this. I do, however, tend to keep my goals and plans for paintings on the quiet side. For me, talking about my intentions and inspiration for upcoming paintings has the effect of deflating the energy and momentum behind it. I'd rather keep my ideas brewing, just between me and my sketchbook. I want the work to be as exciting and fresh for you as it was for me in dreaming it up.

That said, I'm excited about the new year in art-making. I've been busy in the studio and have prepped, primed and sanded at least 40+ canvases and panels. Time to get to work!

And currently in the studio... one of a few works in progress....

Stay tuned!

2012-01-12T16:48:00.000-08:00

A Gathering

Encaustic on panel

6x6"

Resting Among The Rushes

2012-01-12T16:47:00.000-08:00

Resting Among The Rushes

Encaustic on panel

4x6"

Where The Crow Flies

2012-01-12T16:46:00.000-08:00

Where The Crow Flies

Encaustic on Panel

4x4"

2012-01-12T16:44:00.000-08:00

Track Record

Encaustic on panel

4x4"

Treasury

2012-01-12T16:42:00.000-08:00

Treasury

Encaustic on panel

6x6"

Why I can't paint Yosemite

2011-11-30T10:35:00.001-08:00

Question for you artists out there: What imagery are you drawn towards? For me, I tend to love the landscape... but usually specific elements of the landscape really get me going. The light at midday or big grand vistas don't usually do it for me. Late afternoon is my favorite, when the colors deepen, shadows get long and the play of lights and darks offers plenty of contrast. I have a soft spot for trees, particularly singular trees, in the landscape. I am drawn to water, fog and where sea and sky meet. To me, these moments are full of drama, but I tend to think of them as more intimate moments.

Don't get me wrong... big dramatic places like Big Sur are really beautiful, but I'm not as compelled to paint them. I think perhaps if I found a little cove and if the light was just right... well, I'd paint that.

I found myself thinking about this over Thanksgiving weekend when my family and I took a trip to Yosemite National Park. I really enjoyed it all and took lots of photos. The Sierras are gorgeous and we visited Yosemite Valley, taking in the towering waterfalls and immense granite cliffs. We also visited Mariposa Grove to see the ancient Sequoia trees. All in all, breathtaking.

What I will most likely end up doing a painting of is this one tree that I spotted on our road trip. We came across a large reservoir in the Central Valley where we stopped to stretch our legs. The light was gorgeous and I found myself drawn to this one wonderful tree down in the water.

The closer I got to this beauty, the better it got:

Don't be surprised if you see this image come back in the form of a painting in the near future.

My husband snapped a photo of me at work, doing research for paintings. You can see it on his blog here:

House on Bear Mountain

This is me in Yosemite, at Tunnel View.

2011-11-22T14:06:00.001-08:00

Be Still

8x8"

Oil and wax on a cradled birch panel

Available

This painting involves oil mixed with a cold wax medium. The surface is soft & luminous. This painting does not have spackle under the painting, unlike the recent paintings that I've talked about, so it does not have as textured of a surface. It's also on a cradled wood backing, so it hangs off the wall and does not need framing. I'm excited about these new landscapes, and I really like working with wax and wood.

2011-11-22T13:54:00.001-08:00

Whaler's Cove

8x8"

Oil and wax on spackle over an un-cradled panel

Available

This painting continues along in the same spirit as the piece below. I describe in detail some of what is going on behind these new pieces. This particular image is from a photo that I took along the California coast. Whaler's Cove is up near Pigeon Point, where I spent some time recently. It's about 25 miles north of Santa Cruz.

I've been using my iPhone as a tool for my paintings. I've been thrilled to discover that my phone takes great photos and that there are some really wonderful photo apps out there for manipulating images. These photos have been an increasingly important source of imagery for my paintings. I love that I can use new technology to bring something to what is a very old-school process.

2011-11-22T13:31:00.001-08:00

This painting reflects a recent approach that I'm taking in my work. I wanted to use oil and wax, paint on wood, paint over spackle, and wanted to use an image that feels like a vintage photograph. I wanted something that felt old and timeless, but with a contemporary edge.

Blackbird Crossing

8x8" Oil and wax over spackle on un-cradled panel.

Available

I received an email recently from a beekeeper on the East Coast. After some talk back and forth about the paintings, he mentioned that he enjoyed some of my earlier work that involved wax. It got me thinking: what was it about that medium that I enjoyed? Why did I move away from it? I thought I'd go back in and give it another whirl. The beauty of using cold wax medium is that when mixed with oil paint it becomes more matte and creates interesting textures. You have to really play with it to figure out the right ratios of oil to wax and pay attention to drying times. I also mix in alkyd medium to control gloss and flow. So, that's what I'm using here and in some other works soon to follow. The spackle came again from earlier works that I had experimented with. The spackle creates a textured surface that emulates an old frescoed wall. I wanted the painting to have that texture... of feeling a bit rough, not so pristine and smack of something old. As for the imagery, I have birds on the brain lately. as I'm reading a book called Birdology. I had done a recent painting using a similar image, and just really wanted to paint birds in flight again. In keeping with the mood that I was after, I was thinking about vintage cameras and film and what the image would look like if it were taken with a pinhole camera. I wanted a painting that had an image that was fleeting, with a look that speaks of age and time passed.

2011-11-21T12:16:00.001-08:00

I'm continuing my exploration of encaustic paint on a small scale. In this painting, I'm working on creating a landscape that feels similar in spirit to those that I create in oil paints. The wax lends itself to a depth and luminosity that adds to the ephemeral or fairytale-like essence of this piece.

At Forest's Edge

4x4" (on a 2" deep panel)

Encaustic paint

Available

2011-11-20T19:36:00.001-08:00

Bird Among the Bramble

4x4"

Encaustic on cradled panel

Available

2011-11-11T10:53:00.001-08:00

My vintage computer & scanner that I use in my studio is on the fritz this week, so I'm going with pics uploaded from my phone.

October was a crazy busy over-scheduled kind of month and somehow it flew by with very little studio time. As we head deep into November, I jump at any carved-out time that becomes available to run to the studio. Pictured here is my glass palette where I take quite a bit of time mixing up colors before I even begin to paint. I'm playing with wax medium combined with a bit of alkyd medium to get certain effects that are unique to using this combination.

Because my studio is not heated, I'm thrilled if it's a warm enough day that I can work with my doors open to the outside. Not pictured here is my ever-present dog Bella, who considers it her job to accompany me to the studio.

I'm working on these panels that have been prepped first with spackle & artist's gesso to create a surface that's reminiscent of an old frescoed wall. My reference photos & colors are mostly from iPhone photos that I've taken. I'm using the wax & oil combination described above, going for a very seductive and beautiful surface. As always, I'm after a particular sense of light, mood and atmosphere.

Hopefully I'll get that scanner back up & running soon and will post detailed images of these newest works. In the meantime, be sure to check out my available paintings page. There are a few small scale paintings that would an excellent option for upcoming holiday wish lists!

For available paintings, click here.

2011-11-06T12:03:00.000-08:00

Solitude

Oil on panel

6x6"

SOLD

2011-11-06T11:58:00.000-08:00

Golden Bee

Oil on canvas

2x2"

This is one of my smallest canvasses yet. At 2" square, I think it qualifies as a mini.

SOLD

2011-11-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

Confetti

Encaustic on panel

6x6"

Available

Blackbird Bramble

2011-10-25T23:05:00.000-07:00

Blackbird Bramble

8x8", Oil on panel

Sold

This image seems fitting, as we head into the last week of October. Something about this images reminds me of old fairy tales. Like something out of Grimm.

I've been interested in birds lately, keeping an eye out for them. I've been taking photos of birds gathering on power lines and tree tops. I'm sure that the images will find their way into my paintings.

When I began this painting, I wanted the surface to feel like an old fresco. Instead of my usual smooth surface over canvas or panel, I began by adding a layer of spackle, which then was coated with a layer of gesso. The surface was exactly what I wanted: textured and highly absorbent. My oil glazes played off of the surface that gave me that old world and mysterious look that I was after.

2011-10-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

In the studio.

October Update

2011-10-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

October began with a party. We had our big fundraiser for our local school, where I had donated one of my paintings. I'm happy to say that bidding was lively and it looks like we raised some much needed funds. My painting went to a great new home that night.

Bidding closing on the art portion of the auction. My painting is on the easel.

My work is currently in a couple of venues here for you local folks in the Bay area. If you go to Los Gatos Framing, I have a couple of paintings there, including one of my mini bee paintings.

My work is also at Many Hands Gallery, in Capitola. It's right near Gayle's Bakery, in case you need an excuse for a little field trip. I have a lot of work in there, including one large painting of Moss Landing, several medium sized paintings, and a lot of my small-scale paintings. These include some of my encaustic paintings as well my paintings of birds and bees. This work should be up through the month of October.

I also have one painting up at Saffron and Genevieve, in Santa Cruz. If you haven't been to this shop yet, it is well worth the visit. Scarlett, the owner, has an amazing eye for one-of-a-kind pieces and I hear tell that she just got back from a buying trip to Texas. I'm not sure how much longer this painting will be up, but it's there in the shop now.

Keep checking back as I am back in the studio working on the next round of paintings. I can tell you that I have one large painting on the easel, several small-scale paintings in the works, and I've had a few days of playing with encaustics. I'll be sure to share new work here.

Why This Place Is Full of Awesome

2011-09-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

Four years ago, we made the crazy leap across country, moving from Virginia to the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. My son was 3, my daughter 7. We landed in the mountains, which felt a little wild & untamed & exciting. We also set out to explore our newly adopted state.

Ben, at 3, at the Golden Gate Bridge

Bear Creek House, crazy driveway

Skyler, with freshly picked lemons.

Beautiful red moss on madrone trees, Santa Cruz Mountains.

View of Monterey Bay, as seen from the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Ben amongst the redwoods, at Big Basin Park.

Coastal drive down to Big Sur.

Miss S. with Snow.

What we didn't expect was how important the local mountain school is to this area. What we found was a very tight knit and welcoming community, and that has made us feel very much at home. We also came to realize that California is in a terrible fiscal mess, and the schools are struggling. It's up to the schools to raise their own funds to keep teachers & programs. Our little community has stepped up by fundraising throughout the year. I have to say that one of the most heartwarming events is the Jogathon that's held in the Spring, because it's the kids who are working the hardest. The kids all run (kindergarteners, running an average of 2 miles!) to raise money. It's an incredible event with everyone involved: the teachers, kids, parents and community members coming out to cheer on and run with our kids.

Rallying to save our teachers.

School spirit at the Jogathon.

Jogathon, 2011

With this in mind, I was asked to create a painting for another great fundraiser, our annual Gala which is held in October. I couldn't help but think of this unique California landscape, so different from the East Coast that I know so well. One view that never fails to make me feel like I'm in a unique and beautiful place is whenever I drive north toward San Francisco. Driving up 280, you go through a gorgeous area where the highway is flanked by the foothills of the Diablo Range. These foothills are covered in a golden grass that much of the year is bone dry and is the color of lion's fur. Interspersed are these gorgeous oaks and shrubs. Every time I drive through I try and take a few photos. The photo below doesn't quite do it justice. Instead, I made a painting that captures the essence of the hills with some of the color that I catch a glimpse of from time to time.

View of the foothills of the Diablo Range

Painting of the same view of the Diablo Range.

Oil on canvas, 30x48"

This painting will be available for bidding at this Friday's Gala event. 100% of the proceeds goes directly to the school.

Evolution of a painting

2011-09-18T17:48:00.000-07:00

I just finished another large painting in the studio that will be making it's debut at an upcoming fundraiser for our local school. I documented the process and revealed the day by day progress on my artist page on Facebook .

Day 1 involved a blank canvas. Prior to this stage, some work went into prepping the surface with artist based gesso sanded carefully between coats to create a smooth and porous surface.

This image represents the first day or two. I began by laying down an underpainting, basically blocking in the shapes and color relationships. The initial layers tend to be loose and painterly, with opaque layers of oil paint.

In days three and four, I continue to paint in both the details of the landscape in alternately layers of opaque paint and semi-translucent layers to adjust color and temperature. With each day, I typically add 2-4 layers of paint, covering the entire surface. As I paint, I'm building on the layers below.

Detail of my work in progress: Day 6. I continue to add washes of semi-translucent oil glazes, allowing the layers below to come through and adding subtle transitions of color. Each layers is allowed to dry before adding the next. I reveal layers below by wiping away with rags & my fingers when the paint is still wet and carefully sanding when the layers are dry.

Detail of work in progress: Days 6 & 7. With each layer of paint, the painting gains depth and luminosity. Light filters through the top semi-translucent layers and reflects back from the more opaque layers on the bottom. In the right light, the painting has a luminous glow. Because of the thin layers, it also has a smooth surface.

After approximately 10-12 full working days, the painting is complete.

Foothills

30x48"

Oil on canvas

Available for bidding at the Gala 2011, Magic On The Mountain event. Proceeds support the Loma Public Education Fund.

Sea and Sky

2011-08-04T21:41:00.001-07:00

I recently discussed, with some detail, my painting process in a blog post. You can read about the method to my madness here. In the meantime, the painting that I used as my example and model has been completed:

Sea and Sky

36x36"

Oil on canvas

Available

Forty

2011-08-04T21:36:00.001-07:00

Forty

Oil on canvas

20x20"

Sold

First Friday, Santa Cruz

2011-07-31T11:38:00.000-07:00

Join me this Friday, August 5th for Santa Cruz's First Friday Art Tour. My work will be Saffron & Genevieve, a fabulous shop in mid-town Santa Cruz. Info about the art tour is here, and just so you know... Roudon Smith Winery will be pouring at our location.

I'll be there from 5-9 pm. I have some new paintings that are making their debut. I have to say, that in Scarlett's shop, mixed in with her unique offerings, you get a good idea of how well these paintings would look on one's own walls at home.

To participate in the Wine Walk, you'll need to get tickets in advance. No need for tickets to just come by and enjoy the art and say hello!

Beach Glass

Oil on canvas

Sold

Process

2011-07-29T13:16:00.001-07:00

The making of a painting

I begin with an image in mind... an idea that eventually needs to be realized. I typically work from my own photographs, and I take hundreds of reference photos that I sort through and make choices about which ones will become a painting. I sometimes work from direct observation, sometimes from memory and always with a bit of invention. My bee paintings tend to be more about memory and invention and narrative. My landscapes tend to be more about capturing a particular feeling or quality of light or a sense of place.

I prep my surface, which is either stretched canvas or a wood panel, with layers of artists' gesso which is sanded between layers to give a smooth surface. I then take quite a bit of time mixing up my paint before even starting on the canvas. I have a big glass palette and lots of tubes of paint, though I go through periods of being in love with particular colors and will be biased towards using them again and again. I use oil paints, mostly because I love everything about them: the smell, how they handle, the slow drying time and the magic of what pigment does optically when suspended in an oil based medium. Oil paints look luscious to me and is exciting to me in a way that other mediums just cannot reach.

Ok, now about the painting...

I typically start with an underpainting. I cover the entire canvas and get the basics of the composition and color relationships down. The painting starts loose and mostly undefined. I tend to work with a medium like Liquin to make the paint flow and dry faster so that it's ready for painting by the next day.

End of day 1.

By the next day, the painting is dry to the touch and I can go over the whole thing again, building the painting. I cover the entire canvas again. The layers here are semi-opaque, so I can see the layer below. Here I think about overall color relationships and composition. I start to lay in the specifics and details.

Detail of sky: Day 2.

By the following day, the painting is dry to the touch and is ready for the next layer. My colors are again mixed up on the palette and I mix in a medium to increase translucency and flow. Again, the entire canvas is covered, but the translucent layers add depth and color to the layers below. I work up close, playing with the subtle transitions between areas, enjoying the details. I try to stand back often to make sure that the painting is on the right track and to make big editing decisions.

Day 3.

This particular painting goes through the same process for several more days. I take a good look at the previous days' work, assess what needs to be done, mix up the paint, mix in the medium and cover the whole painting again. Layers are mostly semi-translucent glazes at this point, with some opaque areas here and there. As I build up the painting, it gains complexity and depth. I resolve areas that need work. I fix trouble spots while keeping my eye on the whole. I make sure that every area holds up to the standards of the whole painting.

Detail: Days 4 & 5.

Finis.

At some point, the painting feels done to me. Even so, I let it rest for a day or so, letting the pigments settle into the canvas. I take the painting out of my studio and bring it into my house so that I can assess it. I live with it a while, observing it under the different times of day and decide if it needs any further changes.

The finished painting, after some drying time, gets a coat of varnish, the edges of the canvas painted, wired on the back for hanging, labeled and photographed. Only then is it ready to make it's debut.

August Wine Walk

2011-07-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

August Events

I've been invited to be part of Santa Cruz's First Friday's Art & Wine event for the month of August. I'll be showing my work at Saffron & Genevieve, a gorgeous shop filled with extraordinary treasures. Shop owner & designer Scarlett Reed has an amazing eye, if I do say so myself. See for yourself here, a feature article all about Scarlett in Design Sponge.

In the meantime, I've been busy making NEW paintings for this exhibit. I'll be hanging the work this weekend and the opening will be next Friday.

For more information about the First Friday August Wine Walk, click here:

http://www.firstfridaysantacruz.com/

Hope to see you there!

Passing Gale

2011-07-18T10:32:00.001-07:00

We were at the beach. My daughter was a toddler and we were having a grand time digging in the sand and playing in the surf. We watched as a thundercloud approached. The sky darkened, and you could see the downpour of rain. Lightning flickered and a cool breeze picked up. We packed up our things, but waited to see if the summer shower came ashore. It never did, just moved parallel to the shoreline. Our beach day continued, undisturbed.

Passing Gale

24x30" Oil on canvas

Sold

Summer Intermission

2011-07-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

My children are on summer break, which for me means that they are my constant companions until school resumes in August. My romanticized version of summer break is that we all settle into our daily routine which involves being happy and productive. What actually happens is that there is an acclimation period where my kids don't quite know what to do with themselves after the crazy busy schedule of the school year. They sometimes bicker, they want to bury themselves in electronics, they look to me to find something for us all to do, and as a result I have to become a more active parent.

We jump-started our summer break with a long-overdue trip to the East Coast. It was a two week whirlwind tour of visiting family and friends. Starting in Vermont and working our way down the coast, we ended up in Virginia where friends made a strong case for moving back there. Beginning our trip in Vermont was perfect. My mother does not have internet access, and there is no cell phone coverage where she lives in the mountains. My children and I relaxed. We read books, explored the back roads, went fishing, caught fireflies and had s'mores over our nightly bonfires.

My daughter, who seems to be growing crazy fast, in Vermont.

Vermont: The Green Mountain State

Lake Monticello, Virginia

Rope Swing at Lake Monticello

Slip-n-Slide

Bijou Octopus

2011-06-12T13:13:00.001-07:00

Bijou Octopus

3x5", Encaustic on paper

NFS

Gathering Threads

2011-06-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Gathering Threads

3x5", Encaustic, thread on paper

NFS

Intertwined

2011-06-12T12:59:00.000-07:00

Intertwined

5x7", encaustic, thread on birch panel

Available

Fifteen

2011-06-12T12:58:00.001-07:00

Fifteen

3 1/2 x 8, Encaustic on panel

Available

Note: This is one of my recent favorites. I love the vertical format. This piece also showcases some of the new techniques that I've been exploring.

Thistle

2011-06-12T12:55:00.001-07:00

Thistle

4x8, Encaustic on panel

Available

Note: click on the image above for a larger view. You can really see the layers when you look at it up close!

Cottage Gate

2011-06-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

Cottage Gate

6x6"

Encaustic painting on panel

Available

Note on the painting: In this painting I start to explore using photographs as a collage element. I love using my own photographs, and this one has personal history. This gate was part of the first home that my husband and I bought... a 1920's bungalow in Richmond, VA. The gate opened up to a little cottage garden that we had in the backyard.

This photo has been mounted to a wood panel then painted with encaustic paint, which is made with a mixture of beeswax, damar resin and pigment. In addition to the photograph and paint, I've also used India ink and marks made with metallic foil.

Art Giveaway

2011-06-12T12:32:00.000-07:00

And the winner of this painting is.....

Constellation Field

4x4", Oil on canvas

Melissa P.!

Melissa is the recipient of my first-ever-online-art-giveaway. The rules were simple: join my Facebook page and/or leave a comment under the Giveaway post below. I wanted to be absolutely fair, so I used an online random number generator to come up with the winner. Melissa was #86, and I sent her an email with some JPEG's of available works, giving her some options. She picked this one, a painting of bees above a field of dandelions.

Melissa & I attended Maine College of Art together, and because of Facebook we have connected in recent years. She is a talented chef and food writer and has a fabulous blog of her own that you should check out.

I find it perfect that she chose one of my bee paintings, because as it turns out, Melissa means

"honey bee" in Greek!

Garden Pass

2011-06-11T16:55:00.001-07:00

Garden Pass

6x6 Encaustic on cradled birch panel

Available

(note: I will announce the WINNER of my art giveaway tomorrow, June 12. Stay tuned!)

June Baby

2011-05-31T22:07:00.000-07:00

Confetti

6x6" Encaustic

Available

There's so much going on in June... graduations, Father's Day, beginning of Summer. June begins with my birthday, and on the first day of the month, I share a birthday with Marilyn Monroe, Andy Griffith and Heide Klum.

Last year happened to be one of those milestone birthdays for me, marking the beginning of a new decade, and I celebrated. This year I feel like GIVING on my birthday. I've seen a few online friends do a giveaway on their birthday, and I thought I'd also share the love.

Here's what I'm going to do: I'm giving away one original painting. It'll be one of my small scale oil paintings or an encaustic... I haven't quite decided yet.

Here's what you need to do to enter: leave a comment here on my blog under this post AND/OR join my Facebook page. All names will be added to the same pile and a name will be drawn randomly.

About a week from today I'll announce a winner both here on my blog and on Facebook. The painting that you see above is not necessarily what I'm giving away. Chances are I'll give the winner their pick from a few available pieces.

Thanks for your wonderful support!

Art events: May & June

2011-05-27T11:35:00.001-07:00

Moss Landing, 36x48", oil on canvas

My painting, Moss Landing, is part of a special exhibit that opens today at the Santa Cruz Art League. The show is titled Earth Portraits: Contemporary Landscape Painters of California. This is SCAL's 81st annual Statewide Exhibit featuring landscape painting. You can read more about the history of this special exhibit here. The show promises to be a good one. According to SCAL's website, you can expect to see "the best of the best in living California landscape painters. You can expect to see inventive, colorful, daring, sublime and refined artwork presenting the beauty of the State of California."

Beach Glass, 20x20", Oil on canvas

It's the final weekend for my solo exhibit at Regale Winery, here in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It's a such a beautiful venue with really wonderful wine. If you're looking for something fun to do this holiday weekend, be sure to stop by Regale's tasting room on Saturday or Sunday.

Approach, 6x6", Oil on panel

This little painting is on view at Many Hands Gallery, in Capitola, CA. I'm one of the featured artists for the months of May & June, 2011, with the themed show of Birds & Bees. There is lots of other wonderful work there as well in a variety of media. Definitely worth the trip!

Circling Bees

2011-05-07T13:54:00.001-07:00

Circling Bees

4x4" Oil on canvas

SOLD

Yellow Glow

2011-05-07T13:53:00.001-07:00

Yellow Glow

4x4" Oil on canvas

sold

Uncaged

2011-05-07T13:52:00.001-07:00

Uncaged

4x4" Encaustic painting on panel

This painting is available at Many Hands Gallery, Capitola, CA

Crow

2011-05-07T13:51:00.000-07:00

Crow

3x3" Encaustic on panel

available!

Bee specimen, under wax

2011-05-07T13:50:00.003-07:00

HoneyBee

3x3" Encaustic painting on panel

Available!

Blackbird

2011-05-07T13:50:00.001-07:00

Blackbird

6x6" Encaustic on panel

This painting is on view at Many Hands Gallery, in Capitola, CA

Among twenty snowy mountains,
The only moving thing
Was the eye of the blackbird.

-Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, by Wallace Stevens

Octopus

2011-05-07T13:49:00.001-07:00

Cephalopod

4x4" Encaustic painting on panel

NFS

True story: My seven year old son went on a field trip recently to the UCSC Seymour Marine Lab in Santa Cruz. The students heard about the octopus that they have there. Apparently at one time fish kept disappearing from a tank at the lab and the folks there decided to set up a video camera to find out what was happening to the fish. The octopus was seen leaving it's own tank, going across the floor to where the fish were and eating them before returning back to his own tank.

Smart!

Greyhound

2011-05-07T13:48:00.001-07:00

Greyhound

Encaustic painting on panel

4x4"

NFS

About this painting:

I've had two greyhounds in my life. Our first dog, Gus, came to us by way of Tennessee... a stray dog in need of a home. My husband & I were renting a 2nd floor apartment in Charlottesville, VA that didn't allow dogs, so it was rather challenging trying to sneak a 75 lb dog past our landlord's office, which was right across the street. We weren't successful, so eventually moved so that we could keep Gus.

Our second greyhound, Soprano, was a retired racing greyhound. He had a silver face and a slate grey coat that got more silver-grey as he aged. He moved across country with us, enjoying his last days in sunny California. Not a bad retirement for a race dog who spent the first five years of his life working hard in snowy New Hampshire.

This little painting is my homage to these gentle & regal dogs. They make fabulous family members, by the way.

Soprano was adopted through Greytexpectations, an amazing organization based in Maryland.

Lady Hen

2011-05-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

My exploration of encaustic painting continues. This little painting uses a vintage image of a hen, which I've combined with layers of wax and paint.

Lady Hen

Encaustic paint on panel

4x4"

You can see this painting and more at Many Hands Gallery in Capitola, CA

Announcement below for their Birds & Bees show in May & June.

Just in time for Mother's Day weekend!

Bird on a branch

2011-05-06T12:45:00.000-07:00

Taking a Moment

Encaustic paint on panel

4x4"

This painting is on view at Many Hands Gallery, in Capitola CA

I have 13 paintings there for their Birds & Bees exhibit.

May & June, 2011

May Day

2011-04-29T21:28:00.000-07:00

Goodbye April

I can't say that this month was very productive in the studio, as there was a bit of a lull after hanging my solo show at Regale Winery. Then came my children's Spring Break followed immediately with jump-starting our spring house projects. Speaking of our house, it's been three years since we've moved into our Santa Cruz Mountains home. Happy house anniversary! It's a bit of a fixer-upper, but with time it'll get to where we want it. In the meantime, the weather is warming so it's time to garden, be outside with the chickens, and dare I say it... contemplate getting honey bees.

During my hiatus from the studio, I have to admit that my head and heart were still in it. By the time I jumped back into my work, I had a million ideas spinning. It felt great to start making art again. I couldn't wait to return to encaustic painting. I've also been reading up on beekeeping, so bees are on my mind. You'll likely see some of the results of those two preoccupations in the following weeks here on my blog.

In the meantime, I wanted to share some upcoming art events.

My show at Regale Winery is up for another month. If you missed the opening, the show is up until May 30. Don't forget to sign my guestbook!

I will be showing some of my birds & bees paintings at Many Hands Gallery in May & June. Many Hands Gallery is located next to Gayle's Bakery in Capitola. Fabulous baked goods + art, all by the beach. Sounds like the perfect field trip to me.

Three Birds & Bees

2011-04-26T21:46:00.001-07:00

Just added to the collection of paintings on view at Regale Winery are three mini paintings.

Each measures 4x4" or 4x6", oil on canvas, and are priced at $125. I hear the winery is doing some fun events in May, including something for Mother's Day.

Gathering Bee

Bottom Note

A Conference of Three

Beach Glass

2011-04-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

Beach Glass

Oil on canvas

20"x20"

location: Davenport, CA

Available

You're Invited!

2011-03-27T12:45:00.001-07:00

Featured Artist at Regale Winery & Vineyard: Exhibition & Reception

Local Atmosphere: Paintings by Giselle Gautreau

Sunday, April 3- 12:00 pm-5:00 pm

Regale Winery & Vineyard

2040 Summit Road

Los Gatos, CA

Exhibit dates: April 2 through May 30th, 2011

Tasting Room Hours at Regale

Weekends: Noon-5:00

Fountain at Regale

Oil on canvas

20"x30"

A portion of sales to benefit the Loma Prieta Public Education Fund

Cove

2011-03-24T10:47:00.001-07:00

Cove

Oil on canvas, 20"x20"

Private Collection

Moss Landing, revisited

2011-03-24T10:46:00.001-07:00

Moss Landing

36"x48"

Oil on canvas

I love Moss Landing. Driving down Highway 1 toward Monterey, my eye is always drawn to the salt marshes & bright orange moss that is visible from the road. With the ever-present Pacific marine layer, the fog just makes this orange color glow. I started this canvas well over a year ago, and because it's a lot bigger than I normally work, it was very slow going. I'd put it away for a while, put it back on the easel, and continued to breathe life into it until I really captured that feeling... of that light-illuminated fog, the reflection of the water, and the glow of the orange moss. In this, I wanted the air to feel as palpable as the land.

Elkhorn Slough

2011-03-24T10:38:00.001-07:00

Where Slough Meets Sea

Oil on canvas

36"x48"

This is a big canvas for me. I mean, really big. Most of my work falls into the 12" or less category, with my "big" paintings being at 20"x20". I loved working on this. Time and again, as I painted my landscapes on a small scale, I'd think "ah, but what if this were bigger?" There's something about walking into a room and being drawn in by the scale of the art. That's what this painting is for me. Maybe my new "small" will be the 20"x20".

Sentinel

2011-03-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

Sentinel

12"x12"

Oil on panel

This painting will be on view at Regale Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The show opens next month and will continue until the end of May.

About the painting: A couple of years ago we took our first ever trip to Yosemite. On our road trip with the kids, I really enjoyed taking in the changing landscape. We left the Santa Cruz Mountains, went through Silicon Valley and then headed across the Central Valley before getting to the Sierras. The Central Valley really struck me in it's flatness and how most of it seemed dedicated to agriculture on a grand scale. Field after field, orchard after orchard went by, and once in a while a small cluster of houses. This tree stood out... a cypress in the middle of nowhere, with the Sierras in the distance.

Birds, Bees & Trees

2011-03-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

Opening this Friday, at Redtree Gallery in Cincinnati

Birds, Bees & Trees

Drop me a note if you can make it to this show. I won't be able to attend, but 10 of my paintings will be there.

Participating Artists include:
Giselle Gautreau
Susan Najarian
Sarah Puckett
Angie Unger

Confide: Gathering of Birds

2011-03-01T16:56:00.001-08:00

Confide

6"x6", Oil on panel

On view at Many Hands Gallery, in Capitola, CA

May & June 2011

Approach: Bee In Flight

2011-03-01T16:54:00.001-08:00

Approach

6"x6", Oil on panel

Available

Observed: Bird On A Wire

2011-03-01T16:50:00.001-08:00

Observed

Oil on panel, 6"x6"

On view at Redtree Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

March 8 through April 2, 2011

Up And Away: Bees

2011-03-01T16:38:00.000-08:00

Up And Away

Oil on panel, 6"x6"

On view at Redtree Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

March 8 through April 2, 2011

Perch: Bird On A Wire

2011-03-01T16:35:00.001-08:00

Perch

Oil on panel, 6"x6"

This painting will be on view at Many Hands Gallery, in Capitola, CA

May & June, 2011

Companion: Bees

2011-03-01T16:30:00.001-08:00

Companion

Oil on panel, 6"x6"

This painting will be on view at Many Hands Gallery in Capitola, CA

May & June, 2011

Solitary: Bee

2011-02-19T23:12:00.001-08:00

Solitary

4"x6", Oil on canvas

Available

Calm: Bees

2011-02-17T09:49:00.000-08:00

Calm

4"x4"

Oil on Canvas

Available

Hive

2011-02-16T09:42:00.001-08:00

Hive

4"x4"

Oil on canvas

available

Morning Walk

2011-02-13T19:35:00.000-08:00

Summit Tree Farm

Oil on Canvas

20"x20"

This painting will be on view at Regale Winery in April & May, 2011

February

2011-02-03T22:04:00.001-08:00

If you're in the Bay Area, and you don't want to shlep up all the way up the mountain to come for a studio visit, then just stop by Los Gatos Framing Company. I have 12 paintings on view there for the next month or so. There are two small bee paintings and five encaustic paintings, in addition to the pieces below.

Eastern Shore

Salt Marsh (one of my favorites)

The owner & staff of Los Gatos Framing Company. are incredibly nice and really know there stuff when it comes to custom framing. Lots of local art in there. Right next door to the new Title Nine shop, and you don't have to dodge chickens and dogs like you would if you came for a studio visit. Let me know if you stop by the frame shop!

New Year, New Start

2011-01-10T10:42:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Lots of new projects, ideas and goals in the works. Stay tuned. This year promises to be a productive one, with plans for new paintings, commissions and exhibiting opportunities. More bee paintings are in the works along with larger scale California landscapes. I'm also very excited about playing more with encaustics.

In the meantime, I'm starting off the new year with a revamped website. Take a look and let me know what you think! New art, including a page for Birds & Bees, Encaustics, and California Landscapes. There's a new artist statement on there too, on the Bio page.

Thanks for looking!

http://gisellesart.com/

2010-11-20T16:08:00.001-08:00

Winter's Bird

5x5", Encaustic on birch panel

Private Collection

2010-11-18T19:36:00.001-08:00

Sleep On High

6x6", Encaustic on Birch Panel

Private Collection

2010-11-18T19:34:00.000-08:00

Two Birds

6x6", Encaustic on Birch Panel

Available

2010-11-18T19:30:00.001-08:00

Until The Morning

6x6", Encaustic on birch panel

Available

2010-11-18T19:27:00.001-08:00

Summer's Bee

2x2" (mini!), oil on canvas

Private Collection

Encaustic: Beetle

2010-10-16T20:15:00.001-07:00

Captured

Encaustic: beeswax, pigment, damar resin on wood panel

6x6"

Available

Encaustic: Birds On A Wire

2010-10-16T20:14:00.001-07:00

On A Wire

Encaustic: beeswax, resin and pigment on wood panel

6x6"

Private Collection

Encaustic Painting: Bees

2010-10-16T20:11:00.001-07:00

Fairytale

Encaustic- beeswax and pigment, on wood panel

6x6"

I Think I'm In Love

2010-10-16T20:05:00.001-07:00

I've always wanted to try my hand at encaustic painting. This is a process that involves painting with melted beeswax that's been mixed with damar resin and pigment. Each layer of paint/wax is fused with the layer below by using a heat source, such as a torch. It's an ancient process, and also surprisingly stable and strong. What's appealing to me is that with all of those layers of wax and paint, the effect can be very luminous and ethereal.

This past summer I attended a demo by the women who run WaxWorksWest, an encaustic studio in Corralitos, CA. The demo was impressive, and I immediately signed up for one of their one-day workshops. I learned a lot in that one day, and I'm really looking forward to going back. Here are some of my fellow classmates in the Encaustic Boot Camp Class:

Here we have a hot plate heated to about 200 degrees. Those little tins hold the pigment and wax combo. A flat thermometer helps us keep track of the surface temperature. If the wax is overheated, it can become toxic. Several box fans keep the area well ventilated. The best part was playing with fire, in this case butane torches, to fuse the wax. I somehow managed not to ignite anything that I wasn't supposed to.

At the end of the day, I had four completed pieces. I loved the process. To me, it was such an experimental and playful process. I had a blast, and can't wait to make more.

Detailed images of these paintings soon to come.

I've started gathering the materials and tools needed to do these on my own, in my studio. In the meantime, I've signed up for another day-long workshop. Care to join me on November 12th for the Encaustic Transfer Techniques class? You can see the complete class list and schedule on their website:

http://www.waxworkswest.com/

Framing Bees

2010-10-10T17:50:00.001-07:00

It turns out that a lovely friend and collector of my work has an excellent eye for framing. In general I don't frame my own work. In part, I want the buyer to decide whether they want it framed at all, and how to do it. I'll be honest, it's also about economy for me, since framing can get expensive. My framing tastes tend to run toward the clean and minimalist. Simple floater frames for me, if any. In contrast, my friend went for whimsy and bold. She grouped my bee paintings together on one wall, and I love the effect.

This last one stands alone on it's own wall. I love what the frame does to the painting. It gives it an added dimension, drawing your eye in and giving it another layer of drama and presence. That is what good framing does.

Maison du Lac

2010-09-26T08:48:00.001-07:00

Red Bench in the Garden-Maison du Lac

20x20", oil on canvas

This painting is my donation to my local school's fundraiser. They host an incredible event here in the Santa Cruz Mountains every October, raising money for our small public mountain school. Not only is the event a LOT of fun, it also brings in much-needed funding for our school. The evening brings us wine tasting, live music, a silent auction, dancing, and a very lively live auction. Can't wait!

http://www.lpef.org/LPEF/LPEF.html

About the painting:

The Gala is held at an incredibly beautiful venue, a private estate called Maison du Lac. Earlier this summer, with camera in hand, I explored the grounds and gardens. I took this photo of a red bench overlooking the little pond. The funny thing is that I took the photo with my iPhone, using a little application that emulates a vintage cameras, where you get to select the lens/film/flash options. The resulting image for me was compelling, and was the source for this painting. Old meets new: oil painting meets iPhone technology.

So, come to the Gala if you can. Look for this painting at the Silent Auction.

Summer's End

2010-09-23T21:25:00.001-07:00

Summer's End

4x4", oil on canvas

SOLD

Bumble Bee

2010-09-23T21:21:00.001-07:00

BumbleBee

4x4", oil on canvas

Available

Trio of Bees

2010-09-23T20:10:00.001-07:00

A friend of a friend was in town, and was brought to my studio for a tour. After selecting a few paintings to be shipped home, she mentioned that she wanted a grouping of three small pieces to hang together on the same wall. Sunflowers are her favorite, so I took a request to make a sunflower & bee painting. Another small painting with a bee & flower complete the group. I'm looking forward to seeing all three framed, and hopefully I'll get to see a photo of them hanging together.

Teresa's Sunflower

9x12"

Bee With Flower

5x7"

Trio of Bees

New and Upcoming

2010-09-17T16:08:00.001-07:00

Navigation

4"x4", Oil on canvas

SOLD

Grouping of 4"x4" canvases

Trio of 4" paintings

Coming soon:

More 4" paintings.

Images of beautifully framed paintings of mine that are in a friend's collection.

A painting to support the Loma Public Education Fund, available at the fundraiser Gala.

New encaustic paintings.

California landscapes.

Secret Life of A Bee

2010-09-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

Honeybee Dream

4"x4", Oil on canvas

Free to a Good Home

2010-08-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

Choose one of these little lovelies to take home... (see below)

Exit Stage Right, 2x2" oil on canvas

Little Bee: Yellow

2"x2"

Little Bee: Blue

2"x2"

To sweeten the deal: Acquire any one of my available paintings and choose one of these mini paintings to keep as well. Oil on canvas, measuring 2"x 2".

Homeward Bound

2010-08-14T17:46:00.002-07:00

Homeward Bound

4x4", Oil on canvas

(canvas is on 1 1/2" stretcher bars so has a little depth when hanging on the wall. Sides are painted, so no need for framing.)

available: $125

Passage

2010-08-14T17:46:00.001-07:00

Passage

4x4", Oil on canvas

(note: this little painting is on nice wide stretcher bars, so it sits about 1 1/2" off the wall. I love these little chunky canvases. The edges are painted, so no need to frame it unless you really want to. The are ready to hang on the wall. )

SOLD

Meadow

2010-08-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

Constellation Field

Oil on canvas, 4x4"

(on 1 1/2" stretchers)

available: $125

Salt Marshes at Elkhorn Slough

2010-07-21T15:26:00.001-07:00

Elkhorn Slough at Twilight

6"x8", Oil on linen mounted over panel

Available: $250 (framed)

On view at Los Gatos Framing

Elkhorn Slough With Coastal Fog

6"x8", Oil on linen over panel

Available: $250 (framed)

On view at Los Gatos Framing

2010-07-11T12:59:00.001-07:00

Grasses

photo taken with my iPhone

Summer Update:

My kids are out of school for the summer, which means squeezing in painting when I can. I have a few small projects and commissions in the works, but mostly I'm following my inspirations and personal goals. I have a large canvas that I'm finishing up, as well as a series of small scale pieces all in various stages of completion. There are more bees, as well as a chicken portrait or two. I've been playing with my iPhone and enjoying the images that I'm creating with a fun little application called Hipstamatic. Some of these will likely translate into paintings. I am always on the lookout for imagery to use in my paintings, forever collecting photos to reference when I am back in the studio.

I've recently created a Facebook Group page. If you're on Facebook, be sure to join the group Giselle Gautreau: Paintings. I'll post new images there as well as have updates that relate to what's happening in the studio.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=137643769587819

Happy Summer!

Madrone, Bear Creek Road

2010-07-07T13:07:00.001-07:00

Madrone

Oil on canvas, 16x20"

Commission

Another Bee

2010-06-06T19:47:00.001-07:00

Aloft

4"x4", Oil on canvas

Sold

Open Studio

2010-05-31T17:17:00.000-07:00

Open Studio

I'm hosting my first open studio since moving here. Mostly it will be friends from the local school and neighbors. If you're in the neighborhood, feel free to come by! I promise to have plenty of coffee on hand.

This Wednesday, June 2nd

10am-1pm

Santa Cruz Mountains

Los Gatos, CA

Chickens will be in attendance

Email for directions

Peep

2010-05-21T15:22:00.001-07:00

Peep

3"x3", oil on canvas

collection: the artist

(note on the painting: this little cutie grew up to be our own little Fluffball, the infamous chicken that went on a 5 day walkabout in the Santa Cruz Mountains. She's got street cred. amongst the hens. Fluffball is a Silver Laced Wyandotte.)

Birds and Bees

2010-05-12T22:08:00.000-07:00

Rhode Island Reds

2010-05-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

Rhode Island Reds

Private Collection

(commissioned painting)

Oil on canvas

California Live Oak

2010-05-06T21:18:00.001-07:00

Live Oak

Oil on wood panel

Private Collection

(commissioned painting)

Cinco

2010-04-28T21:29:00.000-07:00

Cinco

12"x12", Oil on canvas

note on the painting: This portrait is of Cinco, the fifth chicken that we picked out last Spring. She's an Ancona hen. When she was small, she was "tasted" by our Black Lab, Bella. Cinco lived to tell the tale, but she wasn't very happy to see our dog for a while after the incident. Cinco is one of our smallest chickens, and she generously lays one small white egg for us every day.

My model.

Gloaming

2010-04-06T21:52:00.001-07:00

Gloaming

5"x7", Oil on wood panel

Available