GUEST BLOGGER: Contemporary Art Giveaway For You & Kelly Kuhn of Blue Gallery Shows Loft Style

Kelly Kuhn is co-owner of The Blue Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri. Kelly and her husband David have been pioneers in the revival of the city’s Crossroads Arts District. They live in a loft-style apartment they styled themselves within the footprint of their gallery. Kelly has opened her gallery doors to us and is even providing a giveaway of two hot contemporary artists! Kelly will be presenting regular art blog commentaries here at The Katillac Shack in the future.

Win one of these two new artworks simply by leaving a comment below.
Enter to win and pick your favorite: an oil on canvas by Amy Abshier-Reyes (left) or a mixed media piece by R. Sawan White. Go to Blue Gallery to find out more about these artists.

Kelly Kuhn on artist William Rainey, shown on the left, painting in his studio:

“Art collecting feels a lot like falling in love: It doesn't happen every day, but when it does, you know it down to your toes, and little can be done to change it.

When I feel like I can't fully articulate my personal style, I know that my art collection can. And it's funny, I've always relied on others’ art collections to tell me who they are. To this day, I still walk into an acquaintance's home and study the walls to get an idea of who they are and what inspires them.

Above our sofa (below) is a painting by Blue Gallery artist William Rainey. I have always loved this painting. The panoply of color, the controlled chaos of doodles and hieroglyphics, some intentional, most stream of conscience.

Bill is a very accomplished artist. With numerous sell-out exhibitions, he is one of the gallery's all-time favorite artists. His work can be found in private and corporate collections worldwide. I completely understand why. His unique style, passion for color and "joie de vivre".

At 65 years old, Bill has honed his style. Primarily an abstract artist his entire career, Bill knows what inspires him and how to harness it. Old-school jazz is a primary muse. The artist states: ‘I listen to jazz when I paint. Jazz is an improvisation on a theme, a blend of elements in the space of time. My art is like that.’

“The primary muse for my personal space is Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City. I love the bold jewel-toned colors and old world furnishings mixed with dramatic, contemporary art. The ottoman was originally dark brown velvet. Though pretty, it was very drab in a dark room. I changed the fabric to azure blue, because I craved drama. I also saw this color used at the Gramercy, so knew it would be easy to live with. It reminds me of the Mediterranean Sea.”
“The countertop in our loft-like kitchen is made of over 90% recycled materials, including walnut, bamboo and cork. When we have a party, everyone gathers around the island and they never leave! The creator is John Anderson of Utilitarian Workshop. We chose to use the industrial approach and allow all of the raw pipes and necessary fixtures to become part of the ‘artwork’ of our space. The commercial stainless sink is so practical and a great focal point.”

Kelly continues:

"And to say that Bill's inner child is alive and well would be an understatement. What I most love about Bill's work is his choice to embrace the recklessness and joy of life. The signs of a methodical and mature artist are apparent, but the rapturous delight the artist experiences with each painting is what is most evocative to collectors of his work.

For me, art collecting can be an addiction. So, in September of 2000 I channeled that desire and decided to open an art gallery. My focus was to find and exhibit talented artists – like Rainey – and show their work to collectors like myself, who love art and believe its ability to restore something vital in them. As stated in Blue Gallery's mission statement, ‘Art serves as our magic and medicine, a religion and refuge...’

Recently, I've decided to take a vacation from the news and was AMAZED how much my stress levels declined. It wasn't until I slipped and watched a little news one day did I realize how much the media can really stir the fear in our heads! To create a refuge of magic and medicine has never become more relevant than in these times.

That said, lately I've been noticing a trend with Blue Gallery clients and the type of artwork they are collecting. Perhaps it is the result of spring in the air, or the atmosphere of malaise purported by the media, or both. But definitely the current desired genre is playful, colorful and most importantly, positive. A momentary escape from the madness.

Spring is here, and I am itching to collect a fabulous painting to lose myself in!”


ENTER TO WIN ONE OF TWO ARTWORKS BY COMMENTING TO KELLY....

Who is your favorite artist OR What is your favorite genre of art?

GIVEAWAY WINNER: Hillary Gilme chose the Amy Abshiers-Reyes!!! Hillary please e-mail us your contact information. Thank-you Blue Gallery for this wonderful giveaway.

Comments

[Heather]

Wow, great blog! I am a big fan of Amy's gorgeous and haunting paintings. Please count me in!~

[delilah dawson]

What a cool gallery! Amy Abshier Reyes is my favorite Etsy artist. I'm big into Etsy now and love browsing the new fine art.

[Rhonda Anderson]

I'm a fan of Amy's art! I also love all Fauve and Post-Impression artists for their colors and expressionism.

[Penny Patten]

Wow, they are both great, I would be honered to win either one, but I do always gravitate towards color!

[Julie Fillo]

I'm a big fan of Amy's so if I win, I will for sure pick hers. :)

[Bruce]

I have one of Amy's paintings and love it! I can't say I have one favorite because the variety is overwhelming which the best thing about art!

[Wendy]

I am a fan of outsider artists. american folk artists.

[c. mitchell]

Hi! This is a great post. Love the loft! The industrial kitchen is awesome. The Raney art is so energetic. Really great stuff. I like a lot of art --especially my grandchildren's drawings. The more unstudied the better. I think the White is great-I am sure that the soft texture of wax is especially nice in person.

[Aida Tejaratchi Palazola]

my favorite artist is Rembrandt van Rijn - i love his use of light as a focal highlight against rich dark colors ... i remember falling in love with his work the moment my college professor flashed one of his self-portraits across the screen (during a slide-show lecture) & explained how Rembrandt did not disguise or omit even his own flaws & imperfections in his paintings. now that, to me, is a true artist!

[Maria Killam]

I like the one on the left. Great space you've shown, that tufted blue ottoman is a popular trend these days as well i've noticed.

[Kelee Katillac]

Joni-I like the impressionists too....especially Cezanne.

[joni cobb]

I don't have a big vocabulary or knowledge of art. But, I really like the impressionists.

[Kelly Kuhn]

Oops, wrote to fast...it's Shepard Fairey, a phenomenal contemporary artist.

[Kelly Kuhn]

Vincent Van Gogh is one of my favorites too. In fact, the moment I first laid eyes on "Self Portrait 1889", in an art history class, I was a changed woman. Other favorite artists are; Lucien Freud, Francis Bacon, Shepherd Fairey, Alyssa Monks, Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison, and the list goes on...

[Nancy]

My favorite artist would have to be Vincent van Gogh. It's hard to believe that the paintings that make me feel so happy and peaceful were painted by someone who was not a happy man. I guess maybe the paintings were the happiness trying to come out of his soul and show itself. I LOVE "Starry Night" and "Sunflower."

[John D. Young]

I can't settle on one artist or period/genre... Generally, I am a composition nut. As long as the plane is divided up in an interesting way, whether it's Rothko's color fields, Fantin-Latour's prissy still-lifes, or Sargent's mammoth society portraits. I also tend to favor more illustrative styles... I don't want to pick one. Also, thanks for the lottery aspect of this! Amy is a favorite. I only have some of her tiny pieces, and would love something a little bigger! JDY TCB

[Colette]

Wow! What a wonderful piece of mixed media by Sawan White. Art for me is therapy. I like to listen to music and paint what I feel and this piece is very soothing. I like the softer side of abstract painting. The curls and swirls...just pushing the paint with a brush to see what it can create. If you don't feel you are an "artist" or have a creative side, give it a try. Anyone can create, we inherited it from God!

[Kelly Kuhn]

Hi Sammy, Rachel (the artist you inquired about), Uses a process of layering oil paint and waxes. The intaglio line drawings between each layer are rubbed in and then back out again, with the final layers hiding entire narratives beneath them. She uses a very high-grade paraffin wax and mixes in a resin to stabilize the medium. This process allows the artist to reveal certain "narratives" and hide others as part of her "search" about life and relationships.

[kelly snelling]

only one of each?! impossible!! van gogh, kahlo, de kooning, klimt, and on and on. my current favorite medium is acrylics. thanks for the chance to win one of the beautiful pieces!! so exciting. fingers crossed over here.

[Kelly Kuhn]

As previously stated Lauren, I am an art addict. You've probably figured out another reason I became an art dealer, so I can have first dibs on paintings as they come in!

[Sammy]

I don't know a lot about these things so I have a question. Kelly can you explain the oil and wax on wood process of the White's artwork? Thanks.

[Lauren Slaterbeck Binci]

This is wonderful Kelly. I LOVE your living space behind the gallery- and now I know who bought all the paintings I really wanted! You already know how my family feels abut rainey's work.

[Donna Warrington]

I love the mixed media piece by R. Sawan White...just beautiful.

Thanks for the giveaway and wish me luck.....my fingers are crossed.

[Bebe Quinn]

I prefer art of the Renaissance or around that time. Or Baroque art. Like Titian or Caravaggio.
This is a lovely discussion and question. The loft is very interesting! Thanks for doing this piece.

[Du Buh Du Designs]

Picking a favorite artist/genre is a bit hard~I love photography,sculpture and painting an d appreciate so many artists. Right now I am inspired by 3D artists/illustrators like Chris Sickels of Red Nose Studio and the creators of Madam Tutli Putli.
I would be beyond thrilled to win an original by Amy. I have one of her watercolors and several prints but am hoping to buy one of her oils someday~her work is superb !!