Artist Supporting Artist Inspires and Supports All

Vavrino Painting

In addition to marketing, an artist must take time away from painting not only to support other artists, but to stay in tune with current trends. Moral support is vital to all of us, and the inspiration we get from others may sometimes lift us from complacency and bad habits.

I had the opportunity to do both at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers by attending an opening for my friend, Annie, in the Member’s Gallery; and by viewing the remarkable works of Michelle Sales featured in the main Gallery, and the works of deceased Vavrina in the Theater Lobby. Talk about color! Vavrina’s bold lines and color really got my blood moving. www.ArtofVavrina.com

Afterwards, mixed media artist Michelle Sales explained her unusual and gripping work by saying that it is about the accumulation and preservation of memories:

"These memories, represented by constructed and found materials, are stitched together to create two and three dimensional artwork. Each piece is built up with various layers denoting passage of time and erosion. My works are abstract journals in which memories are retained, protected and preserved. Through this process I document events, emotions, growth and decline. In like fashion, my memories mimic ancient civilizations, one built on top of another, century after century, new upon old, in an endless cycle.

“The color rust plays a significant part in much of my work; I find it to be a harbinger of transformation and change. Working with an earthy palette allows me to explore our connectedness to nature and the human condition. Living in a heavily forested area, I am drawn to and inspired by the massive tangle of trees, branches and shrubs. Hiking through these wooded areas, I often collect various natural and man-made objects such as tree bark, rocks, pebbles, seed pods, and rusted metal. These items are frequently combined with synthetic materials creating the highly textural surface inherent in much of my work.”  (Link)  Michelle Sales 

Annie St. Martin’s paintings often combine pallet knife with brushwork in oils and acrylics. Bold colors, both realistic and imaginative, and O’Keefe like flower paintings give Martin’s work a distinctive appeal. http://www.anniesdesigns.net 

Exploring Downtown Fort Myers

In my last blog, I told you I was going downtown to visit some galleries and to take photos of street scenes and buildings. An artist never knows when he or she is going to use these as background in a painting.

Urban paintings are a hot item right now, so I’m hoping I’ll find something in these photos that will inspire me. One young woman coming through a brick alley was striking in black boots and white tunic. I asked her if I could take her picture. She declined. You can barely see her walking toward me in the scene.



Fort Myers with its brick walkways and streets is probably classier than most, and on a weekday there are fewer people except on the lunch hour when they exit the buildings and stores like ants and flood the nearby restaurants.

The Caloosahatchee River is a short walk from First Avenue, so we were able to get some interesting photos of piers, bridges, and pilings (a must for painting pelicans and seagulls). Boats were churning through the water and under the bridge. A few fishermen dangled their lines from the wharf, and a group of teens gathered after school to roller blade and exchange gossip.



Some homeless men had ridden their bicycles into Centennial Park and were swapping stories with one another as we passed. We waved and said hello. By the sound of things, perhaps we made their day.

Doorways make good subjects for paintings, and my friend, Annie, took many more than I did. I’m a people person and would have liked more scenes with people, but that just didn’t happen.

Will I use any of these photos in a painting or will they just be filed “reference photos.” I’ll never know until the muse strikes. I hope you enjoyed seeing a tiny part of the Fort Myers I love. It is unique, memorable, and has ten remarkable art galleries within walking distance, theatre, and fifteen plus restaurants from white linen bistros offering fresh seafood and wine to pizza parlors and Chicago style hot dog cafes.

I don’t know about you, but if this is “small town” living, I’m lovin’ it!

Art Walk Fort Myers -- February and March

Here are some shots of the gallery where our art league has paintings on display from February through March. The glare of the windows made it difficult to get a good picture, but you get the idea. Several paintings have been sold from this location. A 15 year old artist who won a U.S. stamp wildlife competition sold his duck painting, and we were cheering him on. He started taking lessons when he was only eleven. It's never too early, never too late!

My newest painting from my "With These Hands" series titled: "Wonder" will be displayed through the month of March. We all have had a great time and made many new friends. If you're in Fort Myers, check us out at the building on the corner of Hendry and Ponce de' Leon Plaza.