I'm In The Museum!

Super excited to announce my Face of Ventura project, a collection of 58 portrait sketches painted from life, is a current exhibit at the Museum of Ventura County until May 18th.

http://venturamuseum.org/current-exhibitions

I will be doing an Artist Talk Saturday April 26th at 1p.m. Come join me at the Museum?

Thanks to the Museum of Ventura County, which now owns the collection, all of the sitters, co-creator Sheldon Brown publisher of The Ventura Breeze, which featured the sketches and sitters' life stories over a two year period, Lyn Fairly of The  Lyn Fairly and Friends Radio Show, who interviewed each sitter, and Bonnie Weigel, CEO of FOOD Share for sponsoring the collection's first showing.

http://www.foodshare.com

I couldn't have done it without you.

Giving Back...Donating Art

In a week of trauma like no other in The States, it feels good to be giving back. This morning I am doing a sitting from life and hosting a lunch for the winner of a raffle, 100 per cent of the proceeds going to FOOD Share which feeds the hungry in Ventura County each month.

FOOD Share also have supported my art in a way only angels can. Please donate if you can.

http://www.foodshare.com

I also donated another portrait demo this week to talented young artists, more on that later.

Catch my "Master The Masters" class at CAI this coming Wednesday, if you dare!

Going Dutch
By Johanna Spinks
Oil on panel, 12"x16"
Available at my online store later today.
http://www.johannaspinksfineart.com

POST SHOW HAZE

"Feel The Love Reception"
Face of Ventura Sitter Mr. Howard Boroughs and I feel the love.

Thanks to everyone who came to my "Feel The Love" show in Ventura, CA. It was a fantastic turnout with some nice sales from the 100 or so paintings and sketches of mine on display. This is my favorite picture from the reception, myself with Mr. Howard Boroughs, a former biochemist and sweetheart of the first order.

Read his life story here:http://www.thefaceofventura.com/1.12.11.pdf

Mr. Boroughs turns 100 this year.  My portrait of him will be included in the Museum of Ventura County's 100 year Anniversary Birthday show, opening March 23,  which I am tickled Valentine pink about. Mr. Boroughs IS Ventura. He has done so much for the town. I just adore him.

So my feelings after this show? They are a lot of work. This is my second big show in five months. Working that mailing list, getting people in the reception room, mailing out invites, phoning, editing paintings to hang, delivering them,  framing them,  worrying that no-one will show up...ahhh, must be nice to be a big New York artist with none of these issues. And I do know a few who seem to  just breeze into their shows and out.

I am also so lucky my last two shows to have had the support of FOOD Share and The Ventura Breeze newspaper. I also had this current show hosted by Crowell, Weedon & Co., who did a lot of the work for me putting on a lovely reception and, yes, hanging the show. Thank you. But the pressure of a solo show is on the artist's solo shoulders at the end of the day.  A flat reception won't make you look good.

I also learned a lot about myself as an artist, over the last five months. What work I was proud to stand by. What work generated the most excitement from viewers and generated actual sales. How lovely it is to feel warmth from visitors toward your art. To hear them ooohhhing and ahhhing. That is music to my heart.

I won't be having a big show again for a while. I need to get on with a new collection of work inspired by the last two shows. That is the greatest Valentine gift I can give to myself.

Thank you everyone. I felt your love.

57 Portraits By Johanna Spinks Unveiled....

The Face of Ventura By Johanna Spinks is Unveiled At Ventura County Museum

Spinks with FOOD Share CEO Bonnie Weigel. FOOD Share partnered with Spinks on the event.

The portrait artist Alice Neel, who gained fame only late in life,  once said reflecting on her lifetime of quietly painting portraits “ I paint my time using the people as evidence.”

 

I have thought of this quote many times during my almost two year art project. I know I have painted my time. Through thick and thin.  I know I have painted 57 most generous people from all walks of life in Ventura -the people as evidence on This Face of Ventura Wall today.

 

I was not alone in this journey.

 

Each of the 57 sitters shared so generously with me and touched me deeply.  Each one holds a special place in my heart. Thank you.

 

There was a co-creator Sheldon Brown, publisher of the Ventura Breeze, who brought the personal stories of each sitter to life in each edition of his well-loved publication through the written word. The project would have been faceless without The Breeze and Sheldon’s considerable input, time and dedication. Thank  you to him and his wife Diane.

 

There was Bonnie Weigel, CEO and president of FOOD Share , a woman I really admire, and a FACE sitter, who mentored me through the project at times when I needed it most. And then got this show on the road here today through FOOD Share’s Art Share Program to raise hunger awareness through art partnerships.  I would not be standing in this room today without Bonnie. Thank you.

 

There was Lyn Fairly of the Lyn Fairly And Friends Radio Show who interviewed each face in her unique way adding to the depth of the project. Thank you.

 

There was Mark Hartley who allowed each sitter's sketch and their story to be displayed in his old bank building window on Main Street twice a month adding an extra element. Thank you.

 

There was the Ventura Executive Suites who hosted the halfway point of the project with a great show and displayed those halfway portraits for six months, also hosting some of the life sittings there. Thank you

 

There was my family, Paddy, Jessie and Rosie who have heard all about me painting my time using the people evidence, probably far more than they would ever have wished. Thank you.

 

Lastly, I have dedicated this show to my mentor Mr. Everett Raymond Kinstler, painter of seven American presidents and a virtual who’s who of America for over 60 years. He has indeed reflected a  lifetime of painting very famous people as evidence in a technically grand but most honest manner.

 

Ray Kinstler and his teachings, his confidence in me, his direction and love for people and the life painting skill set,  are in each and every one of these sketches you see today.

 

Lastly, the powerful exchange and unique connection between the portrait artist and sitter, sharing their times,  each other as evidence,  remains unchanged over the centuries.  The Face of Ventura is living proof. Thank you deeply.

Thanks to KADY TV for covering this event with this video of speeches. Thanks to OurVentura.Com for doing the same, video to come.

Thanks to Mark Tovar for this video of show images. Thanks to Ventura County Star for this piece. Photos David Yamamoto.

 

 

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My Show Hits The Ojai Valley News

Face of Ventura By Johanna Spinks

Poster for sale at show

Thanks to the Ojai Valley News for covering my upcoming show, "The Face of Ventura By Johanna Spinks", August 26th, at the Matha K. Smith Pavilion, The Ventura County Museum.

Thanks also to FOOD Share for partnering with me on this event.

This 18 x 24 poster is available for purchase at event, a portion going to FOOD Share: email me to order johanna@johannaspinks.com. $25

visit The Face of Ventura website: www.the faceofventura.com

FOOD Share feeds 74,000 hungry mouths each month in Ventura County.

Food Share's Bonnie Weigel...Face of Ventura Project

I am a little behind posting my Face of Ventura project sitter this month...I wanted to make sure this special lady, Bonnie Weigel of Food Share, got air time with her story. She is someone I really admire. Brains, beauty, and soul, fighting a really worthwhile cause, hunger.