Thursday, December 13, 2012

Interviewing an artist

As some of you may know, I write a monthly article for The Crafts Report Magazine, a really cool-beans publication. One of the advantages of this gig is every so often I get to take a field trip to interview a regional artist.

Last Monday I did just that, traveling south to the little burg of Viola to talk with an astoundingly talented artist by the name of Andy Sewell.

I've seen this gentleman's art for years, pretty much since we first arrived in Idaho in 2003. What caught my eye was his paintings of the Palouse, the hilly and largely treeless terrain that defines our corner of the west. It is an unspeakably beautiful landscape, and Andy's paintings captures that beauty.



So I drove down to meet and talk with him. Even in drear winter weather, the vistas on the Palouse are fabulous.




Andy has a handsome little gallery tucked beside the highway.


It's here that he offers classes, displays his paintings, and works on new creations.


It was pretty amazing, looking around at his work.


I have all the artistic skills of a first-grader, so talent like this always floors me.


On the left is oil, on the right is watercolor.


He paints oils on a vertical canvas, but watercolors flat on a table. Yes, that's a real canvas.



Of his many different themes, it's the landscapes I enjoy the most...



...though I'll admit the florals are pretty spiffy too (especially when the glass isn't reflecting the background).


He also branched out into mugs, a practical way to enjoy his art.



Altogether it was a very enjoyable way to get to know an artist of amazing caliber.

5 comments:

  1. Talent he has, I love all the pictures you displayed on the site. Thank you for showing us the lovely landscape in the area you live.

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  2. AMAZING! Such a God-given talent. Now I have yet another item to add to my ever growing list of things/people, etc. to search on the intertnet. Thank you for sharing. :o)

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  3. What a gift! I love those mugs...looks like the trip there is just as beautiful. Gods art work!

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  4. I always prefer scenes, too.
    My talent is more like that of a kindergartner, so I know what you mean.
    Thanks for sharing with us!

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