New Painting with Coffee Art Show

Grounds for new art
The rotation of the shows happens this week and I am still focusing on having several new paintings for the Opening on Friday night. It’s full circle because  DownTown Artworks is where it all started for me last December. I never expected the ground that’s been covered.

There will be new work and I will be curious if people recognize the old from the new. Will it look like “The same old stuff” or will it invite further interest? Also wondering how many people will keep returning to my shows. This show is really my first opportunity to be exposed to an Art Crowd. It feels a little more festive because lots of studios and galleries will be participating. I will be in the Founders’ Gallery  with three of the Abracadabra artists from last December.— Loring is calling this show (or, us) Gang of Four. It’s difficult for me to see how my coffee paintings fit into the theme. My solution was to design my own “coffee”announcement but I realize nothing would have happened without Loring’s constant energy to put the show together. He made it all happen.

I’ve always been a little fascinated by names owners come up with for their coffee cafes. names like Royal Grounds, Fairfix and Shakey Grounds.  My prep time is getting a little tight for my next coffee art show because I want to show some new work. I certainly wasn’t expecting there to be one show after another. This is a good thing — it pushes me.  I have started three new paintings and plan for even more in the next week. The finish up the art deadline is April 8th and the San Rafael 2nd Friday Art Walk opening is April 10th.

Last week I got another ‘out of the blue’ opportunity to show my work. This time it’s my gym in San Anselmo. The women in my yoga class have been so supportive and excited about my art— about me being an artist. When the my next show during the month of April in San Rafael is over I will then have a show for the month of May at Elan in San Anselmo. This will be a good place for me to show & store my coffee collection. What’s next is still brewing!

I am in the wake of thanking myself for pulling my second Art Show off with acceptable personal success. Whew!  Now I’m waiting for my next Wake-Up call and further direction. I continue to allow coffee to be my guide. Unexpected perks have come with this show. Publicity possibilities are in the air and even a “person of interest”. Now I’m looking for a new more positive definition for Person of Interest because I love the phrase and clearly use it here in a positive context.

Overall the best thing that came from the show was my continuing realization of how fascinated people seem to be with the idea of painting with coffee. They often reach an Aha moment, look at me, and say “Oh, you use real coffee to paint with.” I also continue to clarify the misunderstanding that painting with coffee it is my original idea. I did not dream this up on my own — artists have been painting with coffee for years. My favorite reply is “Victor Hugo painted with coffee” See it for yourself  Victor Hugo Link
The coffee painting excitement that both artists and not-yet-artists are feeling is forcing me to follow up on my thoughts of teaching workshops. I find that a lot of people are afraid of their own creativity and for some reason seeing the possibility of painting with coffee brings a certain creative safety. Coffee is something that is familiar in their lives and somehow that makes it more “user friendly” and they actually want to try it. Their curiosity begins to invite the possibility of experimenting with their own creativity.

Coffee Bean Labyrinth

The reception provided a perfect opportunity for me to show my recently completed Coffee Bean Labyrinth. I was a little uncomfortable about showing it because the coffee bean burlap bag I used for the background was given to me from the “other” coffee shop in town. No one noticed and that was just another reminder to me to just leave it alone.

Show Poster | Loring Doyle

December 5th & 6th
Friday 10am–8pm
Saturday 10am–5pm

Art Works Downtown
San Rafael

An exhibit about the magic of giving a gift of personal art for the holidays. Featuring an eclectic selection of reasonably priced artwork by artists:
David Antonio
Loring Doyle website
Stuart J. Gourlay  website
George Evelyn
Drew Klausner
Nancy Nichols Sneak Preview
Ray Reagan
Tracey Roberts  website

Contact Nancy Nichols by email

Stuart J. Gourlay

Nancy Nichols