25 days until opening at Piante! About press releases, and painting in Iceland.

Just sent in my stories and images about the Glacier Art Project & At Waters' Edge, to the Journal, and asked the Times Standard life style editor when to send it to her, in time for the August 6 opening.

We artists here in Humboldt County are really quite spoiled with the amount of free publicity we get in the local papers. Big colorful and beautifully composed spreads in the Style section of the Times Standard are common and appreciated. The new monthly Muse insert of the Journal, focused on the arts, promises even more arts coverage. The Arcata Eye and the McKinleyville Press also give space to the visual arts.

When it comes to the actual writing of a press release I take the time to review Kevin Hoover's, editor and founder of The Arcata Eye, "How to get a press release published in the Arcata Eye" each time I need to write one. Not only is it succinct and practical, it is also very entertaining in the inimitable Kevin Hoover way. I recommend it highly. Bob Doran, listed as staff writer, arts & entertainment editor at the Journal (you know him, he is the tall, cuddly guy with the camera who is everywhere and knows everyone - he now has 1, 574 friends on facebook) Recently, Bob, kindly took the time to give advice to Open Studio participants on how to submit press releases. He said to send it as an open text in an email. (not as an attachment) indicate what it is about, in the topic line, and be sure the images are of a size that is printable. And, he pointed out, that unless the story has a byline it is written by the person who submitted it.

So if your art looks good in print, your story is interesting, and you follow the guidelines by Kevin and Bob, you have a pretty good change to get featured in the local papers. If you have a photo of yourself painting, or falling into a crevasse, you just painted, then email it too.

I'd like to add to this: send it in on time, be grateful for any press you get and thank the editors.

And don't complain - ever.

Here's a photo taken by my great travel companion and sister Susanna, while I was sketching the Snaefellsjoekull in Iceland. This glacier sits on top of the extinct volcano, which is the setting of Jules Verne's famous book "A Journey to the Center of the Earth." I am also posting one of the sketches made on location of the mountain with its melting ice cap.

26 days until opening at Piante 8/6. Painting Glaciers in Glacier Alley, Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina & Chile

"In many parts, glaciers extend from the mountainside to the waters' edge. It is scarcely possible to image anything more beautiful than the beryl-like blue of these glaciers" Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle.

Todays blog post is about painting glaciers al fresco in the Beagle Channel, and about feeling vulnerable as an artist getting ready to show a large body of work.

In 2005 on a trip to visit our son in Chile, my husband and I sailed through the Beagle Channel. We followed Darwin's passage, and I sketched, with frozen fingers, all day long while gliding through Glacier Alley - so named for the numerous, glistening tide-water glaciers that extend into the narrow channel.

I am completely in agreement with Darwin - this was unbelievably beautiful.

Here's a list of the glaciers in order starting from Ushuaia, in Argentine Tierra Del Fuego: Holanda, Italia, Francia, Alemania, Romanche. Romanche, was the best! Huge, and with a magnificent waterfall.

I made several sketches of Romanche, and in the exhibit there will be two monotypes.

I have already dealt with the most vulnerably stage of this show: taking all 34 pieces of art (plus some extras just in case) over to the gallery - wondering what the reaction would be. But it was really good! And the layout seemed to work very well. I thought it looked great! I felt elated! Now it is time to finish the press release and mail it in with images, and hope that the exhibit gets good publicity. Another opportunity to feel vulnerable. Opportunity? My good friend Silke would say that it is good for me.

Here are two photos of me sketching in Glacier Alley. Both taken by Gordon Inkeles. I am very grateful to him for all the fine photos during this voyage. The two monotypes depict the Romanche glacier with its forked waterfall.

27 days until opening of Glacier Art Project at Piante Sat. Aug. 6th!

I should have started blogging about this art show 34 days before the opening since it will include 34 pieces of art - or 6 years ago, since that is how long I have been working on this project.

But, then again, we were not blogging yet. The inspiration for the study and painting of glaciers started in Alaska, in the Glacier Bay in 1995 when I, together with my husband, his 85 year old mother, and our son, experienced out first calving glacier. Ever since glaciers have captivated me.

You are all invited to the opening, but if that is not possible, you can see the art on this blog and also on my website. At Piante Gallery in Old Town, Eureka, I will have two rooms. In the first larger space I will show the Glacier Art Project, 20 works, in the more intimate center room I will show At Waters' Edge, 15 works, shorescapes from our beautiful north coast. It is all about water.

I also thought it might be interesting for my readers to know all the bits and pieces involved in putting on an art exhibit - from the artists viewpoint. All the shadow functions after all the art has been created. Since I am fortunate to be working with a professional full service gallery - with a great reputation and a lot of experience - I am not alone in this work. The result will be a lovely, festive opening that will seem quite effortless!

Shadow functions for an exhibition:

Choose the best pieces for the show - I probably have twice as many.

Get the measurements of the gallery, make a preliminary layout of the work. For this I had wonderful help from my artist friend, Tina Rousselot, who has an eye for keeping a space exquisitely uncluttered.

Photograph, enter in iPhoto, name, sign, measure, and price all the pieces.

Update my website, start blogging, tweeting, linkedin -ing about the show. (overwhelmed already!)

Work on the wording of an invitation, choose a piece to feature. Check on dates, times, fonts.

Make a list of local people to invite, get their postal mailing addresses.

If you don't live here I'll send you an email invitation. You can see the show on my website.

Figure out when to send a press release to the local news media.

Invite local art critic home for an exclusive "vernissage" - and hope he comes.

Write the press release, choose images to go with it, send it out and hope it gets featured.

Write the artist statement - not too long, not too cryptic. In Swedish we have the word lagom, which means just right. Wish me luck!

For all the writing ask husband to edit...and thank him!

Figure out how to use social media to get out the word about the art show -

I could use your help with this. How are you making use of social media?

It all started with seeing calving glaciers at the Glacier Bay of Alaska. Here are two monotype paintings showing the explosive calving, and the lovely frigid bay.

Cool signaturs on the iPad, President Obama, Michael Blake, Soeren Kjaergaard, Vijay Ayer ....

I was exited to see our President sign an iPad. I have asked the jazz musicians I have painted on the iPad to sign their images. (Well, not all of them, just he ones I was able to catch after the performance). Here's an image of President Obama scribbling his name on the iPad, and images of some of the signed iPad paintings I have. Note, no pen, pencil or stylus needed, your fingertip works fine!

And the ArtStudio app works just fine too - and all the other drawing and painting apps I would think.

At a recent rally in Seattle, Sylvester Cann had President Obama sign his iPad. Running the Adobe Ideas app on the tablet since "the President doesn't sign autographs along the ropeline because pens can be used as a weapon," Cann was able to get what he claims to be the first Presidential autograph under these conditions.

"Secret service was leery about the idea, but they warmed up to the idea and the President thought it was cool," Cann wrote Wired.com. "He looked slightly surprised, but proceeded to use his finger to scribble on the iPad."

Cann has set up a Google webpage to showcase the signature and a video from the signing as well as to track media mentions of the event. It's named, simply, "I figured, 'Why not ask?'"

Celebrating Ambrose Akinmusire's birthday with another iPad painting.

Ambrose Akinmusire and his quintet were generous with their music and in answering questions at the next day workshop, 4/27, put on by Redwood Jazz Alliance in room 131 in HSU's music building. It was well attended and appreciated. I was tired after the late night party, and I admired the stamina of the quintet.

I made several new iPad sketches, here's the first one of Ambrose in his yellow shirt.

I am also posting a photo of myself painting on the iPad at the HSU concert the evening before. And a closeup showing the painting in progress. Additionally, a photo from the after party at which the jazz artists and friends are looking at the iPad paintings. (photos by G. Inkeles)

Painting at a live performance is a performance in it self! A challenge.

I am right now listening to Henya from the CD When The Heart Emerges Glistening. Good listening...

iPad painting of Marcus Shelby Orchestra at Yoshi's in San Francisco

It was a wonderful evening in SF. We took the bus from the Embarkadero all the way to the Fillmore. Sauntered down the street past all the boutiques and cafes until we got to the jazz district. Yes! There we met with friends Rich and Jenny, had a delicious meal. I loved the black cod and the sushi too. And then we got the hear the music.

And, as I have been doing since I got my first iPad (yes! I am now on my second iPad) I got ready to paint during the live jazz performance. Shelby launched into the Ellington songbook and I put in the backdrop in the first of six layers. After I moved into the second layer, sketching in the numerous musicians (a big band after all!), I was told by the ticket taker, to turn off the iPad. Oh no! So, I waited a while and started up again trying to hide it ....well, he came back. Saddened and disappointed, I though, I could perhaps convince him to let me continue, so I got up, and smiling hopefully, showed him my Esperanza Spaulding (everybody loves Espe!) iPad paintings. ( you can see them below in my blog), and the beginning of the Marcus Shelby painting. And, to my happiness and relief he loved them and gave me permission to continue.

Here's the painting. I hope you like it too. I am selling signed, limited series, fine art prints of my iPad paintings. Send me an email if you are interested. ischencke@mac.com

Esperanza Spaulding graced Arcata with her presence. We love Espe!!!