Wet Paint Goes Gyotaku!

GYOTAKU pronounced (gee-oh-tah-koo) means "fish rubbing” in Japanese.  Fish rubbing started in Japan about 200 years ago to record the size and shape of the fish caught.

Wet Paint Gallery is pleased to welcome Chuck Seaman, and his impressive body of original works.

Chuck Seaman spends his winters in Key West, and enjoys his summers in Long Island, NY.  An avid fisherman, Chuck spent many years of his life owning commercial fishing vessels as well as a seafood company.  His love of recreational fishing took him to many locations in the world while developing an appreciation for the individual beauty of each type of fish.

On a trip to Chinatown one day, he witnessed the art of Gyotaku for the first time.  He was instantly mesmerized at the detail and intricate beauty of the works.  Chuck spent many years perfecting his craft, and completed a mentorship with a top Gyotaku artist. 

Chuck's work has been featured at several galleries in Key West and the Hamptons as well.  Many Gyotaku artists make prints of their work, but in true Wet Paint Gallery fashion, Chuck only offers originals of his work. 

Stop by the gallery soon or look for him in our online store, and see for yourself why Chuck's work is turning heads and flying off the shelves!

Art Raffle!

A few months ago, we introduced this amazing piece, 9/11:  In Your Words, by Chris Hotham Carroll.  The feedback we have received has been tremendous.  Guests to our gallery have had very strong emotional connections with it, and we have been asked many, many, many times over if we would consider selling prints of the piece.

Wet Paint has a strong commitment to original art work only, and we will never sell any prints of our work.  However, we were very taken by the fact that people identify so strongly with this piece, so we had an idea!  Why don't we raffle it off?  That way the piece can end up with someone who truly wants it, but may not have been able to afford the $40,000 price tag!

Initially, Chris was very generously planning to donate the majority of the proceeds to charity, but instead, we are going to virtually GIVE this piece of art away.  The raffle tickets will be sold at $100/piece, or six for $500.  However, all losing tickets will be converted into a gift card to the gallery after the drawing!  Also, each participant in the raffle will receive a limited edition photo of Chris with the piece, so you can still have the opportunity to have a commemoration of this amazing, and unique work of art.

We will be selling tickets online and in the gallery starting today, and through May 28th.  Fittingly, the drawing will be held on Memorial Day, 5/28 @ 6pm.  We will stream the drawing live via ustream on Facebook, so you can all watch as the winning ticket is selected!

If you would like to take part in this exciting event, call us at 305-294-8444 or email wetpaintgallery@live.com

We are limiting the number of tickets sold to 500, so don't wait!  They are sure to sell fast!

Want to save the economy this holiday season? Buy Art!

Whether you identify with the 99% occupying Wall St., or the 53% of tax payers who feel that the 99% just want hand outs, and certainly if you are the 1%, buying art is the best thing you can do with your shopping money this holiday season, and here are the top 5 reasons why:

1. Artists are self employed, self sufficient members of the work force who have created their own jobs, which means they are not a drain to the economy in any way, and they are among the few people/companies who are actually creating jobs right now.  By supporting artists, you are creating job security for yourself.
2. Art is green!  Think about all of the junk we buy and resell or throw away after never using it. Art is made to last generations.  Art is a friend to the environment.  Art is truly an heirloom that can be passed on.  Art is one of the only things that you can reasonably afford now, but that will last and be appreciated for generations to come. 
3. Art is an investment.  How many things did you buy last year that are actually worth more this year?  Zero?  That's what I thought!  Art can actually appreciate in value faster than most any other investment, and how many investments do you have that are pretty?
4. Artists are actual people who spend the money you give them right back in the economies they live within.  Where does the money you give Walmart or Amazon go?  Walmart employees can't even afford to shop there, so it's not going to their employees.  They buy everything from economies that are far far away.  They find tax loop holes, so the local cities and states they operate out of don't get the money.  Even the "good" corporations are sitting on their cash right now, continuing to break the economy - Apple has 81 billion in cash on hand.  That's not helping anyone.
5. Art not only stimulates the economy, it stimulates the mind.  As an artist, I am also an avid art collector.  Every piece I have stimulates me in a different way.  Some art initiates an introspective response, some art brings thoughts of social awareness, and some art is so serene, it takes you away to an amazing place.

So join us and change the world, one gift at a time.

For more information, email wetpaintgallery@live.com

Happy Holidays from Wet Paint!

Collector Profile: Alison Ford

Arrowhead Sunset, Chris., 2010

Hi Wet Paint Fans!

We are going to be publishing periodic collector profiles from our brave and willing supporters.  First up is Alison Ford, our top collector!  Check out what Alison has to say, and hopefully soon we will upload a slideshow of her current collection. 

Name:           Alison Ford

Current City:   Manchester, NH

Occupation:     Staffing Specialist

Total HCA/Wet Paint pieces in current collection:

17!

Why do you collect art?  

I have always loved art, I love art galleries, museums etc.  I’m intrigued by the creativity of artists.  I gravitate to the more abstract pieces but I love the detailed pieces as well… when an artist has the talent to truly capture its subject on paper or canvas.  I love vibrant colors as well as more bland bleakly colored works as well.  I feel the same way about images captured in photography.  Art and photography move me; they’re powerful in their messages.  The images can uplift or bring me to a deep emotional and sometimes sad place.  Even if I’m not uplifted by a piece, I still have a great love for art that moves me emotionally.  What a gift it is to move someone so emotionally by something he or she has created… exquisite! 

I started truly collecting art recently after I moved in a loft style home where I now have large areas of wall space for a collection.  It’s been wonderful filling up the space with many pieces by artists Chris. and Kristen Hotham Carroll.  Their work is unique, diverse, sometimes colorful, sometimes stark, some is detailed, some abstract – always outstanding, creative and simply wonderful.

Why were you moved to purchase the pieces you did? 

Mostly, I bought the pieces I did because I love the uniqueness and look of them.  There is one piece in particular that I bought that I think I can call my favorite.  It’s called Arrowhead sunset (pictured above).  First and foremost, the image captured in the painting is a familiar place to me… a place where I have a lot of fond memories so it’s a personal piece but aside from that, it’s simply beautiful.  I love the color scheme of the background, the ease of the transition from one color to the next, looking seamless yet each color distinct.  The trees are all done in black highlighting that it’s early evening.  The details of the trees are more prominent because of the lack of color, in my opinion.  I am not just looking at trees in all their colorful grandeur, rather seeing the details of the shapes, the leaves, the branches… the structure of them… as you would see if you were looking at them at dusk.  It’s an exquisite piece at which I literally couldn’t take my eyes of it for virtually the 1st month it was on my wall.  I still admire it often along with all the other pieces in my house.

Why should people buy art in a challenging economy? 

No matter what is going on with the economy, it’s important to do things for oneself that makes you feel good.  Art is something that can make a person feel good.  It’s beautiful and it’s timeless.  A vacation will come and go but art will last forever.  The art at that comes from the Wet Paint Gallery will always appreciate in value since they only paint originals, no prints ever.  The artists there are world class artists whose works can be found in galleries in many cities in the US and internationally.  Their work is truly an investment.

How does the art in your collection make you feel? 

I love my collection!  I admire the pieces every single day.  Guests in my house admire it as well!  I can’t wait to continue collecting and filling up the wall space in my house with more beautiful works.

Any other comments? 

I own many pieces of Chris. and Kristen Hotham Carroll but hope to soon own a piece by Bonnie Carter whose work is also featured in the Wet Paint Gallery.  Her style is abstract and her work is wonderful!  Vibrant colors, imaginative shapes, free flowing style… and all beautiful.  I look forward to my 1st purchase of her work.

Wet Paint Gallery would like to thank Alison for taking the time to answer our first ever collector profile, and THANK YOU, ALISON, for your amazing support.  People like you help us make our dreams come true...and we hope we do a little of that for you too....  :)



9/11: In Your Words

9/11:  In Your Words is the latest in the ARTicles and ARTifacts series by artist, Chris.  In an instant, we are taken back to that tragic day, reading the words of people from around the world recounting where they were when they heard.  The Twin Towers are made up of flags that represent ever soul that perished that day, as well as their country of origin, all scaled to fit the exact dimensions of the towers. 
Like the paper ridden waters that surrounded the city 10 years ago, the floating accounts in the waters of this piece are a chilling reminder of that day.  This piece not only honors those who have passed on, it promises hope with the towers that are rebuilt with flags.  We will never forget, and we will always honor the memories.

This piece is  must see, and it is currently on display at Wet Paint Gallery, 430 Duval St, Key West.  Wet Paint Gallery is donating the proceeds of this piece to the victim's fund of the buyer's choice.

Ask Not - A Salute to JFK

At long last, Chris's newest piece in the ARTicles and ARTifacts collection is complete! 

Yasmin - by KHC - Featured Piece of the Week

Our piece of the week is Yasmin, part of the A-Z male and female figure series by Kristen Hotham Carroll.  Yasmin is a 24" x 36" acrylic on canvas.  We are extending the 10% featured piece of the week discount to Yasmin's companion piece, Brandon if they are purchased as a pair.

All collectors of the A-Z Figure series will also receive a complimentary signed copy of the complete volume of figures book which will be published in early 2012.

Of her figures, Kristen Hotham Carroll says, "I love the fluidity of the human form.  When I paint figures, I do not try to capture accuracy of form, but rather I'm trying to capture a feeling and a flow.  I think some of the greatest, transcendent beauty on this earth can be found in the human form, and it's that essence I'm trying to give life to in my work."

For more information, please email our Fine Arts Consultant, Antonia.