David C. Gallup~ Exploring the Poetry of Light

“The Teeming Seas“, Oil on Canvas

12″ x 12″, Copyright David C. Gallup 2010

Dear Collectors and Art Enthusiasts~

I hope you’re all having a pleasant winter. It’s an exciting time for me, as my island project is swinging into it’s final stages. Several prominent museums have signed on to host the show, the book is about to get underway, and the film is in it’s final stages of shooting. I’ve scheduled a trip for March back out to the islands, this time with the camera crew and producer along for the ride. My SCUBA certification will hopefully be completed around the same time, and I’m really looking forward to doing some paintings of the Marine Sanctuary from the other side of the surface.

Until I’m diving, however, I’ve contented myself with taking on at least one more view of the Sanctuary from the top side, in “The Teeming Seas”. I’ve lost count long ago of how many times I’ve been in the presence of large pods of dolphins like these in the channel, racing after squid, tuna, sardines, and other baitfish. Each time it happens it’s still an emotionally charged experience which can easily overwhelm the senses.

These are Common Pacific Dolphins, and they can be seen on nearly every boat ride to the islands, riding bow waves in small groups or feeding in “superpods” of hundreds or even thousands of animals, compressed cheek-to-jowl in a frenzied display of strength and stamina. While the words that might likely come to mind when one mentions dolphins might be “cute” or “sweet”, to see them in the hunt conjures other descriptors, such as “powerfull” or “predator”. This is how I’ve chosen to depict them, swift and sturdy predators who hunt in large social herds on the open seas, whipping the surface to a foaming white froth in their insatiable quest for their favorite foods. Once you’ve seen this from a small boat, you’ll never forget the sounds which accompany the spectacle… the squeaks and clikcs of the dolphins, the popping sound of a “chin-smack” as certain dolphins will do to signal other dolphin pods that food is in the area, or the sound of hundreds or even thousands of dolphins launching themselves from the water and smoothly re- entering the briny depths.

If you’re interested in learning more about this exciting project, I’ll be giving a talk and multimedia presentation at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum from 6:30-7:00pm. I’ll start with a half hour discussion in front of my painting “Twice Humbled ~ Orcas off Anacapa, Noon Light” (preview the painting Here) which is on loan to the museum through this summer, and then we’ll move to the media room for about an hour of paintings and stories from the show as it currently stands. The museum has been very kind in supporting this evening program at no cost to the public, and we have lots of room to welcome even a sizable crowd. This is a great chance to have a fun, free night out full of art and laughter. Producer/Director Susan Semberhas promised to join us with a teaser clip or two of her forthcoming film about my project, “The Painted Islands”. It’s being filmed in glorious all-digital HD, and promises to be spectacular (at least the scenes where I’m not blocking the landscape). For directions, etc. you can visit the Santa Barbara Marine Sanctuary’s website, www.SBMM.org.

For those of you who are looking to take a workshop with me this spring, now is the time to sign up for the Studio Techniques for the Plein-Air Artist workshop I’ll be teaching March 26-28 in the San Fernando Valley. Call or write me for more info. I’m also planning a Rural Louisiana Workshop April 19-23 painting the little fishing villages along the southeastern part of the state, a plein-air painting workshop on Quadra Island in British Colombia July 5-9 and another in Santa Barbara from July 14- 18. I don’t have anything on the calendar yet for Tennessee, but I’d like to get back there this fall if I can schedule it. I also want to take two students on the luxury sailing yacht, Sancerre, for a cruising and painting trip to the Channel Islands in June or August- upscale food and wine included. If that sounds like your cup of tea, let me know now. We can dive, too, if you’re up for it. This will be a perfect trip for a husband and wife artist team, or any two artists who love spending time together learning. For more information on any of these workshops, you may visit my workshops page at dgallup.com by clicking Here .

I’ll be looking forward to seeing those of you who wish to join me in Santa Barbara for the lecture night about the project, and I’m sure we’ll all get a chance to chat afterward. If you can’t make it, I hope to see you at other art events around the southland in the near future.

Best Regards,

David

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Special thanks to all of my sponsors for this project- I couldn’t do it without you!The Bill and Marilyn Field Trust

The National Park Service

The Nature Conservancy

Sony

Essential Image Source Foundation

Sail Channel Islands

Scubahaus

and, of course, all of my Collectors who have purchased work from the upcoming exhibition, and who will be loaning it back for the museum tour.

I look forward to working with you all again this year as our project nears completion!

Moment of Beauty, January 2010

“First Light at Yellow Banks” ~ Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary

8″ x 10″, Oil on Canvas

Copyright 2010 by David C. Gallup

Dear Collectors and Art Enthusiasts~

I hope this message finds you all well. As many of you will know by now, I generally like to start the new year with a sunrise, as a symbol of the embarkment of a new journey. “First Light at Yellow Banks” was done on my November trip to the Channel Islands as I progress toward the anticipated opening of my major museum tour of paintings on the subject this fall, which I’m fully expecting to be the highlight of an extraordinary year for me as an artist and as an adventurer and passionate lover of life.

It was project sponsor Captain Dan Ryder of Sail Channel Islands who suggested a trip to Yellow Banks to paint the sunrise. The unique location of this anchorage puts one due West of Anacapa Island (seen here) and just off the vibrant yellow cliffs on the East coast of Santa Cruz Island, which positively glow at first light. So, with dolphins on the bow we headed out to East Santa Cruz Island and explored the coast by kayak at sunset before dinner and drinks on deck and a well- deserved early bed. Dawn came cold and grey, but with no wind and a hot cup of tea the chill was tolerable. Suddenly, the dazzling golden light of morning was upon me, setting me to scurry after the fleeting colors before they were gone, and in a few short minutes it was over. I’ve come to accept the fact that a painting carries the mood of the artist at the moment it was created. It is a great challenge, therefore, to rapidly work to catch a fleeting effect while keeping one’s mind unhurried and introspective, completely at peace. I am fortunate that diving after rapidly changing colors is the very thing that makes me feel the most at peace, the most self-assured, and the most satisfied. It is the fulfillment of that uncommon combination of personal attributes which makes my sunrise paintings, at least in my mind, some of my strongest and spiritually charged work, and I always try to keep one on the wall in my studio for personal inspiration.

As I lay out my calendar for 2010, I’ve tried to fill it (as I do every year) with as many opportunities to see new things and meet new people as possible. The first step on that journey for me is getting my SCUBA certification (thanks to my new project sponsors at Scubahaus in Santa Monica!) so I can more fully investigate the mysteries of the Marine Sanctuary. Also along those lines, I’ve got trips planned to explore sea life via submarine as part of the ongoing HD Documentary Film being made about my work on the islands. Director/Producer Susan Sember of EISF (www.eisf.org) has come through not only with funding for the film, but with access to a submarine. It is also through Susan Sember that I’ll be given access to a science boat this fall with a crew which will be tagging great white sharks from Mexico to Oregon, passing through the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary on the way. Susan’s film crew and I will be joining them on their quest, while I paint the experience from above and below the surface with the cameras rolling! I have no idea what paintings these trips will inspire, but I thrill at the chance to even have such amazing opportunities, and I don’t doubt they will provoke new ideas about life and art which I’ll want to explore more fully in the studio upon our return to land.

On February 2, just a few weeks from now, I’ll be giving a talk and multimedia presentation at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum from 6:30-7:00pm. I’ll start with a half hour discussion in front of my painting “Twice Humbled ~ Orcas off Anacapa, Noon Light” (preview the painting Here) which is on loan to the museum through this summer, and then we’ll move to the media room for about an hour of paintings and stories from the show as it currently stands. The museum has been very kind in supporting this evening program at no cost to the public, and we have lots of room to welcome even a sizable crowd. This is a great chance to have a fun, free night out full of art and laughter. If we’re lucky, Producer/Director Susan Sember may even join us with a teaser clip or two of her forthcoming film about my project, “The Painted Islands”. It’s being filmed in glorious all-digital HD, and promises to be spectacular (at least the scenes where I’m not blocking the landscape). I’ll have more details as the date approaches, let me know if you’re interested.

In addition to painting for the show and scheduling new museum venues for the subsequent tour, I’ll be working on co-writing the companion book which should get published in time for the tour’s grand opening late this year. While I know this all will keep me very busy, I’m trying to make time for some travels to teach workshops at some new locations and some favorites as well. I’ll be teaching a color theory/studio techniques workshop for the Thousand Oaks Art Association Feb 22-26th, then a Rural Louisiana Workshop April 19-23 painting the little fishing villages along the southeastern part of the state, a plein-air painting workshop on Quadra Island in British Colombia July 5-9 and another in Santa Barbara from July 14- 18. I don’t have anything on the calendar yet for Tennessee, but I’d like to get back there this fall if I can schedule it. I also want to take two students on the luxury sailing yacht, Sancerre, for a cruising and painting trip to the Channel Islands in June or August- upscale food and wine included. If that sounds like your cup of tea, let me know now. We can dive, too, if you’re up for it. This will be a perfect trip for a husband and wife artist team, or any two artists who love spending time together learning. For more information on any of these workshops, you may visit my workshops page at dgallup.com by clicking Here .

It was great seeing so many of you at my home studio tour for our annual Holiday Salon. We had record attendance, my apologies to those of you who could not secure a reservation but we’ve only got so much room. If you were lucky enough to come on the second day, I actually got to spend some time with you- word to the wise for next year! Meanwhile, keep in mind that the studio is open year round by appointment, and I’d love to make time to show you your favorite paintings in person any time. If there’s a piece in particular you’re interested in, please let me know at the time you make your appointment and I’ll make sure it’s on the wall when you come. Group tours are also available by special arrangement, so if you have a sailing club or other group that might like to come by, please let me know and I’ll be happy to accommodate you.

I sincerely hope our paths will cross this year, and that you all have a wonderful, healthy, and prosperous 2010 filled to the brim with unexpected and delightful Moments of Beauty!

Best Regards,

David

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Special thanks to all of my sponsors for this project- I couldn’t do it without you!The Bill and Marilyn Field Trust

The National Park Service

The Nature Conservancy

Sony

Essential Image Source Foundation

Sail Channel Islands

Scubahaus

and, of course, all of my Collectors who have purchased work from the upcoming exhibition, and who will be loaning it back for the museum tour.

I look forward to working with you all again this year as our project nears completion!

Exploring the Poetry of Light

“Storm Petrels with Blue Shark” ~ Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary

Copyright 2009 by David C. Gallup

Oil on Canvas, 18″ x 24″

Dear Collectors and Art Enthusiasts~

“Storm Petrels with Blue Shark” is wet on the easel, and due to be unveiled at my annual open studio this coming Sunday. It was inspired by my trips to the Channel Islands, where I’ve seen both blue sharks and storm petrels on my latest couple of trips. As I’ve recently witnessed first-hand, Storm Petrels are one of nature’s most elegant creations. They spend their entire lives at sea, save for nesting, and their long legs are so specially adapted to their unique niche that they are useless for walking. As ungainly as they are on land, they are even more graceful at sea. Small flocks will gather in open water and bob quietly until there is a breeze. Then, all facing into the wind, they spread their wings and hoover just over the water, flapping only occasionally, their long webbed feet walking on or just below the surface as they feed on bits of food that float on or just below the water’s surface. (You can watch a short video of this behavior here )

Just two months ago, on a short trip to Santa Barbara Island we saw at least 20 juvenile blue sharks in one day. The idea of juxtaposing these, deadly predators which can reach monstrous sizes, with the petite, delicate and graceful storm petrels was then born, and for a couple of months I considered the presentation of the scene before deciding on focusing on the petrels with the shark silently gliding past, it’s iconic wedge- shaped fin eluding to the teeth and muscle below. This contrast makes the petrels feel all the more delicate and beautiful, and I have found it a most compelling and rewarding project to combine the two in this scene.

Just last week I was out again at the islands on a painting trip to Santa Cruz Island with the intention of exploring the sea caves by kayak. Heavy chop and huge swells made the caves too dangerous, so I spent my time on the boat, painting the coast from the water. The constant motion of the water was both intense and ceaseless, and it gave me the idea of putting the petrels in rough seas as a way of acknowledging their ability to endure weather of all kinds with no shelter. Delicate they may be, but of such a hearty and enduring composition as to inspire any sailor. Captain Dan of Sail Channel Islands (my Island project sponsors) made a wonderful short film about me painting on the trip which is a real pleasure to watch. You’ll get some sense of what it’s like painting from the water- especially the dinghy- in this entertaining video. You’ll also get to preview a few of the paintings I did on the trip: click here to see them.

I’ll be giving a tour of all of my available island paintings this Sunday, December 6th. Because of the popularity of this tour, I’ve added two additional “overflow days”, December 12 and 13. If you wanted to attend but couldn’t make the event on Sunday, you may contact me for an appointment the following weekend. (see below for RSVP instructions)

Best Regards,

David

P.S. I wanted to give a special thanks to my newest sponsors, Scubahaus in Santa Monica (www.scubahaus.com). They’ll be getting me certified and out in the Marine Sanctuary to gather more inspiring experiences which will find their way into my project and my art. To learn more about my Channel Islands Museum Exhibition, and the forthcoming documentary film about my work on the islands, visit http://home.ei sf.org/node/1057

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 from 12-4 P.M., Thousand Oaks, CA:
As I’ve all but left the gallery world entirely for the past few years, my studio is always open by appointment. Once each year, however, I open the doors for a public viewing of my work and holiday party. In recent years, I’ve had to limit the attendees to 50 guests so that I might be able to at least say hello to each visitor. RSVP is required. Simply reply to this email with RSVP in the subject line, and give your name, the date you would like to join us, and how many will be in your party. Directions are given to those who confirm.

 

9" x 12", Oil on Mounted Canvas

Dear Collectors and Art Enthusiasts~

 

I hope this finds you all well. I’m just back from teaching once again in Louisiana, this time in Baton Rouge proper. It was a wonderful trip, filled with the increasingly familiar sights, smells, sounds, and faces of Louisiana. The weather held nicely, save for one afternoon of hard rain. Fortunately, we knew it was coming and had planned to be at the Rural Life Museum which has a sheltered place where we could work.

It was at the Rural Life Museum, on a drizzling and threatening morning, that I took the opportunity to paint “Surrender”, this month’s featured painting. The house in the painting was home to the owner of this estate just thirty-five years ago, and now is barely visible through the encroaching trees, vines, and shrubs which are already sending limbs and roots through the old walls and floorboards. It is the combination of water and heat which makes the plants grow so fast there, and on this morning we had plenty of both.

As I had a late flight home after the workshop, I did have a day to go and see the Atchafalaya, the world’s largest swampland. It was truly amazing. I climbed aboard a steel boat with a man who grew up in the area and now gives swamp tours, and we set off to see the trees, water plants, and abundant bird life of the Atchafalaya Swamp. As he cruised through even the most densely wooded areas, bumping from tree to tree and plowing fearlessly over floating logs I was able to get a beautiful view of the swamp, including at least a dozen alligators- some which were close enough to touch. I’ve been invited back to Louisiana next spring to teach again, and this time I want to take time to spend a day painting the swamps which have a haunting beauty all their own. I’ve created a page to show my recent paintings of Louisiana, click here to see them. I’ve got a couple that were too wet to fly with that will be shipped to me in a week (thanks, Jodi!) and those will be posted when they arrive.

I’ll be heading back to the islands later this month to explore and paint the sea caves which riddle the coasts of the Channel Islands. One of the park’s greatest draws is the opportunity to explore these caves by kayak, and I’ll be bringing a small easel with me as I go to paint what can be painted along the way. Being November, we’re sure to see lots of whales on the trip as well, which is always a pleasure. I have just a couple of important dates I wanted to leave you with, as I do hope you can attend at least one of these events. It would be my pleasure to see you there.

Best Regards,

David

DATES TO REMEMBER & UPCOMING EVENTS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15 FROM 1-3 P.M.:
Whether you’ve been following the development of my solo museum exhibition of paintings of the Channel Islands or you’re not sure what it’s all about and would like to learn more, you may enjoy the opportunity to come to this public introduction to the project, and see the exhibition as it currently stands. I’ll be talking about the islands and marine sanctuary and the adventures I’ve had there, the process of distilling my adventures into a cohesive series of paintings, and what it’s like to be on the other side of the lens as the subject of a documentary film. In addition to a power-point presentation of nearly every painting I’ll have in the show, I’ll be bringing a number of the on-location studies with me. We’ll also have a few words from my sailing captain, Cap’n Dan of Sail Channel Islands. He’s logged more hours sailing these islands than anyone you’re ever likely to meet, and has become an authority on these waters. He will say a few words about the layman’s observations of watching me work, and will be available to help me answer your questions about visiting the islands. If I don’t know the answer, chances are he will. To RSVP to the event, and for driving directions and further information, click here.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 from 12-4 P.M.:
As I’ve all but left the gallery world entirely for the past few years, my studio is always open by appointment. Once each year, however, I open the doors for a public viewing of my work. In recent years, I’ve had to limit the attendees to 50 guests so that I might be able to at least say hello to each visitor. In keeping with that tradition, I’ve already started the RSVP list. While invitations will be mailed to selected members of my snail-mail list, I encourage you to RSVP for your party early to ensure your place. Directions are given to those who confirm.

David C. Gallup~ Exploring the Poetry of Light

“The Persistence of Power” ~ Malibu
9″ x 12″, Oil on Mounted Canvas
Copyright 2009 by David C. Gallup

Dear Collectors and Art Enthusiasts~

With the days growing shorter and the heat of summer behind us, I couldn’t help throwing in a Malibu sunset to mark the end of the summer. For me, it seemed it was over before it had begun… a blurry memory of two growing kids zipping in and out of the studio as I worked and the lingering smell of baby sunblock seem to be all I have left of the whole season. I even find I’m missing the small paintings which tend to pile up around me during the summer, as I spent most of the season working on a few major works instead of nearly daily excursions to the islands or beaches in search of new subjects and inspirations as I’ve done in years past.

It would be easy to see sunset paintings as merely an analogy to an end, or as looking back at memories, and there was a time I saw them that way myself. But with my decades of experiences mounting I now see that there is a power to that moment which isn’t so much signaling an end as it is celebrating the power of the elusive present. That power can be found in the special quality to the light which falls between day and night, not unlike the moment between past and future. The power of the present, of course, is that no matter how much we may reinterpret an event in the past or plan for our future, the present is the only time we can act to better the world. And though the twilight is fleeting, we are reminded that sunsets were here long before us, and will continue long after we’re gone. I always find comfort in the power of that continuity, as I suppose all souls do.

You may recall my painting from last month’s Moment of Beauty, “Twice Humbled”. It’s now hanging at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. I went there a couple of weeks ago to supervise the installation, and was thrilled when the museum’s director showed me an original drawing by Whistler of Anacapa Island which is part of their permanent collection. It’s gorgeous, and if you’re there to see my painting you don’t want to leave without checking out this beautiful example of the greatness the islands have inspired. I’m told Whistler was commissioned to do this work by the US Geological Service, who fired him for including seagulls. Wow. I’m so fortunate that my sponsors at the National Park Service have never ventured an opinion on how my subjects should be presented!

As I start looking forward to events where I might see you this fall, I’ve got a few dates you may want to mark on your calendars. First, I’ll be the featured artist at the California Art Club’s Collectors Circle Dinner on October 22. It has been rescheduled from September 10th as our hostess had an injury and needed time to recoup. Call the California Art Club if you’re interested in attending, at (626) 583-9009. I’ll also be teaching a workshop in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from October 28 – November 1. We always have a great time down there, and I look forward to seeing so many of you again. On October 24th I’ll be joining the Autry Museum at David Murdoch’s ranch to paint as part of the Masters of the American West & CAC Collector’s Circle paint-out. Though I live very near the ranch, this will be my first visit and I’m sure it will be a real treat to paint there. I’ll also be teaching my annual Malibu workshop from November 6th-8th (Friday thru Sunday). On Sunday, November 15th, I’ll be giving a talk on my Channel Islands paintings at the historic Blinn House in Pasadena from 1-3pm. I’ll be giving a power point presentation, and showing nearly all of the paintings which are completed so far for the upcoming museum tour. My annual Holiday Salon and Open Studio will be held on December 6th. As always, space will be limited to fifty guests so book your party early to ensure your plans.

It’s going to be a busy fall, and I’m so pleased to know that I’ll be seeing so many of you at a rich variety of events- it’s always nice to abandon the solitary painter’s life for a day here and there to join with friends for a day of art appreciation, discussion, or creation.

Warmest Regards,

David C. Gallup

email: david@dgallup.com
phone: (805) 241-4084
web: http://www.dgallup.com

Visit dgallup.com for all the painted works of David C. Gallup along with events, news, workshops & much more.

Exploring the Poetry of Light

“Twice Humbled” ~ Orcas off Anacapa’s South Coast, Noon Light Oil on Canvas, 80″ x 48″ Copyright 2009 by David C. Gallup

Dear Collectors and Art Enthusiasts~
First off, I hope you’re all clear of the wildfires that are savaging so much of California this week. Here in Thousand Oaks, we’ve stayed pretty far from the fray this time around and hopefully the worst is now behind us all. I’ve been in the studio this month, mostly working on my largest and perhaps my most important painting to date, “Twice Humbled”. It was unveiled recently at the home of Carol and Richard King in Pasadena, and I have to say the crowd’s reaction to the work exceeded my greatest expectations.

Next week, it’s to go on display to the public at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (www.SBMM.org) where it will remain until it’s needed for my Channel Islands Museum Tour in 2010. Locals and frequent visitors to the Santa Barbara area will know that this museum is one of Santa Barbara’s cultural gems, and I’m thrilled to be showcasing this painting at such a premium public venue.

The painting was inspired by a trip out to Anacapa island in a friend’s small boat. As we approached the towering cliffs I was reminded of Monet’s series of paintings of the cathedral at Rouen. I believe that these are some of the most important and beautiful paintings in all of impressionism, and seeing these cliffs in the noon light I felt that I understood those paintings in an even more intimate way. I immediately started thinking about how I could do a painting of these cliffs that would do justice to the beauty of the light, and convey the sense of how small one feels at the base of them. That’s when we noticed a small pod of whales just ahead. If the towering cliffs were humbling, the presence of whales seen up close in a small boat left me twice humbled.

I had only recently learned that orcas (A.K.A. Killer Whales) inhabited these waters, and I was excited about the idea of painting them for my island show. In doing my research for this painting, I watched hours of orca footage and learned all I could about the ocean’s top predator. My research took me from inspiration to awe. The strength, intelligence, beauty and majesty of these immense animals, coupled with the intimidating scale of the cliffs demanded a large scale format unlike anything I had ever done before. At four feet wide by nearly seven feet high, this is a painting formatted to the demands of it’s subject, as well as my profound need to paint it.

An encounter with orcas in the wild is a spiritual experience, and I wanted to give that feeling to the viewer. For that reason, the cathedral motif explored so beautifully by Monet over a century ago served as a perfect jumping off point. I designed the composition to be deliberately similar to the Rouen paintings, even taking the ideas from the architects who used columns and high arches to draw the visitor’s eye to the heavenly light far above. Where gothic architects used stained glass windows to provide the light, I just let the light hit the cliffs, lighting them up with their own rich, natural colors. From concept to completion, this painting is three years in the making, and it will serve as one of the cornerstones of my island exhibition. To see the painting in greater detail, you can visit a temporary page at
www.dgallup.com/orcas.htm .

As far as my schedule in the coming couple of months where we might meet, I’ll be giving a talk about my island project to CAC Collector’s Circle Members at the home of Lisa Bell on September 10. If you’re a member of the Collector’s Circle or are interested in becoming one, contact the California Art Club’s office at (626) 583-9009. I’m also scheduling my October workshop in Baton-Rouge, LA so if you’d like to attend that one this is the time to let me know your preferred dates.

I’ve got a portrait commission keeping me busy this month, and then I’ll be traveling in October again, and hopefully getting out for a great white shark dive to collect reference material for another pinnacle predator of the Channel, this time from under water. November will find me back out on the islands to explore sea caves with my favorite island guide, Cap’n Dan of Sail Channel Islands fame. Then, on December 6th I’ll be holding my annual Holiday Salon and Open Studio Tour, so save the date if you’re planning to join us.

Remember to keep your eyes open this month, you never know when
you’ll happen upon a moment of beauty.

Best Regards,
David C. Gallup

August 2009, Moment of Beauty

Exploring the Poetry of Light

"Moonrise with Jupiter"

Dear Collectors and Art Enthusiasts~

I have some big news to share with you all this month. As most of you will know, I’ve spent the past four years working on a series of paintings of the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary and National Park. While I finalize dates for the east coast opening of the resulting museum tour of the work, I’ve also been meeting with some regional museums to determine the best place to show the work to a more local audience. It is with great enthusiasm that I am announcing that in summer of 2011 the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art will host a solo exhibition of my island and marine works under the working title of “Nature’s Masterpiece: California’s Channel Islands and Marine Sanctuary”.

The Weisman is a perfect venue for the show, having both a well-established reputation and an ideal amount of well designed space… just what my collection will need to be shown to it’s full advantage. It’s Malibu location is an obvious perk, being coastal with a great view of the islands. A perk which is less obvious to the outsider is the museum’s director, Michael Zakian. If you’re in the art profession, you probably do know Michael, a well respected authority on many kinds of art known for wearing bow ties and being a sought-after party guest. He’ll be bringing his knowledge to the project, helping me sort through hundreds of concept sketches, plein-air studies and themes to hone the collection to a manageable seventy or so paintings which tell the story of the islands in a concise and beautiful way, and I am truly looking forward to having his help on this colossal project.

On a related note, I’ve spent most of this month indoors, working on a massive painting of Anacapa Island with Killer Whales (80″ high, by 48″ wide). I’ll be unveiling it this Sunday at the Salon for the Spiritually Creative Life. Carol King holds this monthly event at her Pasadena home, where artists, writers, musicians and scientists are some of the noted guest speakers. This month, I’m the speaker and I’ll be giving a talk on the subject of following a calling, and how doing just that has led me to painting the Channel Islands National Park. In addition to debuting the orca painting, I’ll also have a few other original works there as well as a power point presentation with over 50 of the paintings from my upcoming museum tour. You can get a peek at the painting in progress on my scrapbook page at dgallup.com- Click Here.

I’ve been given permission to invite you all. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. at 60 El Circulo Drive in Pasadena and runs until noon. If you’d like a behind-the-scenes look at the exhibition and the chance to hear the stories which have come out of this adventure, please let me know how many in your party will attend so we can have adequate seating and coffee prepared. I’ll be speaking from 10-12, and I’d very much welcome having you there to be a part of the conversation.

With all of this coming up, I haven’t had much time to paint outside and last night’s moonrise was a breath of fresh air (literally and figuratively) for me. I was joined by a few students for this spectacular event, and nature didn’t disappoint. The evening started with a quick sunset painting lesson, then we had a large pod of dolphins swim past within a few feet of the shore while we re-calibrated for the moonrise. The wind slowed, and the moon rose alongside of Jupiter, which is very bright right now. A great time was had by all.

I look forward to seeing many of you on Sunday. As much as I love painting, it’s always my pleasure to get out of the studio and meet other artists and art lovers at these events.

Best Regards,

David C. Gallup

www.dgallup.com

Moment of Beauty, July 2009

“One Chance to Shine”

12″ x 16″, Oil on Canvas

Dear Collectors and Art Enthusiasts~

Summer has arrived at last, and with it the best full moon of the year. In Malibu, the moon rose over the ocean this month, and as usual I went out to paint this spectacular event. I had a small group of students with me for the moonrise, which kept me too busy to paint the actual event, but as the night wore on and the moon drew higher I found this scene and settled in for the evening. The high tide was throwing plumes of mist into the night air, which caught the moonlight for just a moment before falling back to the sea.

The full moon stirred my inner philosopher, and I began to see the plumes of mist as human lives, rising from ashes to shine for a moment before we’re beckoned home again. It was Art that taught me to look at the world this way, seeing stories and lessons in nature all around, and I continue to believe that it is Art’s most important role to enlighten the soul by infusing Nature with subtext. I used to paint the full moon every month, and this painting has made me realize how much I’ve missed it. Newly inspired, I’m planning to paint next month’s full moon from the same location. If you care to join me as observer or as student, you can just let me know by replying to this email.

If you haven’t had a chance to see the On Location in Malibu exhibition at the Weisman Museum at Pepperdine, I’ll be joining a few of the artists in the exhibition on Saturday to give a guided tour led by Michael Zakian, the Director of the Museum. It goes from 2-3 p.m. this Saturday, July 11th. Admission is five dollars.
In August, I’ll be heading out to the Bennington Center for the Arts in Vermont to teach a workshop on plein-air painting. I’ve never been to the great state of Vermont, and I’m very much looking forward to the opportunity to paint in this famously beautiful area. If you’d like to join me there, please call the California Art Club at (626) 583-9009, or reply to this email with your phone number and I’ll give you a call.

I’ll continue my travels in the second half of the year, with trips planned to Vermont, D.C., Louisiana and Tennessee. Whether out across the country or here in southern California, I hope to see many of you in the months to come, wherever beauty can be found.

Best Regards,

David C. Gallup

www.DGallup.com

 

"Blackbirds at Leipers Creek

 

 

 

Dear Collectors and Art Enthusiasts~

     It has been for me a year rich in travels, and we’re not yet halfway through. I’ve been painting throughout California, in New England, New York, the deep South, and just now I’m back from Tennessee where I spent a week painting and teaching color theory and plein-air techniques. My dear students were good enough to put me up in a B&B, which turned out to be a large house which I had all to myself, overlooking a small private lake. There was a screened porch where I’d sit in the late evenings and watch the lightening on the horizon, or the bats, owls, and opossum as they’d gather and search for food in the humid night air. There was also a farm dog there, an old collie mix who was probably in her last year. She was my porch companion, and slept on my welcome mat at night. She wore no tags, but at some point I started calling her Charlie and she didn’t seem to mind. I didn’t know it yet, but she was to be my guide on the journey that would become this month’s selected moment of beauty.

     For the sake of brevity, I’ll fast-forward through a great week of painting, laughing, and good times spent with friends new and old. Past an unforgettable evening in an antebellum home and an authentic catfish fry where I was convinced that the tail was a delicacy (I still think they were serious about that, by the way). The scenery and painting conditions were great, and I did at least six or seven paintings which I really liked. In addition to posting them on the “New Works” section of my website I’ve also created a special preview page with all of my paintings from the trip, including one with roosters and even one of a tornado I saw off the Natchez Trace on my (wrong) way to the airport. The image above, “Blackbirds at Leipers Creek”, was done after class one day on the charming and picturesque Creekview Ranch where the workshop was held (Thank You Haden and Jimmy!!). Every one of us found much inspiration on this beautiful land.

     On my second-to-last night as I sipped my beer on the screened porch I saw something I hadn’t seen since I was six years old… lightening bugs. Just a few. But the next night there were dozens of them, floating in the heavy ground-fog down by the lake. There was a waning gibbous moon hung low in the east which provided just enough light that I decided to go down to the lake and walk among them. Charlie didn’t want to get up from her comfortable spot on the porch, but I reminded her that you get only so many summers and she ought to make the most of moments like these. She grumbled and got up slowly, and I grabbed my beer and set off through the mowed grass and fog with her at my side.

     The fog gave the fireflies little halos, so that they looked much like tiny japanese lanterns on invisible strings. There were two colors of lights, pale blue and a vivid gold. I stopped at the edge of the lake and caught one in my cupped hands. They have a smell, fireflies. I had forgotten that. One whiff of that acidic, earthy smell transported me to the last time I had smelled it when I was just six years old living in the suburbs of St. Louis. Suddenly I was staying out late with my brothers while my grandmother made braids of purple clover flowers and told stories about the old days. Nostalgic, and lost in a fog of time and light I turned to Charlie to bring me back to the present. She gave me a smile and looked at the lake, as if thanking me for bringing her out there in the fog, and I released the lightening bug as we headed back toward the house. The lightening was getting closer and Charlie was smart enough to want shelter. I’ve got a painting of this started on my easel right now, I’ll post it if I figure out how to finish it.

     I have one more workshop I’d like to do at the end of this month. It’s at a beautiful B&B up on Vancouver Island. If you’re interested in a great week of learning and taking a great trip to some spectacular and unspoiled country, you can learn more at my website on the Workshop page. If you think you’d like to join us, let me know soon as the dates are approaching (June 30-July 3). It will be a small group, no more than six or seven students, and they’re charging in Canadian dollars so it’s a relative bargain.
I hope to see you all out and about at all the wonderful cultural events going on in Southern California this summer as we seek together those splendid and elusive moments of beauty.

Best Regards,
David C. Gallup

See more work at www.dgallup.com

Moment of Beauty, April 2009

The Paintings of David C. Gallup

“Exploring the Poetry of Light”

“A Song of Spring” ~ Red Winged Blackbirds in Visalia
11″ x 14″, Oil on Canvas
Copyright 2009 by David C. Gallup

Dear Collectors and Art Enthusiasts~

What an exciting and wonderful month this has been to be an artist! It started with a trip out to Santa Barbara Island to paint the wildflowers onboard a 48 foot yacht, thanks to the continued support of my sponsors at Sail Channel Islands. Santa Barbara Island (SBI) is my favorite of the Channel Islands and I couldn’t resist the offer to get out there for one last wildflower bloom before my show is completed. On the way out, we encountered a super-pod of dolphins, a thousand or so, all rushing around us and leaping high in the air in all directions. As many times as I’ve seen it, it never fails to thrill. We also saw three sharks, two humpback whales and a sunfish, and that was just on the trip out. After a boat ride like that, there’s always the fear that the island visit might not live up to the journey. In this case, our fears were unfounded. We arrived on SBI just as the bloom was peaking. While my main reason for going on this trip was to do some diving and get some underwater video the time I spent on the island was unforgettable. Not only were the flowers outstanding, but I had the rare pleasure of witnessing a spectacular aerial battle between two peregrine falcons.

Shortly after my return from the island, I packed up again and headed to Valencia, where the Sequoia Riverlands Trust had invited members of the California Art Club out to privately held lands to paint the wildflowers and sycamore groves. The landscape was literally exploding with color… poppies, fennel, lupine, fiddle-head and snowdrop covered nearly every hillside and meadow. Quiet streams meandered amidst grazing cattle and air thick with birds of all kinds. Of special interest to me were the red-winged blackbirds, which I’ve wanted to paint for a few years now. I finally got my chance at Norris Ranch, where I painted this piece, “A Song of Spring”.

Before returning from Visalia, I couldn’t resist the chance to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and head up to nearby Sequoia National Park, home of the largest tree in the world. The park was blanketed in fresh snow, and after walking the well- trodden paths to the world’s largest tree and other top tourist destinations I got off the beaten track and did a four-hour snowshoe trail through the deep forest. Just as my hike was ending, a dense fog rolled through the woods creating powerful shafts of light and enhancing the already profound feeling of stillness and serenity. I’ve had more encounters with deeply inspiring natural beauty this month than I could manage to paint, and that’s pretty unusual. I won’t even get into the other amazing moments, save to say I had a great encounter with a bobcat, and I got to see Placido Domingo perform and met him after the show. It was almost too much beauty for one month, if there could be such a thing.

It is with high expectations, therefore, that I head out to Baton Rouge, Louisiana next week for a five day plein-air workshop. I had a great time painting there last summer, and I look forward to seeing all of my returning students as well as meeting many new ones. I have no doubt there will be inspiring landscape, great food, and wonderful music shared among great people.

Shortly after my return, the California Art Club’s Annual Gold Medal Exhibition will open at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. Once again I’m serving as the Gold Medal Artist’s Chairman, so I can tell you with certainty that this year’s collection of works will be outstanding. As the size of the group and the ability of it’s members increases each year, it gets easier and easier to put a great show together from the work submitted. You can attend either of two high- profile preview evenings; Friday, April 24th for the Collector’s Circle Preview or Saturday, April 25th for the Artist’s Reception and Awards Evening. The show opens for general admission on Sunday, April 25th. I’ll be there all three days, and I’m looking forward to seeing so many of you there- it’s always a pleasure spending time at that show, surrounded by so much beauty shared among so many art lovers.

Lastly, I’ve updated the “New Works” section of my website with some of my wildflower paintings including the one from Santa Barbara Island, and more will be uploaded as they are finished this week. I look forward to inspiring encounters with all of you as we meet in nature, or at cultural events on our mutual quest to collect moments of beauty.
Best Regards,

David C. Gallup

P.S. If you’d like to see what it’s like to go with me on a trip to SBI, check out Captain Dan’s video of our trip at http://www.viddler.com/explore/captdan/videos/19/

Also, if you never saw the video of composer Carter Larsen improvising to my nocturne paintings it’s now on youtube.com – just type my name into the search or follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUWW2QLqU2c

email: david@dgallup.com
phone: (805) 241-4084
web: http://www.dgallup.com

Visit dgallup.com for all the painted works of David C. Gallup along with events, news, workshops & much more.