Open the Door

Come to the Artisan Gallery to look behind the door and see visions of heaven.......

Open Door Policy

Here is a photo of part of the art piece: Open Door Policy. It will be on exhibit at Artisan Gallery (see the following for details)

portion of interactive art piece

size: 72" x 24" x 9"

VISIONS OF HEAVEN SHOW

Come see the

Visions of Heaven Art Show

Starting Sat Dec 8, 2007

at

Artisan Gallery

1901 Del Paso Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95815

Reception Sat Dec 8th 6-11 pm

Artist: Eileen Downes

Title: Visions of Heaven No 2; Medium: Collage; Size: 16" x 12"

An innovative exhibition of artwork by the Covenant Artist's Group including work by Eileen Downes

Prints now at Nava's

Check out my new Limited Edition Prints now at

Nava's
2220 J Street Ste 4
Sacramento, CA 95816

Title: Iris Morning
Limited Edition Print
Medium: Collage
Size: 20" x 16"

Now showing in Chicago...

These are some of my collage paintings currently available at

Woman Made Gallery in Chicago, IL

Artist: Eileen Downes

Title: Fred's Dancing Shoes

Medium: Collage

Size: 24" x 18"

(click on image to enlarge)

Artist: Eileen Downes

Title: Ginger's Dancing Shoes

Medium: Collage

Size: 24" x 18"

(click on image to enlarge)

Art Trip to Chicago

I just returned from a fantastic trip to Chicago. I was impressed with the beauty and splendor of this fine city. Although the weather was unseasonably warm (nearly 90 degrees in October) I had an opportunity to walk along Lake Michigan, see the sights, enjoy fine food, explore art museums and visit fine art galleries. It was with one of these galleries, Woman Made Gallery, in the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Corridor that I had a previously scheduled appointment with the director, Beate Minkovski. I am pleased that after this meeting we secured a showing of my work including both originals and prints. I am looking forward to this exhibition planned for Nov and Dec 2007.

Press Release for New Show

The following is an excerpt from U.S.News Corp: Art News USA:

Group Show at the 20th Street Art Gallery:

Show Dates:

Wednesday, October 10th thru Friday, November 2nd.

Carol's Lucky Shoes by Eileen Downes

The October exhibit showcases the works of several 20th Street Art Gallery favorites: The loose, painterly figurative and landscape oils of Paige Decker; the embellished realism of Joanne Evers’ still life and nature-themed oil abstractions; the unique pieces of “layerist collage painter” Eileen Downes, who turns torn paper into colorful images; the muted colors used by Laurie Peters to add a mysterious quality to her surreal and serene landscapes; the highly detailed work of Marbo Barnard’s magnificent landscapes and cityscapes from her recent trip to Tuscany; the heavy textures and bold strokes of Patricia Reed’s oils; and the oils of rich color and exaggerated shadows by Ragan Ragan. This promises to be one of the best shows of the season…full of diversity and masterful techniques, a bountiful selection of original art.

20th Street Art Gallery Oct Show

Artist: Eileen Downes
Title: Plum Colored Pumps
Medium: Collage
Size: 24" x 18"
Available at 20th Street Art Gallery (see below)

This collage painting is one out of the series of 15 new works from the Stepping-Up Series. The shoe model for most of these images was a lady from my church who absolutely Love's shoes!!!! (She has great legs and ankles too) She came to my studio one afternoon with a carload of shoes, and I took many positioning photos from which to work. My studio is equipped with a black backdrop drape and spot-lights, so I could determine positioning for interesting shadows.

Sneak Peek....

Artist: Eileen Downes
Title: Carol's Lucky Shoes
Medium: Collage of torn magazine papers
Size: 18" x 24"




Artist: Eileen Downes
Title: Tangerine Heels
Medium: Collage of torn magazine papers
Size: 18" x 24"

Here is a Sneak Peek of two of the many images from my
Stepping-Up Series of shoes that will be available

Oct 10 - Nov 2 2007
20th Street Art Gallery
911 20th Street
Sacramento CA 95814
(916) 930-0500
www.20art.net

Reception Sat Oct 13th 6:00 - 9:30 pm
Hope to see you there!!!

Now Available...

Limited Edition Giclee Prints

Jul 25- Oct 31

at

Nava's Salon

2220 J St

Sacramento CA 95816

Sneak Peek

Take a look at one of the pieces that will soon be at the Monroe Center for the Arts in Hoboken, New Jersey as part of the National Association of Women Artists Annual Invitational Exhibition.

Artist: Eileen Downes

Title: The Fatality of Femininity

Medium: Acrylic, Collage, Wooden Blocks on Canvas

Size: 30" x 30" x 4"

Detail of The Fatality of Femininity

2nd Saturday (with a Cause)

Save the date for this fine art auction/fundraiser for

Lymphoma and Cancer Research.

Saturday September 8th

5:00 - 9:00 pm

Return to the Secret Garden

10119 Fair Oaks Blvd.

Old Fair Oaks Village, CA

www.lymphomaweb.com

Limited Edition Giclee Print

Artist: Eileen Downes

Title: Dancing With Daddy

Size: 16" x 20"

will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Check out some of the other blogs that I am involved in:

http://www.neuro-artproject.blogspot.com/
http://www.cacooperativeartproject.blogspot.com/
http://www.heavenartproject.blogspot.com/
http://www.chondrosarcoma.blogspot.com/


Title: My Visit with God
Medium: Collage
Size" 13" x 15"
Part of the Visions of Heaven Art Project

Happy 4th of July

Artist: Eileen Downes
Title: Summer Watermelon
Medium: Collage
Size 18" x 24"
I thought this artwork collage was appropriate for the 4th of July as our family enjoys the tradition of eating fresh watermelon at our 4th BBQ. Then we watch our own fireworks in front of the house complete with patriotic marching band music! Wishing you all a very happy 4th of July celebration.

Questions People Ask....

What is Collage?
Collage, pronounced ko-lahj', simply means pasting or glueing papers or objects onto a surface.
When did Collage start as a fine art form?
In the early 1900's the modernist avante-garde movement began using collage as a fine art medium. Artists such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque were atracted to the use of everyday materials from which to create their works of art.
How long does it take you to make one of your collages?
OK, the question that artist's hate to hear, but a reasonable question none the less. I am asked this question by several customers at every art showing I have attended, and the following is my very best attempt at a straight forward answer: That is a difficult question, as I work on as many as 5 layered collages at a time at various stages of completion. What I can tell you is that the process is very labor intensive from the collecting of papers, tearing of papers, re-tearing of papers, gluing many layers, peeling many layers, and then applying the final touches to the pieces. I give each piece of artwork my very best attention, and each piece holds a part of me in it.
Can you describe your process?
My collage artwork is composed of many layers of torn paper. I use torn magazine papers as my "palette of paint" working the image by adding and subtracting tonal values of paper until I create the desired effect. I enjoy how words, phrases, and imagery from the magazine papers appear almost magically between the edges of the torn paper adding to the meaning of the piece. I leave the rough edges of the collage visible which adds to the layered feeling, and I add a touch of oil pastel to enchance the textural quality of the rough glued papers.
How durable are your collage paintings?
I use archival matte medium and acid free backing paper for my artwork. The magazine paper is not acid free, but is from higher quality printed magazines. The artworks should be framed under glass or plexi without touching the artwork itself. Avoid placing the piece where it would be in direct sunlight.
Do you do commissioned work?
I LOVE working closely with the client, and can make a custom commissioned piece specially for you. Often clients and collectors like me to use their own family photos, letters, maps from vacations etc. to create their custom layered collage. Such commissioned artworks are a joy for me to create, and have special meaning for my clients. Please contact me directly for such a commisioned work of art at eileen@eileendownes.com.

Longview Museum of Fine Art Exhibition

Here is a photo of one of my collage pieces that will be in the Longview Museum of Fine Art in Texas for the National Association of Women Artists Invitational exhibition,

Personal Landscapes Sept 18 - Oct 24, 2007.

Title: The 36-C Tree

Size: 36" x 32"

This collage, mixed-media piece embraces the concept of little girls growing up to be women. This right of passage is our "personal landscape" so to speak. It is created with torn magazine images symbolic of womanhood, lace, bra snaps, charcoal drawing, photographs of the piece mid-creation, and oil pastel.

I thought this was funny...enjoy.

Copyright Thaves. All rights reserved.

Albuquerque Exhibition

This is the front of the Albuquerque Museum of Art where I have some artwork on exhibition with the Society of Layerists in Multi-Media starting Jul 15th and continuing until Oct 8th. Check out their website at www.albuquerquemuseum.com for more information. The show will feature some "edgy" and thought-provoking work done by artists from all over the country . See photos of my wax collage pieces I have there a few posts earlier.

20th Street Art Gallery extends show

I am pleased to announce that my butterfly series exhibition at the 20th Street Art Gallery has been extended thru the month of June. The God's Beauty Series is a collection of collage paintings that embrace the beauty and grace of butterflies.

20th Street Art Gallery

911 20th Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

916-930-0500

www.20art.net

Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat 12-5

"Look - We can make works of art out of the contents of our wastebaskets."
....Georges Braque

Georges Braque was a founder of the medium of collage as a fine art medium. I love this quote from him as it sums up the idea of transformation, recyling, and creative expression.