Note from the Director

April 2022

by Patricia Cream

I rarely tell a personal story, but I thought other artists might be finding themselves in the same place—considering what we've all gone through to stay safe during the pandemic. I am having trouble finding the joy I have always had for painting. I always said I will only paint if it remains fun. During this past couple of years, I have had a hard time going out to my studio. Once I take the few steps from the main house out to the studio, I seem to get some motivation, but I am still missing ideas, joy, and inspiration. One inspiration came when a friend posted a photo of the blue gate at the entrance to her property. I loved the feel of the photo and asked if I could try painting it. It has taken me several weeks to finish this 12x14 oil painting, and it feels good!!

Not having more ideas than time to paint them is unusual for me.  Maybe it is because we have not been able to travel as much. Many of my painting inspirations have come from photos taken while out exploring. I am hopeful that during my trip to Utah in April, to explore many National Parks in that area, that my creativity will be reignited. I believe that the bold rock formations, brilliant colors, and just being in the great outdoors will boost my spirit. If you are having trouble finding your joy, I hope you can get out of the house and into the outdoors to find your love of creating art again too!

In the Salon, at the April 1st First Friday, 5:00-8:00 pm, we have "Rainbow Artists Celebrate 32 Years.” This show will run through April. They are an award-winning women’s collective bonded by friendship and cooperation.

Our Featured Artist for April is Carla Forrest, acrylic and oil. She is new to The Gallery ABQ but very well known in New Mexico. She will be offering a Meet the Artist event on Saturday, April 23rd from 1:00-3:00. During this event she will be demonstrating her palette-knife painting style.

Call for Artists: If you are a local artist looking for a Contemporary Fine Arts Gallery to show your art, please go to our website (link below) to get more information about our gallery. The application is online.  If you are interested, please send in your application and we can set up a jury date.

In the Salon in April

Rainbow Artists Celebrate 32 Years

The Gallery ABQ Featured Artist for April is

Carla Forrest

Carla Forrest

(acrylic and oil)

by Linda Weiss

Carla Forrest is the April Featured Artist at The Gallery ABQ First Friday reception on April 1, 2022, from 5–8:00 pm. Carla paints contemporary "New West" landscapes using a modern color theory and a full-spectrum palette to create luminescent color effects.

Carla has lived in the Southwest for about 28 years and has been painting en plein with non-toxic oil paints for about 15 years. She studied drawing, painting, sculpture, and ceramics at the University of New York for her BA in Studio Art degree, later focusing only on drawing and painting. Carla received her MS degree in Teaching Visual Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a PhD in Organizational Learning and Instructional Technologies from the University of New Mexico.

Carla gets inspiration from direct observation of nature and life and from the abstract expressionist and contemporary impressionist painters. She uses palette knives and other mark-making tools to create her landscape paintings. She has recently returned to using acrylic paints, along with interference pigments. Her favorite thing about her art is being able to go through the full creative cycle, evaluate her art, and then create new options for further exploration. She begins by composing several different designs and selecting one to work up as a complete study before beginning to paint. This is a blueprint with compositional and color design. The 5 phases of the creative cycle are preparation (materials, workspace), inspiration (photos, Instagram, museums), and illumination (design sketches, trials, studies), design/production, and reflection/evaluation.

Come see Carla in person at The Gallery ABQ reception on April 1, 2022, from 5–8:00 pm. Carla will be demonstrating her palette-knife painting on April 23, 2022, from 1–3:00 pm at The Gallery ABQ. Carla also schedules private lessons for adults and custom workshops for groups.

Coming Up in May

Miniatures Open Show!

In May, The Gallery ABQ hosts an open show for miniature works. Local artists are encouraged to submit. See the prospectus on our website.

Masterworks of New Mexico

Meg Munro (1 watercolor), Jeff Warren (2 oil),

Amelia (Mellie) Meyer (5 miniatures), and Nancy Schrock (1 pastel)

 have artwork in Masterworks of New Mexico 2022.

The show runs from March 25 to April 16, 2022.

Above left, The Protecting Veil, Meg Munro

Above right, Toys in the Attic, Jeff Warren

Below left, Sandia Evening, Amelia Meyer

Below right, Persimmons, Nancy Schrock

Greg Lujan was featured in an Albuquerque Journal article written by Adrian Gomez. Greg explains his art in the article, which included several pictures. You can read  the article here:

Metro Youth Art Exhibit

Spring is upon us, and art shows are popping up all over! Albuquerque Public Schools Fine Arts Programs sponsored the Metro Youth Art Exhibit, a juried display of student art from APS high schools, in-person for the first time since March 2022! Carla Forrest, Gallery Member and President of the Rio Grande Art Association, was delighted to represent RGAA in bestowing five $100 Merit Awards to acknowledge outstanding artistic achievement to Kylan Yazzie , Lucas Molinar, Isabella Trujillo, Munoz-Hernandez, and Emma Sanchez. Bravo to these future creative masters!

“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.”
Kurt Vonnegut