Note from the Director

May 2022

by Patricia Cream

It is time for May flowers and beautifully created ART! Have you started your spring cleaning? I have, and I started to change and move around my art. In the process, I realized I need something new in the bedroom. Now is a fantastic time for you to look at your walls to see what you might need to brighten or add new color to a wall or two. The Gallery ABQ is changing out our art for the next quarter. Starting in May, many of our artists will have new pieces on display  for you to peruse on your next visit.  Our normal hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am–4:00 pm.  In addition,  every First Friday of the month, as part of Albuquerque’s ARTScrawl, from 5:00-8:00 pm, The Gallery ABQ hosts a reception for various local art groups or individuals, as well as our own Featured Artists.

In the Salon, as part of  the May 6th First Friday reception (5:00-8:00 pm), we have the Miniatures and Small Works exhibit with  local NM artists. This show will run through the end of May.

Our Featured Artists for May are Nina Adkins (water media and mixed media) and Patricia Cream (oils). Nina has been working in water media since 1986. Painting has been  an outlet for her creative side. Nina loves the bold, bright colors of the Southwest, and you can see that influence in all of her art. She is a Signature Member of the New Mexico Watercolor Society. Patricia loves to paint beautiful skies, and has been trying new techniques and styles for her paintings. She has been able to devote more time to her craft since retiring in 2017. Her love for creating art that inspires  the young and old, is what motivates her.

Two new artists will be joining the gallery at the beginning of May--Dana Millen (acrylics/oil) and Judy Rose (silver jewelry). There's always something new at The Gallery ABQ, which keeps our artists revitialized! New changes  keep the gallery current and exciting! I hope you will join me and the other gallery members in welcoming our new artists.

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 https://www.thegalleryabq.com 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 May

Miniatures and Small Works Show

The Gallery ABQ Featured Artists for April

Nina Adkins and Patricia Cream

Nina Adkins (Water media)

By Linda Weiss

Nina Adkins is one of the May Featured Artists at The Gallery ABQ First Friday reception on May 6, 2022, from 5 – 8:00 pm. Nina, who was one of the founding members of the gallery in 2002, works with watercolors, acrylics, and collage to create the original abstract art that you will see on the walls at the gallery.

Nina started as a watercolor artist in the 1980’s.  At the time, she was a registered nurse, but was looking for something that was not medical to do and decided to learn more about watercolors.  She studied with Dorothy Voorhies for eight years while working as a nurse.  In the 1990’s, Nina became a signature member of the Watercolor Society. Nina started adding acrylics and collage to her watercolor abstracts.

Nina is inspired by Van Gogh and the impressionists.  She also finds inspiration in the sunny, blue skies of New Mexico, in photographs, and in still life paintings. She considers herself a "colorist," who incorporates bright colors into her paintings. Her painting method is to first paint the canvas with watercolors, and then see how the painting blooms from there, with acrylics and collage.

Come see Nina’s paintings and talk to her about her techniques at The Gallery ABQ First Friday on May 6, 2022, from 5-8:00 pm! While you’re there, visit with other artists of the gallery, and see the “Miniatures and Small Works” show in the salon. It will be a fun night out!

May Featured Artist: Patricia Cream (oils)

                                                       By Linda Weiss

One of the two Featured Artists for May 2022 at The Gallery ABQ is Patricia Cream (oils).  In conjunction with ARTScrawl, a reception will be held on May 6, 2022, from 5-8:00 pm, where you can meet Patricia, who is not only a Featured Artist, but the Director of the gallery.  Her paintings are a testament to Patricia’s love of art, which started when she was a child.

Patricia has worked with other media, but now prefers oil.  Most of her artwork contain some variations of clouds. She loves painting clouds because "clouds change constantly." She also loves to paint landscapes and flowers, although clouds can usually be seen in the background. Patricia likes to paint "wet-on-wet," which allows her to blend the clouds.  The relatively slow-drying oils  means that she can come back at a later time to finish the blending.

Patricia is inspired by Georgia O’Keefe and this well-known quote: "I found I could say things with color and shapes that I could not say any other way." She is also inspired by the music of K.D. Lang, who said, "the sky is an infinite movie to me." Other sources of inspiration are photographs, the trips she’s taken, and posts and stories from friends.

Come meet Patricia in person at The Gallery ABQ on May 6, 2022, from 5-8:00 pm, and ask her how she paints her clouds!

Masterworks of New Mexico

The Gallery ABQ was well represented by award winners at

Masterworks of New Mexico 2022.

Amelia (Mellie) Myer received Second Place

in the Miniature/Small Fine Art for

Bosque Del Apache Evening (below left)

Jeff Warren received the Jack Richeson & Co. Award for

Toys in the Attic (below right)

Also Coming Up in May!

The Gallery ABQ has two new artists: Dana Millen and Judy Rose. 

Dana paints in acrylics, and Judy creates silver jewelry.

Both will be outstanding additions to The Gallery ABQ,

and you will learn more about them in the June newsletter.

“Works of art are sublimely alone, and nothing is less able to touch them than criticism. Only love can grasp them, hold them, do them justice.”

Rainer Maria Rilke, "Letter Three," Letters to a Young Poet