Gannon Weeks in her Studio

Painting Marathon

gannonweeks — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 06:59:02 +0000

So you might be wondering what I’ve been up to for the past 10 days. Well, first, I spent the weekend at the beach. The Monday after the beach, I decided to apply to a public arts project. I came across a call for artists to submit a series of horizontal, Seattle-centered 2D art. Seattle is going to choose 2-6 pieces from up to 8 artists to print on 5′x10′ panels that will hang on a construction fence in downtown Seattle for one year.

I decided this would be the perfect incentive for me to finally do the urban landscapes of Seattle’s port! Great idea right? Here’s the catch. The deadline for this application is June 21st. That meant just two weeks to do an entire series of paintings.

The first week, I took photos of the port area of Seattle and cleaned my house. No painting. Now we are in the second week. I have started 4 of the paintings, but have yet to use any paint….and I’m already exhausted.

This is when I decided I can't even draw a straight line and almost gave up...but I persevered.

I think I will call this 'Waiting'. 48"x24"

I might call this 'Package Delivery'. 48"x36"

Thinking the title will be 'Behind the Scenes'. 48"x30"

Not quite done sketching this one. But I'm calling it 'Feeding Trough'. 60"x48"

New Portrait: Sarah and Baby Zoe

gannonweeks — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:52:48 +0000

A few months ago, I bumped into my friend Ryan who had actually hired me at my previous job four years ago. I had just been laid off and was catching up with him and telling him how I was going to take some time to focus on painting. Ryan got really excited and said right then that he wanted me to paint a portrait of his wife Sarah (who also worked with us) and their new baby who had yet to be born (Sarah was about 7 months pregnant at the time.). He was so adamant that this would happen and said that he wanted to do anything he could to help me succeed. I was so touched that this former boss of mine was so supportive of me and my art.

…and sure enough, baby Zoe was born in March and I heard from Ryan just a few weeks later. I went to their house about a month ago and sketched the new mommy with her beautiful baby girl. It was really sweet and Sarah did such a good job keeping Zoe comforted while I was drawing. I’m so pleased with how it came out and hope I get to do more mother/child paintings in the future!

Quick practice sketch. 18"x24", charcoal on paper

Initial sketch on canvas.

Sarah and Zoe, 24"x36", charcoal and acrylic on canvas

Kids Art Party

gannonweeks — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:16:13 +0000

Last Sunday I had my very first kids art party! My good friend Jen loves art and is one of my biggest cheerleaders. She’s always brainstorming to come up with business ideas for me and ways to market them and who to market to. She’s a mom and knows that moms are always looking for new, fun, fresh party ideas. Hence, the Kids Art Party was born…

The first Kids Art Party was thrown at Jen’s awesome beach house for the 2010 graduation class of Interlake Preschool. That’s right, I was hired to throw a painting party for 8 five-year-olds proudly graduating to Kindergarten next year. Enter my mother who spent her entire life as an art teacher. I couldn’t have done it without her advice and support. In fact, she was invited to the party and jumped in when I needed help!

This was also a great opportunity to paint kids faces for the first time. It turned out to be the perfect complement to the art project. The face painting got the kids excited and got their imaginations ignited so they were all ready to paint on their own!

Once I started painting faces, the party was on! A rambunctious little line quickly formed. Notice there are two kids in the chair...

This is Jen's son, Marshall T. He wanted me to paint a "rattle dragon" on his face. In case you didn't know, a rattle dragon is "like a dragon but a rattlesnake too. And it has really really sharp wings."

And what did all the little girls want...?

...Butterflies of course!

Best friends = matching butterflies.

It's a tiger. With wings.

This little cutie wanted a green rattlesnake wtih green rattles and a LOT of green glitter...

We are discussing what colors she wants for her butterfly.

Pink and yellow!

Now the graduates get to paint!

Marshall T got into it...

...in fact, he was quite the little Jackson Pollock!

Jacob was very serious. And very precise. He definitely had a vision he was after.

I love it when kids use up the whole paper!

They were all working so hard!

The final pieces. I'm going to put all of these together in one big collage that will be a piece of art for Marshall T's bedroom. I'll post the final piece when it's all put together!

Aerial Yoga

gannonweeks — Tue, 25 May 2010 02:31:52 +0000

I think a key to my success as an artist will be to integrate creativity into all aspects of my life, including my workouts! When I was at the Seattle Erotic Art Festival a few weeks ago, I met a friend of a friend who happened to be an aerialist performer. I started gushing to her about how cool I thought aerial arts were, especially the silks and how I could only dream of being strong enough and fit enough to do it myself. She told me that I should take an aerial yoga class that her friend was offering. She assured me that anyone could do it, no matter what age, size or fitness level….

Well, I was totally excited to try it, but super nervous. Despite the reassurance that anyone could do it, this video makes it look so intimidating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUDKTzbqfDM.

Yesterday, I went to an introductory class and sure enough, I could do it! And I loved it and I can’t wait to go again! Next time, I’ll try to get a photo of me hanging upside down in one of the poses. So fun!

This is the last pose of the class. Savasana (Corpse pose).

I love this photo with the girls long platinum dreadlocks hanging out of her sling.

I'm in the brown sling in the front.

Facepainting Fiesta

gannonweeks — Mon, 24 May 2010 01:25:43 +0000

I had a great time face painting at the 40th birthday fiesta last night. I made some new friends, plenty of tips and painted lots of beautiful faces!

This is Cassie. She was my first customer and we hit it off right away. By the end of the night she was trying to find me a boyfriend and insisting that I go karaoke with her. I told her I would go but I would NOT karaoke.

This beautiful little girl is named Charlotte. She was my second customer and the first child I've ever painted! After I was done, she looked at it and said "where's the pirate?" She had watched me paint the skull and crossbones above Cassie's mask and insisted on having a skull too. (this photos is pre-skull).

The second child I've every painted. He asked me to paint the skull with red, glowing eyes. Done.

Mini eye roses. So pretty.

He got a sugar skull on one cheek...

...and a giant chili pepper on the other cheek.

Mexican Flowers

Kimberly was wearing an awesome sparkly shirt and I painted her an awesome mask to match!

Annie, the birthday girl. She's so happy!

This is my friend Nickie who asked me to face paint for the party. Wearing her love for the birthday girl on her arm...

The birthday girl's mom.

This is Cat. She is newly engaged so she got a heart-themed mask.

Cat's fiance showing his love. He proposed to her in a hot air balloon...

SUGAR SKULL! This guy was such a trooper and let me paint his entire face. You can't see in the photo but it is also covered in white glitter.

...and smiling.

All together now....

Petpalooza vs. Facepainting

gannonweeks — Sat, 22 May 2010 20:12:04 +0000

I’m not going to make it to Petpalooza today. I got the opportunity to face paint at a 40th “fiesta” birthday party and it has taken priority for the day. I had big dreams of getting to both Petpalooza and the fiesta, but just wasn’t able to fit in the hour drive to and from Petpalooza before the party.

I did however make up a little brochure for pet portraits and in lieu of Petpalooza, I’ll be hitting up all the popular organic pet food stores, pet clothing boutiques and doggie day spas in Seattle this week!

Here is a pic of the pet portrait brochure and some fun facepainting practice photos from last night.

Pet portrait brochure...my first step to getting some new business!

You've seen me in a green mask for St. Patty's day. Here's a red mask, slightly more refined. Practice makes perfect...eventually.

I have a new love for Sugar Skulls. Very Mexican. Very fiesta!

On my bathroom floor practicing on my legs. This is how one becomes a face painter...

Burlesque Live Drawing: Tamara the Trapeze Lady

gannonweeks — Mon, 17 May 2010 08:04:19 +0000

It’s that time of the month again! Burlesque drawing day at Dr. Sketchy’s! Our model today was Tamara the Trapeze Lady with her fun-colored tights and her perfect long legs. Much to my dismay, she wasn’t able to pose for us in her trapeze due to limitations of the facility. Sad for me because I’ve always loved aerial arts and acrobatics and was so looking forward to the flying poses. I seriously spent every recess in elementary school in my own little world climbing the bars and teaching myself flips.

Nonetheless, the Trapeze Lady was still a pleasure to draw on the ground reclining in her chair. Now I’ll just have reason to go to the Pink Door to see her perform!

Our model, Tamara the Trapeze Lady

One minute poses

Two minute poses

Five minute poses

Five minute pose

Ten minute pose

Twenty minute pose

Petpalooza!

gannonweeks — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:22:30 +0000

I have decided to turn Pets Week into Pets Month. You might think it’s because I’ve been slacking, but it’s not!

I went to happy hour last night and a friend tipped me off about Petpalooza. After a morning of internet research, I have found that Petpalooza is a giant pet fair taking place later this month in Auburn, WA. It is the mecca for crazy cat ladies and dog men, all of them surely wanting to pay me to paint their furry little BFFs. This means, I have two weeks to hone my pet painting skills, create some marketing materials and be ready to schmooze my way into the hearts of thousands of pet lovers at Petpalooza.

I’ve got two more paintings in progress, and lots of pet models waiting in line…Alby, Lola, Ethel, Kisses – get ready for your closeups!

Max the Scottish Fold (It's a cat). In progress.

Harri the Labadoodle. In progress.

Gus and his Friends

gannonweeks — Sun, 09 May 2010 05:47:52 +0000

Finished pet painting #3. That means I have 1 day left in the week and 2 more animals to paint if I actually want to have a successful theme week. Sigh…

Anyway, here’s Gus who was just a sketch when you last saw him, now fully painted along with his buddies, duck and elephant. What a cute little ball of black and white fluff!

Gus and Friends, 16"x20", acrylic and charcoal on canvas

I love how this painting looks on my orange wall!

...and so does Toulouse.

Albert & Elvis the Tabby Cats

gannonweeks — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:18:29 +0000

I finished the painting of Albert and Elvis that was in progress earlier this week. I took a really simple approach to this painting to emphasize the body language of these active, athletic cats.

The style of this painting was also clearly inspired by the art of Christian Johnson, a guy who studied art a couple years ahead of me at my college. He’s now an artist in New York and I came across his website on facebook just the other day. I’m totally in love with his work.

This is the photo I used for the painting.

Albert and Elvis, 36"x24", acrylic and charcoal on canvas