My Husband - The Artist

Pauly Anderson is an artist. He was just born this way, he can't help it, don't judge. As a child, he liked to make drawings, and also enjoyed building mini-kit airplanes and cars - while adding intricate details he painted on with model paint and his brush. Apparently no one in his family particularly noticed his talent and attention for detail. Unlike my crazy arts-oriented family, he just wasn't encouraged in that direction. As a result, he just did not believe he was an artist. Last year, he had a conversation with my life-long friend Wendy about her "bird-a-day" project. She sits down each morning to sketch a bird while she enjoys a cup of coffee. She is a graphic designer and was missing the physical act of drawing, and felt rusty. Over the course of a year, she had regained her drawing skill, ability to see, and create compelling linework through her practice. We were inspired.

Pauly wondered - if I spent 30 minutes a day drawing, what could I accomplish?  He select frogs as his subject - as he is a huge fan of the amphibian nation. He drew 100 frogs - not every day, but close to every day for 100+ days. He went through some struggles - just getting started to work - committing to the practice, was a struggle at times.  As a result - he had 100 small drawings that show a huge progression in his colored-pencil skills. He now accepts his talent, and I am very proud to call my husband "the artist."

Pauly Anderson at 100 frogs installation.

The results of his labors are now showing at the TBD loft in Bend, OR. 100 Frogs. Viewers are inspired - even asked to consider what could you do in 30 minutes a day? Can you commit to something each day? How would you benefit from the practice. We can all be inspired by Pauly's example.

Anderson Ranch Workshop with Judy Glantzman

Shelley Futch Anderson at the Anderson Ranch

This summer I received a scholarship to study at the Anderson Ranch in Snowmass, Colorado.  I had applied in February, and was very honored to receive this scholarship, as I had always admired the workshops and classes available at the ranch, but felt they were out of reach for me.

The workshop was called "Painting from your Imagination", but our instructor, Judy, felt she should change the name of the workshop to finding your artistic voice.  Judy set up an environment that enabled the group to experiment, play and push ourselves to find unique styles and methods we can incorporate into our work going forward.

Judy is represented by the Betty Cunningham Gallery in New York, and her work is really experimental, and very personal.  I don't wish to put a label on it, but her work has been described as abstract expressionism.  She has the ability to find the figure in the materials she uses.  She was very inspiring, and I will miss her delightful laugh.

Thank you Judy...

A brief article on Shelley Futch Anderson in Bend's The Source Weekly

Boy was I in for a huge surprise this week.  My face appeared on the cover of the local newspaper, The Source, here in lovely Bend, Oregon.  A friend nominated me for the arts and style issue.  The Source profiled different artists in town, and had us represent a local clothing store as well.  The store owners selected clothes they wanted to feature, and the artists served as models.

This was a really fun experience - although I must admit I did not feel comfortable in the dress.  I think I wore a flowered dress the last time when I graduated college, and promptly gave away the dress.  It's not that I am opposed to dresses necessarily, I just feel weird in them, and you can tell in the photos I don't look exactly comfortable.

I felt honored to be nominated.  Even more, I felt really embraced by this community, my new home in Bend Oregon.  Now, I am feeling really guilty to be spending time writing this blog when I should be in the studio painting!

Although they did not get all of their facts straight in the article - it's fun to read even so: http://www.tsweekly.com/special-sections/spring-arts-a-style/a-woman-on-her-own-path-shelly-futch-anderson.html

Push - raising money for Bend's skatepark

So Pauly and I put together a concept called "the Crow" - and worked together on this project to paint a skate deck for the Push 2011 show.  The show is a fundraiser, to raise money to create a killer skate park in Bend, Oregon.  For more information on the show visit this link.

I wonder what would have happened had I something more interesting to skate around other than the round building of Carbondale Elementary School on my "goofy foot" wooden skate board circa 1978?  Probably would have injured myself more than already happened on a daily basis. 

Impermanence - new work at TBD Loft, Bend, Oregon by Shelley Futch Anderson

Impermanence - on display at the TBD Loft in Bend, OR

Impermanence - The fossil image responds to the TBD Loft show question: "Where are we going?"  Eventually, some of us will be immortalized as fossils.  What do we leave behind as evidence of human existence?  Fossilized bones, and certain physical representations of our existence will survive.  What is our legacy?  Well, trash for one thing.  Apparently plastics have a very long life span, some indestructible, non-biodegradable.  Wow.  There are some really bizarre visual examples of plastic items out there.  What will this tell future generations about our culture?  What will visitors to our planet deduce about our lifespan on this planet?  Assuming that we leave our planet intact, I believe some artifacts we leave behind will be very telling about the human condition.  But will they be interpreted correctly?  Probably not.

One thing that drives me crazy about humans is the value places on random elements, such as diamonds and gold.  I just don't understand what drives humans to spend so much time, energy and money on elements that are part of, or come from our own earth.  We assign value and meaning to the weirdest things.  In addition - these elements also have symbolic meaning for humans, and in American culture, as illustrated in this painting, representative of the marriage.  The union between man and woman, but again, I feel this symbol has become grossly overrated.  I don't have a lot of respect for women who expect "a huge rock" for an engagement ring, and certainly I have witnessed many of these "rocks" while living in the Aspen, Colorado area.  The "diamond is forever" concept is true, it will survive as an artifact of our existence, but does it really have any value when we are gone?  Check out the piece now showing at the TBD Loft in Bend, OR through the month of January.

Cross + Culture Art Event in Bend, OR - Fall Rider by Shelley Futch Anderson

Fall Ride - 4' x 4' acrylic on canvas - SOLD

We had a fantastically long fall in Bend this year.  All of September, October and most of November were absolutely gorgeous.  Of course this time of year coincides with pleasant temperatures and perfect mountain biking conditions.  I was inspired this year when I was having a leisurely peddle next to the Deschutes River - near Lava Falls. On the other side of the river is black lava rock, interspersed with Aspen trees, and shrubs that produced a variety of yellow orange and red.  It was spectacular, and I was so inspired by that ride I wanted to energetically produce a painting that captured the exuberance of the moment.  Palette knife in hand I tried my hand at Acrylic and enjoyed spreading big gobs of paint across a 4 foot by 4 foot canvas.  Lots of room to play, lots of loud music.  Particularly inspiring this fall was the Fever Ray album, full of alluring electronic noise.  See the result this weekend at the Red Chair Gallery in Bend, OR during the Cross + Culture event.  Participating venues are hosting cycling-inspired art all over town.  Check out my Fall Rider - it was so much fun to paint!

Eye Sea - new work from Shelley Futch Anderson at Red Chair Gallery

Eye Sea...Halloween just slinked away behind us, but I am keeping the spirit alive with a disembodied eyeball painting.  Whee!  In front, I have printed onto fabric a jellyfish of danger camouflaged by its own beauty.  1' wide by 3' tall.  I have never had the opportunity to paint the side cut view of an eyeball before.  Have you?  It was wicked fun.

Eye Sea it live at the Red Chair Gallery this Friday night 5-9pm.  First Friday celebration November 5th in Bend, Oregon.  Red Chair is located at 103 NW Oregon Ave. in lovely downtown Bend.