Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentines Day!
“From Our Hearts to Yours” is made for YOU!
by artists around the world who participate in Saturday Night Live Art Shows.
May you celebrate what you love in this world:)
What’s in the Studio?
Masks to Match the Painting!
I’ve been entertaining myself by selecting masks to match the painting I’m currently working on of Manarola, Italy, in Cinque Terre (60″ x 82″ ink, oil & acrylic on canvas).
Scroll to see this painting in process with the colors of masks I’ve coordinated so far:
Behind the Scenes: Where do paintings dry?
As some of you know, oil paint can take months to dry (technically years to dry fully).
In my recent Saturday Night Live Art Show, I shared one of my prize creations, the design and construction of my drying racks. In my head, I call them my painting trolleys.
I designed three different painting racks. I share one of them in the video below.
Click here to see the 1 minute video that stars one of my woodworking masterpieces.
Be The Silver Lining + Happy New Year!
A Story of Art & Friendship During Stay-at-Home
Happy New Year! As we enter 2021, I’ve reflected on my silver linings of 2020.
Three of those silver linings were fellow artists and co-hosts (Nichole McDaniel, Sherly Benjy and Joan Marie) of the weekly Saturday Night Live Art Shows, a project to have art exhibits from home during the stay-at-home time.
Our shared mission to brighten social media feeds at a time when many people dealt with difficult times brought us together. Most weeks we had a collage from the videos we made for our followers.
For 40 weeks, from March 28, 2020 until December 26, 2020, we posted videos every Saturday that shared art (completed, in process, studio tours, demonstrations and more). Artists around the world joined us on Facebook and Instagram, including creators in Canada, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Israel, the U.K., Ireland, Western Australia and all over the United States.
We even collaborated further on group videos including one with studio pets around the world. Click here to see our group collaborations!
Most of our videos weren’t technically award winning, however we made them with heart and a desire to connect with people. We hoped that by coming out from behind our paintings, something that is scary for many artists, we would encourage others to celebrate their own imperfections and share the joy of making things with one’s hands in a time when many people had time on their hands.
There is a therapy in creating and choosing to see the world with possibilities regardless of the circumstances.
Some artists really resonated with this project and continued to join us every week. Others participated occasionally or made fabulous cameo appearances.
Artist participants ranged from age 4 to over 80.
We received feedback from many people in challenging circumstances who shared ways that the videos touched their hearts and inspired them.
There is always a way to imagine things better. Our videos could be better; the world could be better, and yet there are always silver linings to any situation. I’m so grateful to these ladies and the artists around the world who’ve showed up and made 2020 better.
Have you reflected on your silver linings?
Click here to see any of my 40 imperfect videos from 2020.
If you want to follow along in 2021 or know someone who might like this project, find us on social media:
Brooke Harker Paintings: Facebook, Instagram or Youtube.
Saturday Night Live Art Shows: Facebook, or Instagram
The Last Painting of 2020, A Surprise
with the surprise painting Horsing Around 38″ x 34″ ink & acrylic on canvas
The Last Painting of 2020:
Oh I do love when paintings are a surprise. This painting was made and delivered as a surprise Christmas present. I had to wait to share until it was received.
What painting would you like to be surprised with?
There is still time to surprise yourself with a painting! Scroll below to get the 25% Off End of 2020 Special. Two Eiffel towers are available in Laguna Beach and North Carolina.
Horsing Around by Brooke Harker 38″ x 34″ ink & acrylic on canvas
above paintings available for purchase at Lu Martin Galleries.
3 Days Left! End of 2020 Special – 25% Off
Lu Martin Galleries, Gabba Gallery and my studio are participating in this special until December 31, 2020. Inquire to see a mock up of an original on your wall if you are considering getting a painting.
Click here to see the available paintings. Note: the prices are listed prior to the discount, so take the 25% off from there.
If you can think of someone who might appreciate this End of 2020 Special to add a colorful location or nostalgic black and white to their walls, please share this offer with them:)
Joy Of Original Holiday Cards
“Without A Net” 2019-2020 Holiday Card Collection -oil on canvas cards
A Favorite Holiday Tradition: One-of-a Kind Cards
What are your favorite holiday traditions? Making original holiday cards for collectors continues to be one of my favorite projects. The 2019-2020 batch is about ready to go out. These are made from the left over remnants of oil paint mixed from paintings for the last two years.
2019-20 oil paint bits basking in the sun before cut into mini compositions.
If you have one of my original paintings and haven’t received a card in the past and want to be on the list, reply with your address. Include what painting you have if we haven’t corresponded previously. If you’ve moved and would like to update your address, also let me know. Those who bought paintings in 2019 will be getting their first card this year.
Click here to see a 2ish minute video about these original cards.
or subscribe on YouTube to get notifications for my weekly art shows from home during this stay-at-home time.
If you would like to become a collector, there is an End of 2020 Special going on until December 31, 2020. See below!
Featured In Artrooms App + Want To See Your Room Uploaded?
portrait photo credit: Lotta Photo; Downtown Stride by Brooke Harker 90″ x 60″ ink, oil and acrylic on canvas above; Days Gone By by Brooke Harker 45″ x 80″ ink & acrylic on canvas
Honored to Be Featured with Artrooms App…
Did you know there is an app that helps you see art in example rooms or on your own walls? How cool is that?!
And the founder of one of these apps recently asked to feature my art!
Click here to read the feature about my art with Artrooms App.
Hollywood in Stride by Brooke Harker- 60″ x 40″ displayed with Artooms
Want Me to Upload Your Room?
If you’d like to see one of my paintings on your wall, email me a photo of that room and which painting you’d like to see. Your room can be uploaded into the app to make a mock up!
(This is the closest I get to playing a video game:) My version of fun!)
See more examples below:
La Magie du Carrousel by Brooke Harker- 68″ x 68″ displayed with Artooms
Havana Story by Brooke Harker- 66″ x 44″ displayed with Artooms
Finding A Way by Brooke Harker- 55″ x 30″ displayed with Artooms
Earlier this year I’d been thinking of about signing up for one of these apps when a friend messaged me that she’d sent one of my Saturday Night Live Art Shows to her neighbor who developed an app for art. It was one of the apps I’d been considering getting!
Fun synchronicity, and I had a great chat with the founder of Artrooms App who is also an artist!
It means so much to me when people think of my art and link me to friends.
Connecting people is one of my main hobbies too:)
Your Life Is One-Of-A-Kind Art! Happy Thanksgiving!
Avalon Days 1 in previous attendance in its home for Thanksgiving- by Brooke Harker- 62″ x 75″ x 2.5″
What Are You Thankful For?
Obviously the above photo was taken before the time of social distancing. It will be a different Thanksgiving for many this year.
My heart goes out to anyone who has lost a family member or friends for any reason. There is nothing that fills the loss of a loved one.
A Vicenza Lifetime at a past Thanksgiving in South Korea- 36″ x 54″ -ink & acrylic on canvas
.
Often it’s the details of a person that are missed the most.
If I’ve learned anything from painting, it’s that a lot of tiny details turn into a bigger picture.
I do believe joy is in the details.
So my wish for you this Thanksgiving is to find some details in the picture of your life to appreciate.
Your life is truly one-of-a-kind art.
10 Paintings In Homes + “Wishlist 8” Opened Today!
Santa Monica Sunshine found a forever home long ago in Iowa– LOVE that it moved to a new house!
The Gift of Adopting Art:
I’ve shared before that I’m like a proud parent to see my paintings in their new lives. So thank you to anyone who has ever sent me a photo of my art in your home. It means so much to me. It is truly an honor to know that something I make gets to become part of other people’s lives!
Plus these paintings have been my landing place in the world and a way to connect with others. They are where I get to channel my focus regardless of the ups and downs of life. They are my friends. I like to know that my friends are being treated well.
Laguna Days – 20″ x 64″ -ink, oil & acrylic on canvas moved to Pittsburgh!
Getting a photo of a painting in a home is like a child writing from summer camp or college to say, “I’m alive…I’m going to cool dinner parties, celebrating birthdays and holidays, watching Netflix and there is a cute dog here to keep me company.”
I also love when people send pics of pets with their painting.
Exhibit A:
Flashback to the dog collector of Marées Familiars by Brooke Harker 46 x 82 ink acrylic oil on canvas
Exhibit B:
Mila with “Persching Square, “Urban Rain” and “Afternoon Downtown 1″-ea. 84″ x 66” ink & acrylic on canvas
Exhibit C:
Mango with Lumière du Sud in it’s temporary home before the painting made it’s way to Germany
Regardless of whoever the appreciator of the art is, these photos always brighten my day.
Jewel of the City- (30″ x 30″ -ink, oil & acrylic on canvas) having fun by the stairwell
I get to see evidence that even when people tell me that the energy of my paintings is too busy for their homes, others see that the perfect place for a painting of traffic is right next to a place where there is a lot of foot traffic.
Generally most of us don’t chill out in a stairwell. We have to be inspired to walk up the stairs when we are tired or make the transition between rooms. Those are the moments that require a little extra burst of energy, so paintings with a lot of energy work well in such settings.
Grace to See – 36″ x 59″ ink, oil & acrylic on canvas – in it’s new home
I also love when multiple paintings get adopted together. Although they are inanimate objects, I consider my paintings sibling. The taxi painting “Jewel of the City” and “Grace to See” now live in the same home.
Se l’amore è amore- (20″ x 20″ -ink, oil & acrylic on canvas) in it’s new home near books!
I love that this painting gets to be near so many books, so I included two angles!
Se l’amore è amore- (20″ x 20″ -ink, oil & acrylic on canvas) in the study.
I have more pictures of art in homes to share in the future.
Santa Monica Sunshine found a forever home long ago in Iowa– LOVE that it moved to a new house!
Now Open!! “Wishlist 8” at Gabba Gallery:
If you are wanting a way to join the family of people who collect art, whether mine or another artists, consider checking out the annual exhibit at Gabba Gallery with art from 70 artists priced between $50-$1000.
I have two small pieces in the exhibit.
Curators Jason Ostro and Elena Jacobson put a certain focus on fostering opportunities for people to become collectors of originals who hadn’t thought it possible for themselves previously.
with my painting, “A Bit of Hollywood “- 12″ x 12″ -ink & acrylic on canvas available now at Gabba Gallery
It’s rare that I paint so small….so if you want to grab this piece for your self:
Click here to see if you want to put this in your cart
or
Click to check out the rest of the exhibit.
If you have been following some of the Saturday Night Live Art Shows you may recognize artists from our project in this exhibit including one of my co-hosts, Nichole McDaniel, plus artists Donna Bates and Iskar Art!
always with love & gratitude,
Some Things Take Time…A New Painting + ?
at work on Spring in Rome – Brooke Harker 62″ x 35″ ink, oil & acrylic on canvas
Some Things Take Time…
…and a different perspective.
and some cute neighbor dogs to visit…
and the neighbor’s cat to bring the love…
and then one day (a year after starting this and five years since the photo inspiration of this scene) this painting is complete.
with the finished Spring in Rome – Brooke Harker 62″ x 35″ ink, oil & acrylic on canvas
We don’t always know how things will turn out when we start.
Spring in Rome by Brooke Harker 62″ x 35″ ink, oil & acrylic on canvas
We just keep showing up and doing the work little by little.
Sending you virtual flowers wherever you are…
Final Day To See…Treat Of Art
Who wants the treat of art on Halloween?
I guess the closest to candy I have to share is texture and color! See below. Zero calories to look at art. Well, paint is eye candy to me:)
One day left to see this painting in person at GDCA in Downtown LA! (with a mask and a socially distanced appointment)
Or see the video from Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts featuring this painting in my Week 31: Saturday Night Live Art Show!
Check out the gallery’s social media to see the virtual reception they hosted over zoom with talks by all of the artists. I speak about these paintings at time code: 1:09:12.
Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts
727 South Spring Street
(between 7th & 8th)
Los Angeles, CA 90014
https://www.gdcagallery.com/
323-309-2875
For inquiries, contact Petra at the above number.
