Famous Romantic Paintings

You still have this week to visit the Guest Show at the gallery - "A Little Romance."

In the meantime Google "most romantic pieces of art " to see what the experts think. Below are two of my favorites which happen to share the same title -

The Kiss by Gustave Klimt

The Kiss by Auguste Rodin

There's Still Time

Valentine's Day has come and gone but the Trunk Show at the gallery continues through Saturday, February 25. We still have a great selection of jewelry, silk scarves, glass dishes and plates, and shea butter handmade soaps.

You also still have an opportunity to purchase Wendy Robinson's stunning jewelry and Harold Walkup's watercolor paintings at AOB through February 25. Both artists are leaving the gallery at the end of this month. We have loved having Wendy and Harold as part of our membership and we wish them much success and happiness as they continue their creative journeys. 

Seed Pearl Necklace by Wendy Robinson

"Morning Visit" by Harold Walkup

Out & About With Our Artists

Celebration of Creativity - March 2 to March 5...

Six of our member artists will have work in the 39th Annual Celebration of Creativity at Southminster Presbyterian Church this year. Rae Campbell and Vicki Green (fused glass), Sam Hingston (mixed media sculpture), Elaine Tan (natural stone jewelry), Gretha Lindwood (pastel paintings) and Harold Walkup (watercolors) will all have work on exhibit and for sale. Each is a regular member of AOB so be sure to check out their artwork in the gallery during our regular hours Tuesday thru Saturday.

Two Traveling Shows - Rise Of The Rocket Girls and Beaver Tales

Watercolor artist Mary Burgess has her paintings in two traveling shows currently on exhibit. Rise of the Rocket Girl is a book by Nathalia Holt and the show features visual interpretations of the book by 19 artists. The entire collection will travel to libraries throughout the state until early December 2017.

In addition, Mary has her painting, Alder Nosh, in a traveling beaver art exhibit and sale hosted by the Wetlands Conservancy. Check www.wetlandsconservancy.org for details. 

Bellevue Arts Museum - July 28 to July 30...

Vicki Green was juried into this year's BAM ARTSfair. It is the largest award-winning arts and crafts festival in the Northwest. Vicki's stunning glass pieces can be found year round at AOB during our regular gallery hours. Congratulations Vicki!

Quote of the Week for February 1-7

“I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all my heart.”   
Vincent Van Gogh

Lucky me - at the Getty in January

Jewelry & More Featured in February

Select your Valentine gift from a stunning variety of jewelry designed and created by our four gallery artists, and guest jewelry designer Heather John. In addition, silk scarves, mini glass dishes, red heart ornaments, handmade valentine cards, handmade shea butter soaps, and other romantic items are available during February.

Bert Cohen

Wendy Robinson

Carli Schultz

Elaine Tan

Heather John (Heather Bell Jewelry)



Plus hand dyed silk scarves, handmade shea butter soaps, handmade valentine cards, handmade glass dishes, etc....



Free Pastel Demos by Gretha Lindwood

 Want to see how Gretha Lindwood creates a painting like this beauty?

Sign up on our website's Contact page and submit your request to reserve a spot. Seating is limited so it's important to reserve a seat. You can also sign up in person at the gallery.

Each Tuesday afternoon in February, from 2 to 4 p.m., Gretha will demo how she turns a blank sheet of pastel paper into one of her beautiful pastel paintings. Below is a pic of Gretha at one of her earlier gallery demos along with the painting she created that afternoon. She usually paints plein air (on location) and worn her sun hat for this indoor demo to help set the right mood.

These demos are wonderful free opportunities to see a professional at work. Don't miss out. Sign up now!

February 7, 14, 21, and 28 - 2 to 4 p.m.

February Guest Show - "A Little Romance"

Our guest show this month has a romantic theme and the eight artists whose work is on display chose a variety of ways to interpret "A Little Romance." 

Barb Sedgwick chose heart imagery for her hand-embossed pewter and gold leaf piece "Arrows of Courage." For "Nine of Hearts" she used hand-embossed and aged copper. Both pieces are square and designed to hang on the wall.  $45 each

Janet Ronacher's "A Flower For You" is a 3-dimensional collage made to hang on the wall. Janet uses recycled materials and this piece appears to be plastic, paper, paint, yarns - both metallic and opaque - and ink. The color palette is so pleasing but it's the texture that makes this piece so fascinating - a delightful mix of what I believe is crushed bubble wrap and tiny yarn knots. Be sure to take a close look and see what you think Janet used in her design. $95

Heather John, of Heather Bell Jewelry, is a first time guest artist at AOB. The pieces shown above are actually part of our Trunk Show (Heather has jewelry in both sections of the gallery this month) and are made using aquamarine nugget and raw aquamarine crystals with blue topaz rondelles. All metal is 92.5% sterling silver. Light, airy, delicate and modern. Necklace $180; Earrings $60

Another first timer in our gallery is Barbara Paanakker who is both a painter and a ceramic artist. Always great to have work by artists we have not shown with us before.  Barbara brought us two ceramic pieces this month; they add whimsy and fun to the collection of entries. The ceramic sculptures both perch on pieces of wood - one on burnt wood. "Reunited" is 1.5x2.5x13.5 and "BFF" is 3x6x9. $175 and $225

This delightful cat image was created by Milt Wear and is done on a masonite panel which is covered with white fired clay and then India ink. The image is scratched in with special tools and colorized with watercolor before receiving a protective coat of lacquer. Milt titled this drawing "Looking For Love." His other piece which did not photograph well because of the glass depicts a mother duck and six of her "babies." The title of that piece is "Birds Do It." The cat is $215







"A Tango in the Wind" is the creation of Olga Ivkin and was painted with acrylics on canvas. Its framed size is 29x23. Olga is from Russia and she is a regular participant in our guest wall shows. We love her out-of-the-box thinking and her stylized way of painting. Olga can even turn trees into a romantic dancing duo! $300

Stephen Kekule was a long time member artist with AOB under a year or so ago. He is a true romantic by nature and often injects an element of love into his urban landscapes. "Outside Capulet's Window" is acrylic on board and measures 18x18. He is meticulous in his draftmanship and always invites the viewer to become involved in the story he has to tell with his paintings. $400


Nancy Wunn is the eighth artist in the group for February. She has two photographs in this show - "Togetherness" and "Loneliness." Unfortunately there are under glass and I couldn't get a decent photo of either. You will have to see them in person. Nancy had work in our January show and taught drafting at David Douglas High School before recently retiring. Her framed photographs are both priced at $165.


This show continues through Saturday, February 25. Join us on the second Saturday of February between 5 and 8 p.m. for our monthly artists reception. Enjoy a glass of wine and meet the artists.

February 2017 Issue, Southwest Art

Be sure to check out the February 2017 issue of Southwest Art magazine with this image on the cover.

Gretha Lindwood's pastel of "Blitzen River At the P Ranch" is featured in a special section on Landscapes. Gretha is one of the original member artists at the gallery and is known for her luscious plein air paintings of the beauty of Oregon and neighboring states.