Friday, January 27, 2012

Girl Crush Tea Party + Art Workshop!


I'm so happy to announce this! I'll be co-hosting one of four Tea Party + Art workshops this April 14th with The Jealous Curator. This is a new series of workshops that came about from a regular series of "Girl Crush" posts on sfgirlbybay.com which was all about celebrating woman artists. Danielle aka The Jealous Curator, will be traveling to each one day workshop (date below). Check out her full post to here for info on the other three talented co-hosts.

March 10th, 2012 {Saturday} : San Francisco + Lisa Congdon

April 14th, 2012 {Saturday} : Brooklyn, New York + Samantha French

June 9th, 2012 {Saturday} : Portland + Lisa Golightly

September 29th, 2012 {Saturday} : Austin + Alyson Fox

To walk away from our computers, and actually meet in person for a glorious, creative, pastry-filled day. To figure out a way to break through artist blocks. To get inspired, and recharged. To celebrate being women artists… and obviously, to have a reason to eat lots of pretty little cakes & tarts in the middle of the day!

  • ~ 14 people {including me and the artist} for an entire Saturday of creative fun!
  • ~ 9am tea & coffee & pastries & chatting {kind of like a “pre-tea party” party!}
  • ~ a talk by me re: women/art/insecurities/inspirations
  • ~ a talk about insecurities/inspirations from the host artist {a working artist who also feels blocked sometimes – after all, it happens to the best of us!}
  • ~ everyone introduces themselves/share their issues {artist blocks, too many ideas but not executing any!, etc}
  • ~ break into groups and do 2 to 3 exercises to help with these issues {only require a fancy notebook & pencil, which will be provided.}
  • ~ tea party lunch {catered by a local restaurant/bistro ~ sandwiches & salads, followed by lots of fancy little treats… and tea of course!}
  • ~ an afternoon of making art {mixed media collage, so that you can do whatever you want. Supplies will be provided – inspiration coming from the morning exercises}, or…
  • ~ if the studio is too small for all of us to roll up our sleeves and get messy, the host artist will take us out on a creative field trip for the afternoon. We’ll see where they go to get inspired on days when they’re feeling, well, not so inspired!
  • ~ 6pm whoever wants to go out for dinner together can… but if everyone is pooped, we’ll just call it a day.
  • ~ $275 {includes everything, except the dinner that might happen, if we just don’t want the tea party to end!}

So that’s it! If you want to join me for inspiration, art, and pretty cakes you can sign up any time!


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

November! Already? New Work.

Refresh; fleeting convergence, 48x60", Oil on canvas, 2011

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

New Paintings.

48x60", Oil on Canvas, 2011
36x48", Oil on canvas, 2011
11x14", Oil on board, 2011


Come check out my new work, have a drink and chat with me!
COOL!
TNC Gallery
155 First Avenue
New York, NY 10003

Opening Reception: August, 15th 6-9pm

August 15th - September 16th, 2011

Work by:

Samantha French
Aaron Hauck
Ryan Roth
Joe heaps Nelson
Shawn Cupid

Curated by: Peter Ketchum

Sunday, August 07, 2011

Cool! TNC Gallery


COOL!
TNC Gallery
155 First Avenue
New York, NY 10003

Opening Reception: August, 15th 6-9pm

August 15th - September 16th, 2011

Work by:

Samantha French
Aaron Hauck
Ryan Roth
Joe heaps Nelson
Shawn Cupid

Curated by: Peter Ketchum

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Groveland Gallery: June 16th - June 28th

Palm Springs, 24x24", Oil on Canvas, 2011


Desert Summer, 12x12" Oil on board, 2011


Naples, poolside, 12x12" Oil on board, 2011


Seaside; Red heat, 24x24", Oil on canvas, 2011


Poolside, Red, 10x10", Oil on board, 2011

I just sent these bad boys off to MN for a special 10 day exhibition at the Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis. It features 14 awesome artists, two of them were even my professors in art school. How exciting to be showing with them now. If you are in the area come talk with me and all the other artists at the reception Thur. June. 16th. I'll be flying in that morning and it would be great to see you all!

Groveland Gallery
Summer Shorts: Contemporary Classics
25 Groveland Terrace
Minneapolis, MN 55403
http://www.grovelandgallery.com


Opening reception: Thursday, June 16, 5-8 p.m.

Dates:
Thursday, June 16 – Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Figure drawing workshop: Saturday, June 25, 2-4 p.m.

Still life and figure paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures by 14 artists

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

New Work + Summer happenings.

Two Archers, 48x48" Oil on canvas, 2011

36x36" Oil on canvas, 2011


You're Aces, baby, 36x36" Oil on canvas, 2011


Synchronized, 36x36" Oil on canvas, 2011
Photo reference: Jenny Weston www.Jenjua.com (Check her out she is awesome!)

Target, 36x36, Oil on canvas, 2011


36x48" Oil on canvas, 2011


30x40" Oil on canvas, 2011


36x48" Oil on canvas, 2011

Groveland Gallery
Summer Shorts: Contemporary Classics
25 Groveland Terrace
Minneapolis, MN 55403
http://www.grovelandgallery.com


Opening reception: Thursday, June 16, 5-8 p.m.

Dates:
Thursday, June 16 – Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Figure drawing workshop: Saturday, June 25, 2-4 p.m.

Still life and figure paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures by 14 artists.



801 Washington Lofts

Summer 2011 Art Opening

801 Washington Lofts
801 Washington Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401

http://www.801washingtonlofts.org/art-at-801/

Saturday, June 18th, from 6pm to 9pm.
Join us for hors d'oeuvres, wine from North Loop Wine & Spirits and an evening of art by these fine artists:

Samantha French - samanthafrench.com | Ta-coumba T. Aiken - mnoriginal.org/art?p=2955 | Jeremy Lund - jeremy-lund.com

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Open Swim | Left Bank Gallery Essex

Three feet under, 48x36", Oil on canvas, 2011

"Left Bank Gallery Essex presents a solo exhibition by young contemporary oil painter Samantha French.

“Open Swim” will feature French’s latest paintings, depicting bathing beauties and submerged swimmers, and the water and refractive light surrounding them.


“Open Swim” is French’s first solo exhibition in Connecticut. The exhibition will be on view at Left Bank Gallery Essex from May 4 through June 13. Meet the artist at the opening reception on Thursday, May 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. This is a free public event. Light refreshments will be served. "

First breath, 48x48", Oil on canvas, 2011

Merging waters, 48x36", Oil on canvas, 2011

Deep dive, 36x36", Oil on canvas, 2011

Sink in; float, 36x36", Oil on canvas, 2011

Lowest dive, 30x30", Oil on canvas, 2011

Sun bathers; Palm springs, 8x8", Oil on linen on board, 2011

Palm Springs, 24x24", Oil on canvas, 2011

Pause, 8x8", Oil on linen on board, 2011

Slow Breathing II, 24x18", Oil on canvas, 2011

Somersault, 20x30", Oil on canvas, 2011

Samantha French’s latest paintings depict bathing beauties and submerged swimmers, and the water and refractive light surrounding them. Her imagery elucidates the tranquility and serenity of water, and the intrinsic value of a dip in the pool or a day at the beach.


Based on the artist’s childhood memories of summers spent at the lakes in northern Minnesota, Samantha French’s newest paintings capture pool-side conversations or tanned women surfacing for sunlight and air. French’s most intriguing canvases portray swimming figures from below or from the side, and capture light and reflections on top of or entering the water. She uses gestural brush strokes and fresh color choices, and thoughtfully crops her compositions to emphasize the space beyond the picture plane. As her figures float or glide through lakes and swimming pools, each swimmer is immersed in the moment and caught in solitude, liberated from the constraints of gravity. With figures dressed in retro swimwear, often in red, orange or black, contrasted against cool grays or aqua blues; French’s paintings blur the line between vintage and modern, creating a nostalgic place or time that seems familiar yet current. Of her work, French explains, “I am drawn to an idealistic time before my own, where swim caps and wool swimsuits were commonplace. This combination of memory, observation and photography (old and new) has allowed me to preserve the transitory qualities of water and remembrance.” French’s paintings will breathe new life into any interior, and invite one to pause for a moment of calm and clarity even on the cloudiest of days.


Samantha French was born and raised in north central Minnesota and graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with a BA in Fine Arts in 2005. She currently resides in New York City. Her work can be found in private collections throughout the country.


www.leftbankgalleryessex.com
10 Main Street
Essex, CT 06426
Ph: 860-767-0449

www.samanthafrench.com

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

MPLS St.Paul Magazine


Check out this feature on the MCAD Art Sale in this month's print version of Mpls + St.Paul Magazine. Although the new Thursday night party is actually 150.00, not 200.00 ( 100.00 of that is tax deductible too!) I do appreciate number 5 on their list! Thanks.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

MCAD Art Sale 2010




This will be my final MCAD Art Sale! Please come out and support all of the talented MCAD students and recent alumni. I will be there during the new Thursday Preview Party (yes, you can purchase work that night), Friday night and Saturday. I have been so lucky in previous years to have record breaking sales (I sold out in the first two hours the last two years!) I am hoping to make this the best and last year! The Art Sale has been such an amazing opportunity and selling my work there has allowed me to move to New York, meet and connect with amazing people in the MPLS area and continue to do what I love. Ahh, Thanks MCAD community!

Sneak peak of the work I'll be showing coming soon -- over 40 pieces.


More information below:

Art Sale: the weekend before Thanksgiving
Now in its 13th year, the MCAD Art Sale is a Minnesota tradition annually held the weekend before Thanksgiving.

New for 2010: more times, more art
The Art Sale has expanded with an additional evening and more access to work from in-demand artists.

For the second and third days of the sale, in-demand artists will be able to restock their work.

The 2010 MCAD Art Sale hours are:

Thursday, Nov. 18, 6-9 p.m.
Preview Party
Tickets $150
Complimentary drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and valet parking

Friday, Nov. 19, 6-9 p.m.
Opening Night
Tickets $35 in advance or $40 at the door
Cash bar. Valet parking $5

Saturday, Nov. 20, 9-5.
Free admission and free art studio for kids
Art is available for sale during each of the three events

Behind-the-scenes photos and video
If you want a sneak-peek at the work earlier in the week, don't come to campus, don't come to the gallery--we'll be covering the walls. Check out behind-the-scenes photos and video exclusively on Facebook.

Become a fan of the MCAD Art Sale on Facebook and browse video and photos of the stacks and crew hanging the work.

The MCAD Annual Art Sale has gained a tremendous reputation as the metro's top destination for affordable, appreciable artwork by leading-edge artists who are creating not only what's new, but also what's next, with praise and exposure pouring in from the Star Tribune, Mpls.St.Paul, FOX News, MinnPost, Minnesota Monthly, METRO, City Pages, and KARE 11. Check out what they're saying about the sale.