Life Aquatic: Minneapolis Exhibition

I'm excited to announce my solo exhibition in Minneapolis, MN. Please come and say hello if you're in town. I'll be at the opening and hoping to to see some familiar + new faces.

GROVELAND GALLERY

25 Groveland Terrace, Minneapolis, MN

www.grovelandgallery.com

Opening reception: Jan 25th, 2-5pm

The exhibition runs concurrently with Water’s Edge, a group exhibition of paintings and prints in the main gallery.

Aqua Sunrise, 48x54", Oil on canvas, 2013

Groveland Gallery is pleased present Life Aquatic, an exhibition of new paintings by guest artist Samantha French. A Minnesota native, French graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2005. Since that time she has exhibited her paintings throughout the United States, and her work is included in numerous private and public collections across the country. French lives and maintains a studio in Brooklyn, New York.

Born and raised in Nisswa, Minnesota, French grew up in the heart of the Brainerd Lakes area. Known for its culture of summer cabins and weekend getaways for Twin Citians, French’s paintings are inspired by her intimate experience with “lake life.” Her memories of her childhood summers, combined with her profound connection with the place she considers “home,” infuse French’s dynamic waterscapes with authenticity. In her paintings, swimmers float, dive and push toward the water’s surface. Although she relies on a palette of bold colors and active compositions, her paintings capture a feeling of graceful weightlessness, the quiet solitude only felt below the surface of water. About these paintings, French writes:

Using vague yet consuming memories from my childhood summers spent immersed in the tepid lakes of northern Minnesota, I attempt to recreate the quiet tranquility of water and nature; of days spent sinking and floating, still and peaceful. These paintings are a link to my home and my continual search for the feeling of sun on my face and warm summer days at the lake. They are my escape, a subtle reprieve from the day-to-day.

The artist will be present at the opening reception on Saturday, January 25 from 2-5 p.m. The exhibition runs concurrently with Water’s Edge, a group exhibition of paintings and prints in the main gallery. For more information please call 612-377-7800 or visit www.grovelandgallery.com.

New Large Prints!

 

I am thrilled to finally be able to offer large format Giclee prints! These look amazing. I have slowly been getting all my larger paintings scanned on a large format flatbed scanner over the years. What this means is, even at the largest size, the detail is incredible.
 
I've put a lot of time (and money) into researching and finding the highest quality equipment and print materials out there. Each one is printed at my studio on large format Giclee printers with archival inks on thick velvet fine art paper. I personally inspect, color correct, sign, pack and ship each print. I don't want my name on anything that isn't up to my high standards.
 
Canvas prints are custom order only. Available in sizes 36x48" = 1800.00, 48x48" = 2000.00 and 48x60" = 2250.00.  Please contact me via email, info@samanthafrench.com. Lead time is 4 weeks.
 
Fine Art Paper Prints are available below.
 
Due to my time constraints and my exhibition schedule I am unable to offer framed prints at this time. I'm happy to offer links to framers or insight into the process.

Available Here: http://www.samanthafrench.com/purchase-prints/

 

 

Beautifully Boring - Opening this Friday!

I'm heading to Chattanooga in a couple of days! Excited to be a part of this group exhibition curated by The Jealous Curator and showing along side three talented artists and painters. Holly Farrell, Leah Giberson and Mark Bradley-Shoup.

Join us at the reception Friday, Feb. 8th 5:30-8:30pm With a curatorial talk at 6:00pm.

Show runs until March 29th, 2013

Give - away Winner

And the winner of the Holiday Give-away is... MEGAN SHARP!
She will be receiving the 11x14" framed Breakthrough print. 

Thanks so much to everyone who commented and entered the give-away. Hope your holidays are wonderful! I'm looking forward to spending some time in MN with my family and friends.

I'll be closing my etsy shop while I'm away. I'll be taking orders until Monday Dec. 17th at Midnight EST. but will reopen on Jan. 1st www.etsy.com/shop/samanthafrench

Holiday Give-away!

I'm feeling festive! Comment below and tell me your favorite of "Breakthrough" or "Up from below" + what the holidays mean to you. I'll be giving out one framed 11x14" print (image size 8x10/8x8") to one randomly chosen person. Comment away and feel free to share this.

Ends Saturday, 12-15-12 at midnight EST.

Also, there's only five  two days left to order prints via my Etsy site before the holidays! Order may be placed until Monday 12-17 at midnight EST.

*Please make sure to leave a way to contact you!  I'll post the results here and on my Facebook Page.

New Prints Added!

I've added three new prints to my Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/SamanthaFrench Check them out and use code Holiday10 for 10% until Christmas. I'll be taking orders until Dec. 17th and then will be on a brief hiatus until January. Also, I've made some changes to my website take a look and let me know how you like (or don't like) the new look! http://www.samanthafrench.com

Small Business Saturday sale.

Happy Holidays!

Use code: SMALL15 for 15% off all prints in my Etsy shop, Nov.24th-26th.

www.etsy.com/shop/SamanthaFrench

+ PRE ORDERS  now open for Dark Waters! Ships Dec. 14th.

2012 Paintings.

Breakthrough, 36x48", oil on canvas, 2012

Dark waters, 48x60", oil on canvas, 2012

Open, 30x30", oil on canvas, 2012

Self portrait, Through the water, 20x20", oil on canvas, 2012

Self portrait, Through the water II, 24x24", oil on canvas, 2012

Through the water, 20x20", oil on canvas, 2012

Up from below, 48x48", oil on canvas, 2012

Somewhere near here, 30x40", oil on canvas, 2012

Emerge; clear waters, 48x60", oil on canvas, 2012

Endless Summer: NYC exhibition

I want to thank everyone who came out on Friday for my opening, Endless Summer at Platform LES. It was a huge success and I feel blessed to have so many wonderful and supportive people in my life. It has been a wild, exciting and at times stressful year: three solo exhibitions and two group shows, commissions and record print sales, magazine covers and inserts, One Kings Lane sale and lots of painting....deep breath. I'll be working on some commissions the next couple months along with a few new pieces for a group show in February but will be taking a little step back. I feel like I've been going nonstop for the past couple years with back to back exhibitions and projects. I wouldn't trade any of it but I'm looking for a little more balance in life as I'm sure most of you can relate to. Sometimes, as a newer artist you feel like you need to take every opportunity that comes your way, even at the expense of your health, sanity, social life (ha, social life, what's that?).  Since there is nothing I'd rather be doing with my life this really just means I need some time to regroup. Oh don't get me wrong, I'll still be painting everyday but will just be slowing down my exhibition schedule next year. It isn't even New Years and I'm already proclaiming my resolutions, so I'll leave you with these photos of the opening. If you're in NY please stop by and see these in person, the show is up until Dec. 1st. 81 Hester St. New York, NY

My parents were so sweet to come to NY for the opening, here they are in front of my studio.

 And I'll leave you with a photo of me in the studio working on pieces for the show.

Palm Springs opening!

This is tomorrow! Unfortunately I won't be able to make the party tomorrow but please stop by if you're in the Palm Springs, CA area. You can meet all the other wonderful artists and see my new work. Enjoy the sun and art for me!