Coeur d’Alene Galleries is back with its 18th annual signature summer show, Miniatures by the Lake. Featuring 125 small works by 95 established and emerging Western artists, the show opens on September 2, with the main event on Saturday, September 20, from 6 to 8 p.m., when all artworks will be sold by fixed-price draw.
Jennifer Johnson, Coeur d’Alene River Cutthroat, oil, 12 x 9 in.
Jessica Bryant created two small-scale pieces for Miniatures by the Lake. Midday Light portrays a favorite spot of the artist’s on the North Fork Coeur d’Alene River. “This is a frequent subject because of the many personalities this area has, depending on the light and time of year,” says Bryant. “The light at midday is often considered undesirable for painters and photographers because of the lack of drama and deep shadows. But many of us spend time outdoors then and find it beautiful. I’ve painted this location before, in all sizes, but I chose to paint this one small in order to give it a quiet intimacy. I love the color and feel of the water in this light, and at a smaller size, it pulls the scene in close for the viewer.”
Another painting that will be up for grabs or by luck of the draw is Jennifer Johnson’s Coeur d’Alene Cutthroat.“I grew up following my dad, who always had a fly rod and a box of flies with him,” she says. “He introduced me to the world of rivers, quiet mornings, and the poetry of fly fishing. Now that same love has been passed down to my three boys, with my father fishing alongside them whenever he can. Some of our best family memories were made on the water, deep in the mountains, with bear spray on our backs and hand-tied flies at the ready.”
Jessica L. Bryant, Midday Light on the Northfork, watercolor, 15 x 9½ in.
Painting small is an anomaly for Neil Hamelin but he enjoys being taken to task every year for Miniatures by the Lake. “As a hyperrealist painter, there can be some challenges when working to a smaller level like this,” explains Hamelin. “The brushes only get so small so the details can become quite challenging to create.” His punning Belgian Drafts on Ice depicts the horses he and his wife live and work with on a daily basis. “I believe an artist should be creating from their day-to-day experiences, and being out in such a fun community, where many of our friends own and operate draft horses, allows me a unique opportunity to be inspired by these amazing animals,” he says. The piece depicts their friends’ team of Belgians during sleigh-ride season. “It is a great day spent alongside the horses and friends out on the snow-covered prairies. It always feels like we’ve stepped back in time and are experiencing the ways our forefathers lived.”
Neil Hamelin, Belgian Drafts On Ice, oil, 10 x 14½ in.
“Small works shows are not uncommon, but Miniatures by the Lake is just not any other show,” says Coeur d’Alene Galleries owner Buddy Le. “The fixed-price draw gives collectors an equal opportunity to win their favorite painting, and the reception/sale is always a lively event with great food, live music, and we’re always blown away by the support of all the attending artists who travel from all parts of the country to attend. We also always try to invite new artists to the show, and collectors love being introduced to new artists as much as pursuing their favorite artists. Miniatures by the Lake has always been a breeding ground for that potentially next big artist in the Western art world.” —
Coeur d’Alene Galleries 213 E. Sherman Avenue » Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 » (208) 667-7732 » www.cdagalleries.com
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