Two exhibits currently feature shoe art

The Girls Gotta Run Foundation has a fall exhibit at the Takoma Park Municipal Center in Takoma Park, Maryland. My work continues to do well for GGRF and this exhibit is no exception. If you are in the Washington DC area please stop by for a visit.

Starting today my work is open for viewing in California at Salons Within in beautiful Fair Oaks. There is a lot of variety in this display including some of my newest work from New York and Las Vegas.

NYC Washington Arch Redux

The color on my first version just did not seem right, either did the grayness. This version takes care of both concerns and will soon be posted to my web site.  More to come from New York.

Want to see larger versions of this work? Check out more of Doug Dourgarian’s high heel shoe art and famous places albums called Doug’s Art Gallery at http://www.DougsArtGallery.com.

A Tale of Two Artworks

Go back just a few years and it is difficult for me to believe how much the look of my work has changed. This version, I’ll call it “A” was done in August 2006 after my trip to Georgetown. To be truthful I didn’t like it and don’t recall posting it to my web site.

Please post your opinion because the feedback helps very much. Here is the same piece in today’s look. I’ll call this one “B” and still not sure if it belongs on my site.

The first thing I notice is chopping off the sky and trees in A. Its kind of dark up there. The colors of course are way into the bright zone in A too. For what its worth all my art seems to start with the primary colors and it takes me awhile to bring out the subtleties. Geez two years is a long time in this case. Any other differences?

DougsArtGallery.com my new web name

This is brand new. The new name better suits my use of the online gallery.  The links and referrals should take effect in a day or two. The photo below is Santa Monica Palms.

New Washington DC Art Show Includes My Shoe Art

My art is now on display on Capitol Hill in a small art museum. Over the past year I’ve donated several of my shoe art prints to the Girls Gotta Run Foundation, Washington, DC to help them raise money. The Executive Director, Pat Ortman, regularly holds art shows, mostly in the Washington, DC area at some beautiful venues. These shows have included my artwork. This summer they have a show at the beautiful Sewall-Belmont House and Museum across the street from the Supreme Court Building. 

Check out these photos of the opening on June 18 and see if you can spot my work. Keep looking down the page and it will be much easier to spot the photo of Katie Couric in attendance at her VIP Reception. Even better, the art sells and I’ve developed a small but important following for my work and the foundation. I’m happy to help them out. My shoe art seems to fit in well with the theme of the shows.

Its Showtime! Event listings where you can view my art

The 2007 Fine Art and Craft Show at St. Mary Elementary School will be held on Saturday, November 17 from 10:00-4:00. The location is 1351 58th Street, Sacramento, CA 95819. Last year this event is a lot of fun with live music, wine and cheese tasting, and a raffle. This year they will have a silent auction including my donated print of the image below called “If the shoe fits, buy one in every color.”

The Annual Holiday Art and Craft Show at the Franchise Tax Board in Sacramento will be held on Tuesday, December 4 from 10:00-2:00. There will be 68 artists and crafters this year.

If the shoe fits buy one in every color

Paper, canvas, and printing

Many artists spend hours debating the plus and minus of the materials used to create their artwork. Lately I’ve joined that crowd too because the number of choices are high, quality is great, and depending on how I choose; the results make a difference.

Recently I have used the matte canvas giclee as my material of choice for prints. Now I feel the need to change for a few reasons. Most importantly the results seem to vary from print to print and if I choose to continue matte canvas it would only be for the impasto oil looking work and when I have a high resolution file. Most of my files are a little small for the minimum size requirements the giclee printer demand. They can print very large, beautiful canvases. That is not a description of my current work.

Most of the better selling prints from my work are small, usually less than 11 x 14 inches. This puts me firmly into paper printing sizes. Today’s papers have all kinds of textures from ultra smooth to rough watercolor types. Also the quality variations a huge and even the most expensive are not that much more per square foot compared to lower end products. “It only costs a little more to go first class” my father used to say.

As of today I am moving away from the matte canvas giclee in favor of the smooth 100% acid free paper. Some canvas prints will remain available on select prints and sizes where I see the match working well for the print. There will be some savings to the consumer. I try to keep my prices down because I want lots of collectors of my art work.

About.com article on my shoe art

Today About.com’s guide to shoes Desiree Stimpert wrote this very nice article about my artwork. Of course I am most grateful for the kind words and the fact she purchased two of my pieces: one from my shoe art gallery and Times Square, New York City. Great choices on two artworks I enjoyed creating.

The About.com guide to shoes is an excellent resource containing lots of shoe articles and links to related sites. You have got to check out the What’s Hot link box to see shoes like these from Guess:

DougsArtGallery.com web site up and running

Today I am happy to announce my new, improved web site is up and running.  All of my art is on display and can be purchased in one place called www.DougsArtGallery.com.  Stop by for a visit soon, I think you will like it.

Sold! Minnesota software firm agrees to purchase Doug’s art

Today TempWorks Software of Eagan Minnesota agreed to purchase several pieces from my Lady’s Fashion Shoes and Famous Places collection. The company is expanding its corporate headquarters office and the art will decorate the new area. Full disclosure: My brother Gregg Dourgarian is President of the company and an enthusiastic supporter of my work. Many thanks to Gregg and his staff.