Stella's Art Gallery Shows
Visit the shows during our open business hours.
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Black and White Show: Opens January 13th 7pm. Awards posted after the reception. |
Annex Gallery Shows
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January 2023 Joseph John “Grounded”Meet Joseph John. Born and raised in Willoughby, Joseph is a full-time black and white photographer who’s eclectic subject matter and interesting focal points will be sure to warm your heart.
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February 2023 Gregory Alan "Inward Outward: New Art from an Old Soul"
Artist Bio:
Gregory Alan Johnson was born in 1954 and grew up in Brook Park, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. He began doodling as a child, a practice that his father encouraged by bringing unused forms home from work, the blank backs of which he would use for his random drawings. He began to notice that he was better at art than any of his schoolmates, which further encouraged him to continue. Upon graduating high school in 1972, he worked as an auto mechanic apprentice to make enough money for art school. In 1974 he was accepted into Cooper School of Art, which he attended until 1976. He discovered felt-tip pens there, which were used as mediums for illustration layouts. These would prove to be his medium of choice, and still is today, as most of his work is rendered with them. Upon retiring from his day job, he has decided to share his work to a wider audience. He is an active member of the Ohio Art League, and had one of his pieces featured in an OAL show in Columbus, as well as several exhibitions for 83 Gallery and 934 Gallery, also in Columbus.
Artist vision:
I work primarily with felt-tip pens, which I discovered in art school while doing layout work. Over the years, these would prove to be the basis of my technique. Virtually all of my art is either done completely with markers, or markers are at the core of the piece.
It all started many years ago, doodling with black sharpies on Bristol board, another medium I was introduced to in art school. These doodles began to take on significant form and substance and seemed to originate from within. I abandoned any pretense at “traditional” art, and began to pursue this idea of tapping into the subconscious. These drawings became a sort of therapy for the inner struggles that we all face on a daily basis. Over time, I began to collect markers of all kinds and colors to the point that I own around 500 today. I rarely throw them away, since when they dry out they take on a more “pencil” like textural quality. While working at my day job and raising a family, I doodled constantly in my spare time and began to realize that these drawings were coming from a place as yet undefined. Drawing upon my training and whatever experience I had gained as a part-time free-lance illustrator, these drawings became deeper and more mature. I dubbed them “psychological abstracts” and began to feel that these were perhaps legitimate works of art. My portfolio started to bulge. But I didn’t show them to many people, as they were usually very dark and painfully personal.
Fast-forward to January 1, 2022. It was at this time that I retired from my day job with the idea of sharing my work with the public at large. At the age of 68, I didn’t have the luxury of worrying about what people think, and honestly when I was younger, I just wasn’t ready. I’m ready now.
Together with my son Aaron, we created a website (www.gregoryalanart.com) and a social media presence on Instagram, Twitter and of course Facebook, and put it out there. I began to produce works at a far greater pace and volume. I came to realize that these works, “paintings with markers” if you will, had an urgency, almost a need to be. I say this at the risk of sounding a bit fanciful, but they mostly have an ethereal quality to them.
People who view my “paintings” generally describe them as “unique”, which is exactly what I’m striving for. My work is also very eclectic; I don’t get stuck in one particular style, which is good on the one hand, but can be somewhat confusing on the other. Some are pure abstract, probably mostly influenced by de Kooning, some are more cartoonish in feel, (I spent time as a free-lance cartoonist), but mostly my work is expressionist in nature, sometimes bordering on the surreal. (Think Edvard Munch as a cartoonist). But the vast majority of them share one thing in common: felt-tip markers. This is the one constant.
I suppose I come under the label of a “late bloomer” and I have to admit that is exactly the case. I can only attest to the absolute fact that I am having the best time in all my 68 years on this planet, right now. How popular my work is, or how well it sells, is secondary to my belief in the pure joy of the creative act. I believe that art is, in fact, a form of love, in all its manifestations; be it dance, music, cinema, sculpture, stage, visual or whatever form it takes. In this current world with all its problems, art is a refuge, a place of shared experience in which to delve deeply into ourselves, through each other. I wish for my work to do just that.
If my art resonates with just one person, I will have succeeded far beyond anything that I have any right to expect.
Gregory Alan Johnson was born in 1954 and grew up in Brook Park, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. He began doodling as a child, a practice that his father encouraged by bringing unused forms home from work, the blank backs of which he would use for his random drawings. He began to notice that he was better at art than any of his schoolmates, which further encouraged him to continue. Upon graduating high school in 1972, he worked as an auto mechanic apprentice to make enough money for art school. In 1974 he was accepted into Cooper School of Art, which he attended until 1976. He discovered felt-tip pens there, which were used as mediums for illustration layouts. These would prove to be his medium of choice, and still is today, as most of his work is rendered with them. Upon retiring from his day job, he has decided to share his work to a wider audience. He is an active member of the Ohio Art League, and had one of his pieces featured in an OAL show in Columbus, as well as several exhibitions for 83 Gallery and 934 Gallery, also in Columbus.
Artist vision:
I work primarily with felt-tip pens, which I discovered in art school while doing layout work. Over the years, these would prove to be the basis of my technique. Virtually all of my art is either done completely with markers, or markers are at the core of the piece.
It all started many years ago, doodling with black sharpies on Bristol board, another medium I was introduced to in art school. These doodles began to take on significant form and substance and seemed to originate from within. I abandoned any pretense at “traditional” art, and began to pursue this idea of tapping into the subconscious. These drawings became a sort of therapy for the inner struggles that we all face on a daily basis. Over time, I began to collect markers of all kinds and colors to the point that I own around 500 today. I rarely throw them away, since when they dry out they take on a more “pencil” like textural quality. While working at my day job and raising a family, I doodled constantly in my spare time and began to realize that these drawings were coming from a place as yet undefined. Drawing upon my training and whatever experience I had gained as a part-time free-lance illustrator, these drawings became deeper and more mature. I dubbed them “psychological abstracts” and began to feel that these were perhaps legitimate works of art. My portfolio started to bulge. But I didn’t show them to many people, as they were usually very dark and painfully personal.
Fast-forward to January 1, 2022. It was at this time that I retired from my day job with the idea of sharing my work with the public at large. At the age of 68, I didn’t have the luxury of worrying about what people think, and honestly when I was younger, I just wasn’t ready. I’m ready now.
Together with my son Aaron, we created a website (www.gregoryalanart.com) and a social media presence on Instagram, Twitter and of course Facebook, and put it out there. I began to produce works at a far greater pace and volume. I came to realize that these works, “paintings with markers” if you will, had an urgency, almost a need to be. I say this at the risk of sounding a bit fanciful, but they mostly have an ethereal quality to them.
People who view my “paintings” generally describe them as “unique”, which is exactly what I’m striving for. My work is also very eclectic; I don’t get stuck in one particular style, which is good on the one hand, but can be somewhat confusing on the other. Some are pure abstract, probably mostly influenced by de Kooning, some are more cartoonish in feel, (I spent time as a free-lance cartoonist), but mostly my work is expressionist in nature, sometimes bordering on the surreal. (Think Edvard Munch as a cartoonist). But the vast majority of them share one thing in common: felt-tip markers. This is the one constant.
I suppose I come under the label of a “late bloomer” and I have to admit that is exactly the case. I can only attest to the absolute fact that I am having the best time in all my 68 years on this planet, right now. How popular my work is, or how well it sells, is secondary to my belief in the pure joy of the creative act. I believe that art is, in fact, a form of love, in all its manifestations; be it dance, music, cinema, sculpture, stage, visual or whatever form it takes. In this current world with all its problems, art is a refuge, a place of shared experience in which to delve deeply into ourselves, through each other. I wish for my work to do just that.
If my art resonates with just one person, I will have succeeded far beyond anything that I have any right to expect.
March 2023 Monica Disiena "No Spoken Words"
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Artist Bio:
Monica Disiena, a small-town girl born and raised in Wickliffe, Ohio, an entrepreneur, a landscape design artist, a seamstress, and a mother. My passion began at a very young age, drawing and painting, but flourished when I studied commercial art in high school which included architecture, screen printing, photography, figure drawing, airbrushing, and so much more. From there, I attended Virginia Marti College of Fashion and Design for a period before experimenting with new ventures of sign creating, framing, graphic design, and landscape design, where I’ve landed and continue to create professionally. Nature and its natural beauty that surrounds us has always inspired my pieces. When I’m not creating landscape designs, I’m developing pen and ink drawings and acrylic paintings. Artist Statement: Being a commercially trained artist, I have created for other people my entire life. I wanted to find my joy in just making art for art's sake, my true passion. I decided to go back to the basics and create with paper, ink and an idea. Ink drawings have been around for centuries and are timeless pieces of work. I start with an idea, something basic, and without getting rigid about the result, I let the art take me where it wants to go. The more pieces I did the more they evolved. My vision is to tell a story, a tale of sorts, and hope it resonates with my viewers. As I grew as an artist, M.C. Esher, who created detailed etchings and Ansel Adams, a black and white nature photographer, both inspired me with the way their art drew me in and made me feel. I strive to produce art that makes others feel that way. Collection: No Spoken Words This collection gave way to all the things I love. I love books, lettering, words and fonts, upcycling, reusing, and creating. After finding a patinaed dictionary, I read the two words on the top of the pages and let images come to me. I let the pages inspire the imagination to create magic, allowing the shapes and words to take me where it needed to go, its art! Two words can hold different meanings, curiosity, and attention to each person. The images I drew were my interpretation and imagination for each page that I read those bold words at the top of. I hope my creations resonate and relate to those viewing them, where all of our different interpretations can be brought together as one. |
Events
EVERY MONTH! Second Friday!: WHAT IS IT SECOND FRIDAY?
- A once-a-month reception celebrating the beginning of a new show
- Opportunities to meet down-to-Earth local artists
- To shop and buy local artwork.
- Every Second Friday 7-9pm at Stella's Art Gallery
December 2022
Shots and Shop
Visit Stella's Art Gallery December 2nd 4-9 and explore our 11 studios, 2 galleries, and over 50 artist booths for your perfect *holiday gifts.
Our very own artist and mixologist Robin Steinbeck has prepared these lovely complimentary shots for those 21 and older: Santa's Hot Pants (back by popular demand!), Jack Frost Ice, Aunt Bethany's Jello, and Sugar Cookie.
*Selected artwork will be on sale for this night only! Don't miss your chance to get that great gift for your loved ones -or you!
Visit Stella's Art Gallery December 2nd 4-9 and explore our 11 studios, 2 galleries, and over 50 artist booths for your perfect *holiday gifts.
Our very own artist and mixologist Robin Steinbeck has prepared these lovely complimentary shots for those 21 and older: Santa's Hot Pants (back by popular demand!), Jack Frost Ice, Aunt Bethany's Jello, and Sugar Cookie.
*Selected artwork will be on sale for this night only! Don't miss your chance to get that great gift for your loved ones -or you!
