Always a sucker for local art (my walls are testament to that), since making the unexpected switch from the corporate world to self-employment a while back, I have necessarily had to curb my art purchases, although I can't seem to stop entirely.
And I don't have to when I continue to discover local artists willing to share their talent for a pittance. Such was the case when I finally saw the excellent Donald Schrader show at Chop Suey Books.
I'd met a couple at a wine tasting recently and, as friends of Schrader's, they'd turned me on to his small-scale comic-style paintings, which sounded like something I might want to live with.
People who have been around Richmond for a while seem to remember Schrader when he was doing comic strips for ThroTTle, but I didn't. That only made the pleasure greater when I walked into Chop Suey's little gallery and experienced the full effect of so many small works, all in a very retro comic book style.
The paintings use limited colors and simple geometric shapes, but despite such minimalism, they are abuzz with activity. Musicians play, people dance, artists paint and mice scurry.
With titles like "Smile Podner," "Suits No Zoots" and "Britches Too Big," you get a sense of Schrader's sense of old-fashioned humor. And if you didn't know better, you'd swear these were vintage 1920-30s comics, simple and full of movement.
Best of all, prices started at $10 and topped out at $50, with the bulk of them in the $20-$30 range. Now that's art for a recessionista's budget.
If I were to have bought something, I mean. Ahem.
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I am hooked on your blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the blog about Don Schrader.
I have been reading your blog everyday since the wine tasting.
Now, I am afraid I will miss something.
You are good Karen
We aim to hook!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the art tip and the kind words.
Hi, Karen - Mrs. "Somethin Missing here! Thanks so much for this terrific post about Don's show. It was a thrill to stumble upon it while surfing the 'net recently. I'm with jw above: now I am hooked on your blog, too! Don and I go to the River City Cellars wine tasting most Friday nights. Perhaps we'll run into you there one of these days so we can thank you properly with a glass of wine. Thanks again, and keep up the great blogging. Warmly, Rebecca Jones
ReplyDeleteI am always thrilled to meet people who leave comments on my blog, so it would be a pleasure to run into you anywhere.
ReplyDeleteMy blog is really nothing more than my odd little life experiences and opinions, so it's wonderful to hear that you are enjoying it so much.
Thank you for reading.