"The Art of Storyelling" this weekend at Casper's Corridor Gallery and Wind City Books

"Glitch" by Karla Oceanak with illustrations by Kendra Spanjer. Spanjer's work will be featured in "The Art Of Storytelling"
art show and book sale in Casper Nov. 30-Dec. 1.

From the Nov. 23 Casper Star-Tribune Weekender section:

The Corridor Gallery and Wind City Books in downtown Casper present an art show and book signing celebrating “The Art of Storytelling.”

The gallery show features original artworks used in illustrated books by artists Bruce MacPherson, Aumi K. Perry, Zachary Pullen and Kendra Spanjer. In conjunction, Wind City Books will host these illustrators and many Wyoming authors in an all-day book signing.

MacPherson, of Vienna, Va., has illustrated for magazines, newspapers, games, books and national advertising campaigns. His clients include Mattel, National Geographic Society, New York Times, Texas Roadhouse Restaurants, Radio Shack, Red Robin Restaurants and many more.

Perry, of Casper, earned her fine arts degree from the University of Wyoming in 2001. She then studied drawing and painting under Hans-Peter Szameit and Sanna Tomac for three years. She has also studied with noted painters John Michael Carter and David Leffel. Aumi’s paintings have been featured in shows, galleries and private collections across the U.S.

Pullen’s character-oriented illustrations have been seen in The New York Times Book Review, Sports Illustrated, Esquire, GolfWorld, The Wall Street Journal and many other publications. His first picture book, “The Toughest Cowboy or How the Wild West was Tamed,” garnered a starred review from the School Library Journal and was placed on the Texas Blue Bonnet Master List for 2006-2007. His second book, “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” also received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. He lives in Casper.

Spanjer divides her time between being “a writer who illustrates” and “an illustrator who writes.” She and Karla Oceanak are the co-creators of an alphabetically-inspired graphic novel for middle grade readers: the Aldo Zelnick Comic Novel Series, published by Bailiwick Press. Titles so far include “Artsy-Fartsy” (December 2009), “Bogus” (June 2010), “Cahoots” (May 2011), "Dumbstruck” (August 2011), “Egghead” (May 2012), “Finicky” (September 2012) and “Glitch” (November 2012). She lives in Fort Collins, Colo.

Details:

Gallery show: Opening reception is 7 p.m. NOV. 30 at the Corridor Gallery, 120 E. Second St. The show will continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. DEC. 1. It is free.

Book signing: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. DEC. 1 at Wind City Books, 152 S. Center St. The art show illustrators will be joined by authors Craig Johnson, Gayle Irwin, Cat Urbigkit, Walter Jones, Curt Wendleboe, Kendra Spanjer, Bill Sniffin, Margo Bean and Gene Gagliano.

Info: www.windcitybooks.com, www.thecorridorgallery.com

"Silverspot: A Graphic Novel" debuts this evening at Mix'd Media in Jackson

Equality State Book Festival presenter Zak Pullen illustrates cover of new album by The Wiyos

Cover illustration by Casper's Zak Pullen.

Casper artist and illustrator Zak Pullen will participate in a panel discussion about children's book publishing on Saturday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m., during the Equality State Book Festival in the Casper College Gateway Building. Also on the panel are Cat Urbigkit, Karla Oceanak and Kendra Spanjer. Zak is the co-owner of the The Corridor Gallery in downtown Casper where the bookfest's author reception will be held on Friday, Sept. 14, 5:30 p.m. Zak is branching out to do cover designs for music CDs. His latest is a cover illustration for The Wiyos newly-released album, "Twist." Zak is releasing 100 CD/book combinations at $55 each. That includes a meet-and-greet jam and story session and two tickets to the Sept. 14 The Wiyos' concert at the Wolcott Galleria Theatre, 136 S. Wolcott in Casper. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Also playing will be Ten Sleep's Jalan Crossland and John Kirlin and the High Plains Drifters. A great line-up! We hate to tell you all this because we want you to attend the free bookfest events that continue that same evening at 7:30 p.m. with a reading by Wyoming Poet Laureate Pat Frolander followed by a poetry slam (with emcee George Vlastos) at 8:30. Both events are at the Metro Coffee Company downtown.

"Paul Gregg: Caught in Cartoons!" at CFD Old West Museum

The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum presents the "Paul Gregg: Caught in Cartoons" exhibit. We are delighted to pay tribute to a notable artist who captured the humor and energy of Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Paul Gregg was born in Baxter Springs, Kansas in 1876. At the age of seventeen he left his home to go to St. Louis, Missouri where he attended the St. Louis Art Museum’s School of Fine Arts, an affiliate of Washington University. After he graduated he was hired by the St. Louis Republic newspaper and later with the St. Louis Post–Dispatch. During this time, newspaper photography was in its infancy and he, like other artists, was hired to illustrate news stories, draw political cartoons and to create decorative scenes for the press. Gregg had to rely on his memory, details from reports or even visiting the scene of an event to capture the moment. When he wasn’t working for the newspaper, he was constantly striking out for the West where he made several pack-trips through his favorite countryside.

In 1902, Paul Gregg visited Denver and met with Harry H. Tammen and Frederick G. Bonifils of the Denver Post. He was hired to work for their paper and continued to do so until 1949. His talent in capturing the scenery and people of the West proved to be a great asset for the paper which asked him to paint a new cover for the Sunday Denver Post’s magazine The Rocky Mountain Empire every week. Throughout his long 40 year career with the Post, Gregg painted over 2,000 paintings. One of his favorite subjects was the Indians. He related that he was adopted into the Quapaw Indian tribe along with his parents and sister making him “an Osage Indian once removed.”

For many years, Gregg painted scenes celebrating Cheyenne Frontier Days for the Denver Post, which had a special relationship with the rodeo from its beginning. The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum is proud to offer this unique look at the humor, attention to detail and care Paul Gregg used in bringing the excitement of the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo to the people of the Rocky Mountain Front Range.

The Paul Gregg Exhibit can be seen through July 8, 2012. Select pieces will be on display through Frontier Days in the Museum rotunda.

For more information call (307) 778-7290 or visit us online at http://www.oldwestmuseum.org/.

The "Paul Gregg: Caught in Cartoons" Exhibit is sponsored by the Denver Post.

Check out "Elefinger"

Sent to me this morning was an invitation to check out published illustrator David Ostow. After publishing Young Adult graphic novel So Punk Rock (and other ways to disappoint your mother) under the Flux imprint with his author sister, he is back with a blog called 'Your Words Not Mine', a collection of editorial material, and other people's stories that they can submit.

Links take you to the book on Amazon, and to David's blog, where you can peruse his work.


So Punk Rock: http://www.amazon.com/So-Punk-Rock-Disappoint-Mother/dp/0738714712
Your Words Not Mine: http://yourwordsnotmine.com/

Also, from Your Words Not Mine: Go to http://yourwordsnotmine.com/about/ for an interesting proposition for creative writers. 

Ray Troll, friend of the Casper College Tate Museum, wins Guggenheim for science writing

Alaska artist and writer Ray Troll, author of Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway, has been awarded a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship for his science writing. Ray was one of the presenters at the 2010 Equality State Book Festival in Casper. He is an old friend of the Casper College Tate Geological Museum and was a co-presenter of two bookfest sessions at the Tate: a book illustrators' panel along with Casper's Zak Pullen, illustrator of the children's book about “Dee” the mammoth; and the Tate's Russell Hawley. Ray also joined Casper author Tom Rea, Ilja Nieuwland and the Tate staff in a session called “Dig-it: A Conversation About Dinosaurs and Fossils.”

Ray lives in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Here's some background info on the 2011 Guggenheim awards:

On April 7, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation awarded 180 Fellowships to a diverse group of scholars, artists, and scientists in its eighty-seventh annual competition for the United States and Canada.  Appointed on the basis of prior achievement and exceptional promise, the successful candidates were chosen from a group of almost 3,000 applicants.

Image: Ray Troll's illustration for "Crusin' the Fossil Highway."

WOW starts Introduction to Classical Life Drawing class March 24

Join Works of Wyoming for its Introduction to Classical Life Drawing Class on Thursday, March 24, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at WOW in Laramie.

Mack Brislawn, a local artist skilled in portraiture, figure drawing and western landscapes, will be teaching participants an academic approach to tonal figure drawing in this three hour class.  Some materials will be provided, but if you have any of the following, please bring them: hard drawing board (at least 18x24"), portable, upright easel, vine charcoal, 18x24" charcoal paper, chamois, and kneaded rubber erasers. Class is only $20.

  

Click the link below to register. Please note that you must pre-register because of limited spots. We can have a maximum of 10 participants, so sign up before class is full.

If have any questions about the class or how to register, please contact me at the below email or phone number.

We look forward to seeing you at our class!

Register Now!

FMI: Sarah Dahlberg, wow@uwyo.edu, 307 742 6574

Check out David Klaren's new web site

Pondhawk (2009), David K. Klaren, Graphite on Arches cover, 43 x 60 inches

Pinedale's Sue Sommers sends this:

Pipeline artist David K. Klaren has a new web site, featuring a full portfolio of his latest graphite and ink drawings. The site was designed by Sommers Studio (http://sommstudio.com/ ), which also designed the Pipeline Art Project site.

Cartoonish World War I flying ace lands at Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne

Fore! Illustrator Zak Pullen's very busy September

Fans of Zachary Pullen's character-based illustrations will have two occasions to hear him speak -- and view his work -- during the next two weeks.

The Ned and Barbara Murray Art Series at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne is sponsoring an exhibit of Zak's work Sept. 15-Oct. 15. The show will be in the Esther and John Clay Fine Arts Gallery. Zak will talk about his work at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 15, in the Fine Arts Building, Room 113. A reception follows at 8 p.m. in the gallery. All events are free and open to the public.

On Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-25, Zak will participate in the Equality State Book Festival in his hometown of Casper. During the day on Friday, Zak will visit Natrona County Schools along with fellow bookfest presenters Gene Gagliano, Ray Troll and Jacko Gantos. That evening, the bookfest co-sponsors an author and illustrator reception at Zak's Corridor Gallery, 120 E. 2nd St., 5:30-7 p.m. A free event, with fine art and hors d’oeuvres and lively conversation.

On Saturday, Zak, Ray Troll and Russell Hawley will participate in an illustrators panel: “Drawn In: Get Interested in Illustration!” This free event is 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. in the Nichols Auditorium, McMurry Career Studies Bldg., Room 160. Zak will join other authors at a book signing from 5-5:45 p.m. that day in the Strausner Student Center at Casper College.

FMI: http://www.zacharypullen.com/ and http://www.equalitystatebookfest.com/ and http://www.lcccfoundation.edu/

Casper Equality State Book Festival

Equality State Book Festival

About the 2010 Book Festival

The Equality State Book Festival is back for its third incarnation on the 24th anniversary of the annual Casper College/ARTCORE Literary Conference. This year, we’ll host 16 authors and illustrators for a vast variety of exciting events on September 24 & 25 in Casper, WY.

Our participants this year include (but are certainly not limited to) 2008 favorite Jack Gantos; award-winning novelists Jaimee Wriston Colbert and John Vernon; children’s author and illustrator extraordinaire Zak Pullen; teaching talent Gene Gagliano; poets Ravi Shankar and Robert Wrigley; Alaskan author and illustrator Ray Troll, and Idaho memoirist Kim Barnes. Nonfiction notable Lee Gutkind, judge of the 2010 Wyoming Arts Council fellowship contest, will join us for the fellowship prize reading, with Casper’s own Nina McConigley and the three fellowship recipients.

Check out all of our participants on the “Authors” page. In addition to the readings, there will be panel discussions, book signings, creative writing craft talks, a gala banquet, and a poetry slam emceed by the ever-popular George Vlastos. Click on the “Events” tab above for more details on all of these dynamic happenings. Registration for the banquet is available at the “Register” tab. (Go to http://www.equalitystatebookfest.com/)

For questions or more information, contact:

Equality State Book Festival

Attn: Laurie Lye

Casper College

125 College Drive

Casper, WY 82601

(800) 442-2963 Ext. 2639

(307) 268-2639

llye@caspercollege.edu