UGALLERY BLOG

UGallery is turning the digital art world into a truly “at your fingertips” experience.

Gregor Hochmuth and Philippe Jestin are joining forces in UGallery’s Mission headquarters to present “insert ___ here,” a show that melds pop panache with humor and sophistication. Gregor is a photographer as well as an engineer at Instagram. His work proves that art can maintain its integrity on and off the touch screen. Philippe works with resin to create semi-sculptural pieces. Both artists will be present at the show to discuss their complete body of work.

Attendees must email social@ugallery.com with their full name to RSVP. We hope to see you there!

Christine Soccio has been at the School of Visual Arts Summer Residency program in NYC. It’s amazing to see the progress she has made in just a few months and it’s a joy to hear updates from her. Despite the demands of the residency, she is as bright and cheerful as always. With bigwigs like Danica Phelps, Gregory Coates, Ira Richer, Steve DeFrank, and Jerry Saltz as critiques, I can imagine there have been some stressful moments. Christine has pushed through the stress. She recently shared with us photos from her studio as well as the questions they asked her at the beginning. She answers the questions about her practice below. If you are loving the work she is putting together at her residency as much as the UGallery team, stop by the SVA’s August 9th show for her final presentation! You can attend on Thursday from 6 to 9pm at 335 W16th Street, NYC, NY. It’ll be the same weekend as our San Francisco show, insert ___ here! Christine will be holding down the East Coast UGallery fort. Leave a comment on Christine’s profile if you’re interested.

1. Does your art speak for itself in your absence? What do you think it says?
I don’t think anyone can really determine what experience the viewer will have when their art is shown in their absence. Each person brings their own perception. That being said, my hope would be that a closer connection to nature and the unseen world would be felt by the viewer since that is where my inspiration comes from.

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Lee Clarke is this week’s artist! We are so excited he is showing his work with us. Plenty of interior designers and design publications have picked up on his fun work. His loose abstractions are the perfect statement piece! Kyle Knight chose his Pasion piece for her J. Crew inspired collection. It’s just one example of the power his colorful pieces can add to a space. Here he talks about his art and his inspiration! Maybe he is the perfect person to help you fill that blank wall above your couch.

Grand Humility

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Every Thursday, we welcome a batch of new artists and artwork to UGallery. This series of blog posts highlights each week’s new artists. 



Our new artist this week is Mark Yaggie. Read on below to learn more about him. Leave a nice comment on his profile page to welcome him to UGallery!

Mark Yaggie. Portland, Maine.

Cacti Study

Mark Yaggie is more than just a lucky photographer. Even though he’d say, “90% of good photography is sheer luck,” his portfolio begs to differ. Mark has a knack for catching serendipitous, suburban sights with the snap of his camera. From flourishing cacti to the decay of a tired business, Mark’s subjects are sure to comment on man and his affect on the environment.

Picasso in D.C. by Elliot Coatney

acrylic painting on stretched canvas

40“ h x 30“ w x .75” d
5 lbs. 0 oz.

Oh la la, this week’s Artist in Focus is the crème de la crème. Faye Vander Veer has been with UGallery for quite sometime. She plays to the classic lover in all of us. Her romantic scenes of cultured denizens traversing their cities are reminiscent of John Singer Sargent and the French Impressionists. She says, “the simplest act can become the most compelling painting.” Her paintings prove that our daily lives are fascinating events worthy of being painted. Here she discusses her inspiration and her paintings.

Le Serveur

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Every Thursday, we welcome a batch of new artists and artwork to UGallery. This series of blog posts highlights each week’s new artists. The two this week follow their passions, which is the key to good art.  

Our new artists are Emilia Arana and Cristina Sciarra. Read on below to learn more about each of them. Leave them a nice comment on their profile pages to welcome them to UGallery!

Emilia Arana. Tucson, Arizona

Things that Fill the Earth

Emilia Arana delivers refreshing work to the landscape of abstract art. Swelling from scrapes of dark purple and green, Emilia’s emotions build into the thick clouds of color suspended on the canvas. Emilia takes elements from her challenges, doubts, and accomplishments to create omnipresent and intuitive pieces that promise relief from arid abstractions.

Cristina Sciarra. Brooklyn, NY

Sifted Cake Flour

Sprinkle a pinch of color. Add a dash of composition. Mix until fully combined and you have a Cristina Sciarra photograph. With the right amount of light and texture, Cristina captures the essence of her current passion: creating and cooking recipes. Feast your eyes on food photography that tells the perfect tale of preparation and artistic prowess with a still life from Cristina smorgasbord of wholesome photo shoots.

About the Curators

UGallery has a bit of a love thing for the design duo behind the blog Blue Rooms White Houses and the chic interior design firm Christopher Patrick Interiors. Christopher Patrick and Kaitlyn Andrews-Rice work in tandem to bring a much needed design eye to Washington, DC. They recently participated in DC Design House and were given the bathroom! Many designers would shy away from the throne room, but these two rose to the challenge. They turned the little bath into a real, cozy room (with art in it!) Christopher and Kaitlyn are making art and design accessible to everyone. That’s what makes them the perfect pair for a UGallery curated collection. Their collection, Into the Deep, is distinctive because it was a collaborative effort between two business partners and friends. They each picked 15 pieces separately and joined forces in the end. There’s no surprise that they chose similar pieces. The result was a cohesive collection that begs to be included in your next design project.

Highlights from Kaitlyn Andrews-Rice’s Quirky Questionnaire:

Favorite color? Purple
What are you reading right now? Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Marriage Plot
Best museum? Tate Modern
Collect anything? Shoes, cookbooks, Louis Vuitton

Highlights from Christopher Patrick’s Quirky Questionnaire:

Favorite burrito or coffee joint? Chipotle
Favorite cartoon character? Jerry of Tom & Jerry
Star Wars character of choice? C-P30 gold is gorgeous
Collect anything? Wallets, stemware, Louis Vuitton

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We stumbled upon Greg Constantine’s Poetic License series on Pinterest. A particular favorite of ours is his “Art Doesn’t Have 2 Match the Couch” composition.

It got us thinking. Does art have to match the sofa? We turned to our home guru, Apartment Therapy, for the answer. They address the issue head on with their article Art Above The Sofa. Here is what they had to say:

“There are so many different ways to hang art in your home. If there’s a blank area above the sofa in your living room — you’re looking at several different options to occupying that space. There’s no one definite way that this needs to be dealt with and that’s what makes deciding how to hang artwork so much fun.

Some choose to make a huge statement by hanging one large piece of artwork. It’s where the eye immediately goes upon entering the room and if you love the piece that much, this is an excellent option. It’s an even better option if the piece serves as a pop of color as one of the bits of interest.

If you don’t have just one large piece, hanging artwork and photos gallery style is an extremely popular option. This is really successful for those who own a lot of artwork and can’t just choose one item to hang on its own. Group unlikely photos and prints together and you’ll be surprised that they will actually work together!Lay out the framed pieces on the floor first before hanging, that way you can map out a shape before committing to holes in the wall.”

Interior design by Katie Ridder

So, not only does art not have to match the couch, but it doesn’t have to match your entire interior aesthetic! Still, if you want to match it, go ahead. The beauty of hanging art is that it is completely, one hundred percent, up to YOU!

It’s Friday the 13th. UGallery would like to present the top ten superstitions with some art! These pieces may be a little edgy, but like Cesar A. Cruz said, “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”

10. Don’t Open Umbrellas Indoors

7. Crossing Your Fingers

6. Hearing Howling Dogs

Full Moon Crucifixion, Oaxaca, Mexico by Hal Robert Myers

1. Knocking on Wood

Zipper Scar by Heather Patterson

For this New Artist Spotlight, UGallery would like to introduce Richard Kattman. Below is a little bit about his work. If you like what you see, let him know by leaving a comment on his profile page and welcoming him to UGallery!

Richard Kattman. Holliston, Massachusetts

Home Field

Richard Kattman understands the beauty in nature. As a landscape architect, Richard finds beauty while he crafts new environments. As a painter, Richard creates beauty by cultivating the essence of human nature. He prunes and polishes his abstractions with strong color and line. Richard’s paintings are sure to leave a permanent mark on UGallery’s abstract art scene.

UGallery is proud to announce it’s new print section. You can now access all your favorite pieces at more affordable costs.

These prints are created using archival pigment inks on the world’s first eco-friendly fine art paper - a smooth, natural white bamboo paper. With proper care, our prints will remain vibrant for more than 100 years.

We hand-pick original artworks from our collection that we think you’ll love, including paintings, photography, printmaking, and digital art. Our expert print team then digitally scans these pieces to create museum quality, eco-conscious prints.

So go ahead. Get artful and grab yourself a print.

Summer is officially here. Hopefully, that means vacation and sunshine. But, in case your summer is not “en plein air,” we decided to gather our favorite beach paintings for your enjoyment. These sandy gems were either created outdoors or inspired by the ocean air. So we’ve gathered five famous beach paintings that make us want to pack the car, lather on some sunscreen, and hit the sand.

Approaching Storm by Eugene Louis Boudin 1864

We’ve all been there. We set out for a wonderful beach day and then a storm rolls in. Eugene Louis Boudin’s Approaching Storm captures that sinking feeling when big drops of rain plop on the shore. The next time you find yourself caught on the brink of a beach storm, be glad that you didn’t bring your paints and canvases to do some impressionistic painting.

Nude on the Beach by Frederick Carl Frieseke 1915

While on the topic of beaches, it’s really hard to avoid talking about nudists. Frederick Carl Frieseke’s Nude on the Beach does what any nudist does: acts nonchalant about the fact that skin is showing. But the lovely lady in this painting knows how to protect herself from harmful UV rays with a small parasol. Frieseke is clearly unafraid to take impressionism into risky territory.

The Beach at Trouville by Claude Monet 1870

When I think beach painting, one man comes to mind: Monet. And since our last painter didn’t feel the need to cover-up, we went to Claude Monet for our third choice. On this beach, not only are you required to wear clothing, but a full length dress and umbrella are recommended. Heaven forbid a little bit of Vitamin D is shed on bourgeois skin. Interesting fact: there are grains of sand in this painting. If that doesn’t confirm that some portions of this painting were created on the beach, I don’t know what does.

Summer Evening on the Beach at Skagen by by Peder Severin Kroyer 1899

Norwegian-born Danish artist Peder Sever Kroyer would depict the beach during colder moments. The couple strolling along the moonlit shore seem to be engaged in a chilling conversation. Why does she stare longingly into the water? Why is he holding her so firmly? Perhaps this painting recalls your own strolls with a lover along—calm or turbulent—waters.

Children Playing on the Beach by Mary Cassatt 1884

Last, but certainly not least, is Children Playing on the Beach by Mary Cassatt. This maternal painting depicts two endearing subjects: children and beaches. These two precious princesses are beginning to build their castle from the bountiful amounts of sand at their feet. We end with a Mary Cassatt masterpiece in order to remind us of the beach in its natural and innocent state. Whether or not you plan on painting the crowded coast nearest to you, we hope your summer is like these five paintings: full or beaches, sun, and art!

Without you, where would Surrealism be?

I and the Village

1911

oil on canvas

photo source: http://www.cgfaonlineartmuseum.com/

Filomena Booth is this week’s Artist in Focus. She is the epitome of UGallery in that she has a passion for creating art, inspiring those around her, and filling the world with beautiful things. Her art’s emphasis on the natural world strikes a beautiful harmony with the thoughtfulness she delivers on a daily basis. Here, she chats art, art education, and creativity.

Vortex

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Once in a blue moon, UGallery introduces a single new artist for the week. When this happens, the artist tends to be a superb individual with extremely powerful art. So is the case with this week’s lone star. 


Our one and only artist for the New Artist Spotlight is Heidger Marx. Below is a little bit about his work. If you like what you see, let him know by leaving a comment on his profile page and welcoming him to UGallery!

Heidger Marx. New York, NY

Big Dipper in Long Action

In all of Heidger Marx’s photographs, blue is one of the predominant colors. Why? Heidger finds inspiration from our big blue planet. His solitary scenes of nature and his ability to freeze moving objects evoke environmental empathy. His subject matter ranges from the old to the new, in order to, he says, “reach people’s hearts and inspire them to join me in preserving this beautiful planet.”

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” –Scott Adams

You know that slap-a-hand-on-your-forehead moment when you realize you called someone the wrong name or you forgot about a meeting? While mistakes are often blows to the ego, they can also be beautiful learning lessons. For artists, mistakes can offer a lot of beauty as well. 

At MAD in New York, I stumbled upon a sculpture that resonated with all the past mistakes I’ve ever made. Self-Portrait of the Artist Losing His Marbles by Robert Arneson was the result of a bust being overheated in the kiln. When the sculpture split, Robert Arneson decided to glue marbles into the crack rather than throw away the entire sculpture. The end result was an ode to beautiful mistakes.

Self-Portrait of the Artist Losing His Marbles by Robert Arneson. Photo: madmuseum.org

And just in time for the fourth of July, let’s chat about Normal Rockwell. Norman Rockwell was a prolific American artist who created iconic paintings of Americans in their daily lives. Cracked.com listed Rockwell’s People Reading Stock Exchangeas number 6 on the top 7 famous art mistakes.

People Reading Stock Exchange by Norman Rockwell

Can you see the mistake? I’ll give you a hint. It’s on the man in the red shirt. Do you notice the third leg?

Norman Rockwell acknowledged his oopsy daisy by stating he “…sort of put three legs on the boy.”

In honor of great art mistakes and American Independence (i.e. Christopher Columbus accidentally landing on North America), take a moment to apologize to those you’ve offended and forgive yourself for any accidental mistakes.

Spirit Sun Animal by Andrea Allegrone

acrylic painting on stretched canvas

28“ h x 38“ w x 1” d

3 lbs. 8 oz.