Beautiful Oils by Justin Clements under $375

Have you ever thought about who you would like to meet from the past, if it was possible? My list is long and includes many artists like Michelangelo, Marc Chagall, Leonardo Di Vinci, Claude Monet, Andy Warhol, etc., but one American author, poet, and philosopher, would have to be Henry David Thoreau.  I love the brilliance of this man and that he said, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” This truth resonates with me every time I walk into Hunter-Wolff Gallery.

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Aspen Grove by David William Ridge

Old Colorado City (Colorado Springs) offers a monthly art event, every first Friday of the month, that welcomes all ages and is family friendly.  If you are looking for a way to stretch your legs and learn something new about art, get your walking shoes on and expect to spend at least 2 hours admiring, learning, and considering new art. With 13 venues along Colorado Avenue, from 23rd to 27th Streets, you will find something to peak your interests. Hundreds of artists exhibit work and there is no shortage of styles and techniques.

At Hunter-Wolff Gallery, 2510 W. Colorado Avenue, ArtWalkers have the opportunity to meet many artists.  On May 3, Clifford Bailey, David William Ridge, Pamela Poll, Marlene Kort, and many others will be available to answer questions and explain what they do to create interest …. and sales!  Selling art is their livelihood and I can’t think of a better way to support artists than to come prepared to fall in love with original art and take it home to place in your own home.

Hunter-Wolff Gallery will also have several staff members on hand to help guide you through the gallery if needed and point you in the direction for the next discovery along W. Colorado Avenue.

What do you think of these examples of art work being shown at Friday, May 3 ArtWalk?

Boulder Canyon by David William Ridge

Raku with textured glaze and copper leaf by Marc Jenesel

Open & Shutter Case by Penny Stewart

Glass and Roses by Justin Clements

Be sure to send us comments or ask your questions about ArtWalk by emailing us at staff@HunterWolffGallery.com.  We look forward to seeing you at ArtWalk!

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What color would you paint your wall, if hanging this painting in a "frosty" room?

It isn’t unusual for art galleries to choose white, beige or pale gray backgrounds for their display walls to keep the focus on the artwork. But, at home, if your art and furnishings aren’t as fine as a gallery, do just the opposite and use rich, intense color on your walls. If you make color your focal point and first impression, those tatty pieces you can’t wait to replace will become less noticeable.

Colored walls also compensate for poor architectural details. If you have beautiful moldings, trim, niches or built-ins, your walls look great in most any color. Some architectural designs are better in whites and beiges but the use of bold color to distract the eye can create something special where the builder didn’t.

If your room gets lots of sun and sometimes feels “too warm”, cool it down by painting the walls with a cool color. Likewise, if your room feels too frosty, warm it up with a warm paint color. The way we perceive a room affects the way we feel, and you can balance the extremes with the right color and the right art work.

When you are ready to replace your “less-than-fine” artwork, visit Hunter-Wolff Gallery in person and bring the color chips you used to paint your walls so we can help you find “more-than-fine” artwork.

For more paintings by fine artists, like Pamela Poll, visit www.hunterwolffgallery.com.

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Boulder Canyon by David William Ridge

If you recently made a major purchase, you likely received an online or paper survey asking for feedback about your experience. At Hunter-Wolff Gallery, we do not send out formal surveys, but we do ask for feedback. I think it is important to fill out surveys and provide feedback when asked.  It’s important to convey your satisfaction or maybe share ideas for improvement … so the next time your experience can be better.

As a result of ongoing customer feedback, Hunter-Wolff Gallery pays close attention to customer ideas and desires.  Sometimes, customers give us great tips about emerging artists, framing preferences, and other interests. We learned over the last twelve months, that collectors are interested in small paintings—even miniatures. We also learned that although sales show impressionism is hot, more realism is appreciated over as any other style.

So what do we do with that information? We act on it. To satisfy these interests, we signed on two new Colorado artists, Pamela Poll and David William Ridge. Pamela is a prolific painter of small pastels and oils, affordable for the new collector or for someone who is looking for a beautiful gift without breaking the bank. We also found a wonderful wildlife and landscape artist, David William Ridge, who will make you feel like you can smell the evergreens, feel the spray of water on your face, or hear a rustling in the undergrowth. Both artists are accomplished, gifted painters and offer a range of sizes.

Mason Jar & Rose by Pamela Poll

Keep your comments coming. It is your input that determines what course Hunter-Wolff Gallery takes, and it is your needs and wants we strive to satisfy.

Have some feedback you want to share?  Send it to staff@hunterwolffgallery.com

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Prairie Storm, 9 x 12, by Pamela Poll

My late husband always said, “Life is a journey, not a destination.”  — one of his favorite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson was a wise man and so was my husband.  He would urge our children and friends to enjoy life’s journey regardless of outcome when they experienced a disappointment or failure with this quote.  Collecting art is a journey too.  Sometimes we are afraid of what we don’t know and don’t trust our instincts.  As a gallery owner, I have often seen the look in someone’s eyes, even tears, when a special painting triggers an emotion, but because of their lack of experience or understanding of a particular art form they walk away empty handed. They fail to experience the wonderful gift of art as part of their journey.

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Today, I stand a little taller and my smile is a little bit bigger. I was just notified that Hunter-Wolff Gallery received its 8th honor from you (our devoted fans!), and voted the Best of the Springs. It is exciting to receive the honor of being recognized as a top gallery in a competitive market! When the public votes for their favorite business, and there are so many options, being named as “Best of the Springs” is thrilling. Hunter-Wolff Gallery is not the most senior art gallery, not the biggest, not the most cutting-edge, and there are so many things we can say we are not.  But today we can say, we are “The Best of the Springs”.  As the owner of Hunter-Wolff Gallery I am also honored to be located next to many others who in their own right are also the best — many who have stood the test of time, many who have become good friends, who have had years of experience, some celebrating their 40-year anniversary in 2013. Being relatively new, opening our doors in 2005, we appreciate the many votes and followers that allowed Hunter-Wolff Gallery to be at the top of leader board and to claim this honor.  We will celebrate and cherish this award, and promise to get right back to business so that Hunter-Wolff Gallery continues to be one of the best and exceed your expectations in a competitive marketplace.

With many diligent professional artists showcasing their art on Hunter-Wolff Gallery’s walls and shelves, it is an honor they deserve.  Without these fine painters, sculptors, potters, jewelry designers, wood-turners and glass artists, I could not write these words … Hunter-Wolff Gallery is the Best of the Springs, voted by the community and all its supporters.  A special thanks goest to an incredible Hunter-Wolff Gallery staff and a strong, professional team of fine artists. Thanks to our fans and for taking time to vote! We are only here because of you.

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DKC Jewelry Made in Colorado with Argentium Silver

Not familiar with Argentium^® sterling silver?  Silver jewelry is typically made from an alloy of silver containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper or other metals to give it strength, durability and beauty. But sterling silver tarnishes and needs regular polishing.

Since the late 1990’s, silver mixed with germanium (not copper) has become more and more popular in jewelry making.  It is called Argentium^® and it stays bright and beautiful. Argentium^® forms a clear oxide reducing tarnishing and contains 92.5% silver and no nickel or copper. At Hunter-Wolff Gallery, Argentium^® sterling silver used in designs by Jewelry by Tana and DKC Jewelry is very durable and is easy to clean. You can clean it with a mild detergent and lukewarm water to bring back its shine. To maintain the shine and luster of Argentium^® silver, simply wipe away any dust or finger marks with a soft cloth. More intricate pieces worn frequently may require an occasional wash in warm soapy water followed by a rinse and patted dry with a soft cloth to avoid watermarks. An infrequent wipe with a clean silver polishing cloth will help to protect Argentium^® silver from finger marks and everyday dirt and grime.

Tip: Never use ‘dip-type’ polishes or electrolytic cleaning processes with Argentium^® silver. More info in our March Newsletter.

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How often is a gifted art student given the opportunity to compete for cash awards outside of school and show-off their talent in an art gallery? Hunter-Wolff Gallery is offering that opportunity this June. A juried art competition limited to student artists between the ages of 14 and 22 are invited to apply for this opportunity. There is no limitation on where a student lives.  There is a limit to the number of students, however, who will be selected. Eligible students must apply by registering before April 30. Do it today and start planning now!

The intent of this program is to provide art students with real-world experience, competing in a fine art gallery venue. With the help of a professional artist mentor, students will benefit by learning the do’s and don’ts of submitting art work in a juried competition.  All applicants must submit a non-refundable application fee of $5 with a complete Registration form to Hunter-Wolff Gallery, 2510 W. Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80904.

Cash awards for winners of Setting the Stage are generously provided by sponsors such as Colorado Springs Style Magazine, Rick Lien at Bankers Life and Casualty Company, Todd Crystal at Crystal Capital Advisors, Tony & Marcelline Cerato, Glaser Frames of Denver,  and other anonymous supporters. More than $2,000 will be awarded at the Awards Ceremony to top winners on Friday, June 7 and the exhibit closes on June 15.

Tell your gifted friends who love the thrill of a competition and chance to win serious cash awards! Registration and requirements can be found on the Hunter-Wolff Gallery website. Contact Hunter-Wolff Gallery at 719-520-9494 or hunterwolffgallery@gmail.com with questions if something isn’t clear.  We look forward to helping set the stage for gifted young students who are interested in a future in the art world.

Good luck to each creative applicant!  We are as excited as you will be on June 7!

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Gallery Exhibits Change Monthly

Whether you are hungry or not, its hard to resist a sumptuous smorgasbord. Normally, you won’t find food at Hunter-Wolff Gallery but you will find a tempting smorgasbord of art to sample.

Can’t decide what to sample first? With dozens of award-winning artists’ artwork to indulge in, expect a full course meal of art ranging from giftware to heirloom collectibles. Can you imagine dozens of chefs whipping up your smorgasbord? Visitors always find something that appeals to their unique tastes. Soup to nuts, you can pick from a variety of two- and three-dimensional art confined to an area not much bigger than a volley ball court.  In spite of limited space, the curator displays and interprets the gallery’s collections to help inform, educate and inspire every visitor.

Not familiar with kiln-formed glass? Raku? Drusy? Then you are in for a treat, because the staff is prepared to share as much detail as you want and have handouts to help you learn more about the pieces you find interesting.

Hunter-Wolff Gallery has a dozen painters, each with their own unique style and appeal.  Before stepping away from the buffet of paintings, consider all the three-dimensional art made from wood, glass, bronze, clay and more. For extra sweet treats, the jewelry cases are filled with beautifully designed and fabricated silver pieces and necklaces, bracelets and earrings in colorful gemstones, pearls, etc., to satisfy today’s contemporary woman.

Hunter-Wolff Gallery has one extra bonus.  No calories!  And, when you can’t find what you want from this smorgasbord of delights, ask the staff to check its sources to find what you’re craving. Hunter-Wolff Gallery’s artists are happy to whip up a new recipe to satisfy your hunger for art. What are you craving?

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Shallow Waters 30x40 Ken Shanika

This painting was inspired by one of Ken Shanika’s favorite Colorado hiking trails. Deep in Cheeseman Canyon the modern world seems forgotten. It’s peaceful, untouched by modern man, filled with a surprise around every corner. It takes a little over an hour to hike to this area. The scenery is beautiful as you follow a trail that runs about a hundred feet or so above South Platte River. The trail is on the steep side of the hill and consists of mostly ball-bearing sized gravel that can be challenging. In the spring time the crystal-clear water runs fast especially when Colorado has a good winter with lots of snow. In the late summer, it can be quite shallow and it becomes easier to see the riverbed made up of colorful smooth stones.

When Ken found this spot, the river was low and he painted it the way he always wants to remember it. With all his painting gear, he carefully worked his way out onto a gravel bar in the middle of the shallow river for the perfect spot to compose this painting for a perspective few get even when hiking.

Over hundreds of thousands of years the face of the canyon walls have broken off and fallen into the river. Huge rocks have been weathered into rounded, smooth boulders. Can you imagine the power and years it took to shape all that granite? Ken says he can still see it clearly in his mind’s eye when he closes his eyes. If you can’t take this journey to experience Cheeseman Canyon in person, you will feel its beauty when you stop in to see Ken’s Shallow Waters at Hunter-Wolff Gallery.  Do you have a painting of your favorite hiking trail?

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