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Welcome to Gallery Q News!
Our community of local artists is committed to creating Fresh Local Art. As artists, we have stories to tell, knowledge to share, inspiration to tap into and new artistic horizons to discover. We look forward to sharing our art and ourselves with you in this format, and we hope that you will find something within to spark curiosity and delight.Let this be your invitation into the world of Q. Come on in!
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YOU ARE INVITED
to our opening reception for
COMPANIONSHIP: A FOCUS ON PETS
Friday, September 6 | 5:00-7:00 pm
- Community Pet Board: Guests may bring in a photo of their pet to hang on Companionship wall in the exhibit and get one FREE Jessie Fritsch Encaustic greeting card. One photo per guest = one free card per guest.
- Humane Society Donation: Jessie Fritsch has committed to donating 10% of her profits from this exhibit through October 31 to the Humane Society.
- Photo Booth: Take time to PAWS for a photo! We will have a roving photobooth for a fun, fast and free way to celebrate this new exhibit.
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:: SPOTLIGHT ON ::
Jessie Fritsch
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Today we meet Jessie Fritsch, encaustic painter.
Q :: Describe the art you create.
JF :: Waxy. Random. Vibrant. Luminous. Shiny
Q :: What is your background/how did you get into making art?
JF :: I was raised by a creative and artsy family who always encouraged working with your hands. Making art was something I instinctively did. My parents had no hesitation when I told them I was going to college for fine art. When I graduated college and didn't get into graduate school I told them I was going to pursue art fairs and festivals, so my dad built me a trailer and my mom helped cart my art around to different shows. It takes a village to be an artist sometimes. My husband, Chad, cuts all my wood boards to size and makes my frames for my beeswax paintings, and my in-laws mill the picture frame material to help save on framing costs. I wouldn't be an artist without their support.
Q :: Who or what are your biggest influences?
JF :: Working artists. Many people tell you that being an artist is not a clear career path. I am inspired and motivated by seeing people who have proven that statement wrong. As a kid it was my Aunt Patty and Grandpa Chip. Patty was a printmaker with a giant printing press in her basement and received her Doctorate in Art. Grandpa Chip was a woodworker and handmade and painted our toys. In college it was my professors Judith Baker Waller and Rob Stolzer who saw the drive in me and just let me run with it. When I started art festivals, painter Lenny Nagler helped show me the ropes of art fair life. I also met and became friends with other art fair exhibiting artists Paul Klein, Sharon Fujimoto, Tim Marcotte, Brenda Gingles, and John Morser who encouraged me and offered their advice when needed. Today I am influenced by artists who have the same need and passion to make art and get it out there.
Q :: What do you like best about being an artist?
JF :: I am doing exactly what I always wanted to do and I am in charge of my own career. That is a powerful statement and one I am proud to say.
Q :: Do you make art full-time or do you have other pursuits?
JF :: I am a full-time working artist. I make my living traveling around the Midwest exhibiting my beeswax paintings at art fairs and festivals. I started teaching encaustic workshops at my art studio in 2018. I am involved in our strong art community in Central Wisconsin. I have been the chair of the Stevens Point Festival of the Arts Council for the past five years and recently became part of the Hidden Studios Art Tour steering committee.
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Q :: What materials do you create with?
JF :: I use encaustic paint (beeswax, pigments, and tree resin). This is an ancient painting method developed by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago. I am head of heals in love with the medium and will never go back to oils or acrylics. I paint on Baltic birch plywood, use sable brushes and palette knives to apply and manipulate the paint, and use a heat gun, iron, and torch to fuse each layer of wax into one cohesive sheet of beeswax. What I appreciate the most about this medium is its overall greener studio practices. I do not use any mineral solvents or chemicals to dilute my paint or clean my brushes and palette. I use more wax to dilute my paint and to clean my brushes and griddle. I also never waste any paint. When I am finished with my wax paint, I can scrape it off my palette with a palette knife and then pour it on a sheet of wax paper. It will harden and I can reheat the paint repeatedly without degraded the quality of the paint. You do need a powerful ventilation system while working with encaustic and I wear gloves while I paint for safe studio practices.
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Q :: What themes/motifs recur in your artwork?
JF :: I paint a little of everything. One theme that will continue to show up in my work is Pollinators. I am a passionate organic gardener. I say thank you to the honeybees by planting flowers and native plants in my gardens. I will continue to paint honeybees and other pollinators to help spread awareness to the importance of these creatures.
Save the bees!
Q :: Do you have a dedicated studio/workshop space?
JF :: I named my art studio Buzz in Art Studios. It is located in Stevens Point at my mom Elly’s home. The upstairs is a separate apartment that is dedicated to her crafts and my encaustic studio. One of the happiest moments in my life was when I convinced my mom to move to Stevens Point four years ago. She has always been my biggest supporter so I love seeing her almost everyday and she gets to watch me be the artist I dreamed of.
Q :: Is there something you are currently working on or are excited about starting that you can tell us about?
JF :: I will be teaching new experimental encaustic workshops this Fall. During my last year of teaching encaustic painting workshops I saw that some people just wanted to play and experiment. I also know that I need to play and experiment to become a better artist so I decided to offer three different experimental encaustic workshops: Photo transfers, Monotypes (printmaking process), and Cavo-Rilievo Leaf Prints with shellac burn. These workshops are held at Buzz in Art Studios in Stevens Point with a four student limit. All supplies are included in workshop. I will be hosting on special Pet Transfer workshop for up to six students which will be held at Gallery Q on October 12.
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Q :: What is the best piece of advice you have received that influenced your life in art?
JF :: "Be true to your creative self." -Kristie Cecil
Q :: How has being a part of the Gallery Q Artists Cooperative benefited you as an artist?
JF :: I am a different artist since joining Gallery Q in 2017. While I was a college student I loved being around other artists. It was a different world full of pushing boundaries and endless creativity. It helped get me out of my shell and made me work harder. After graduating all those group critiques and working around practicing artist went away. For a decade I was more in solitude. Then Paul Klein asked me to join Q. I respected Paul as an artist and worked with him with the Festival of the Arts, so I said sure I will try it. I am so happy I did it! I am again surrounded by practicing artists and consistently influenced by the artists that own and run this gallery. Currently, Gallery Q artists Erin Prais-Hintz and Carmen Duran are my biggest cheer team. Being an artist is a work in progress and is hard. These strong women are always there to show their support, share tips and experiences, or simply go grab a beer and chat. I really appreciate their friendship. That is the beauty of Gallery Q. We have our little art tribe here.
Q :: Anything else you would care to share?
JF :: I just want to thank Gallery Q members and Ada (the gallery landlord) for all their hard work over the summer on the front of the building. The building was painted, got new windows, a new awning, and new signs. I am proud to be part of Gallery Q. The space is historical, classy, and makes my artwork look great!
Check out Jessie's amazing art in her first Gallery Q exhibit "Companionship :: A Focus on Pets" now September 3rd through October 31st.
Jessie's classes have limited availability and are truly inspiring and exciting.
Sign up for a class in Jessie's Buzz in Art studio through the Gallery Q.
Bring in your favorite pet photo for our community pet board and receive a FREE card from Jessie Fritsch.
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"We have to take risks with art.
If we don't, it all becomes a bit boring."
~ Julie Walters
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Gallery Q is Looking Fine!
Our new facelift for the facade of our beautiful historic building in downtown Stevens Point is complete. The pilasters on the sides of the windows and doors have been repainted to make their carved details stand out, the awning is in the process of being made functional and replaced with a brand new canvas, but the biggest change is our new signage. In the course of the work, the contractors replaced the old sign with beautiful new windows. In turn, they removed the false wall above the windows which revealed the continuation of the original vintage tin ceiling. This opens up the gallery so much with a bright and airy feeling of spaciousness. To complement the new look, we opted for some simple and classy signage on the glass front window above the door and down at street level. We are proud of this transformation and hope you will stop in to see how these small changes have made a huge impact!
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Our Q Artists are always out and about!
Find them at the following awesome art events:
- Wausau Festival of the Arts | September 6-8
www.wausaufoa.org/weekend-schedule
Graham Coulson
- Riverfront Arts Center | "The Blues Effect" | September 6-October 13
Opening: Friday, September 6th | 4:30-7:00p
Celebrate art and make it a {p}ARTY night with both opening receptions!
- Manawa Community Art Tour | September 21 | 10:00a-4:00p
Mary Therese Murphy + Elise Thornton
- Hidden Studios Art Tour | Oct 4-6 | Fri/Sat 10a-5p | Sun 10a-4p
www.hiddenstudiosarttour.com
Jessie Fritsch + Mike Jagielo + Mary Lee Reineking
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Carmen Duran is exhibiting her expressive, color-filled paintings in a variety of venues this fall. You can find her work at Westfields Hospital and Clinic Healing Arts Program in New Richmond WI - September 6 through December 10; Wowspace in Wittenberg, WI “Fall into Art”, Saturdays/Sundays: September 21 & 22nd 11 AM to 3 PM, September 28 and 29th 11 AM to 3 PM, October 5 and October 6 “Miles of Art” weekend 10 AM to 5 PM.
Congratulations on your success, Carmen!
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Joan North is honored to be one of 15 artists accepted into the Art League of Lincoln (CA) new gift gallery with seven new jewelry pieces (photo left of one of the lovely pieces in the show).
Watch for a special trunk show of Joan's work coming December 1st and 2nd at Gallery Q.
Congratulations, Joan!
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Ever wonder how a photographer decides on the images that they capture? What goes into developing images digitally? What considerations are there for printing and presenting those images? Join us for an informal artist talk with photographer Bob Rosen who would love to talk with you about topics like:
Image Capture | Digital Development | Printing
Each of these photography areas include nuts-and-bolts practical issues and broader conceptual/aesthetic and learning style issues. Bob will have examples for you to work with or they can bring their own images. The specific direction of the session will be guided by the interests and questions of those who attend.
Second Saturday | Artist Talk | FREE
Through the Lens: Photography Basics with Bob Rosen
Saturday, September 14th | 11:30AM-1:00PM
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Our upcoming Second Saturday for October will be a class with Jessie Fritsch
Making Encaustic Pet Photo Transfers
Turn that favorite pet photo into a one-of-a-kind work of art in tribute to your special companion! There are a LIMITED number of spaces to participate,
but the public is welcome to come and watch the magic happen!
[Note: Photos must be emailed prior to class for preparation.]
Saturday, October 12 | 3:00-5:00PM | $60
Sign up for classes/workshops today at Gallery Q!
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:: MARK YOUR CALENDAR ::
- SECOND SATURDAY | SAT, SEP 14TH | 11:30 am-1:00 pm
THROUGH THE LENS: PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS w/ BOB ROSEN
Bring your curiosity and questions about digital photography for a FREE artist talk with Bob Rosen. Bring your own images to discuss with Bob or he will have examples to share with you.
- SILK FUSION OPEN STUDIO with MARY THERESE MURPHY | $100
FRI, SEP 13TH | 6:00-8:30 PM
SAT, SEP 14TH | 9:00AM-NOON
Mary Therese Murphy will be opening her home studio to a limited number of participants in a two-day class to learn her art of Silk Fusion.
- COMPANIONSHIP: A FOCUS ON PETS w/ JESSIE FRITSCH
Opening Reception | Fri, Sep 6 from 5:00-7:00 PM
- ENCAUSTIC MONOTYPE WORKSHOP w/ JESSIE FRITSCH | $80
FRI, SEP 27TH | 4:00-7:00 PM
Monotype printmaking using metal plates and hot wax to make one of a kind beeswax prints on paper.
- ENCAUSTIC CAVO-RILIEVO + SHELLAC BURN WORKSHOP w/ JESSIE FRITSCH | $80
SAT, SEP 28TH | 10:00 AM-1:00 PM
Making leaf impressions in warm beeswax and then rubbing oil pastels in the leaf vein impressions.
- ENCAUSTIC PHOTO TRANSFER w/ JESSIE FRITSCH | $80
FRI, SEP 27TH | 3:00-6:00 PM
Taking black and white toner photo copies and transferring images onto wax.
- SECOND SATURDAY | SAT, OCT 12TH | 3:00-5:00 PM
ENCAUSTIC PET PHOTO TRANSFERS w/ JESSIE FRITSCH | $60
Turn that favorite pet photo into a one-of-a-kind work of art in tribute to your special companion! Space is LIMITED! Sign up at Gallery Q today!
- CALL 715/345-2888 TO RESERVE A SPOT IN OUR WORKSHOPS.
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