This blog will now regularly feature gallery reviews and interviews with successful artists and gallery directors.

I went to the famous Bergamot Station in Santa Monica for the first time yesterday. Bergamot Station is one of the best one-stop see art 'till you drop places to go in LA. In addition to the Santa Monica Museum of Art, it also boasts over 25 galleries displaying everything from big name Modern artists to juicy figurative oil paintings to dreamy installation art to pseudo-low brow art.

After wandering into the first gallery I must admit my heart sank.
"Oh no!" I thought, "Please tell me this whole space is not just filled with tired old Lichtensteins and Andy Warhols. I just can't take it anymore! If I see ONE more Modern print..."

And then a light from across the hall beckoned to me. I saw a giant black sign reading
"George Goodridge" and I walked into the Tarryn Teresa Gallery. I was saved!

The space was filled with intriguing sculptural work, fixed to the walls like a scientist's prize collection of beautiful alien chrysalids. Canvas stretched over wood frames is transformed into organic, strangely familiar shapes. The artist George Goodridge recently moved to LA from Miami. Know in Miami for his site-specific installation at the Miami Airport, this show is Goodridge's big debut in California.

It also is a big show for Tarryn Soderberg, owner and director of the gallery, as the gallery only recently opened. One of my greatest delights in going to Bergamot Station yesterday was talking with Tarryn and gallery associate Claressinka Anderson. They were warm, knowledgeable and truly interested in supporting emerging artists of real substance.

I recommend checking this gallery out. Show running until May 26th 2007

Wishing you art success,

Jessica Van Hulle

Wow. I'm starting to get really excited about the upcoming "The 3 Secrets To Success In Visual Art" 2-hour workshop I am leading on May 12th 2007, in Santa Monica.

I have lead three large workshops, in addition to having led Illustration Club meetings and The Girl's Club for over a year each, so I feel pretty confidant that once I'm up in front of the room I will feel comfortable and relaxed.

Its just a little scary starting over in a totally new town. In San Francisco I knew allthe art show regulars, I knew that general atmosphere...I knew who to invite to events.

Now I'm opening up to a new level and it feels really BIG.

I know I'm doing the right thing, and I know that no matter what happens in the workshop that I an trying my hardest to support the art community that means so much to me...and that really needs some support.

Now I just have to get 100 things done over the next week and I'll write again to let you know how it went

-Jessica

I'm happy to say that my new web store "Zodiac Babe Designs" is complete!
It was a serious learning process with plenty of both frustration and excitement.
The whole project started a few years ago...
I got so tired of seeing ugly cheesy zodiac images on teeny bopper t-shirts that I decided to make my own series. It was a pretty ambitious project to take on on top of everything else I have been doing (1-year business and workshop trainings, regular coaching practice, and some illustration jobs too)

But I finished it. It is very satisfying to have a cohesive series of 12 new female character designs.
And I made a web store at a very cool resource I highly recommend to you "Cafe Press.com."

Here's an important tip for you, the artist: always get the HEAT TRANSFER PRINTING, even on white shirts.

- Jessica