AMY RUPPEL

Portland, OR

Amy Ruppel was suggested by GALLER|b visitor Holly of holly's plate (she just happens to also be my significant other). Ruppel's work is gaining quite a bit of noteriety through the blogosphere, and has also shown in galleries concentrated in the Pacific northwest U.S.

Her work has a gentle and inviting tone, and a lot of it is on a small scale, which works well with the subject matter and colors. If you dig a little deeper, you'll find out that Ruppel is a very talented graphic designer. Her background in commercial design can be seen in some of her pieces where sketches creep into the overall painting (I like this style), but her work doesn't give any hints that she's having to force herself from her graphic design background.

She uses an interesting assortment of materials, including paper, oils, wood (panel and box), and a beeswax/resin mixture. Find a nice small space and her work will brighten it, for sure.

WEBSITE: www.amyruppel.com
INQUIRIES: Start with her website. Her original work ranges from $100 to $450 and beyond. Interestingly, she also offers up new work periodically on her site, which she makes for available for sale. The next one is September 13th at 10am (PT).
All images Copyright Amy Ruppel.

SHAG [Josh Agle]

Los Angeles, USA

Over the past six months, it seems there are a mass of websites, articles, and magazines that can't get enough of the work of American contemporary artist Shag.

Shag, whose name is a combination of two letters from Agle's first and last names, is a highly popular and wildly creative artist who's style is often duplicated by others. A cross between lounge-lizard and tiki tacky, Shag's work is decadence at its finest, always integrating scenes of people enjoying life.

Although his original paintings are out of the scope of this site from a cost perspective, signed and numbered serigraphs of Shag's paintings are available for even a couple hundred dollars.

His subject matter, colors, and the comic/fun feel of everything he creates blends to leave behind unforgettable works that are easily recognizable and appreciated. You'll want to fill up a high-ball, put on some Dean Martin and start throwing around retro-hipster lingo.

WEBSITE: www.shag.com
INQUIRIES: Several websites on the Internet, but try Shagmart or Modern Gallery Palm Springs. Signed & numbered serigraphs starting around $200+.
All images Copyright SHAG.

RODNEY WHITE

New York, USA

On Rodney White's web site, he refers often to dreams and aged materials. His work is a colorful combination of both. Make sense? Maybe not in writing, but his work is something different.

Using bright colors, non-traditional surfaces (he creates most of his "canvases" out of wood panels, doors, etc), and a commercial style, White's paintings are a cross between pop-art, folk art, and written word. Each piece is as vibrant in color as it is in the message it delivers.

The aging that White applies to his paintings is a combination of arbitrary rips, tears, rubs, and planned creativity. The effect takes the sharpness off of clean edges without losing any power in his message. The end result is something easy to digest, deep enough to interpret, and complex enough to keep you interested.

As good as his paintings are, Rodney is a really nice guy, and extraordinarily creative. The purchase of one of Rodney's paintings kick started this site, so I hope anyone else interested gets a chance to talk to him as well.

WEBSITE: www.rodney-white.com
INQUIRIES: Start by contacting him through his website. Rodney's work ranges in price from the low hundreds well into the thousands for the moment.
All images Copyright Rodney White.