Athena Mantle News

Larger Than Life: Giant Agave

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:40:32 CST

A Prickly Agave Commission

This winter I've been working on commissions for a collector in Scottsdale, Arizona. They were looking for some large paintings of agave for their new home.

When I am doing a commission for someone, the first thing we do is select the size and a general subject for the painting. In this case, I knew they wanted agave and once they selected the 36" x 60" size in horizontal format I created a selection of possible subjects from my photos and cropped them to be the correct ratio for the canvas. I put together an idea board for the client to review and give me feedback on what they like and we go from there. Although I'm using photos, there must be some room given for the artistic interpretation that occurs on my end to make the painting.

Here is a photo of the first agave I painted for them.

"Prickly 2" 36" x 60" Oil on Canvas

My process when working from photos includes removing background elements so that the focus is purely on the subject and enhancing the color so it really pops.

They were pleased with the result and commissioned 2 more to be painted as a diptych. This was a fun challenge. I had to modify my easel to accommodate the two large paintings side by side. You can get an idea of the scale of these paintings when you see me standing in front of them.

Athena Mantle with "In the Limelight 1 & 2" total size 5'x6' Oil on Canvas

I received this very nice letter from the collectors after they received these paintings.

Dear Athena,
Have just opened your paintings now and absolutely love them - they look magnificent above our formal sofa...Thank you so much, we are completely thrilled. Also very impressed that you managed to complete them in time!
Again, many thanks and very best wishes,
J. and S.

Here you can see them in their new home.

It made my day to get such a nice letter. It has been wonderful working with them and am thrilled that they have ordered 2 more paintings! It's been a fun challenge doing these large paintings and am looking forward to doing more. So keep your eye on my site for more large paintings!

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Agave Paintings Springing Up at Art Crawl

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:23:47 CST

Join me this Saturday for a showing of my latest paintings.

I have been working on a new series of agave both large and small. I've taken my agave over into the acrylic medium working on panel covered in brown paper. It produces a great effect. I am very pleased with how the latest series has turned out. In the large size I have my traditional oil paintings on gallery wrap canvas. Here is a sample of what you will see...

South Pasadena Art Crawl

Saturday, February 11th 5-9pm
SOPA STUDIOS (and surrounding galleries)
1025 Hope St. South Pasadena, CA

Two Shows...One Night!

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:38:49 CDT

Small Wonders at Towns Burr Gallery

I will be starting out the evening in Burbank at Towns Burr Gallery for the Small Wonders group show which features ninety-one small works of art from fifty-three artists. The artist’s reception is next Saturday the 10th of September from 5 – 8pm. And because I have a second show opening the same night, I will be at Towns Burr Gallery from approximately 5 – 6:45pm. If you miss the opening night, the work will be on display through September 30th. www.townsburrgallery.com

Artist’s Reception:

Saturday,September 10

5-8pm

TownsBurr Gallery 3609 West Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91505
Free parking in rear of building off Cordova St.
Show runs through September 30th Gallery hours: Tues-Fri 11-5 Sat 10-5

Westscape at Untitled Art Projects

I will be ending the evening at Untitled Art Projects, a new gallery near downtown Los Angeles. This a smaller group show featuring work from nine artists with the focus on artwork that is rooted in California influence and of course, we are all L.A. artists. This title encompasses what is really a broad range of work. Westscape is also a play on the word escape as many of the images evoke travel or wide open spaces. I will be at this gallery from 7:15ish to 9pm.www.untitledartprojects.com

Artist’s Reception:

Saturday, September 10

6-9pm

Untitled Art Projects
3309 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Show runs through October 4th I hope you can join me at one or both of the shows and make it a night of art!!

Touch of Gold Exhibition

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:11:17 CDT

Fifty six paintings by eighteen California-based artists will be featured at “A Touch of Gold,” the fall art exhibition of The Women’s City Club of Pasadena. I have 3 paintings that will be featured in the show.

The exhibition runs from August 1 through October 31, 2011 at the historic Blinn House. It will be the second exhibition produced by Margaret Danielak, the Women’s City Club of Pasadena’s Curator of Exhibitions. The artists’ reception is scheduled for Thursday, August 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The “Touch of Gold” exhibition features the work of artists Scottie Brown, Barbara Davidson, Lee Edwards, Julie Hill, Olga Kaczmar, Anna Kelly, Athena Mantle, Beverly Lazor, Robin Neudorfer, Ferial Nassirzadeh, Kate Moriarty, Terry Romero Paul, Julie Snyder, Carol Steinberg, Diana Stewart, Beth Summers, Trice Tolle and John Paul Thornton.

“A Touch of Gold” will be on view from August 1 through October 31, 2011. The reception is Thursday, August 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. The Women’s City Club of Pasadena is located at 160 N. Oakland Avenue in Pasadena. Free parking is accessible behind the building from Madison Avenue.

The Women’s City Club of Pasadena is open for art viewing Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the run of the exhibition, Curator Margaret Danielak will be on hand for special viewing hours on Fridays from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. and by appointment. In addition, courses in art marketing and art collecting will be offered.

Artists Against Drugs

Tue, 17 May 2011 18:03:51 CDT

I firmly believe that drugs are not the answer. Unfortunately, so many people turn to drugs not only recreationaly but through prescriptions from trusted professionals to "handle" problems that they have no solution for. I understand the need to make the problems go away but I've never believed that taking a pill would solve anything.

I support the non-profit Say No To Drugs every year by running (ok, mostly walking) the 5K held at Universal. When I was approached by the groups organizer, Ryan Kugler to donate art to the Artists Against Drugs Art Show I was delighted to contribute. The show is Saturday the 21st of May at Satine Boutique in West Hollywood. I hope you will join me in supporting this group by attending the art show and hopefully taking home a piece of art to call your very own. I'm told there is art from all kinds of artists including some by actor Jason Lee (My Name is Earl).

I hope to see you there!

Athena