An Interview with Archway Artist Joan Laughlin

Where are you from and how does that influence your work?
I was born in the Midwest but have mostly lived in Houston since I was 2 years old. Though Houston is a very new, urban environment filled with lots of concrete and tall, modern buildings, I am attracted to the wild beauty of the natural world that still grows in and around the city, in the cracks and in-between spaces. Although it was not intentional, this interest could probably be seen metaphorically. My mother grew up in the country in a tiny farming community, but due to the circumstances of her time, she ended up, not in the country as a farmer’s wife, but in the modern city of Houston married to an oil executive. Despite the influence of modern life, we can’t be completely domesticated or modernized. There is something feral or wild that still exists.

Describe your work.
I am an oil painter. I taught myself how to paint after I moved back to Houston from Los Angeles in 2002 after attending an MFA program in New Genres where the concentration was mostly on Conceptual Art and Critical Theory. Today, I mostly paint small-ish paintings of flowers, plants and trees, sometimes roots. They range in size from 8x10 inches to 18 x 24 inches. I use photos taken from my walks as source material. 
How do you work?
I mostly work from photos that I take. Sometimes, I will try to work from life. But that can be difficult. I have a full-time job in a field completely unrelated to art, so I have to paint around my work schedule and working from photos is more convenient. 
How has your work changed over time?  
For about 10 years (from 2010-2020), I mostly painted monochromatic landscapes in a color similar to Van Dyke brown. Many people commented that these paintings looked like black and white photos. I showed and sold many of those works, but I got tired of making them, they took forever to do, as they were very detailed. I was still teaching Drawing at this time and every semester when we got to the lessons on Color Theory, I would realize how much I really loved color. I’m drawn to artists who are great colorists. The David Hockney show at the MFAH comes to mind. And, I love the work of local artists Michael Golden and Cary Reeder mostly because they are such great colorists. When I was making that monochromatic work, I was thinking a lot about death and dying. My Dad had Alzheimer’s then and I spent much of my time caring for him. Those days, I would go to the art store and look through the beautiful colors made by Williamsburg Oils and sometimes would just buy a tube of a gorgeous color like Egyptian Violet, knowing I wasn’t going to use it, but it was so beautiful I had to have it. These tubes of gorgeous colors were like precious gemstones to me then. I knew that one day I’d work with color again. And, now I am!
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration on my walks through the Heights where I have lived for 18 plus years. I love looking at the gardens. I also find inspiration in the the wild brush and flowers that I see on the side of the road while driving.
What motivates you to create?
I believe in Beauty, with a capital “B.” During the most difficult times in my life, I have turned to art and nature for solace, hope and direction. I believe that Beauty can save the world. And, that we can find it in our simple everyday environments that we often overlook during our busy, stressful lives.    
What are you most proud of to date?  
Artwise, my one-person show at Galveston Arts Center in 2017 curated by the wonderful Dennis Nance. 

​Do you have a network of other artists, and how do they support you?
Well, I’m a member of Archway Gallery which fosters a spirit of support for all of its members.  Every month during the monthly gallery rehang, I feel inspired to keep making  newer and better work after seeing the new work that the other gallery members have made.  Aside from that, my parents always supported and encouraged my art education and activities. I’m the only one in the family to be involved in the arts. It seems that this interest was important for my parents, too. My mom always tells me how much she learns about Art History by visiting the museums with with me. I have visited countless museums with my parents. It’s one of my favorite things to do. They created their own personal docent by funding my art education! For the past 3 years, I have worked in a field completely unrelated to art, and, in a weird way, this has made my practice more important to me. The little extra time and energy that I have is devoted to my art practice. I really need it, don’t know what I’d do without it.

​An Art Collection as a Personal Legacy
​I buy art that knocks me over or touches my heart. It can be ceramic, steel, paint, or collage. I find personal meaning in works by others that send me on an internal journey of understanding and connection. My children and grandchildren will have first dibs on a wonderful collection if they survive me, and I hope I have raised them to collect with the same fire and passion.
I wonder who will end up with the dead sheep.

by Harold Joiner
(this article was originally featured in 365 Things To Do In Houston)

Looking for a unique holiday gift for that person on your list who might not appreciate a new pair of socks or a new kitchen gadget?
Among all the gift ideas you’ll read about this holiday season, here is one that’s an absolute stand-out: gift them a starter piece for an art collection.

Everyone appreciates art of some kind, so don’t give any thought to the idea that this is not practical or that it’s risky. Embrace the idea that it’s a unique gift that no one else will give!

How to Choose an Art Gift for a Loved One
Having made the decision to gift an art collection starter, here are a few points that will make the shopping easier. First, draw on what you know about your gift recipient’s interests and passions. Do they like fashion, interior design, or cooking? Do they like the outdoors, carpentry, or photography? For the first, the best art gift might be a drawing of the human figure, an abstract painting, or a beautiful piece of pottery. For the second, it may be an animal sculpture, a landscape painting, or a work made from wood. Now, consider what you know about your love one’s home, and how your purchase will fit into it. Maybe you have an idea where it will look best or the space you’re looking to fill. Consider how much you are willing to spend and let this guide you to the places to start your search. Set a price range, but be flexible so you can find the perfect collection starter. Lastly, think about your recipient’s ability—financial or otherwise—to continue collecting this kind of work. As you present your gift, make the point that it is intended as a starter; something to build upon. You may even include a short personal note to this effect and indicate your desire to know about future additions to the collection.

Where to Find & Buy an Art Gift
You might ask yourself, “There are so many galleries and other venues selling art, where do I start?” It’s a reasonable question, so survey the local galleries online first to see which ones sell the kind of works you’re seeking.  Art-collecting.com is a good place to browse art gallery websites. Most art galleries do not list artwork prices online, but you can usually inquire about the price via the website. Beyond that, look for venues that do have published price—including our own Archway Gallery. Art gallery websites that sell directly make it easier for you to see how the available works fit within your price range and to make the purchase the very moment you spot the right piece. That said, it’s also a good idea to see the artwork in person before purchasing. That allows you to see it in its frame, for example, or to view all angles if it’s a three-dimensional piece like a sculpture.

Giving Authentically
​Keeping in mind that this is an original work of art, you should insist on a Certificate of Authenticity with your purchase. Indicate to the gallery that it will be a gift, so that the price will not appear on the Certificate. Presenting the Certificate with your gift underlines its unique nature and the depth of your feelings for its recipient.

 by Barbara Able
(this article was originally featured in 365 Things To Do In Houston)

Passion… Not the first word that comes to mind when considering collecting art. Most serious collectors surveyed said they did it for the love of the genre and not financial reasons. Most started collecting early in life. “It is said that collecting is a disease; I think I had it from childhood,” said Ima Hogg in 1973. “In Austin, the streets were not paved and were covered with beautiful pebbles. When wet, they sparkled like jewels… pebbles and flowers formed my first collection.”

Dive In & Get Started
​Obviously, the best way to learn any business is to get into that business. You may not want to jump in by opening a gallery, but you have a myriad of choices in Houston, the third-largest art market in the U.S. Do your homework. Talk to everyone and find out everything you can. Go to galleries and get on their mailing lists. Attend artists’ talks at galleries and museums. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has a vibrant docent group, so sign up for a tour.

Art Markets, Shows & More Events Around Houston
​In addition to art galleries, Houston provides lots of events for art lovers to buy local art. For example, there are great outdoor festivals like the twice-a-year Bayou City Art Festival which showcases a wide variety of artists displaying their work. Also, once a month or so, there are various studio complexes all over the greater-Houston area which host Open Studio events; artists open their doors and welcome the public into their individual studios. These events are great because you not only meet the artists, but you learn about their art and what inspires their creativity. You can buy directly from the artist, which is special. There’s nothing like forming a bond with the artist whose work adorns your walls! White Linen Night in the Heights is another art event which is fun; this street festival takes place in August each year. At this event everyone wears white and comes to see all sorts of things including artists showing their work, live music, and street performers.

In addition to the art festivals and special events, there are various exhibitions sponsored by local Houston art associations such as Visual Arts Alliance, which hold juried shows once or twice a year. The art in these exhibitions is high quality and usually for sale. Sometimes you may even see artwork displayed in cafes and bars; these works of art are also reasonably priced. One more place to find affordable art is the Glassell School of Art’s student show which takes place in December. Student participation is approved by professors to ensure quality and the variety of work is astounding. The variety of work is plentiful —something for everybody’s taste.

While there are a multitude of options to find that special piece of artwork, you don’t have to wait for a specific event to see and experience good quality art at reasonable prices; consider visiting Archway Gallery. The gallery is open six days a week, as well as by appointment; so, call today or go online to immerse yourself in the painting, photography, prints, ceramics, fiber, found objects, glass, metal work, and more you will find awaiting you. In addition, you will meet one of the artists each time you visit… who knows, perhaps, I’ll see you there!

 by Cecilia Villanueva
(this article was originally featured in 365 Things To Do In Houston)

Greetings art enthusiasts! If you are planning to buy art to decorate your home and you are not sure if it should match the couch… here are a few tips to guide you. We do not experience art only through color. We experience art mostly because of its content, even if the painting or sculpture is abstract. So, it is mostly about choosing what emotions, memories, or thoughts the art evokes in us due to its colors, shapes, theme, or rhythm. Art inhabits a house with great force, and it is the second most interesting thing in a home… humans being the first. Pick your art thinking of yourself rather than the furniture (and pick your humans well also). It is easy and fun to include art in every room if we understand basic design fundamentals. Once you learn them, I am sure you will feel more confident and will soon become an ace in choosing art for yourself, your family, and friends.
​
Three Components of Every Room
Every room has essentially three components.

• Verticals – Doors and walls
• Horizontals – Floors and ceilings
• Furniture –Tables, chairs, lamps and other accessories

And what about art? Most of the time, art pieces are verticals. If the art piece is hanging from the ceiling; it’s a vertical. If it is a sculpture on a pedestal in the middle of a room; it’s a vertical. If it is a painting; it’s a vertical. The only time art becomes a horizontal is when it is attached, or semi-attached, to a horizontal. For example, a mural painted on the floor or the ceiling, a structure such as a shallow pool, or an art piece meant to be walked on. With this knowledge, you can be confident in following a simple design rule.

One Simple Rule of Thumb
Simply put—pair verticals with verticals and horizontals with horizontals. Furniture does not have to pair with anything, whether it be the horizontals or verticals. Breathe deep; most of the time, art is a vertical. So, when buying art for a specific room, think how one piece of art will converse with another. Art does not have to match art, but a painting will certainly influence a sculpture nearby, or vice versa. Choose art pieces that can become friends and harmonize—like different instruments in a concert playing together to make a statement or to quietly flow with no sound.

Troubleshooting Tips with Colors, Textures & Spaces
It can sometimes get tricky if your doors or walls are colorful (red, purple, yellow, green, blue, and the like) rather than neutral. Remember that black, gray, brown, and white are neutrals; wood is a texture, but we will classify it as a neutral just for this case. Design for doors and walls can also be easy to tackle if you consider the following: 

• A vividly-colored door will strongly influence an artwork nearby.
• Drapery, no matter the color, is an accessory. So we do not need to take it into account for art acquisition.
• A colorful wall or wallpaper will become the painting’s frame.

As for actual, physical frames, try to harmonize the frames used in the same room or area. For example, use black frames for the art that hangs in the library or home office space, no frames for the dining room, Victorian frames for the master bedroom, and chunky frames for the kitchen. Also, if your space is small, check this counterintuitive rule: A big painting will make a small space look bigger.

Trust Your Emotions
Ultimately, what has worked best for me is to acquire art that resonates with me. My collection matches myself, my world, and my humanity; I try to use this same philosophy with my clients. Dear friends, I hope that with this simple advice you feel confident to plunge into the deep waters of the art world. Above all, I hope you enjoy collecting and surrounding yourself with artwork you love! But… if after reading this article you are still in doubt and want more advice, just call Archway Gallery at 713-522-2409 to find out when I will be there so that you can come chat with me about design questions you may have. No costs involved… but you can bring donuts, if you want.

by Annette Palmer
(this article was originally featured in 365 Things To Do In Houston)

Whether it’s the robust brushstroke of oil on canvas or the gleaming glaze of a ceramic masterpiece, these artistic nuances captivate and mesmerize us, drawing us in to the essence of why we love art. It comes in countless forms, from the ancient, organic, and traditional, to the ever increasing experimental and intangible sorts that we are experiencing today; everything is relevant, and everything is art.
Art is lifestyle… How, what, and where we eat, our clothing and appearance, home décor, entertainment… It’s infinite, indulgent, and immersive, and what a privilege we allow ourselves to live in this manner!

Understanding the Artform & How Art Can Form Our Lives
The term “artform” is an interesting one. When it comes to the visual arts, “art” begins every time in a completely different form and the artist is the magician who transforms it into another. Tubes of paint and rolls of cloth become paintings. Clay, stone, wood, and metal transform into sculptural treasures. The charred wood of charcoal and pencil become drawings on paper. Discarded items become “found objects” and the artist repurposes and breathes new life into what would otherwise become landfill. Archway Gallery is home to 34 artists, each one working and creating with different forms of two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) art. Below you’ll find examples of how a few of Archway Gallery’s artists express themselves through various artforms.

Sculpture: Building Art from Mass in 3-D
Three-dimensional metal artists Jim Adams and Joe Haden create sculptures which respect our industrial heritage. While both artists give the metal a new purpose and life to be enjoyed in a new form, each artist approaches the upcycled artform from a different perspective. Adams uses the existing formations of heavy metal outmoded objects to create sculpture by configuring, coupling, and fusing found pieces. He reintroduces us to their shapes and forms, while making us view them as art instead of functional components of heavy industry. ​

Visual Art‘s Ever Evolving Landscape
The art world is ever changing and so are our tastes, as well as our choices in art and its many forms. Regular visits to galleries keep us inspired, questioning, and informed of what’s new. It’s exciting and it’s the future… Enjoy!

by John Slaby
(this article was originally featured in 365 Things To Do In Houston)

Many people find going to art galleries intimidating. There is a general feeling that one must be well-educated in art and have the ‘right’ opinions or be snubbed. This is understandable. But in truth, most galleries are welcoming spaces. They are not dissimilar to restaurants: you can find places where you may be berated for not using the right fork, but most are casual and inviting. I know this. I have been a member of the local art community and a collector for many years. When I first started out, I was intimidated and hesitant. But as I got to know the people of the community I began to feel more at ease.


​Getting to Know the Artists Down the Street
​If you are willing to venture out, you will find there’s art of great beauty and high craftsmanship created by your neighbors and available at local galleries, studios, and art fairs. These talented local artists are as diverse as our city. They range in all education levels. Some were educated at Houston’s fine art schools and may have advanced degrees. Some, like myself, are self-taught. All have been honing their skills through the years and following their own path of artistic development, growing, and influencing each other. Houston has a wide range of all art types, providing something for everyone. If you have not immersed yourself in this community, you’re missing out on some very fine art. Meeting these artists is a positive experience. Being fellow Houstonians, they are friendly and more than willing to share their motivations, techniques, and the history of their work. This really enhances the art experience—understanding the artists and their work makes the art more valuable. It attaches a story and a memory to the work, as well as deepens the emotional attachment. ​

Local Art Brings Local Connection & Reflection
​Supporting local artists supports local businesses: you are helping our community. But local art transcends this purely transactional effect. Art is a deep reflection of who we are as a people and culture. These artists live and work in our community and are deeply influenced by it. The Houston experience shows up in the work itself: the good—like our modern architecture and beautiful parks—and the not so good—like our turbulent weather and traffic. Only a local artist can understand our home because it is their home, too. Only a local artist can truly speak for us. 

Local Art Creates a Legacy
I have worked on my own art collection over the years, gathering works of my artist friends and colleagues. These pieces grace my home. I don’t expect them to increase in value; that’s not why I bought them. Instead, each time I look upon my collection I feel a surge of joy and satisfaction from having these beautiful works in my home, from my recollections of the artist, from my connection to the subject matter, and from knowing I have supported a core element of our city. That’s the best return on investment I could ask for.

But one of the most significant aspects of supporting local art is that this will become our legacy. The work that is produced here and makes its way into private and public collections will live on long after we and these artists have passed. This is how we will be remembered, just as we, looking at work produced centuries ago, can see into the lives of those distant generations. These simple actions, made by individuals, resulted in an enormous artistic gift to the future for all to enjoy. Now we have such an opportunity. The art is out there waiting for you. ​

​There were nine of us staying for September; I was the only man. The average age was about 22, with the group consisting mostly of young women who had just finished their education or were preparing to continue onto higher education. They were from the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Sweden; it was a good international group. 
 
Since we had been told to bring our own supplies because the local grocery store had a “limited supply,” I had an extra suitcase filled with yarns. As it turned out, the store had enough wool yarn to fill a whole wall in the place. Iceland is a knitting culture. I went home with a lot more yarn than I’d brought. I also had brought a small loom to do samples on and I started with that, then moved on to a larger one. My weaving samples consisted of several smaller pieces and one large tapestry. It takes a long time to do a tapestry of any size, so I was spending more time on the loom, and there were a few late nights. In addition to my own weaving, I also ended up doing a little teaching.
 
It was nice in the morning to look out at the river and mountain in the distance, drink coffee and eat, then start weaving. I’d usually go for a walk in the afternoon, or go the town’s swimming complex, which had a heated pool and hot tubs of varying temperatures.  
 
All in all, it was a wonderful experience, one that I’d like to do again; maybe somewhere else, or maybe just back to Iceland… sitting at the large upright loom, looking at the river and mountains. I came to the realization that what I had gotten myself into was something nice."