Artist Profile

Gail Gurman

San Anselmo, CA

2020 forced me to redefine my vision of myself as an artist.
At the beginning of the Covid lockdown I lost the ability to paint. Oil painting is a physically demanding medium. Long hours of standing at my easel became too painful for me to tolerate. One day, while ruminating in my studio I heard a podcast about David Hockney. The commentator talked about Hockney's quote that “oriental art never deals with shadow.” I thought about his observation a long time. These simple words exploded in my head. I had studied Chinese brush painting for several years some time ago, when I lived on the East Coast. I could apply all those skills but transform my images using my knowledge of form, space and shadow to an aqueous medium.I would use Asian brush working techniques while applying the aesthetic of someone who had studied Western European layered painting. Sumi ink does not require the hour long set up and clean up that is required of oils. I would be able to work for shorter periods of time and take frequent breaks. I ordered a fresh bottle of sum ink and my new work began.
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RESUME
Education
1972 George Washington University - B.F.A Painting
1990-1999 Corcoran College of Art & Design - Figure Drawing, Painting, & Osteology

Selected Juried Exhibitions
2018 Las Lagunas Gallery "Expressions" Laguna Beach, CA
2018 Salmagundi Club "Black and White" NYC
2017 Las Lagunas Gallery "Small Works Big Talent" Laguna Beach, CA
2017 Salmagundi Club "Thumb Box Exhibition" NYC
2014 Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, Texas
2014 Salmagundi Club Annual Members Exhibition, New York
2012 "Flying Colors," CK Gallery, Oakland, California
2012 "The Elephant in the Room," CK Gallery, Oakland, Claifornia
2012 "Spiritual Journeys," CK Gallery, Oakland, California
2011 Salmagundi Club Annual Members Exhibition, NYC
2011 Audubon Artists 69thAnnual Juried Exhibition, New York
2011 "Man as Object-Reversing the Gaze," Women's Caucus Art, San Francisco, California
2011 "Best of America Exhibition," National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society, Missouri
2010 Salmagundi Club Annual Members Exhibition, NYC
2010 California Arts Club, "California Heritage," Pasadena, California
2010 Rive Gauche Art Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Scottsdale, Arizona
2010 Oil Painters of America,Scottsdale, Arizona
2009 Rive Gauche Art Galleries, Three Person Exhibition, Scottsdale, Arizona
2009John Matthew Moore Designs, Bethesda, Maryland
2006 NSO Decorators Show House, Washington, D.C.
2005 Art and Antiques Emerging Artist Show, Arizona
2005 Solo Invitational at Principle Gallery, Virginia
2004 Solo Exhibition at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Maryland
2004 J. Wayne Stark Galleries “Artists Who Happen to be Women”, Texas A&M University

Awards
2014 Third Place, Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX
2010 Richard C. Pionk Memorial Award, Salmagundi Club Annual Members Exhiibition, NYC
2003 H.K. Holbein Award, Farmington Museum, NM
2002 Da Vinci Paint Co. Award, Palm Springs Desert Museum, CA
2001 Two Dimensional Category (second place), Lewis & Clark, ID
2001 Honorable Mention, Farmington Museum, NM