Shortridge work only a short stroll away
If the balmy weather continues, Friday night will be a perfect time to stroll casually through downtown Coeur d’Alene for its monthly Second Friday Artwalk.
The featured venue for July is the Painter’s Chair Fine Art Gallery, opened a year ago by artist Stephen Charles Shortridge and his wife, Cathy.
Although the gallery carries work by more than 50 artists from around the globe, Shortridge is its anchor.
With his soft, almost dreamy painting style, it is easy to see that his work has been influenced by the French Impressionists, particularly Claude Monet.
“Romantic impressionism is what I do,” states Shortridge on his Web site. “I think the term best expresses how and why I paint.”
“To me it (French Impressionism) was bold, and full of life and color,” he says. “It was uninhibited and had a magic quality to it. Rather than attempt to tell you something accurately, it just made you feel it. That’s why I set out to interpret life through this style of art; it invites the viewers’ emotions to take part.”
In addition to his own gallery, Shortridge shows his original paintings and limited-edition giclee prints in about 15 galleries, including the Lu Martin Galleries in Southern California.
“Most of my customers say Steve’s paintings are very romantic,” says gallery owner Lu Martin, who has carried his originals for 15 years.
“Part of it is how he captures the light with his vibrant brush strokes,” she says, “and part of it is his use of color.”
Another romantic aspect of his work is his selection of subject matter.
“He paints environments that you want to live in,” says Martin. “Ones where you would like to go with your husband and have a candlelight dinner.”
Before turning to painting almost 20 years ago, Shortridge spent 15 years acting in television and commercials.
He is best known for his role in the late 1970s as Beau, one of the Sweathogs, in “Welcome Back Kotter.” He later starred in the ‘80s in “Aloha Paradise” with Debbie Reynolds, and in “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
His face also is familiar from more than 50 print and television advertisements for products ranging from Mennen Speedstick to Coke.
“It was probably 1985,” says Shortridge, “when I finally admitted to myself and everyone that I wanted and needed to pursue my art. I had been acting for several years and although I had been successful, it was never where my heart was.”
Meet Shortridge on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Painter’s Chair Fine Art Gallery, 223 Sherman Ave.
More Second Friday Artwalk shows
Nine other downtown Coeur d’Alene galleries are hosting opening receptions on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.
• “Mary Farrell – Prints & Drawings” opens in the Art Spirit Gallery, 415 Sherman Ave. The show includes original drawings, woodcuts, intaglio etchings, mezzotints and monotypes.
“Each new piece is a discovery clarified and stimulated by the various techniques and references I use,” says Farrell.
An associate professor of art at Gonzaga University for the past 10 years, Farrell has taught printmaking and drawing. Her work has been shown in Korea, New Zealand and England. Stateside she’s exhibited her prints in dozens of solo and group shows across the country.
•Angel Gallery of Fine Art & Antiques, 423 Sherman Ave., is displaying new works by impressionist painter Robert Krogle of Coeur d’Alene.
•Cisco’s Hunters of the Past gallery, 212 N. Fourth St., specializes in Western, Native American, sporting and wildlife art.
•The works of two emerging artists are part of “A Marriage of Metal and Glass” at the Devin Galleries, 507 Sherman Ave.
•Erlendson Art Glass, 116 E. Lakeside Ave., is showcasing handblown glass “bowls with trails” by Spencer Erlendson and works by other Northwest glass artists.
•Continuing at Frame of Mind Gallery and Framing, 119 N. Second St., are paintings by Carrie Stuart Parks, Carl Funseth, Barbara Peretti, Jim Carkhuff and Nona Hengen, and raku pottery by Bill Meehan.
•Mosgrove Gallery, 211 Coeur d’Alene Ave., No. 101, is exhibiting the expressionistic Northwest landscapes of Dorothy Smith.
•Northwest Artists, 217 Sherman Ave., is spotlighting the pottery and raku work of Hilda Bradshaw, along with other artists’ paintings, photography, glass work, jewelry and woodwork.
•Summer’s Glass, 211 Sherman Ave., presents “Something Fishy,” featuring blown glass fish by local artists. Ask about free workshops.
•Additional venues displaying artwork include: All Things Irish, 315 Sherman Ave.; Christmas at the Lake, 517 Sherman Ave.; Rivers of Art, 110 N. Fourth St.; and Worthington’s Fine Antiques and Gifts, 210 Sherman Ave.
Potters at Post Falls Library
The Clay Arts Guild of North Idaho is showing “From Scratch” in the entry of the Post Falls Library through July 15.
Idaho potters Lezlie Finet, Laura Umthun, Amy Vancho, Lori Hintz, Brad Sondahl and Jon Parson are presenting the progression of a clay piece from the beginning to final firing and glazing.
A variety of clay objects from other members of the guild also are on display in the library, 821 N. Spokane St., Post Falls.
Other galleries
•Sunday is the annual Coeur d’Alene Garden Club’s “A Garden Serenade: The 2005 Garden Tour.” There will be beautiful and unique gardens, artists’ boutiques and live music. Tickets are $10 with proceeds benefiting local charities. Call (208) 665-9930 for more details.
•During July, the Entree Gallery at Priest Lake is showing functional and visual yard ornaments in “Outdoor Odysee.” The gallery, open daily, is on Reeder Bay Road, two miles east of Nordman near Elkins Resort. For information go to www.entreegallery.com or call (509) 443-2001.
•Shae Moore is showing photography during July at the Old Hotel Gallery, 33 E. Larch St. in Othello, Wash. For directions call (509) 488-5936.