Sept. 29, 2014
Pandas! Who can resist their black-and-white fuzzy beauty and their adorable charm?
Fall in love with pandas all over again at Rob Schouten Gallery when local artist Anne Belov shows the original color drawings from her charming new children’s book, “Pandamorphosis” from Oct. 1 through Oct. 15.
Visitors to Rob Schouten Gallery will know Belov for her exquisite oil paintings, which are regularly featured at the gallery. We’ll swap out Belov’s paintings for two weeks only, so patrons can get a glimpse of these lovingly rendered panda drawings.
Belov’s colored-pencil drawings feature playful pandas and an envious cat, who wants to be loved as much as the pandas are by their little girl owner. The cat makes a wish on the moon, but gets more than she bargained for. “Pandamorphosis” is a love story to pandas and to the belief that magic can happen when you least expect it.
“I’ve always loved beautifully illustrated children’s books,” Belov said. “I’m a big fan of author/illustrators like Chris Van Allsburg and David Wiesner; the way they combine their stories with such masterfully done illustrations is an inspiration to me.”
The drawings are colored pencil on bristol board, a very smooth and heavy paper used for drawing and graphic work. The story, told in pictures only, developed over a period of three years through a painstaking process of sketches, discarded drawings and the final gorgeous pieces that comprise the book.
Meet Belov at a special “Pandamorphosis” book-signing event from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11 at the gallery. Bring the kids!
Belov will also be present at an artists’ reception from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, along with October’s featured artist, Keiichi Nishimura, who shows his unique paintings on silk from Oct. 1 – 30. We will serve some light refreshments as part of Greenbank Farm’s “Second Sunday at the Farm,” when the Farm’s galleries, shops, cafe and market welcome visitors to enjoy a relaxed afternoon of fine art, good food, natural beauty and lively conversation.
“Pandamorphosis” costs $17.95 and is available at Moonraker Bookstore in Langley and at Amazon.com.
Rob Schouten Gallery, a premier showcase for Whidbey Island and Northwest artists, is located at 765 Wonn Road, #C-103 at the historic Greenbank Farm. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends; closed Tuesday or by appointment. For further information, call 360-222-3070 or email info@robschoutengallery.com.