Coldplay opened their tour for Viva la Vida last night in LA and the show was awesome!! Chris Martin has a great concert persona—he’s a fiery ball of energy, and he dances like a total spaz...so much so that he was audibly out of breath during several of his songs. He predicted at the start of the show, “I can tell this is gonna be a good one,” and it unmistakably was...especially when he announced that the band was bored of being up on stage, and they all ran out deep into the audience and climbed the stairs way up into the crowd.

People went absolutely wild....and, unbelievably, here comes Coldplay, trekking up right next to our seats in such a HUGE theater—what are the chances?!!!!! They chose a spot right near me, and it was so close I could see the sweat on Chris Martin’s face as he sang “Yellow”!!! Completely amazing.

There were bulbous big screens hanging from the ceiling that showed optically tweaked live video, and glittery butterflies dropped from the ceiling during the last song, “Lovers in Japan” as scenes of Osaka--streets I used to walk though, right near where I lived (couldn’t believe it!!)--flashed behind the band. I was dancing like mad all night...I had really been wanting to see Coldplay live for such a long time and their funky energy was contagious.

I’m loving Viva la Vida as much as the previous albums. I was completely charmed by the romantically poetic lyrics, especially “42”, “Lost?”, “Lovers in Japan” and “Viva la Vida”. This album plunges into a more eclectic direction with compositionally daring instrumental sequences paired with interesting melodies that feel more artistically charged and risky. What a great night.



Coldplay Track List for July 14th, 2008 in Los Angeles:

Life in Technicolor / Violet Hill / Clocks / In My Place / Viva la Vida / 42 / Yes / The Scientist / Chinese Sleep Chant / God Put a Smile Upon Your Face / Square One / Speed of Sound / Trouble / Lost / Strawberry Swing / Yellow / Death Will Never Conquer / I'll Fix You / Lovers in Japan > Reign of Love. Encore: Death and All His Friends

Had a fantastic time up in the Pacific Northwest, enjoying Portland city life, luxurious digs, flavorful meals, shopping, and so many gardens.


Our fancy hotel Lobby


Voodoo Donut, a crazy all-night donut joint.


Portland was full of beautiful gardens, this gorgeous tree was in the Japanese Gardens.


Japanese Gardens


Zen Garden


The hike through Washington Park to the Japanese Gardens...everything was soooooo green!


Portland skyline from Washington Park


Chocolate goodies at Moonstruck Cafe...Portland is a dessert heaven!


Unbelievably, this Chinese Garden was right in the middle of downtown.


Chinese Gardens


Chinese Gardens


Portland is a foodie paradise. Dinner at Red Star Tavern started with cooked oysters stuffed in their shells with crab and spinach, this aged Prime Rib Filet with Blue Cheese sauce and home-made onion rings, completed by champagne-watermelon gelato with waffle cones and milanos.

Here are some recent pictures from my art show at the Weisman museum!

the artist reception

happy day

even babies love art!

gotta love those grand high-ceiling museum walls

My art and I!

Weisman Museum from outside

I will be exhibiting a collection of my “bubble girl” paintings at the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art in Malibu, California! The show will be on view:

April 29 - May 2, 2008
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11:00 - 6:00 P.M.
Friday 11:00 - 6:00 P.M. & 8:30 - 10:00 P.M.
Private Artists’ Reception: Thursday May 1, 12:00 - 1:30 P.M.

Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90263
General information: 310.506.4851
http://www.pepperdine.edu/arts/museum/

Here’s an excerpt about me from the artist’s catalog that was published for the exhibition:

“Since my art is heavily influenced by the
destinations I’ve traveled to, my paintings are
filled with cultural references that are combined
to form a rich visual language. Additionally,
inspired by the years I spent in Japan, my compositions and line
work reflect the influence of ukiyo-e, while conceptually exploring the
relationship between unique distinctions and the ordinary.”



I hope to see you at the museum!

-Gayle

I was recently admitted into SILA, the society of illustrators of Los Angeles.

You can find me on their website at this direct link:
www.si-la.org/gallery/v/Professional/gwheatley/

I've teamed up with a printmaker, and am now able to offer museum-quality archival ultrachrome giclee prints for all my paintings and digitally-created art! The place I'm working with also makes prints for the Museum of Modern Art in New York, among other big shots. So needless to say, when saw the first few prints I was absolutely stunned with the high quality! Fantastically luscious! Brilliantly vibrant inks on a variety of thick, textured papers...delicate details, looking sharp and precise. They are truly beautiful! A store selling prints and clothing is currently in the works, so check back soon. In the meantime, if you are interested in ordering a print, shoot me an email. Prints are $60 and discounts are available for multiple prints.

Saturday’s gallery show was a big success...I sold some work and met some amazing artists, Harry Carmean among them--who trudged all the way out from his studio near Palmdale for the evening!! The exhibit was a blast. And many thanks to all those that came out to my show! Visit my BLOG to check out my newest painting, “Mr and Mrs Owl”, which debuted Saturday.


Hanging out at Cactus Gallery


with Harry and Cathlin Camean

This year my custom illustrated holiday card was spotted by the editors at Kartika Review...who liked it so much they contacted me about featuring it with their publication...so all holiday visitors to their site were greeted with my illustrated card :)

Sunday night was the Tori Amos American Doll Posse concert. It was AMAZING!!!!!!!! Tori was SPECTACULAR, as usual!
The show was at the new Nokia theater downtown. For the tour she has been opening as different ADP personalities....I was so curious as to who she would be Sunday....turned out to be Isabel, Pip, and of course Tori. She opened with "Yo George" and it was amazing from there forward. Her energy was overwhelming...and it changed each time she transformed into different characters....when she came out as Pip in black spandex the entire mood of the show shifted away from the mellow, cool, and politically-charged persona of Isabel, to Pip's angry, aggressive, and daring rocker-girl persona.

Our seats were in the front and dead center, so that was fantastic! She actually played a lot of older music which was incredible because the last couple tours I’ve been to haven’t done too much of that. Her personality was also completely different--last time for the Beekeeper tour she was chatty, glamorous and feminine...this time she was strong, rockin' out and intellectual. She just played solid sets...for 2.5 hours! It was absolutely incredible, not that I expect anything less from Tori Amos. I didn’t bring my camera, but I was able to grab some cell phone pictures off ToriAmos.com from the concert.



Out.

I was recently contacted by Kartika Review to be a featured artist for
their magazine's inaugural December issue. They've included six of my
paintings, my artist statement and my artist's biography in their winter
issue! Check it out by visiting their website: kartikareview.com

or going directly to: www.kartikareview.com/issue1/1gayle.html

I've got 2 art shows scheduled for December, January & February!
The first is THE TINY TREASURES SHOW at Cactus Gallery in Eagle Rock...

Tiny Treasures runs from December 8th until January 10th, with an opening party Saturday December 8th from 6-10pm. Check it out!

Cactus Gallery
4534 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
323.256.6117
www.eclecticcactus.com
Hours: M-F 11a-8p; Sat & Sun 10a-6p


Then I'll be participating in THE BIRD SHOW in January and February--a group show to raise awareness for bird species facing extinction, put on for the API (Animal Protection Institute). More info to come...

I'll be showing work at Concrete Walls gallery on the Miracle Mile again this year. The show opens December 7th and runs into January.

Here are some pictures from my recent trip to Chicago....in was fantastic!!!!


It was great to walk around a grand sea of skyscrapers in a tall city again. (LA is big, but I wouldn't say tall). The architecture all over the city was absolutely amazing and there were so many sculptures everywhere that it really was like walking around in an open air museum...plus the paintings at the Art Institute of Chicago--wow!

enjoying a traditional Chicago deep dish pizza

a view of the city from the 95th floor of the Hancock Observatory

T + G in front of "Cloud Gate"

Visit brainboyandstarfish.com to see more!

This weekend was Michelle and Roger's wedding....it turned out beautifully....there were thunderstorms the night before and rain the day of...but nothing--save this light sprinkle--at the wedding. Yay!
I shot some photography for the happy couple...a few more pictures can be found at brainboyandstarfish.com

This illustration will be both published in Southern Bride Magazine for their new wedding annoucements section, and printed as postcards that will be sent out. Exciting!

A client of mine gave me some patches that he had
embroidered from a logo I recently designed for him:

We just got back from the trip of a lifetime!
St Lucia was so wonderful and so much fun! It was both beautiful and luxuriously relaxing. People were friendly, the food was spicy and delish, and we lounged in our hammock under the stars at night listening to the waves. By day we basked in the sun, went sailing, diving, windsurfing, and swimming, then cooled off at the pool bar with Dirty Banana cocktails.

We had the best time!

The wedding was absolutely perfect...we had the ceremony right on the beach under an arch of tropical flowers to the sounds of crashing waves and a festive Calypso band.

It was stunning!

We had champagne, caviar & cake by the sea afterwards, and even had time to relax and get a massage at the spa. It was all topped off with a romantic candlelight dinner by the sea, that included a hand picked menu and our own white-gloved butler. It was heaven!!

Well, I guess I've got weddings on the brain...in just a couple more days I leave for St. Lucia...so it's definitely appropriate that I just completed two new illustrations for Southern Bride Magazine!

"Wedding Catastrophe"

This illustrates a story about the necessity of taking out wedding insurance!

"Wedding Panic"

ah...the trails and stresses surrounding weddings...

St. Lucia, here we come Baby!

Thanks to a good friend, I got to go see THE KILLERS last night live at the Staples Center downtown! They absolutely rocked!!!! It was a perfect evening...we had great seats, and they sounded amazing...they played a nice, long set full of pomp and style, accentuated by glittery confetti, and pulsing leopard skin lighting. It was great!!

It's been busy, busy, busy around here lately! Between illustration, painting, martial arts, scuba certification, wedding preparations and freelancing it's been CRAAAAZY! But I'm excited to have my next big trip in the works...

EXOTIC ST. LUCIA IN THE WEST INDIES!!!

I'll be soaking up the sun to the sounds of Calypso and enjoying the flavors of jerk chicken and rum punch in no time. And best of all, I'll be tying the knot down there!!

Wishing you a happy and wonderful holiday season! -Gayle

Here are some pix from my gallery opening...


The Chums

A selection of my paintings that were on display...


Good Times!

Join me Friday, December 8, 2006 from 6-9pm for my art opening at Concrete Walls Gallery!

"Way Too Over Hung"
4th Annual $99.99 Holiday Show

Location:
Concrete Walls Gallery @ Backdoor Boba
5484 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
http://www.concretewallsgallery.com
(It is located near the corner of Dunsmuir and Wilshire, but the entrance is actually on Dunsmuir)

Artist Reception:
Friday, December 8, 2006, 6-9pm, (I'll be there after 7:30pm)

The show will run from December 8 through January 27, and all work will be sold for $99.99!

Hope to see you there!

It's final--I have reached my lifelong goal of painting 100 paintings in one year!!!!!!


Here is #100, "Wonder Woman", Oil on Canvas, 9" x 12"

I can't believe I even finished a month early too! It's been an amazing experience, and I am definitely going to continue with the paintings and the blog, although I may just focus on one painting a week from now on, and paint larger scale canvases. Fantastico!!!!!!