"A Merry Gathering" with Michael Summers: Featured Artist Launch Party!

Artist Michael Summers with SD Bay Wine & Food Festival poster,  A Merry Gathering

On Thursday, May 19th, Exclusive Collections Gallery was proud to host the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Featured Artist Launch Party in the Historic Gaslamp District.  EC Gallery artist Michael Summers has been carefully selected as the Poster Artist for this year's event, and consequently created an original work of art to represent the Festival.

True to his "American Surrealist" style, Michael Summers's acrylic painting entitled A Merry Gathering transports the viewer to the fun and excitement that has been a part of the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, and will be for the eighth year this November, 2011.  The painting depicts San Diego's iconic Coronado bridge cutting through the clear blue Southern California skyline above a blissful outdoor feast.  Guests at EC Gallery enjoyed the classic elegance of food, wine, and great company that Michael Summers has depicted in A Merry Gathering.

In an unique combination of art collectors, wine lovers, bloggers, and foodies, gallery visitors came together for one night to celebrate Michael Summers's great achievement as the Festival's Featured Artist.  Guests enjoyed complementary tastings by Ahnfeldt Wines and Carpathian Wines, both participants in the Festival as well.  Michael spoke about the creation of the Festival poster's original, and unveiled the final painting! 

The Festival's poster art has been just the beginning of Michael Summers's recent artistic successes.  All party attendees were entered into a drawing to win Michael Summers's new Fine Art Limited Edition entitled, Seeking Balance.  Known primarily for his original acrylic paintings on board, Michael Summers's Seeking Balance was chosen to be printed in a limited edition of fifty paintings.  Because collectors have found Seeking Balance so highly desirable, it seems only fair to allow the painting to be shared in this way.  There was only one condition requested by the artist:

"I would only agree to selling fine art limited editions if I could personally hand-embellish each and every one of them," said Michael Summers.

It is his personal attention and dedication to each of his creative paintings that attracts collectors to his work.  His hand-embellished details in acrylic provide texture and vivacity to the customized painting.  In this way, each edition of "Seeking Balance" is unique.

Seeking Balance by Michael Summers

Congratulations to John, the winner of the Featured Artist Launch Party drawing!  We at EC Galleries hope that you enjoy Seeking Balance!

As the Featured Artist at the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, Michael Summers will attend the Reserve & New Release Tasting and Grand Tasting Event.  The poster will be available for sale and Summers will be present to sign copies and present his most recent works of art.  At the Celebrity Chef Luncheon & AIWF Big Bottle Live Auction on Sunday, November 20, Michael Summers will preside as emcee.  For those interested in acquiring the original painting of A Merry Gathering that was unveiled at the Launch Party this May, the painting will be auctioned there as well.

To see a selection of Michael Summers's available paintings, visit Exclusive Collections Galleries or go to www.ecgallery.com.

ARTWALK with EC Galleries!

San Diego could not have asked for better weather for the 27th Annual Mission Federal Artwalk in Little Italy last weekend!

Exclusive Collections Gallery joined the many talented local artists in a celebration and support of the arts, featuring live painting demonstrations by Gloria Lee, Michael Summers, Michael Flohr, Daniel Ryan, and Christopher M.

Gallery patrons and new fans alike came out to Little Italy to see the latest and greatest in the art world.  With a great family-friendly, pet-friendly venue, everyone came out to enjoy the sunshine, delicious food, music, and beautiful art.

Gloria Lee's Pop Dogs were a huge hit with  the dog lovers!

 

"Painter of Chefs" Christopher M., paints a new original kitchen scene for all of the Little Italy foodies!

Artist Daniel Ryan personally dedicates the painting, "Northern Spirit", to his collectors.

 

Artist Michael Summers, recently named Official Poster Artist for the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, finds a home for his new original painting as well.

As always, EC Galleries feel lucky to be "America's Finest Galleries" here in "America's Finest City".  Hope to see you next year at Artwalk!

How to See the World Like Michael Summers

Michael Summers’s recent appearances at EC Gallery's Historic Gaslamp locale was, for many, illuminating.  Patrons of the gallery filtered in throughout the evenings of February 4th and 5th to catch a glimpse of the 36 year old artist at work.  Summers, always engaging and in high spirits, spoke with many in regards to his technique, unique vision and skillful execution.

Typically, Summers creates the scene he intends to paint by grabbing a handful of toys (some of which he's constructed on his own) and placing them in unique juxtapositions....call it 'Summers-Vision'.   While his work can, in a general way, be placed into a pop-surrealist genre, it is inspired from the child within.  Unlike many of the newer artists working within the parameters of those movements, Summers' unique vision is in no way derivative of other artists' works falling within those aforementioned genres.

Summers then photographs the toys and creates for them a backdrop / setting which lends itself to his vision.  Once the photo is complete, Summers then creates a rough sketch on paper.  Michael adds to that sketch, painting sometimes with watercolor and other times using liquid acrylic as his medium.  When he is happy with the preliminary work, he creates a larger piece based on the former.  Recently, Summers has been constructing his pieces on wood, oftentimes incorporating the texture and wood grains into the actual composition of the piece, blending the natural world's aesthetic with his own whimsy.  

The buzz and corresponding demand for his work has grown tremendously.  See for your own eyes the wonder of Michael Summers’s artistic creations by stopping by Exclusive Collections Gallery and/or viewing them on our website at www.ecgallery.com.

The 2nd ANNUAL Miniatures Show!

Exclusive Collections hosted their highly attended second annual
miniature show November 8th, 2008. There were eight artists in
attendance and over 110 originals works were created in a small
format for the event.

The artist appearances were by, Steve Barton, Michael Flohr,
Christopher M., Joe Metcalf, Michael Summers, Daniel Thedell,
Steven Quartly and John Webster. In addition, artists Asencio,
Walfrido Garcia, Royo, Samir Sammon and Dale Terbush each
created a body of fantastic small works for collector's consideration.

The magical evening was filled with such amazing talent that
collectors were having a difficult time deciding what art to collect
and many left with more than one original painting! Owner James
Thorn introduced each artist in attendance and gave all an
opportunity to expound on the inspiration behind the body of
work they had created for the show. For many collectors, this
was the pinnacle of the evening. Patrons of Exclusive Collections
have enjoyed many wonderful and exciting openings over the
years. This event offered the opportunity to meet these talents
first hand, collect these great artist's works, and experience
"the art of living with fine art."