Letty's Blog

Online Store Now Open

Check out Letty Nowak's new online store: http://www.lettynowak.com/store . There are three great items available for purchase at this time including her limited edition Hurley Faces of Surfing T-shirts, Faces of Key West book that includes all 100 portraits from the series and excerpts about each individual, and lastly- and most exciting- the first series of the Faces of Surfing limited edition prints.

Donavon Frankenreiter

Nowak has completed the final preparation for Donavon Frankenreiter's canvas. The stretcher is cut and the Gesso has dried. This legendary surfer and musician marks the beginning to the second series of the Faces of Surfing. Happy Valentines Day from La Jolla!

Nowak Begins the Second Series of the Faces of Surfing

After two months in Key West, Florida Nowak has returned to her California based studio to begin the second series of The Faces of Surfing project. Stay tuned for updates and information relating to the project and her paintings.

Nowak’s Seminar at The Studios of Key West

Nowak ended her stay in Florida by teaching one of many seminars at The Studios of Key West. Nowak taught 14 individuals to become comfortable with using oils, such as being able to blend the colors on the canvas constructing a contemporary and unique portrait of a person of their choice. Nowak stressed the importance of steering away from the pencil and to use only their brush while developing the abstract curves and ridges of each individual face. Much to Nowak's enjoyment the class varied from professionals to beginners.

Nowak Visits John Martini’s Key West Studio

Late last month Nowak visited the private studio of fellow Key West artist and friend, John Martini. Martini resides in both Key West and Veuxhaulles-Sur-Aube, France. Fortunately during Nowak's visit she was able to view sculptures for his upcoming exhibition at Key West's Lucky Street Gallery. Nowak and Martini have worked together in the past during Nowak's Artist Lock-In Exhibitions that she held in her gallery, The Lemonade Stand Art Studio. .(To view Nowak's painting of Martini from one of her Lock-Ins go to http://www.lettynowak.com/paintings/C8 click, on "Lock-Ins '05" Martini is top row middle.) Nowak has always admired Martini for his consistently strong artistic expression through his vivid shapes and color and quotes him as being one of her long-time local mentors. "One interesting fact about John is if you are ever driving on Interstate 295 North in New Jersey at exit 65 one of his sculptures titled Head2Head towers 27 feet tall on side of the highway. I used to drive every summer from Key West to Sag Harbor, NY to paint and would pass it and smile to myself knowing that was unmistakably a John Martini," Nowak adds.

Anfinson Exhibition

To add to our Key West artist news series, Nowak recently attended the opening reception of friend and fellow artist, Eric Anfinson at Fleming Street Gallery. Anfinson and Nowak have worked closely together throughout the years. They shared a work space from 2005-2007 at Nowak's Lemonade Stand Art Studio in Bahama Village, Key West. Nowak also painted Anfinson for her Faces of Key West IV exhibition ( http://www.lettynowak.com/faces/C6 The portrait of Eric is the 2nd in on the 2nd row ). The two also still meet frequently throughout the year to discuss work and ideas. Anfinson has become known for his oil on canvas figurative paintings. Key West has not only embedded him in it's art scene, but he also has had several exhibitions along the East Coast of the US since his time at the Lemonade Stand. Anfinson has had impressive success at this exhibition and there is still time to view the work. It will be on display through January 26th at 830 Fleming Street.

Hello 2012

Happy New Year from Key West, Florida, Nowak's second home since 2001. Over the next couple of weeks we will be highlighting on a few of Nowak's local artist friends, and visiting some of their studios and exhibitions. This idea came to mind once Letty ran into artist Rick Worth on the Westin Marina Boardwalk near the Fury Surf Shack. Worth has been painting in Key West since the 1990's. His murals, painted cars, works on aluminum shingles, and canvas can be found throughout the tiny streets of the island. Nowak first met Rick when she painted him for the Faces of Key West I (to see painting visit: http://www.lettynowak.com/faces/C3 Rick's portrait is fourth from the bottom). They then went on to work together in Nowak's Lemonade Stand Art Studio Lock-In Exhibitions for several years. Nowak asked Rick where he is currently showing as they caught up on the docks, he responded with "The streets are my canvas."

Thank you to Brian Roy

Thank you to Brian Roy for flying out to California from Key West. He literally flew in two days before the Hurley Town Hall exhibition, helped me package up the paintings, framed work, picked up already collected paintings and took them to the gallery, came for an hour of the opening reception and then had to fly back to Key West to exhibit his Key West Vertical Garden walls the following day.

Donavon Frankenreiter Concert and Cosmic Creek Surf Contest

After the Faces of Surfing Debut at Hurley a few of my Florida crew and I went to Salt Creek for the Donavon concert and Billabong Cosmic Creek Surf Contest. It was a good, relaxing, celebration of a day after the big opening night. A few weeks prior I photographed Donavon in Kauai for the Faces of Surfing II. I am hoping to start his painting after the Holidays. It's pretty cool all of this support I've been getting.
-Letty

Hurley Video Interview

Nowak Article in Transworld Business

Transworld Business recently published an article about Nowak and her work. Check it out here: http://business.transworld.net/78332/features/faces-of-surfing-by-letty-nowak/

Hurley’s Coverage of the Faces of Surfing Debut

Check out Hurley's coverage of the Faces of Surfing debut at Town Hall Gallery in Costa Mesa, California. There is still a chance to catch the exhibition at 225 Forest Gallery in Laguna Beach, open till November 29th, 2011. Can't make the show, private viewings are available at Nowak's studio in La Jolla, California. Please email Liz at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more details.
http://www.hurley.com/blog/blog.cfm/aid/48891/FACES-OF-SURFING-AT-HURLEY-HQ

Thank You to the Hurley Family

Nowak would like to give a special thanks to the Hurley family and everyone at 225 Forest Gallery for all their support and help with the Faces of Surfing debut. The exhibition will be open to the public until November 29th at 225 Forest Gallery in Laguna Beach, California.

Installing 225 Forest

Here's a sneak peak of Nowak installing at gallery 225 Forest for Thursday's opening reception in Laguna Beach, California

Check Out the Official Invites

The official invite turned out great for The Faces of Surfing debut this Friday at Hurley's Town Hall Gallery in Costa Mesa, CA.

“FACES OF SURFING.” Art by Letty Nowak | A Short Film (2011)

DIRECTED & PHOTOGRAPHED
Cory Patterson

Andy Davis Visits the Studio

Earlier today California artist Andy Davis stopped by the studio to visit with Nowak and to take a look at the progress of the collection, Faces of Surfing.

Have Liz Put You on the List

Liz has been out in California helping Letty with the logistics for the project. If you would like to join the Faces of Surfing mailing list please send your snail mail and email address to Liz at the .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), for details on the upcoming exhibitions.

Faces of Surfing Fan Page Has Debuted

Don't forget to like us on Facebook. We are shooting for over 100,000 likes!
Click here to visit the Fan Page

2011 Hurley Pro

Yesterday Nowak attended the 2011 Hurley Pro at iconic surf break, Lower Trestle located in San Clemente, CA. It was a beautiful afternoon at the pictureesque spot as 10th time title holder Kelly Slater beat out finalist Owen Wright in the final minutes. This was Kelly's 48th contest win.

Past Posts