Sophie Ploeg

Pay It Forward PRINCIPLE GALLERY ALEXANDRIA 5 September - 10 October I am delighted to, once again, join the Women Painting Women exhibitions held annually in the US and sometimes Europe. Last year I was invited to exhibit a few pieces at Art Exposure Gallery in Glasgow, and this year I am proud to join a wonderful group of artists at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, US. The ‘movement’ describes itself as such on their blog: "Women Painting Women" explores how contemporary women painters are handling women as subjects. The blog was founded by artists Alia El-Bermani, Diane Feissel and Sadie Valeri.” This year’s exhibition is titled ‘Pay it Forward’ and a percentage of each sale will go to a charity of the buyer’s choosing. A catalogue will be available. My contribution to his exhibition is Looking Back oil on line 20x24” Artist represented in the Pay It Forward Exhibition are: Jennifer Balkan Mia Bergeron

The Women Painting Women Exhibition at Art Exposure in Glasgow is well on its way. I am happy to say that both my paintings there sold within the first 24 hours of opening the show. I am so grateful. I hope you get a chance to go and see this show as it has some really great artists in it. Most of these are friends, whom have gotten to know each-other though the extensive network of artists that find each-other on Facebook. Facebook has been brilliant for me the past few years. While it has been a simple of means of staying in touch with friends for many, for me it has provided a network of international artists to exchange work, experiences, exhibitions and support. I have met many artists whom I first only knew on Facebook but who have now become real friends. It has been a goldmine of added value for my painting career and life in general.  The catalogue for the exhibition at Art Exposure is available to buy online, so even if you don't get to see the show, you can...

Women Painting Women UK  group exhibition  Glasgow Art Exposure Gallery  20 September - 8 October 2013  www.womenpaintingwomen.co.uk   Back in 2009 a few brilliant American female figurative painters began a blog called ' Women Painting Women'. Sadie J. Valeri, Alia El-Bermani, and Diane Feissel wanted to celebrate and attract attention for women artists (so often only represented by galleries on the canvas only, and not painting the canvas as artists). The blog was a huge success and is still going strong. Since then the blog has grown into quite a movement and two exhibitions have been held in the US celebrating dozens of female figurative artists. Although it remains sadly true that generally more male than female artists are shown in galleries and museums and more male artists are celebrated in the media, I find it very interesting to see how female artists have a different approach to painting in comparison to male artists. Often (not always...