Stoughton Madrigal Singers

Yesterday, for the Victorian Holiday Event we had the Stoughton High School Madrigal Singers in full costume singing beautiful Christmas music! Thank you!

New artist coming very soon to The Bradley Art Gallery!

Carol has had artistic interests since early childhood. She began her college career as an art major at the University of Minnesota, but ultimately graduated with a scientific degree in medical technology. It is in the past few years that she has finally had the time to seriously pursue her artistic endeavors.

Her formal art training has been mostly in the form of workshops with various regional and national art teachers including (the late) Zoltan Szabo, Stephen Quiller, Nita Leland, Tim Deibler, Frank Francese, Louise Cadillac, Desmond O’Hagan, Ken Velastro, Jill Soukup, and the Art Student’s League of Denver.

As an active member of the Colorado art community, Carol's work has been recognized with numerous awards. She has given several demonstrations and workshops to artist organizations in the Denver area. Her work can be seen at Spirits in the Wind Gallery, Golden, CO, West Southwest Gallery in Denver, Columbine Gallery in Frisco, as well as various art shows, exhibits and festivals in Colorado.

In the past few years, Carol has focused her painting primarily in oils or acrylics. Her work is characterized by strong emphasis on light, shadow, and, most of all, color. Her acrylic works are more experimental in nature, and she often uses acrylic gel mediums to build up the substrate of the painting giving a three dimensional effect. Her abstract paintings are a relatively new venture into the the realm of collage, design, and composition.

“As an artist living in Colorado, I am inspired by the incredible beauty we find all around us.. In each painting, I seek to capture a moment in time, a certain essence of light, or a scene of natural beauty. My hope is that the viewer can be transported visually, if only for a moment, to that same place I am representing on canvas.

My abstract paintings, I feel, are pure exercises in the creative process. Each one is like undertaking a journey, with no map and no destination. The finished painting is not something I can envision at the beginning, which is what makes the process so challenging. I think working in both abstract and representational styles keeps my work fresh and exciting."

Carol D. Nelson

Cristmas shop at The Bradley Art Gallery for the best ARTful giving!

So, Here I am being an ELFIN FOOL just so you think of The Bradley Art Gallery when you do your Christmas shopping this season! Those of you who have met me know this is soooo ME! Although I am not really short or from the North Pole but a tall Norwegian from Stoughton, WI ! Also, I KNOW MY HEAD IS TOO BIG!!! Enjoy and Happy Holiday Season to you and yours! Laura Bradley -Owner of The Bradley Art Gallery

Jerry Fitzpatrick- Acoustic Guitarist to play Nov 20

Jerry Fitzpatrick will play here at the Bradley Art Gallery from 6-9 PM on Nov. 20th for our Holiday Gallery Walk Night. Please come and enjoy the art and the beautiful music...some treats and cider..havent decided if I am going to buy the "2 Buck Chuck" wine yet...(which is now 3 buck Chuck by the way!)...So you will have to be surprised.. I KNOW you will love the music and we have so much artwork here for Christmas Artful Giving! Hope to see you!

See video below...

Ok...we need some creative help...The Bradley Art Gallery will be "Hosting" a bed in the 2009 Holiday Weekend Bed Race! Send me some ideas.....what a hoot! If you want to be on our team let me know also!!! I need ideas!!!! Be creative!!!!

Ok...now all you creative people help us out!!

Halloween at the Bradley Art Gallery!

We had a blast...seemed like thousands of kids and parents came through today for Halloween...it was priceless! Somehow we had just enough candy!

Happy Halloween from my family to yours!

Happy Halloween to all of our wonderful customers and friends! Remember to keep life full of laughter!

Don Tiller's Paintings are on their way!

Eagerly waiting for the package with Don Tiller's work! should be any day! Fantastic, colorful , eye popping, rural landscapes! These are on the larger side...you must come and experience!

New to the Gallery- JUST IN!! Todd Bonita's paintings!

Todd Bonitas most recent work clearly embodies his love of both the coastal and inland waters of New England...and yet they are so close to home around here in Wisconsin and could very much be sitting in Lake Kegonsa right down the road! His work reflects the beauty of the simple and classic vessels, timeless in their graceful yet rugged design. Todd is a graduate of the Art Institute of Boston. He lives and maintains his studio on the seacoast of New Hampshire. We are pleased to announce Todd's work here at the Bradley Art Gallery! Todd takes the award for the fastest painting to ever have been sold here at the gallery! I opened his package...hung the work right away...and an hour later one was sold! They are very classic and beautiful...calming to look at...and framed beautifully as well.

Barb Cheron Quartet to play this Sunday Sept 27th!

Barb Cheron Quartet to play at The Bradley Art Gallery for the Fall Art Tour this Sunday Sept 27 from 12-2! Come here this live music and see some wonderful artwork as well! Free admission- donations accepted.

AJ Love Playing here live this Saturday 1:30-4:00

AJ Love Blues Band to play here at the gallery this Saturday Sept 26th from 1:30-4:00. Free admission with donations accepted! Come here AJ play and see some wonderful artwork for the Fall Art Tour.

Fall Art Tour Sept 26-27 Here at The Bradley Art Gallery

The Bradley Art Gallery is one of the stops for the 14 South Fall Art Tour o9. Sue Skowronski and Barbara Grant are two of our featured artists that will be around that weekend to meet and talk with! Live Music both days here at the gallery! Saturday 9/26 -- AJ Love Blues Band from Chicago will be playing from 1:30-4:00 ! Sunday 9/27-- The Barb Cheron Quartet will be playing from 12:00-2:00 (Both bands will be accepting donations-no cover) There will be refreshments and snacks as well both days! Please come and see the beautiful and unique artwork here at the gallery...we are filled to the brim with over 75 local, regional and international artists of all mediums. Truly something for everyone!

Beautiful silk mobiles on their way!

Gorgeous silk leaf mobiles are on their way just in time for the Fall Art Tour! These mobiles are quite large and so graceful with simplicity. Laura's asking for one for her birthday! These are from the artist Jan Carson.

Awesome new work in! Mosaics from Rebecca Campbell

Truly one of a kind works of art! These unique mosaics, made by Rebecca Campbell of Wisconsin, are an exciting new addition to our selection at The Bradley Art Gallery. A must see in person! Pictures hardly show the detail and sparkle of these pieces.

My first rug hooking lesson

Joyce Krueger of Waukesha, WI. in her home where she teaches rug hooking. Joyce, a wonderfully warm woman who shares her knowledge and love for rug hooking to many, gave me my first lesson last week! Joyce also makes and sells her own patterns, hand dyes wool which she sells and has rug hooking supplies that are sometimes hard to find. She was a wonderful inspiration! I am on my way! Thanks Joyce!

Laura is on a new quest! Rug Hooking!

This woman's name is Mary Sheppard Burton. She is an award winning rug hooker...and I love this picture and her words on her web page marysburton.com. She is interested in leaving a legacy of rug hooking for the future generation. Her words and her rugs are truly an inspiration for me as I begin my journey learning to rug hook! It has always been something I have been interested in as I love fiber, texture and color...and as one artist puts it...you can paint in wool! Mary is famous for saying "Make your eyeballs wiggle!" I love that. I hope to meet Mary one day in my travels. So, I will tell you of my new journey as I go along becoming a rug hooker...or a" hooker" for short! If it bores you, move on. But I am too excited about it to keep it all in! Tomorrow, I am going to another wonderfully talented rug hooking artist Joyce Krueger's home in Waukesha, WI. for my very first lesson! She is going to show me the basics and how to get started. I am also bringing back some pottery from a local artist, Ryan Peters to sell at our gallery while I am there! Happy Rug Hooking to me. If I love it, I am going to start a rug hooking guild at The Bradley Art Gallery and work really hard at bringing an awareness and excitement for the art form. Let me know if your interested!

Kris Adams to play at The Bradley Art Gallery!

Kris Adams to play this Friday Night! 6:30-8:30 PM ! Come enjoy some live acoustic Indy rock/folk music! Gallery Walk Night runs from 5-9 pm ..Lots going on in Stoughton--Come enjoy the music, artwork from over 73 artists offered and a little cheese and wine!

Fine Artsy Fair and Gallery Walk Night! June 19-20

Its the Fine Artsy Fair Time! Friday- June 19th from 5-9 will will have goings on for our Gallery Walk Night Live Music from 6-8- Band to be announced! Saturday we will have live art demonstrations from our featured artist R. Shamariah Kruse. ( An awesome local artist whose paintings are full of texture and color and interest!) See blog and website for more examples of her work. Times for Shamariah will also be posted soon. Mark your calendar for the dates and check back for updates! Map and Schedule available here at The Bradley Art Gallery so start here for the festivities and hope to see you for the live music!

Beautiful Jewelry -Perfect for Graduation Gifts!

3 New Jewelry Artists Work In!

Please don't forget to shop at The Bradley Art Gallery for unique and meaningful graduation gifts for your special graduate!

New Artist Liz Kinder- Perfect for Wedding Gifts!

A new Artist to The Bradley Art Gallery-- Liz Kinder

Perfect for a unique wedding gift!

Awesome colors and design! Vases, bowls, mugs, cups and pitchers.

Glorious!!

Laura's Mother's Day 2009

Hope all you Mothers had a wonderful day!!!...Here is my clan taken on Mother's Day this year.

Hannah on the left -21,

Amanda next- 14,

Me,

and David- 16

Michael Gruber to play at The Bradley Art Gallery

Come here Michael as he plays his "Easy Swinging Folk with R & B leanings, to Pop Songs, to Rockin' Country and Blues, To Finger- Style Acoustic and Back Again!" Friday May 15- 8-10 PM $5.00 per person at the door 183 W. Main St Stoughton, Wi 53589

We are all moved in! Look at our new digs!!!

We are so proud! We are all moved to our new gallery spot at 183 W. Main St. Still arranging the inside...hanging artwork and cleaning up the dust from the remodel! Except for being so tired the bags under our eyes go down to our feet....we made it! Please come visit us at our new home! Cant wait to see you! Hours are Tues- Sat 10-6 Sundays 11-4 Closed on Mondays Same phone 608-873-9026 gallery 608-770-2091 cell

See the work we are doing!!! Its almost done!!

Walls are almost done...the track lights go up next!

Making our new sign...and etc...more work done!

Here is the start of our new outdoor sign..It is very time consuming and expensive! It will be lit up when we are finished with it. Cant wait to see it all done and put up on the front of the building! Much brighter! Tim added a new window for the check out counter...and so that I can be in my office and still see out.

See the difference !! Getting done!!

We are trying to get done so we can start moving the artwork over...! We have been burning the candle at both ends...working all day and night!

Tim and Laura -March 09

Our first day standing in our empty new gallery! Hope and excitement abounds..

We got the keys!

Very Dark...Obviously, we need to paint and put up lights.. It will be gorgeous! The back wall will be metallic gold and the rest white...Of course, the brick stays brick! We love that. The back wall will have a hole in it...for a check out counter and my office will be behind that wall. Behind the office is where the classroom is for the new Guild. Tim will be adding about 20 ft to the back of the building and making the classroom really nice. I wont show classroom pictures yet as the previous tenant still has all her stuff there- (as we said she could)..When she is out...I will take a " before" picture for you all. The new Guild is really fun to think about and will make our Gallery a hot spot for creativity. We will be looking for teachers to hold classes/workshops of all kinds...the secret to success will be the variety of the classes we are going to offer. The For Rent sign is finally down...we have the keys...and were ready to start making it ours! The new "Bradley Art Gallery"!! Watch the photos as we paint, knock down walls and buff floors..put up the track lights...lots of work...but we are excited!!!

New Artitst -Robert Brocken

Come Fishing at Spring Willow Gallery! Beautiful ceramic fish--Salmon, walleye, bluegills, large mouth bass, trout...etc!!! I do not happen to like taxidermy fish on my walls at home...but these fish are extremely welcome! They are very artistic and classy. A wonderful gift for the fisherman in your life.

Our new Gallery spot! WE ARE MOVING !!!

Our New building!!! No longer FOR RENT! We bought it last night...Very Cool new space for our Gallery. Our Gallery will be called The Bradley Art Gallery. We hope to be moved in April. It is just 1 block down the road--still in the heart of downtown Stoughton. Please watch for more details. There will be pictures galore showing the progress! We are very excited to be on the lower level now so people will not have to go up the stairs to find us! Also, we will be expanding and starting an "ART CLUB". ( Will not be called this...need to think of a cool name for it!). Basically we have a very nice classroom in the new space which we will use to have art classes of all kinds....all variety of art..all mediums...many different artist teachers...even some weekend retreat workshops combining with a bed and breakfast in town..with great food included...does that sound cool or what??!! E-mail me with thoughts and ideas of what kinds of art you always wanted to do and learn about. All the details to be worked out soon...so just watch and be ready to join in on this creative, enriching journey of fun! You won't have to join-- you could do just one or two classes a year..as it suits you. But for those of us who can't get enough of learning new art skills...joining will have its benefits! Such as; discounts on all classes, discounts on gallery purchases, ability to use the classroom for personal use when there are no classes, ability to rent the gallery out for catered events and meetings amongst beautiful artwork, etc....!!! I can't even begin to tell you what other plans we have...'cause I do not want you to explode with too much excitement...or let the cat out of the bag!!! But lots of really great things are going to be a happenin' at the new Spring Willow Gallery! aka...the Bradley Art Gallery!! Till then, we are still business as usual...at our regular spot...We have over 60 artists work now...and the variety is huge! Come on up and see us --I promise I won't put you to work!...(although, if you like to paint you can grab a brush and I can send you down the street)!

New Artist to the Gallery- DEREK HAMBLY

"The Australian-born painter weilds his talent and unabated energy as one of the most impressive artists to het the United States in years"

His highly textured and colorful landscapes are of local areas. He paints them plein air and are truly beautiful. You just get lost in these paintings!

This painting is 45 X 29 inches of breathtaking light play,texture and colorful emotion. Amazing.

Remember your Sweetheart

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone! Happens to be my favorite holiday! Remember your loved ones(or love yourself) and come on down to the Gallery and buy an awesome, unique expression of your love-- with art! I love to hear what you will be doing on Valentines Day too....I am a hopeless romantic!

Winter has hit hard here in Wisconsin!

Today the weather is 45 below windchill...real temp 23 below! Not many customers...this whole month has been hard on the Gallery because of the large amounts of snow...bad roads and bitter cold! When you thaw out...come to the gallery and see us...were lonely! Stay warm in the meantime!