Gail Siptak Animal Exhibit 2023
Artist Statement
Through the old and honorable tradition of narration, Gail Siptak conjures stories of life overseen and overheard through her whimsical gouache-layered paintings. In her ninth exhibition with koelsch gallery, Siptak continues to convert life experiences of the self and natural world into a whimsical visual narrative. As a child, Siptak aspired to become a professional entomologist. Growing up in San Fransisco and Palo Alto, California, in the 1960s and 70s, Siptak was surrounded by a multitude of water and terrain. Here, she explored the grandeur of the natural world and found her church in its actuality. Since 1964, Siptak has been painting the world around her and the experiences that come with it. During the pandemic, Siptak veered away from oil paintings and took on the restorative process of gouache paint. With handmade paper and gouache, Siptak can densely layer her opaque, chalky paint and closely imitate “body color” or “egg tempura.” Before the invention of oil paint, body color was among the most common painting mediums during the Middles Ages. It consisted of pigments and egg yolk to illuminate manuscripts. With gouache, Siptak creates rich, flat patterns and thick strokes of colors that possess a solid visual summoning. Siptak creates a clear channel between the observer and the observed with her work. “I paint what I see of the human condition – animal or object. The glimmer of humor, pathos, and spirit in what I see is the basis of what I paint.”
viewpoint
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1462.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
bitchina
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1463.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
big boy
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1464.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
elder crane
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1465.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
guinea in the garden
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1466.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
little (irritated) owl
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1467.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
sold
shoebill crane
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1468.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
tillie on the work table
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1469.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
little owl (big feet)
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1470.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
sold
winter squirrel
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1471.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
sold
wet
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1472.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
brother bear
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1473.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
sold
sitting pelican
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1474.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
blowfish
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1475-1.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
new life (cicada)
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1476.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
some sort of chicken
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1477-1.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
blue cat
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1478.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
sold
bush bird
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1479.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
dizzy cat
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1480.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450 sold
mantis
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1482.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
jumping spider
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1483.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
little faun
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1484.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
mother eye
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1485.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
night bird
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1486.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
turkey lurkey
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1487.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
alligator
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1488.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
russet dragon
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1490.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
night dragon
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1489.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
snail
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1491.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
diamond snake
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2021/04/IMG_3543.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 24"
sold
big cat/ rain cat
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_1493.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
24" x 18"
$550
fish spawn
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2021/04/IMG_1566.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
24" x 18"
$450
green eyed goat
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/333968925_223478146730246_1937713790883827424_n.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
gingham rabbit
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8951-960x1280.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
sold
ferdinand
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2021/04/IMG_8553-rotated.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
18" x 12"
$650
little tiger
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2021/04/IMG_2772.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
17" x 12"
$650
horse
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2021/07/IMG-8183-960x1249.jpg)
gouache paint on handmade paper
14" x 11.5"
sold
piggy
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2021/07/IMG-8182-960x719.jpg)
gouache paint on handmade paper
10.5" x 14"
$650
red pony dream
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2021/04/IMG_2819.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 18"
$550
owl
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2021/07/IMG-8180-960x1314.jpg)
gouache paint on handmade paper
16" x 9.5"
$850
raccoon
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2021/04/IMG_3048.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
18" x 12"
$750
sir hare
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2021/04/IMG_3900.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
18" x 12"
$750
ollie
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8992-960x1286.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
sold
duck duck
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_3016-960x1270.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
lake moose
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_3017-960x718.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
capybara
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_3018-960x1314.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
capybara in the pool
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_3019-960x1278.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
sold
argyle serpents
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_3021-960x706.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
three fish and anemones
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_3022-960x1259.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
firebird fish looking back
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_3023-960x712.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
pleased toad
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/pleased-toad.jpeg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
big red
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/Big-Red.jpeg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
goldfish with water bugs
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_3824-960x703.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
trigger fish of the deep
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_3825-960x1275.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
shoehorn crane #2
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_3826.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
green eyed red bird with seeds
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_3827-960x1275.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
big little blue bird
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_3828-960x715.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
9" x 12"
$450
gator
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_5053-960x923.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 12"
$450
seaborn
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_5054-1.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
brown horse
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_5055-960x1276.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
exotic night stalker bird
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_5056-960x1277.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
small weary lion
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_5057.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
muskrat love
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_5058.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
little mouse
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_5059-960x1259.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
small frog
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_5060-960x1267.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
chicken in the pot
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_5062.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
mixed
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_6972-960x1305.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
polywog
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_6973.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
dandy lion
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_6974.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
lavender seal
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_6975-960x1268.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
jay
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_6977.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
pink flowers
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_6978.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450
little chick
![](https://koelschgallery.com/app/uploads/2023/03/IMG_6979.jpg)
gouache on bristol paper
12" x 9"
$450