Summer Heat: When Art Gets Its Vitamin D On

Okay, let's be honest for a hot minute: summer is basically the universe showing off. It's like Mother Nature decided to turn the saturation dial all the way up, crank the warmth, and remind us why we spend half the year dreaming about this exact moment. And if you think summer is just about beach vacations and barbecues, you haven't seen what happens when our artists get their hands on all that gorgeous, golden, everybody-looks-better-in-this-light magic.

Welcome to summer at Sorrel Sky Gallery, where the art is as hot as the weather and twice as captivating.

There's something about summer that makes everything feel more... possible. Maybe it's the longer days that trick us into thinking we have more time, or the way sunlight transforms even the most mundane moments into something Instagram-worthy. Whatever it is, our artists have been capturing that essence for years, and we're here for every sun-soaked second of it.

Let's start with the man who basically invented the concept of "effortlessly cool photography" and somehow convinced Cindy Crawford to pose on Sunset Boulevard for his "Summer of '75" series. Because apparently, when you're David Yarrow, you just casually recreate the "love and peace summer of 1975" on one of the most iconic stretches of road in America.

This isn't just photography—this is time travel with attitude. Yarrow captures that magical moment when Hollywood was "free rolling, liberal and fun," and honestly, looking at these images makes us want to dust off our vintage sunglasses and pretend we're way cooler than we actually are. The black and white version? Chef's kiss. It's like Instagram but for people who understand lighting and composition.

Pro tip : This is the kind of art that makes your living room instantly more interesting than your friends' living rooms. Just saying.

Now, if Yarrow is all about cinematic drama, Hadley Rampton is about catching those perfect lazy afternoon moments that make summer, well, summery. Her "One Summer Day" (30" x 40") is pure plein air poetry—you know, that thing where artists go outside and paint in real time instead of hiding in air-conditioned studios like the rest of us.

Rampton's work lives "somewhere between abstraction and realism," which is art-speak for "she makes the world look better than it actually is while still keeping it real." Her palette knife technique creates these gorgeous, textural moments that make you want to reach out and touch the canvas. Don't actually do that—gallery etiquette and all—but the urge will be there.

Here's where things get a little emotional. Suzanne Wiggin's "End of Summer" (10" x 10" oil on wood) captures that particular late-August melancholy when you realize that yes, summer is finite, and no, you didn't accomplish half the things on your "summer bucket list."

But here's the thing: Wiggin makes that ending beautiful. Painting from her Taos studio that faces a valley "with its storms and clear light," she understands that "each season has its own wealth of colors, its own timeless beauty." This piece doesn't mourn the end of summer—it celebrates the fact that we got to experience it at all - and it's on SALE!

Speaking of things that make summer magical, can we talk about Ana Maria Botero's painted glass sculptures for a hot second? Her "Summer Walk" (6" x 15" x 5") is basically summer flowers that will never die, never need watering, and will always look perfect.

Using—get this—a single hair from a paintbrush, Botero paints on multiple panels of glass that are then baked into one piece. The result? Flowers that appear to be suspended in glass, looking so real you'll do a double-take. It's like she figured out how to capture summer blooms in amber, except way more artistic and impressive.

Even David Yarrow's bears are having their summer moment. His "Bearish" from Alaska showcases those legendary summer salmon runs in Katmai, where bears turn into the ultimate fishing enthusiasts. These aren't just wildlife photos—they're documentaries about living your best summer life, bear-style.

"Bears in Katmai, Alaska, during the summer salmon runs are used to sharing rivers with fishermen," Yarrow notes, which sounds like the most chill summer vibes ever. Imagine: you're fishing, a bear's fishing, everyone's having a great time. Peak summer energy.

And then there's Cindy Long's "Sunshine and Spunk" , which sounds like it could be the title of our entire summer mood board. Long's expressive graphite portraits capture "the souls of her subjects," and this particular piece embodies that uniquely Western, nothing-can-bring-me-down summer confidence.

Because let's be real: summer brings out everyone's inner main character energy, and Long knows how to capture that perfectly.

Even the practical side of summer gets the artistic treatment with Greg Kelsey's "The Mid Day Sun" bronze sculpture. It tells the story of cattle shipping from warmer climates to the "much cooler early summer weather on the cattle permits in the Colorado Rockies." It's summer care, Western-style, and somehow Kelsey makes even livestock logistics look poetic.

Here's what we've learned from our summer collection: the season isn't just about heat and vacation days. It's about those moments when light hits differently, when everything feels more vibrant, when even mundane activities seem touched by magic.

Whether you're drawn to Yarrow's Hollywood nostalgia, Rampton's plein air perfection, or Botero's eternal blooms, summer art isn't just decoration—it's a way to keep that golden-hour feeling alive all year long.

And let's be practical for a second: while you're busy living your best summer life, why not invest in some art that'll remind you of these perfect days when you're back to wearing socks and complaining about daylight saving time?

The Summer Collecting Strategy

For the Nostalgia Lover : Yarrow's "Summer of '75" series—because nothing says sophisticated like owning a piece of Hollywood history.

For the Nature Enthusiast : Rampton's outdoor moments or Yarrow's Alaskan bear adventures—perfect for the person who loves summer but also appreciates air conditioning.

For the Eternal Optimist : Botero's glass flowers—summer blooms that never fade, never need water, and never judge you for forgetting to garden.

For the Storyteller : Long's portraits or Kelsey's bronze pieces that capture the personalities and stories that make summer memorable.

The Bottom Line

Summer at Sorrel Sky Gallery isn't just about staying cool in our air-conditioned spaces (though we have that covered). It's about celebrating an entire season's worth of inspiration, creativity, and those perfect moments when life feels like it's happening in golden hour.

So come escape the heat, browse some art that captures the essence of summer better than any Instagram filter, and maybe leave with something that'll make every day feel a little more like the best day of summer.

Because if you're going to daydream about perfect weather, you might as well do it surrounded by perfect art.