Breathtaking, right? Look at the light in this painting. So nice! Gorgeous sunset and all the colors reflecting around it… WOW! It wasn’t easy to choose only a few images, each and every one is stunning, you must check it out for yourself!
Morning Shadows at Smith Rock by Sally O’Neill
Just look at that rock. The pinks and oranges against the blues and greens are dynamite! Such nice brush strokes! This painting won 1st place at Smith Rock Paint Out!
A native of Southern California, Sally O’Neill has lived in the foothills of the Northern Oregon Cascade Mountains since 1991. Throughout her life, Sally has always been involved in the arts. As a child, she enjoyed painting and drawing in addition to music studies. She majored in music in college and is an accomplished pianist. Sally worked in the medium of watercolor for a period of time in the 1980’s. In 1998, Sally went back to painting seriously working solely in oils.
“As soon as I started painting with oils I knew I had found the perfect medium to express my artistic vision. As an admirer of the impressionists, I am obsessed with light, color and atmosphere. Through the layering of colors and texture I’m trying to achieve the effects of light at different times of the day. Overall, I want my paintings to bring the viewer into a world they would love to be in, that of beauty and sun drenched days.”
Sally’s plein air and studio paintings reflect her enthusiasm for life and an appreciation for her subject matter. She has studied painting with a number of prominent artists including Ruben Arizpe, Sr., Camille Przewodek, Bill Ahrendt and Ovanes Berberian. Until his death in 2007, Sally also had a constant mentor and artistic ally in her father-in-law, watercolorist, Don O’Neill. Sally also teaches group workshops in addition to private art students.
Sally’s has been the recipient of numerous awards. Her work can be seen in a number of private as well as corporate collections.
As promised… more Monhegan artist photos… this is the last batch until I can get there again to take more photos!
Fred and I watched David Kasman (above) paint one afternoon and it was fabulous. This man is good. Really good. We didn’t want to bother him until he was finished… then I walked up and asked him WHO ARE YOU? He clearly didn’t set up, fumble around like I might do… he set up, got to work, painted away… and it was fabulous. It’s in our Monhegan Collection!
Caleb Stone teaching a workshop and Kevin Beers (not in the workshop) painting his heart out….
In this photo you see Kevin Beers painting off by himself (top right). On the bottom left hand side of this image is artist Caleb Stone giving a student assistance during a workshop. This is the one cool sight that you will see over and over on Monhegan. Groups of artists painting. Some are in workshops, most are just artist out painting like Kevin…
Tim Bell after he finished a painting…
We caught the last half of Tim Bell painting this gorgeous drop dead painting… Tim has the ability to set up, paint an entire painting without getting a drop of paint on him or on anything else. He neatly puts everything away, and when he leaves… there is no trace! This striking painting… in our Monhegan collection!
Kevin Beers painting by the Barnacle on Monhegan
Kevin draws a crowd when he paints because he paints on such a large canvas. It’s interesting to watch each artist paint. Artists all have different techniques, yet they all turn out fabulous paintings. Which just proves there isn’t just one way to paint. Do what’s best for you!
Tim Bell… Monhegan
A lot of people (me) like to set up out of the way, like out on a cliff somewhere… but I would say there are many more confident painters here… like Tim, he’s comfortable painting anywhere.
Joe FIdler (dad) painting in Port Clyde, ME!
Joe Fidler! He sets up and paints anywhere… he goes with the flow, doesn’t worry about things. Paints nice painting. Needs a website ;)
Maine is such a great place to paint. You can be close to others, off by yourself or somewhere in the middle.
I love this painting by Eugene Quinn of his studio/gallery in Rockport, MA. Paintings of interiors are a favorite of mine… just look how special this studio space is! Studio and gallery located in one nice area, in a historic seaside cottage with so much charm!
Layla outside the Eugene Quinn Studio Gallery
Lucky Layla. From the looks of things she is definitely top dog! What a view! Wow… this is one gorgeous place to hang paintings. Speaking of paintings, check out Eugene’s website – fabulous paintings in a dreamy location… what could be better? The studio gallery is closed for the season right now, but I’ll have a little more about the actual studio when it reopens in the spring!
Eugene Quinn – painting in progress – what a view!
Eugene’s paintings are a wonderful depiction of an area that he clearly loves. It shows in his paintings. Each and every one is wonderful and has a very happy feeling to it. Eugene is an award winning artist, take a peek for yourself!
In the tradition of the tonalists, the luminists, and the artist-travelers of the Victorian Age; Eugene’s work conveys truth and beauty found in the natural world. He paints outdoors in all seasons rendering the feeling of particular places at a particular moment be they grand or simple, in lands far away and on the street where he lives, moved by experiences foreign and familiar.
Eugene earned degrees in Fine Art and Art History at Providence College all the while pursuing his interests in science and architecture. Then after years of part time study at The Art Students League and The New York School of Visual Arts he learned essential technical training from John Phillip Osborne at the Ridgewood Art Institute. Over the years he has won more than fifty awards at juried competitions across the country.
“Knights Armor” by Olympic/Painting by Ken DeWaard
It’s time to change paint color! This room has been the same color for years and years, while virtually every other room in our house has been painted different colors… numerous times. Do we have a problem? Maybe ;) Something as simple as paint can change a room so much… We’re living with different colors a little at a time… If you have a great color let me know about it! The brownish wall color is KUBA by Ralph Lauren (no longer made). The new darker color is called Knights Armor by Olympic. We were thinking about a gray… not sure if this is too blue gray for us or not… only time will tell… Note: See bottom for important update ;) from Feb. 7, 2014…
Here it is with the brown cropped out of it… What do you think? We have painted rooms a creamy white… our art work didn’t stand out to us? But we aren’t sure this is THE color… we will most likely go through a few more samples before we find the right one… UPDATE: After living with this for a few days we think that this is too blue and a bit too dark for us… hmmm, not the one… darn it!
View from Living room to Study. Paintings in living room: (over fireplace) Marlee Brown, on the left hand side, upper is Carol Marine and lower is Daniel Corey. Painting in opposite room is Betty Anglin Smith.
Here is the view from the living room (a more updated brown) to the study (the old Kuba color)… so need to pick a color that flows… as well as a color that looks great in a room that gets bright sun…
Painting by Ken DeWaard
Gorgeous painting by Ken DeWaard. This is a treasure we will have forever and ever. What an amazing guy, and just so talented. Ugh! It’s pretty inspiring to be around someone who can whip out a brush and literally paint absolutely anything that he sees.
Warm Stone by Sherwin Williams
This color (Warm Stone) looks so good in our guest room (which doesn’t get as much light as this room does), but I’m thinking it’s too washed out in this room… and even more so when the sun shines through… but later in the day it looks much nicer…
I think since we still have some walls to cover, we’ll try a few more samples… Maybe something similar to Warm Stone (above) but a wee bit darker… or something totally different like…
Do you have a favorite color for a bright room? Let me know!
Warm Stone/Sherwin Wms (guest room/long pink sticky), davenport tan or whitall brown (the two browns with stickys) or Beacon Hill Damask/Benjamin Moore? (Pink little sticky’s)
PLEASE chime in with any suggestions? What is a happening color that isn’t too cool… we’re not thinking gray any longer… I. Don’t. Think.
Am I fickle? Ugh. Probably… need help!
UPDATE: Feb. 7 (Fri)
Ok… I have gotten some cool comments, and some that have me looking back at my fan deck (that may be the death of me, ha ha)… I am intrigued by the 5th comment… what do you think of these colors? I’m leaning towards the HYDRANGEA FLOWERS (on the left) I think the CORAL ESSENCE may be a bit much for me. Actually, I’m not sure, I’m intrigued… this is not safe territory for me, ha ha… for years its been variations of brown. Let me know what you think!
Middle color on left is HYDRANGEA FLOWERS, the middle on right is CORAL ESSENCE. I’m liking HF better… if we were to go something like this… what are those freaky wrinkles in my hand!????? Good grief!
And just for a point of reference… this is the rug in the room we’re wanting to paint… I see bits of Hydrangea Flowers (Benjamin Moore) in the rug!
Ok, today is 2/8… after visiting some friends who just painted their bedroom a dark gray shade… and with a few of the comments, we are now leaning more towards the dark. Just hung a painting with a silver frame and… P. O. P. ! Hmmmm…
I. Remain. Fickle… any suggestions/comments are most welcome!
David Jon Kassan. Wow. I have just watched the most amazing trailer for artist David Kassan’s latest DVD “Painting a Life: Documenting an Approach to Painting“. Absolutely stunning how he can paint a portrait so realistic, capturing every nuance, I mean so completely it looks as if his models will walk off of the canvas. This ability to paint in such a detailed way is amazing to watch. When have I ever watched a painting DVD that resulted in goosebumps? Exactly. Not until I watched David’s trailer. It’s a hit already, and has made it to IMDB(Internet Movie Database) – is THE online database for all things movie related, trailers, reviews, etc.) – this guy is highly respected, just look at comments on various sites. Impressive!
Details below from David’s wonderful website – clicking THIS LINK will take you to his site, where you can click on the trailer, and i’m telling you… goosebumps! If you’re interested in portraits even in the slightest THIS is the DVD for you!
In this 7-hour, two disc, instructional documentary, I really wanted to weave together my philosophies on painting as well as how I paint technically. In “Painting A Life”, we get to know the subject, Jaece Lutrec. intimately — her thoughts, feelings and her life as I paint her.
Painting, for me, is my way of understanding the world around me; a way of slowing things down to carefully observe life. It was really important to me that this film illustrates not just the step-by-step process of how I paint, but also depicts my patient search to understand my subject.
To encourage a full understanding of the process, I completely vocalize my thoughts on how I use broken color to develop lifelike skintone and how I use color temperature, value, texture and brushstroke to turn form. I also discuss how to train your eye to see these subtle color shifts and transitions.
In my approach to direct painting (an integration of academic and organic techniques) I strive to demonstrate how we never lose sight of the model’s emotional character.
Included is a full discussion of my materials (brushes, mediums, paints, etc), how I prepare my painting surfaces, my studio setup and lighting, how I transfer my drawing to my painting surface, a brief introduction to my drawing process, and a field trip to Vasari Classic Oils Colors to discuss of all of the paints on my palette and their properties and history with Gail Spiegel, Vasari’s color expert.
The essence of this DVD is how I develop a full understanding and interpretation of what I see and synthesize that into a painting that captures the subtle character, emotion and life of the sitter.
Remember a few weeks ago, I mentioned that for the next few weeks I was going to post some images of artists painting on Monhegan Island (Maine)? Well last week, I forgot! (It must have been because of the cold weather??)… well, here it is… this week and next, and then back to normal posting.
This is artist John Oat. Nice guy, we met John several years ago. Fabulous artist. Here’s the link for John’s website… I love the painting DASHING, what a happy dog!!
Marc Hanson. Amazing artist. Brilliant in everything that he does. Remarkably versatile, the man can do anything. Now add to his current oil painting, gouache, pastel…. MOVIE MAKING! What? Yep. I think this is so creative it makes me want to create a trailer for SOMETHING… Marc did this in a light hearted way, for those of you who know Marc, or follow him on Facebook you will even notice his beloved Milk Duds get a cameo roll in this trailer about his upcoming painting marathon “A leap into February”!
Was I right? I cannot wait to follow along and see what Marc paints – 4 PAINTINGS A DAY for 28 DAYS! (Whoa!) – Follow along by reading Marc’s blog “Painting My Way Through Life“. This should make for quite a fun February, don’t you think??
I am so excited to watch the progression of his daily efforts! Four paintings a day?!! Click HERE for Marc’s blog post from 1/27/14 which explains his venture more in detail, including his color palette, etc…
Just a tease… this is one of Marc’s recent pastels… 6×6 (copyright: Marc R. Hanson) – check out Marc’s website, blog and Facebook page for more!
David Boyd has such a cool style. It’s plein air with a twist! These two paintings are NOT for sale (sigh, I know!) they are amazing aren’t they? Both of them stood out and are remarkable. They look like they could almost be watercolor, but they are oil. AND THEY ARE FABULOUS. How brilliant to paint it on a slight angle? It makes you feel as if you’re sitting on one of the steps of the porch looking up, doesn’t it?
Inside Out by David Boyd Jr. – NFS
Another not for sale, and I don’t blame David, these are in his private collection. Both of these paintings are of the front door of his childhood home. No wonder he wants to keep them! I would too! The interior… fabulous! The outside… I could look at it all day! Lovely painting…
David’s work is expressive and loose and I love that! Another subject that David is well known for… his tractors, trucks, etc. David isn’t afraid to paint large! It works because there aren’t a lot that are still for sale! So if you see something you like… I wouldn’t hesitate!
Little Red by David Boyd Jr. – Sold
Just look at this! How wonderful? It’s got a lot of abstractness to it which I really like! Be quick I tell ya… Little Red… sold!
Big Boy by David Boyd Jr. – Available!
Another cool tractor, more subdued colors, very nice! Big Boy is one of the few tractor paintings that are currently available… the more subdued color palette is amazing! The brushstrokes… get outta here! Stunning!
I love it when an artist is creative with their words. There are a few bio’s that I still remember, just absolutely so creative and interesting (Tom Balderas immediately comes to mind!). THIS IS ONE OF THEM! David clearly has a sense of humor which makes life that much better, doesn’t it? Read a blip about David from his website (read more HERE):
Biography
From an early age, Boyd was encouraged by his parents to create. There was never a shortage of art materials at the Boyd household. Even the walls of his childhood bedroom were left unfinished so that he could draw at will. He was influenced by his father; the elder Boyd is a renowned illustrator and character who draws for Jeff Foxworthy and Mark Morgan, Inc and once proprietor of The Print Shoppe in Newnan. Luckily, young Boyd was also heavily influenced by his mother, Rosalyn Boyd, the “quintessential southern belle”, beloved Heritage school teacher, and instructor to thousands with a penchant for dance and music. These facts coupled with early indication that the young Boyd had little, if any, math, organizational, or social skills pointed towards a life of crime or a career in the visual arts. After much consideration, Boyd chose the latter of the two.
As those early dreams of becoming a hired assassin or race car driver began to diminish, Boyd settled into the life of an artist. After moving to Savannah for school, Boyd began studying architecture, then graphic design and finally art history and illustration at Savannah college of Art and Design. Boyd graduated with a BFA in Illustration in 1995. Boyd painted his first painting during this time, focusing on the moonlight through the live oaks of Savannah’s Washington Avenue.
In 2004, Boyd’s father grew ill, and the younger Boyd was asked to take the reigns at Mark Morgan, Inc, an editorial cartoon syndication company, until his father could get back on his feet. With the elder Boyd now back in good health, father and son have continued working together on the editorial cartoons and can be seen at the Redneck Gourmet in Newnan each Saturday morning, planning and plotting their latest editorial attack. The father-son team also produce e-greeting cards with Jeff Foxworthy, which can be found at www.foxworthyredneckecards.com. The two Boyd’s are also responsible for the design and execution of design work, murals and signage for The Redneck Gourmet family of restaurants.
Boyd’s love of painting has been an odd journey resulting in many different types of paintings. Boyd considers himself an obsessed experimenter, not having settled on a single style or a concentration of subjects. Boyd’s pieces range from the expressionistic to the abstract, with subject matter that includes everything from trees and landscapes to chairs and doors, and sizes varying from small studies to murals.
Recently Boyd has been focusing on alla prima oil paintings of still lives and landscapes, especially a new found love of plein air painting. Boyd has been experimenting with daily painting, which is exactly as it sounds. He attempts to paint a piece a day and documents it on his blog with a written journal about each piece. Most of these pieces are smaller in scale. In 2009, Boyd was accepted as a member of the online art movement DailyPainters.com. Boyd is predominantly a self- taught painter having studied under Millie Gosch, Gene Costanza, Jill Steenhuis, Roger Dale Brown, Marc Chatov, and Scott Christensen and Greg LaRock.
Boyd is a member of OPA and AIS. He has been selected for regional OPA shows and AIS National where he was awarded an Honorable mention by the judge, Kevin McPherson. In addition, Boyd has been participating in plein air events around the southeast including the Quick Draw at The Great American Paint Out and an invitation the Plein Air Affair in St. Simon’s Island, GA where to received and 3rd place for his quick draw painting.
What a fabulous nocturnal plein air painting! Love the moonlight, the deep blue sky and those lights way off in the distance. Very nice! This painting is available at the Lindsay Goodwin Gallery. Caution: the image on their website is lighter than the real painting. This image came from Kevin’s website, so I would say this is more the real deal. Brilliant composition how everything keeps your eye in the loop… Great painting! I really like Kevin’s work. Check out his website when you get a chance!
Kevin Menck was born and raised in Middle Tennessee. After graduating from art school, he worked briefly as a designer and then as a self-employed illustrator for 15 years. “Working as an illustrator helped me develop skills that are fundamental to what I do now, especially drawing. The ability to draw is the foundation to everything.”
In 2002 Kevin met and befriended local painter Jason Saunders. “Jason was very instrumental in my development as an artist. He introduced me to the basics of landscape painting and also instilled in me the importance of painting from nature. Nature is the best teacher I’ve had.”
Kevin is now committed to painting the landscape “en plein aire.” Being an avid outdoorsman for years, Kevin has a deep love and respect for the outdoors. “I remember sitting in a duck blind or deer stand and trying to figure out how to capture what I was seeing on canvas. To get that atmosphere, to make a cold day look cold and hot days hot. I want the viewer to look at it and know what it actually was to be there.”
Oyster Boats by Tim Bell (available at Galerie on Broad in Charleston, SC)
Tim Bell is an amazing artist from Maryland. We met Tim back in 2006 while on Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine. I learned a lot from Tim that first year. He was a wealth of information… as outlined here in a quote from me that I ran across on the Wall’s Gallery website… while reading it I thought it sounded familiar and then I saw my name, ha ha…
We watched Tim paint Uncle Henry’s, a popular old house as you walk from the wharf to the Island Inn… it was reminiscent of Rockwell Kent’s work in so many ways. Oyster Boat has some of the same wonderful violets and that drop dead gorgeous warm light… Spectacular!
I am excited to say that Tim’s work is now being shown right here in Charleston, SC at Galerie on Broad, located on historic Broad Street! If you’re in Charleston, SC stop by and check out his work!
Tim Bell is a painter in the American Impressionist tradition. He is a graduate of Frostburg State University where his post-graduate studies were at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis, Maryland and the Cape Cod School of Art in Provincetown, Massachusettes. Tim has won countless awards at the various plein air events, specifically Plein Air Easton near his home. His work has been influenced by painters such as John Twachtman, Charles Hawthorne, Hovsep Pushman and Henry Hensche.
When you go to my blog and type “Monhegan” in the search box at the top right, you will see many posts appear… so many gorgeous photos, art, and interesting people… Lots of them. The next few Friday’s I’m going to share some of my artists photos from Monhegan. If you are an artist and haven’t been to Monhegan yet… you are in for a treat. There are wonderful places to stay like the Island Inn, or for the more artsy, the Monhegan House. I hear artists love to stay there because they paint all day and talk about art all night. What. Could. Be. Better? Monhegan is a small island about ten miles off the coast of Maine. You take a ferry to get there and there are no cars (except for the locals with trucks for deliveries). You will see easels set up everywhere! It’s a jaw dropping time, truly!
Tim Bell
I took this photo the first year we met artist Tim Bell. What an interesting guy! So full of knowledge that he was sharing, I was writing notes like a crazy person. I was like a sponge trying to absorb all of his information. We spoke with Tim a good bit on this trip. A few times I hung out by his easel while he took a short break (very rare for Tim), and everyone who walked by commented (thinking it was my painting)… I did a lot of explaining in those few short minutes, but also got to feel what it must be like if you’re good. Really. Good. For an artist like Tim who receives so much attention, he is the most down to earth person you will ever meet. He quickly became a friend to treasure for a lifetime. Through Tim we met another artist with the same down to earth abilities even though his paintings are award winning time after time… Ken DeWaard. One day it would be cool to all be on Monhegan at the same time. Just think… you would all have a free photographer, ha ha…
Ok, here are some more…
Tim Bell painting Uncle Henry’s on Monhegan
This is the second year we met Tim on Monhegan… he was painting Uncle Henry’s, and what a fabulous painting that turned out to be!
Tim Bell painting at Lobster Cove on Monhegan
Cool shot, eh? Nice stance Tim! Look at all the artists set up painting. I’m pretty sure this was the day that there were big winds and artists flocked to paint the surf. See that house in the distance? For those of you who aren’t familiar it is owned by artist Jamie Wyeth. He bought it from artist Rockwell Kent. (Cool article about the two of them from Fine Art Connoisseur). What a view it must have. I cannot imagine!
Tim Bell – Monhegan
A close up of Tim’s set up. I’m not even sure I could lift it let alone hike with it. You wouldn’t believe how organized some artists are… it’s impressive.
Kevin Beers painting near the Island Inn on Monhegan
GO BIG OR GO HOME. I bet that’s Kevin’s motto. He is the one artist you see walking down the street with a HUGE canvas… he comes back at the same time each day to catch the same light. His work is incredible and talk about a nice guy. We met Kevin the first year and have stayed in touch. The coolest people go to Monhegan!
Joe Fidler (dad) painting at a cottage in Port Clyde, ME
Ahhh, this artist here… love this guy… HI DAD! He’s a great artist too! He has painted in Port Clyde, Maine when we rented a cottage on the ocean there. What a dream vacation!
Joe Fidler (dad) painting in Port Clyde, ME
This was right in front of our cottage. That cottage was truly a dream!
Me painting on Monhegan
Ooooh… and who might this be? What?! It’s me… hee…
Plying the Pearl River by Andy Evansen [image via]How fabulous is this watercolor? So many little things make it really stand out as a knock out piece. The water is wonderful and that little splash from the oar… brilliant! It’s fabulous how the little pops of bright color highlight just the perfect amount. Andy has some amazing work, check out his website if you get a chance!
This painting, Plying the River Pearl, was accepted into the 2014 American Watercolor Society show in New York! Congratulations Andy!
Andy began painting watercolors in the mid 1990’s, is largely self-taught, and has studied with such well-known watercolorists as Skip Lawrence, Eric Weigardt, and Alvaro Castagnet. He served as President of the Minnesota Watercolor Society from 2004-2006 and teaches workshops around the United States.
His paintings have appeared on the cover of American Artist’s Watercolor magazine and in International Artist, Watercolor Artist, Plein Air and American Art Collector magazines. His award-winning paintings are in collections on 4 continents. He was awarded the Bronze Medal of Honor at the 2012 AmericanWatercolor Society Exhibition and was jut elected a signature member of the prestigious Plein-Air Painters of America.
I know I’ve featured James Richards a few times already, but his work never ceases to amaze me. Oh how I adore Lost in the Marsh! It’s an impressive 36×48″ oil painting that has the perfect amount of looseness, and I just think it’s incredible! James has the uncanny ability to be able to paint an everyday scene with a twist, and I love that!
James Richards is one of the most sought after landscape instructors around, his workshops fill up quickly and there is good reason for that. He’s as nice as he is talented. Truly. If you get a chance to check out his work in person, I highly suggest it. Locally, in Charleston, SC you can see his work at Galerie on Broad*. He’s got some amazing pieces… come see for yourself!
*Galerie on Broad is no longer in business, but you can see his work at the Meyer Vogl Gallery in Charleston, SC!
This painting stops people in their tracks. It’s mesmerizing. No, cows aren’t normally purple, but they sure are pretty darn cool when they are! Very striking indeed!
James Richards: Nationally-known landscape painter and instructor is driven by a passionate connection with nature and a deep sense of obligation to relay his vision in the most truthful manner possible. This ethic, manifested in his work, is giving Richards’ painting their own place in the world of today’s art.
James has spent years studying the nuances of painting with world famous instructors, which has given him a keen sense of understanding and control over the medium. James is an advocate of painting from life and spends his time traveling the world teaching workshops and searching for inspiration.
He has won multiple national awards and is regarded as one of the top landscape painting instructors in the country. James Richards paintings are collected by discriminating collectors both nationally and abroad.
Gardens and Gates – image: Sandra Baggette’s Garden Studio Gallery FB
Sandra Baggette… wonderful artist, dear friend and nicest person in the world. We have been fans of Sandra for many years now, matter of fact, we bought our first “original” from Sandra back in 1991…! Sandra and her husband Jack are fabulous people, and are so much fun to visit. If you’re ever in the Port Royal, SC area, give her studio a call and see if she’s in. It’s a treat!!
Sandra’s opening is this evening! So if you’re in the area this is something you’ll definitely want to put on your list!! The show runs from January 3 – March 31, 2014. The opening reception is tonight from 5-7PM. To see a preview of the work check out sandrabaggette.com and gloriadalvini.com!
Opening for Gardens and Gates at the University of South Carolina Beaufort Center for the Arts – January 10, 2014. It was a great time painting in my garden after the tour. Check out my paintings at www.sandrabaggette.com and www.gloriadalvini.com. Our thanks to Jerry Stocks for setting this up.
Read a blip about Sandra from her website… such a cool lady!
A “painterly colorist” working in oils, Sandra blends what she sees and feels to share a lifelong enthusiasm for color and flowers Her passion for nature and vibrant colors is clearly demonstrated in her first book,
Sandra Baggette: Painting What I Love , a collection of recent works published in 2011.
In 1988, Sandra established the Garden Studio Gallery in Port Royal, SC to pursue her passions for painting and gardening. This peaceful environment, rich with colorful patterns created by flowers and sunshine, is a constant source of inspiration for her paintings.
Studies throughout the United States and abroad have played an important role in Sandra’s artistic development. Her travels in Italy and France, where she enjoyed the privilege of painting in Monet’s gardens and studied a variety of Impressionist masters, and the stirring sights of Hong Kong, Bermuda, Hawaii, and other locales have helped her grow as an artist and fueled her desire to move in new directions. Sandra continues to paint primarily in oils and to learn from nationally recognized instructors at the Scottsdale Artist School in Arizona and workshops throughout the United States. In 2010, she had the rare opportunity to take an oil painting class with acclaimed artist and instructor, Charles Reid. S. Burkett Kaiser, Ovanes Beberian, and Gay Faulkenberry, all students of Sergei Bongart, a Russian Impressionist whom Sandra admires, have also been some of her favorite instructors.
Recent participation in the Clemson University Master Gardeners and Lowcountry Institute at Spring Island programs has deepened Sandra’s knowledge and appreciation of nature and gardening in ways that will enhance her work. Membership in the Lowcountry Plein Air Society affords her excellent opportunities to paint and learn with fellow artists in picturesque outdoor locations. She has also benefitted from participating in the Plein Air Painters of America Paint Outs in Bennington, VT and Old Lyme, CT.
An award-winning artist, Sandra has exhibited in over 100 juried shows in the United States.Juan Logan awarded a Merit award to Sandra’s Seasonal Inspirations Series at Piccolo Spoleto Arts Festival 2011. .Zinnias and Melonswas accepted into the Hilton Head Art League 2009 National Juried Show, judged by Craig Srebnik. Among the Flowers won First Place in the Lowcountry Plein Air Society Competition judged by Jack Morris. Roses and Sweetgrass Baskets and The Arrangement were chosen for the 2009 South Carolina State Fair Fine Art Exhibit. In 2008, her oil paintings received two awards from Tom Lynch at the 48th Annual Beaufort Art Association’s Spring Exhibit and an Award of Merit from Jonathan Green at the Piccolo Spoleto Arts Festival. Affiliations Lowcountry Plein Air Society; Oil Painters of America Associate; American Impressionist Society; Women Painters of the Southeast; Beaufort Art Association and South Carolina Watermedia Society
Galleries Garden Studio Gallery Port Royal, SC Indigo Gallery Beaufort, SC Peacock Alley Chapel Hill, NC
I just previewed Sandra’s book and it is FABULOUS! Check it out if you get a chance!
Sunlit Pines, Sierras by Joseph McGurl [via]Does this painting look familiar? When I was cruising through Joseph’s plein air paintings this one caught my eye… when I clicked to make the image larger, I KNEW I had seen this before… on the cover of Plein Air magazine last year! Not only was it on the cover but it won an award… The way the sun hits the tree and the shadows that go with that are just breathtaking. When I look at this, I feel that I have burned one heck of a lot of calories to have hiked out to this perfect location unspoiled by everyday living. The peace, beauty and quiet exuded from this painting is amazing!
The 2012/2013 ARC Salon Plein Air Magazine Award featuring Joseph McGurl was published in their November issue. The six page article is a full artist profile and McGurl was also given the honor of being featured on the cover.
About his work McGurl said “I’m interested in human reality, and how to express in my paintings our relationship to what we experience. That is, I want to understand how people relate to the natural world, how we perceive reality, whether we have a spiritual response to nature, and how the physics and topography of the natural world influence them. To me, the way to express all that in a painting is by selecting the materials and techniques that will bring my pictures as close as possible to that human reality. That objective makes it essential that I paint directly from the landscape and study the physical aspects of light, geography, and topography. Other artists might have different goals and ways of conveying their understanding of reality, and there is no right or wrong about one’s approach, only a measurement of how well an artist expresses his or her ideas.”
The Plein Air Magazine Award is being given out again in the 2013/2014 ARC Salon which we are accepting entries for now. To read the full prospectus, click here.
In addition, John Pence Gallery, located at 750 Post Street in San Francisco near Union Square, will open an exhibition of recent oil paintings, field studies and sketches by Joseph McGurl tonight. This will be his first show in seven years on the West Coast. This large and robust show will remain on view to the public through January 18, 2014.
Sooo, if you are in the San Fran area, I would high tail it over to the John Pence Gallery and check out the exhibition!
Joseph McGurl has been referred to as one of the acknowledged leaders in the current American landscape school. M. Stephen Dougherty, Editor, American Artist considers him “one of the most gifted of contemporary artists.” This has been confirmed by his exhibitions in several important museum shows, a successful relationship with some of the country’s leading galleries, and inclusion in numerous magazine articles and books.
Joseph McGurl was born in Massachusetts in 1958. He grew up working with his father, James McGurl, who was a muralist and his most influential teacher. Through him, he was exposed to a wide variety of materials and learned an appreciation of the craft of painting. Another early influence was Ralph Rosenthal, a teacher at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. He subsequently graduated from Massachusetts College of Art with a dual major in painting and education. He also studied in England and Italy. After college, he worked for a period of time as a yacht captain, sailing throughout the east coast from Maine to the Caribbean. After a few years he realized that in order to improve, he must devote himself solely to painting. In search of a more solid training in drawing, he sought out Robert Cormier, a devotee of the French Academy methods and he studied figure drawing under him.
Mr. McGurl’s paintings have been included in several museum exhibitions in Massachusetts, New York, California, and Rhode Island as well as being exhibited in several group museum exhibitions which travelled throughout the country. He had retrospective solo shows at the Cape Cod Museum of Art, The Cahoon Museum of American Art, and the Saint Botolph Club of Boston. Representing Representation, a survey of the most significant realist work being done today, included his work in the exhibition at the Arnot Art Museum. McGurl has been designated a Living Master by the Art Renewal Center in New York. He has been elected to the Guild of Boston Artists and is a Copley Master with the Copley Society of Boston, a fellow with the American Society of Marine Artists, and a signature member of the prestigious Plein Air Painters of America. His awards include the Guild of Boston Artists Gold Medallion and the John Singleton Copley Award for Artistic Achievement.
Joseph’s paintings are often seen in relationship to the great 19th century luminist painters but with a thoroughly modern approach to style and subject. For him, the process, rather than the product is the most important part of a painting. For this reason, his large studio paintings are developed from sketches painted on location. Rather than relying on photography, this method gives him the freedom to create paintings based on his imagination, memory, and his sketches. Although the objects depicted in the paintings are elements of the landscape and have a deep personal meaning to him, an equally important subject is an exploration of light, form, space, and color interpreted through paint.
During the summer months he cruises the coast of New England with his wife and children aboard their classic Alden designed ketch, “Atelier,” which he uses as a floating studio; many of his sketches are executed from her decks.
After living for several years in Rhode Island, Joseph, his wife Patricia, and sons Max and Sean moved to Cape Cod in 1994. Their home and studio is a restored 19th century carriage house on the shore of Amrita Island.
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