Tag: painting

Featured Artist… Jane Barton!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“Pit Stop” by Jane Barton

I think this is an incredible painting. Obviously the white box with the word “NEXT” that you see on the image is the only way I could retrieve it. It’s not part of the painting… ha ha. I love the colors, textures and light in the foreground, and the looseness of the background. The car and the people… fabulous. Such a cool old car with the light hitting it oh-so-perfectly! Very nice. And I have to say… I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the license plate… that little blip of orange, WHOA! This piece was one of the juried pieces in the American Impressionist Society (AIS) Exhibition. Very nice work by Jane… check out her work!

Here’s a blip about the artist from her website:

After twenty-five years as a nationally recognized graphic designer, illustrator and portrait artist, Jane Barton is the recipient of numerous national awards. Originally from Chicago, where she studied at the American Academy of Art, Jane holds a B.A. from Boston University. In 1997, after writing her thesis entitled, “Drawn West: Illustrators Who Became Fine Artists,” which included personal interviews with the Tucson Seven and 11 other renowned artists across the country, Jane earned a Master of Art degree from the School of Visual Arts at Syracuse University. Ironically, 3 years later, she, too, joined the ranks of former illustrators who became fine artists. Jane studied plein air painting with such masters as Skip Whitcomb, Matt Smith and Ned Jacobs. She paints on site in both oils and water colors, using these paintings as the basis of larger, studio work. Jane also makes time to teach painting to enthusiastic students of all ages.

Inspired by the Sonoran desert of her home in Arizona, as well as her world travels, Jane enjoys exploring the patterns of light and color she sees in extreme close up as well as distant views of a subject. Her choice of subject is very immediate, whether it is a flower that blooms for only one day in the desert or the colors of a market she is standing in half way across the world. Continuing the legacy of 19th and early 20th century artists of the American West, Jane is intent on preserving the beauty of a changing, vanishing world.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

CFADA Fine Art Weekend Photo: Mark Horton

On By Barbara StroudIn ARTLeave a comment

I love Charleston Fine Art Dealers (CFADA) weekend… specifically the first Saturday in November. Watching these amazing artists paint is always a treat! There was a nice turnout. I packed my camera and off we went, headed downtown… ran into several road blocks, there was a run in town that had streets blocked off. Eventually we made it… we jumped out of the car, camera in hand and headed to Washington Park. I turned my camera on, ready to snap away, and what did I see?

B A T T E R Y  E X H A U S T E D ! 

ooooh…m…geeeee.

Ok, next I resorted to my Blackberry. I was so disappointed not to get the photos that I wanted. Fred offered to go home and get my spare battery (WHY didn’t I put that in the camera bag??!!). But we made do… so here’s the first photo… Mark Horton, from Horton Hayes Gallery in Charleston, SC, painting away. Effortless. Or at least it appears that way. I don’t suppose you can look like you paint effortlessly unless you do a heck of a lot of painting!

Great work Mark! Next year… I will have ALL my batteries!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Kirk McBride!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments

“Downtown Snow” by Kirk McBride

I love paintings at night (nocturne) with a light on in a house or building. It just warms it right up. The tire tracks in the snow with the moonlight making it glow is wonderful. I think the dark, dark sky is the perfect compliment. Great work Kirk!

I like to check out different artists that I see are at different plein air events around the country, and I’m glad I did! Here’s a blip about Kirk from his website:

“Everything has a moment when light and shadow create something breathtaking to view.” Kirk McBride is constantly looking for those moments to inspire his oil paintings. He travels often and paints a variety of subjects from seascapes to mountains, from city scenes to landscapes, from foreign cafes to interiors of his own home and studio. The light and shadow relationship being the unifying theme that runs throughout his work.

Winning “Best in Show” at the first local art show he entered encouraged Kirk to make painting a lifelong pursuit. He’s been at it for over 30 years now, first part-time in watercolors, and since the late ’90’s, full-time in oils. He has been influenced by a number of painters from the past, including Edward Hopper, Edgar Paine, Emil Gruppe, Frederick Mulhaupt and the Russian Impressionists of the early 20th Century. Kirk graduated from the University of Maryland in 1974 and has studied with nationally recognized painter, and fellow surf industry veteran, Ken Auster.

Travels to Italy, Mexico, the Caribbean, Maine, Colorado and California provide a variety of images for Kirk’s paintings. Kirk often paints “plein air” (outdoors) and uses those small plein air paintings, along with sketches and snapshots as studies for his larger studio pieces. He has been elected an “Artist” member of the Mid Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association. Kirk has been juried into a number of plein air painting competitions and exhibitions where he has won awards. He has been invited to paint in the Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational three times, has been juried into Plein Air Easton three times and Paint Annapolis five times. His home and studio are on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Give his website a peek! Catch you back here tomorrow!

CFADA Fine Art Weekend begins TONIGHT in Charleston, SC!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART2 Comments
Laurie Meyer at CFADA painting in the park… Charleston, SC 2011
Laurie Meyer at CFADA painting in the park… Charleston, SC 2011

This weekend is one of my favorites. It’s Charleston Fine Art Dealers Association (CFADA) Fine Art Weekend here in Charleston, SC!
Tonight you can visit the galleries, meet both the local and visiting artists and tomorrow, ahhhh, tomorrow…!

Tomorrow (Saturday, November 3rd) you can watch them paint from 9AM until Noon in Washington Park. Nothing gives me greater joy than to watch an artist I admire paint a fabulous painting while I’m standing there with a cup of coffee in my hand, hee hee… It amazes me how everyone approaches a painting differently, yet they all end up so wonderful! I just cannot wait!

Paintings will be auctioned off Saturday night and  benefits go towards helping local schools provide art supplies…

Hey! Maybe I’ll see you there? I’ll be one of the ones with a camera around my neck! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… David Kasman!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

David Kasman painted the Johnson House (Monhegan Island, Maine) – amazing! Hangs in our “Monhegan room”!

Several years ago Fred and I were on Monhegan Island, Maine… we walked into the Lupine Gallery  (love that gallery!) and saw this painting by David Kasman. We had an immediate response to it… both of us. Music we don’t always agree on, but art… we both love the same thing, and this was it. It had that wonderful looseness that in my mind is so difficult to achieve… and it held a great memory. For those of you familiar with Monhegan, the Johnson house sits at the top of Horn’s Hill past the Novelty on the left hand side. The views from this cottage are breathtaking (what I’ve seen photos of, we haven’t stayed there… )

This year, after hiking we were sitting on the porch at the inn. An artist set up an easel overlooking the wharf/buildings looking toward Manana. I was thrilled to watch someone paint… I did manage to get a few photos of David. From watching him paint I can tell you this man is focused. He has an absolute plan. Nothing appears to happen by chance. Every move… deliberate. I can see the slight Sovek looseness in his paintings that I adore so much. Very unique! All I could think the entire time he painted was WHO ARE YOU?!

David was a joy to watch paint. After he was finished we spoke to him. What a nice guy! I cannot say enough good things! I highly encourage you to check out his work, it’s on display at the Lupine Gallery on Monhegan, as well as other galleries, check his website for details! It’s fabulous! David started out in sculpture, which is a feat in itself. A sculptor, an artist… jeez, some people have the talent, but let me tell you, he wasn’t sitting on the porch relaxing… he was PAINTING!!

Here is another painting… of fishing boats in Provincetown…  (Image: DavidKasman.com)

Here is one of the public sculpture’s he created (Image also DavidKasman.com):

The description from David’s website: “Resurgence”, viewed from Harvard Street, Harvard Square, unveiled on June 11, 2011. This piece marks the 25th Anniversary of Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre and honors its founder, Jose Mateo. While not overtly religious, it is intended to exude a positive, spiritual effect on those who see it. Kasman hopes it will inspire viewers to learn more about dance, sculpture and the arts, in general.

YEP! I know, amazing, right?

Here’s a shot I took of David in the beginning stages of the painting…

And THIS is the final painting… a masterpiece indeed!

Here’s a blip about David from his website:
David Kasman (born 1962, Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
David Kasman is best known for his bronze sculptures as well as his direct observation oil paintings of beaches, Boston and Maine.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in Mechanical Engineering. While at Cornell, he also studied sculpture with Jonathan Squire and Jim Cole. At that time, he primarily worked on wood, abstract sculptures, though he was also reintroduced to representational modeling in clay, something he had enjoyed as a young boy.
From 1985-1999 he ran the family business, designing and manufacturing laboratory instruments, including the well known MEL-TEMP®, melting point apparatus, which was invented by his father, Sidney. During those years, he invented and patented several additional instruments for use by scientists. At night and on weekends, he used the large, open space of the companies’ warehouse to create sculptures with live models. In 1994 he spent a month in the Loire Valley of France to study sculpture with Martine Vaugel. In 1995, he studied artistic anatomy and sculpture at the Lyme Academy of Fine Art with Dean Keller, Don Gale, Laci de Gerenday and Elizabeth Chandler.
In 1998 he won the 1st place award, the Roger T. Williams prize, at the National Sculpture Competition, sponsored by the National Sculpture Society. In that year, he married Katy Coughlin and the two moved to Newton, Massachusetts. In 1999 the family business was sold and David decided to devote his full efforts to his art. He converted his garage into an art studio.
In 2002 he began to study oil painting. He attended a workshop taught by David Leffel and another by Charles Sovek. He also learned from his favorite art instruction books by William Morris Hunt, Charles Webster Hawthorne and Robert Henri. In 2003, he returned to the Lyme Academy of Fine Art to study painting with Jerry Weiss and life drawing with Don Gale.
He was accepted to the Copley Society of Art in Boston 2002 and his work has been included in many juried shows there as well as by several other New England galleries.
He was awarded a residency at the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center in September of 2008. In that year, he also began to make large-scale versions of his most successful sculptures.
In 2011 his sculpture, Resurgence, a permanent outdoor sculpture that was commissioned by Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre, was unveiled in Harvard Square.
His paintings and sculptures are in numerous prominent collections which include:
The Bush Family, Kennebunkport, ME
Jamie Wyeth
Ernie Boch Jr.
Jack Connors Jr.
Remak Ramsay
Joseph and Kathy O’Donnell

 

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Randy Sexton!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist4 Comments

“Toot’s” by Randy Sexton

“Toot’s” is a fabulous painting! Look at those brushstrokes… the layering of color, especially in the steps, it’s spectacular! Isn’t it amazing how a small brushstroke going a different way really makes the subject look like what it is? For instance the different  building materials used in this structure… you can tell they’re different not only by the different colors but the way the stroke was put on the canvas with the brush. Such wonderful looseness all the while keeping the coolest details. I love Randy’s work. It’s mesmerizing how an artist can be so diverse. Below is a painting I saw that was posted on his Facebook page… it caught my attention. It’s nothing but a dish rack with dishes but LOOK how fabulous it is!?!

“Lemon Press and the Spotfrees” by Randy Sexton – Image: Randy Sexton Facebook

Excerpt from Facebook: “This piece, “Lemon Press and the Spotfrees”, will be included in the upcoming Still Life and Trompe L’Oeil exhibit at the John Pence Gallery in San Francisco, 9/7 – 10/6.”

Here’s a blip about Randy from his website:

The Artist’s point of view:
“My concerns as an artist have always been rather straight forward. The discipline of direct painting, both in the plein air experience and in the studio, has helped me to develop a loose handling of paint that speaks as much about the paint itself as it does any given subject matter. I try to combine traditional methods of painting with a “sense of myself living in the present”. My paintings are a direct response from the world around me as I strive to be “in the moment” while I work. Nature has proven to be the most demanding and inspiring teacher…so I work from life, as often as possible and try to remain open to new ideas and new approaches.

Each painting is a simple sentence in an ongoing story that will take a lifetime to unfold. The tale is a compilation of images that reflect the magic of life itself and the mysteries of light, color, and shape as I respond to the world around me. Painting has enabled me to be more observant and appreciative of the beauty and richness in everyday life”.

Background:
California based artist, Randall Sexton, is nationally known for the use of color and expressive brushwork in his oil paintings of “everyday” scenes. Raised in rural Connecticut, Sexton moved to San Francisco, CA in 1980 after completing a BFA from the University of CT, Storrs.

The Bay area has proven to be home, where he has earned a great reputation for being an educator as well as a fine artist. He taught classes in drawing, painting, and composition at the San Francisco Academy of Art until 2005.

He now leads private workshops- both nationally and abroad. In the fall of 2008, he led a group of Plein air painters on a trip to Tuscany, Italy through a program hosted by the Sedona Art Center in Arizona. Acknowledged by jurors and artists alike, Randall has garnered national awards for his paintings. Most notably, in 2008, Randy was honored with the coveted “Artists’ Choice Award” in Laguna Beach at the 10th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Event held at the Laguna Museum Of Art. He also won the same award in Telluride, CO (Sheridan Plein Air Festival) and in Napa, CA (Napa Valley Land Trust Art Festival), both in 2008. . He received the same award in 2006 in Sedona, AZ and Maui, HI at their respective painting festivals. He received Jurors Choice- “Best of Show” in “Northern Views a biennial landscape show hosted by the Napa Valley Museum, and in the Maui Plein Air Festival of 2006.

He has been featured in various national journals including: “American Artist”-August 2000, “Southwest Art”-July 2003, “Plein Air” (currently- “Fine Art Connoisseur”)-November 2004, and “Workshop”-December 2006 He has been a member of the California Art Club, The Laguna Beach Plein Air Painters Association, “The Outsiders”, a group of artists loosely connected to “The Society of Six” and The Baywood Artists Group committed to working on environmentally sensitive projects.

Although his career has enabled him to travel and paint in faraway places, most days Sexton can be found at work in his studio in historic downtown Crockett. His new workplace has provided fresh insights into his process…one that keeps him “in the moment”. In his words, “Painting is an adventure. Each work is a simple sentence in an ongoing story that will take a lifetime to unfold.”

Fabulous work! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Steve Kennedy!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments

“Evening, The Bradford House” by Steve Kennedy – Image: AddisonArtGallery

Dusk. Lamps on in a house at dark. Dramatic shadows at nighttime. The wonderful deep dark blue in the sky. Lights on the house. All elements of a great nocturnal painting. This painting by artist Steve Kennedy is a great example of just that. I love his explanation of this painting (from Addison Art Gallery):

“What makes this painting of the Bradford House unique is that it was painted entirely ‘plein air’ — that is, outside, at night, directly from life. The first night a street light was utilized as light source. Before the second night’s painting session I decided a bedside night reader LED lamp would very helpful! And indeed it was. Some nights the fog would roll in while I was painting, giving the buildings an eerie glow. And water could be poured out of my palette by the end of the evening.”

I think it’s interesting hearing the story about a painting, makes it much more interesting if you’re the buyer! Here’s a blip about Steve from the Addison Art Gallery website:

In the mid 1970s, at the urging of a school instructor, Steve Kennedy began painting in the “plein air” tradition. A graduate of Paier College of Art (New Haven, CT), Kennedy moved to Cape Cod in 1981 and began focusing more on the traditional “plein air” manner of painting, working outdoors in all four seasons. He refers to his style as “painterly realism” because he works in a loose yet representational way.

While smaller paintings are typically completed in one session, for larger works Kennedy may return to the same site several times because of the constantly changing light and weather conditions. Kennedy enjoys the challenge of painting outdoors year round; intense heat and sun in the summer, snow, wind and bitter cold in the winter. He utilizes sunlight to strengthen form and create a mood, and his use of color complements the graphic patterns of light and shadow found in his paintings. He’s drawn inspiration from the rooftops of Provincetown, the harbor and streets of Gloucester, the catboats of Wellfleet, and views around cities like New Bedford and Portland, Maine.

“One of my goals is to capture the luminosity of Cape light by working early in the morning or late in the day when color and drama are at their height”, he says. In addition to capturing the light, another objective Kennedy has is balancing loose brushwork against the craft of drawing, especially as it concerns architecture and boats. Subjects are chosen carefully, with favoritism towards older more time worn themes — sometimes with a contrast of something new against it for a sense of realism. Kennedy’s typical emphasis is on street and maritime subjects. In this world of constant change, older things that somehow ‘seem more comforting’ appeal to him. He is especially drawn to places where land and water meet; he considers these areas ‘places of power.’ Influences include the work of Edward Hopper, Frederick J. Mulhaupt, John Carlson and photographer David Plowden.

Steve and his wife, Lucy, have lived on Cape Cod for over 30 years. Kennedy’s work has won numerous awards, and is in many public and private collections including the permanent collection of the Cahoon Museum of American Art, New Haven Paint and Clay Club, Cape Cod Museum of Art, Albany Institute of History and Art, Seamen’s Bank, Wequassett Inn, and the Key Bank and People’s Heritage Bank (former names, both in Maine).

Though he’s committed to plein air painting, Kennedy also works in his studio. Indoor paintings are done from photographs, sketches and field notes. The studio affords him the opportunity to capture fleeting effects of light not easily painted on location.

He has taught painting in Provincetown for many years and is a member of the North Shore Arts Association, Cape Cod Plein Air Painters and Creative Arts Center.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Romel de la Torre!

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“Katie’s Mom” by Romel de la Torre

I think this is the nicest woman… look at her kind eyes and her gentle smile. She’s about to tell you everything is going to be ok… not to worry, right? You can almost hear the words about to come out of her mouth. I would like to know Katie’s mom! She is so detailed yet the background just makes her stand out that much more. I think this is an amazing painting! Romel de la Torre is definitely one talented artist, as you’ll soon read. What a gift! He’s got a great website, so check it out!

Here’s a blip about Romel from his website:

Born in Cebu City, Philippines in a community of artists, Romel de la Torre’s artistic interest started at a very young age. With the encouragement of his parents he began sketching the world around him. He started getting awards and recognition from school competitions and at age 10 appeared on TV after receiving a medal for his painting.

In the late 70’s Romel and his family migrated to the United States where he began going to museums studying and learning on his own; works of famous artists like Sargent, Sorolla, Fechin, Mucha, and the American Impressionists. The exposure to these masters’ paintings laid a strong foundation to his belief of what great art is.

He attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago, where he was awarded the President’s Foundation Award and the Union League Scholarship Award. After graduating with a fine arts concentration, Romel continued to paint in the Chicago area and joined The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, where he began painting with nationally renowned artist Richard Schmid and a community of other painters. It was a turning point of his creative and artistic career.

“My painting is the world, channeled through my eyes, through the prism of my own feeling, emotions and preferences. It is a unity of the visual world and the internal, abstraction and realism…” the artist’s says. A consummate artist in all media, Romel de la Torre is one of today’s most highly regarded artists. His figures, landscape, portraits, and still life paintings display unparalleled technical skill, fluid style, and thorough understanding of light, color, form and design.

The artist has been painting full time and currently instructs advanced painting and portraiture at The Palette and Chisel Academy on Fine Arts, Chicago. He is a signature member of the Oil Painters of America & the Portrait Society of America; his oils, pastels, watercolors, and portraits are housed in private collections throughout the United States and several foreign countries. His paintings have been published in The Artists Magazine, Southwest Art Magazine, U.S. Art Magazine and the American Art Collectors Magazine.

Among his most important honors is the Oil Painters of America National Exhibition/ Grand Prize and the Artists Magazine Portrait Artist of the Year. His most recent award includes; 2007 Raymar Fine Arts Competition, 2008 Gold Medal & the People’s Choice Award from the Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts Gold Medal show and one of the top finalist in the 2007 and 2008 International Portrait Competition given by the prestigeous Portrait Society of America. 

Artist’s statement:
“I find spiritual beauty in all the things that I paint. The innocence of a child’s face, the endlesss blue color of the sky, the smell of flowers in the garden, the sound of raindrops falling on the roof. These gives joy in my heart, inspiration, and gratitude…… of being an artist.”

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Stuart Fullerton!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

Juried into American Impressionist Society 2012 Exhibition, by Stuart Fullerton

(Image via Facebook)

The 2012 13th Annual American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition is this November. Right now is an exciting time for many artists who’s work has been juried into the show. Artist Kevin Macpherson is the judge of awards this year. The awards are announced on November 8, 2012. Best of show wins $15,000, the other awards given are pretty nice as well! Between now and November I’m going to feature the artists who’s work will be judged. I wish them all the best of luck, their talent is immeasurable!

The first featured artist in this series is Stuart Fullerton, the above painting was juried into American Impressionist Society 2012 Exhibition, great job! I really like the brushwork in this painting. Short strokes, thick paint, nice and loose. Stuart has a fabulous website, I encourage you to check it out. He paints oil, watercolor, gouche, and pastel. Can’t you just feel the peacefulness in this painting? No sharp edges, lovely background… very nice… I can almost hear the woman take deep breaths as she’s resting…

A blip about Stuart from his website:

Stuart Fullerton grew up in north central Wisconsin and studied ancient Greek and Latin at Harvard College.  After a year studying archeology in Greece and Turkey, he returned to Harvard for law school. 

Today Stuart works and paints in Chicago.  He is a long-time member of the Palette and Chisel Club and of the Plein Air Painters of Chicago.  He has studied with such wonderful artists as Max Ranft, Scott Powers, Ralph Oberg, Skip Whitcomb, Clayton Beck and Romel de la Torre. 

 Stuart has been accepted into juried shows such as the Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, Salon International, the American Impressionist Society National Show, the OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition, and the Bosque Art Classic.  He has been invited to take part in the Door County Plein Air Festival and the Los Gatos Plein Air Gala.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Jane Chapin!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

Work by Jane Chapin – painting was selected for the American Impressionist Society National Juried Show in November 2012!

This post is second in a series of artists who’s work has been selected for the American Impressionist Society National Juried Show November 1-30, 2012. Opening reception and awards are on November 8, 2012. I’ll keep you posted on that date!

Everything about this painting is EXQUISITE! The beautiful sunlit white against the oh-so-dark trees… so spectacular! The shadows are amazing, the softness, the feeling as if you are there… so, so, so, soooo nice!

Here’s another example of Jane’s work, incredible how she painted this woman:

“Jewelry Seller” by Jane Chapin – Image: JaneChapin.com

Here’s a blip about Jane from her website (great website, you’ll want to check it out!) – To read more, click HERE:

Originally from Pennsylvania, Jane Chapin grew up sketching and painting the people and landscapes that surrounded her. A year as an exchange student in Argentina broadened her surroundings and began a lifelong love of travel. After receiving her Bachelors in Art from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, Chapin was an art teaching volunteer in the Peace Corps in El Salvador, further reinforcing her connection with the richness & diversity of her visual surroundings.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

First Image – Jane Chapin Facebook

Featured Artist… Burton Silverman!

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“Hanging Out” by Burton Silverman

Isn’t this fabulous? The description that Burton Silverman had to go along with this painting: …”Italy version of the scenes in my neighborhood of women looking out to see neighbors,watch their kids and ruminate”

The woman in this painting looks like she’s doing just that… I love that area to the left of the window… so spectacular with the light… also the shadows from the shutter against the house, the cool draping of the fabric. The fixed stare in the woman’s eyes, like she’s watching something so intriguing… something she can pass on to her neighbors. I think it’s a very cool vantage point that this was painted from, down closer to the street, but zoomed in a bit, looking up, you get the effect as if you were the one she was watching. Such depth, very very nice. Check out Burton’s work if you get a chance, it’s amazing. Very difficult to choose only one painting!

Here’s a blip about Burton from his website, click HERE for more:

Mr. Silverman been painting and exhibiting as a painter for 60 years. He has had had 33 solo shows across the country including venues in New York, Boston, Philadelphia ,Washington, D.C,., San Francisco, Maine and Nashville TN  He has appeared in numerous national and international exhibitions including the National Portrait Gallery, the National Academy Annuals, the Mexico City Museum of Art, the Royal Academy of Art in London and the Butler Midyear Annuals. He has won 37 major prizes and awards from several of these annual exhibitions and the National Academy Museum has honored him with 9 awards including the Ranger Purchase Awards in 1983 and 1965. His paintings are represented in more than two dozen public collections including the Arkansas Art Institute, the Brooklyn Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the New Britain Museum, the Denver Art Museum, the National Museum of American Art, the Columbus Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. His work is included in numerous private collections both in the U.S. and Europe. Since 1993 he has lectured in museums and university graduate programs on the nature of 21st Century Realism. and written articles  extensively on the same subject matter.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Dan Beck!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments

“A Warm Breeze” by Dan Beck – Gold Medal Award Winner 2011 OPA Nationals

Isn’t this an absolutely beautiful painting? I love everything about this painting! The woman in this painting reminds me of one of my very best friends growing up. This looks like it could have been painted long, long ago, or just yesterday. I love it when paintings are ageless. I like the ruggedness of the trees and the sticks in the foreground. That coupled with the softness of the horizon works so beautifully. Take a minute to peruse through the many fabulous paintings Dan has on his website. The man can paint and that’s an understatement. If you’re a Facebook friend of his you may notice that he’s been posting some older pieces on occasion which are STUNNING. He stays true to his style. If you aren’t familiar with his work check it out!

One more… talk about timeless… whoa! Just look at how loose, yet how detailed this is! Wonderful work!

“Many Trails” by Dan Beck – Images from DanBeckArt.com

A blip about Dan from his website:

Wanderlust was Dan’s primary motivation in the decade following his graduation from high school.  Dan took to the road, working jobs that included ranch hand in Arizona, construction on the beach of Florida, refinishing furniture in Louisiana and four years in the infantry, including a two year tour in Germany.  Wherever he went, Dan filled sketch books and journals for his own enjoyment. Then in Colorado after a couple of years in college, he realized the thing that meant most to him was his sketch books. So he quit his job and college, sold everything he had and decided that commitment to one path was where all the previous had led him.

 Now Dan Beck is an award winning artist and sought after teacher.  His paintings have found collectors in both the private and corporate world on a national level as well as from such diverse places as Canada, Japan and the Middle East.  He is in the permanent collection of the Littleton Historical Museum and has exhibited with the Phippen Museum, Prescott, Arizona.  He has been invited to show in several national invitationals including the annual American Miniature Show at Settlers West Galleries, Tucson, Arizona and the annual “Fall Classic” in Hamilton, Montana.  Dan’s work has also been featured in “Southwest Art”, “Art of the West” magazines and “Art Talk”. He is a member of Oil Painters of America.

 Equally adept at figurative, still-life and landscape, Dan paints both oils and pastels and fees he is firmly rooted in the tradition of Impressionism. His love of nature and a deep respect for the tradition of art serve as both guide and inspiration to his goal of “making a contribution” to the world of painting. Dan’s paintings evoke a timelessness and dignity that are the underlying themes in whatever he paints.  As to his working methods, Dan works quickly and loosely in the beginning, covering the whole surface to establish his major shapes and drawing.  Then he slows down and lets the emerging image dictate the way the painting will be finished.  

 “Painting is a balancing act between opposite ideas – direct observation and instinct, control and spontaneity, even between the literal and the symbolic.  It seems to me that although a painter is deeply involved with his own private investigation, his real aim is to communicate something that only the person looking at the painting really understands.”

 Dan now lives in Lakewood, Colorado with his wife and two daughters.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Paul Bachem!

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“The 5th of July” by Paul Bachem 

I think this is the sweetest painting… of course, those of you who know me, know I LOVE a flag in a painting, it truly makes it pop! I love the shadows and light in this painting, and that front porch is amazing! Paul Bachem, now that’s a name that those of you who are familiar with Plein Air Easton 2012 will recognize. He won the Utrecht award for Best Use of Light in his painting entitled “Moored at Dawn”. Very nice! I encourage you to take a look at his website. Very nice paintings, and WOOHOO for the Plein Air Easton award… not easy!

“Fresh Seafood” by Paul Bachem

Here’s a blip about Paul from his website:

Paul Bachem was born and raised on the North Shore of Long Island, east of New York City. He studied with Harold Ransom Stevenson and Alma Gallanos Stevenson from 1975 till 1977. During that time Paul was a member of the Stevenson’s Atelier program which was a two year period of intense study of the traditional craft of drawing and painting. 

Upon leaving the Stevensons, Paul began a long career as a freelance illustrator. He has worked for clients in New York City, across the country and as far away as Sydney, Australia. A partial list of clients includes Random House, Simon and Schuster, Scholastic Inc., Weldon Owen Pty, Ltd., The Pleasant Company, Coty, Field and Stream, Forbes, and numerous advertising agencies. He was awarded a certificate of merit at the Society of Illustrators 35th annual exhibition. Paul’s work is in the permanent collection of the Forbes Gallery in New York. 

Over the past few years he has spent more and more time pursuing his passion for plein air painting. He is an associate member of the New York Plein Air Painters and a founding member of the Long Island Plein Air Painters Society.  He is represented by Gallery North in Setauket, New York, LaMantia Gallery in Northport, New York (where he was named Best in Show at the first annual Northport Plein Air Event) and Robert Paul Galleries in Stowe, VT.  He has been selected twice for inclusion in the Greenwich Workshop’s Small Works North America Exhibition and Sale. His painting “Wild Sweet William” was awarded with inclusion in the Top 40 of that exhibition. Paul was also the featured artist in “Informed Collector” magazine in April of 2009. He has been included in the FAV 15% of the Fine Art Studio Online Monthly painting competition ten times, most recently in March of 2011. Paul has participated in numerous East Coast Plein Air events including Plein Air Easton 2010 and 2011 as well as the Wayne Plein Air event in Wayne, PA and Cranford, NJ “Paint the Town 2011” where his painting “Greetings from Asbury Park” was awarded 3rd prize.

Aside from painting, Paul enjoys playing classical guitar and chess. Of the two he is considered to be a very talented painter!

He lives and works in Locust Valley, New York with his wife Janice, herself a talented painter and sculptor.

Great work Paul, I wish you much success! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Mike Hernandez!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“Lovrovich Net Shed Gig Harbor”  by Mike Hernandez

Whoa! What this man can do with gouache leaves me speechless. In a word… Brilliant! The looseness and the fabulous colors, this is absolute perfection. These images are from Mike’s Facebook Page… he’s also got a blog, so check it out if you get a chance. I read an article from 2009 about Mike on LINES AND COLORS (a blog about art). Here’s a little blip from that article written by Charley Parker (I highly encourage you to read it in its entirety)!

Mike Hernandez is a concept artist and art director at Dreamworks Animation. He has worked on projects like Shreck, Sinbad and Bee Movie. You can see some concept art for Sinbad and Bee Movie on his blog.

Most of the artwork on his blog, though, is his personal work — beautiful small landscapes in gouache, a few somewhat larger ones in oil, charcoal drawings, and marker and ink drawings, often with versions colored after the fact in Photoshop.

Hernandez apparently paints and sketches either on the way to and from work, or perhaps on his lunch hour, as many of the small landscapes are of the area around or even on the Dreamworks campus. They range from traditional landscapes in parks and wooded areas to urban scenes and compositions of industrial buildings, which he renders as miniature marvels of geometric color and light.

Check out his work, I think you will appreciate his work as much as I do! It never fails to amaze me how there are so many talented-beyond-belief-artists, and Mike definitely falls into that category!

One more of his paintings… this one of a Koi pond…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Tony D’Amico!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“Deep Shadow at Dudley Farm” by Tony D’Amico

Image: TonyDAmicoFineArt.com

I first saw this painting on Tony’s Facebook page and I was instantly captivated. What a wonderful old building with the most beautiful dappled light showing through. I love how it’s imperfect as an old farm should be, where everything isn’t perfectly straight, it gives it so much character! The fabulous color of the sunlight on the roof is amazing, not one tone, but many all blended just perfectly. The sky and  trees look like they’re out of an old painting, just beautiful… and the grass! Ahh, the lights, the darks, all so nicely placed, and oowieee, that gorgeous light at the bottom of the door!

Tony’s work is fabulous and I urge you to check it out! He has a great website, so give it a peek!

Here’s a blip about Tony from his website, read “About The Artist” to see more:

Tony D’Amico is a Connecticut based artist. He is a visual journalist capturing scenes of everyday life too often overlooked. His work conveys an idealized yet representational interpretation of the countryside, city or seascape.

Beginning his employment as a commercial artist/illustrator, Tony enjoyed a successful career in the corporate world holding management positions and developing campaigns for such companies as American Home Products, Playtex, and the Pepsi-Cola Company. He then founded his own promotional marketing agency, Creative Alliance based in Southport CT. The client roster included, The Pepsi-Cola Company, AT&T, Tiffany & Company, ebay and the Guinness Importing Company. Evolving into one of the top promotion and event marketing agencies in the US, he later sold the company to the Publicis Group, an international advertising and media services conglomerate. 

Tony has studied with a number of nationally recognized artists such as Gabor Svagrik, Hodges Soileau, David Dunlop and John Traynor.  Most recently, he is associated with a group of painters who are led and inspired by his good friend and noted artist, Donald Demers. Tony’s paintings have won numerous awards and are in a number of municipal and private collections.  He is a member of the CT Plein Air Painters, Lyme Art Association, Salmagundi Club in NYC, Rowayton Arts Center, Oil Painters of America, is a featured artist on Lori Woodward’s Collectors Showcase and is represented by The Geary Gallery in Darien, CT.

Catch you back here tomorrow!