Tag: painting

Did hell freeze over? Did the fat lady sing?

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, HOME12 Comments

Nope, but Ken DeWaard came to town and got me to paint! A miracle? Yes, indeed! If you aren’t familiar with Ken’s work, check it out! He’s got a great website… http://kendewaard.com !

I was quite thankful that I had backup… had a great time no doubt! My painting was more of an exercise, takes the pressure off, well, for the most part anyway!

Ken’s painting… genius! AND it looked so easy… If you look closely you can probably see steam coming out of my ears I’m thinking so hard… but had the best time! Thanks Ken! (And thank you Fred!!)

Hey, this is the perfect opportunity to mention Florida’s Forgotton Coast Plein Air Invitational – Ken will be participating in this plein air event, and from the photos of last years work WHOA!… so be checking his website after the event is over for the latest pieces!

Hey! I want to also give a shout out to Carlisle Stroud… (Fred’s dad)…

H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y ! ! We wish you the happiest birthday. EVER! xxoo us

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Nancy Colella!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments

“Glorius Fall” by Nancy Colella

Facebook. It’s an amazing way to discover new artists… I’m thrilled to have found artist Nancy Colella! She’s wonderfully talented. Her paintings are happy… you can tell that she’s studied from some of the greats… such as Charles Sovek, Tim Horn and Colin Page (among others!). Those three are just amazing to me and Nancy has that same ‘amazingness’. You must check out her work, it’s brilliant! Fresh, colorful, different and LOOSE! I love “Glorious Fall” (pictured above), I love the contrast! It really stands out, this painting won Honorable Mention at the Duxbury (MA) Art Association Winter Juried Show! In addition to Nancy’s wonderful website she maintains two blogs, both are fabulous, one is SIMPLY PAINTING, it’s a journal of sorts, including her paintings and wonderful stories as well as great bits of information, I’m thrilled to have found it! Another blog entitled PATIENCE WITH PATIENTS just warms my heart to no end. Here’s Nancy’s description:

A year ago, I was asked if I’d like to give “art” lessons to Alzheimer patients. I am not an art therapist and have no experience with Alzheimer’s patients, but I strongly believe “art” opens doors, in some way, for everyone. I took this on as a challenge and started this blog with the hope that sharing my journey would help care givers and family members use “art” to open new doors of communication. 

Talk about amazing! You can see how her art lessons open doors, lets their creativity rein free… I couldn’t help thinking if I were in their position how much an art lesson would mean to me… it would definitely be the bright spot in the day! I think it’s fabulous that Nancy makes the effort because it clearly makes a difference in so many people’s lives… hmmm, a lesson we can all learn from? What can you do to help make someone’s day/week/month better?

A blip about the artist from her website… “Glorius Fall” by Nancy Colella / Image from artist’s website

About the Artist

Nancy was a painting major at Muskingum College and graduated with a BA in Art Education, then continued her studies at the Aegean School of Fine Arts in Paros, Greece and at the Instituto de Allende in San Miquel Mexico. After a career in the Hospitality business and while raising her two children, she began studying again at Mass College of Art in Boston, MA and at the North River Arts Society in Marshfield Hills, MA. She has studied with numerous contemporary impressionist painters; Charles Sovek, Peggi Kroll Roberts, Ken Auster, Kim English, Colin Page, Carol Marine and Karin Jurick, to name a few. She is a gallery artist and faculty member at the South Shore Art Center in Cohasset, MA and a member artist at the Copley Societyin Boston. She exhibits regularly in her gallery/ studio where visitors are welcomed.

One more because I just love it… This painting reminds me so much of Charles Sovek and his wonderful work! (All images from artists website):

Your art is amazing Nancy! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Jennifer McChristian!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments

“Leave the Light On” by Jennifer McChristian

Isn’t this a fabulous painting? I love when the toned canvas shows through, seems like it adds light, dimension and interest! Great name, as you can see… someone left the light on. I think this artist has amazing talent and the looseness in her paintings is much appreciated! Check out her website for more images… it was hard to only showcase two… see for yourself!

A blip about Jennifer from her website:

Award winning artist, Jennifer McChristian, was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be an artist. Upon completing high school, McChristian began her art education at Dawson’s College in Montreal, Canada. In 1986, she and her family took permanent residency in California, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Art Degree with Honors from Otis Art Institute in 1990.

McChristian was employed as a full-time animation artist and worked on projects for various animation studios including Disney and Nickelodeon. She has continued her studies under the tutelage of renowned artists Robert Blue, Karl Dempwolf, and Steve Huston. Her inspirations consist of notable artists such as John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn, Nicolai Fechin and Cecilia Beaux. McChristian primarily paints in oils and occasionally watercolors. She has an affinity for painting ‘en plein air’ and also enjoys creating studio works using her outdoor sketches as inspiration. “Painting is somewhat of a spiritual experience for me. Although challenging at times, the end result evokes within me a sense of elation, nostalgia and harmony”.

Since 2000, McChristian has devoted herself to painting full-time and actively participates in art events and community building programs. She conducts an ongoing, uninstructed figure drawing workshop twice a week out of her spacious 1200 square foot studio (that she refers to as her ‘sanctuary’) located in the heart of Los Feliz Village, CA. In addition, McChristian teaches private painting lessons once a week. She also finds the time to pursue other artistic interests such as classical ballet. McChristian believes learning is a never-ending process and continues to develop and refine her artistic talent through workshops, research, travel and frequent excursions to museums and galleries.

McChristian recently received an ‘Honorable Mention’ award from Southwest Art’s ‘Artistic Excellence’ competition.  She was also featured in Southwest Art’s October 2009 publication and American Art Collector’s February 2010 issue. She is a founding member of the Plein Air Painters of the West (PAPW) an Associate Member of Oil Painters of America (OPA) and a Signature Member of Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA)

Ms. McChristian is currently represented by Segil Fine Art Source in Monrovia, CA,Waterhouse Gallery in Santa Barbara, CA, Abend Gallery in Denver, CO, InSight Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX and Silvana Gallery in Glendale, CA. She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband Ben Fried, and a magically inclined calico cat named Bamboo.

Ok… one more favorite!

“Wellfleet Spirits” by Jennifer McChristian

Who are some of your favorite artists? Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… John Cosby!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist4 Comments

“No AC” by John Cosby

I look at this painting and I can feel it. The person on their porch trying to cool off… you can see and even feel the heat in the air. It’s one of those days you desperately NEED AC. I love the warmth of the sunlight on the brick and the coolness of the shadows in the road. Side by side they really stand out. This is an outstanding piece of work… the looseness is so appreciated, by someone who has attempted it. Very nice painting. I found this painting on his website under AVAILABLE ALONG THE ROAD, paintings of things he sees from the road. They are FABULOUS! As a side note… if you’re in the Charleston, SC John shows his work locally at the Helena Fox Fine Art Gallery…

Recently I was on the Telluride Plein Air website and I see that John Cosby was one of the artists selected to participate this year, that event takes place June 29 through July 5, 2012!

A blip about the artist from his website… and let me just say… I JUST now read this… I told you I could FEEL the heat from his painting… Good job John, you accomplished just that… whew, think I need an iced tea!

“When a person stands in front of one of my paintings, I want that person to feel the wind and the heat I felt when I painted it.” – John Cosby

John Cosby - Biography 

 JOHN COSBY

PLEIN-AIR IMPRESSIONIST PAINTER
2010 Inducted as a Signature Member of both California Art Club and Plein-Air Painters of America
“While standing on location in a place I have never visited, I begin to recognize what is different from all the other places I have been. I try to capture that, the uniqueness,” says Cosby.
As a plein-air painter Cosby travels extensively painting what he sees and feels.  Bold use of color and an energetic brush stroke is what you will see and feel when viewing a painting by Cosby.
Born in Hollywood California in 1955, Cosby was raised in the west.  At an early age he began to draw and paint and was lucky enough to have a grandmother who was an oil painter.  “She would give me the paint, some brushes and a scrap of canvas and set me off to paint.  This early experience took the fear out of creating a painting,” said Cosby.
Cosby started traveling at a early age.  At 18 he was chosen as a communications advanceman for President Nixon and began to travel the globe, continuing in this capacity through the Ford Administration.  He met many interesting people and saw many things but what most interested him were the great works of art he encountered.  “They haunted me and helped set the course for my career as a painter”.  After leaving the White House, Cosby rebuilt an old classic sailing sloop designed by Nathaniel Herrishoff.  With a friend (who had dreams of being a writer) set sail up and down the eastern seaboard in the inland waterway for 3 years.  Thus he began his art career.
“Doing drawings of anything that moved me, things began to sell and my course was set,” said Cosby.
Upon his return to the California, Cosby began painting the sea and landscape of coastal California.  With a strong gallery response, his success as a painter quickly followed. 
Cosby currently resides and maintains a studio in Paso Robles California.  He works on location around the world and is represented by some of the finest galleries.  Cosby was a founding board member of the prestigious “Laguna Plein Air Painters Association”, an Signiture member of California Art Club.  Cosby was a founder of the Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational held at the Laguna Art Museum.   
With his bold contemporary style Cosby has captured the imagination of some very important collectors. His work can be found in many private, public and corporate collections around the world.  Cosby is recognized internationally. 
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Images from CosbyStudio.com

Featured Artist… Anne Blair Brown!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“Little Shack” by Anne Blair Brown

Anne Blair Brown is a fantastic artist. I am impressed with her loose style. We saw her work in person recently when she was part of a “40 & Under” show at Smith Killian Gallery in Charleston, SC, she was joined by an artist friend of ours, Colin Page. If you’re in Charleston, SC pop in the gallery and check out her work, otherwise check out her website! This looks like a neat little place we’ve gone for dinner, Crosby’s Seafood… it’s not a restaurant, but on occasion they will have dinner on the dock (check the link for their Facebook page, it will let you know when they do it!)and it’s splendid, and when there’s a sunset… BREATHTAKING! 

If, by chance, you’re considering taking a workshop, Anne gives some workshops that sound WONDERFUL! Check it out! Info on her website!

A blip from the artist’s website:

About the Artist

Anne Blair Brown was born in North Kingstown, Rhode Island and currently resides in Nashville, TN. Her work centers on both rural and urban landscapes, people, and interior spaces. While she enjoys the quiet solitude of her studio, she delights in painting “en plein air” when possible. Brown says, “Painting on location creates an intimacy with the subject that informs my studio work. It heightens my sense of spontaneity, and that energy is translated to the canvas.”

“Corner Bistro” by Anne Blair Brown

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Images from artists website…

Featured Artist… Charles Movalli!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist6 Comments

“Looking Toward Fish Beach, Monhegan” by Charles Movalli

Image: BayviewGallery.com

I admire artist Charles Movalli. I would truly like to meet him one day. He seems to be a nice guy with a sense of humor. I love that. His paintings are spectacular. My husband and I first spotted his paintings at Bayview Gallery in Camden, ME back in 2006. I can still see that painting hanging up high, it was the hull of a boat with the American flag. I was captivated. It was a large painting and it was spectacular! Since that time I’ve seen plenty of his paintings that I just fall in love with! “Looking Toward Fish Beach, Monhegan” is one… another that was on the Walls Gallery website (so I’m not sure where the painting is now or if it has sold), it was called “Just Another Workday”. Did you read the other day where I mentioned that little pop of an orange or red in a painting can make all the difference… so can a larger pop… love this one!

“Just Another Workday” by Charles Movalli , Image from Walls Gallery 

Here’s a blip about Charles from the Walls Gallery website (the Walls Gallery closed the Wilmington, NC locationDecember 2011, which I was sad to hear… Walls was a nice gallery with some fabulous artists, to mention a few: Ken DeWaard, Tim Bell, Larry Moore, Cindy Baron) click HERE for more info… I see they mention that the Walls Gallery may be opening at the Greenbrier resort some time this year)…

Charles Movalli

Charles is a great ambassador for the Cape Ann School.   Cape Ann is the longest active artist colony in the United States.  No surprise. The place is one painting after another, just waiting to be painted. After all this time, you’d think the nay-sayers of art, the It’s-all-been-done crowd, might have a point, but Motif #1 still draws painters, who are still doing something that’s never been done before. Charles’ lecture on the Cape Ann School is not to be missed. Winslow Homer, Childe Hassam, Edward Hopper, John Sloan,Emile Gruppe are a few of the regulars going back nearly 200 years. Gloucester and Rockport are plagued by picturesqueness.  It’s catching.  Trash bins may even be lovely.

The focus of the artists Charles admired and learned from as a young painter (Emile Gruppe, Carl Peters, Aldro Hibbard) was composition, and his paintings have a solid structure even amid dinghies bobbing at the dock and buildings listing under their years.

Charles has a PhD in English and has written books and articles galore.  The books, though pricey if you can find one, are fantastic reads for any student of painting covering not only many laudable artists, but also composition, color, and the wielding of the brush.  We are still waiting for the book on Charles himself, but he has let us know that some things will melt and others freeze over before we’ll see that book.  We’ll enjoy his paintings while we wait.

I told you… he’s got a sense of humor… love that! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Adele Earnshaw!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART9 Comments

“One Mile To Go” by Adele Earnshaw / Image: HortonHayes.com

I absolutely love it when I run across a painting that just takes my breath away… this is one sweet painting. Fred and I were at the art walk in Charleston, SC a few weeks ago and we went in the Horton Hayes Gallery (if you haven’t been you MUST go, so many fabulous artists in one space!). Lovely work, I’m telling you, Mark Horton, Chris Groves, Nancy Hoerter, Shannon Runquist, Larry Moore, (and more) all so very talented. Then we went upstairs (if you don’t normally go upstairs it’s quite the treat, there are a treasure of beautiful paintings upstairs as well) we saw this painting “One Mile To Go” on an easel. The way the light hits the foliage, the light in the trees and WHOA that tiny red bird across from the bright sun on the bushes… brilliant! Adele Earnshaw is a very impressive artist… here is a blip from the Horton Hayes website:

A sixth generation New Zealander, Adele Earnshaw was born in Hastings and lived in Warkworth before immigrating with her family to the U.S. Her childhood in New Zealand has been a major influence on her work and choice of subject matter.

Adele’s paintings have been exhibited at the Natural History Museum in New York and have toured Japan and Sweden with museum exhibitions. The artist was selected to design the first three stamps for the New Zealand Game Bird Habitat Stamp Program. In 2000 she was invited to participate in the Ecoart Conference and Exhibition in Taiwan where her work was exhibited at the Museum of Natural History in Taipei. In 2003, Adele was selected as a judge for the prestigious Federal Duck Stamp Competition held at the Department of Interior’s Fish & Wildlife Service in Washington D.C.

Adele is represented by galleries across the U.S. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Her book, ‘Painting the Things You Love in Watercolor’ was released by North Light Publications in 2002.

Several years ago, Adele started to paint exclusively in oil after many years as a watercolorist. Although her subject matter still includes wildlife, primarily birds, she also enjoys painting on location and landscapes have become a major focus.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

So… you want to be an art critic? AND the Camden Snow Bowl Benefit, great paintings, great prices!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART2 Comments

“Last Light” by Daniel Corey / Image: Maine Art

We are all art critics at heart, some of us are better than others, but we all like what we like, right? Now’s the chance for your voice to be heard, your votes count… Maine Art is having a “Choice Art Show“, where all online participants have a choice… click on the “Choice Art Show” link and it will take you to the page where you vote. You select which piece of each artists work you like the most, then after you vote it shows how other people voted. I highly recommend this from other art communities, this is B R I L L I A N T ! It’s a lot of fun as well. Here’s the info from Maine Art, you have until May 31st to vote!

The painting above is another fabulous one from Dan Corey, one of the 12 participating artists! ENJOY!

Here’s the blip from Maine Art:

Twelve Artists, One Gallery, and You.A one-of-a-kind Maine art show that makes you a part of the jury, opening June 6 during the Kennebunkport Festival.Voting takes place April 2 – May 31. Click ”Choice” above  to vote.2012 Artists;Daniel Corey
Julie Freund
Philip Frey
Jill Hoy
William B. Hoyt
Anne Ireland
Henry Isaacs
Craig Mooney
Elizabeth Ostrander
Patrick Plourde
Janis Sanders
David Witbeck

And… on another note… LOOK through these paintings… FABULOUS paintings, outstanding prices… and all for a good cause, check it out!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Camden Snow Bowl Benefit Show

Colao, Seaside FarmhouseDowling Walsh Gallery is holding a benefit show for the Camden Snow Bowl. Help us give back to the community.

Artwork has been priced to encourage buying for maximum benefit to the Camden Snow Bowl and Ragged Mountain Recreation Foundation’s redevelopment project.

A selection of the work is on display at Dowling Walsh Gallery until April 28th, 2012. View the full show online now: http://www.dowlingwalsh.com/private-viewing/camden-snow-bowl-benefit-show

Featured artist… Brian Rego!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“Backyard at Woodrow” by Brian Rego {Image: City Art Gallery}

This is such a sweet painting. I love the happy colors, very spring/summer… This painting was done by artist Brian Rego. He’s got a very distinct style and I like it! Almost that cool paint by number look that I adore… not sure how to achieve it, I believe it’s a style, and it’s one I like!

Here’s a blip about Brian from City Art Gallery’s website:

Brian Rego received a Bachelors of Fine Art at the University of South Carolina with a concentration in oil painting in 2004. He displayed his work in the Solo Senior Exhibit in the McMaster School of Fine Art Gallery in 2004. He is the recipient of the Ed Yaghjian Award from the University of South Carolina for distinguished undergraduate work. In 2007, Brian Rego received a Masters of Fine Art at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, PA, and displayed his work in the 2007 Annual Student Exhibition in the Academy’s Hamilton Museum. Rego has participated in group and solo exhibitions and has shown his work in Australia, New York, Philadelphia, Vermont, Greenville, and Columbia. Brian currently teaches oil painting and drawing classes at City Art and at the University of South Carolina. 

Artist’s Statement

“I paint my subject from life and consider it to be a great joy and an immense struggle. I hope to capture the feeling of these synonymous realities in my paintings. For me, the purpose of painting is to tap into something that is profoundly human, something sensual that lies on the fringe of memory, a reality both strange and familiar. “

Check out Brian’s website! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Kathleen Dunphy!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist6 Comments

“Low Tide” by Kathleen Dunphy 

There are so many wonderful paintings in this world to choose from… many are from artist Kathleen Dunphy. She is AMAZING! Her artistic ability is out of this world… I normally try to select paintings that are for sale… Low Tide appears to be for sale (hurry if you like it, it most likely won’t be around for long!), there was another that caught my eye… it’s sold, but I wanted you to see it. To me, this is perfection…

 “Morning Reflections” by Kathleen Dunphy

This is one gorgeous painting… it’s clear and crisp and truly looks, feels and even SMELLS like early morning out on the water. What a fantastic painting! Congratulations to whoever bought it!

Do you know nearly every single painting on her website that includes a structure of any kind has sold? Therefore… one more sold painting!

“Lange Barn” by Kathleen Dunphy

Here’s a blip (all images as well) from Kathleen’s website (fabulous website and blog, it’s got to be hard to find the time to keep things updated, post a blog entry AND paint, but I can tell you… WE APPRECIATE IT! So thank you to ALL of you wonderful artists who update and keep the rest of us waiting for more!).

In the mid-1990’s, Kathleen Dunphy started her art career by displaying colored-pencil dog portraits in coffee shops and veterinary clinics in Eagle River, Alaska. Little did she know that less than a dozen years later, she would be a highly acclaimed oil painter, exhibiting her work in galleries across the United States and garnering awards from some of the top art competitions in the country. Kathleen’s rapid success in the competitive art world was predicted when American Artist Magazine recognized her as one of the Top Ten Emerging Artists in 1998. She is one of those rare people who have true passion, dedication, and a gift for transposing nature’s beauty to the canvas.

Kathleen’s early art education included workshops by Kevin MacPherson and Dan Gerhartz. In 2000, Kathleen was awarded a full scholarship at the prestigious Academy of Art College in San Francisco, where she was mentored by artists such as Craig Nelson and Brian Blood. She maintains strong ties to the Academy, where she has been offered a faculty appointment and participates in the annual Alumni Auction. Further study with Scott Christensen and T. Allen Lawson helped hone her skills and refine her own unique style of painting.

In 2003, Kathleen and her husband designed and built a log home and studio in the Sierra Nevada foothills of northern California, where the pristine setting of her new home provides endless inspiration for her work. Kathleen’s landscape paintings can now be found in galleries from coast to coast, and in 2009, she exhibited her 10th solo show. Her honors and considerable and include important juried shows in California, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and Maine; Best of Show from The American Impressionist Society; an Award of Excellence from the Oil Painters of America; five California Art Club Gold Medal Shows; six magazine articles, including being featured in Southwest Art’s Plein Air issue in 2009; the Federal Duck Stamp Competition; Birds in Art; Arts for the Parks; Grand Prize at the Acadia Invitational Exhibition in Bar Harbor, Maine; signature status in Oil Painters of America, Laguna Plein Air Painters, and the American Impressionist Society; and many others.  In just twelve years, she has earned an impressive and growing reputation with galleries, private collectors, and art magazines across the United States.

In the spirit of passing on the gifts of her artistic abilities, Kathleen began teaching in 2005 and is a much sought-after workshop instructor. Her engaging style of teaching and one-on-one instruction garners high accolades from her student artists. She has also served as a judge for several art competitions. While her current passion is still to paint nature every day and produce a limited number of high quality paintings, she is now working on a book about her process of developing a work of art from field study to finished studio paintings.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured artist… Stuart Roper!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist1 Comment

“The Problem Solvers” by Stuart Roper

Stuart Roper, a wonderful artist from Asheville, NC… I love it when an artist can take a mundane scene and make it spectacular! Something like workers on the side of the road… this is fabulous, what does it for me is the ORANGE. I think a painting that has orange really catches the eye… it draws me to it… same with red, it’s probably WHY I like a painting with a flag in it, it’s that pop of red against other colors that are so spectacular! A friend recently explained how someone had told her about putting at least a hint of red or orange to make a painting really stand out, I think that’s so true! Of course in this painting it’s more than a pop of color, but you get my drift… great loose strokes… Check out Stuart’s website for gallery representation… here in Charleston, SC it appears that he has a few pieces at M GALLERY OF FINE ART!

Here’s a blip about Stuart from his website:

Born in North Carolina in 1953, painter and sculptor Stuart Roper moved to Manhattan in the mid-1970s to attend the Art Students League of New York. There, he studied anatomy and figure drawing with Thomas Fogarty and portraiture with John Howard Sanden. Following New York, Stuart made a brief move to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he studied color theory under the direction of Gerry Wright. In 1980, he moved to St. Simons Island, Georgia for a year, prior to settling in the state’s capital, Atlanta. Over the next ten years, his work included various commissions, both private and corporate, as well as a number of solo and group exhibitions. In the fall of 1991, Stuart moved to France, west of Paris in the small Normandy village of Pressagny l’Orgueilleux. There, he settled in the guest cottage of the Château de la Madeleine. Only minutes away from the home of Claude Monet in Giverny, the place and its artistic precedent guided Stuart’s own paint handling; through plein-air work, he found the approach of the Impressionists, which has since characterized most of his painting. Normandy offered Stuart myriad tones of gray amidst the often-foggy landscapes, however, the frequent inclement weather made plein-air work difficult. In 1993 Stuart moved to the small hilltop village of Fayence in southern France where he would remain for the next five years working under “a glorious sun.” During this time, his work took him to Italy, Corsica and back to Normandy, all the while enchanted by the light, and concentrating on the development of his limited three-color palette. In 1998, Stuart made the decision to return to the United States, where he settled in Asheville, North Carolina. The Grove Arcade Public Market commissioned Stuart to recreate the original 1920s finials that adorn the top of the building, and the City Parks and Recreation Department also commissioned him on the development of “Grove’s Vision”, a station on the city’s historical Urban Trail. He may be spotted almost anywhere, as he continues his love of capturing the landscape and developing his artistic vocabulary. 

Ran across this on his website… if you’re thinking of coming to Charleston May 30- June 1, 2012 this would be a fabulous time for a visit!

PLEIN AIR PAINTER OF THE SOUTHEAST 
Returns to Charleston for a Four Gallery Show 

Opening Reception: June 1st 2012 6-8pm 
Show Closing Date: June 22nd 2012 

Show Locations:

Galerie on Broad 29 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401 

Hagan Fine Art Gallery and Studio 27 1/2 State Street, Charleston SC, 29401 

Horton Hayes Fine Art 30 State Street, Charleston, SC, 29401 

Smith Killian Fine Art 9 Queen Street, Charleston, SC, 29401 

Participating Artists: 

Scott Boyle 
Loryn Brazier 
Anne Blair Brown 
Roger Dale Brown, OPA 
Katie Dobson Cundiff 
Dee Beard Dean 
Beverly Ford Evans (New Member) 
Trey Finney 
Paula Frizbe 
Karen Hewitt Hagan 
L. Diane Johnson 
Andre Lucero (New Member) 
Diane May 
Kevin Menck 
Larry Moore 
Gwen Nagel 
Richard Christian Nelson 
Richard Oversmith 
Lori Putnam 
James Richards 
Stuart Roper 
Junko Ono Rothwell 
Shannon Smith 
Hodges Soileau

Sue Stewart

Brett Weaver

Dawn E. Whitelaw 

Attending artists will paint on location in the vicinity of the gallerys (Queen Street, State Street, and Broad Street) starting Wednesday, May 30, 2012 through Friday, June 1, 2012. 

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured artist… Jennifer O’Connell!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist1 Comment

 “Bay Window” by Jennifer O’Connell/Image: Left Bank Gallery

Jennifer O’Connell does some amazing interior paintings! This is an artist not afraid of color! Her bold paintings really make a statement… I love the way she did the fireplace in this one, and the light streaming in the window, fabulous!

A blip from the artist’s website:

Jennifer O’Connell grew up in the Adirondack region of upstate New York. She earned an MFA degree in painting and drawing from the University of New Hampshire and a BFA from SUNY Plattsburgh. Additionally, she studied fine art at the University College Chester in England on a Giltz Family Travel Award. After receiving her MFA, she was invited to show in the Young Talentexhibition in Washington Depot, CT. Since then, she has been the recipient of numerous awards including an Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Fellowship, a Vermont Studio Center Artist Residency Grant, and a Massachusetts State Cultural Council Grant. She has led public lectures and participated in panel discussions on the East Coast. Visiting Guest Artist Lectures include Barton College in NC and SUNY Plattsburgh in NY. Her exhibition record includes national and international shows at Fraser Gallery in Washington, DC and the Bowery Gallery in New York, NY.  In 2008, she was selected by juror Cynthia Reeves for the New England New Talent Exhibition at the Fitchburg Art Museum in Fitchburg, MA. In 2011, she was invited to exhibit her work at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. Galleries that represent her include Adam Cave Fine Art in Raleigh, NC and Left Bank Gallery in Wellfleet, MA. She currently works and resides in Western Massachusetts.

Catch you back here tomorrow!


Featured Artist… Ken Dewaard!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART5 Comments

Morning on Monhegan by Ken Dewaard

Ken Dewaard is one of our favorite artists. Super nice guy as well as talented beyond words. The man can paint ANYTHING! You must check out his website, look at the paintings he did of China… whoa! I spent a great deal of time agonizing over WHICH painting… usually there is a painting or two that stands out to me… with Ken there were many… decisions, decisions… Check out his work, I promise you will not be disapointed!

If you’re fortunate enough to be in the Pine Mountain area of Georgia, Ken will be participating in the Third Annual Plein Air Paint Out, Art Show and Sale at Calloway Gardens. Sunday, April 15- Sunday, April 22!

Here’s a blip about Ken from his website…

For Ken there is nothing more rewarding and challenging than painting under an open sky, surrounded by the scents and sounds of nature, along with it’s ever changing color and harmonies to excite one’s creativity.
After receiving his Bachelor of Arts with honors, Ken began working in a commercial art studio in Chicago. He continued his studies at the American Academy of Art, where he studied with nationally recognized watercolorist, Irving Shapiro. Upon Irving’s recommendation Ken joined the acclaimed Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art in Chicago, where he soon began studying with Scott Burdick
as well as Dan Gerhartz.
It is here that Ken adapted his direct and pure approach as well as his bravura brush style, which he achieves by painting from life.
Strongly inspired by John Singer Sargent, Nicolai Fechin, Joaquin Sorolla and the Russian Impressionists, Ken finds himself painting an array of subject matter from everyday life. The feelings Ken evokes in his paintings are due in part to the excitement and passion he feels while capturing the fleeting effects of light, or the wonderful color nuances and harmonies presented by nature and all of her beauty.
Ken continues to travel throughout the United States as well as Italy. He has spent many a summer day painting the Italian hillsides, American vistas, and beauty wherever it finds him. This has always been a contributing factor in his work, insight, and inspiration and growth as an artist.
Ken is an instructor at the Kewaunee Academy of Fine Art, 
in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. He currently resides with his wife and four young children in the beautiful driftless area of southwest Wisconsin.

And… one that isn’t for sale (it’s ours!)… Love this one, View Of Booth Bay…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured artist… Tom Soltesz!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“Down The Street And Across The Bay” by Tom Soltesz

I ran across Tom’s work years and years ago… I was on a California plein air website and there were so many artists it was hard to fathom! When I looked at his work I fell in love with it!  I love his bold strokes and his subject matter. He did a painting of some trees in Muir Woods years ago that was just out of this world! I still remember that painting. He’s got an interesting story… can you imagine KNOWING you’re going to be a professional artist at age 7? Yep, me either!

You’ll see on Tom’s website that he also give workshops. He even gives weekend workshops for $100! How tempting! Might be a great time for a little vacation to Califor-knee-eye-A!

A blip about Tom from his website:

 In 1954, Tom was born in a small coal-mining town in western Pennsylvania.  There were little or no cultural influences.  At the age of 7 Tom decided to become a professional artist.  He believed that to be an artist came naturally, and that involved little effort.  This was his first major misconception.  Living in a town of less than 5,000 he received little artistic training, and since Tom was from a family of 7 children, being sent to art school was out of the question.  Upon graduation from high school and being voted “most artistic” of his class,  Tom moved to Florida where he talked his way into a job painting billboards for Florida Outdoor Advertising.  In one year, Tom became their top pictorial artist.  After one more year Tom decided there was little chance of growth.  In 1974, he moved to Denver, Colorado and he enrolled in the Colorado Institute of Art where he received a degree in Advertising and Design.  He freelanced his way through college and graduated with a professional portfolio and since he still had the wonder-lust for travel, Tom moved to Manila, Philippines and started a graphic design studio.  He had by now become a painter/designer, and he worked in watercolors and designing logos, packaging, and ad campaigns for some of the biggest companies in South East Asia.  From Manila he moved to Hong Kong to manage the studio of a major designer.  Tom continued to paint and draw while he freelanced for various companies in both Hong Kong and the Philippines.  He was greatly influenced by the artists of the Philippines, both landscape and figurative, especially by the Philippine artist known by the name of Amorsolo.  Tom was asked to move to Papua New Guinea to upgrade the corporate image of San Miguel Beer Corporation, but since there were little social activities in New Guinea, he continued to develop his painting abilities.  In 1981 Tom decided to return to the U.S. and further educate himself as a painter.  He enrolled in the Academy of Art College in San Francisco and studied illustration and fine art.  Tom freelanced his way through the academy and graduated with knowledge of a variety of illustration and painting techniques.  He decided the only way to continue to paint in the various styles that he enjoyed, was to service a diversity of clients.  Tom started working with interior designers by supplying them with custom paintings, murals and screens, and he worked on hotels, restaurants, and residential projects.  He has been involved in projects in a number of countries and has supplied clients with room art custom painting, murals, and tromp L’oeil.  Tom is represented by numerous galleries in California.  His fine art oils are mainly landscapes and florals, however he also does figurative works.  Tom teaches plein air landscape painting, an Artist member of the California Art Club, and The Baywood Group of painters which is a socially active environmental group of landscape painters. Tom recently won “Best in Show” at the annual San Luis Obispo Plien air festival and an “honorable mention “at the 2005 Carmel art festival. Tom was recently featured in the April issue of South West Art magazine, and the April issue of The Artist’s Magazine 2007. Tom has many collectors in the United States and abroad and continues to develop into one of the most important landscape painters in the U.S.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Gene Costanza!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART2 Comments

Gene Costanza, artist at M Gallery of Fine Art {image}

Isn’t this a fabulous Charleston scene? I remember many years ago it seemed like so many of the paintings were the same… most of the Charleston paintings were pastel in color and all the same in subject matter… things have been changing for years now. The paintings are more modern even though they’re not contemporary… I think it’s the influence of working plein air for many artists. There is nothing like that quick loose style, it’s fabulous. This painting was done by artist Gene Costanza. Happened to see on Facebook that he’s in town painting right now…  (as I write this)… that’s one thing about our city. You can be walking around downtown and run into artists set up on the street painting. I still marvel at that. I love to watch someone paint. Everyone approaches it so differently. There are truly SO MANY GREAT ARTISTS it blows my mind. We are very fortunate to have such a strong art community. We support the arts and all the different events… our galleries work hard here in Charleston to keep the public involved in the art… art walks, receptions, they get very creative, and we are very lucky indeed!

Gene Costanza is an exceptional artist, and I’m thrilled to know that he’s being shown here locally at M Gallery! Check out his work, or his website (or both!)… catch you back here tomorrow!

Image and blip from the artists website:

GENE COSTANZA
American, b.1954 
 
Gene Costanza is a contemporary realist painter of traditional subject matter, focusing primarily on landscape and man’s interaction with it and nature. Equally at home painting “en plein air’ as well as in the studio, Costanza orchestrates paintings that engage the viewer to enter the subject with him by capturing the light and atmosphere.
 
Over twenty-five years of his life was spent in Law Enforcement in such specialties as SWAT, K9 Handler, K9 Supervisor, Patrol Supervisor and Detective.  About mid career, the desire to return to artistic endeavors surfaced after having been abandoned in his early twenties.  Though dormant, there was a constant underlying desire to again delve into the mysteries of paint, light, and subject matter.  Costanza believes it took a decade and a half of discipline to mold his personal tendencies so that he could study and work as hard as one needs to in the very difficult endeavor of making a good painting.  Costanza retired from law enforcement to become a full-time painter.  
 
Primarily “self-taught,” he has studied with a number of great contemporary artist/teachers including; Kevin McPherson, Matt Smith, Jeffery Watt, and has a long standing close personal as well as professional friendship with Scott L. Christensen.  It is Christensen whom Costanza credits with most of his growth.  Frequently these two can be found painting, fishing, hunting or just enjoying the fellowship of intimate friendship.
 
His work is in collections from coast to coast and is included in the permanent collection of the Academy Museum in Easton, Maryland.
 
Costanza is married and has two grown sons and makes his home in Eugene, OR.