Tag: painting

Featured artist… Elizabeth Tolley!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“Color of Sunset Maine” by Elizabeth Tolley {Image}

It’s funny how I can skim through an artists paintings, and really like some of them but be sucked in by one of Maine… Elizabeth Tolley is a California artist who painted a fabulous Maine painting… I think she captured the sunset perfectly. There are the most wild and gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. It makes you want to jump out of bed early in the morning to see the sunrise, and be home in time to see the sunset… Of course when you plan for it, it’s not fabulous, but when you’re out and about and [GASP!] without a camera that’s when you’ll see the most spectacular of skies! As my husband said, this painting has an old world look about it… it does, it’s fabulous, and ooowie, would I love to be there… Right. Now.

Here’s a blip about Elizabeth from her website!

Elizabeth “Libby” Tolley is an American Painter and Author. She is a fourth-generation Californian. Painting the rural landscapes of California’s Central Coast has been her focus. The artist brings these California scenes into the national spotlight, as her paintings have been selected for inclusion in art magazines, books, and national exhibits.

In 2007, Libby completed an instructional book on painting landscapes called, Oil Painter’s Solution Book: Landscapes, 100 answers to you oil painting questions. The book, published by North Light Books, answers questions students have asked over the years, and illustrates the process of painting both on location and in the studio. The book has been well received by artists in all mediums. Over 25,000 copies have been sold.

Libby has been featured in over 25 articles in international art magazines including, The Artist (UK), Southwest Art, Plein Air Magazine, The Artist’s Magazine, and International Artist Magazine. Libby’s paintings have graced three magaxine covers.

San Diego Flora, another book released in 2007, included her paintings “Morning on the San Mateo” and “Afternoon on the San Mateo.” “Morning on the San Mateo” was exhibited in the Capistrano Light Exhibit sponsored by The Irvine Museum.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Robert Spooner!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist1 Comment

“Gloucester Morning” by Robert Spooner

I really enjoy Robert Spooner’s work. The golden light in this painting is pure magic! It reminds me of Mackinac Island, MI… so many great paintings to choose from, I couldn’t select only one, sigh…

Robert’s plein air pieces are amazing. In many ways they remind me of the way our friend Tim Bell paints. Fast and loose and with such incredible style. Of course I love the ICE CREAM HOUSE! Matter of fact I would love to pop in that little ice cream house right now… His work has ‘air’, you can feel it. If you get a chance, check out Robert’s website. I look forward to seeing some of his pieces in person at M Gallery in Charleston, SC!

A blip about Robert from his WEBSITE :

Robert Spooner was born in Roswell, New Mexico in 1956. He received a bachelor of fine arts degree from Louisiana Tech University in 1978 and pursued a career in graphic design. It was not until 1998 that he developed an interest in oil painting after having taken it up as a creative antidote to the structured advertising world where he was working as a designer and illustrator. He became further motivated to continue on this path of expression when he enrolled in painting classes at the Denver Art Students League and studied with noted painters Kim English and Quang Ho.

 The dimensions of his canvas are determined by the story needing to be told. Robert works from large shapes in a scene to the small, all the time keeping his values in check. Arriving at the focal point, which in many cases may be a face, he slows down to spend more time on what he considers to be the heart of the painting or story.

 Robert explains that his art is not about any one approach but it is about developing as an artist by exploring various visual approaches. The discoveries he makes along the way are what fuel his desire to be an artist. He also finds inspiration from a number of artists and their works including Quang Ho, Alex Kanevsky, Dan McCaw, Dennis Miller Bunker, Morgan Weistling, Matt Smith, Anders Zorn and Valentin Serov.

 Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Kim English!

On By Barbara StroudIn ARTLeave a comment

Kim English… a master of light… his paintings are striking. He is a versatile artist, the man can paint anything and it’s fabulous! Kim is in many galleries, he gives workshops (he’s giving one in Switzerland in August of this year!). The man is talented. And from artist friends I’ve heard nothing but good things about Kim, he’s a super nice guy who is talented beyond belief, he paints, he sings, good grief…! His paintings are a joy, if you aren’t familiar with Kim’s work I highly suggest you check him out, he’s in galleries all over the country! In Charleston, he’s at the Wells Gallery. I love this painting, “Conifer Sunset” (above). The one thing I love is the light on in the house with the sky getting dark, the sun setting, the day winding down… it’s magical. Oh, and those trees… L O V E  T H O S E  T R E E S !

I couldn’t make a decision, so I included two images… “Private Garden” is such a sweet painting, once again with fabulous light, and sigh… that pop of red… brilliant. I love how the shutters and window aren’t perfect, they aren’t perfectly square, they have CHARACTER. Fabulous! Here’s a blip about Kim from the Saks Galleries website (blip and images from Saks Galleries):

Colorado-based painter, Kim English, depicts in his paintings the simple beauty found in daily life. Known for his mastery of chiaroscuro, each piece speaks to the true focus of English’s inspiration the harmony existing between light and shadow. His subject matter, ranging from a street side fruit stand in Mexico to sun filled windows, creates a particular mood, through which the viewer is introduced to charming scenarios that are wrapped in depth and texture, and are entirely about paint. This is the primary force of English’s painting his astonishing manipulation of his medium. He maintains a feeling of spontaneity by completing each painting in one sitting the alla prima method. He says of using this method, Immediacy is important. Not only because it is often the nature of people, but for me it is the most instinctive way to paint.

English was born in 1957 in Omaha, Nebraska and raised in a rural community near Colorado Springs. After graduation from the Rocky Mountain School of Art he joined the faculty and later began teaching at the Art Students League of Denver and the Scottsdale Artists School. He has exhibited at the Allied Artists of America winning the Gold Medal of Honor; the National Academy of Design; the Artists of America-Denver Rotary Club; NAWA 21st Annual Exhibition; Arts for the Parks; the Colorado Governor’s Invitational – Loveland Museum; the A.R. Mitchell Memorial Museum of Western Art; The Knickerbocker 42nd Annual Exhibition; the Oil Painters of America and won both the Certificate of Merit and the Joseph Hartley Memorial Award at two Salmagundi Club Exhibitions.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Jerry Weiss!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“Morning, Raspberry Island, Maine” by Jerry Weiss / Image: JerryWeiss.com

I think by now there isn’t a soul alive who doesn’t know how much Fred and I LOVE Maine art… one day we were downtown (Charleston, SC) going in our usual galleries, when we walked by a painting that we recognized. My husband said “that’s Raspberry Island!!” and we hear a voice that said… “you’re right!” whoa! We went in this wonderful gallery called Ingram Fine Art & Antiques… FABULOUS work mostly by Maine artists. Artists who we have met on Monhegan Island in Maine, or who’s work we’ve seen in other places as we bopped around Maine. How utterly cool that they were right here in Charleston! We spoke to one of the owners for quite a while and she was such a delight to talk to… it made us really miss Maine and really LOVE her gallery. If you’re in the area I highly encourage you to pop in and say hello and check out all the beautiful things they’ve got in their gallery!

Jerry Weiss is a fabulous artist, this is a large painting (30 x 40) and is splendid in every way! I love the shadow of the island in the water, and they sky, and… and… and… I guess it caught both of our eyes because a few years ago we rented a cottage in Port Clyde, ME, that faced Raspberry Island, so this was our view! I love the loose strokes… I swear, we need to build more walls in our house, ha ha… Here’s a blip about Jerry from his website… or click HERE to read a different version from Ingram Art & Antiques! I love learning about the artist! If you aren’t in the Charleston area, check out Jerry’s website, it’s a great one!

Seeking competence in figure painting, I spent the better part of six years drawing and painting the figure in art school, and after leaving, continued the notion of the figure in the interior. My goal was to create a visual diary that would be a pictorial record of artists and friends. Then, as now, I was intrigued by the portrait and figure as a most sacred subject.

As a landscape painter I was self-taught, and I struggled for a long time to find my vocabulary. It took many years for me to realize a structural approach, looking for the anatomy that exists in landscape as it surely does in the human subject. Since moving to Connecticut in 1994 and painting outdoors in earnest, I have become better at emphasizing abstraction of shapes. I want to refer to the individuality of the subject, those characteristics which render a person or place unique. For me this also means not merely noting the external beauty of things, but going after something a bit deeper. Put another way, I try to paint temporal qualities, but composed in such as way as to render them timeless.

Evident in my work is an enchantment with the feminine, fascination with psychological nuances, and love for the natural and architectonic shapes of landscape. I am amazed by the color of skin, continually gratified to recognize bone and muscle beneath the surface, and delighted by the powerful forms underlying the Maine coast and Connecticut River Valley. If I may be permitted understatement, I also like light, without which there would exist no space, form or visual coherence.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… JULIA RALSTON!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

Grandfather Carlson’s Place by Julia Ralston

I have my husband to thank for this one… he knows I’m always on the lookout for artists, recipes, ideas… and he suggested Julia! Well, thank you Fred… soon I’m going to have to change the name of this blog to include you…!

Julia has fabulous wide, loose strokes, nice and free. She’s able to leave out a lot of the little detail that ends up making a painting look fussy… I love that about her paintings! Here in Charleston, Julia is represented by the Atelier Gallery (also in Asheville, NC! Note: Link is no longer viable so it’s been removed)… so check her out… if you aren’t in the area give her website a look, you won’t be disappointed!

Summer Light by Julia Ralston

A blip about Julia from her website…

Julia Ralston was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. As a teenager she was often found reading or drawing and toting a sketchbook and journal to camp and family vacations. Encouraged by her artistic maternal grandmother and an enthusiastic high school art teacher, Julia entered Indiana University as a Fine Arts major, graduated in 1981 with a B.S. in Finance, and went to work for a major bank in Charlotte, North Carolina.

 Julia travels frequently and in each place she gathers reference material for her paintings.  Working en plein air and in the studio using her own photographs and sketches, Julia’s work expresses movement and color using loose brushwork and a variety of application methods. This vitality translates well to a variety of subject matter. Julia has studied with Scott Christensen, Stuart Shils, and Peggy Kroll-Roberts to name a few, and well as with her mentor, Andrew Braitman.  She maintains a summer studio in the North Carolina mountains and winters in the South Carolina lowcountry. If she’s not in the studio, you can find her out on the trail stalking birds and new compositions.

“The painting process is a game for me; making decisions using value, color and variety of line appeals to me in a way that wordsmiths feel about writing poetry or crafting a story. I try to be attentive to nuance of light and sense of place… it’s fantastic when brush stroke and color resurrect a memory or transport to a particular field or country road.”

Great work Julia! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Links updated 2/24/25

Hard to believe she would have been 12… a painting and a memory…

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, THOUGHTS5 Comments

Streamers After by Tollef Runquist / Image: Dowling Walsh

This painting is special to us. It isn’t ours, it’s for sale at the Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland, Maine.  Today is a special day… Isabelle would have been 12… hard to imagine. This painting is what Fred and I both imagine Isabelle would have been like if everything went OK. Unfortunately, things with the pregnancy didn’t go well… You have to figure that things work out for a reason, although it’s hard to understand “why” at that moment…  We’re so fortunate to have each other and for that we are extremely thankful!

This painting is so happy and bright. Just like a little girl after her birthday party. See how paintings can evoke memories? Every painting that we have has a great memory attached to it. Hope yours do too!

Happy 12 years Isabelle… We love you…

Featured Artist… Elizabeth Pollie!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist1 Comment

“No Bull” by artist Elizabeth Pollie

Elizabeth Pollie is one artist that I hold in high regard. She’s very talented and has such a sense of style. Her paintings are very different from the norm, if she were on the show “X Factor”, she would have “it”, the “IT” factor… there is a mystical almost angelic-ness to her paintings. It helps that she paints places that are near and dear to my heart, Mackinac Island, MI being one of those places. I featured Elizabeth last year and showed one of those paintings… amazing… this year I’m selecting something different. Cows… “NO BULL”, ha… great name. Check Elizabeth’s work out, you won’t be disappointed. She’s in several galleries throughout the country, and her work is perfect for each location. Each slightly different, but all amazing! This image is from the RS Hanna Gallery located in Fredericksburg, Tx.

Here is a great article about Elizabeth from MyNorth.com – fascinating! Here’s a blip about the artist from her website…

Elizabeth Pollie’s exposure to the arts came at an early age. Taken to museums, enrolled in classes by her parents and influenced by her father’s love and practice of art and architecture, she was always clear about her path in life. “Working within the field of visual arts never seemed like a choice, but rather a place of true belonging”. She enrolled in college art classes while still in high school and went on to receive an education at a formal Art School. She earned her B.F.A. at The College For Creative Studies where she later taught.

Harboring a deep love of travel and art history, Elizabeth has combined her travels with her painting practice. The images that she creates are imbued with a sense of poetry, mood and depth. 

The artist paints full time and teaches from her studio, West Wind Atelier in Harbor Springs, Mi.  Her paintings reside in both public and private collections here and abroad and have received much national recognition.

Elizabeth has found a deep sense of place within the rekindled practice of representational painting in America.  Of this movement Pollie reflects, “ It is celebration, an homage and in many ways a joyous homecoming. I am pleased to be a part of it.

Check out her website, she has some FABULOUS paintings that she did while in China as well as her many other paintings! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Brian Blood!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist1 Comment

Fishing Boat, Monterey by artist Brian Blood

Brian Blood is a fabulous artist, no question about it. But this little number caught my eye in the biggest way… (Thank you Bridget for forwarding me that email!). I love everything about this painting. The water… perfect! The pop of orange, and all that detail without anything being too specific. Absolute perfection!

Many of you have probably seen Brian’s work in magazines… if you’re fortunate enough to be near a gallery (click here for list) stop in and say hello, otherwise he has a wonderful website! Brian teaches workshops, which I would assume would fill up rather quickly, he also gives a demo workshop… now THAT is something I would be interested in… I learn by watching… and yes, it does help if you actually pick up a paintbrush… sigh…

Here’s a blip about Brian from his website:

Brian Blood, a resident of Pebble Beach, California, is widely recognized as one of California’s most important plein air impressionist artists. Married to award winning artist, Laurie Kersey,  www.lauriekersey.com they live their childhood dreams.

He began his professional life as a graphic artist and art director in Boston, Massachusetts.  Although Blood’s career was successful, he was frustrated personally and realized he wanted to be a fine-art painter. A leap across the continent to California took him to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco for both undergraduate and graduate studies.  Blood and Kersey were both later instructors at the Academy of Art University for 12 years.
From the 1990s, Brian Blood has been painting full time as well as conducting landscape painting classes at his alma mater.  He also conducts ongoing workshops in his studio, and surrounding areas of Pebble Beach, California.

Primarily a plein-air painter, Blood creates hundreds of studies directly from nature, observing the ever changing light of day.  He then takes his studies and supporting reference photos back to one of his two studios, either in San Francisco or Pacific Grove, to paint. He uses these studies as the basis for his larger scale works.

Blood has had his work featured in articles in Southwest Art Magazine (May 2002, and March 2005); Art of The West Magazine (March/April 2004); American Artist Magazine (January 2004); Plein Air Magazine (December 2005); and The Central Coast Journal (October 2005); to name a few. 

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured artist… Connie Hayes!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

Mullions in June by artist Connie Hayes, Image: Dowling Walsh.com

Connie Hayes, an artist from Rockland, Maine, is todays featured artist. You can recognize her paintings from a distance. They are bright, bold and powerful. Magnificent in composition, Connie’s paintings draw you in. Oh, how I wish we knew about PAINTING MAINE, (the book of Connie’s) years ago… We most certainly would have bought it! Those of you who possess it have a treasure. This painting, Mullions in June, is one example of her bold style. I absolutely adore this painting! You must check out her WEBSITE, also check out her work from the Dowling Walsh Gallery in Maine!

“In all respects, Connie Hayes is a fearless, intuitive painter. Her highly colorful, strongly stroked canvases look like the result of an orderly process of sketches, underdrawing and application of paint. In reality, although she sometimes uses such aids before she approaches the easel in her capacious studio, most of the time she starts work on a blank canvas, wielding a 3 to 4-inch wide brush to get going. Then, as she says, she “dives in,” composing the rest of the picture, much of which she may have thought out in her head, balancing images and colors to achieve a satisfactorily aesthetic final result. On some occasions, she says, “the paint speaks to me and I go off in unexpected directions. I like surprises.” This is an extremely intense exercise; Hayes says she gets into a “zone” until the work is finished or set aside for future amendments.

Her subjects range from boats and water to communities viewed from ships or roads, to backyards, house interiors and floral still lifes. “I like not being pigeon-holed, Hayes says.

Her brightly hued colors, which often have nothing to do with the actual look of the original building or boat, are chosen with deliberation, depending on what role she wants the painted object to play in the overall composition. Her radiant blues, blazing reds, and sunny yellows make ordinary scenes come alive and help draw viewers into the painting. Often of late she has utilized more muted colors to achieve the results she seeks.

After a long stint as a teacher and administrator at the Maine College of Art, Hayes has worked at the top of her game since moving from Portland to Rockland in 2005, about half the period covered by this exhibition. Much of her art results from her “Borrowed Views” project, in which she spends up to a week painting in and around the homes of friends all over Maine.

Ever trying new approaches to her art, mindful of art historical precedents and armed with a spirit of adventure, Connie Hayes has many interesting paintings ahead of her. Whether borrowing views or moving about on her own, it will be interesting to see what this thoughtful, gifted painter achieves in the years ahead.”

written by Stephen May

Catch you back here tomorrow!

I cannot wait to get back here… Monhegan Island, ME. Why do so many of us feel this way?

On By Barbara StroudIn HEALTH, THOUGHTS, TRAVEL2 Comments

I cannot wait to get back to Monhegan to hike, eat, sit and be merry! WHAT IS IT about this fantastic place? It has such a pull to so many people. You can’t wait to get there and you don’t want to leave…unless you fall into the category of those looking for a mall, a hairdresser, a golf course, or perhaps if you only wear high heels… I could see that the pull just wouldn’t be there for you. However if you fall into the category of those who appreciate nature, are creative (or perhaps just like to be around creative and interesting people) this place becomes an obsession. It’s simply too good to be true. If only for a short time!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured artist… Jose de Juan!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“Le Chat s’amuse” by artist Jose De Juan / Image(s): JoseDeJuan.com

Don’t you just love this painting? I do! It has all the detail without being tight… I’m not sure how that happens, but it makes a painting spectacular, don’t you think? I love this style home, one of my favorites!

Great job with the shadow and the light… Check out the rest of Jose’s work, it’s fabulous!

Here’s a blip about Jose from his website (great website by the way!):

Jose De Juan - Biography

Jose L. De Juan  graduated from the Madrid Art Academy in his native Spain. He is a veteran of the film industry and has worked in several studios as a computer lighter. His passion has always been painting. Watercolors, oils , computer or any other medium, it’s all part of a desire to give visual shape to the moment.  

Jose is a devoted plein-air artist and finds constant inspiration in the city and its surroundings, from freeways and dilapidated structures to the canyons and marinas. He likes to plant the easel and look around for any subjects surprised by light and weather.  Jose strives to show respect for the materials,  honesty of rendition and a representational approach. Jose hopes his work finds an echo in the viewer’s luminosity within.    

He is an artist member of the  California Art Club , the Pasadena Society of Artists and the National Watercolor Association .  He has enjoyed the inspiration of  masters like  Jennifer Mc Christian, Peter Andrews, Sheri McGraw , Tony Pro,  Clayton Beck III and many others either in workshops or simple admiration.  Jose has  exhibited widely around Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley. 

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured artist… Leslie Saeta!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments

“Hazy Afternoon” by Leslie Saeta – Image: SaetaStudio.com

Let me start by saying there is something about this artist that makes you instantly like her… I don’t know why, but she appears to be such a likable person, and her paintings… so different! I saw that someone commented on this painting on Facebook and instantly had to know more about this artist. She paints all her paintings with a palette knife. I love how this painting shows the haziness, but also shows the crisp clear foreground. It’s visually interesting… Very striking! I’m telling you, you need to check out this artist… she does more than paint, she has a radio (blog radio) program for artists, and she helps other artists become successful, take a peak at her website!

Speaking of… here’s a blip about the artist, from her website!

Leslie Saeta is an award winning artist who paints fresh and colorful paintings using only a palette knife. She paints in her studio full time and has over 30 years of marketing experience.  In addition to painting, she is devoted to helping other artists sell their art, especially on-line. She hosts a weekly talk radio show titled “Artists Helping Artists”  which is a great resource tool for all artists.  The show is currently listened to by over 1100 artists per week.

Leslie has always been interested in art but officially entered the world of fine art as a novice painter in her mid forties. Her art may appear to include energetic brushwork, but she paints exclusively with a palette knife and a heavy build-up of paint. Working with a limited palette, Leslie strives to create beautiful colors and capture the light perfectly in every painting.

In addition to being a full time artist, she is a wife and mother of three teenage boys. 

Education: U.C. Santa Barbara, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena

Memberships: Oil Painters of America, California Art Club, Pasadena Society of Artists, American Women Artists, Women Painters of the West, San Gabriel Fine Art Club, Verdugo Hills Art Club.

Leslie has studied with the following artists: Scott Christensen, John Cosby, Ken Auster, Calvin Laing, Marc Hanson and Peggy Kroll-Roberts.

 Leslie can be reached at:  lsaeta@saetastudio.com

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured artist… Rick Reinert!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist, HOMELeave a comment

“Second Sunday In December” by Rick Reinert

Across from the Reinert LePrince Gallery is a neat little antique store, John Pope Antiques. I think Rick did a fabulous job of capturing this colorful storefront! In his traditional loose style, he depicted this perfectly, from the brushstrokes and color to the thickness of the paint. It all made for an interesting painting!

The Reinert LePrince Gallery is located on King Street in downtown Charleston. Last time we were there both artists were painting away. So it’s a great place to visit if you want to see artists actually painting… If you’re in the area, check him out, also check out Kevin LePrince‘s work, very nice! Otherwise, their website is very informative!

A blip about Rick from his website:

Nature and sunlight have provided me with the ultimate reference library. I believe that it is possible to study painting for a lifetime and never have to venture more that one square mile for constant challenges and a wealth of subject matter. Every day offers unique and exciting opportunities for the artist who follows the light.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Kevin Beers!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“Blackhead Gull” by Kevin Beers

Image: Gleason Fine Art

I think there is a voice in Kevin’s head that says… PAINT BIG OR GO HOME… ha ha… I’ve never seen Kevin paint small, but that’s what’s so intriguing about this artist. Fred and I met him years ago, our first trip to Monhegan. There he was with a gigantic canvas walking down the road in Monhegan with all his equipment. Kevin draws a crowd when he walks through town with those large canvases. You can’t help but to be drawn in… and it’s a blast to talk and watch him paint. There are few artists that can do both, and I do try to respect the fact that they need to concentrate, so I don’t usually strike up a conversation, but Kevin can talk and paint and paint well. I think this painting “Blackhead Gull” is mysterious. I love the bird… love the shadows and crevices in the rocks, another great painting! Most of you will remember his famous paintings of the Monhegan Lighthouse. The lighthouse is a striking image especially around sunset when it’s basking in that gorgeous warm light! If you are on Monhegan this summer, look for Kevin, he won’t be hard to find! There may be a lot of artists painting, but he’ll be the one with the very large canvas!

For those of you in the Portland, ME area… Kevin has a show coming soon… Gleason Fine Art (Portland for this show), click HERE for details…

FEBRUARY 3 – MARCH 31, 2012 in Portland
Trucks and Landscapes

Oil paintings of trucks and Monhegan Island by noted painter Kevin Beers.

Here’s a blip about Kevin from Gleason Fine Art website:

Each summer Brooklyn resident Kevin Beers returns to his beloved Monhegan Island to paint for 4 months, mining a fresh treasure trove of subject matter from this tiny island off the coast of Maine. Beginning in 2009, Beers has also been making annual trips to Monhegan in winter in order to capture the islands special light in snow.

“Monhegan is a dazzling place with incredible, beautiful light. It is such a remote and untouched island. I love to paint the buildings on the island–the color and structure of weathered buildings, the patterns of sunlight and shadow, and the sharp contrast between a red roof, white clapboards, and bright blue sky,” says Beers.

Kevin Beers has received increasing attention for his work, including features in Maine Home + Design, DownEast, American Art Collector, and American Artist. Avid collector, actor Remak Ramsay, says of Beers: “Unlike so many contemporary artists, Kevin Beers is well trained in the basics. Combine that with a genuine affection for the people and places he paints and his love of slanting light, and you get a rare magic that, eschewing trendy gimmicks, is as honest and sincere as it is beautiful.”

Daniel Kany, arts reviewer for the Portland Newspapers, writes of Beers: “Kevin Beers respect for Hopper is apparent, but he quickly takes his quiet volumes and glowing tonality away from Hoppers slow, cooled lines. Beers brushwork flows at a strong pace that never hurries or abandons thoughtfulness. The masterful bow to Hopper is worth applauding–especially when a closer inspection reveals Beers flowing brushwork is nothing like Hoppers.”

Kevin did a MONHEGAN PANORAMA, sixteen 16×20 canvases… you’ve got to see it to believe it… There is a short video on Lupine Gallery’s Facebook… click HERE to see the video!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Workshop with artist Colin Page April 6 & 7, 2012! Charleston,SC

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, THOUGHTS3 Comments

Image: ColinPagePaintings

One of our favorite artists, Colin Page, from Maine will be here in Charleston, SC this coming April. Mark it on your calendar! He’ll be here as part of a show at the Smith Killian Gallery, located in downtown Charleston. Colin will also be giving a workshop here on Friday, April 6 and Saturday, April 7, 2012. My husband and I met Colin several years ago, he’s a down to earth nice guy as well as a fabulous artist. We met him and a group of artists he was painting with in a cottage down from ours. We were lucky enough to see the artwork after they spent a week out every day painting rain or shine… and the work was nothing short of amazing. Jaw dropping. No kidding! My husband and I were fortunate enough to buy a piece of his work that year, and we absolutely LOVE it! Colin has the uncanny ability to take something mundane and turn it into something spectacular! Check out his WEBSITE (hint: his journal is FULL of information!). Also… contact the Smith Killian Gallery for more details!  Hope to see you there! Here’s some info for the workshop. If the image is too small you should be able to click on it to enlarge…  Catch you back here tomorrow!