Featured Artist… Sue Gilkey!

On August 5, 2013August 1, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

"The Cape Lunch" by Sue Gilkey [image] — “The Cape Lunch” by Sue Gilkey
[image]

I really enjoy Sue Gilkey’s style. One of the many subjects she paints are interiors. I love paintings of interiors, you don’t see a lot of them, so when you do it makes them extra special. I love how the green in this painting captures my eye (but does not hold it)… your eye is taken ever so slightly around the painting, mine goes first to the green booth with people having lunch, then up to the waitress, to the lit display on the wall, down to the empty table and back again. Nice. There is a nice air about this painting… This image is from the Waterhouse Gallery website, a nice gallery located in Santa Barbara, CA

Read a blip about Sue from her website:

The complexities of working in oil infinitely challenge and delight Sue Gilkey. Her work is observational, expressive, and intuitive. “The painting process for me, is a meditation on the aesthetics of the subject I’m observing. I am always interested in developing a painting that will connect to the viewer and possibly evoke a sense of shared experience.”

Growing up in New Jersey, Gilkey studied with a well-known local artist. She completed her BFA in Painting at The University of New Hampshire, followed by post-graduate work at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She has studied Tonalism with contemporary master, Dennis Sheehan. Gilkey pursues a traditional approach to painting, striving to combine the emotional power of tonalism with direct observation.

Gilkey has exhibited in major shows, receiving awards at Greenhouse Gallery Salon International, American Artist Professional league, and The Guild of Boston Artists. She is represented by Gallery Antonia, Chatham, MA,Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara,CA, Edward Montgomery Fine Art, Carmel-by-the-Sea,CA and Cleo,in Kenmare, Co. Kerry, Ireland. Gilkey is an artist member of The Salmagundi Club in NYC and The Copley Society of Art in Boston, MA.

Gilkey divides her time between her home on the Charles River in Massachusetts and her cottage in Ireland.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Jason Sacran!

On June 17, 2013December 8, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist3 Comments

Lit Up by Jason Sacran – Image: Waterhouse Gallery

Jason Sacran shows his amazing talent with his nocturnes. They are stunning. The first one that caught my eye, After Dark, was so striking… when the image opened, I saw it was already sold (I like to try to feature paintings that are still for sale if possible). After Dark won BEST OF SHOW and ARTIST’S CHOICE at 2012 Cedarburg Plein Air Event. Way to go Jason! The painting above, Lit Up is striking as well… I love that nighttime light, how the cool colors just bounce around the painting. Very nice!

Back Road by Jason Sacran – Image: ASingularCreation.com

Just look at that nice glowy light… Fabulous! Little nuances like the marks in the road, just make it that much better! Of course Jason can paint just about anything… I was concentrating on his plein air pieces, because I always go to those for any artist… they’re looser and just so darn good, especially since I know all the hard work that comes with standing in the heat/cold with bugs/birds/etc. Someone should make little bubble studios that you can pop up at a moments notice, like being outside, but with no bugs… maybe some AC… a ladies room would be nice, and hey, while I’m dreaming, a little fridge… coffeepot… Oh never mind! (K.D. see why I have trouble painting plein air, hee).

Read a blip about Jason from his website, (check it out… very nice!):

BIOGRAPHY

Jason Sacran has a BFA in painting from Tennessee Tech University, and credits towards an MFA from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Jason and his family live in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he was the curator for the Fort Smith Art Center for almost three years. In 2010 Jason became a full-time artist/painter, and part-time instructor for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. Jason is also the Arkansas state ambassador for the Portrait Society of America. He has had several exhibitions and been awarded many times for his works and achievements including a first place award in the Portrait Society of Americas 2011 Members Competition, Best of Show in the 2010 Wisconsin Plein Air Painter Association Annual Competition and Best of Show in the 2010 Winthrop Rockefeller Institution Invitational. Although known for his figurative and portrait work, Jason is quickly rising as a top plein air painter, and considers plein air one of, if not his favorite subject.

STATEMENT

In general, my work is about the process of creating by painting subjects that evoke a mood or feeling introspectively. I am interested in documenting things of today, mostly with overlooked or even forgotten aspects of everyday life – scenes we pass by every day, objects we often use, people we know well, but hardly ever think twice about. In the chaos of daily life, I believe we all take the simple and familiar things for granted. Sometimes they are the very things we come to miss.

I couldn’t agree more! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Calvin Liang!

On June 25, 2012December 9, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“The Golden Gate Bridge” by Calvin Liang

Image from TheEnglishmanUSA.com

If you Google Calvin Liang, you will see some pretty fantastic paintings. You will read some pretty interesting stories about his life, his accomplishments and best of all his great attitude! This man has worked so hard to be where he’s at and it shows. The featured painting “The Golden Gate Bridge” is breathtaking. THOSE. CLOUDS. I love them, they just seem to go on forever! The warm color of the bridge with the sunlight, ahhh, makes me want to be there, actually it makes me feel as if I AM there! This is a fantastic painting and I found it at “The Englishman”. If you get a chance check out his work!

Here’s a blip about Calvin from his website… there is a fascinating story about him on the Waterhouse Gallery website… click HERE to read it in its entirety!

Calvin Liang was born in Canton, China. He began painting in high school and completed his art education at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, recognized as one of China’s most prestigious and competitive art academies. In China, his skills as a fine artist were applied to the theatrical industry where he designed and created sets for operas and musical dramas for the Canton Opera Institute. Liang moved to the United States in 1987 and continued his profession as a full-time artist. He had a long and successful career creating visual art for the entertainment industry in animation, which included the Walt Disney Studios and Nickelodeon Studio where he worked for the Little Mermaid and Spongebob Squarepants. However he decided to quit working for the studios to pursue a full-time career as a fine artist, painting themes of his choosing. Since leaving his animation career in early 2002, Liang has definitely been noticed. His accomplishments include winning several top awards in important exhibitions including Juror’s Best of Show-38th Annual C.M. Russell 2006, “Art-Talk Award of Excellence” Oil Painters of America Juried Exhibition 2005, “People’s Choice Award” 6th Annual Laguna Plein Air Painting Event in Bowers Museum 2002, “Best of the Show” American Impressionist Society’s 4th Annual Juried Exhibition 2002. Thus assuring his position as one of the nation’s leading artist. National art magazines also took notice. In 2004, Liang’s work graced the cover of Art of the West’s special 16th Anniversary Edition; and in 2006, 2007, and 2008 three years he had a full feature article in American Art Collector Magazine. Also he received a full feature article in Southwest Magazine in 2005, American Artist Magazine in 2005 and American Artist Workshop Magazine in 2007.
Calvin Liang is a Master Member of Oil Painters of America and American Impressionist Society, and a Signature Member of California Art Club and Laguna Plein Air Painters Association.

Catch you back here tomorrow!