Suze Robertson (1855–1922), "Pietje (Girl Reading)," c. 1898, oil on panel, 16 1/2 x 12 1/2 in. private collection
Women Artists – Art on View
Suze Robertson: Dedicated, Individualistic, Modern
Museum Panorama Mesdag
The Hague, Netherlands panorama-mesdag.nl/en
Through March 5, 2023
Around the world, scholars are busy recovering or revisiting the often-forgotten stories of women artists. A fine example of such an exhibition is one this season at the Museum Panorama Mesdag in The Hague, devoted to the Dutch artist Suze Robertson (1855–1922) and timed to mark the centenary of her death. On view soon will be more than 80 paintings and drawings, many borrowed from private collections, constituting the first investigation of her art in over 40 years and certainly the largest such show ever mounted.
Robertson was born and died in The Hague, and her most significant period of study occurred in the city’s Royal Academy of Art. She made her name depicting working-class people, especially agricultural laborers and their families, indoors or on the farm. Many visitors will be reminded of Vincent van Gogh’s earlier work, and indeed there is reason to think the two artists were aware of each other, given the small size of the Dutch art scene then and the fact that Van Gogh was only two years older.
The museum has subtitled its exhibition “Dedicated, Individualistic, Modern” to underscore the “all-in” aspect of Robertson’s practice. It probably would have been easier for her, as a woman, to make pretty art, but instead she tackled tough subjects in a range of media including oils, pastels, and watercolors. Robertson was friendly with, and collected by, the museum’s wealthy founders, Hendrik Willem Mesdag and his wife, Sientje Mesdagvan Houten, who surely would have been pleased that the institution bearing their name has also produced a groundbreaking catalogue filled with new research on this overlooked artist.
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Nanette Fluhr with “A Lotus Grows in the Mud”, Winner of Manhattan Arts International HerStory, 2022
How do you find inspiration? Nanette Fluhr: As an artist I find myself constantly inspired. I love observing and conversing with people; I am fascinated by their stories and am inspired by their beauty — the way color and light illuminate the forms on their faces. Nature also inspires me. I walk almost every morning and love hearing the birds, seeing the clouds and trees and feeling the warm breeze on my face. I delight in the rhythm and light that pull me into the moment. Beautiful art, especially that of the old masters, is always an inspiration. Beauty is everywhere and it cultivates my creativity.
What is the best thing about being an artist? Nanette Fluhr: Being an artist enables me to see subtlety and beauty in the world, to capture and portray my vision, to have an idea and bring it to life. I am grateful to be able to tell someone’s story that will be part of their legacy for future generations. It is a joy to create a timeless work of art that captures an individual’s true essence. I feel fortunate that I am able to follow my passion and do what I love.
Nanette Fluhr, “A Lotus Grows in the Mud,” oil on linen, 30 x 24 in., 2021. Available through D. Anthony Gallery, WI https://danthonygallery.com/nanette-fluhrNanette Fluhr, “Manu,” oil on linen, 30 x 24 in., 2021. “Manu” will be featured this October in WOMAN, the upcoming international exhibition at the James Baird Gallery in Pouch Cove, NL, Canada
Announcing a Ukraine Fundraiser >American Artists for Ukraine’s Children: A Virtual Benefit Auction for OHMATDYT, Ukraine’s Largest Children’s Hospital
From the organizers:
More than 35 distinguished American artists have donated a master work for a virtual benefit auction in collaboration with United Help Ukraine to benefit Ohmatdyt, Ukraine’s premier children’s hospital in the Ukrainian capital city, Kyiv.
Ohmatdyt is now taking the overwhelming numbers of patients from hospitals (over 120) and medical facilities (over 740) that have been destroyed in combat zones and where medical staff have been killed. Hosted by United Help Ukraine and Bidsquare, and organized by American artists Robert Johnson and Martin Galbut, this event will raise funds to help Ohmatdyt hospital pay for critical medical equipment and supplies.
Inspired at first glance of the famous photo of Denys Karachevtsev playing the cello in the ruins of Kharkiv, Robert Johnson decided to act. “If the cellist could offer his art for the people of Ukraine, perhaps we as American artists, can offer our art also,” stated Johnson.
“Path of Peace (Ukrainian Church in Alberta)” by C.S. Talley
“Artists have an acute sense of right and wrong,” stated Vlad Ovchynnikov, Board Member of United Help Ukraine. “They are often able to draw attention to suffering and injustice better than a spoken word can. Be it Goya’s ‘The Third of May’ or Picasso’s ‘Guernica’, there is a long history of artists bringing awareness to the horrors of war and raising funds for relief efforts. United Help Ukraine is honored to partner with artists Robert Johnson, Martin Galbut, and Bidsquare in organizing this event. We are grateful to the artists who contributed their amazing works and hope these works bring joy to art lovers. We are confident the proceeds will give a vital boost to Okhmatdyt hospital.”
“Morning Glory” by Raymon Kaskey
At Ohmatdyt, critically ill children including oncology patients, newborns, and neurosurgery patients are now forced to continue treatment in hospital basements. The Okhmatdyt medical team has been working amid constant air raid sirens, shell bombings, explosions, air strikes, even a fire – performing extremely complex surgeries in makeshift basement operating rooms. Children on life support devices cannot be transported to the bomb shelter at even greater risk of death now.
“We value the support of the international community of artists, this is a wonderful initiative,” stated Yevgen Vember, Chairman of the Board of the Okhmadyt Fund. “Ukrainian children go through unbelievably hard times, they need more care than ever before. The funds raised in this auction will allow us to buy medical equipment that help save children’s lives. We are sincerely grateful for your attention to Ukrainian children at this time.”
“Voskresen’e (Sunday)” by Lola Panco
“Bidsquare is thrilled to partner with United Help Ukraine to support Ohmatdyt, and to see our platform being leveraged to give back and support relief efforts,” said Allis Ghim, CEO of Bidsquare. “We are proud to support these important international efforts by providing an online platform to help raise funds and promoting artworks donated by distinguished artists while raising awareness of the critical needs of the hospital.”
“Sunflowers for Ukraine” by Stephanie Birdsall
Open bidding runs on Bidsquare.com through September 28, 2022 (concluding at 9pm EST). There are 45 artworks up for auction, including sculpture and oil paintings from artists such as David Leffel, Sherrie McGraw, Ray Kaskey, Scott Burdick, and Stephanie Birdsall.
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Kim English AISM," On the Bus," 12 x 12 in., Oil,$2,500
AIS 23rd Annual National Juried Exhibition
Mary Williams Fine Arts
Boulder, Colorado
Through October 22, 2022
The American Impressionist Society’s 23rd Annual National Juried Exhibition will be held at Mary Williams Fine Arts in Boulder, Colorado.
The exhibition will feature 155 juried paintings which represent the best of American Impressionist art being produced today. An additional 25 paintings by AIS Masters, officers and founders are also included in the exhibition. Paintings include oil, pastel, watercolor, acrylic and gouache. AIS received 1,210 entries for consideration and a five-member jury panel scored the work in a blind process.
AIS Master Huihan Liu will serve as Judge of Awards. Over $75,000 in cash and merchandise awards will be presented, including a $12,000 cash award for Best of Show. A printed exhibition catalog will be released in September.
The exhibition will be celebrated with a week of events for both the public and AIS members. The show will open with a private reception for patrons of Mary Williams Fine Arts and AIS artists and guests on Thursday, September 15. The exhibition will open to the public on Friday, September 16.
“We are delighted to have three AIS Master Members in Boulder with us. San Francisco residents, Awards Judge Huihan Liu and his wife, also an AIS Master, Weizhen Liang will be participating all week in our events. Kim English AISM, originally from Colorado and now residing in Kentucky, will teach a workshop and be on hand all week as well. We are hosting AIS Signature Member, Aaron Schuerr, for his presentation “Backcountry Plein Air Adventures” and a painting demo” noted Liz Ahrens, AIS Executive Director.
Huihan Liu AISM, “Dreamy,” 12 x 16 in., Oil on Linen, $5,800Aaron Schuerr AIS, “Grand Wash Capitol Reef,” Oil, 11 x 14 in., $1,700
“As AIS does not charge a fee to their members to participate in the opening week events with the exception of the workshop, so we highly encourage all of our members to participate” remarked AIS President/CEO Debra Joy Groesser AIS. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to engage with other artists, learn from our distinguished Masters and be inspired by the beauty of the region. You do not have to be juried into the exhibition to participate in the events” continued Groesser.
The public events for the opening week held at Mary Williams Fine Arts include:
Friday, September 16: Painting Demonstration by AIS Master Huihan Liu and AIS Signature Member Aaron Schuerr
Saturday, September 17: Wet Wall Awards and Exhibit – a one-day sale of paintings created of scenes and landscapes of the Boulder community during the opening week.
AIS membership is open to anyone painting or studying in the style of Impressionism. New members may join at any time. Pre-registration is requested and goodie bags are provided for all AIS members at the events. A complete list of events with details and registration can be found at www.americanimpressionistsociety.org or by calling the AIS office at 231-881-7685.
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Smithsonian Magazine’s annual Museum Day fosters knowledge and inspiration by providing invaluable educational experiences for all. This year’s theme, “The American Experience,” is a celebration of boundless curiosity that grants access to the remarkable arts, culture, sciences, innovation, and history exhibits across the United States.
Museum Day goes beyond getting visitors through museum doors—it acts as a springboard to empower and help advance the hopes and ambitions of the public, particularly school-aged children and those in underrepresented communities. It represents a national commitment to breaking down barriers for equity and inclusion.
Photo credit: Kristine Foley
To see the full, updated list of participating museums and download a free ticket, please visit the Museum Day website here. Additional institutions are being registered every day so check back often. Each ticket grants the ticket holder and one guest free timed access to any participating museum on September 17, 2022. One ticket is permitted per email address.
Photo credit: Kristine Foley
Quaker and Regent Seven Seas Cruises will also be sponsoring Museum Day to further enhance the event’s mission of making cultural and educational experiences widely accessible. Now through September 17, Quaker will be running a back-to-school instant win promotion program in which participants will have the chance to win one of one hundred Smithsonian Science Kits per day. Quaker will also offer a grand prize instant win promotion in which five grand prize winners will win a trip to Washington, D.C. to visit Smithsonian museums. For more information and official rules about the promotion, please visit QuakerBacktoSchool.com.
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As part of our effort to continue to help artists and art galleries thrive, we’re proud to bring you this week’s “Virtual Gallery Walk.” Browse the artwork below and click the image itself to learn more about it, including how to contact the gallery.
Hidden Gold, Rani Garner, oil, 48 x 30 in; Anderson Fine Art GalleryThe Seeker, Vanessa Lemen (Born 1970), oil on panel, 12 x 19 in, Signed; Rehs ContemporaryChase of the Brilliant, John Bentham-Dinsdale (1927 – 2006), oil on canvas, 30 x 40 in, Signed; Rehs Galleries, Inc.Summer Breeze, Debra Huse, oil, 16 x 20 in; LPAPA Art Gallery, The Catalog Art Show August 29-October 10, 2022Malibu Broad Beach, Mark White, oil on canvas, 24 x 36 in; Mark White Fine ArtFox With Grouse, Claudio D’Angelo, oil, 16 x 20 in; ArtzLine.com
Want to see your gallery featured in an upcoming Virtual Gallery Walk? Contact us at [email protected] to advertise today. Don’t delay, as spaces are first come, first served, and availability is limited.
Patricia Burford Ryan, winner of the July 2022 PleinAir Salon
We’d like to congratulate Patricia Burford Ryan for winning Overall First Place in the July 2022 PleinAir Salon, judged by Michael J. Ruple, Director of aux gallery.
Patricia Burford Ryan, “Marmalade Sky,” oil on panel, 24 x 36 in.
“‘Marmalade Sky’ represents the direction I’m headed now with my art, so I was delighted when it took first place in the July Plein Air Salon competition,” Patricia says. “That win feels like a validation that I’m on the right track.”
Michael adds, “‘Marmalade Sky’ was an immediate first choice as soon as I saw it. I was initially drawn to the cinematic high chroma palette, but it was the subtle additions of modernity that kept me in the painting. It’s not heavy-handed like some industrial landscapes or cityscapes, to be honest it’s almost ordinary, something we’ve all seen driving along the outskirts of a city. I think it’s really special when you can discover beauty in the unexpected, and for that reason I would consider it a great example of the contemporary landscape.”
On the Making of “Marmalade Sky”
By Patricia Burford Ryan
My Inspiration:
“Marmalade Sky” was inspired by my memory of the change of seasons in western New York, where I used to live – especially November, when there’s that resigned chill in the air as autumn gives way to winter. Despite the cold and the increasing starkness of the landscape, I’ve always found that time of year to have a certain poignant appeal. I think if we can move beyond commonplace notions of what makes a scene “paintable,” we can see beauty everywhere.
My Palette:
From the beginning, I visualized a scorching sunset to warm up the scene and serve as a contrast to the neutral-colored trees and ground. My goal was to make it look as if the sky was on fire, which involved multiple layers of paint.
The Composition:
I don’t always utilize the Rule of Thirds in my compositions, but in this case I wanted to emphasize a sense of quiet harmony, so I went that way. Likewise, the ground and the bare trees own distinct blocks of real estate in the rectangle. The power lines prevent the painting from looking too static by dividing that vivid sky into dynamic segments, just as the dirt road with its icy rivulets breaks up the bottom third of the painting.
The Challenges
My challenge was to make what could have been a dreary landscape visually exciting. When I was studying art in college, my painting teacher put a big truck crankshaft in the middle of the studio and told us to paint it. She said it’s easy to make beautiful art from something that’s already beautiful. A real artist, she said, can make anything beautiful. That concept had a big impact on me.
My Tools:
I love silicone color shapers because of the unique effects they can produce, and because they’re so satisfying to manipulate. I used them to apply all of the paint except for the trees, which were done with small brushes. A firm surface seems to give the best results with color shapers, so I painted this on a cradled panel.
See more of the July PleinAir Salon winners at our sister site, OutdoorPainter.com. And, browse more winners here.
About the PleinAir Salon:
In the spirit of the French Salon created by the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, this annual online art competition, with 11 monthly cycles, leading to the annual Salon Grand Prize winners, is designed to stimulate artistic growth through competition. The competition rewards artists with over $33,000 in cash prizes and exposure of their work, with the winning painting featured on the cover of PleinAir Magazine.
Winners in each monthly competition may receive recognition and exposure through PleinAir Magazine’s print magazine, e-newsletters, websites, and social media. Winners of each competition will also be entered into the annual competition. The 12th Annual Awards will be presented live at the Plein Air Convention & Expo in May 2023.
The next round of the PleinAir Salon has begun so hurry, as this competition ends on the last day of the month. Enter your best art in the PleinAir Salon here.
From CBS News: Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama unveiled their official White House portraits at a ceremony on September 7, 2022. Robert McCurdy painted the former president, and Sharon Sprung painted the former first lady.
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From the Art Students League of New York:
We’re thrilled to share that Sharon Sprung had the honor of being selected to paint the White House’s official portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama. Sprung’s painting, which has been kept under wraps for more than five years, was finally unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery on Wednesday, September 7.
Sprung, an Art Students League alumna and current instructor, describes her process as one of “carefully observed negotiation.” Her work is driven by a painterly vision “as equivalent as possible to the complexity of real life.” In her striking portrait, Sprung captures Michelle Obama’s lauded tenure as First Lady of the United States, as well as her enduring status as a symbol of American excellence, elegance, and empathy.
“I want to thank Sharon Sprung for capturing everything I love about Michelle,” said Barack Obama, at the unveiling of the portraits on Wednesday. According to the New York Times, Sprung’s “portraits combine uncannily lifelike details with just enough painterly effect to make it impossible to forget that you’re looking at oil… Ms. Sprung’s painting is a reminder that oil paint remains the best technology for really looking at someone.”
The official portrait of first lady Michelle Obama painted by Sharon Sprung. Courtesy of White House Historical Association/White House Collection.
Sprung’s commission places her in the long line of League instructors and alumni who have also been commissioned for official portraits of U.S Presidents and their families. These include but are not limited to: Charles S. Hopkinson (1869–1962), Aaron Shikler (1922–2015), Everett Raymond Kinstler (1926–2019), Herbert E. Abrams (1921–2003), and John Howard Sanden (b. 1935).
Martha Greta Kempton (1901–1991), who painted the official portrait of President Truman, was also an Art Students League alumna. What else do Sharon Sprung and Kempton have in common? In 1928, Kempton studied at the League in Studio 7, where Frank Vincent DuMond taught at the time, and where Sprung now teaches her class today.
Sharon Sprung. Photo by Max Burkhalter.
In addition to appearing at the unveiling, Sprung was profiled in the New York Times. Sprung was also interviewed for the short documentary below, which was produced by the Obama Foundation.
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Laurie Hendricks at the 111th California Art Club Gold Medal Show, by her painting “Scottish Twilight”
How did you develop your unique style? Laurie Hendricks: Ever since I started painting, my goal was to interpret what I see, expressing the beauty through the lens of feelings and emotions. I studied with several teachers who were Impressionists or even Expressionists. Joseph Mendez who was mentored by Russian, Sergei Bongart, passed his techniques of seeing and painting color and value in an expressionist style, and Jove Wang who was also influenced by Russian colorist sensibility with loose purposeful brush strokes using thick paint.
I was always told that I had my own unique style. Learning techniques and practicing the skills I was taught; I have tried to stay true to this “style”. I believe that one’s personal style is not something you think about or try to develop, it unfolds naturally. This has been true for my journey as an artist.
How do you find inspiration? Laurie Hendricks: I find inspiration in the beauty of the ordinary world: whether from nature, people, or architecture. I study the work of great artists: Pierre Bonnard, Joaquín Sorolla, Anders Zorn, and John Singer Sargent to name a few. There is beauty everywhere, even in the mundane, and my job as an artist is to interpret that beauty and reveal it to the world using color and light.
"Baby's Breath Fantasy," watercolor, by Soon Y. Warren
“The Art of Soon Y. Warren” opens at Art Gallery Prudencia in San Antonio, Texas runs through October 22, 2022.
Featured in the show are the paintings “Baby’s Breath Fantasy” (shown at top), “Joy of Sunflowers,” “Daisy in a Tiffany,” and more.
“Joy of Sunflowers,” watercolor, by Soon Y. Warren“Daisy in a Tiffany,” watercolor, by Soon Y. Warren
Soon Y. Warren is a full-time artist, teacher, and workshop instructor nationally and internationally. She was born in South Korea and currently lives in Fort Worth, Texas.
Her favorite subjects are those found in nature, which inspire us in everyday life. “I’m inspired by the beauty and complexity of nature and our surroundings,” she says. “I try to paint the essence of my subjects using my sincere feelings for nature.”
Soon has an Associate Degree in Commercial Art. Since Soon began painting full time in 1998, she has had many exhibitions and has won numerous awards She is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society (NWS), American Watercolor Society (AWS), Southern Watercolor Artist (SW), Texas Watercolor Society, Purple Sage Brush (TWS), Transparent Watercolor Society (TWSA), and American Woman Artists (AWA).
Soon Warren’s paintings are in the permanent collections of private, corporate and educational institutions, both in the United States and abroad.
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