Quest Returns, and Says a Goodbye

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September 2, 2022

Quest for the West - western art — Guests enjoy bidding on Western American art at the Quest for the West® Art Show and Sale at the Eiteljorg Museum that takes place Sept. 9-10, 2022. File photo from 2018, courtesy of the Eiteljorg Museum

Admirers of Western American art and some of the country’s top Western artists will convene at the Eiteljorg Museum on September 9-10, 2022 for a weekend of bidding on artwork during the Quest for the West® Art Show and Sale, which brings artists and collectors together at the museum for two fixed-price, luck-of-the-draw sales and a weekend of festivities.

Now in its 17th year, Quest for the West builds interest in and support for Western American art, allowing artists to reconnect with longtime collectors and meet new ones, and providing museum visitors an opportunity to encounter portraits, landscapes, still lifes and sculptures. Since its inception in 2006, Quest has generated approximately $16.2 million in art sales, with artists receiving $13.1 million and the museum netting nearly $3.1 million during the event’s first 16 years.

Western art - William Haskell, "Southwest Sentinel," 2022, Acrylic on panel, 20 x 16 inches, Image courtesy of the artist — William Haskell, “Southwest Sentinel,” 2022, Acrylic on panel, 20 x 16 inches, Image courtesy of the artist

This year’s Quest for the West will be significant for another reason: It will be the final Quest for John Vanausdall as the Eiteljorg’s president and CEO. Vanausdall, who has served as emcee of the Quest events and awards presentations, recently announced his upcoming retirement from the museum after 26 years, effective next June 30.

“As one of the Eiteljorg’s main initiatives each year, Quest for the West has increased awareness of Western American art generally, and raised the Eiteljorg’s profile nationally in the art world. It is rewarding during the sale weekend to watch the interactions between the outstanding artists and collectors who treasure their works, and then, after the sale, to see the general public enthusiastically tour the month-long Quest art exhibition,” Vanausdall said. “Quest for the West brings together friends who are passionate about Western art, and I am grateful to The Western Art Society, our other sponsors and the hard-working museum employees and volunteers who make the event so memorable.”

Brad Teare, "Miracle of Autumn," 2022, Oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches, Image courtesy of the artist — Brad Teare, “Miracle of Autumn,” 2022, Oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches, Image courtesy of the artist

Western Art > Highlights of This Year’s Quest for the West

Art and Artists. Newly created artworks by 50 artists of the Western American genre will be shown and sold during Quest, and 42 artists are scheduled to be there in person to meet collectors. Many of the artists whose work is on view are returning favorites, including Robert Griffing, George Hallmark, Mark Kelso, Dean Mitchell, Gladys Roldan-de-Moras, Mian Situ and others. This year’s Quest welcomes six new artists: Abigail Gutting, William Haskell, Don Oelze, Mateo Romero (Cochiti Pueblo), Brad Teare and Gayle Weisfield. View the list of artists and latest gallery of art at quest.eiteljorg.org.

Main Art Sale. On Saturday, Sept. 10, pre-registered Quest attendees can participate in a fixed-price, luck-of-the-draw sale. Absentee bids also are accepted. Quest is not an auction; instead, a bidder whose name is drawn gets the first right to purchase a particular piece. If the bidder passes, the next person drawn is offered the opportunity to buy it. This process continues until a lucky bidder accepts and becomes the happy new owner of the artwork. The bidding period is filled with suspense and excitement for bidders and artists alike.

Miniature Art Sale. Before the larger Saturday sale, the Quest weekend of art viewing and bidding kicks off on Friday, Sept. 9, during the miniature art sale. Many Quest artists create additional smaller works, appealing both to first-time and experienced collectors who seek smaller pieces at lower price points. Buyers can take miniature art purchases home that evening.

Art Awards. Artworks by Quest artists are eligible for awards presented in multiple categories Saturday, Sept. 10. The acclaimed Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award goes to a work purchased by The Western Art Society and is added to the museum’s collection.

Western art - Abigail Gutting, "Pounding the Dust," 2022, Oil on linen, 26 x 24 inches, Image courtesy of the artist — Abigail Gutting, “Pounding the Dust,” 2022, Oil on linen, 26 x 24 inches, Image courtesy of the artist

Hospitality. During each of the two evening sale events, the Eiteljorg’s exclusive caterer, Kahn’s Catering, creates a delicious dining experience. Quest guests will be the first to enjoy the museum’s newly redesigned multipurpose space, the Allen Whitehill Clowes Sculpture Court, fresh from its expansion as part of the Project 2021 capital/endowment campaign. Pre-registered attendees can enjoy weekend programming honoring the artists as well as activities, including a Sept. 9 open house at the home of local Western art collectors, and a Sept. 10 visit to the Dallara IndyCar Factory in Speedway, Ind.

Public Exhibitions. The sale weekend, Sept. 9-10, kicks off a one-month exhibition, during which Quest artworks will remain on view at the Eiteljorg for the public to see and enjoy, before the paintings and sculptures are shipped to their buyers. Experience the artworks of the Quest for the West show from Sept. 11 to Oct. 9 in the special exhibition gallery. Also, landscape paintings by last year’s Quest Artist of Distinction award winner, Denis Milhomme, will be on exhibit in the museum’s Gerald and Dorit Paul Gallery. That exhibition, “Natural Wonders: The Art of Denis Milhomme” runs Sept. 9-Oct. 16. Look for a copy of the beautifully illustrated 2022 Quest for the West art catalog, available in the Frank and Katrina Basile Museum Store.

Eiteljorg Museum front building exterior, Image courtesy of Jessica Strickland Photography, 2013

For more about Quest for the West, including a complete list of artists, an early look at the art, opening weekend registration or absentee buyer information, visit quest.eiteljorg.org.

> Visit EricRhoads.com to learn about more opportunities for artists and Western art collectors, including retreats, international art trips, art conventions, and more.

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Be Perfectly Still, A Retrospective with Alyssa Monks

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Fine Art Today

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September 2, 2022

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Alyssa Monks, "Bait," 2010, oil on linen, private collection, IA

Alyssa Monks: Be Perfectly Still, A Retrospective
Through November 13, 2022
San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, California

Congratulations to Forum Gallery artist Alyssa Monks, on the occasion of her solo exhibition, “Be Perfectly Still, A Retrospective,” at San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA) in California. This is the artist’s first museum retrospective, and includes the most diverse survey of her work to date, spanning 15 years of painting.

Alyssa Monks, "It's All Under Control," 2021, oil on linen, 62 x 90 inches — Alyssa Monks, “It’s All Under Control,” 2021, oil on linen, 62 x 90 inches

“Through paintings that are expressive, lush, and often intimate, Monks conveys the very essence of being human through works that meditate on love, loss, and the perennial search for self.” -Emma Saperstein, SLOMA Chief Curator.

Learn more about the exhibition here.
View additional information and available works by Alyssa Monks on her Forum Gallery artist page here.

> Visit EricRhoads.com to learn about more opportunities for artists and art collectors, including retreats, international art trips, art conventions, and more.

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41st Annual Buffalo Bill Winners Announced

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Fine Art Today

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September 2, 2022

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Western art - “By the Light, Psalms 75:15-17” by Thomas Kegler — “By the Light, Psalms 75:15-17” by Thomas Kegler

Western Art > The 41st Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale Announces Award Winners

On the morning preceding the grand opening of the 41st Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show Live Auction Gallery, a panel of judges convened to attribute awards to the seven works of art they felt best reflect the mission of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale (BBAS) and represent exceptional craftsmanship and quality. BBAS limits the number of contemporary Western artists invited each year to ensure that each year’s show is more invigorating than the last. This year’s show features 104 artists, all of whom represent a high caliber of artistic knowledge and execution.

Judges are carefully selected to represent a range of art industry expertise, namely: museum representatives, art collectors, and art business professionals. The 2022 judges were Linda Williams, Executive Director of the Bozeman Art Museum, Andy Franklin, art collector, and Tim Newton, Publisher of Western Art and Architecture.

The Spirit of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale Award

This award recognizes the artwork that is most representative of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale in terms of location, history, and the greatness and grandeur embodied by the “spirit” of the American West. The judges awarded this honor to “By the Light, Psalms 75:15-17,” a 30- by 40-inch oil painting by Thomas Kegler (shown at top).

Kegler’s oil painting is a remarkable nightscape of Castle Rock located up the Southfork outside of Cody, Wyoming. The judges were captivated by Kegler’s technique and overall composition. Williams went as far to say, “his ability to capture that moment and give it back to the viewer is exceptional.” Newton declared, “It’s an ambitious piece and he succeeded” and, “grandeur is what comes to mind.”

Two-Dimensional Award

The judges selected “Wyoming Buffalo” by Tucker Smith as the two-dimensional artwork of exceptional execution and craftsmanship. Smith’s oil painting is 20 by 24 inches and depicts a classic Wyoming scene of buffalo in a sagebrush-covered landscape. Newton stated, “Tucker gives a nod to western heritage with this painting. This is a master work by one of Wyoming’s greatest masters.”

Western Art - “Wyoming Buffalo” by Tucker Smith — “Wyoming Buffalo” by Tucker Smith

All three judges agreed that Tucker’s color work and his composition conveyed excellent skill and he is truly a master of the craft.

Three-Dimensional Award

The judges selected “Wisdom in the Wind” by Campbell Dosch as the three-dimensional artwork of exceptional execution and craftsmanship. Dosch’s piece is a bronze standing 48 inches tall and measuring 36 by 16 inches in width and depth.

Dosch’s subject matter is a bust of a weathered Native American Chief wearing his war bonnet. The artist’s intention was to capture and exude wisdom and strength and the judges all agreed that Dosch was successful. Franklin commented while admiring the sculpture: “This magnificent piece has a capturing quality, and you can feel the emotion in the Chief’s weathered and wise facial expression. It’s incredibly powerful.”

Judges’ Awards of Excellence

As a true mark of the overall quality of the 41st Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show, the judges felt it necessary to present four additional Awards of Excellence. They felt the following pieces required recognition for their design and execution:

T.D. Kelsey, “Sunday,” Bronze, 18 x 22 x 19 inches
Grant Redden, “Night Rider,” Oil, 24 x 24 inches
David Santillanes, “Spring Thaw,” Oil, 24 x 40 inches
Dustin Van Wechel, “Making Dinner Plans,” Oil, 48 x 24 inches

"Sunday" by T.D. Kelsey — “Sunday” by T.D. Kelsey

Western art - “Night Rider” by Grant Redden — “Night Rider” by Grant Redden

“Spring Thaw" by David Santillanes — “Spring Thaw” by David Santillanes

“Making Dinner Plans" by Dustin Van Wechel — “Making Dinner Plans” by Dustin Van Wechel

Gilly Fales Fine Art Scholarship Award

The Gilly Fales Fine Art Scholarship Award is a local scholarship opportunity provided by the Gilly Fales Memorial Foundation for the Arts. The Foundation seeks to empower Wyomingites ages 18-30 who have a passion for the arts. Olivia Christensen received the honor for her 18- by 24-inch oil painting entitled “Whispering Breeze.”

"Whispering Breeze" by Olivia Christensen — “Whispering Breeze” by Olivia Christensen

More information: codychamber.org

> Visit EricRhoads.com to learn about more opportunities for artists and Western art collectors, including retreats, international art trips, art conventions, and more.

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On View: The New England Landscape

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Fine Art Today

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September 2, 2022

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Painting of New England - "Country Lane" (oil) by Harley Bartlett — "Country Lane" (oil) by Harley Bartlett

Lyme Art Association has announced the New England Landscape show. For over a century, the natural beauty of New England has inspired Lyme Art Association member artists to create sublime works that capture the multifaceted color and character of the landscape.

From autumn leaves to summer trees, from lonely roads to rolling hills, from crashing seas to frollicking rivers, visitors will experience an array of mediums paying homage to New England’s many moods and views.

New England Landscape: September 30 – November 10, 2022

Running concurrently is the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Satellite Show. Founded in 1896, this national organization showcases and promotes the artwork of professional women artists. The Lyme Art Association is proud to present this show, which includes a number of artists who are members of both organizations.

For more details on these shows, please visit: lymeartassociation.org

> Visit EricRhoads.com to learn about more opportunities for artists and art collectors, including retreats, international art trips, art conventions, and more.

> Sign up to receive Fine Art Today, our free weekly e-newsletter

> Subscribe to Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, so you never miss an issue

A 50-Year Retrospective

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Fine Art Today

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September 2, 2022

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Neill Slaughter (b. 1951), "Looking Ahead, Into the Past," 2022, oil on canvas, 30 x 48 in.

Neill Slaughter: 50-Year Retrospective
The Atelier at Flowerfield
St. James, Long Island, New York
theatelieratflowerfield.org
Through October 27, 2022

It is highly appropriate that one of Long Island’s leading art schools, The Atelier at Flowerfield, is about to open a retrospective exhibition surveying almost half a century’s worth of art created by Long Island University professor emeritus Neill Slaughter (b. 1951).

Having spent the past 25 years in Southampton, a charming town facing the Atlantic Ocean, Slaughter notes that he has “almost always lived near the sea.” His early childhood was spent in Annapolis, where his father taught at the U.S. Naval Academy before moving the family to Atlanta. During and after his undergraduate study at the University of Georgia’s Lamar Dodd School of Art, Slaughter crewed aboard a 90-foot schooner, spent summers working in the Virgin Islands, and in 1980 sailed with other artists and historians aboard a replica of Charles Darwin’s HMS Beagle, sketching in anticipation of a maritime series. Besides his school years in Atlanta, Slaughter’s longest stint inland was two years spent at Indiana University, where he earned an M.F.A. while studying with Robert Barnes and James McGarrell.

While teaching from 1983 to 1993 (first at California State University, Long Beach, then at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles), Slaughter became fascinated by the labyrinth of freeways, overpasses, and cloverleaf exits that sprawls across Southern California’s urban grid. He recorded their features in his Passages series, and went on to juxtapose them with scenes of nature in Maine. “To find unspoiled landscapes near either coast can be challenging,” Slaughter notes, yet he relishes painting outdoors in the Northeast, recently completing a 15-foot-wide, three-panel dune scene commissioned by a couple on Shelter Island.

In the late 1980s, Slaughter’s grant-funded venture to southern Africa inspired him to create the Africa America Amalgamation series. These paintings of social commentary challenge the stereotypical notion that something seen as “civilized” in urban American society is necessarily better or more progressive than the “uncivilized,” i.e., rural African society. In 1992, a Fulbright Fellowship brought Slaughter to India, where he found a painter’s paradise, a study in contrasts that often assaults one’s senses, yet also possesses an enlightening spiritual quality. Traveling through Africa and India offered profoundly broadening experiences that affected the artist’s outlook on life. He moved to Long Island a year later and in 2016 retired from Long Island University after 25 years there.

In his insightful essay for Slaughter’s 2008 retrospective, the scholar Gordon L. Fuglie notes Slaughter’s keen sense of how art history can inform contemporary practice: he writes that Slaughter’s “nostalgia desires a living connection with the tradition of great painting from the 19th and 20th centuries, especially the fin-de-siècle and early 20th century. To know this tradition means for him the capacity to operate deeply within and out of it, his sure guide to making art in and of the present.”

One could argue that all successful educators put history in the service of their students and themselves, yet Slaughter’s evident understanding of — and enthusiasm for — great historical paintings is notable even in this context. He is particularly passionate about Sargent, Zorn, and Sorolla, hints of whose brushwork will soon be enjoyed at Flowerfield.

> Visit EricRhoads.com to learn about more opportunities for artists and art collectors, including retreats, international art trips, art conventions, and more.

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Friday Virtual Gallery Walk for September 2, 2022

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Fine Art Today

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September 1, 2022

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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.

Sun Salutation, Rani Garner, oil, 30 x 40 in; Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Fraud, Kari Tirrell, acrylic on aluminum panel, 12 x 12 in, Signed; Rehs Contemporary

Surf at Low Tide, Edward Henry Potthast (1857 – 1927), oil on canvas, 24 x 30 in, Signed, titled and addressed on a label on the reverse; Rehs Galleries, Inc.

America’s Breed, Chauncey Homer, oil on linen, 36 x 30 in; Chauncey Homer Fine Art

Laguna Haze, Geoff Allen, watercolor, 18 x 14 in; LPAPA Art Gallery, The Catalog Art Show August 29-October 10, 2022

On the Road to Chama, Mark White, acrylic gesso on canvas, 15 x 30 in; Mark White Fine Art

Roses, Calvin Liang, oil, 18 x 24in;Huse Skelly Gallery

Moonrise At Dusk, Lorenzo Chavez, oil, 20 x 24 in; ArtzLine

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.

Looking Forward

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Peter Trippi, Editor-in-Chief, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine

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September 1, 2022

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Terry Strickland, "Kintsugi," 2016, oil, 24 x 36 in.; Strickland is on the faculty of the 3rd Annual Realism Live virtual art conference

From the Fine Art Connoisseur September/October 2022 Editor’s Note:

Looking Forward

It is hard to believe 10 months have passed since we concluded the second edition of Realism Live — a virtual art convention that teaches realist techniques for painting and drawing portraits, figures, landscapes, flowers, other still lifes, and more. Like the inaugural edition in 2020, last year’s was a huge success, and now the team from Fine Art Connoisseur and RealismToday.com are busy finalizing Realism Live 3.0.

As ever, this event has been designed for artists and enthusiasts at all levels of experience, from the highly accomplished to those just starting out. Beginner’s Day will occur on Wednesday, November 9, and the main program will follow on November 10, 11, and 12.

By press time we were thrilled to have secured for our faculty some of the most outstanding artists in the field, including Clyde Aspevig, Todd Casey, Michelle Dunaway, Daniel Graves, Lisa Egeli, Rose Frantzen, Cornelia Hernes, Alex Kelly, Michael Mentler, Chuck Morris, Ned Mueller, John Pototschnik, Sarah Sedwick, Terry Strickland, Dustin Van Wechel, and Glenn Vilppu. More renowned talents are being added to the roster every week.

Beginner’s Day will help all viewers — not just novices — get to the next level, opening their eyes and enhancing confidence in their ability to paint and draw. On offer for the following three days are art instruction demonstrations, critiques, and roundtable discussions among artists and other experts.

For all sorts of reasons (not just pandemic-related ones), the art world has gone digital in a big way. Once again, Realism Live participants will use Streamline Publishing’s sophisticated community platform to interact; it is set up so that you deal only with our faculty and your fellow registrants. This is not an event open to the general public. Our participants have hailed from 30 countries, and now we are expecting an even broader turnout.

The beauty of it all, of course, is that everyone can participate safely from their own homes and studios. Our previous registrants have learned from the faculty, built a community and support network for themselves, and made lifelong friendships. They tell us that what they learned has kept their work looking real, but not like a photograph; that they can give their impression of a scene without going too far; that they feel better equipped to convey the truth in their own artistic voice; and that they have created a signature look. Best of all, they continue to grow and learn from what they experienced. These are impressive results after only four days together.

Please visit realismlive.com now to learn more and register, and see you this November, at the latest.

P.S. If you can’t make the actual “live” dates, don’t worry: replays are available to all who sign up (but not to those who don’t).

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Featured Artwork: Laura Pollak

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Fine Art Today

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September 1, 2022

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Laura Pollak, “Aquamarine,” soft pastel, 18 x 24 in. Available through Hilbert museum, CA

Laura E. Pollak: Abstract Realism, combines my love of Graphic Design, with vibrant colors and dramatic lighting.

I love pastel for its permanence and vibrancy. It is immediate, luminous and direct.

Like a dialogue between friends, art must be shared and seen in order to close the circle and convey the idea. I invite you to join me on this journey of discovery.

To see more of Laura’s work, visit:
www.laurapollak.com
VEFA Gallery
Hilbert Museum
The Art Shop (336) 855-8500

circular pastel painting, vibrant abstract with soft hues of blue and purple on the edge, getting warmer in the center, inside with mixed media — Laura Pollak, “Discord,” soft pastel, 16 x 20 in. Available through VEFA Gallery

soft pastel abstract painting with shades of blue surrounding a cracked object illuminating light from the center — Laura Pollak, “Surface Tension,” soft pastel, 16 x 20 in. Available through The Art Shop, NC (336) 855-8500

Featured Artwork: Carolyn Lindsey

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Fine Art Today

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September 1, 2022

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oil painting of narrow porch, during the day, with a person in the background looking at the flowering landscape on the right — Carolyn Lindsey, “South Porch,” oil, 20 x 16 in. Available through the AIS Show

Carolyn Lindsey: Carolyn captures the feeling of sunlight in her impressionist painting “South Porch,” which will be exhibited during the American Impressionist Society National show in Boulder Colorado at Mary Williams Fine Art through September. Plein air studies are the inspiration, information, and guide for the subsequent studio paintings.

In October she will be plein air painting in Venice.

To see more of Carolyn’s work, visit:
www.carolynlindsey.com

American Impressionist Society

oil painting of hammock nestled between trees, during the day; sunlight reflecting off fence in the background — Carolyn Lindsey, “Lazy Days,” oil, 16 x 20 in. Available through artist

oil painting of goat behind a fence, on a farm, during the day — Carolyn Lindsey, “Don’t Fence Me In,” oil, 12 x 18 in. Available through artist

Artist Spotlight: Jill Banks

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Fine Art Today

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September 1, 2022

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Jill Banks, “Twinkling Tuileries” on the easel, oil on linen-lined panel,18 x 24 in. During my trip to Paris, I returned to a favorite spot, a shaded garden in the Tuileries

How do you find inspiration?

Jill Banks: Inspiration is everywhere. I think it’s following me around. I’m fascinated by people. Animals too. In 2011, I took on a crazy project to paint 100 Faces in 100 Days – from life of anyone who agreed to sit for me. That project was filled my head with stories to last several lifetimes.

It was sad when people stopped showing up at my studio door daily. That was the major impetus for launching into painting plein air on location in the spots where they gather. If they weren’t coming to me, I was going to find them.

Each year – other than 2020 and 2021 – I’ve traveled overseas on personal painting trips to explore and capture life in oils. It was a joy to return to Paris this August, setting up my easel all over the city. The hardest daily decision was which direction to head once out the apartment door. That eleven-day trip produced at least a start on 18 paintings with some real beauties among them and more to come.

The rest of the year I find inspiration closer to home (sometimes in it), on domestic personal painting trips (like Key West) or during plein air competitions in the US.

To see more of Jill’s work, visit:
www.jillbanks.com

Jill Banks, “Rainy Rue,” oil on linen-lined panel, 24 x 18 in., 2022. Was painted plein air from the windowsill of our apartment on the 3rd floor

Jill Banks, “Love by the Sea,” oil on linen-lined panel, 12 x 24 in., 2021. The couple were deep in conversation and stayed long enough to be fully captured on canvas

Western Art > Highlights of This Year’s Quest for the West

WEEKLY NEWS FROM THE ART WORLD