Elements
Oil on aluminum
24 x 20 in.

Portrait artist Lisa Kovvuri has released another work from her new series of portraits: Beyond Appearances.

Building on the success of her most recent solo exhibition, The Portrait Experience, at the Whistler House Museum of Art, Lisa Kovvuri is taking the genre of portrait painting to a personal level. Beyond representing a likeness, her new series serves as a catalyst for making connections and getting at the heart of what it means to be human. She’s taking a hiatus from painting commissioned portraits to embrace her desire to paint people in a context that can address the emotional and psychological experiences we all share.

“In this series my focus is on emotional presence more than a person’s identity. The sitters inspire ideas about states of mind and emotional moments we can all recognize. I see these portraits as a kind of mirror of humanity. The models I’ve recruited represent a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. I’m particularly drawn to people who I don’t typically encounter in my usual circles, people I can learn something from. Painting them bridges a gap for me. It cultivates empathy, and that’s an important personal aspect of my work.”

Although the new portraits strive to go beyond appearances, they depict appearances in a remarkable way. Departing from the more impressionist-leaning approach of her earlier work, these emphasize sculptural form, texture, intricate detail and attention to surfaces, offering viewers a much more intimate experience of the subject’s presence.

“That feeling of intimacy is important to me. I want people to be able to get up close and engage their senses, to feel free of barriers that may otherwise be there in real life.”

Although just a handful of works have been released so far, these paintings are already creating a stir on the show circuit and garnering awards, most notably the Portrait Society of America’s 2020 International Portrait Competition in which her painting Sunday Morning received a Select 50 designation. Another, entitled Blue, was chosen as a finalist in the Portrait Society’s Members Only Competition in December, 2019. The Whistler House Museum of Art’s Whistler Award and The Salmagundi Club NY Ridgewood Art Institute Award were also presented to Lisa for Sunday Morning in 2019.

Paintings in the Beyond Appearances series are released through Lisa’s e-newsletter. Sign up to get a first viewing of each new portrait fresh from the easel, and updates on when and where to see them on exhibition. See more of Lisa’s work on her website, and get sneak peeks behind the scenes and of works in progress by following @lisakovvuri on Instagram and Facebook.

Comes Into The Light by Karen Ann Hitt
Oil
37 x 43 in. framed

Karen Ann Hitt’s Comes Into The Light is one of two of her winning paintings in the 9th annual Plein Air Salon monthly competition, winning the Best Oil award.

“The sense of space, which is the biggest form in a landscape, is worth five times that of any other quality” –John F. Carlson, one of two quotes you will find posted on the Artist’s easel as she paints.

Comes Into The Light the title may also be found in the Red Letters of John 3:21. This painting painted during a season that a pandemic rocked our world, and while working on this piece Karen Ann received word that a dear friend had passed away, way before their time. Therefore, the painting is an intense reflection and seeking of reflecting peace, majesty, wonder, and that sense of space in real time; back to a great peace, as imagining that truth while painting Comes Into The Light.

Sharing this complete image of the framed painting, to illustrate this artist’s commitment to the collector, and just how much each painting is invested in for them. Not only in the finest archival quality supplies, also in each Gallery delivered painting by Karen Ann Hitt is delivered in their Signature Frame; custom and handmade in the USA by Travis at Gold River, specifically for each ‘An Original Hitt’ painting. These Signature An Original Hitt frames are years in the making. They came about from a unique opportunity.

Honored with an opportunity to hand deliver an Edgar Payne original landscape cross country for a dear friend; as was traveling their way, this really was one of the safest and most convenient ways to transport this work of art. When it was unwrapped at the end of the journey, not only did the amazing painting stand out by its masterful work, but also the frame was a part of the masterpiece. It is not often you get to see the back side of masterpieces, and being with this one as it was unwrapped to re-hang in the home, could see on the back of the frame, that its frame was made exclusively and specifically for this Edgar Payne Painting, by the writing on the back. That absolutely amazed this artist that this was done several decades ago and became a part of the painting. That impression stuck. Now that my works have matured to the collectable stage of being featured, and as prepared paintings for the Gallery; after working months on paintings, frankly, didn’t want to just stick them in an ‘acceptable’ frame. The frame, in reality; though should never take away from the painting, the frame finishes the painting for presentation. It also illustrates the respect the Artist has for their collectors, not only for their painting. When first working on a signature frame with Travis, we hadn’t intended to literally make a ‘signature’ frame. My first concern was to be sure that didn’t come across as being too haughty. The graphics in this Artists signature, truly lends itself to a unique and signature corner to a frame. That in turn is how it literally framed itself out to be. So in respect, wanted to present Comes Into The Light in its full Signature framed presentation. Making ‘An Original Hitt,’ exactly that in every way; a signature, unique, valuably timeless investment by the Artist, for the collector. Meant to be a thank you for all of your considerations, sincerely so.

There is no greater honor for an artist’s than to be considered and collected. – Karen Ann Hitt – An Original Hitt

Watch for Karen Ann Hitt’s Solo Exhibit early 2021, more details will be at her website AnOriginalHitt.com.

Represented by the Hughes Gallery Inc, 333 Park Ave. Boca Grande, FL 33921 | 941-964-4273

Artist Statement
My paintings seek to capture influential daily moments, and the lasting effects these memories play on our hearts and minds throughout our lives. As an artist the passion is to reflect light, life, land, expressions as genuinely experienced ‘At That Moment…’. I paint in the hope to transport the viewer while also exposing them to the very emotion that stops us both now in our tracks to experience a view; simply, seeking with my art to bring you into viewing your own, “At That Moment…” too.

Artist Bio
Karen Ann Hitt is an award-winning artist, classically trained at Parson’s School of Design in New York, majoring in Illustration. That classic background is evident in her style, along with her love of capturing the figure and the effects of light in all of her scenes. Her paintings are noted to accentuate the effects of light, adding to their luminosity with her landscapes/skyscapes reflecting the essence of the landmark. Karen’s award-winning paintings are in private and corporate collections, such as Venice City Hall locally and nationally a U.S. President’s. Her Illustrations have been published nationally in both children’s picture books and distributed in a line of gifts.
Notably awarded: Best Oil annual Plein Air Salon May 2020 & 2nd Place Overall 9th annual Plein Air Salon Nov/Dec 2019 & Also Two time Semi- Finalist 2016, 2017; Best Landscape, WPSE National Exhibit 2016; 1st Place VAC Summerfest 2016; participant in: Oil Painters Of America 2020, 2018, 2015 National Salon Show; Best Of Plein Air exhibit, LPAPA; American Impressionist Society, Small Works Inaugural Exhibit;  Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional 2018,2017 and their 25th Annual National Show; Paint the Parks & Paint America National Exhibits, 2006 recipient of the Muses Award, Artist Member Historic Salmagundi Club, Exhibiting Memberships with: Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society, Plein Air Artist Colorado, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association and American Women Artists, Women Painters of the South East. She is the founder (2003) of the Venice Plein Air group and a signature member of Plein Air Florida. She is a Nationally Exhibiting & Published Artist.
Published in PleinAir Magazine Oct/Nov. 2015, June/July 2017, April/May 2018, June/July 2019, Feb/Mar 2020, Aug/Sept 2020; Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine May/Jun. 2016, Mar/April 2019, Sept/Oct 2020 and featured in PleinAir Magazine OutdoorPainter.com.

Dusk in the Valley by Jean Schwartz
24 x 36 in.
Oil on linen panel
$3800

Dusk is a favorite theme in Jean Schwartz’s paintings. It is the time of day when the sun is sinking below the horizon and the sky offers a luminous, atmospheric light. Paintings of dusk and dawn have a long tradition in American painting, particularly with the Hudson River school and the Tonalists. Jean is an enthusiast of both.

“I love the way the colors deepen, shadows elongate and details are obscured as the sun is about to set or right after it has dropped from view and the sky glows. Edges are less defined and there is a poetry and sense of mystery to the landscape at those times. It is so fleeting and that is what makes it a challenge when painting on site.

For me observation is the most valuable tool in creating paintings of sunrise or dusk and I often rely on just my memory to create studio paintings. When I do paint this time of day en plein air I find it best to start earlier in the evening, block in the painting anticipating as much as possible and then finish in the moments I am waiting for. Often I prefer to do just small thumb nail sky studies in oil in my sketch book.”

The landscape depicted in Dusk in the Valley is the farmland outside the historic village of Waterford Virginia which is less than an hour from Jean’s home. She spends part of every week in the area and the wide open spaces are a welcome respite in this time of COVID. “I love the way the land gently rolls away toward the Blue Ride Mountains and the many lovely old barns and historic homes.”

In keeping with this theme of dusk, Jean will have a painting on exhibit in the Salmagundi Club’s Moonrise, Sunrise Exhibition from August 31-September 18, 2020. The Club is located at 47 5th Avenue, NYC. Go to www.salmagundi.org for show information or to view the exhibit online.

Besides the Salmagundi Club, Jean is a juried member of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters, OPA, ASMA and is an elected fellow of The American Artists Professional League.

To see more of Jean’s paintings visit her website at www.jeanschwartzpaintings.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Read her Fine Art Today Feature Articles:
https://fineartconnoisseur.com/2019/05/featured-artwork-jean-schwartz
https://fineartconnoisseur.com/2020/04/featured-artwork-jean-schwartz
https://fineartconnoisseur.com/2020/06/featured-artwork-jean-schwartz
https://fineartconnoisseur.com/2020/07/featured-artwork-jean-schwartz

If I Could Walk On Water by Dan Knepper
30 x 40 in.
Oil
Available from DanKnepperArt.com

PEACE, AND CHIPS OF COLORED GLASS. We are all looking for a little peace. Dan Knepper’s work offers quiet, contemplative, and timeless moments of captured light.
He has enjoyed an enviable artistic career with his work appearing in all the major art magazines, winning national and international acclaim, and having representation by six top galleries coast to coast.

Dan tries to maintain a purity and transparency of color as if painting with chips of colored glass in a style that bridges plein air and realism. His landscapes are transportive. You don’t stand before them, you feel as if you are transported to stand within the scene. You can hear the quiet rustling of the grass and leaves, the fall of the water and feel the atmosphere.

He is currently working on a western series with references from his travels thru the Tetons and Yellowstone in Wyoming and Glacier in Western Montana. He has stories to tell of laughter at meeting a bear, a new fascination for ground squirrels, air that smells incredible (pine and sagebrush,) and watching the sun rise to light the tips of the mountains, sliding down into the trees and working its way down into the water.

To hear the stories and keep up with his latest work, sign up for his monthly newsletter at www.DanKnepperArt.com.

You can find his work at:
Howard Mandville Gallery
Going to the Sun Gallery
Mary Williams Fine Art
Hayley Gallery
Vision Gallery
Art at the Mill, Millwood VA

Essence of Zion by Roland Lee
21 x 29 in.
Transparent Watercolor

Roland Lee’s Essence of Zion is the featured artwork for the Zion National Park “Art in the Age of Covid” event taking place online from September 3 – November 8 to benefit Zion National Park. For information about this event and to inquire about purchasing, visit https://zionpark.org/2020/2020-art-in-the-park-celebration/.

Roland Lee has explored the National Parks for over 40 years, capturing images with sketchbook and paintbrush. From his cabin on the east border of Zion National Park, Roland has intimately explored the peaks and canyons of Zion and his original paintings can be found in over 1700 museum, bank, corporate, university, and private art collections.

He was recently awarded the Utah Governor’s Mansion Medal for contribution to the arts in Utah. Roland’s paintings have been selected for exhibit by the National Watercolor Society, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Arts for the Parks Top 100, and Paint the Parks Top 100 shows which toured America.

Roland’s paintings are featured in his new 160-page hardcover book Discovering Zion, A Pictorial Guide to the Landscape, Geology and History of Zion National Park. Forty of Roland’s Zion Canyon landscape paintings are included in the book Mukuntuweap, Landscape and Story of Zion Canyon. He is also featured in the books Art of the National Parks, Painters of Utah’s Deserts and Canyons, and Contemporary Western Artists.

Roland served on the Board of directors of the Zion Natural History Association and Zion National Park Foundation at Zion National Park for twelve years.

View more of Roland’s work at RolandLee.com.

Wounded by Todd Baxter
Oil on canvas
20 X 16 in.
$1,250
Available from the artist

Wounded was inspired by several painting trips to a local farm in Weddington, North Carolina. What grabbed my attention was an old wounded tree. Though scarred from life, it still stands proud, providing beauty, comfort and enjoyment for the benefit of others.

“Everywhere there is something special that needs to be discovered, captured and shared,” says Todd, who believes creating good art is all about learning to see, developing observation skills, simplifying, editing and directing the viewers focus within the canvas. “And yes, technical skills are also a big part of it.”

Todd’s keen sense of design and composition was honed over 40 years as a graphic designer, after graduating from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. In June of 2010, with the responsibilities of raising a family in the rearview mirror, he decided to adjust course to focus on his passion for fine art. He continues his education by attending workshops, studying the works of other artists and painting; lots and lots of painting.

Todd has had numerous shows and awards in the Carolinas. He also teaches drawing and painting workshops, as well as weekly classes.

Gallery representation welcome, contact Todd online or through email.

Also view additional works by Todd on his website and sign up for his e-newsletter.

He can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.