Painter Erin Berrett is inspired by the term “still life.” She states, “There’s a fundamental tension between the still and the life, isn’t there.” That is exactly what her work captures when she paints. Her objects are never completely motionless, or emotionless for that matter. They tremble. They vibrate. Those vibrations are produced not only by the construction of the object, but by the external forces exerted upon it — the angle of the light, for instance, and the perspective of the viewer. She captures that beautiful tension in her stunning still life works of art. Erin resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her work is currently on display, along with 100 other artists, at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, AZ through March 29, 2020. Contact us at 480-443-7695 or [email protected].
Endless Summer
Oil on linen
14 x 24
$2600.00
Available through McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD
Endless Summer embodies much of what inspires Barbara Nuss to bring to life on the canvas…the calm and serenity often reminiscent of earlier, less hectic times. This is a consolidation from her stacks of plein air paintings from her years depicting barns, farmhouses, and other rural scenes.
Until recently, Barbara lived in the Maryland countryside surrounded by rolling hills, farms, and bucolic vistas where there was a painting around every twist and turn in the narrow roads and the small towns that dotted the land. She is attracted to the simple things: an old fence line, reflections on a pond, or even a familiar pattern of shadows. With an eye for the things we remember and savor, Barbara pays homage to the details of everyday life. She crafts her forms, creating a warm atmosphere that invites the viewers to narrate the scene with their own memories.
She is known for her popular landscape painting instruction book Secrets to Composition, which is now in its 5th printing. It features 14 easy formats for translating the landscape into eye-catching paintings, which works on everything from sunsets to trees and wildflowers.
Most recently she won Best Landscape for the painting Quiet Harmony featured in the International Guild of Realism’s Annual Exhibition at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, VA.
Upcoming shows:
• Women Artists of the West (WAOW) 50th Anniversary Exhibition, Settlers West, Tucson AZ
• International Guild of Realism’s Spring On-Line Show
• National Oil & Acrylic Painters” Society (NOAPS) Best of America Small Works Exhibit, McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD
Visit her website at www.barbaranuss.com where you will see many of her paintings and sign up for her monthly newsletter. Also visit her Facebook and Instagram.
Artist Jill Banks says, “I paint to capture life’s magic … to transport you inside my oil paintings — to feel that breeze, hear the sounds, watch what happens, smell the beer.”
Dawn Rising was painted from the bedroom window in the South of France. Each year, Banks chooses one European destination for an extended painting adventure. Last year it was Nice/Cote d’Azur and Provence and the year before it was Paris. (Tough life, right?) Read about her 2018 personal painting trip to France in the OutdoorPainter (PleinAir Magazine’s online newsletter) blog post “A Paris Plein Air Adventure” here.
The adventures continue, deliberately and happily, year in and year out for Banks. Living fully, putting herself smack dab in the middle of new, ready-to-be-discovered territory keeps her eyes and heart open to the inspiring scenes that unfold all around. There are always strangers to meet, wandering off and on the canvas — bringing vibrancy to her work.
Join this wonderful art/life journey with her. See her website, www.JillBanks.com, to sign up for her monthly newsletter to catch the latest paintings, news, tales and fun.
You can also follow Jill on Facebook and Instagram. Plus, make sure you are the first to see fresh work by signing up for New Art Alerts here.
Another of Banks’ plein air paintings “Colorado Days” will be at Settlers West in Tucson, Arizona with the Women Artists of the West 50th Jubilee National Exhibition from March 25–April 17. Banks recently became a Signature member of Women Artists of the West and American Women Artists.
When Banks is not out and about at a plein air festival or on a painting excursion elsewhere, she can often be found at her studio/gallery at the Artists’ Atelier at 756 Walker Road in Great Falls, Virginia.
The Atelier is open Wednesdays, noon to 4pm; Saturdays, 10am to 2pm; for First Friday Art Walks from April to December, 6–8pm; and by appointment any time via email: [email protected] or phone: 703.403.7435.
Please come enjoy a visit.
The Colors of Key West
24 x 36 in.
oil on linen
$4,200
Available through the artist
Each year I spend a couple of months on the tropical island of Key West, Florida, leaving behind the winter gray skies of Pennsylvania. Spending time here each year feeds my creativity and nourishes my soul. My use of color bursts through in dramatic ways, and it’s a time for exploration.
This creative escape often informs my studio process for painting the dramatic street scenes of Manhattan, Indianapolis and Charleston that I am most known for.
Eight years ago, I was awarded an Artist in Residency at The Studios of Key West, where I spent a month living in a cottage and producing an exhibit. I’ve returned each year since then to feed my soul with color and warmth, during the harsh northeast winters. I love the friendships I’ve made, and the exhibition and teaching opportunities have been life enhancing.
Excerpt from a recent quote: “Michele Byrne is widely known for her expressive plein air and studio Manhattan street scenes as well as café and beach scenes where she depicts figures full of life and movement.”
Byrne has received a great deal of recognition for her work, including recent acknowledgments:
— President’s Choice Award in the American Impressionist Society’s 2018 Annual Exhibit.
— Cover of PleinAir Magazine – January 2020 issue showing one of her rainy street scenes, along with an in-depth article explaining her palette knife technique and process.
— Liliedahl Productions has released three instructional videos of Michele’s painting process. Michele’s second video, PALETTE KNIFE Painting with Michele Byrne, was awarded Best Selling Video of the Year by Liliedahl Productions.
Monet’s Water Lilies
Oil on Belgian Linen Panel
12 x 16 in.
$1,300.00
Available Through Settlers West Galleries
Visiting the gardens in Giverny for the first time was a beautiful and enlightening experience for Sue Wipf. That day in early spring was cold and rainy, but yet the light brought the most striking color and atmosphere at Monet’s pond. This painting, Monet’s Water Lilies, is a moment captured on canvas.
This painting is a juried piece in the upcoming Women Artists of the West 50th Annual Invitational Exhibition, March 25 – April 17, 2020, at Settlers West Galleries in Tucson, Arizona.
Born in California and raised in Minnesota, Sue worked on her parents’ farm and spent time pondering the skies and the beauty around her. That experience continues to influence her values and her perspective on the world around her. An avid gardener today, she enjoys artistic expression through her love for nature. This has transpired to her plein air painting and studio work. Living by an environmental lake frequented by trumpeter swans, great blue herons, eagles, hawks and ducks, allows her the privilege of observing beauty every day. Sue also lives near 2,600 acres of parkland with native prairie grasses and flowers.
“Though realistic in my painting technique, I look for the wondrous abstract patterns in nature and still life, and strive for the less is more philosophy. Painting outdoors brings excitement in capturing the emotion of that moment through color and light.”
Vermeer, Sargent, Turner, and Sorolla have influenced Sue. She has studied at the Schroeder Studio and taken workshops from Master artists such as David Leffel, Sherri McGraw, Skip Whitcomb, Matt Smith, Scott Christensen, Carolyn Anderson, Mary Pettis, and others.
Sue is a member of Outdoor Painters of Minnesota, a signature member of Women Artists of the West, and an associate member of Oil Painters of America, Plein Air Artists Colorado, and the American Impressionist Society.
Please visit Sue’s website, and sign up for her e-newsletter.
Painting and drawing from live models in college is where her passion for figurative painting emerged. While attending Otis/Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles Carla D’aguanno discovered the art of illustration, which led to the start of her career in the movie poster industry and book cover industry. However, her interest in fine art fifteen years later would lead to a permanent detour in the direction of her career. Today, she feels her maturity as an artist has come full circle. She perceives the gift that she’s been given as a continual work in progress that keeps growing and evolving with each work of art on her easel.
Two of her favorite most outstanding artists of influence are John Singer Sargent and Mary Cassatt. The intensity and depth of Sargent’s portraits and figures have been a great source of inspiration to her. What she admires most about the works of Mary Cassatt is her portrayal of the endearing bond between mothers and their children. Carla believes her enthusiasm for painting children may have come to fruition with the birth of her two children. They quickly became her models and still model for her today. There is much for the eye to behold when capturing the beauty and innocence of a child. They possess an inquisitive nature and their interaction with animals is what she finds intriguing. The bond between children and horses is among her favorite subjects to study since the outcome is always spontaneous and unpredictable. Women, children and horses are at the top of her list of priority subjects of interest to paint.
“There’s something beyond compelling about the anatomy of the human figure, and when exposed to a single light source, it’s always s challenge to convey the most interesting perspective that creates a perfect harmony of light, shadow and composition,” she claims. The unique characteristics and curvature of the human figure draws the viewer in for a closer look invoking a range of emotions while revealing a story,” she believes. It is vital for her to have familiarity with the personality of her models, since it enables her to unveil the true essence of their character on canvas. It’s her belief that there is gold hidden in every soul and she has made it her mission to reveal it in each individual.
Carla’s love for horses and western genre is also apparent in her work. She finds the sight and sound of running horses to be one of the most breathtaking sights to behold. Their majestic beauty, size and grace makes them one of the most impressive and magnificent creatures on earth in her opinion. It’s no wonder she loves being in their presence and photographing them continually. Her intentions as an artist are to emphasize the simple beauty of life that comes from our Creator, and in so doing she is hopeful that her art will put a smile on the faces of those who see it.
“Treasures from the Bay Area: New Paintings by the California Art Club” is on view at the Holton Studio Gallery in Berkeley, CA, March 7 through April 4, 2020. View landscapes, still lifes, cityscapes, and figurative paintings by 56 artist members of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the California Art Club.
Painting by John Tocchini Painting by Michael Reardon
The artists are:
Charity Anderson – Tomiko Bailey – Janet Arline Barker – Michael E. Bartlett – Nanette Biers – David Casterson – Lyn Coffey – MaryLou Correia – Christin Coy – Nancy Crookston – John Deckert – Mark Farina – Catherine Fasciato – Tatyana Fogarty – Terri Ford – Randy Gallegos – Terry Guyer – Annie Haines – Cynthia Hamilton – Timothy Horn – Ellen Howard – David Jenks
– Gary Jiang – Michelle Jung – Paul Kratter – Tia Wallace Kratter – Leslie Landers – Amy Leung – Diane Liguori – Richard Lindenberg – Carolyn Lord – Ed Lucey – Steven Markoff – Heather Martin – Joseph McFadden – Sherrill Miller – Clark Mitchell – J.R. Nelson – Erika Perloff – Robert Porter – Carole Rafferty – Michael Reardon – Teresa Ruzzo – David Savellano – Julia Munger Seelos – Randall Sexton – Randall Stauss – Robert Steele – Linda Sutton – Kerima Swain – Nancy Takaichi – Barbara Tapp – Carol Tarzier – John Tocchini – LaRhee Webster – Dennis Ziemienski
Freya Grand, “Pu’ U O’ O,” 2016, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 in.
“Dialog: Landscape and Abstraction” at the Art Museum of the Americas (amamuseum.org), Washington, DC, through April 26, 2020
Operated by the Organization of American States (essentially the United Nations of North, Central, and South America), the Art Museum of the Americas (AMA) is an often-overlooked jewel box in the heart of the nation’s capital.
Freya Grand, “Poas,” 2004, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 in.
From the museum:
On view this season is an exhibition, “Dialog: Landscape and Abstraction,” that pairs mid-20th-century abstractions from the permanent collection with paintings by the Washington landscapist Freya Grand. Her immersive landscapes of Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, and the Galapagos Islands share forms, textures, symbols, colors, and compositions with works created by such forerunners as Maria Luisa Pacheco (Bolivia), Angel Hurtado (Venezuela), and Anibal Villacis (Ecuador).
Maria Luisa Pacheco, “Composition 1960,” 1960, oil on canvas, 48 x 61 in. Collection OAS AMA | Art Museum of the AmericasAngel Hurtado, “Signo en el Espaci,” 1962, oil on canvas, 62 x 76 in. Collection OAS AMA | Art Museum of the AmericasDanilo di Prete, “Pasagen Cosmica no. 2,” 1963, mixed media/canvas, 58 x 58 in. Collection OAS AMA | Art Museum of the Americas
The works in this exhibition were selected through a conversation between AMA’s curator, Adriana Ospina, and guest curator Hilary Piece Hatfield. Hatfield was invited to explore the AMA’s extensive digital archive and in doing so, she noted strong correlations between Freya Grand’s work from the Americas and certain abstract works in the permanent collection. Ospina and Hatfield then visited with Freya Grand at her Washington, DC, studio and continued their curatorial dialog with the artist, reflecting on Grand’s work and Hatfield’s selections from the AMA’s collection. The curatorial team found that the process led them to the selection of many of the same works of art. This resulting exhibition demonstrates a shared language among the artists and suggests that humanity has an essential dialog with the earth.
Grand describes her process as a direct, immersive experience and that she moves fluidly from close proximity to her subjects to observing them from a vast distance. She asserts, “The two experiences — the one tactile and intimate and physical, the other a privileged bird’s-eye view — inform and enrich each other. These experiences allow me to feel the land under my feet, as well as comprehend the larger patterns, structures, and forces at play.”
Freya Grand (b. 1947), “Tungurahua,” 2011, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 in.
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Women Artists at the Art Museum of the Americas
International Women’s Day: Sunday, March 8, 2020, 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Earth Day Panel Talk
Art and Our Environment: An Essential Dialog
Thursday, April 23, 2020, 12:00–1:30 p.m.
John Henry Niemeyer (American, 1839–1932), “Landscape,” 1900, oil on canvas. 20 x 22 in. New Haven Paint & Clay Club Collection
“A Century of Creativity: Connecticut Art from the New Haven Paint & Clay Club” celebrates the history and continuing legacy of the New Haven Paint & Clay Club, one of the oldest active art clubs in New England, established in 1900. This exhibition of paintings, prints, and drawings explores our surroundings — the land, water, people, and places that help shape this region. The exhibition will be on view through May 10, 2020.
Christy Gallagher (b. 1939), “Sasco Creek No. 3,” 1977, oil on canvas. 14 x 15 in. New Haven Paint & Clay Club Collection
From the museum:
As its name indicates, the New Haven Paint & Clay Club’s identity is geographically based. As such, it seems fitting to consider place and regional identity as the organizing theme for this retrospective exhibition. The history and impact of the New Haven Paint & Clay Club extends beyond New Haven, drawing members and exhibitors from across Connecticut, as well as from New York and New England. In the first half of the 20th century, numerous artists connected to the New Haven Paint & Clay Club were also affiliated with the art colonies at Cos Cob, Old Lyme, and Mystic.
Constance LaPalombara (American, b. 1935), “Complexity,” 2009, oil on linen, 28 x 44 in. New Haven Paint & Clay Club Collection
Showcasing landscapes of Connecticut and beyond, “A Century of Creativity” includes traditional views of the region’s beautiful coastline, woods, and fields, as well as its cities, towns, roads, boats, and industry. The exhibition also contains art reflecting artists’ travel to distant places and art that explores space and place in different ways, rendering abstract landscapes and imaginative places.
Karen Israel (American, b. 1959), “All That Remains,” 2013, pastel on paper, 17.5 x 23.5 in. New Haven Paint & Clay Club Collection
All objects are from artists affiliated with the New Haven Paint & Clay Club. Many pieces come from the Club’s permanent collection, acquired from Club exhibitions dating back to 1931. Works of art from the Lyman Allyn’s collection and several from the New Haven Museum help augment the story, adding material by artists from the Club’s early years.
George Marinko (American, 1908–1989), “Snow Scene,” ca. 1939, oil on board. 15.25 x 19.25 in. Lyman Allyn Art Museum, gift of Frances Wayland Williams, 1947.12.9George Bruestle (American, 1872–1939), “Woodland Glade,” 1930, oil on board. 24.25 x 29.25 in. Lyman Allyn Art Museum, gift of Mrs. Bertram G. Bruestle, 1968.42
Check the museum website at www.lymanallyn.org for updates and additional programming.
Leslie Duke Anemones and Chickadees
36 x 72
Oil on panel
$9,800
Leslie Duke has a deep love for color and texture, as well as an enthusiasm for finding the intrinsic beauty in everyday subjects. With each painting she strives to instill a profound sense of mood through use of color and space. Leslie is particularly inspired by the masterful beauty of works by Sargent and Zorn; the evocative color fields of Rothko; and the intriguing compositions of illustrator Lisbeth Zwerger. She is a graduate of BYU and currently resides in Springville, Utah. Her work is on currently on display, along with 100 other artists, at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, AZ through March 29, 2020. Contact us at 480-443-7695 or [email protected].
Fill your mind with useful art stories, the latest trends, upcoming art shows, top artists, and more. Subscribe to Fine Art Today, from the publishers of Fine Art Connoisseur magazine.
