Featured Artwork: Lyn Boyer

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January 1, 2020

The Gibson
Oil on Linen Panel
20 x 16 in.
$4,500
Available through Lyn Boyer Studio
[email protected]

The idea for The Gibson germinated on a car ride to the airport in a moment of synchronicity when a painter and a musician found they both had been looking for an opportunity to explore bringing together the common language of their art forms.

The Gibson with Dave Curley, became the third in a series of oil paintings of musicians Lyn Boyer had been working on. It also became a segue to the art and music collaboration of painter Lyn Boyer and musician and songwriter Dave Curley.

Having a background as an editorial illustrator, Lyn’s passion as a painter is that of a storyteller. The intent, to evoke a feeling, a moment in time. Dave’s remarkable talent as a powerful lyricist and musician felt like the perfect counterpart.

In 2020 Dave and Lyn will be collaborating on multiple projects they hope will open a window into the creative process for both artists and art lovers.

Watch for these new releases in 2020:
Streamline Videos ‘No Fear Oil Painting™’ with Lyn Boyer & Dave Curley
A Painter, a Poet and a Musician – a documentary. Produced by Dave Curley & Lyn Boyer
Where in the World is Plein Air – A day in Austin with Lyn Boyer & Dave Curley

Workshops:
Sorrel Sky Gallery, Durango, CO – Feb 21-23
Sorrel Sky Gallery, Santa Fe, NM – May 29-31
PACE20 Faculty, Denver, CO – May 2-6
Sedona Plein Air Festival, Sedona, AZ – October 27-30
Not Far From the Car, Longmont, CO – May 7-9

Lyn Boyer, a signature member of Oil Painters of America and the Laguna Plein Air Painters, is a plein air and studio oil painter. Having received both a Collectors Choice and Best of Show at the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art, and a bronze medal from the Oil Painters of America among other honors, she continues to paint with her heart — for the love of it. Lyn also writes for the Oil Painters of America.
www.lynboyer.com

Dave Curley, a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter from Corofin, Co. Galway, has made big waves in the Irish music scene in Ireland, Europe and the USA. He’s performed with multiple Grammy Award winners and ‘Instrumental band of the Decade’ The Brock McGuire Band. His record, ‘A Brand New Day’, showcases his vocals and writing style – a contemporary sensibility rooted in tradition.
www.davecurleymusic.com

Gallery Representation:
Authentique Gallery of Fine Art – St. George, UT
Sorrel Sky Gallery – Durango, CO
Oh Be Joyful Gallery – Crested Butte, CO

WEBSITE: www.lynboyer.com
FACEBOOK: lyn.m.boyer
INSTAGRAM: lynboyer

Featured Artwork: Raymond Ewing

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Fine Art Today

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December 31, 2019

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Still Water
12 x 16 in.
oil on linen paper
Plein Air

Harford County Plein Air was my last event of the season. This painting, Still Water, received a Second Place award from judge Crystal Moll, a Baltimore Gallery owner. The experience of painting in plein air events not only offers the opportunity to paint outdoors in new locations but fosters a spirit of camaraderie among the artists. Although several artists may choose the same location to paint, I find myself immersed in solitude with the subject before me.

In the early October morning, on an overcast day with many boats pulled from the water for the winter, this dark hulled boat drew my attention. The hulk shape was sitting in its own reflection and swinging rhythmically with the wakes, matching the rhythm of my brush strokes. The afternoon brightened for a few hours so that another moored boat could be set to canvas.

I have been a studio painter for over thirty years. In the past twelve years of painting in plein air events, I have used oils, watercolors and pastels. I am always looking for strong shapes and the effects of changing light throughout the day.

I grew up in western Maryland but spent thirty years teaching and painting near my home in southern Maryland. A recent move to the Delaware shores has rejuvenated my enthusiasm for experimenting with new media and subject matter.

Website: ray.fineartstudioonline.com

Facebook: Raymond Ewing

Featured Artwork: Susan Nicholas Gephart

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Fine Art Today

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December 31, 2019

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On the Hillside
32 x 32 in., oil on linen
$1,500
Available through The State College Framing Co. & Gallery

Landscape Passages – Earth, Water, Sky
Influenced by her artist father, Susan Nicholas Gephart developed a deep appreciation of the earth and its relationship to art when she was a young child. Her passion to explore the landscape is expressed through a unique use of color, texture, and atmosphere, capturing the emotion of a moment with spontaneity and directness.

On the Hillside was inspired by a fall day’s memory of exquisite golden light and the fleeting moment in time when all is aglow, and the air is sweet with the smell of leaves!

Creating a visual experience
It was important to express this visual and emotional experience with my rich oil paint colors applied by brush and palette knife. My goal was to create intrigue by pulling the viewer into the painting, past the golden tree, across the pasture, and to the hillside. There they would be enveloped by the sky’s atmosphere. It is symbolic to how we to continue searching for beauty even when we are in the presence of it.

Knowing that winters are long in Central PA, I wanted to capture the fall colors before all the leaves were gone. After finishing instructing at my Hameau Farm Studio Artist Retreat in the Big Valley of Belleville, PA, I chose to stay on overnight. I used the splendidly lit studio space to begin my 32 x 32 in. painting. I love working large on portrait linen. This exquisite, smooth surface is a joy to layer thick paint on with a palette knife. I took great pleasure mixing the colors and dancing back and forth to see the space and interact with the painting. It basically led me to use a brush to blend the atmosphere of the sky and the remaining 80% was done by my special palette knife.

Life of the Artist
Susan graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pennsylvania State University in 1979, and an Associate in Arts from Montgomery County Community College in 1977. She has been exhibiting and painting award-winning landscapes for over forty years. Her colorful, impressionistic plein air and studio work in pastels and oils are in private and permanent collections internationally. Susan is an associate member of the Pastel Society of America, signature member and former president of the Central Pennsylvania Pastel Society, a founding member of the Central PA Farmland Preservation, and co-founder of the Plein Air Painters of Central Pennsylvania.

She has been instructing pastels since the mid ‘80s and organizing the Hameau Farm Studio Artist Retreats for all levels and mediums for 21 years. All of Susan’s workshops are supported by over a dozen national art supply companies, allowing her students to sample a variety of fine art products. Susan also has her own S.Nicholas Signature set of Jack Richeson Hand-Rolled Soft Pastels called “Earth, Water, Sky.” Her workshops are advertised in Pastel Journal and PleinAir Magazine, and her art is advertised in Fine Art Connoisseur. Susan Nicholas has been Plein Air Convention faculty since 2016.

In July 2018, Susan led the first Sennelier-sponsored Brittany Skies & Seas workshop. Pierre-Yann Guidetti hosted the artist retreat at his family heritage home in Kerrema, Brittany, France.

Susan’s home studio of 33 years is located in Victorian Bellefonte in a 1902 home. It includes three floors of galleries and two working studios.

Visit Susan’s website: www.SNicholasArt.com
Visit S.Nicholas Art Studios by appointment. Email [email protected]

Gallery Representation:
Art a la Carte, Bellefonte, PP
The Green Drake Gallery, Milheim, PA
The State College Framing Co. & Gallery, State College, PA

Contact Susan:
814.360.2116
[email protected]
Find her on Facebook and Instagram
To stay connected with Susan Nicholas Gephart and her work, subscribe to her e-Newsletter

150th Anniversary of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

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Fine Art Today

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December 30, 2019

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Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s 150th Anniversary Honors the Past and Reimagines the Future

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), has announced a slate of initiatives for its 150th anniversary in 2020, driven by a deepened commitment to inclusion, community, and generosity. The yearlong celebration aims to bring more people closer to art and the MFA—signaling aspirations for the Museum’s future.

“The MFA’s 150th anniversary is a moment to honor our past and reimagine our future. The Museum was founded with a spirit of generosity and belief in the power of art and artists—values that remain among the pillars of today’s MFA,” said Matthew Teitelbaum, Ann and Graham Gund Director. “But as we look ahead, we will help define the changing role of museums in society and the role of artists in everyday life. We will amplify our efforts toward becoming a truly inclusive institution, committed to the importance of art in all of our lives and to a new sense of urgency in engaging with the issues of our time.”

A group of Boston’s civic leaders created the Museum in 1870 as a public place for discovery, the enjoyment of art, and celebration of artists. Since then, the MFA has grown to house a global collection, which will be highlighted during the 150th anniversary year in exhibitions ranging from “Ancient Nubia Now,” shining a light on the powerful yet historically misinterpreted kingdoms on the Nile, to the “Weng Family Collection of Chinese Painting: Family and Friends,” featuring works by some of the greatest masters from the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, to “Lucian Freud: The Self-Portraits,” organized in partnership with the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

In its 150th year, the Museum will also forge deeper connections with the local community, launching a free first-year membership program—an invitation to everyone to make the MFA their own. Throughout 2020, the Museum will engage community members and local artists as co-creators on various opportunities for convening and celebration, from a teen-curated exhibition of 20th-century art by artists of color from the Americas to a community mural project—initiatives that lay foundations for future ambitions.

Learn more about the 2020 events at www.mfa.org.

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Mind / Body / Spirit / Land: Oils and Watercolors

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Fine Art Today

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December 30, 2019

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Suzanne Siminger, “Island in the Sky,” oil on canvas, 36 x 72 in.

“Mind / Body / Spirit / Land” is a collection of oils and watercolors inspired by our beautiful land, painted by Suzanne Siminger. The exhibition is on view through April 3, 2020 at Gail Van Dyke Gallery.

Suzanne Siminger, “Inlet,” oil on canvas, 24 x 48 in.

Suzanne Siminger, “Morning Sun,” oil on canvas, 18 x 36 in.

Suzanne Siminger, “California Coast,” watercolor, 10 x 14 in.

Suzanne Siminger, “Tomales Bay Marsh,” oil on canvas, 24 x 48 in.

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Featured Artwork: Matthew Bird

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Fine Art Today

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December 27, 2019

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Ploughman’s Lunch
30 x 22 in.
Transparent watercolor on paper
$6,500
Available through the artist

For Ploughman’s Lunch, watercolor artist Matthew Bird drew on inspiration from 17th-century Dutch masters Jan Davidszoon de Heem and Pieter Claesz, employing dramatic lighting to reveal the beautiful textures and colors on display. Here, simple kitchen ingredients are transformed into exquisitely observed objects that demand contemplation.

“Most of my still life paintings feature a rich, black background,” says Bird, “but for this, I wanted to push the lighting further; have it come through a window, and fall across a wall with hanging utensils. I wanted to create a sense of place and atmosphere.”

Still life painting offers the opportunity to explore different textures and surfaces in great detail, and Bird does not disappoint. The “place” he’s created is rich with visual delights. Frothy bubbles slide down a pewter mug; spongey bread is hidden under a crispy crust; a pickle drips with flavor, all rendered beautifully. A feast for the eyes!

“A ‘ploughman’s lunch’ is a much-loved British meal which often includes bread, cheese, and some sort of pickled element alongside a mug of beer. What was once a laborer’s simple meal today looks like a grand cheese platter.”

One of three new paintings, Ploughman’s Lunch was painted for the International Watercolour Masters 2020 exhibition, May 5th – 15th, in Shropshire, England. Bird is one of 39 master watercolorists from 25 countries invited to participate. He is also presenting a lecture about his process on May 10th.

Founded by David Poxon, the exhibition will be a truly unique event for anyone with a passion for amazing art. With a packed program of demonstrations, workshops, and a masterful collection of paintings all in a beautiful and historic setting. Learn more at www.saa.co.uk/masters

Visit matthewbird.com for more work by Matthew Bird, or to sign up for his enewsletter.
And go behind the scenes via:
Facebook: Matthew Bird Studio
Instagram: @_matthewbird_

The Ultimate Artists’ Collective

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B. Eric Rhoads

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December 26, 2019

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Throughout history, gatherings of artists working toward a common goal have changed the world. The Figurative Art Convention is no different.

Together we are stronger, our voices louder, and the synergy of our actions more powerful.
–Pierce Brosnan, actor-artist

Amazing things happen when people get together. Seemingly impossible challenges become doable. Difficult goals become less daunting. Unity, support, and accountability to one another keep us on the right path.

Figurative Art - FineArtConnoisseur.com — At Philadelphia’s Studio Incamminati in March 2018 (left to right): JaFang Lu, Eric Rhoads, Nell O’Leary, Kerry Dunn; the artists’ portraits of Rhoads appear at right in the same order.

Throughout history, gatherings of artists working toward a common goal have changed the world. These collectives, often starting as a couple of individuals collaborating on a project, have resulted in massive change. A fine example is the French Impressionists, who in 1874 mounted their first exhibition under the rather unpromising name “Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, Engravers, etc.”

Its members dreamed that one day their work would be accepted despite the fact that it did not suit the old-school strictures of academic tradition. Their efforts created a movement that ultimately transcended unnecessarily politicized organizations like the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and Paris Salon, which wanted to control who and what got seen, recognized, bought, awarded with honors, and so much more.

Today, ironically, thousands of artists — most of them young — are being excluded by the “contemporary art” system that considers their artistry unimportant and their rigorous atelier training as an unnecessary repetition of what’s come before. These artists now constitute a new avant-garde. Some create works that are impeccably rendered, while others use looser handling informed by the legacy of abstraction. Regardless, their representational artworks are implicitly modern and deserve to be seen alongside contemporary creations of all kinds. In this digital era, there is and should be room for everyone.

Through my passion for representational art, I’ve made it my life’s mission to unify the artists in our community and work with them toward a brighter future of full acceptance by collectors, curators, critics, and the general public. It is my goal to see them receive the financial rewards and professional respect they deserve. Once fully recognized, they have the potential to change the way all of us see, just as the Impressionists once did.

I began the effort 15 years ago by launching this magazine and, after much effort, the Figurative Art Convention & Expo (FACE), held for the first time in 2017. There museum-quality figurative and portrait artists gathered to learn, grow, and get to know other members of their tribe. From this event came unity, collaboration, and the start of the ultimate artists’ collective, one devoted to the preservation and promotion of contemporary representational art.

FACE is a place we can call home, where we are not trying to fit in with others who don’t share our interests. It’s about encouraging one another and finding ways we can move forward as a group. As one artist told me after FACE 2017 concluded, “I have felt so isolated and alone in my studio. Now I’m part of a family working toward the same goal. This has changed my life.”

Our experiment has begun to make waves and we’re already noticing collaborations among artists who met at FACE. For this and many other reasons, this coming fall we will build upon our previous successful editions to create another, hopefully even stronger, event.

Your passion is welcome and your presence is essential if you want to be a part of this movement, in whatever role you care to play. We invite you to join us for FACE 2020 in Baltimore this fall (figurativeartconvention.com). This movement is too important to allow it to be sidelined by those who control the “mainstream” art world. Artists, and those who support artists, need to connect at this gathering, where we will draw renewed strength as we pave the way to our brighter future.

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December 30: An Online Fine Art Auction

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Fine Art Today

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December 20, 2019

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William Chadwick (1879 – 1962), “The Ginger Jar,” oil on canvas

The 200 pieces offered for sale include work from artists’ estates the gallery represents, among them Elaine Wesley, Joseph Garlock, Konrad Cramer, Margery Ryerson, Ed Baynard, and more.

From the gallery:

Art lovers world-wide will have an opportunity to bid on a diverse group of paintings, prints, sculptures, and ethnic works at an online only auction conducted by the James Cox Gallery in Woodstock, NY, on Monday, December 30. The auction will begin promptly at 1 p.m.

In addition to Live Auctioneers and Invaluable, the auction will be carried on a new platform powered by Auction Mobility, which offers live video streaming. Bidders can access this service by visiting the “Auctions” section of the James Cox Gallery website and clicking on the Auction Mobility logo or through the Apple App Store.

Julia Margaret Cameron (1815 – 1879), “Portrait of Charles Darwin,” albumen print

A veteran art dealer, Cox has been conducting auctions for over 25 years. He is known in the Woodstock area as a gallerist and auctioneer who adds his valuable expertise to the auction experience. “Live video streaming will provide the wider audience with the ability to benefit from James’s 50 years of experience in the art world,” gallery assistant Corrine Race observed.

The 200 pieces offered for sale include work from artists’ estates the gallery represents, among them Elaine Wesley, Joseph Garlock, Konrad Cramer, Margery Ryerson, and Ed Baynard. Cox is especially excited to offer work by a new discovery, Jason McWhorter, who worked as an illustrator at the renowned Push Pin Studios in New York. Like many commercial artists, McWhorter also created fine art pieces. “His off-beat still lifes, landscapes, sculpture, interiors, and portraits are extraordinary,” Cox observed. “We are honored to introduce him to the wider world of art enthusiasts.”

Ellen Key Oberg (1905 – 1989), Abstract Female Figure, carved cherrywood

The James Cox Gallery also represents the estate of Ben Wigfall, a beloved art professor at SUNY New Paltz, who was an astute collector of African art. “We have included several outstanding pieces from Ben’s collection in the sale,” Cox said.

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in Kingston, NY, is the beneficiary of proceeds from the sale of oils by Robert Van Vorst Sewell. The local charity turned to Cox for advice when a large group of the artist’s work was donated to the organization. “We are cleaning and framing these remarkable paintings,” Cox explained. “The results have been enthusiastically received by the art-buying public.” Sewell landscapes of California will be offered in the December sale.

Jason McWhorter (1943 – 2018), “Jimi Hendrix,” oil on canvas

Historic Woodstock art is always well represented in the Cox Gallery sales, and the December 30 event is no exception. Popular artists from the early days of the art colony, including John F. Carlson, Carl Walters, and Marion Greenwood, will be featured, as well as contemporary Hudson Valley artists Jane Bloodgood Abrams, Zhang Hong Nian, Lois Wooley, Donald Elder, and Mary Anna Goetz.

Other twentieth-century artists include a unique Joan Snyder, a Will Cotton landscape — an unusual subject for this artist — and a striking Louise Nevelson etching. Serigraphs by Agam and Victor Vasarely represent the strong focus on modern precisionist pieces in this sale, Cox noted.

Conrad Kramer (1888 – 1963), Untitled, Sympalmagraph

Race observed that a wide-ranging group of works on paper will also be offered, including prints by David Sequeiros, Gunter Grass, Raoul Dufy, and Maurice de Vlamick. Works by well-known photographers also provide an exciting dimension to the sale. Of note in this group are a portrait of Charles Darwin by 19th-century photographer Juliet Margaret Cameron, a group of historic photos of Thomas Edison, and a portrait of Billie Holiday by Dennis Stock.

In addition to African pieces from the Wigfall estate, other ethnic and tribal works include a First Nation carved rondel, pueblo pottery, and three tempera paintings by renowned Kiowa artist Woody Big Bow.

The public will have an opportunity to preview the auction from now until the day of the sale. The full catalog is on view at the gallery website, jamescoxgallery.com. For more information contact the gallery at 845-679-7608 or [email protected].

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Thomas Jefferson, Architectural Thinker

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Fine Art Today

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December 19, 2019

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Thomas Jefferson Portrait by Mather Brown — Mather Brown (1761−1831), “Thomas Jefferson,” 1786, oil on canvas, 35 3/4 x 28 1/2 in., National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

The Chrysler Museum of Art has organized the exhibition “Thomas Jefferson, Architect: Palladian Models, Democratic Principles and the Conflict of Ideals.”

Norfolk, Virginia | Chrysler.org | through January 19

In addition to his political achievements, Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) was the young American republic’s leading architectural thinker, conveying ideals of liberty even as slaves constructed his designs.

His evolution is traced through nearly 130 objects, including models, books, paintings, drawings, photographs, and architectural elements.

The Chrysler has collaborated with the Palladio Museum in Italy, which has loaned 14 models, including ten of Jefferson’s buildings and four of buildings by Andrea Palladio (1508–1580).

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New Figure Painting by Patricia Watwood

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Fine Art Today

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December 18, 2019

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Figurative art - Patricia Watwood - FineArtConnoisseur.com — Detail of the figure painting “Sylvan Idyll” by Patricia Watwood

Contemporary artist and figure painter Patricia Watwood has new work on view at Dacia Gallery (New York) during a holiday show that’s open through January 5, 2020.

“This new painting is based on the work I created this summer, when I hosted artists to paint the figure en plein air in Pennsylvania,” Watwood says, adding, “Did you know that ‘sylvan’ in that word means ‘consisting of or associated with woods?’”

About the painting, Watwood tells us, “Our model, Evyenia, posed outdoors, right on that rough tree bark, and inspired the whole group with an idyllic image of the nude in harmony with nature. I created this work in the studio from the life studies.”

For more details about the exhibition and this work, please contact Lee Vasu at Dacia Gallery: www.daciagallery.com