Aida Garrity, “Yellow and Pink Roses,” oil, 8 x 10 in, $600; available through artist
Aida Garrity: Inspired by life and beauty. In these paintings of flowers and magical castles, Aida undertakes the challenge of crafting with color and brush strokes a composition that captures her emotions and the way she sees her world. She earned an MFA from San Francisco Academy of Art University in 2010 and exhibits her work in national and international exhibitions.
Her paintings have been selected to exhibit at the Butler Museum of Art, Columbus Museum of Arts, The Haggins Museum, The National Arts Museum of Sports, Indiana Museum of Arts, The Players Club, New York, and The Salmagundi Arts Club, New York.
Aida Garrity, “Glamis Castle – Scotland,” oil, 12 x 16 in., $750; available through artistAida Garrity, “Peonies,” oil, 10 x 12 in., $600; available through artist
Gerald Rahm, “At the Beginning,” Pastel on board, 12 x 16 inches, Collection of the Artist
Juried Fine Art Exhibition
The Diverse Environments of the Arroyo Seco: Paintings from the California Art Club
On View October 4, 2023 – February 4, 2024, at the Pasadena Museum of History
Pasadena, California
From the organizers:
“The Diverse Environments of the Arroyo Seco: Paintings from the California Art Club” explores the flora and fauna, the vistas and valleys of this unique area that has played a crucial role in the history and development of Pasadena and beyond.
Peter Adams, “Afternoon Haze; Looking Down the Arroyo Seco from Mount Wilson,” Pastel, 12 x 16 inches, Collection of the Artist
“The Arroyo Seco is both one of the most historic locations in the region and one of the most engagingly scenic,” observed CAC President Michael Obermeyer. ‘’Its visual appeal has inspired generations of artists, notably our early artists who founded the organization in 1909 along the banks of the Arroyo Seco River. We are pleased to have this opportunity to showcase works by contemporary members who are expanding upon the artistic legacy of this site, as we pay tribute to CAC’s birthplace.”
Karl Dempwolf, “Oak on the Banks of a Percolating Pool,” Oil on linen, 16 x 24 inches, Collection of the ArtistKaren Winters, “Switzer Falls Remembered,” Oil on linen panel, 14 x 11 inches, Collection of the Artist
PMH Executive Director Jeannette O’Malley notes that “we consider the CAC a strategic partner in our efforts to provide art education programs that enhance the public’s understanding of Pasadena’s heritage and natural environment.” The two organizations have close ties in that the CAC was established in 1909 by many of PMH benefactor Eva Fenyes’s artist friends, including Carl Oscar Borg and Granville Redmond.
John Kosta, LA River Art Painting 82 titled “Visitors,” Oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches, Collection of the Artist
The concept for the exhibition developed from the close personal and artistic relationship renowned Pasadena artist Peter Adams has with the Arroyo Seco. A selection of works by Adams, who is CAC President Emeritus, will establish the exhibition’s theme, introducing visitors to signature locations in the Arroyo.
Junn Roca, “Golden Afternoon,” Oil on linen, 48 x 40 inches, Collection of the Artist
“The Diverse Environments of the Arroyo Seco” reflects a mutual desire between CAC and PMH to raise awareness of the area’s history and unique environments. More than 170 works were submitted by CAC artists for consideration, with more than 50, ranging in size from 30” x 40” to 8” x 8”, chosen for inclusion.
Tamara Smith, “Angeles Forest,” Oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches, Collection of the Artist
The Diverse Environments of the Arroyo Seco: Paintings from the California Art Club is made possible, in part, by the Paloheimo Foundation.
Richard Schmid, "Sunday Afternoon," 2002, oil, 12 x 20 in.
On view: “Inspiration”
A fine art show featuring paintings by Richard Schmid and his protégés
Bruder House in Keene, New Hampshire / West Wind Fine Art
October 7-8, 2023
The following was written by Kristen Thies, Owner/ CEO West Wind Fine Art:
Former Arts editor of American Art Collector Magazine, Joshua Rose, wrote, “Contemporary realism as a genre owes a deep level of gratitude to the life and career of risk-taker Richard Schmid, who carried the torch for realism throughout several decades until it reemerged in popularity in the mid-1990s.”
Richard’s art and teachings have impacted the lives and careers of artists worldwide. I’m delighted to announce a new show this autumn that showcases his influence on painters and protégés Nancy Guzik, Judy Stach, and the late Timothy R. Thies.
“Inspiration,” a small but mighty art show will feature some of Richard’s most iconic paintings from private collections, along with artworks by Guzik, Stach, and Thies.
The exhibit and sale in the main gallery at the historic, beautifully restored Bruder House will include a group of six or seven Schmid artworks for the two-day exhibition. The grouping will include “Sunday Afternoon,” a masterful oil of Nancy reading, as well as classic landscapes, “Pulyan House in Snow,” “Twin Pines,” and “Winter Barns.” Plus, Richard’s gorgeous monochrome oil of Nancy Sewing, and a few other Schmid still life paintings that have not been seen by the public for over 20 years.
The art show will also include Nancy Guzik’s “Samantha In White,” two of her gorgeous peony oils, and other figurative and still lifes. Plus a few rare oils by Thies, such as “Vermont Stream” and “New Dawn Rose Arbor,” and Judy Stach’s sensitive seascapes and sailboats, “Sail” and “Whispering Winds” —her paintings of the New Jersey shore.
For more details and to purchase artworks, please visit westwindfineart.com.
West Wind Fine Art offers paintings by Richard Schmid, Nancy Guzik, Timothy R. Thies, Daniel J. Keys, Kathy Anderson, Judy Stach, Tina Garrett, and Johanne Mangi.
Peter Van Dyck, "Studio Interior Bike Workshop," oil on board, 32 x 26 in.
Contemporary Art Exhibition: Atravesando El Ojo (Through the Eye)
Through November 30th, 2023
Venue: Figure | Ground Art Gallery, Seattle, Washington
Curators: Jen Dale, Brett Holverstott, Nacho Vergara
By Jen Dale Painter, curator, and art historian
Often hailed as “the greatest realist artist alive,” the impact that master painter Antonio López García has had on realist contemporary art is undeniable. Beneath the man’s mild-mannered warmth and humble charm, exists a real tour-de-force. Artists all over the world have sensed it in his work.
Carmen Mansilla, “Trace,” 2023, oil on linen, 74 x 46 cm
The international group exhibition “Atravesando El Ojo (Through the Eye)” at the Figure Ground Art Gallery traces López’s aesthetic influence on artists in both Spain and the US, many of whom have studied with the master. While the artists in this show have been intensely impacted by his way of seeing, each has taken what they learned from López and applied their own eye to create a vision uniquely their own.
On display is work by Jorge Abbad (Spain), Rocío Cano (Spain), Larine Chung (USA), Adam Cohn (UK/Israel), Irene Cuadrado (Spain), Dean Fisher (USA), Zoey Frank (USA), Christopher Gallego (USA), Paco LaFarga (Spain), Carmen Mansilla (Spain), Eduardo Millán Sañudo (Spain), Josephine Sheridan Robinson (USA), Peter Van Dyck (USA), and Nacho Vergara (Spain).
Christopher Gallego, “Ceiling Pipes,” 2012, oil on canvas, 15 x 24 in.
At age 87, López has influenced many over his long career. In the 80’s he was picked up by the Marlborough Gallery in NYC, and that’s when American artists started learning about his work. Artist Christopher Gallego saw López’s work for the first time as a student in the 90’s and it made a big impact on him. He saw that López was doing the same thing he was trying to do. Gallego states, “Seeing López’s work gave me the freedom and confidence to paint anything. López paints unexpected things, which become beautiful, and he is passionate about it.” It validated his own work.
Paco LaFarga, “Cat,” oil on board
Artist Paco LaFarga states it poetically when he says, “I was struck by his way of representing something in a very real way that had nothing to do with a hyper-realistic or photographic conception, something very deep, that moves and scratches you inside, that leaves a feeling of loneliness, of beautiful emptiness.”
The theme of “an intense level of observation” was common when speaking to artists participating in the exhibition Atravesando El Ojo. Artist Peter Van Dyck is struck by what seems to be lenses of analysis and observation in López’s work, mapped on top of one another. He explains that López paints space in a 3D manner, through the lenses of structure and light, as opposed to what many artists do, which is simply to paint the photographic 2D of what our eye sees, or the ‘skin’ of the material world. When you start to observe without the photographic logic/skin, objects form from the center like a flower blooming, and you get a more profound sense of the characteristics of the object. “This allows for the poetic reconstruction of the world. That’s what painting is for.”
Eduardo Sañudo Millan, “Green and Red Chiles,” oil on linen, 34 x 45 cm
Van Dyck goes on to say that “López can turn his gaze on anything and redeem its banality.” Although he has never studied with López, from him Van Dyck learned to be ruthless with the 2D surface. Like a poet, he seeks to phrase the shapes on the picture plane, compelling them, which illuminates his perception of the world to reveal more. He uses observation as the line of inquiry, as the springboard for poetics. He feels that finding the answers is not important, but rather, the ruthlessness, the rigor of investigation is the end in itself.
Contemporary art still life > Dean Fisher, “Still Life on Colored Paper,” oil on paper, 24 x 36 in.
Irene Cuadrado talks about how her work has evolved since studying with López: “Over time the color has lost its exact shape and value to create larger spots, open and less subject to the reality of what is observed. However, the narrative is still in the foundations of telling my inner world through the eyes of what is close.”
Jorge Abbad, Untitled, 2023, graphite on paper
Each of the artists in the exhibition has taken what they have learned from López and applied their own eyes. They learned to trust their own senses. Carmen Mansilla notes “From being in a workshop with him I take away a feeling of wanting to paint better, to be honest with myself and have sincerity in the work.”
By looking through the eye, these artists not only reflect their own truths but also invite viewers to explore their own emotions and perspectives. In a world often saturated with pretense and artifice, honesty in art serves as a refreshing reminder of our shared humanity.
This has been condensed from a longer article found here.
Miller Art Museum’s 48th Juried Annual
On view through October 28, 2023
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Recently the Miller Art Museum in downtown Sturgeon Bay unveiled its 48th Juried Annual—a survey and celebration of contemporary work by Wisconsin visual artists—to a reception of more than 200 attendees. Eight regional visual artists were recognized during the awards ceremony for their works exuding excellence and originality and were experimental in nature.
Aaron Boyd, “The Tadpoles,” watercolor
All total, $1,950 was presented to the following recipients:
Aaron Boyd (Milwaukee), awarded a $250 Juror’s Choice Award (Jinkins) for his work titled The Tadpoles.
Kimberly Burnett (Milwaukee), awarded a $200 Special Merit Award for her work titled The Rearrangement.
Bethann Moran Handzlik (Fort Atkinson), awarded a $200 Special Merit Award for her work titled A Mind of Winter.
Thomas Jordan (Sturgeon Bay), awarded a $200 Special Merit Award for his work titled Alone, But Not Alone.
Beth Schueffner (Neenah), awarded the Bonnie Hartmann Award for Outstanding Creativity, a $100 cash award, for her work titled Well, Here We Are.
Mary Ellen Sisulak (Ellison Bay), awarded the $500 Gerhard CF Miller Award of Excellence for her work titled Artifact.
Arlene Stanger (Baileys Harbor), awarded a $250 Juror’s Choice Award (Vadney) for her work titled Umbrella.
Ashley Wittling (Chippewa Falls), awarded a $250 Juror’s Choice Award (Ward) for her work titled Duality.
Kimberly Burnett, “Rearrangement,” oilBethann Moran Handzlik, “A Mind of Winter,” oilBeth Schueffner, “Well, Here We Are,” acrylicMary Ellen Sisulak, “Artifact,” mixed mediaAshley Wittling, “Duality,” watercolor
The 48th Juried Annual showcases 73 contemporary two-dimensional works by Wisconsin artists and marks the third year that artists from across the state were eligible to submit work. These distinctive works can be viewed throughout the entire museum in both the main galleries on the lower level as well as on the second floor Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine.
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.
The Four Spirits” (4 girls murdered by the KKK), Kelly Ingram national Park, Birmingham, AL, Elizabeth MacQueen, Bronze and Engraved Metal, 12 x 10 x 4 ft with one independent 5 ft figure; Elizabeth MacQueen
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The Gift of Light, 2023, Erica Calardo, oil on linen, 14 × 14 × 1.5 in; 33 Contemporary
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What a Little Sunlight Will Do, Jean LeGassick. Oil on linen panel, 30 x 24 in; American Legacy Fine Arts
P Class Parade, Russ Kramer, oil on canvas, 25 x 39 in; Russ Kramer
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.
This year marks the 42nd anniversary of the Buffalo Bill Art Auction in Cody, Wyoming. Kathy Thompson, Director, and Katelyn Parker, Assistant Director of the Chamber of Commerce for the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale put on an amazing event, raising over $1.3 million this year. This auction benefits the prestigious Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, and local art organizations.
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is comprised of five museums within its structure: the Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, and Whitney Western Art Museum. The Whitney Western Art Museum boasts works from Charlie Russell, Frederic Remington, Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt, and other traditional and contemporary artists.
The Buffalo Bill Art Auction & Sale is not just a one-day event; the Chamber of Commerce hosts several events leading up to and during the annual Rendezvous Royale Week. This week began on Thursday, September 21st with several artist workshops which were open to the public.
Stephanie Hartshorn leading her art workshop
These workshops were followed by a luncheon and talk by the “Cowboy Artists of America.” This group was founded in 1965 and its mission is “To authentically preserve and perpetuate the culture of Western life in fine art.” The discussion was led by Tim Newton and included Brandon Bailey, Teal Blake, Mikel Donahue, Phil Epp, T.D. Kelsey, Dustin Payne, Chad Poppleton, and Grant Redden.
Thursday evening the public was invited to a reception and awards presentation to meet the 103 artists represented. The awards were given to:
Nicholas Coleman, Spirit of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale Award for “Dusk on the Lower Salt River”
Phil Epp, Two-Dimensional Award for “Distant Thunder”
Jeremy Bradshaw, Three-Dimensional Award for “The Red Queen”
There were four Judges Awards of Excellence which were given to:
Vic Payne for “Sounds of the Night”
Max Werner for “Over the Pass”
Dustin Van Wechel for “Speed Dating”
Kevin Red Star for “Crow Indians on Magpie Creek”
The Quick Draw People’s Choice Award was given to David Frederick Riley for his “Buffalo.”
Chad Poppleton with his painting, “Soul Mates”
On Friday morning, I had the honor of viewing a private collection owned by one of the Trustees of the Buffalo Bill Museum. This collection was curated by author Donna Poulton (“Painters of the Grand Teton National Park” and “Dictionary of Utah Fine Artists”). This incredible collection includes works by Maynard Dixon, Albert Bierstadt, Frank Tenny Johnson, William Herbert Dutton, Joseph Henry Sharp, Carl Rungius, and Michael Coleman just to name a few. It was an experience of a lifetime seeing these works in person!
Friday night was the big event with the Live Auction at the Buffalo Bill Center for the Arts. Artists and Collectors were welcomed with a delicious buffet dinner and a beautifully decorated venue with 50 circular tables all set with gorgeous autumn floral centerpieces lining a large stage where the auctioneers presented each artist’s works. Below are several photos from the event, which honored both painter and sculptor.
Nicholas Coleman, “Dusk on the Lower Salt River”Jim Wodark, “Moonlight Serenade”David Santillanes, “Into the Shadows”
Saturday morning was the start of the quick draw, an optional event in which 27 artists participated in this 90-minute challenge. Watching the artists paint and talk to their patrons was a site to be seen. Some artists were even able to complete very large works ranging upwards of 30 x 40 inches. At the finish of the event, each artist had to walk with their artwork on stage, which was very entertaining for the audience! Below are several artist’s works during the quick draw.
David Frederick Riley, Quick Draw People’s Choice WinnerDon Demers, Quick DrawJim Wodark, Quick DrawBlake Neubert and his kids walk his quick draw painting down the auction venue.Chris Navarro, Quick Draw Sculptor
The top-selling painting went to Kevin Red Star for “Crow Indians on Magpie Creek” at $32,000, and the top-selling sculpture went to Vic Payne for “Sounds of the Night” at $45,000.
What makes an event so successful is having several key factors working together, curating a talented and diverse group of artists, attracting serious collectors, support from the community, Museum sponsorship, and experienced event directors. The Buffalo Bill Art Auction & Sale had all these wonderful components, which made this event a great experience for the artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts. It’s worth making it a point to attend.
How do you find inspiration? Heather Arenas: Central to Heather’s Museum Series is ‘Dot,’ a recurring motif paying homage to Heather Arenas’ grandmothers who played a pivotal role in kindling her artistic passion by exposing her to a range of art forms and instilling an appreciation for the old masters. In her work, Heather often features paintings by esteemed artists she deeply admires, such as John Singer Sargent and Edgar Degas, but will also use her own work as the piece featured.
Heather Arenas, “Trilogy”, oil on aluminum panel, 30 x 36 in., available through Reinert Fine ArtHeather Arenas, ‘‘The Fates,” oil on aluminum panel, 48 x 36 in., available through Reinert Fine Art; Received 3rd Place in the June 2023 Bold Brush Contest
Heather Burton Santillanes, "Lokelani," oil on panel, 16 x 12 in. Heather said this painting is of a horse that was in the Kamehameha parade in Lahaina when she and her husband, Dave, lived there.
The recent “Artists for Lahaina” art auction raised $513,915 for the Maui Pono Foundation, an organization founded by Lahaina families to help their many displaced neighbors recover after the fire (all proceeds went to this organization). In addition to funding direct relief, the Maui Pono Foundation has generously committed to support efforts to enable artists in West Maui to play a key role in restoring the community they love.
At one point, the site crashed because so many bidders were online at once, but it was soon up and accepting bids again.
The auction was organized by artists Kathleen Hudson, Heather Burton Santillanes, John Burton, and Lisa Camilla Hale. “Lahaina and Maui have a spot in my heart forever,” said Santillanes. “I am deeply humbled by the incredible generosity that everyone has shown. Thank you to everyone who is supporting this auction. I am so very grateful.”
From the Artists for Lahaina Facebook page:
“YOU DID IT!!! 800 artists and their collectors raised half a million for Maui.
Mahalo to all who participated or boosted the auction. This one’s for Lahaina.”
“The Quilted Barn, Michigan” – David Dibble (@dibbleart)Oil, 8 x 8 in.
On Friday, September 22, a live five-hour Streamathon ran (watch the replay), during which we heard from Maui artists, musicians, nonprofit leaders, and Lahaina residents in this event hosted by John Burton, Kathleen Hudson, Heather Burton Santillanes, and Eric Rhoads of Streamline Publishing. They welcomed Maui visual artists Ronaldo Macedo, Macario Pascual, Darice Machel McGuire, Koana Smith, and Michael Clements, and had special appearances from mainland artists who have paintings in the auction, including Matt Smith, Skip Whitcomb, Josh Elliott, Lori Putnam, Aimee Erickson, Randall Sexton, and more. Registration was free and viewers received generous giveaways from sponsor organizations.
Amy Werntz (b. 1979), "Blue Scarf," 2020, oil on panel, 8 x 10 in.
Contemporary Art Collections: David Gulley and Kenneth J. Paul, Jr.
Their personal journeys to becoming art collectors were very different but now have converged to bring them much joy.
David enjoyed making art in his youth. At home his parents displayed artworks, yet the act of collecting did not become “real” until he accompanied his father to an auction around the age of 12. Previously David had not considered where art comes from, and so perhaps it’s not surprising that he started acquiring it while earning a B.F.A. degree in interior design alongside ceramists, printmakers, and other creative types. He fondly recalls “dipping into my grocery money to buy art from my equally poor friends,” pieces he still cherishes.
By contrast, Ken grew up admiring “catalogues of beautiful things” but bought only reproductions (like prints) to furnish his homes. He discovered the joy of owning original art when he met David, and their first purchase together was a painting by Melinda Spear-Huff from an Indianapolis gallery. David remembers stopping by to pay, only to learn that Ken had already bought it for him as a gift. Fortunately, such moments of mental telepathy happen to them every so often.
David and Ken expanded their collecting journey together by visiting galleries first in Indianapolis, then throughout Indiana, which has a rich artistic heritage. (The best-known “Hoosier” art comes from scenic Brown County, where a colony of landscape painters formed in the 19th century and remains active.) The couple started meeting not only dealers but also the artists themselves, which, Ken says, “makes all the difference in our appreciation of their works.”
Raymond (Ray) Bonilla (b. 1983), “Across the Street from Mom and Dad’s,” 2019, oil on panel, 12 x 24 in.
Today they regularly attend Indiana Heritage Arts, the juried sale of traditional and representational Indiana art held every June at the Brown County Art Gallery. In 2017 they learned about this event from their friends Libby and Dan Whipple (whose collection was profiled in Fine Art Connoisseur in 2021), and now they underwrite one of its cash awards.
Eventually, Ken and David started looking outside Indiana, mainly via the Internet, through which anyone can explore almost the entire art world. They are especially fond of Instagram, where they have noticed and met many artists, among them Juan Jr. Ramirez of Chicago and Rob Lange and Megan Aline of Charleston.
“Now when we look at their art, we think of their friendship, too,” David notes. He adds that, contrary to what some say, artists do appreciate collectors’ feedback. He recalls the time TJ Cunningham was painting a study of a barn; David and Ken suggested he add animals to convey movement, an adjustment that looked great and led them to buy it.
Today the couple acquire art from various sources including artists, galleries, fairs, and festivals. A current favorite is Indianapolis’s Vining Gallery, opened by artist Justin Vining, and in November 2021 David explored the lively scene in Santa Fe and particularly enjoyed Meyer Gallery. Most of us have a story about something we did just before the pandemic started; for David, it was his visit with friends to California’s LA Art Show, where they admired the stands of Arcadia Contemporary and Gallery 1261.
Among the Indiana artists represented in the collection are Mark Burkett, David Cunningham, Karen Graeser, Tim Greatbatch, Kathy Jo Houghton, Allen Hutton, Gabriel Lehman, Cheryl Anne Lorance, Jeanne McLeish, Kate Orr, Kyle Ragsdale, J. Rodney Reveal, Benny Sanders, Jerry Smith, Rita Spalding, Melinda Spear-Huff, Curt Stanfield, Stephanie Paige Thomson, Justin Vining, and Libby Whipple.
As for artists based elsewhere, they include Megan Aline, Chris Bell, Ray Bonilla, Richie Carter, Josh Clare, TJ Cunningham, Gareth Jones, David Kassan, Daniel Keys, Shawn Krueger, Kyle Ma, Stephen Mackey, Dean Mitchell, Josie Morway, Renato Muccillo, Grant Perry, Juan Jr. Ramirez, Tad Retz, Carlo Russo, Scott Ruthven, Brett Scheifflee, Sarah Sedwick, Phillip Singer, Caleb Stoltsfus, Adam Vinson, Steven S. Walker, Amy Werntz, Katie Whipple, and Kenneth Yarus.
David and Ken love all of their works, and though their eyes have “evolved in terms of quality,” they have not sold anything: “We bought those earlier works for a reason then and they are now part of our collecting history.” (A few items have been presented as gifts to relatives and friends.) As for so many collectors, their chief challenge is finding wall space and protecting those walls from direct sunlight. One closet, they admit, contains several paintings for which they don’t (yet) have enough room.
Pondering the state of realism today, David and Ken note that ever more artists are “finding beauty in everyday things — forms and shapes that are not conventionally beautiful.” Surely this is a sign of the field’s maturation, and we all look forward to seeing how the trend unfolds in the years ahead.
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