They rode on angelic wings
Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry are two faithful women, who decided to bring a better life and a little hope to those in need. “Prisoners of Hope: The Story…
Month: December 2011
NEA – artist’s process
Joanna Poehlmann’s art
Run for the hills! It’s abstract art!
When confronted with “non-traditional” art (abstraction, surrealism, non-objective art, etc.) some people are shocked and confused by it. But we can learn to look at this art with appreciation. …
Expressionism lets artists express their feelings
In the early 1900s, science was making huge leaps, and people were excited over the new discoveries about the “real world.” Art reflected this scientific outlook by becoming more…
NEA Opera video
Cartooning the New Year’s Baby
Recently several people asked me how to draw cartoons. There are a lot of good books with information on cartooning, but I thought you might like to see how…
Quick, easy and fun art
Have you ever used one of those Easter egg coloring kits from the supermarket, the ones that come with a small assortment of food dyes and a clear wax…
Indianapolis Museum of Art
The Thaw Collection features more than 100 outstanding works in the “Art of the American Indians” exhibition on view through February 12, 2012.
Click it and paint it
People sometimes ask if it’s all right for artists to use photos as reference for paintings or drawings. It is as long as the photograph is taken by the…
A big Boom for my buck
Children’s author and illustrator, Steven Kellogg lit up the stage at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Van Wert, Ohio. The gregarious artist captured not only mine, but also…
Keep it moving!
Although still life, landscape, and portraits (which all show things that are NOT moving) will always be popular, artists also paint pictures that show action and movement. This wasn’t…
TN: Nashville
WHERE: Frist Center for the Visual Arts WHEN: February 3, 2012 BRIEF ABOUT: In the Ingram Gallery, “To See as Artists See: American Art from the Phillips Collection” is an…
IN: Portland
WHERE: Hall-Moser Theatre WHEN: Friday, January 27, 2012, 7:30 pm. TITLE: Singing the Blues BRIEF ABOUT: As part of the current performance series, internationally acclaimed acoustic blues artist Eric Bibb…
MT: Billings
WHERE: Yellowstone Art Museum WHEN: Thursday, December 22, 6:00 pm. TITLE: Ignite! BRIEF ABOUT: A special winter solstice program with artist-in-residence Brooke Atherton who will demonstrate the controlled charring of…
IN: Portland
WHERE: Hugh N. Ronald Gallery at Arts Place WHEN: January 6 through February 29, 2012 TITLE: Rockslides BRIEF ABOUT: An exhibit featuring works by Kimberly Hennessy and Deb Karpman. MORE…
VA: Newport News
WHERE: Peninsula Fine Arts Center WHEN: February 10, 2012 TITLE: Empty Bowls BRIEF ABOUT: This first Peninsula-wide event involves potters and other community artists who donate their talents. Guests purchase…
OH: St. Marys
WHERE: Arts Place, Collective Center WHEN: January 6 through February 29, 2012. TITLE: Brent R. Cress Exhibit BRIEF ABOUT: Experienced in a variety of media, artist Cress choice is working…
IN: Portland
WHERE: Arts Place in Portland, St. Marys, OH and Wright State University WHEN: Registration deadline on January 2, 2012. TITLE: 2012 Winter/Spring ArtWorks and PenWorks BRIEF ABOUT: ArtWorks is a…
OH: Delphos
WHERE: Delphos Museum of Postal History and Delphos Area Art Guild WHEN: Exhibition is February 19, 2012 TITLE: ‘Going Postal – What’s It To You?’ BRIEF ABOUT: The Call for…
Looking at paintings: It’s not a pipe
Rene Magritte (1898-1967), surrealist painter, was born in Lessines, Belgium. His father was a tailor and his mother was a milliner before her marriage. We know that he showed…
Be your own critic
If you are an artist you probably know when you’ve done a good painting. It just “feels right.” But sometimes you feel there’s a problem and you don’t know what…
The original ‘Spider Woman’
In 1600s Europe insects were commonly known as the “beasts of the devil,” and most people tried to ignore them whenever possible. But from a very early age, Maria…
A global revival in my homeland
As you are leaving Beverly Hills, you know instantly that you are entering the Creative City: West Hollywood by the large bronze sculpture garden that runs down the medium…
Simon´s ´Dream´ is history in the making
It has been said many of times and in many ways, but I remain completely confident we never forget our first loves; those which become so deep-rooted in the…
The subject really doesn’t matter
Have you ever looked at an abstract painting and wondered what on earth the artist was up to? When there is no recognizable subject, many people get uncomfortable looking…
Children’s artwork goes through stages
As Picasso once noted, all children are artists. Their art goes through distinct stages as they develop and learn more about what paints, brushes and clay will do for…
ME: Portland
WHERE: Portland Museum of Art WHEN: February 4-June 17, 2012 TITLE: Tanja Alexia Hollander: Are You Really My Friend? BRIEF ABOUT: Photographic portraits that examine friendships in the social media…
NY: Rochester
WHERE: The Lockhart Gallery in the Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester. WHEN: February 3-May 6, 2012 TITLE: Modern Icon: The Machine as Subject in American Art BRIEF…
OH: Troy
WHERE: Troy-Hayner Cultural Center WHEN: Thursday, December 15, 7:30 pm. TITLE: Holiday Concert at Hayner BRIEF ABOUT: From baroque to folk by the Dayton Mandolin Orchestra, the concert will include…
‘Snowflake Doc’ tells stories with his paper artistry
(AAPNW-MI) – English Statesman and writer Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) said regarding preparing for the future, “The secret to success in life is for a man to be ready for…
Fiction I really felt
Author Melody Carlson creates such believable characters; I could actually feel their trials and triumphs, such as in “Christmas at Harringtons” where Lena is penniless and down on her…
POLAND: Oswiecim
WHERE: Southern Poland region near Cracow WHEN: August 1-13, 2012 TITLE: “Polish Pallet” New Art Competition and Residency BRIEF ABOUT: Artists from different countries will join this two-week program to…
CA: San Francisco
WHERE: Fort Mason Center, Festival Pavilion WHEN: February 3-5, 2012 TITLE: Arts of Pacific Asia Show BRIEF ABOUT: 15th annual spotlighting on the pan-Asian arts of today, includes select galleries…
‘Hey, I work for that guy!’
By Hope Wallace I don’t get to see or spend time with my oldest sister, Cathy very much. She has lived in North Carolina for many years and the opportunity…
Taking a line for a walk
    The act of drawing has been described as “Taking a line for a walk.â€Â Outline drawing is the best example of this description.      We all know that in…
Louis Wain: The artist of Catland
Louis Wain (1860-1936) was born in London, England, to an artist father and a textile-designer mother. As a child he was fascinated by colors and amused himself for hours by…
OH: Findlay
WHERE: Findlay Art League WHEN: Friday, December 9, 10:00 am-8:00 pm and Saturday, December 10, 10:00 am-5:00 pm. TITLE: Holiday Boutique BRIEF ABOUT: Annual Christmas sale of decorations, pottery, paintings, cards,…
KY: Lexington
WHERE: Victorian Square Atrium, downtown Lexington. WHEN: Sunday, December 11, 6:00 pm. TITLE: Sixth Annual Alltech Holiday Celebration of Song BRIEF ABOUT: The public is invited to lend their voices…
CA: West Hollywood
WHERE: 8590 Sunset Blvd WHEN: Saturday, December 17, noon-8:00 pm and Sunday, December 18, 2011, noon-6:00 pm. TITLE: Art Without Borders Exhibition and Master Class BRIEF ABOUT: An Art exchange…
Another step for ‘Artkind’
(PNAN) – “Collage offers exciting visual effects, spontaneity, and creative expression,” says Nita Leland, author of Exploring Color, The Creative Artist, Creative Collage Techniques and Confident Color now presents…
Without a Whisper of Weakness
When Bruce Dellinger of Timberville, Virginia received the news that he was this year’s recipient of the Art-to-Art Palette Journal award, he knew that a milestone had been surpassed. Nearly…
Stylin’!
When people begin to make art, the first impulse is often to find the work of artists they like, and then try to paint like that artist. Some people…
African masks unmasked
Many people in Western society think of a mask as a disguise or a way to play the role of another person or animal at Halloween. But when Pablo Picasso…
Framing great-great-grandma, etc.
Previously, we discussed framing paintings; this week we’re moving on to the challenge of framing photos. Framed photos, including those old sepia pictures of great-great relatives and family events…
Milt Caniff and ‘Terry and the Pirates’
Milt Caniff (1907-1988) was unique among American cartoonists of his time because he had a college education. Caniff attended Ohio State University, graduating in 1930. During his time at OSU,…
‘Wall works’ are gigantic signs of hope
Murals created by fresco painting have existed since 300 BC and even earlier using more primitive methods. Once thought of as having a significant impact on communities with messages…
The Stage behind the scenes
“Shop of Horrors” A Broadway performance can deliver a real punch with the performers set under the right background and lighting. There are many aspects in bringing a great show…
Framed! And lookin’ good…
All right, you’ve purchased an original painting – but it isn’t framed. Now what do you do? If you want your picture to look its best, please don’t think “Well,…
He should have stayed acting
    The art of acting has seen few practitioners more passionate than John Wilkes Booth (1838-1865). During his acting career he was called “the handsomest man in America†and a…