Tag Archives: artists

Maker of smiles, illustrators of memories

December 28th, 2008 | By Sheona Hamilton-Grant

Christmas continues in the blogosphere and you are, I’m sure, curious to see what a few of us created for the occasion?

Presents have been unwrapped and many of us (commission artists) are now able to unveil our artwork.

This is why today’s post is not directly about my work but that of some of my fellow artists.

Did you know that all too often commission artists are looked upon with a certain disrespect?
This is mainly because we are considered to be selling ourselves and copying photographs.

Total rubbish.
Being commissioned to render a loved one is MUCH harder than copying a photograph.

Why? The artwork has to be above average artistically, spot-on accurate, come from the heart and display total understanding of the rendered subject. All these elements are crucial. Should one of these fundamentals fail the artwork will hold very little credibility (if any at all!).

Oh this could get so very long… !

We are simply wizards of our chosen mediums. Artists with a skill for recreating someone else’s memories and feelings.

We are, without a shadow of a doubt, the “makers of smiles”, “illustrators of memories”.


Here are, in no specific order, links to some of my fellow (blogging) artists and their unveiled treasures.

  • Dawn Secord shows her regal painting of an Irish Setter on her blog Art of the Dog
  • Gayle Mason’s beautiful pastel painting of a Rough Collie and coloured pencil drawing of a Jack Russel can be seen on her blog Fur in the Paint
  • Terry Miller has been posting his little treasures on his blog Pencil Shavings throughout December. (This are not commissions as such but were nevertheless wrapped under Christmas trees and creating smiles.)
  • Jennifer Pratt unveiled her beautiful coloured equine pencil drawing of thoroughbred mare Gilly. The portrait can be seen on her blog Life as a Horse Artist.
  • Melanie Phillips shared her many work in progresses of her commissions on her blog Work in Progress. She has had vary varied sitters: Dalmatians, Dachshund with scarf, Labradors, Airedales, Spaniels, Collies, Pugs…
  • Marsha Robinett of The Extraordinary Pencil shared her moving portrait for her grandson before wrapping it in Christmas paper.
  • On her blog Painting a Dog a Day, Kim Santini shares her canine commissions of which I am sure many have been wrapped and laid carefully under glittering trees.
  • Holly Bedrosian unvailed a sensitive coloured pencil portrait on her blog Holly Bedrosian Fine Art. I’m unsure as to it being a Christmas commission but it was for certain a “smile maker”.
  • Last but not least, Dee Dee Murray has posted her brilliant interpretation of a beautiful Great Dane “Gracie” on her studio blog Dee Dee Murray Art Studio.

Great stuff!

Back in 2009 with sharpened pencils and a new stock of paper.
Until then I will leave with a wave and wishing you all a cracking New Year!

©Copyright 2008 by Sheona Hamilton Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Sheona Hamilton Grant’s website.

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Call for Entries: Dancing Horse Farm Equine Art Show 2009

November 28th, 2008 | By News

The Dancing Horse Farm in Lebanon, Ohio has announced their 3rd annual Equine Art Show:

Entry Deadline: March 22, 2009

Divisions: This is an equine art show, so all works must feature a horse or horses. Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media, Photography, Sculpture, with separate divisions for Professional and Amateur artists. All work must be original. Two-dimensional work must be suitably framed and wired for hanging. Maximum size: 42” framed. Three-dimensional work must be under 50 (fifty) pounds in weight and must be finished. NO WORKS IN PROGRESS WILL BE ACCEPTED. All art must be the original creation of the submitting artist.

Entries: Artists may enter up to three works for a non-refundable $25 flat fee. A check payable in US funds and made out to Dancing Horse Farm, (4080 Weisenberger Rd., Lebanon OH 45036) must accompany your entry form if you snail-mail it in. A Paypal button is available on the art show’s website, http://www.thesculptedhorse.com/payment.html, for your convenience if you prefer that method of payment.

Submitting Entries: Images should be in .jpg format, no larger than 8” on the longest side and saved at 72dpi. Save in PhotoShop as Image Option level 5 and Format Option baseline optimized. If the images are posted on a Web page, you may submit the URL (Web address) of the page or send the images in a single zip file or email attachment. Send the entry form information in the email when you attach the file or URL. BE SURE TO MARK WHICH DIVISION YOU ARE ENTERING, AND WHETHER YOU ARE AN AMATEUR OR A PROFESSIONAL. Send entries to: DHFShow@yahoo.com by March 22, 2009. You will be notified via email of the jurors’ decisions in early April. The actual artwork must be at Dancing Horse Farm by April 24, 2009. Entry tags must be firmly attached to each artwork entered, and return postage must be pre-paid by the artist.

Awards: Ribbons will be awarded for first to third place in each division. The “Best of Show” award (which will include both Professional and Amateur entries) will be $100.00. Other awards are at the judge’s discretion. Winning artworks will be featured on a webpage that will be created for the art show and linked to Dancing Horse Farm’s website. These images will remain on the site for one year, along with ordering information.

Full entry information is located at http://www.thesculptedhorse.com/prospectus.html. You will need the Adobe Reader to read the prospectus and entry forms.

Questions? Please contact DHFShow@yahoo.com

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Sep 3 - Sam Maloof, Woodworker and His Gardens

September 3rd, 2008 | By Elin Pendleton

On location painting at a very special site, I finished this 12 x 16 oil on a summer afternoon a couple weeks back. I bring it to you today, because the original painting is hanging at the Maloof Foundation in Alta Loma (you can google Sam Maloof for an enlightening introduction to an American icon of furniture making.)

The Plein Air Artists of Riverside have been invited to show our works, and many include scenery from the lovely gardens and buildings of his Foundation for preserving the craftsmanship of fine woodworking.

When I looked around for something to paint, I was captivated by the contrast of the umbrella with the shadowed area behind it, and the lively ribbon streamers that are a characteristic of the grounds. Everything about the site speaks of quality hand-made craftsmanship, including the native stone walls and the beautifully constructed wood buildings.

I had the pleasure of meeting Sam a year ago, and he is a wonderfully modest and gentle man. In his 90s now, he still works on furniture designs with the help of apprentices in his workshop. Oh, if I could only afford one of his chairs!

My painting has been selected for various publicity for the show, which opens with a reception at the Maloof Foundation on September 13. The art life goes on!

You can see my entire blog here.

If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2008 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elin Pendleton’s website.

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Shameless Promotion: Celebration of Sound & Color

June 29th, 2008 | By Carrie Lewis

As many of you know, I am the current director of the Carriage Factory Gallery in Newton, Kansas. The Carriage Factory Gallery is the show place for works by the members of the Newton Fine Arts Association as well as guest artists from within the membership as well as outside it.

The Carriage Factory is a privately owned and operated gallery supported by sales, dues and donations and many benefactors with an interest in local arts.

One of the major annual events we host at the gallery is the annual Celebration of Sound & Color. This event began four years ago as a Fourth of July celebration and a grand re-opening after the gallery was closed for a couple of weeks for repainting and new carpet.

This year’s Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, July 12 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

As always, the artist’s reception for the Summer 2008 Exhibit: The Land We Love will be part of the festivities. Our featured artists are Kansas artists Cally Krallman, Don Lind and Carolyn Wedel.

The members of the Newton Fine Arts Association have provided an excellent collection works featuring a wide variety of subjects, media and styles for The Land We Love.

Schedule of Events:

  • Historic Flag Exhibit: All Day
  • American Snapshots Book Signing by Steven Johnson: 2 to 4 p.m.
  • Watercolor Painting with Connie Rhodes: 3 to 4 p.m.
  • Prairie Glimpses: The Kansas Song Project - Special presentation by Cally Krallman and Diane Gillenwater of Pastense
  • Artists Reception: 5 to 7 p.m.
  • Schwan’s Ice Cream: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
  • Band Concert: 7 p.m.

To get a feel for what happens here during Celebration, you can see photographs of last year’s Celebration of Sound & Color at the Carriage Factory Gallery.

If you happen to be in the Newton area on July 12, stop by and say hi.

If you would like more information on this event, you are welcome to contact me directly or at the gallery.

©Copyright 2008 by Carrie Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Carrie Lewis’s website.

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Best of EAG 2007 Online Exhibit Now Live

June 20th, 2008 | By Carrie Lewis

One of the many hats I wear is that of show coordinator for the Equine Art Guild.

The Equine Art Guild is an organization created by and for horse artists. Founded in 1997, it is made up of artists from around the world working in almost every medium imaginable and some that will surprise you!

Painters, sculptors, photographers, artists working with ‘found objects’ (drift wood, for example) and many other forms of art have all found a place in the EAG.

One of the functions of the EAG is showcasing member work through a series of online exhibits hosted on the organization’s web site.

The newest show opened June 15 and is titled The Best of 2007.

As you might guess from the title, this new exhibit features a collection of the favorite works by many of our members. Equine and non-equine images alike are included in this great exhibit. These are the works selected by the artists themselves; the single favorite work from 2007.

Many of the works are available for purchase, so if you are looking for that ‘perfect’ work of art to add to your collection or begin your collection, I invite you to visit this show.

Of course, it’s a great exhibit to visit if you enjoy  browsing great artwork.

The Best of 2007 is the fourth in an on-going series of online exhibits. Previous exhibits are:

All three past exhibits are also available for your enjoyment.

©Copyright 2008 by Carrie Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Carrie Lewis’s website.

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Day Two of Mural project

May 22nd, 2008 | By Christine Collier-Trevino

I am feeling more relaxed and intuitive today. As an aside, I had not done any painting for over a year, ever since I moved here to the island. I missed it, but just never got started.

This has been a grand project to kick my heinie into gear!

Although it may not look it, I actually got a lot done today. The only reason that I stopped is because twice I nearly tipped my brush cleaning tub over into my lap (my space here is very limited)!

I am still working with a very limited palette. Today I added yellow. Which yellow, you ask? Good question!

Let me tell you a little story about my paint supply….before I moved here I squeezed out my paints into two big weekly pill containers. One for warm colors and one for cool colors. Then I got distracted by the move and when the art supplies finally arrived, I had forgotten what they were! Not only that, but I had forgotten an important step in the whole idea of taking the paint out of the tube and storing it in the pill container….it is supposed to be kept in the freezer when not in use.

But believe it or not, they are still good. A bit of a skin on each one but still soft and buttery inside.

I do lack a few colors that would be very helpful with this particular panel, but I will see how it goes. Maybe I can mix what I need.

So enough chatter! Here is day two of my panel:

©Copyright 2008 by Christine Collier-Trevino. See original post here.

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Mural Panel update

May 22nd, 2008 | By Alecia Underhill

My panel for the Le Cadeau du Cheval Mural is coming along nicely. I’ll post two installments here…I’m working pretty quickly on this, and I didn’t have a chance to post a new blog entry in between, so you can see the early stage of the painting and how it has progressed. The first image, I have included an image of the original panel next to it, so that you can squint your eyes at the image and see how the shapes and the tones fit into the original. This has been an extreme challenge. The only horse I have a decent reference for is the big bucskin in the middle. The others are pretty much made-up out of my head.

In this latest installment, I’ve refined the anatomy of the horses a bit more. The ear on the grey looks a little small to me, so I’ll probably adjust that. I’ve used the forelocks and manes of the two middle horses to create the dark lines in the composition. This is a departure from my usual work in which I’m concerned with strong light and shadows. With no strong light source, the horses are looking a bit flat, but I can’t get too contrasty with the light, or I’ll lose the original overall shape.
The mural page has had a few new pieces added. Check out the progress here: http://www.muralmosaic.com/Cadeau.html

©Copyright 2008 by Alecia Underhill. See original post here.

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