"COWGIRLS" Exhibit Coming to Arts on Grand!

The Cowgirls are coming!!!  Carol Herdin, Mona Majorowicz and Barbara McGee have been talking about putting this show together for several years and it is finally ready to hang at Arts on Grand in Spence, Iowa.  Barb is a member of the 2015 Artisans Road Trip!

 oil painting - ©Barb McGee

  watercolor painting - ©Barb McGee

These two paintings were completed by Barbara McGee in the last month, and Barb gives us a little insight and look into the process she used working on these two paintings - one is oil and one watercolor but they were both painted with only three colors, blue, red and yellow plus white for the oil painting.  This was an interesting exercise, in which McGee learned that there is a limitless number of colors that can be created from these three colors.  The oil painting was started first, it is a very tight, precise panting that required a large range of colors and values. She was surprised to find out that almost every color mixed required varying amounts of all three of the colors plus white for the lighter values.  The watercolor was started on a Wednesday in August and was framed and hung on the wall the next day.  It didn't turn out at all as she had intended but when it was done she was happy.  The watercolors were mixed in the same way as the oils except that no white is required because the paper works as the white.  After doing two full paintings in this manner McGee is taken with the simplicity of working with fewer colors.  

The exhibit runs from September 1 through 26th with the opening reception on Thursday September 3rd from 5:30 to 8:00.  The reception is free and open to the public - come meet the artists and take in this fun show!

Deb Yellick Manly - "Serendipity: Marks of Inspiration"

 

 "First Love" - artwork - ©Deb Yellick Manly

Deb Yellick Manly will open with her solo exhibit "Serendipity: Marks of Inspiration" at the Witter Gallery on September 4, 2015!

The 2015 Artisans Road Trip artist explains - "My body of work combines a love of lettering, words, and design with explorations of layered art mediums. As an artist, I find intrigue in the Interactions of line, shape, color and pattern and am captivated as I explore various combinations and interpretations.

 

 "Love is a Relief" - artwork - ©Deb Yellick Manly

My art pieces investigate themes of reflection and inspiration. Past and present collide with an eye to the future embodying change and new growth. Love is a constant. Some pieces may be considered traditional, whereas many of the works represented in this exhibit use letters, words, or text as a springboard for creating more abstract combinations.

Tools and materials used for my creations usually include combinations of gouache, ink, transparent watercolor, acrylics, watercolor pencils, markers, colored pencils, gel or metallic pens, markers and/or unusual accents. I often will create paste paper backgrounds for a more colorful surface to work on. I especially enjoy working with metallic gouaches, markers, and/or interference acrylics on black surfaces.

 

 "Love like a Quilt" - artwork - ©Deb Yellick Manly

Although most of my works are two-dimensional, some pieces incorporate surface variation. I have recently begun to construct geometrical forms, incorporating unique surface design, that may be considered decorative and functional."

  "Repose" - artwork - ©Deb Yellick Manly

"Serendipity: Marks of Inspiration" runs from September 4 through 25th; there will be a closing reception on Friday September 25th.  The reception is open to the public and runs from 5:30 - 7pm.  Contact the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake, Iowa for more information! 

2015 A.R.T. Artist Haley Rothstein Featured Artist in Storm Lake Gallery

 "Mediastorm"

11X14

©Haley Rothstein

Haley Rothstein, a multi-disciplined artist from southwestern Minnesota, has her artwork featured during the month of August at the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake, IA.  A closing reception will be held for her from 5:30 – 7:00pm on Friday, August 28^th.  She will be teaching a two-hour class on Kusudama (origami flowers) the next morning (Saturday, August 29^th) from 10:00am – 12:00 noon.

Haley Rothstein, who lives in Lakefield (MN) but works in Spirit Lake (IA), was born in South Carolina.  An Air Force brat, she moved with her family across the country more than once.  She was introduced to Adobe Photoshop in 2003, and much of what she learned was self-taught.  In 2006, she graduated with her Associate's degree from Minnesota West Community & Technical College, and in 2009 graduated from St. Cloud State University with a Bachelor's degree in Art Photography.  In addition to her photography related art, Rothstein also draws and paints.

"While my degree is in photography, and the majority of my expertise is in Adobe Photoshop, my first artistic love has always been drawing cartoons and comics.  When growing up, I would create new characters, give them personalities and stories, and draw them every single day," said Rothstein.  "In college I set aside my cartoons to learn more technical skills and focus on the more 'serious' art of photography."

 

 "Dash"

8X10

©Haley Rothstein

 

After college, she picked up her brushes and began painting her "joyful figure" monsters.  The figures became more and more stylized, with brighter colors and happy grins.  Around 2012, Rothstein started painting a series of abstracted trees, sometimes with birds or people.  "Because I come from a military family and we moved across the country a couple times, my love for trees stems from a craving for a history or 'roots' someplace."

 "Orange Tree"

12X24

©Haley Rothstein

 

Featured at the Witter this month are select pieces of Rothstein's work from the last 5 years in the mediums of acrylic paintings, drawings, and digital paintings.

As a side hobby, Rothstein makes and sells Kusudama flowers.  She made nearly 400 of the flowers for a wedding in 2013, and since has taught a number of one-day classes on how to make the adorable folded paper flowers.  The class will run from 10:00am – 12:00 noon on Saturday, August 29^th.  Cost per participant is only $20.00, and all supplies will be provided.  If you would like to register for the class, please call the Witter Gallery at (712) 732-3400.

The Witter Gallery, located at 609 Cayuga St. in Storm Lake, IA, is open to the public from 1:00 – 5:00pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays;  1:00 – 6:00pm on Thursdays; and 10:00am – 2:00pm on Saturdays.  The closing reception for Haley Rothstein will be held from 5:30 – 7:00pm on Friday, August 28^th.  Rothstein will be on hand at the gallery that evening to meet and greet visitors and answer questions about her work. 

2015 A.R.T. Artist Karen Ruddy!

Jack of all Trades, Master of SOME.

That is a phrase that describes my recent years of work in the Arts. Earning an Undergraduate degree in Art and Education over 49 years ago and only enjoying the opportunity to become fairly serious about my Art after I retired in 2004. I dabbled in Ceramics, Sculpture, Mosaics, Painting, Jewelry Design, Stain Glass, and the most monetarily successful endeavor, Statuary Restoration.

(before)

 

(after)

The first experience came when Holy Family Parish in Emmetsburg, Iowa commissioned me to restore the hundred and fifty year old badly scaling Stations of the Cross in what began as St. Mary's Catholic church.  Having toured other like church statuary projects that were garishly painted vibrant glossy colors I decided to keep the surfaces muted and matte and only paint Jesus in bright white robes keeping the other figures in tones of linen and ochre. Extremely favorable comments by church members upon completion satisfied my decisions. You many see the entire 14 Stations at Holy Family Catholic Church in Emmetsburg, Iowa.

 (before)

(before)

(after)

My next foray into Statuary Restoration came when one of the parishioners in the Catholic Church in Fonda, Iowa commissioned me to repair the 600 pound Blessed Mother and Baby Jesus statue that sits in a grotto in front of the church. It took most of the Football team in town to unload it into my studio.  The Statue was requisitioned by the family of a second World War soldier many years ago and had been damaged in a storm. It is a most beautiful piece of work from an artist in Italy. See it, in front of the Catholic Church in Fonda.  The before and after pictures are seen above.

 

(before)

(after)

My next adventure in Statuary Restoration came when the previous Director of Queen of Peace in Sioux City, requested a study of what to do about the Stations of the Cross that have been enclosed in plexi glass out in their Gardens for thirty years and were rapidly disintegrating.  The finished restoration of Station Nine took many weeks and turned out to be more labor-intensive than expected and the board decided to buy new modern Stations for their Way of the Cross .  This station was in many pieces when I started reconstructing it. The completed Station is on display in the Queen of Peace Board Room, Sioux City, Iowa.

Thus is the Mastery of one aspect of Art in my life.

2015 Artisans Road Trip Artist Marisa Sidles at Spencer's Main Street Market!

Click on image of Marisa's work at the Main Street Market for a larger view!

Marisa Sidles, 2015 Artisan Road Trip Artists from Terril, has been participating in Spencer's Thursday evening Main Street Market. Marisa works in a variety of media including acrylic painting and whimsical found metal sculptures. At the Thursday evening event  (running until August 13th from 5:00 – 8:00pm on the Count Court House grounds) Marisa has been bringing her anvil, hammer and antique spoons so that you, the customer, can create your very own piece of original art in the form of a spoon pendant. Marisa will guide you through the process to the finished product. If you are not able to make it to the market, you will have an opportunity to create your own spoon pendent or see how it is done, during the Artisan Road Trip this October 10 – 11.

 

Pictured is a customer's finished piece. I love that the "G" is backwords. To me, is says "I have flaws, but I am still showing courage."

 

Also pictured is an example of the other original pieces Marisa creates with scrap/found pieces of metal including a beetle and angel wings made from the outside of a dryer perfect for indoors or outdoors.

 

In addition to whimsical metal sculptures, Marisa creates vibrant paintings in a variety of subjects from colorful birds to landscapes and portraits. You can see more of Marisa's work by liking her facebook page at Rissy's Design & Creations, or by visiting her 2015 A.R.T. web site page at - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/ 

 

Thank you for visiting and learning more about the artists of the 2015 Artisans Road Trip!