2017 A.R.T. Artists Recieve Awards at The Pearson Lakes Art Center's Plein Air Painting Exhibition!

 "Lone Bale at First Light"

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

(Awarded the "PA Brown Best in Show") 

The Pearson Lakes Art Center has opened it's 2017 "Plein Air Painting Exhibition", with the opening reception taking place last night on August 17th.

Two of the artists from the 2017 Artisans Road Trip were awarded recognition during the opening reception!  Bruce Morrison was given the "PA Brown Best in Show" award for his plein air oil painting "Lone Bale First Light", while another Morrison oil painting "Wooded Lane No.1" was given one of the 3 "Judge's Choice Awards".

"North State Street II"

 painting - © Marisa Sidles

(Awarded Honorable Mention) 

Another 2017 Artisans Road Trip Artist, Marisa Sidles, received an Honorable Mention for her painting "North State Street II"!

"Wooded lane No.1"

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

(Awarded "Judge's Choice Award") 

Plein air painting is a traditional practice of painting in the field on location - there was a great diversity of artwork and subject matter represented by this year's exhibit - be sure and take in the show if you're up in the region!

The Plein Air Painting Exhibition will stay on display through September 16th - contact The Pearson Lakes Art Center at 712 332-7013 (email -  visual@lakesart.org) for more information!

2017 A.R.T. Artist Bruce Morrison's Artwork at the Lost Island Prairie Wetland Nature Center this Summer!

"Spring Bobolink"

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

2017 Artisans Road Trip artist Bruce A. Morrison is displaying his artwork this summer at the Lost Island Prairie Wetland Nature Center on Lost Island Lake north of Ruthven, IA.

"Dickcissel"

color pencil drawing - © Bruce A. Morrison

The natural wetland areas around Lost Island are a particular favorite of the artist; commingling the wetlands and the tallgrass prairie "is the best of both worlds"!

"Big Bluestem in Bloom"

color pencil drawing - © Bruce A. Morrison

The Lost Island Prairie Wetland Nature Center gives the public an appreciation and basic understanding of the wetlands and offers opportunities to enjoy the beauty of these natural treasures.  One of the goals of the Lost Island Prairie Wetland Nature Center is to give to give visitors the information and skills needed to make wise decisions regarding our natural resources, to become better stewards of the land and to make an impression that will last a lifetime.

Catch the showing of select artwork of Bruce Morrison on display July through the end of August - and take in the beauty of our wetlands and prairies while you're at it!  A win -win!

2016 A.R.T. Artists Showing at Summerwind Gallery's "Farm and Field"!

 

Three of the four artists from the 2016 Artisans Road Trip at the Summerwind Gallery's "Farm and Field".   Upper left - clockwise as follows: Anita K. Plucker, Judy Thompson and Bruce Morrison.

(All artwork copyright property of the respective artists.)

The Summerwind Gallery in Arnolds Park, Iowa will be featuring a showing of several artists  - four of which are artists from the 2016 Artisans Road Trip!  The showing titled "Farm and Field" opens on Tuesday June 1st and runs through June 15.

Featured Artisans Road Trip artists include Anita K. Plucker, Bruce Morrison, Judy Thompson  and Roberta Williams.  Other artists are showing as well.

The Summerwind Gallery, owned and operated by artist Roberta Williams, carries artwork from across Iowa and is a unique addition to the Iowa Great Lakes - a "must see" destination!

To see top professional artwork of the region and state - be sure and take in this wonderful showing!  The gallery is located at 28 Allen Avenue in Arnolds Park, Iowa (the former location of Side Street Art and Framing).  
Gallery hours are Monday - Saturday 11-7 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. Find more information by contacting the Summerwind via phone at 712 332-5906 or check it out on the web at - www.summerwindgallery.com!

2015 A.R.T. Artist Announced as Recipient of Iowa's Art EMC 2015 Corporate Purchase!

Artisans Road Trip artist Bruce Morrison's Art EMC 2015 artwork selection shown above -

top "July in the Valley", center " Along the Southeast Corner Fence Line", and bottom "Creek's Bend" all oil paintings © Bruce A. Morrison

 

As the Artisans Road Trip starts getting closer, one A.R.T. member had a bit of a last minute "distraction", but a good one!  Bruce Morrison has just been notified that he has been included in a corporate purchase by EMC Insurance Companies for the second time in a row.

 

Although it began in 2005 - 2013 was the first year that A.R.T. artist Bruce Morrison  heard about EMC Insurance's program to support the arts in Iowa...they have a program called "Art EMC" and every 2 years they put the word out to Iowa Artists that they will purchase an undeclared number of works from Iowa Artists that year for their Corporate Art Collection.  Not only that but they leave the purchasing up to the voting via their employees - which really makes it even more unique!

 

Art EMC 2013 artwork selection

"Medford Avenue Bridge" oil painting © Bruce A. Morrison

 

In 2013 Morrison submitted 3 pieces of work for consideration and the EMC employee vote honored him with the purchase of his painting "Medford Avenue Bridge" for their collection...they have since used that painting to illustrate their Art EMC program online and in their brochures.

 

This year the artwork specifications had changed slightly and Bruce only had 3 paintings available that met the criteria so he entered all 3 pieces.  During the summer he was apprised that his work had passed through each voting period but no word as to which painting might have been the vote getter...until last week when Morrison was told a decision had been made and he was one of the finalists.  

 

When Bruce asked the 2015 Art EMC Art Coordinator Caitlin Stewart Westcott which piece the EMC employees had selected she said, "Well, this is a bit unusual but - all 3!"  "We have 2,200 employees from all over the country vote on this and to have that many votes for all the work in an artist's submission is unheard of - they really like your work!" "You now have more work than any other artist in our corporation's Art EMC collection."

 

Morrison's reaction was, "I'm very happy to say the least and a bit overwhelmed!" The A.R.T. artist made delivery of the paintings in Des Moines this week and now will need to plan a return trip back to EMC in November when they will have a dedication of all the artwork that has been purchased for the EMC Corporate Art Collection through their 2015 program.

 

Thanks for stopping by the A.R.T. Blog - stayed tuned, the 2015 Artisans Road Trip is getting even closer and some A.R.T. exhibits are about to be announced!

2014 A.R.T. Artist Bruce Morrison at Neal Smith's J.N. "Ding" Darling Art Gallery!

All images © Bruce A. Morrison

 

2014 Artisans Road Trip artist Bruce Morrison will be exhibiting a solo showing of "From the Tallgrass" at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge's J.N. "Ding" Darling Art Gallery from July 1 through August 21st.

 

The Neal Smith NWR is one of the largest federal refuges in Iowa - this refuge is solely dedicated to the Tallgrass Prairie. "The mission of the Refuge is to actively protect, restore, reconstruct and manage the diverse native ecosystems of tallgrass prairie, oak savanna, and sedge meadow. These were the native habitats existing on the Refuge’s 5600 acres prior to Euro-American settlement."  In keeping with the focus of the Neal Smith NWR, Morrison's exhibit will feature works in keeping with our state's natural heritage of the prairie.

 

Bruce has spent the past 40+ years painting, drawing and photographing in the Tallgrass Prairie and Prairie Pothole region, and has also worked within the scope of prairie restoration/reconstruction and education of this nearly vanished natural heritage, making it the focus of his work through the years.

 

The Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge is located adjacent to Prairie City, Iowa - just 22 miles east of Des Moines.  You can find out more about the refuge at their web site - http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Neal_Smith/about.html

 

Morrison's works have been published throughout North America and his artwork has exhibited throughout the United States, Canada and overseas.

 

Check back again soon for more about the artists of the 2014 Artisans Road Trip!

 

 

From the Tallgrass...an Exhibition

(click on image for a larger view)

A solo exhibition of prairie artist Bruce Morrison’s paintings, drawings and photographs will be hosted by the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake, Iowa. “From the Tallgrass” is a familiar theme for Morrison, who paints, draws and photographs the prairie remnants and locales from the region he lives and works from. Many of the more than 60 works in this exhibit have never been publicly exhibited before.

The 2012 Artisans Road Trip artist works directly from the landscape, as well as the flora and fauna of the tallgrass prairie. “I seek out and paint, draw or photograph actual locations.  I like to ‘document’ as well as ‘celebrate’ the natural and cultural heritage of our region. The prairie made this region what it is today, and I feel compelled to celebrate that heritage.” remarks the artist. You can follow the artist on his weekly blog (http://prairiepainter.blogspot.com).

In the exhibit you will see oil paintings of landscapes done in the “plein air” tradition (on location), or in a more traditional style, done in the artist’s rural studio.  Exhibit visitors will also see very rich landscapes of a smaller scale done in a laborious method in color pencil, as well as intimate and panoramic photographs, and a small, never before exhibited, collection of large format silver gelatin prints.

Morrison works as a professional artist out of his rural SE O’Brien County studio. Bruce and his wife Georgeann remodeled a former sheep barn/chicken coup on their property, to serve as Bruce’s workspace and gallery.  “A great way to re-purpose a piece of our cultural heritage!”  said the artist.

The Exhibit, “From the Tallgrass”,  runs from April 5 through April 26, 2012.  There will be an artist’s reception at the Witter Gallery on Thursday April 5th from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. - the public is invited!

The Witter Gallery is located at 609 Cayuga Street, in Storm Lake.  You can contact the Witter for more information at 712 732-3400.

Just Wait'n!

 "Riffles, First Light"

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view)

Please excuse the title's slang, but that about sums up this moment for the 2012 Artisans Road Trip. The entries are in and the names of the 2012 participating artists is in the process of being drawn up.

This is also that time of year when artists of the Road Trip are busy with studio time and other work needing to be tended to during the winter "lull". I don't know about everyone else but I've had difficulty keeping to my studio's easel schedule because of the great winter weather we've been having! Just standing on the studio deck overlooking the valley here has been a distraction - that warm sunshine is bringing on spring fever!

 Hopefully we'll have names to announce and some glimpses at our 2012 artists in the near future...right now we're just wait'n!