2012 A.R.T. at the Sanford!

 

Select artists of the 2012 Artisans Road Trip are exhibiting at the Sanford Museum through the month of August!  Take in this month's exhibit to see a sampling of works from these NW Iowa artists up close, and wet your whistle for this fall's event!

The Artisans Road Trip arranges exhibits throughout the year; its a wonderful way to spread the word about this yearly event and also expose more folks to many of the creative people of our area.

The Sanford is located in Cherokee, Iowa at 117 east Willow Street.  For more information about the exhibit you can contact the Sanford Museum at 712.225.3922.

Thanks for visiting - be sure and stop by for more exciting news from the 2012 Artisans Road Trip!!!

2012 A.R.T. Artist Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath

"Tributaries"

© Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath

 

This entry for the 2012 Artisans Road Trip is featuring artist Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath! Tim is a retired Art Professor from Iowa State University. He spent 34 years there, teaching two and three dimensional design studios as well as studio classes in all aspects of fiber art. His artwork has been shown in local, state regional, national and international venues.

"Folk art has long been an area of interest for me. I have researched and collected folk art in all my travels.I have spent extended visits to Mexico and in particular to the Oaxaca area. The color, texture and freedom of expression have fascinated me for many years. There is an incredible excitement in the work of folk artists.

"Shadowed"

© Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath

I have been “accused” of having too much fun creating my art. Not possible in my world. Having fun is one of the prime motivators in my work. I love having viewers smile. I smile a lot while I am working on my art.

In my two dimensional pieces, the backgrounds are painted with acrylic paint and sometimes embellished with found objects. The foregrounds have crocheted web introduced onto the compositions.

"Swooped (side view)"

© Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath

The three-dimensional pieces are usually constructed out of willow branches and are many times painted or varnished. The found objects and crocheted yarn inhabit the structures.

Color, texture, repetition, and pattern have always been strong elements in my work. The compositions are based on my observations of the world around us.

Recently, in an attempt at simplification, I have chosen to title my art work with one word titles.

My work is regularly available for sale at Art on 16^th Gallery in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

It is always my hope to elicit pleasure from my viewers."

Join us again for another entry for the 2012 Artisans Road Trip!

 

 

2012 A.R.T. Artist Ron Netten

Ron Netten's Stoneware is functional, decorative and sculptural

artwork  ©Ron Netten

(click on image for a larger view)

 Ron Netten is our highlighted 2012 Artisans Road Trip artist for this blog entry!  Ron has been a long time participant in A.R.T. and is located in Storm Lake, Iowa, in the "Beautiful View" section of the roadtrip. (you can click on this link for an A.R.T. map of Storm Lake)

Ron works primarily in high-fire stoneware.  He works with "food safe" material and practices, truly making his medium not just decorative and sculptural but "functional" as well!

Netten's work can be seen in his shared Storm Lake studio at the "Studio Upstairs" - 530 1/2 Erie Street, and more information can be found on the Artisans Road Trip web site on Ron's page at-

http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/Ron%20Netten.htm .

Also, if you're near or passing through the Spencer area, be sure and take in the exhibition of works at Arts on Grand which is currently showing "Art and Architecture," an exhibit featuring the work of Ron Netten and the late John Loring Perkins.through Aug. 4th!

Thank you for stopping by for a look at another artist of the 2012 Artisans Road Trip!

 

Prairie Painter - Painting from Studies

 "September Dawn, Little Sioux River"

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

"Prairie Painter" is the handle I use for my business blog - http://prairiepainter.blogspot.com - I think it fits since I do paint the prairie out here :) My business is art, and my artwork is painting, drawing and photography. I've been a member of the Artisans Road Trip since the very first one back in 2004...I did take a year off while building our studio here in SE O'Brien County, but have been a constant supporting member and participant.

We've been introducing members and talking about exhibits for the 2012 A.R.T. and I thought I'd change things up a little and describe my painting process when working from painted "studies", in this case a small oil painting started on location, then finished in the studio. These small "studies" are often used as a platform to work from, to paint a larger finished work in the studio.

The painting shown here is actually from a plein air study I did not too terribly far from the studio about 3 years back. The piece was started outside on the site, but had to be finished that day in the studio because the conditions changed so quickly. The study can be seen and read about from that original blog from September 17, 2009 - http://prairiepainter.blogspot.com/2009/...

Plein air studies are a natural step for a painter...first you do small color studies (paintings) on location, and these serve as guides for further work in a larger "finished" painting - done later in the studio.

I sold the original plein air study of this painting just a couple months after I did it in 2009 so I had to work from an image file I scanned of the original 6X8" plein air study. That still worked just fine...I wasn't trying to laboriously duplicate the small original, but instead work off of the "impression" the original piece offered as far as lighting, color and composition. The finished piece is unmistakably done from the original, yet is more refined to reflect my interpretation of that morning...the fog or haze rising off of the river as the early morning, late summer sun, breaks through the atmosphere upstream.

You can see other work I've done at my studio's web site -
http://www.morrisons-studio.com

Thank you for visiting our Artisans Road Trip blog during the year - be sure and check back for more artists of the 2012 Artisans Road Trip!

New Works by Marisa Sidles-2012 A.R.T. Artist

 "Campfire" - © MarisaSidles

Marisa's new paintings are on display at The Wine Bar And Art Gallery in Arnolds Park. The show consists of acrylic paintings inspired by old Polaroid pictures, memories, and expressive techniques.

 

 "Moonboots 1" - © MarisaSidles

She used refurbished materials to create a charming and colorful series of paintings along with little memory boxes. This series has a nostalgic feel and she hopes it will bring joy to all who takes the time so pay a visit to see them.

 

 "Rocky 1" - © MarisaSidles

The Wine Bar is open Thursday – Saturday at 7:00pm.

2012 Artisans Road Trip Artist Mel Myers

This A.R.T. spotlight is on Spencer potter Mel Myers!  Mel makes one-of-a-kind, hand thrown porcelain pottery. His bowls, vases, lidded jars, and plates are hand carved with intricate designs. His glazes are also original. Safe to eat off of or put in the oven, his art work is also beautiful to place on a table or mantel. His works make nice gifts.

Besides the Artisans Road Trip, Myers is active in the summer art show circuit with shows in Des Moines, Ames, Iowa City, Okoboji, Marshalltown, Mason City and others. He has been invited to display and sell his pottery in galleries in Iowa City, West Des Moines and Ames. His pottery has been sold to people nation-wide, as well as to people in many foreign countries. He works daily, so he has new glazes and pottery coming out of the kiln frequently.

Mel enjoys visitors to his studio at 717 11th Ave East. His studio is open daily to the public. His work phone is 7125802529.  Turn east at the walgreen/hyvee corner and go 11 blocks to 717 11th Ave East to his studio. Handicap assessible.

Check back again for more artits of the 2012 Artisans Road Trip.

2012 Artisans Road Trip - First of the Summer!

 Some examples of 2012 A.R.T. artists (from upper left clockwise)

Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath, Joleen Dentlinger, Mel Myers, Judy Thompson, 

Dennis Dykema, and Diane King

 The first summer exhibition of the 2012 Artisans Road Trip starts off with an artist's reception at the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake, Iowa this Thursday evening (June 7th) from 5:30-7:00 p.m.!  The exhibit runs from June 2nd through June 29th, and showcases examples of works from the artists participating in the 2012 A.R.T. event.

Want to meet and talk with artists of this year's event?  Come on down to Storm Lake at the Witter Gallery during the June 7th artist's reception!  If you miss the reception, be sure and stop by during the month of June and enjoy the view!