Sheila Parr

Tulsa artist Sheila Parr is having a showing of her work at the OSU Foundation building in Tulsa. Look for the 23 pieces of original works and giclee prints in the Malinda Berry Fischer Gallery. The OSU Foundation is located at 400 S. Monroe and the exhibit is open weekdays 8am-5pm through September 30.

Mexico City

Dream of Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park by Diego Rivera

Image courtesy of delange.org

I'm rereading The Lacuna by Barbara Kingslover. It has stirred my interest in Mexico City once again. I would love to see the murals painted by Diego Rivera and others. I've done a little research and have found that the homes of Frida Kahlo & Rivera are now museums. The Bauhaus house designed by O'Gorman is described as a monstrosity but the pictures I've seen, of stacked colored boxes, intrigue me. Since I've never been to Mexico would Mexico City be a good way to start? I'd like to find out.

Yvonne Sangster

Once again a wonderful work by Yvonne was the hit of the OPSU Art Auction commanding the second highest bid of the evening. Of course Yvonne can always be counted on to produce fabulous work; her pastels sparkle, and notice the detail.
Here is the little darling that could capture any one's heart : The Little Pow Wow Princess. Yvonne shared with me how she was ready with her camera at the Taos Pow Wow. "For two days I sat in awe as the Native Americans danced past in full regalia giving inspiration for many pastel paintings. A precious little girl, so tiny that I could not believe she could walk, danced by with her mother. I knew at that moment I would have to capture her forever in pastel!"


Yvonne is an instructor at OPSU and this pic shows her at last spring's Art Jubilee demonstrating her skill to a group of perspective college art majors. And look what she's working on!

Carol Beesley

Artist, Carol Beesley, was in town last week. I managed to catch her at the No Man's Land Museum. She had been out roaming the countryside with director Debbie Coleson, and taking photographs for an up coming show. I first met Carol at OU when I was completing my BLS and we have been bumping into each other throughout the years. She is a great painter and you can see her work on www.ovac-ok.org and find an wonderful article about her and her work at www.artisan-santafe.com under featured artists. She will be returning to town next month so expect to hear more about her and see some pics.

LOVE

Today Google expands on the "LOVE" stamp. Great color too; check it out!
Thanks to Google & Robert Indiana!

Willie Benson

On Wednesday October 7 the post was a wordless shot of handsome Willie Benson, a recent graduate of Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Willie has a knack with critters: reproducing them with paint and clay. See that wonderful lizard/iguana behind him. If you want to reach him concerning commissions his email address is: bigwilliestyle52@hotmail.com

John Piper

Here is an artist who I was totally unfamiliar with. John Piper an English artist who spent most of his career painting English subjects. As a boy he fell in love with the works he saw at the Tate Gallery, London. After Law School when he had an opportunity to go to art school, he took it and never looked back.

His early canvases were abstract constructions. During WWII he painted the war and captured the Coventry Cathedral while it was still smouldering. I saw the Coventry Cathedral in 1985, the ruins and the marvelous new building. The latter part of Piper's career was dominated by landscapes. He painted many of the ruins of England as he discovered them.

Another surprise once I did some google research is that he also did ceramics. He certainly didn't get into a rut with his art; he was willing to try new things whether popular or not.

501

I'm looking at 501 Great Artists again and came upon a favorite Georgia O'Keeffe. Georgia O'Keeffe, the little gal from Wisconsin who became a household name in her lifetime. She studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Student's League in NY. From there she headed west and produced some remarkable watercolors from her impressions of the plains. But it was Albert Stieglitz who changed her life by introducing her to the NY art scene.
Eventually she made her home in the west; I've been to her house in Abiquiu, NM, and I've viewed many of the places where she painted. She captured the heat and starkness of the SW, and really made a name for herself as well as securing her spot in art history.

The pic is of Palo Duro Canyon, TX, which inspired Georgia's early work.

501 Revisited

Once again I'm looking at the book 501 Great Artists. I'm so glad that Man Ray is included. I was first introduced to his sculpture & assemblages in the 1960's and thought they were very innovative. Then in 2004 I rediscovered him while I was taking photography. Yes, as described, he was a man with a diverse range of talents. His black & white photos of manipulated subjects really defined the identity of this artist who named himself, Man Ray. And he left behind not only a collection of great art but a photographic technique known as the Rayograph. Google can tell you more.

Artists

Presenting artists Anna & daughter-in-law Dallas Mayer. The WOW poppies, or are they hollyhocks, are the work of Anna & both artists now have work on display at the Guymon Library. Also look for Anna's "art quilts" at the TX County Free Fair; just look for the blue ribbons and you'll find one of Anna's quilts attached.

Mary Cassatt

Mary Cassatt, an American in Paris: Images of Quietude and Reflection, 33 works on paper, presented at The Citadelle in Canadian, TX.

Mary Cassatt, (b.1844 d.1926) born to a wealthy family in Pennsylvania, made Paris her permanent home around her 30th birthday. Her decision was timely, for Impressionism was finally gaining momentum and acceptance in the established art circles. Mary too found acceptance, friendship, and camaraderie among the impressionists, especially Edgar Degas.
Mary's most important works are done in pastel; her subject matter, "a women's world". But she also produced a series of prints that were strongly inspired by Japanese prints that were arriving in Europe. A print in the above exhibit called "The Kiss" (etching and aquatint), shows a mother kissing the child in her arms. It's simplicity is stunning, yet the simple use of line defines shape and form revealing the mass of the figures.

Americans love her works which are held by many galleries and private collectors.

Artist

A Sunday School teacher began her lesson with a question, "Boys and girls, what do you know about God?

A hand shot up in the air. "He's an artist!" said the kindergarten boy.

"Really? How do you know?" the teacher asked.

"You know ~ Our Father, who does art in heaven..."

Kristy Patterson

Kristy Patterson at work.

Kristy Patterson

Kristy Patterson is an Oklahoma artist with a knack with pastels. Oh, she does other media as well, but her pastels are so vibrant that they really grab your attention. You can read all about Kristy & her art, particularly her recent success at the Sunflower Festival, at her blog, http://flyingshoesartstudio.blogspot.com.

Ashley F. Bryan

Ashley F. Bryan: author, illustrator, teacher

Studied at Cooper Union, NYC

Degree from Columbia Univ.

Received Fulbright Scholarship

Taught at Dartmouth College

Honors for books & illustration:

Coretta Scott King Award

Arbuthnot Award

Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal

A Passion for Art

Ashley F. Bryan (b.1923) A Passion for Art, that is something I can relate to.

This past week while visiting Savannah, GA I discovered artist Ashley F. Bryan at the SCAD Museum (more about SCAD later). There was a wonderful display of his book illustrations done as drawings, tempera, & collage; wonderful bright colors that are so "happy" and stimulating. But the work I just fell in love with was the display of puppets made of "found" objects. Sorry, no photography was allowed. But if I can find examples of his work on the internet I'll grab it. These puppets made from bone, glass, clay, fur, used garments etc., were a great inspiration to me, and gave me new ideas for embellishing my masks. Also I had the idea to do a series of collages inspired by the puppets. I would probably mount them on mat board, and they would require a shadowbox frame to accommodate the "found" objects. But it is only another idea.

Woodcarving Workshop
Question: Are you going to show pics of the walking stick that you carved?
Answer: As soon as I can get the pics out of the camera.

Abstract Expressionists

I love postage stamps; they are like little works of art. The USPS has issued an edition of actual art: Abstract Expressionists. This 20st century art movement included the artists:
Hans Hofmann (1810-1966)
Arshile Gorky (1904-1948)
Adolph Gottlieb (1903-1974)
Jean Mitchell (1925-1992)
Clyfford Still (1904-1980)
Barnett Newman (1905-1970)
Willem de Kooning (1904-1997)
Jackson Pollock (1912-1956)
Robert Motherwell (1915-1991)
Mark Rothko (1903-1970)
I have been accused of being an Abstract Expressionist, but this movement was driven by emotion. "The function of the artist is to express reality as felt." Robert Motherwell
My work is strictly an arrangement of shape, line, and color; what is pleasing to the eye not what is felt in the soul.

Joan Brown

I first came upon the art of Joan Brown in the early 90's. I had been taking painting seriously for a few years, and I was always on the lookout for artists who would inspire me. Joan's work startled me! How so, you may ask? It was the directness of her work. Her images showed up on her canvases with the same boldness that I saw in my images in my head. But I was still afraid to let mine out. My learned perception of art didn't find that kind of boldness acceptable. Her canvases were large, which thrilled me. I wanted to paint BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST, and I still have that desire. Like Frida Kahlo, Joan painted many self portraits. I wonder what she was trying to tell the world about herself?
JOAN BROWN (1938-1990)