Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Compilation Exhibit Book of 5 Kentucky Artists



To commemorate the Feb-March 2011 exhibit of works from 5 members of The Bluegrass Drawing Society, The Clark County Public Library has graciously put together a wonderful book of the works on display.

The BDS wishes to thank John Maruskin and Rachel Lwin for their support and contributions in supporting and promoting BDS. You can preview the book at Blurb where you can also order your own copy of this compilation.

BDS Artists featured in this compilation book are: Bill Berryman, Rebecca Chamberlain, Karen Steed, Denise Knoebel, and Cindy Williams.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Interview with Painter Jeremy Lipking

This is a wonderful glimpse into the life of another great painter. I love what he says about composition. I can relate to this so much.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Novorealism

A modern day master: Alexey Steele.

Thanks to artists like this incredibly talented man, there is an exciting movement afoot in the world of art. The fact that it seems to be growing is very encouraging for lovers of Classical Realism and representational art. Ateliers have been surfacing across the nation,equipping art students with the much coveted drawing and painting skills of the great masters. These skills are not nor have they ever been unattainable, though they have certainly been stifled. This is largely due to the rejection of classically trained methods in so many universities and art colleges across the globe. Alas, hope is indeed alive thanks to some modern masters like Steele. I celebrate these enigmatic Novorealists. Enjoy and marvel!


Friday, October 1, 2010

Welcome October

(John Everett Millais, Autumn Leaves)

Ode to Autumn
John Keats

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;
To bend with apples the mossed cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'erbrimmed their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reaped furrow sound asleep,
Drowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers;
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cider-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings, hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, -
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing, and now with treble soft
The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Inspiration...

Just the other day a friend asked me something that no one ever has before. The question was: "Out of all the works of art throughout history, which one do you wish you had created?" My first response was: How in the world can I answer such a broad question? I mean, there are at least 2 dozen within nearly every art movement that I wish I had created. It really would be impossible.

With this question weighing on my mind, I thought it would be fun this week to see if I could pull a handful out to share. I somehow managed to think of five works under the umbrella of the Pre-Raphaelite movement ( my favorite period in art) that I seem to keep coming back to for inspiration. These really don't begin to scratch the surface but they are some that I certainly wish I had created.

In no particular order:

( Ophelia John Everett Millais)

(The Lady of Shalott John Waterhouse)

( Veronica Veronese Dante Gabriel Rossetti)


(Tree of Forgiveness Edward Coley Burne-Jones)



(Night and Sleep Evelyn De Morgan)

Thursday, September 9, 2010

All Things Equine


( Mother and Child pen and ink 2010)

All of Central Kentucky is abuzz with the Alltech World Equestrian Games approaching. To commemorate this event, an arts organization that I’m involved with, Stoner Creek Arts, is hosting a wonderful exhibition. It is the Annual Creative Harvest festival which will be held at The Hopewell Museum in Paris, Kentucky. This year the theme is “All Things Equine”. Last year was my first time at Creative Harvest and I was completely blown away with the massive turnout and warm reception for the artists. This year, I have one piece, Mother in Child, in this show. It was such a blessing the day I dropped my drawing off because I got a glimpse at some of the other pieces in the exhibition. I am truly humbled and honored to be in such great company. Central Kentucky really is the place to find the world’s greatest Equine artists. I felt inspired just being in the same room with these talented folks. I hope to have a few photos to post next week of this exciting exhibit. Until then, have a wonderful weekend and please come to Kentucky this fall for all the World Equestrian events!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Inspiration Tuesdays

( Amaryllis Minerva 2010 by Rebecca Chamberlain)

I absolutely adore Botanical Illustration and have wanted to take a course dedicated exclusively to this art form for ages but could never find one that fit both my budget as well as my schedule. So, I found one online( will post more about that experience as it unfolds) and decided to take the plunge. Though I've toyed with this kind of illustration for awhile now ( see above pen and ink drawing), I have so much to learn. Well, there's no time like the present, right?


With all that said, there is one artist in particular that I discovered last year whose work I find incredibly inspirational. Her skill is exceptional but perhaps even more impressive to me is that she has mastered colored pencil in a way that boggles the mind. I purchased her book Botanical Painting With Colored Pencil about 6 months ago and love everything about it, especially since I'm more comfortable with pencils than brushes. Who is she? Her name is Ann Swan. Her credentials blow me away especially her membership in the Society of Botanical Artists( no small feat) and the Society of Floral Painters. I know that she has taught workshops in some US cities so if you would like to try your hand at botanicals, and hear her name mentioned, run to sign up. They do fill up fast. For those who can't make it to one of her workshops, just look at her site, order her book, and marvel!