Reception at FTBOA

She'll Heir winning the Cinderella Stakes at Hollywood

If you're in town for the OBS Two-Year-Olds & Horses of Racing Age sale next week, I'd like to invite you to attend an opening reception for the Equine Art Exhibit at the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders's and Owners' Association. Upstairs in their light and airy gallery, you'll find an diverse selection of artwork along with some fascination racing memorabilia. There are some surprises, I can promise you. Monday afternoon, June 14th from 2-4pm. All welcome.

"Honestly, I expected to get a cold reception because of my subject matter. But when editors took a look at the story I had to tell, and saw that this was not a parochial story at all, they really warmed to it." - Laura Hillenbrand

Reception Pics

Here's my salon group, "Out of Hand Artists" (OoHA) at our reception last Friday night at MCA Brick City Center for the Arts.

Titled "OoHA H.U.G.S Ocala", it's an amazing exhibit of beautiful and powerful artwork created by seven professional artists.

L. to R. Moi, Margaret Watts, Lorna Effler, Nancy Moskovitz, Jacquelyn Schindehette,
Moe Hahn and Mary Verrrandeaux

Local newspaper Ocala Star Banner was in attendance capturing the conversation between artists and art lovers. You can see more photos here.

"The painterly painter uses the viewer's experience to give life to the work. Instead of being a passive receiver of information, the viewer becomes a participant." - Charles Movalli

OoHA HUGS Ocala Reception

Please join us for a gala opening reception for "OoHA HUGS Ocala."

My artist salon "Out of Hand Artists" (OoHA) is conducting an Art Exhibit and Sale at the Brick City Center for the Arts in downtown Ocala. A portion of the proceeds will benefit H.U.G.S. Charities, Inc., a non-profit organization that raises funds for the research, prevention, detection and treatment of all forms of cancer and assists individuals and families whose lives have been adversely affected by it.

Out of Hand Artists is comprised of seven professional artists who meet twice monthly to discuss the business aspects of being an artist.

The details:

Gala Opening Reception:

Friday, November 6th, 2009 from 5:30-8:30pm. Brick City Center for the Arts 23 SW Broadway Ocala, FL 34471

Call moi for more info: 352-671-7469. All are welcome to attend.

Please join us for food and libations. This is an impressively strong exhibit of fine art and paintings. I promise you'll be amazed.

“An artist has every right - one may even say a duty - to exhibit his productions as prominently as he can” - Jacques Barzun

Gala Ribbon Cutting

In a light drizzle and under a full moon we conducted our ribbon cutting ceremony last night for Voilart!

Holding the ribbon from left to right: Marion Cultural Alliance Executive Director Nancy Ledding; Marion County Administrator Dr. Lee Niblock; Florida landscape artist (my partner) Jackie Schindehette; moi; and Marion County Commissioner Barbara Fitos.

I love our red archway.

The turnout was fabulous and we were packed with well-wishers all night.

As enjoyable as it was, I'm relieved the various pomp and circumstance is over with, enabling Jackie and I to get back to the serious business of painting. We both have shows and exhibits fast approaching and need to buckle down and get productive.

Next Saturday Voilart! will serve as headquarters for local plein air painters participating in the International Worldwide Paint Out. We'll provide the initial sign-up for artists and also provide approximate locales where they can be found painting for interested observers. For more info check out the Ocala Plein Air Painters website.

"The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more." - Jonas Salk

Voilart! Preview Opening

Our Preview Opening last Thursday was full of surprises and enjoyed a great turnout. Flowers from well-wishers abundantly adorned the studio and Jackie and I worked the meet and greet opportunities.

Dr. Leslie Hammond, moi, and Terry Carey.

I hadn't seen Terry Carey in so long. She is a former gallery owner and now full-time artist. I was honored that Dr. Leslie Hammond paid us a visit. She possesses a most impressive academic resume longer than the length of the studio. Archaeologist, art historian, curator, instructor and owner of Artist Eye Fine Art, a full-service art appraisal and consultation business.

Jackie Schindehette and Susan Cassens in front of Jackie's exquisite landscapes.

Susan Cassens drove all the way up from Ft. Pierce to attend the opening. Susan and Jackie were partnered in a similar studio years ago. Speaking of partners, check out Jackie's website here.
Don't you love the chair rail Harry installed for her paintings?

Bill Steele, moi, and Ellie Steele

So many people have blessed me with their help and support getting this studio/gallery project launched. Bill Steele's generosity is over the top - printing a fabulous promotional blurb about Voilart! in the current issue of his incredible magazine, "Hold Your Horses". The magazine is quickly gaining reputation and attention as it goes national and even international!

"Selling is essentially transference of feeling". - Zig Ziglar

Daytime Reception

Three receptions in eighteen hours! Yesterday my artist friend Jackie Schindehette and I headed up to Melrose Bay Gallery to attend the opening exhibit of Florida landscape artist Linda Blondheim. I'm always amazed at how a landscape painter can muddle through and edit all that green flora into a beautiful, cohesive and convincing piece. Linda makes it look easy.

Linda in front of her exquisite paintings of Florida landscapes.

Fellow landscape artist Jackie Schindehette and Linda Blondheim in front of Linda's paintings.

Linda also writes a facinating blog, Landscapes of the South, that you might want to wander over to visit. Besides her impressive paintings, her blog offers history and info of Linda's favorite places to paint plein air. Oh, and the recipes! Linda was a chef in a former life - attending one of her soirees is a culinary treat.

Custom-made birch panels are Linda's latest substrate of choice. Clean and contemporary, uncluttered by frames, the panels beautifully compliment her clear color and beckoning compositions of light.

"Plein air painting is still an interpretation of reality, even though I am seeing the scene first hand. My "truth" is far more interesting to me than the scene in reality." - Linda Blondheim

Reception Tonight

The opening reception for the Florida Thoroughbred Charities Equine Art Exhibit 2008 is today, October 1st. Viewing begins at 2:30 with a "meet and greet" the artists between 4:30 and 6:30. All this takes place at the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association at 801 SW 60th Ave. in Ocala.

Michael has assembled a diverse group of artists representing painting styles from realism to abstract. Same for sculpture. Besides my huge piece "Diagonal", I've added this painting that I blogged about a couple of weeks ago.

"On the Grass" oil on canvas, 34" x 60"

I'm pleased with the color. Throughout the years I've studied Johannes Itten and Josef Albers along with color field painters Ellsworth Kelly and Morris Louis. I recall a painting teacher making us cut up expensive Color Aid paper for projects to duplicate Itten's color theories. His book "The Art of Color" became my studio bible.

In the last few years I've discovered a modern colorist, Nita Leland. Not academic as the aforementioned, her book "Exploring Color" is still fun to browse through.

"Only those who love color are admitted to its beauty and immanent presence. It affords utility to all, but unveils its deeper mysteries only to its devotees". - Johannes Itten

Great Art and Frame Reception

This past Friday night, Great Art and Frame in Tampa, Florida hosted a fabulous reception for their current exhibit, The Divine Equine - Art for the Horse Lover. It was well attended as gallery owner Joose Hadley took the event over the top with catered noshes, libations and careful attention to detail that created a lovely experience. A portion of the sales of artwork will benefit the Bakas Equestrian Center, a therapeutic riding organization providing FREE recreational riding opportunities to young people with physical and mental challenges.

I must say, I was amazed at the huge amount of gifts and services generously donated for raffle.

Joose Hadley and moi. Take note of the plentiful equestrian themed adornments outside and throughout a large area of the sidewalk also providing beautifully decorated tables.

Shoulder to shoulder. The crowd spilled out onto the sidewalk. Neighbor Edward Jones Investments provided their offices for exhibiting artwork and playing host to horse and art lovers.

Joose hung my artwork in the front entrance. I'm honored. The table with the boxes provided people's choice voting.

Spectacular equine sculpture by well-known artist Mindy Z. Colton. The teal-toned patina on her horses is just gorgeous. We engaged in great conversation together and discovered that we travel in like circles. Mindy shared her impressive portfolio with me.


Artist D.K. Ramirezde Arellano applies traditional miniature techniques to her sumptuous canvases. She took to the time to explain the process to me. In addition to the beautifully rendered horses, the background is treated with equal attention creating a jewel-toned wallpaper-like texture.

"I love the gallery, the arena of representation. It's a commercial world, and morality is based generally around economics, and that's taking place in the art gallery". - Jeff Koons

Opening Reception at the Elliott Museum

Back down to Stuart, Florida Friday night for the opening reception at the Elliott Museum. Featuring the paintings of six artists from the "Out of Hand Artists" salon, I think it was a strong and diverse collection of artwork.

Two equine artists were selected including my good friend Moe Hahn who paints in the genre of driving, dressage, polo, eventing and hunter/jumping.

It was a decent crowd. My job is to meet guests, explain my paintings and help make the experience enjoyable for the patrons. This particular reception was limited to members of the museum.
LaVaine Wrigley and Marlee Matheson (pictured above with moi) were largely responsible for hanging the exhibit. I was thrilled with the excellent job Marlee did hanging my eighteen panel piece, "Mile and a Sixteenth (and change)".

Everyone was intrigued with the piece. I submitted three large, edgy works that were well received. Approaching onlookers and providing an explanation resulted in interesting dialog.

This way cool explanation of our salon was printed on a panel at the entrance to the gallery. The entire exhibit was beautifully presented and the reception was elegant. Many thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make it all possible!

Equus IV: The Art of the Horse

The opening reception of my exhibit at the Museum of Florida Art took place last night. Three paintings of mine are included in an exhibit entitled: Equus IV: The Art of the Horse.

I'd post some photos but we were greeted with a sign that forbade such activity. Back to the packed parking lot to put the digital away. Of course, said contraband flashed throughout the galleries. I almost asked those sneaks to e-mail me some pics for the blog as the artwork was impressively strong and the shoulder to shoulder attendance remarkable. Who knew a show of horse art could draw such a crowd? And at a well-respected museum? Made my week, I'll tell ya.

I was also pleased and, well, relieved to be in such good company. I knew only one other artist and it appeared that the quality works were produced by genuine equine artists, not other disciplines who (ugh) decide to paint a horse. You can spot those from a country mile away...

Does that sound elitist? Snotty? I always advise artists to be careful who they exhibit with. Poor, amateur work flanking your artwork will pull it down to that level, regardless of how beautiful it is.

I'm B-a-a-c-k

Apologies to my subscribers for the absence of posts. A week before my departure to Hot Springs I "threw" my hip "out" and took to bed for several days. It all starts with my obsessive attempts to be all, do all. Just one more painting was my mantra. So much for those best laid plans...

Anywho, I limped into Gallery Central in Hot Springs, Arkansas and was welcomed by a winter snow storm.

I haven't seen or felt snow in eight years. Beautiful, but soooo cold.

Turnout was brisk, in spite of the weather.

Gallery manager Rae Johnson is second from right. She's standing in front of Jan Wood's exquisite bronzes.

Moi with equine art lover.

I freely admit to being an driven workaholic. Once again, I resolve to take a day to play. My hip now demands it.