Today marks the birthday of the Dutch landscape painter Jan Josephzoon van Goyen. Goyen was active during the Dutch Golden Age and was quite influential on the other landscape painters of his time (Cornelis de Bie, Jan Coelenbier, Cornelis van Noorde, Abraham Susenier, Herman Saftleven, Pieter Jansz van Asch, and Abraham van Beijeren). Pictured here is his work entitled “Peasant Huts with a Sweep Well” from 1633.
Source: this image is in the public domain.
Here is a painting that I acquired at the NatureWorks Art Show & Sale back in February of 2022. As usual, I found myself unable to refuse myself the joy of adding yet another beautiful painting to my collection. This one is from one of my favorite “NatureWorks” artists (from New Mexico). The title: Bison Migration; the artist: Matthew Higginbotham; the medium: oil on canvas; the size: 12″ x 12″. I have always really liked the American Bison, and this version of a herd is positively stunning. Matthew’s style has changed a bit, but the colors, and the shapes continue to speak to me (as if that would ever be a concern). I was able to find a space for this one near the bottom of my linen closet in the bathroom. I consider this a major success in my opinion, though to be honest, smaller paintings are much easier to find a space for than some of the larger paintings that I have my eye on.
Same artist, different style. A couple of weeks ago, I posted a photo of a giclee print by Kat Dakota. Today, I’m posting a picture of one of her abstract paintings. She also does pet portraits. Such a talented and versatile artist (as are most artists). The artist: Kat Dakota, the title: Fall on the River, the medium: oil. Her studio is in Suttons Bay, Michigan (where I attended high school so many years ago), albeit, a far different place today than when I attended school there. The booming little village is quaint and charming. As described on their website: “This year ‘round coastal village has a quality all its own…specialty shops, galleries, unique dining experiences, b&bs and historic inns make this place a truly walkable village.”
My summer 2021 trip to Michigan turned into an art-buying extravaganza! I returned home from this trip with fourteen (14), yes, you heard that right, fourteen new works of art. It was mostly paintings, with an occasional sculpture (clay, stone, glass) thrown in for good measure. I found this gem at the Main Street Gallery in Leland, Michigan. The artist: Neil Walling, the title: Sleeping Bear Dunes, the medium: oil. This is a positively awesome gallery and one I will surely visit in the future.
Here is another new artist that I collected from last year (during Tulsa Mayfest). He has been on my radar screen for a couple of years now and I glad to have finally added one of his paintings to my collection. The artist: Josh Stout, the title: Bison Mountain, the medium: oil (and palette knife), the size: 36″ x36″. Needless to say, this one has a couple of features that made for an easy decision to purchase: the American Bison and the color orange (both favorites of mine). As I was checking out Josh’s website, I ran across his wonderful definition of art: “Art: …the direct influence of every experience in your life combined towards a single subject.”
Back in May, Tulsa Mayfest was allowed to take place in the Blue Dome and Brady Arts districts in downtown Tulsa. And, having been paused by COVID the previous year, I took full advantage of the opportunity to add to my art collection. I acquired four new pieces (three from artists I had not collected from previously). Here is a painting I acquired from a Texas artist. The artist: Constance Conroy, the title: untitled, but I’m calling it “Stormy Pastoral,” the medium: oil, the size: 19″ x 16″. I really like how the storminess of the scene has been captured.
I have no idea the provenance of this one, but it somehow arrived in my parents’ collection. When I googled the artist’s name, the first entry on the result list indicated that she was the wife of Admiral Willard John Smith who was 13th Commandant of the Coast Guard and that she is buried in the Arlington National Cemetery. Cool. The title: Study of Primroses, the artist: Harriet Lary Smith, the medium: oil. The questions now become: did mom and/or dad know this person? And how did this painting come into their possession? We may never know the answers . . . alas.
This particular painting was gifted to my parents by the artist (a family friend) many years ago. I really love the brush strokes as well as the impressionistic simplicity of this one. The title: Dancer With a Red Fan, the artist: Jane McChesney, the medium: oil. It also reminded me of the wonderful “ballerina” paintings of Edgar Degas. Degas was widely known for his paintings and sculptures of dancing girls. And when asked about the subjects of his creative output he replied “It has never occurred to them that my chief interest in dancers lies in rendering movement and painting pretty clothes.” (Source: Smithsonian Magazine, April 2003, “Degas and His Dancers” by Paul Trachtman).
Here is the painting the hung over the toilet in the downstairs bathroom of my parents’ house. This one has true sentimental value: it was painted by my aunt (my mom’s sister). Title: untitled, artist: Shirley Peplinski Withbroe, the medium: unknown (probably oil). Aunt Shirley was never particularly proud of this one (something about not getting the grapes and the pear right), but I have always liked it for some reason . . .
Here is one of the wonderful paintings that I acquired from my parents’ collection (many of which hold some real sentimental value). Because of the family winery, and dad’s old-fashioned system of “bartering,” he would, from time to time, be gifted paintings (sometimes in exchange for wine) by many artists and other notable persons. Some would go right up on the walls of the winery tasting room, others would make their way down to the house. What a joy to grow up in this “art friendly” environment. The title: Bernie’s Grape Vine, the artist: Jane McChesney, the medium: oil. Jane and her husband (Clif, who was also an accomplished artist) became family friends over the many years of visiting the winery.
The Gun-Carryin' Librarian 