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.
Here is a painting that I acquired in early 2022. For whatever reason, I really like the starkness, yet beauty, of winter that this simple watercolor portrays. This scene is very reminiscent of my time growing up during the winters in northern lower Michigan. The title: untitled (I’m calling it “Winter Scene”), the artist: Micheal Jones, the medium: watercolor, the size: 7-1/2″ x 22-1/4″. This short by wide painting should fit nicely either on the wall space above an entryway or on one of my closet doors. I am still not having to use my ceilings to display art (yet) — but we’re getting close.
Here was my first acquisition of 2022 (purchased in the first week of January). This particular painting was “painted from an overlook in Cotter, Arkansas, during the Cotter plein air event a couple of years ago” (from the artist). The White River is in the foreground. The title: Cotter Overlook, the artist: Gil Adams, the medium: oil on panel, the size: 10″ x 20.” The look: positively stunning!
As the summer heat drags on and winter being several months away, perhaps the scene depicted in this painting will help you “cool off” a bit (at least in your head). This is an older acquisition (it was acquired in late 2021) but it immediately reminded me of my youth, sledding with my brothers in Michigan during the “pre-winery/vineyard” years. Wonderful memories indeed. The title: Snow Day: Sledding, the artist: Maurie Traylor, the medium: watercolor, the size: 11″ x 14.” This one is just total fun and I can’t wait to play around with the framing of this gem.
The talent of our local art scene never ceases to amaze me. So many wonderful artists creating so many wonderful paintings. Here is another I acquired during the fall of 2021 from the Royce Myers Gallery. The title: Nightfall, 5th and Boston, the artist: Anke Dodson, the medium: watercolor; the size: 24″ X 36.” This painting depicts a lovely night scene in downtown Tulsa. The detail is exquisite. I have been collecting works by Anke for more than 20 years now and truly enjoy the amount of detail and sophistication in her watercolors.
Here is a painting that I acquired from the Royce Myers Gallery during an exhibit in the fall of 2021. The title: The Road Home, the artist: Jean Richardson, the medium: acrylic, the size: 60″ x 30.” I have visited and been in and out of the gallery for several years now and have seen a great many works by Jean, but none of them spoke to me like this one and I was delighted to be able to finally add on of her works to my collection. I guess it was inevitable. I actually was fortunate to be able to meet the artist during an exhibit reception and really felt a strong connection to her artist statement: “The image of the horse is the perfect vehicle to express my true subjects; motion and energy. The horse as a real being is lovely in itself and I enjoy the power, the speed, and the physical beauty of the animal. My paintings, however, take this real image and make it a symbol. The horse as a metaphor for the human spirit; unbridled, striving, sometimes heroic, often restless, full of energy, floating above us, calling us to other realms.”
I have been collecting art for nearly forty (40) years now, and have amassed a rather large, but eclectic collection. I have a variety of subject matter: still life, landscape, portrait, animal, architecture, etc.; a variety of styles: realism, abstraction, surrealism, impressionism, cubism, photography, etc.; a variety of mediums: oil, acrylic, graphite, charcoal, pastel, pen and ink, watercolor, glass, bronze, clay, etc.; and a variety of sizes and orientations: small, medium, large, portrait, and landscape. Despite this wide variety, I definitely have favorite artists. I could define favorite as “having collected more than one painting by them,” but the list would be extensive. If I expand my definition to “five or more,” I still have about a dozen artists that fall within this threshold. Here is one by an artist from whom I have collected more than ten of their paintings. The artist: Joey Frisillo, the title: Sunflower Cheer, the medium: oil and cold wax. I have collected more than ten paintings from five separate artists, and more than twenty paintings from one artist. So, just by sheer volume, these would be my ultimate favorites (alphabetically): Joanna Duck, Joey Frisillo, Larry Hood, Charles R. Murphy, and Christopher Westfall. Thank you one and all for the enormous joy your paintings bring to my life.
Here is a painting that I acquired in the fall of 2021 at an ArtFest in Tulsa. Even though COVID was still around (and seemingly waning), the restrictions on public gatherings were loosening and a lot of activities that had been put on hold were beginning to happen again (thank you, thank you). The artist: Kathy Soliday, the title: At the Water’s Edge, the medium: acrylic. This was my first acquisition of a work by this artist, but probably not my last. What drew my attention to this piece was the eye of this Bighorn Sheep — ever alert and wary — then I visited the artist’s web site to learn more about her and discovered the following . . . “I study the animals form and structure then draw them on my canvas before I begin my painting. I start with their eyes and noses to get a connection with my subject, then I start my process.”
The Crooked Tree Art Fair is an annual event that occurs in Traverse City (Michigan) on the last Saturday of July. This normally coincides nicely with the Traverse City Film Festival (either right before or during). Of course, thanks to COVID, the film festival has not happened for the last couple of years, but the Art Fair did return to action in the summer of 2021. This is the piece I acquired back in summer 2021 (my phone camera really doesn’t capture “blue” very well at all — this painting should look much bluer than it does, sorry — very similar coloring to the largest painting in this picture). The artist: Debbie Orthner Lamson, the title: Waterscape Series, #23, the medium: acrylic. This art fair never disappoints, although I did miss one of my favorite artists (Conrad Kaufman) who apparently was unable to make the show this year (alas).
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.”
The Gun-Carryin' Librarian 