Member News - Fall 2012

Connie Erikson - Upcoming Exhibition

         “ Caddo Lake – A Texas Treasure”

 “Sun Warmed Treetops”
16 x 20 inch oil by Connie Erickson

Opens October 20^th

Weiler House Fine Art Gallery Fort Worth

The exhibit features works in oil and pastel by artist Connie Erickson. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Nature Conservancy. The exhibit will run until November 17^th.

Weiler House Fine Art Gallery is located at 3126 Handley Drive in Fort Worth.

For Further information please contact bill@weilerhousefineart.com

Connie Erickson is soon moving to Illinois, so this may be a last chance to purchase  a

Painting of a place she lived from 2004 – 2008: her beloved Caddo Lake. Her home was on Pine Island Pond pictured in this painting.  Please join Connie in a celebration of her time in Texas.  She would love to see the many friends she has made while she lived here.

Susan Hotard - Recent Honors

Susan had two paintings accepted into the Richeson 75 Figure/ Portrait Competition, one of which was awarded 1st Place for Oils.

Susan also had one painting accepted into Audubon Artist Inc. in New York, and currently has 3 paintings in the Times-Picayune Show at Garden District Gallery in New Orleans.

Ann Kraft Walker - Recent Honors

Ann Kraft Walker had quite an amazing year! Here are some of the highlights:

• Finalist -  ACOPAL   " Psalm 149:3 "  
• Finalist -  Raymar Art Contest - January    " A Velvet Gaze "
• Exhibited - The Salon International  " My Bird " and " But Now I See "
• Exhibited -  OPA National Juried Exhibit  " Cinderella "
• Finalist - The Artist's Magazine 29th Annual Competition  " But Now I See '' and " The Visitor " 
• Exhibited - International Guild of Realism  " But Now I See " and " The Visitor " 
• Exhibited - 27th Annual Bosque Art Classic  " My Bird "
• Finalist - Southwest Art Artistic Excellence  " The Visitor " 
• First Place - OPA Online Showcase  " Never Fails "
• Finalist - International Artist Magazine Challenge # 72  " But Now I See " 
• Strokes of Genius 4  " John Lightfoot "

"Never Fails," 12x14", oil, by Ann Kraft Walker 

"Psalm 149:3", by Ann Kraft Walker

Kay Polk - Teaching Again

Submitted by Dallas artist, Kay Polk:
Dallas-based Kay Polk has started teaching classes in her home studio. Her classes are limited to 5-6 people in a class.  If anyone is interested, they should email Kay at:  studio@kpolk.com.  Her class is currently full but she will be starting more classes.  They are for students working in oil and pastel with either general or portraiture focus.  

Gay Paratore - Between Texas and Maine

Submitted by Santa Fe artist, Gay Paratore: 
"We got back from spending our summer in Maine to get ready for my one woman show at the Butler Longhorn Museum in League City, Texas (see photo). The next week I entered the Watercolor Art Society of Houston Membership Show and won a merchandise award and the invitation for the show had my art work featured as I had won first place last year. They are having a watercolor portrait competition  coming up soon, looking forward to that. I was in three shows in Maine and just before we left I was awarded 1st place at the Beaumont International Show. This has been a good year for me; I'm not using a cane anymore and was able to hike the trails in Acadia Park again. I will be teaching classes there for Schoodic Arts for All again next year; this will be my fourth year to do so. Ya'll come! Nearly 100 workshops the first two weeks in August!  Maine is really beautiful! If your down this way the National Society of Artists is having their National Show at Butler; I luckily got all three of my works accepted! I hope everyone has a great holiday season. Gay Paratore

Krystal Brown - Liberace Demo Recap

Submitted by Spring, TX artist, Krystal Brown:
I was able to attend the demo last week by Rob Liberace at the Woodlands Art League and it was amazing! He posed the model and painted for 3/20 minutes sessions.  During the breaks he would answer specific questions if anyone approached him to ask.  It was time well spent.  I’ve ordered books he’s recommended and have been referring back to the notes I took that night.  One of the best parts of the evening was meeting fellow artists in the area and setting goals.  I look forward to attending more of these type of events and the Art of the Portrait Annual Conference next spring in Atlanta! I’m finishing up a portrait commission and hope to update my painting blog http://mommapainter.blogspot.com/ sometime soon.  

Gene Dillard - Unique Project in Plano

Submitted by Plano, TX artist, Gene Dillard

UNIQUE PORTRAIT PROJECT IN PLANO

“DOWNTOWN FACE-TO-FACE”

During the month of December, a special exhibit will be held at the Plano Art Centre featuring artists from the Rail Station Studios and Gallery. The exhibit will spotlight works-in-progress for the “Downtown Fact-to-Face” project by Rail Station Studio portrait creators Gene Dillard and Gaby Pruitt.

The “Downtown Fact-to-Face” works-in-progress are part of a developing exhibit created by Gene and Gaby to portray a profile of personalities who make up the character of Historic Downtown Plano. Subjects include individuals ranging from city officials to shop owners and notable individuals who occupy the historic sector of Plano. A total of approximately 25 painted and photographic portraits will make up the final collection.

The “Downtown Fact-to-Face” project is a year-long endeavor that supports the efforts of the Historic Downtown Plano Association to promote the unique character of downtown. And the designated charity of the Association, The Assistance Center Collin County will be the beneficiary of the project when the collection of portraits are made available for sale at a special exhibit in the Spring.

The December exhibit will primarily feature figurative and portrait works by the studio artists, but will also include other genres.  Works included will be by Gene  and Gaby as well as participating artists Don Dillard, Don Mullins, Michael Holter and Joanna Littlefield; members of the Portrait Society of America.

Rail Station Studios and Gallery is located in Historic Downtown Plano at
1013 15^th Place, Plano 75075

214-403-9171

Alix Dunn - New Work

Submitted by Houston artist, Alix Dunn:
Canal Street Gallery of Houston, Texas presents new work by Alix Dunn, "The Texas Bottomlands."

"The Texas Bottomlands" - 48x72" - oil on canvas - by Alix Dunn 

The painting won first place in the summer 2011 H.A.S. show.