Artist Spotlight: Michael Gillespie

Michael Gillespie

Michael Gillespie of Crandall, TX, is this month's Spotlight Artist. If you would like to be "in the spotlight," please email Anna at annarosebain@gmail.com to submit your information.

Interview with our March Spotlight Artist, Michael Gillespie:

1) When and how did you first become seriously interested in Art?  I used to draw a lot when I was in grade school, but I became interested in music in high school, and studied music in college and graduate school. I was in church music for nine years before I decided to study art and become an artist.

2) What is your training, and what medium(s) / subject matter do you work in?  I earned a Bachelor of Fine Art degree at UT-Austin, and have taken workshops with Daniel Greene, Paul Leveille, Ramon Kelly, and others. I have made four trips to Europe and spent time in the great art museums there. I started out doing illustrations and portraits in pastel, and gradually started doing portraits and landscapes in oil.

"Dr. Newbury," by Michael Gillespie

3) What do you try to express in your work? With portraits, I try to show the person at their best. This involves, pose (hopefully characteristic of the individual), facial expression, color, lighting, blending, edges, everything that makes a good realist painting, with the emphasis on the face. In figure painting, I want to emphasize an idea visually, whether the idea is a pretext, an emotion, or just the beauty of the subject and the way it is painted. In landscapes and cityscapes, I want the viewer to feel what I felt when I first saw the scene and decided to paint it.

4) What artists/professionals have been your biggest influences? I was influenced for many years by Ray Kinstler’s portrait style, but lately have realized my oil portraits are more like the classical realists. I have recently studied in that tradition with Steve Armes and Ron Cheek.

5) What do you do to gain new inspiration for your work?  I mainly look at good artwork whenever I can, but I also take note of what inspires other artists: literature, poetry, music, and so I have been looking to the other arts for inspiration and ideas.

6) What would you like to be doing with your art ten years from now? 

Using the things mentioned above to inspire and create beautiful and compelling paintings.

"Delane," by Michael Gillespie

7) Do you set goals for yourself concerning the making of your art? Not exactly goals, but I usually have in mind the next painting and how it will be my best.

8) Are you happy with your job choice as an artist? Do you have any regrets in this career choice or things you would have done differently?  I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. But on the other hand, I would advise any young person to have a back-up plan, to learn some practical skills, or plan to teach, especially if you have a family who depends on your income. And besides, it’s good to be more well-rounded.

9) Any fun or interesting facts about yourself that you'd like to share? I teach a class at Dallas Baptist University called “Introduction to Fine Arts”, a survey of all the fine arts except literature. There I really get to use my background in music and visual art.

10) Best piece of advice for other artists? Never stop studying and learning.

Contact Info:
Website: http://www.mwgillespie.com

"Richard Blakey," by Michael Gillespie

"Don't Bother Me," by Michael Gillespie

Recap: Judith Carducci Workshop, January 2012

Hi everyone,
This is your TX ambassador, Anna Rose Bain writing...
I hope that this spring is finding you happy, successful, and painting up a storm! I thought I would share a little about a recent workshop I attended with one of the Portrait Society's most esteemed faculty members, Judith Carducci. If you've ever had the opportunity to learn from her, or hear her speak at PSOA conferences, you know that Judy is a firm believer in working exclusively from life. Because of her purist dedication to life drawing and painting, and her passion for her craft, Judy's work is incredibly strong and vibrant. She is also a great storyteller and for every point she makes in her teaching, she can give an example from her wealth of experience. Personally, I have gained a great deal from her instruction and advice, and I hope that if you get a chance to study with her, you will take advantage of the opportunity! She is a great artist and person, but... she won't let you off easy. Prepare to be challenged! The 14 of us who took her January workshop in Dallas, certainly were!

Here are some pictures from the 5-day workshop.

Judy at the beginning of her demo, day 1. The model was WWII veteran, Jim.

Explaining the anatomy of the ear.

Measuring the length of the face.

Judy's finished charcoal demo of Jim (with a sketch of eye - part of her demonstration of the anatomy of facial features)

Our wonderful host was Michael Mentler, head of the Society of Figurative Arts. The workshop took place at his studio (samples of his artwork in the background). I really love this shot of him! :-)

Judy would demo in the morning, and then the students got their shot at it in the afternoon to impliment what they learned. Above: artist Christen Benat, working on a profile view.

The first day was focused primarily on values, so we stuck to black and white, or in my case, brown and white. Here is my little monochromatic sketch of Jim, in oil on canvas. I only used Rembrandt's transparent oxide brown and white.

The model for day #2: Sylett, an artist's model with 30 years of experience! Judith really enjoyed doing this demo for us, and we enjoyed watching! She was working on a brand new line of Canson pastel board, courtesy of Canson via Michael Mentler (Michael represents their brand).

The finished demo. A solid, colorful, and exciting portrait!

The students hard at work.

My little 12x9 profile study of Sylett.

 Michael Mentler posed for Judy on day 4.

She began and finished the portrait in charcoal, realizing early on that it didn't need any color; it was already a strong impression! 

The finished portrait of Michael... or should I say, Gandalf the wizard? (Sorry, Michael, couldn't resist!)

Our afternoon model, Buck, was no less exciting! Here he is posing with a wolf skin hat, turquoise jewelry, and a staff. 

Artist Rebecca McClure off to a very strong start. You could really feel the energy in the room!

An exciting rendition by Ellen Moore.

 Here's mine. I really took Judy's advice to heart: no matter where you are positioned in front of the model, find something you LOVE about the pose and run with it!I loved the backlighting on the furry hat, as well as the mysterious shadow that the rim cast over Buck's eyes.

On the last day of the workshop, Judy did a self-portrait as her demo. 

The progression was very exciting to watch! We all sat riveted and humbled by her masterful execution of the self portrait.  

Here it is finished. One of the students purchased this piece.

Finally, a group photo (sans two of the students, Carole Fadal and Connie Erickson -- we missed you, ladies!), with Judy holding her magnificent portrait.

Here's what Judith herself had to say about the workshop after it was done:

I've just returned from Dallas where I was a guest of Becky and Hank Pearson (Becky is the pert redhead on the right in the group photo) and the workshop was hosted by Michael Mentler of The Society of Figurative Arts. Michael's studio is an ideal place for a workshop, with good lighting, space, easels, materials, and absolutely splendid models with variety of characteristics to challenge the por...traitist. Michael, and his assistant, the artist Anna Bain, were always available to make things work for our comfort.

It was a wonderful group! VERY enthusiastic artists. Three of them had been in my workshop in southern France last summer.

One of them bought the self-portrait I'm holding. She had asked earlier "Why would anybody want to buy a portrait of a person they didn't know?"

I told her that sometimes people are intrigued by the character, or it reminds them of somebody they know and love or a member of their family; I have a painting over my desk of a young man I don't know but he looks like my son and could be an "ancestor" - portraits of one's ancestors being prized where I come from. And sometimes they are bought by artists who are impressed by the work, the composition, the color, the brushwork, the lighting - and want to go to school on it. Or they are just beautiful or wonderful works that the person wants to own and enjoy looking at. Ironically, she then fell in love and couldn't resist mine!

To find out more about Judy's workshops and see more of her amazing portrait work, visit her website at:
http://www.judithcarducci.com/, or her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Judith-Carducci-Artist/293819957331633

Also, if you would like to share about any workshops you may have benefitted from recently, PLEASE do! Send your written blog post, along with some photos, to Anna Rose Bain at: annarosebain@gmail.com. Your fellow Texas portrait artists look forward to hearing from YOU! :-)



Artist Spotlight: Ceci Luepnitz



Cece Luepnitz

Ceci Luepnitz of College Station, TX, is this month's Spotlight Artist. If you would like to be "in the spotlight," please email Anna at annarosebain@gmail.com to submit your information.

Interview with our February Spotlight Artist, Ceci Luepnitz:

When and how did you first become seriously interested in Art? 
I was always interested in art and loved to draw. I went to Newcomb college to study art in 1963 but quickly found out that the emphasis was completely on abstract art so I changed my major to art history. I didn't become seriously interested in painting portraits until around 1987.

What is your training, and what medium(s) / subject matter do you work in? 
I work mostly in oils but recently I am doing a lot of charcoal drawings. When I became seriously interested in portrait painting, I started taking workshops starting with John Howard Sanden in New York and then going to Scottsdale and Fredericksburg etc.

"Roy with Phone" by Ceci Luepnitz

What do you try to express in your work?

I deeply desire to  capture the subjects personality and uniqueness in my work!

What artists/professionals have been your biggest influences?
I love the work of Sargent and John Howard Sanden, Richard Schmid, Morgan Weistling, Adrian Gottlieb, and Kinstler.

What do you do to gain new inspiration for your work?
I am always reading art books and magazines and looking at websites.

What would you like to be doing with your art ten years from now?
Wow, I am 66 years old so I would say that I will be thrilled if I am still able to paint in 10 years!! I just had cataract surgery and I am so thankful for this gift of new sight!!



Drawing of Alegria by Ceci Luepnitz



Do you set goals for yourself concerning the making of your art?

Yes, I do set goals for myself and always keep painting even though I do not get many commissions. I attend a drawing/painting class with a model every Wednesday afternoon because I know the importance of working from the live model!

Are you happy with your job choice as an artist? Do you have any regrets in this career choice or things you would have done differently?


I love being an artist and especially a portrait artist...cannot think of anything I would rather be doing.

Bridal portrait by Ceci Luepnitz


Any fun or interesting facts about yourself that you'd like to share? Facts about myself? I have 3 children and 2 grandsons and 2 Bichon frise dogs! I love to paint animal portraits too!

Best piece of advice for other artists? 

Just don't stop painting, and enjoy it!!

Contact info:
Ceci Luepnitz

http://www.ceciportraits.com/
College Station, Texas

In Memorium: A Fellow Portrait Artist, Ann McCoy

This post submitted by Odessa member, Edna Krueger:

Ann McCoy, a good friend of mine, passed away several weeks ago to cancer. She was a member of the Portrait Society of America. She did mostly portraits of children in watercolor but also some in oil. Her husband Charlie said she didn't renew her membership this year because she knew she was not going to be alive much longer. Ann was a beautiful lady inside & out. We both did portraits so we were competitors yet we felt comfortable with each other and we freely shared artistic info with the other. We always enjoyed the sharing & friendship. I'll miss her warm smile & positive attitude. Just thought the Portrait Society would like to know.  - Edna Krueger

Ann's work can still be viewed on her website at: http://www.anneliseportraits.com/

The locally published obituary is as follows:

AnnElise McCoy

AnnElise McCoy, 73, of Midland, passed away Thursday, December 15, 2011. Family will receive friends at Ellis Funeral Home on Sunday, December 18, 2011, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A funeral service is planned for Monday, December 19, 2011, at First United Methodist Church, at 3:00 p.m. Interment will follow on Wednesday, December 21, 2011, at Ashtown Cemetery in Ashdown, Arkansas, at 2:00 p.m. Funeral arrangements directed by Ellis Funeral Home.

Published in Midland Reporter-Telegram on December 16, 2011

Artist Spotlight: Michael Mentler

Michael Mentler of Dallas, TX, is this month's Spotlight Artist. He studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Layton School of Art in Milwaukee and Washington University in Saint Louis, where he taught figure drawing and design. Michael's work has been featured in Saint Louis magazine, Communication Arts, Art Direction, Graphis and more recently in American Artist Drawing Magazine in a feature article titled "Learn From The Sketchbooks of a Modern Day Leonardo." Michael has also been featured in Juliette Aristides' new book Lessons in Classical Drawing (Essential Techniques From Inside the Atelier). More on Michael at Artist Daily.



Interview with our December Spotlight Artist, Michael Mentler:

1) When and how did you first become seriously interested in Art? About age 8 or 9

2) What is your training, and what medium(s) / subject matter do you work in? Study with Howard Sidman at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill. 1958 to 1963

- First Solo X 1959 at Mac Center for the Arts

- American Academy of Art  and The School of the Art Institute (Figure Drawing) 1963
- Layton School of Art in Milwaukee 1964

- Washington University in St. Louis 1964-1970

   (Instructed at Washington University 1972-74

I work in any and all mediums in drawing/painting/sculpture

Figurative/Formal Representation
    

3) What do you try to express in your work? For me the expression is in the creative process not the product.  The product is only a faint reflection of the original experience.

4) What artists/professionals have been your biggest influences? Francis Bacon, Isabel Bishop, Charles Bragg, Bruegel, Corot, Coubert, R. Crumb, Daumier, De Kooning, Delacroix, Diebenkorn, Dubuffet, Durer, Frank Duveneck, Giacometti, Arshile Gorky, Goya, Franz Hals, Hans Hofmann, Hokusai,   Holbein, Wassily Kandinsky, Ingres, Wolf Kahn, Klimt, Franz Kline, Lautrec, Mantegna, Javier Marin, Matisse, Michelangelo, Modigliani, Henry Moore, Rembrandt, Rodin, Medardo Rosso, Rubens, Schiele, Sorolla, Antonio Tapies, Tiepolo, Titian, Euan Uglow, Anthony Van Dyck, Velazquez, Rogier van der Weyden, Whistler, Zurbaran and Zorn to name a few.

5) What do you do to gain new inspiration for your work? Get out of bed.

6) What would you like to be doing with your art ten years from now? Breathing

7) Do you set goals for yourself concerning the making of your art? Yes, but they change every few minutes.

8) Are you happy with your job choice as an artist? Do you have any regrets in this career choice or things you would have done differently? In the end if you had a choice you are probably not an artist

9) Any fun or interesting facts about yourself that you'd like to share? Yes

10) Best piece of advice for other artists?  Being an Artist is not for sissies.

Contact:

http://www.michaelmentler.com/

mentler@mac.com

Texas Member Attends Nelson Shanks Exhibition Opening in Russia

This post submitted by Bryan, TX member Janene Pratt:

I was fortunate to be able to travel to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia to attend the opening of Nelson Shanks portrait exhibit there.  I studied under Nelson years ago.  We had such a wonderful time in Russia, we were treated like royalty and the exhibit was well received.  The exhibit will move to Moscow and then to China.  His exhibit included the wonderful portraits of Princess Diana, John Paul II and Mstislav Rostropovich.

We had a private tour, after hours, of The Heritage Museum in St. Petersburg led by Nelson.  The picture is below.  I am second to the right.

- Janene

Artist Spotlight: Susan Fleming Hotard

 Interview with our October Spotlight Artist, Susan Hotard:
1) When and how did you first become seriously interested in Art? Four years old. My parents influenced me. My father gave me art lessons when I was young. But I became a professional artist about 10 years ago.

Susan Hotard
susan@susanhotardartist.com

2) What is your training, and what medium(s) / subject matter do you work in? B.F.A. in interior design, Louisiana Tech University. Design, drafting, perspective drawing, color theory, drawing, lettering, watercolor, and rendering, and Art History. New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, classical training. Oil mostly, still life, portraiture, figure painting: all from life. Also watercolor and pastel.

3) What do you try to express in your work? Trying to express life through painterly brushwork

4) What artists/professionals have been your biggest influences? M. Dell Weller (at New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts), Raymond Everett Kinstler, John Singer Sargent, Velazquez, Franz Hals

5) What do you do to gain new inspiration for your work?  Inspiration: looking at life, being still, thinking, praying, sometimes the ideas are gifts.



6) What would you like to be doing with your art ten years from now? I hope I am still searching, discovering, painting better, teaching my grandchildren.
7) Do you set goals for yourself concerning the making of your art? Goals: sometimes I realize that the galleries need more of my work, and will paint with that in mind. It helps to have either real or artificial deadlines. Goal: paint better and keep studying. Sometimes I set up problems: still life in cool light or in warm light for example. Helps to know that you have a solo show to paint towards! That is a real motivator!

8) Are you happy with your job choice as an artist? Do you have any regrets in this career choice or things you would have done differently? Yes, am happy with my job choice.

"Todd," by Susan Hotard

 

"Here's Looking at You Kid," by Susan Hotard

9) Any fun or interesting facts about yourself that you'd like to share? I created over a dozen Katrina cartoons in the aftermath of the storm. Had an accident when I was a toddler (around 14 mos.), my right thumb was amputated. But mostly, I can do anything I want except twiddle my thumbs. And if ever I become a famous artist, I won’t have to cut off my ear!

10) Best piece of advice for other artists?  Keep painting! Keep studying! Keep trying to learn and get better. Encourage others.

Susan's Bio and Artist's Statement:

 “Objects radiate brilliantly against dark umber backgrounds”- American Artist 2005

“an innovative style far from the placid still life”- The Advocate 2004

“astute use of light and shadow”-  The Advocate 2005

Susan Hotard had a cover story in the national magazine, American Artist, July/August
2005; and was a still life finalist in both The Artist’s Magazine, and International Artistmagazine. Her approach to painting and her palette were published in How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint Still Life and Florals 2004.

Since being honored with the highest award at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts in 2002, Susan has exhibited in numerous solo and group shows. She has studied painting in New York with Everett Ray Kinstler at The Art Students League, and Daniel Greene in North Salem; and has taught painting workshops and classes in portraiture, figure, and still life. She and her husband moved from New Orleans to The Woodlands, Texas in 2007. She knows what it means to miss New Orleans but was delighted that there was a vibrant art community in the North Houston area. Susan makes many trips a year to visit with her large family and close art friends that still live in the New Orleans area.


"Meca" by Susan Hotard


Artist’s Statement:
"Painting is my tool for interpreting the life our Almighty God has so wonderfully made. Whether it be portraiture, still life, or landscape, I try to record my observations of the world in a realistic, yet painterly way. Painting is a life-long journey. And I’m certainly enjoying the trip."


"Nandina with Granny Smith Apples", by Susan Hotard


Publications:
American Artist, July/August 2005 (cover story)
How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint Still Life and Florals, International Artist Publishing, January 2004
The Artist’s Magazine, Still Life Competition, Finalist, December 2005
The Times-Picayune: Artistic Expression June 19, 2006
Gulf Coast Arts and Entertainment Review, September/October 2004
The Advocate Magazine, Baton Rouge, November 2004 & December 2005 (art reviews)New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles, Spring 2002

Exhibitions/ Art Organizations/ Awards:
Audubon Artists 69th Exhibit, Allied Artists Award 2011; NYC
New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, highest award 2002: The Gwendolyn Laan Ozols Award
New Rouge Fusion, Baton Rouge, 1st place, December 2005
The Artist’s Magazine, still life competition finalist, December 2005
International Artist Publishing, Art Prize Challenge 17, finalist, 2003
Art 11, November 2010
Garden District Gallery, Language of Flowers 2009
Garden District Gallery, Food, Glorious Food 2010
Garden District Gallery, Seeing Music 2011
Just Figures, April 2009
Richeson Small Works, March 2009; March 2010
NOAFA Academy Gallery, Invitational Drawing Exhibition, January 2009
NOAFA Academy Gallery, miniature show; November 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 

"The Way," by Susan Hotard

NOAFA Academy Gallery, Response to Katrina, April 2006

La Nouvelle Salon, World Trade Center, New Orleans, August 2006

Mid- City Art Studios, open studios, December 2006

Crazy Eights, St. Tammany Art Association, November 2006
Galerie Eclat, New Orleans, Solo Show, May 2003

Galerie Eclat, New Orleans, Solo Show, May 2005

River Oaks Square Center, June/ July 2008 Degas Pastel Society National show, 2000, 2001, 2004
From Cezanne to Vermeer, Galerie Eclat, 2003
Modigiliani Group Show, Galerie Eclat, 2003

Junior League Show house 2002, 3 paintings

New Orleans Art Association WTC Show 2002
St. Tammany Art Association, Ashes to Art 2001

Associated Women in the Arts 2000

Art in Bloom, NOMA; 1995, 2001, 2007
Whimsie 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

WYES Art Auction Donor

Art Organizations: Portrait Society of America, New Orleans Art Association, Louisiana

Watercolor Society, Degas Pastel Society, Pone Aliquid Contra Faciem Meam Carbone Delineabo, La Nouvelle Salon, Woodlands Art League

Contact:

http://www.susanhotardartist.com/

Susan@SusanHotardArtist.com