Check Out What Shelley Wheeler is Creating!

 

Art Piece: 

“Mats Mats Two Boats”

Pastel on Paper

About the Artist:

Shelley Wheeler

 Shelley grew up in the Midwest, along the Missouri river, and she carries with me that small town attitude.   She claims to be part of the last generation in America who did not have all the technology we have today while growing up.   I was forced to use my imagination and I thank the universe for that every day. I am lucky enough to have a wonderful husband who has supported me both emotionally and artistically making the starving artist part of my story a struggle but giving me the freedom to pursue my dreams.

To view more of Shelley’s work and the work of all our fine artists, visit us at www.contemporaryartgalleryonline.com.   Also check out our monthly art competitions.



The Azalea Garden by F.M. Kearney

 

The new azalea garden at the New York Botanical Garden has become one of my favorite places to shoot. Hosting a collection of 3,000 azaleas and rhododendrons from around the world, this hillside garden erupts in brilliant hues of white, pink and magenta each May.

I positioned myself atop the hill and captured this image of a somewhat isolated azalea branch. I say "somewhat" because although the branch was rising several feet above the pack, a sea of other azaleas were in the background. To make better sense of this busy scene, I used a limited depth of field to throw the background out of focus. This definitely helped to highlight the subject, but it was the overall lighting that really made this image work. I specifically chose to take this photo on a cloudy day. Clear sunny days may look beautiful to the human eye, but the proliferation of dark shadows creates a level of contrast that can wreak havoc with film and digital sensors. The cloud cover of an overcast day acts as a giant diffuser for the harsh, direct light of the sun. This not only evens out the light, but also helps to produce richer colors. Sometimes, I'll use a polarizer filter to saturate them even further. A polarizer is more commonly used on sunny days to darken blue skies, but it can also work equally well on cloudy days to reduce glare.

There are definite advantages to shooting on cloudy days, but it can be a bit of a gamble. You need a sufficient amount of clouds to filter the sun, but you don't want so many clouds that it actually starts raining. However, if it does rain, the polarizer filter will have an even bigger impact by removing the shine off wet leaves. Of course, you'll want to wait until it stops raining. You also want to crop out as much of the boring white sky as possible. Shooting from a high vantage point, as I did here; effectively solved that problem.

Article Contributed by:

F.M. Kearney is a fine art nature photographer, specializing in unique floral and landscape images. To see more of his work, please visit www.starlitecollection.com.

Vemeer in One by Jayme Catalano

 

“We could go on and on about the Faber Castell Artist Pen’s precision and control, but we thought we’d just show you.” Pen company Faber Castell hired the agency of Ogilvy and Mather Singapore to re-create masterpieces by Vermeer, Van Gogh, and Da Vinci using their Artist Pen. The remarkable thing about the publicity stunt is that artist Chan Hwee Chong drew each image with a single, unbroken line. See the video at the bottom to see how he did it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6Ez9qgfgPcE

 

Article Submitted by:

-Jayme Catalano

Canary Public Relations

www.canarypublicrelations.com

 

Canary Public Relations is a boutique firm specializing in marketing, branding and public relations for small businesses.  They specialize in working with fine artists, designers, and creative professionals of all types.

 

Check Out What Tara Francoise is Creating

 

About the Artwork:

The Kiss

17" x 14"

Gel Pens & Chalk on Paper

About the Artist:

Tara Francosie is from Portland, Oregon but everyone there calls her Tara, so we will as well.  Tara is new to the art world but her drawings are full of vibrant colors.  Her images can be described as delicate, intricate and full of life and dimension.

The Artist’s Statement:

“All my art is done with gel pen and chalk on paper.  A very simple approach but the results are intriguing and original.   This is my recovery without my art I would be lost to a world of Darkness.  I want to share it with the world.”

 To view more of Tara’s work and the work of all our fine artists, visit us at www.contemporaryartgalleryonline.com.   Also check out our monthly art competitions.

 

 



Check Out Pete Mair's Work!

 

Art Piece: 

“Off Guard”

Watercolor on 140lb. paper

12"  x   16”

White Matting with a Black Wood Contemporary Frame

 “I painted this piece from a photo of a sunrise, after spending the night on the Ft. Lauderdale Beach.”

 

About the Artist:

Pete Mair :

Pete was born in Neptune, New Jersey, which is very close to the ocean.  Living close to the water is something Pete missed very much, while living on Atlanta, Georgia.  It was in Atlanta where Pete began his professional career as an Artist.  He joined as artist group in Atlanta and was accepted into a few local galleries, where he began selling both his original paintings as well as his reproductions.  Pete is born to an artistic family.  His brother is also a painter.  Pete came to art late in life.  He felt that art belonged to his brother.  So Pete pursued music.  These days you’ll catch Pete playing his music as well as creating beautiful art.

Pete considers his art to be somewhere between realism and impressionism.  Pete works with watercolors, gouache, and acrylics.  Pete enjoys painting a wide range of subject matter.

To view more of Pete’s work and the work of all our fine artists, visit us at www.contemporaryartgalleryonline.com.   Also check out our monthly art competitions.

 



Blogging Lull by Alexandra Dailey

"A Rainy Day is Seattle"  by Shelley Wheeler



To be honest, I’ve been slacking on my blogging duties as of late, for which I must apologize. I haven’t had much contact with art, other than my failed attempt at a doily lamp, which is currently a deflated blob of stiff doilies resting in a plastic bag. I’ve also been glued to my computer screen, working at my temporary work-from-home job grading essays. And sadly the art fairs, festivals, and shows have yet to commence in Northern Michigan (which I plan to attend and blog about in due time). I have, however, amidst my failed project and job obligations applied for jobs at two art establishments in Petoskey, Michigan, one being a gallery and the other an art center. If I am fortunate enough to be hired by either place I will have loads of art talk to share! Fingers crossed that next week I will have some new art news to write about! Till then, stay creative!

To read more by Alexandra Dailey, visit her blog at http://alexdailey.wordpress.com/

Buzelli/Bosch by Jayme Catalano

 

Chris Buzelli is something of a modern day Hieronymus Bosch. His paintings and illustrations often depict a future where the hubris and self-destructive tendencies of civilization have ruinous results. Bosch warned against sexual immorality and sin and its devastating consequences in the afterlife in his colorful, whimsical, and horrific paintings. Buzelli is more concerned with the environmental and social consequences of our actions. In an illustration called “China’s Ignorance” for Global Brief Magazine, Buzelli takes on the topic of over-fishing and the consumption of resources; in another illustration called “Toxic Secrets,” a demon is depicted as having a smog-spewing factory for a head. Like Bosch, his colorful palette and playful characters belie the dark messages being conveyed. Buzelli’s work can be seen in exhibitions, publications, books, and advertisements throughout the world.

Article Submitted by:

-Jayme Catalano

Canary Public Relations

www.canarypublicrelations.com

Canary Public Relations is a boutique firm specializing in marketing, branding and public relations for small businesses.  They specialize in working with fine artists, designers, and creative professionals of all types.