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.

Check Out Sean Koziel's Work!

 

 

Art Piece: 

“Mt. Sabina”

Acrylic on Canvas

 

About the Artist:

Sean Koziel :

Sean Koziel is an artist from Illinois.   Sean enjoys working with acrylics and oils.   Sean mostly paints landscapes, but has completed many abstract and Neo-Geo art.  Sean likes to take photos of places of where he has traveled.  Once back in his studio, Sean then tries to capture the atmosphere of the moment in his paintings.  Sean graduated from Illinois State University in 1998, with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art.  Sadly after college he stopped painting.  In 2008, Sean was drawn back to his canvases.  Sean hopes that his paintings convey a mood, capture a moment, or build an environment for which the viewer can relate.  All us here at Contemporary Art Gallery Online, are very pleased Sean found us.  We believe his work is majestic, mellow, and skillful.  We encourage everyone to view his work and of course purchase a piece today!  Enjoy

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

 



Our Oasis by F.M. Kearney

 

Blaring sirens…congested street… unsanitary surroundings – it’s all a part of living in New York City. Sometimes, it seems like there's just no escaping it. That might be true in Manhattan if it weren't for 843 acres of solitude located in the center of town known, appropriately enough, as Central Park. Although one can definitely get a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city, it's still the most popular urban park in the nation, visited by about thirty-five million people a year. It's for that reason that I would hardly consider it my choice destination for capturing rural nature images. However, the northern section of the park is far less populated than the southern end. The landscape is also much more rugged, offering a greater variety of photo opportunities.

One spring, I went to an area known as The Loch to shoot some of the waterfalls. I used a slow shutter speed to render the water smooth and silky. Because it was early in the season, the leaves hadn't yet fully matured – giving the foliage a light and airy appearance. There's a certain peaceful quality about a waterfall. When that waterfall is located in the heart of Manhattan, such as in this image I entitled, "Our Oasis," it truly is something special.

 

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

 

Floral Brigade by F.M. Kearney

As one of the first harbingers of spring, tulips are a definite fan-favorite amongst nature photographers. New York City becomes a lot more colorful this time of year as these flowers suddenly begin blooming on practically every other block. But, with hoards of pedestrian and vehicular traffic constantly zooming by, these specimens don't stay in pristine condition very long. Fortunately, that isn't the case in the Central Park Conservatory Garden. Located in the northern section of the park, this garden showcases spectacular displays of seasonal flowers. Each spring, tulips take center stage as they decorate this officially designated Quiet Zone with a dazzling design that changes every year.

Several years ago, the garden hosted an exception display of uniformly-colored red and yellow tulips. I photographed them from a variety of angles, but it wasn't until I tried a low-angle view that things really started to "pop." Not only was I was better able to highlight their bright yellow undersides, but because the garden is built on a slight incline, it gave the appearance of a never-ending line of flowers – not unlike a brigade of advancing soldiers. "Floral Brigade" was one of the many interesting images I captured that spring in this unique garden.

 

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.

Tonal Passages by Jayme Cantalano

    

Artist Anne Lindberg’s string drawings bring to mind supernatural, phantasmal matter floating peacefully and brilliantly in mid-air. She creates sculptures and drawings that she calls “systemic and non-representational…subtle, rhythmic, abstract, and immersive.” Lindberg utilizes shifts in layering, tool, and material to create tonal passages that resonate with primal human conditions: goodwill, anxiety, fear, security, self-protection, sexuality, gravity, and compulsive behaviors. Her string installations are constructed using thousands of individual strands of Egyptian cotton thread and staples. View the time lapse video of her recent installation “Drawn Pink” in Placemakers at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art.

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.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wmZ9k8X4tw&list=UUYjPJGataxHKw-B3Pn9Y6yw&feature=player_embedded

Chaeck Out Sharon Hawkshawe's Portfolio!

 

Art Piece: 

“Jungle”

Oil

9”  x  11”

 

About the Artist:

Sharon Hawkshawe :

Sharon Hawkshawe was born in Dayton, Ohio, and raised in Columbia, Maryland.  Her mother is a published author and her father was an artist and architect before his death.

Sharon has been painting all of her life, specializing in the use of acrylic and oil paints. 

Sharon’s topics cover the most basic of human experience through the use of abstract and impressionistic landscape work.

Sharon’s work has been viewed in Washington D.C., Miami FL, Fort Lauderdale FL, Tampa FL, Orlando FL, Key West FL, Johnson City TN, Charlotte NC and more. 

Sharon also co-authored a book of poetry under her num de plum Sharon Belle, entitled Songs of the Soul.  Her artwork is also featured throughout, including the front cover. 

Sharon is currently awaiting release of her newest book of poetry, entitled A Soul Speaks.  This book will also feature illustrations by her.  A Soul Speaks is due to release in December 2013.

 

To view more of Sharon’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 Michael Tolleson's Portfolio

Art Piece: 

“Check Point”

Acrylic

24”  x  36”

 

About the Artist:

Michael Tolleson :

Michael’s art travels between two paths; one more realistic and the other more abstract and soul based. He usually begins by observing and reviewing a photo of a place, person, building, sky or a landscape. The photo acts as a tool to isolate whatever interests him, and in the process, the ordinary will reveal something extraordinary about its place in his world. These images provide the “bones” of his work. He absorbs the feeling of the image and what develops on the canvas is the feeling on adrenaline! The moment, the feeling and the colors are punched up. His paintings capture the essence of that moment; a feeling; a future.

“Ultimately, I hope the paint on the canvas provides a doorway into my world and will capture my desire to touch another receptive soul.”  - Michael Tolleson

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

 

View the Masterful Wood Working of Mark McDonell

 

Art Piece: 

“Keys Please”

Leopard Wood, Maple, Granite, and Steel

36”x  6” x  93.5”

 

About the Artist:

Mark McDonnell:

 

Mark McDonnell is a Master Carpenter and has been designing for 30+ years.  Mark has become known for his custom work and installations.  Happily married for 27 years; he and his wife Laura have five wonderful children.  Mark creates his magnificent work in his studio, which he has named Black Snake Furniture.  Mark named his studio after the mated pair of black snakes that quietly share his shop with him.

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

 

One Man's Trash by F.M. Kearney

 

 The groundskeepers were a bit perturbed, but I was ecstatic.

It was April 8, 2003, weeks past the time when one might have to worry about frost and snow. However, a couple of inches of snow fell overnight in the New York area. I headed out to the New York Botanical Garden, fully expecting to capture some unique and unusual images. I wasn't disappointed. The rare, early-Spring snowfall depositing a healthy coating of the white stuff on the saucer magnolia buds along Magnolia Way. Snow-covered pine cones are common, but snow-covered magnolias -- one of the first blooms of Spring, and a sure sign that Winter is finally over --  aren't something you see every day (at least not in this part of the country).  I set up my tripod amid the frosted pink and purple flowers and began shooting an array of seasonal contradictions. For better lighting, I used a flash set to "Fill" to eliminate dark shadows. Although the day was overcast and shadows were minimal, I've gotten in the habit of using my flash pretty much all the time. I feel it adds a certain sparkle or "crispness" to the photo that shines through even on cloudy days. To pump a little more color into the scene, I attached a red gel filter to the flash for some of the shots. With the flash slightly powered down, I was able to add a trace of natural-looking reddish tint to the branches and blooms.

A couple of grounds-keeping officials came by while I was shooting to survey the damage to the magnolias. They admitted that although the scene might look like a photographer's paradise, the late frost was definitely going to cut the magnolia season short. I tried hard to mask my glee in their presence, but I couldn't help thinking: "One man's trash is another man's treasure (or in this case... a great photo op!)"

 

Article Submitted 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.

Gold Scab by Jayme Catalano

 

 

James Whistler is most famously known for the boldly composed painting of his mother, ‘Arrangements in Grey and Black No. 1.’ ‘The Gold Scab’ is a stark departure: modern, angry, and comical. It resembles something out of the oeuvre of Picasso or Dr. Seuss, not a Victorian artist known mostly for sweet portraits of women in somber grey or billowy white.

Directly before embarking on a costly and ruinous libel suit against art critic John Ruskin, Whistler was commissioned to “touch up” a decorative mural in the home of Frederick Leyland. His task was to “harmonize” the room, improve upon the work done by another interior decorative artist. Instead, Whistler “went on-without design or sketch-putting in every touch with such freedom…I forgot everything in my joy in it.” He created a room awash in brilliant blue-green and gold leaf, a complete re-design of the original; he called his masterpiece ‘Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room.’ Leyland, furious with the drastic and unauthorized changes, refused to pay Whistler’s commission fee. The loss of this much-needed income, a ruined reputation with other art patrons, and his disastrous libel suit against Ruskin resulted in bankruptcy. Whistler’s beloved White House and his belongings were auctioned off by his creditors, including Leyland.

The enraged artist painted a caricature of Frederick Leyland as a greedy, vain and contemptible peacock sitting atop Whistler’s beloved White House. The painting is an aggressive personal attack on Leyland and a bitter representation of Whistler’s own anger and disappointment. He left the painting hanging prominently when his home and its contents were seized, a giant middle finger to Leyland and his other creditors.

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 Lynette Slape is Creating!

Art Piece: 

“Nightmare”

Acrylic

24”  x  36”

 

About the Artist:

Lynette Slape:

When Lynette was a little girl, her parents took her to art and history museums.  Like many children, Lynette was very bored.  Because of her youth, she did not yet understand how important art was.  While in school, Lynette was given the choice to take classes in the fine arts or music.  Since Lynette didn’t know anything about music she chose the fine arts.  Once in college, Lynette could not decide on what major to choose.  This drove her crazy.  It finally occurred to her, that art is what made her happy. 

 

“I had a moment when a light bulb turns on in your head.  I began to get better at my artwork, which felt really good.  I took a few years off from school to work at Starbucks and apply to art schools.  For example, I got into Pratt Art Institute, and San Francisco Art Institute.  But now I’m at Lane Community College wanting to transfer to University of Oregon in fall of 2013.  I will major in art and minor in creative writing.”  ~Lynette Slape   

 

To view more of Lynette’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 What Katie Puenner-Gray is Creating!

Art Piece: 

“Sun Flowers with Poppies”

36”  x  48”

 

 

About the Artist:

Katie  Puenner-Gray began painting at Luther North High.   Katie attended Columbia College in Chicago, where she earned a BFA in Art & Design.  During Katie’s freshman year of college, she worked as an apprentice artist at Gallery 37.   Katie then progressed to the Art Students League, in New York.

Since then, Katie has been featured in one person and group shows throughout Chicago and New York. In addition, Katie has designed and painted dozens of murals for New York schools, events, homes, and historical sites like the Stanton Island Ferry Station for a NYC Best Chefs reception. Katie has also collaborated with fellow artists to create a “Peace” mural for Lasalle Bank seen by thousands daily on the Kennedy Expressway.

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

 

Creative Flower Photography (Tip #4: "Do the Dew" ) by: F.M. Kearney

 

As exposed surface temperatures cool, atmospheric moisture condenses in the form of water droplets. These droplets, commonly referred to as dew, can form on grass, leaves, railings and even car roofs in the early morning hours. However, it's the formation of dew on flowers that can turn a generic image into something quite stunning. But, there are a few problems here. Unless you plan on getting up at the crack of dawn, you'll probably never get a chance to photograph it. Even if you are an early riser it still doesn't guarantee you will capture that perfect dew-covered flower image. Dew quickly evaporates as the ambient temperature rises – not leaving you with much time to shoot before your subjects begin to dry their "tears." Also, I can only remember a handful of times when the dew appeared exactly where I wanted it, and the droplets were large enough to be clearly seen in the picture.

To get around these issues, I simply carry my own "dew" with me whenever I plan a flower shoot. A small atomizer (bottle with a spray pump) is a standard accessory in my camera bag. Just under 7 inches tall and weighing only 6 ounces when full, it's one of my smallest pieces of equipment and can easily be carried anywhere. Although this tiny amount of water may not seem like much, a little goes a very long way. Just a couple of squirts is all it takes to add a few eye-catching water droplets on the petal of a flower. I think a few drops look more natural than a completely dew-soaked flower, but that's just my own personal preference. On sunny days, however, I do try to completely coat anything in the background. The limited depth of field will render dew-covered grass or flowers as a field of glistening highlights. If I ever run out of water, I can just refill it at a fountain or with my regular drinking water bottle.

The purple glory bush was photographed very early in the morning – the time when dew should naturally be found on flowers. But, what should be expected and what you actually encounter are often two entirely different things. The flower was bone-dry. Just a couple of carefully placed squirts and I was able to add a bit more excitement to this image.

An atomizer can do wonders for flower portraits. So, feel free to sleep in and get that early morning look all day long.

Article submitted 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.