Monday, September 30, 2013

NEW ARTIST SERIES

FRANCESCO LOMBARDO



Frank is a delightful young man, full of generosity of spirit and a welcoming smile.  He is passionate and energetic about his art.  There is a bit of a shyness, but charmingly so.


 He draws you in when he talks about his art, into his vision and into his world.  When I walked into his studio and looked up at the work on his easel, it was stunning, not only in size, but in skill.  The canvas was amazingly smooth, almost slick and I asked him how he accomplished that.  Without hesitation he went to the back and brought out a flat tool that he skimmed the surface with and also shared he was painting on polyester.

Francesco Lombardo/Figurative Painter 
 Polyester absorbs the acrylic differently and the weave is tight and smooth, it gives the painting a very different effect.  Frank is an emerging talent who is at the beginning of his career. He began his studies and career in Baltimore, Maryland.  He has received a Fulbright Scholarship in art where he studied in Iceland for a year. His work has also been accepted for the Outwin Boochever Competition in the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery.


Smithsonian Outwin Boochever Portrait Show
He has also studied in Europe under a master painter.  Frank has much ahead of him and who ever represents him now will be investing in a burgeoning major talent.  He will need the right venue and the right agent to guide him to the correct markets.  Asheville is heavily craft oriented, a larger market or expo will be his best venue and then he will be heavily collected.



Francesco Lombardo/Figurative Painter                                              from google image for education only
 This is an artist to invest in if you are a collector and an artist with to represent if you are an agent, he is a young man with a brilliant career ahead of him.  

Great photo of Frank, shows so much about his warmth
and humility
Frank's studio in Marshall at the Island
Frank pretending not to pose










Francesco 
Lambardo, Frank, we here at Rabbit's Moon Studio wish you the best and much success!

NEW ARTIST SERIES

THE ART OF PAM WINKLER


                                                                           with permission of the artist
from google image for education only
The most exciting thing about living in a new area is the constant sense of discovery.  Though I have had my Asheville studio for a number of years, I have not alway been able to be there as much as I would like.  Now I am getting to spend larger amounts of time here and see more of the art scene in Ashville and the surrounding areas.  This past week I met three very interesting artist.  You have already met Barbara Fisher in our last post. Now we will look at the art of Pam Winkler.  

from google with Pam's permission

Pam has a wonderful story about how she became a full time artist.  A few short years ago in 2008 there was a terrible crash in our economy which hit many people financially very hard.  Pam Winkler had been a successful architect until then. The crash hit and people stopped building homes, so people stopped needing architects to design homes.  So began a new hunt for an occupation for Winkler.  She tried many avenues in art, but found working in pastels to be her area.  Her work is rich and interesting and one can easily see the influence of the architect peaking through.  When I looked at her work I thought over and over that is the same angle I would have chosen, that is the same view I would have seen myself. 
Wonderful rich depth of color

 Pam and I met when I attended an art fair and open studio in Marshall, North Carolina this past week.  Pam has a studio in the wonderful venue, an old high school that has been turned into working studio's for artists. I had been by another day and peaked through a locked door at her work and thought I want to meet that artist! So the day of the open studio we went back with friends and Pam welcomed me into her studio warmly and we had a wonderful visit talking about her art, area art, and the community. She lives in Asheville, but keeps her studio in Marshall which is about a half hour or so away. 


The Pastel Art of Pam Winkler                            art posted from google with permission of artist

Sunday, September 29, 2013

IT'S A SMALL SMALL WORLD OF ART


LESLIE KNOWS BARBARA, I KNOW LESLIE, I INTRODUCE LESLIE TO MARK AND LYMAN, AND NOW WE ALL KNOW BARBARA.

BARBARA FISHER/ARTIST


                                        from google image for educational purposes only

Sometimes things are so happenstance in how they turn out.
Leslie Neuman, a wonderful painter, whom we all recently met and become friends with, just so happens to have a friend who is an artist in Asheville.  Barbara Fisher and Leslie Neuman as it turns out have been friends since middle school. 


from google image for educational purposes only

 So recently when in Asheville Mark and Lyman, who were visiting us at Rabbit's Moon Studio,  suggested we go meet her at her studio in the River Arts District.   It was a wonderful visit for everyone.  Barbara was amazed we knew Leslie and our all of our common connections.  As a result of our networking we got to meet a new painter, see her work and studio.  It was invigorating for all of us.  As creative people to meet and see other creatives doing what we all want to do...have a studio and be invested totally in their art, gets the motivation and creative juices going.  And just making new friends in the arts is another huge bonus.
Ann, Barbara, Mark, Lyman

Me, Barbara, Mark, Lyman
Barbara's work is amazing. I first 
thought her paintings were encaustic art.
She told me that people often think
that.  She paints with acrylic, but has a method of sanding and refining that makes the work have the same feeling of soft depth that encaustic has.  Her studio is a wonderful space in the River Arts District in Asheville, a community of 180 artists. Barbara has lived and painted in Asheville for over 7 years and was one of the original pioneers of the River Arts District.  
In her studio you can see the evolution of her style over the years from a tighter more figurative work to her present looser more abstract soulful art.  Beautiful work and a beautiful person. We all feel fortunate to have made the connection to a new artist and friend in the arts.
If you are in Asheville make sure you go by the studio and meet Barbara and treat yourself to  her work.  If you are on line go to Nathan Mark Phillips site and view his wonderful digital collage.  

Friday, September 27, 2013

Photo journal walk in Marshall, North C

Walking with camera in hand

One never knows what

will catch your eye

what detail will catch you eye

what can be effect may be         achieved 

what surprise will turn.  Pick up your camera and take a
walk and see what happens!

BUILD CHARACTER SHOW YOUR WORK!

IT IS GOOD FOR YOU!



photo by Elizabeth Gordon

Thursday, September 26, 2013

THE VALUE OF CONNECTING IN THE ARTS/AN AMERICAN JOURNEY



AN ARTIST JOURNEY

Martin and Barbara Stynes arrive in the USA.  The excitement of the adventure shows on their faces.  Martin is a British Abstract landscape artist and his wife Barbara is an artist as well.  Martin and I met on line as a result of the Rabbit's Moon Studio blog. 

Martin Stynes, British Landscape Artist


 We became friends on line and chatted for a couple of years.  We talked about art, making art, artist blocks, and idea in depth.  We began to become good friends who talked weekly.  I began to know Martin's family and friends through his posts.  It was evident he was an exceptional person and artist.  The idea began to germinate that bringing his work to America would be beneficial for him and us.  So he began to enter his work in exhibitions in Florida.  Then the idea began to form of bringing Martin to the USA.  The more we talked the more exciting it became and the more possible it seemed.  After many conversations and initial plans one plan emerged and with Kathie O'Leary's help we figured out a way to host Martin and Barbara state side.  I would pick Martin up in Orlando, he would rest a few days at my house, the we would have an art party at Lyman and Marks, they would then spend a week with Kathie and her husband Bill on the beach, I would then pick them up and off the Charleston to stay at my brother and sister in law's for a couple of days and then on to Asheville for another week.  For British who are not used to driving long distances they did very well.  Martin was able to network with artist and galleries in each area.  He was also able to see the art scene in each area and its differences.  We met other artists in each area and had wonderful discussions.  I will ask Martin to write a few post of his experiences and thoughts about his trip to put here for you to read.  
In many respects this was a risk for Martin and me, we had never met except on line, but we felt we knew each other pretty well and a level of trust had built up over the years.  And after meeting Martin in person I can tell you he is exactly the same sweet, kind, honest, thoughtful, creative person I thought he was.  
The value of reaching out to other artists, to other cultures, to exchange ideas is a highly valuable one, that is beneficial to all involved.  Consider the building of understanding, the sharing of common ideas as a creative person, the ability to see through another persons cultural lens, and to build bridges between countries and cultures.  I think the arts are the single most important way to accomplish understanding and peace in this world that is so torn with conflict and misunderstanding.  I urge you to build bridges, reach out as Martin and I have.  Let this be the beginning of a movement that creates a pathway of artists sharing and creating.  Join the movement, invite and artist to your country, host them, introduce them to other artists and galleries, put on joint shows, invite other artists, and above all build tolerance, understanding and good will!

British Abstract Landscape Artist Martin Stynes and his artist wife Barbara arrive in America.

Martin and Barbara explore the tropical



The Hosting Partners meet at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor to plan
Martin and Barbara's American stay:starting on the right, Martin, Ann, Bill,
Kathie, Barbara, and me.

AN ART PARTY!  Lyman Zobel and Mark Phillips hosted an art party with myself and Ann for Martin and Barbara at their lovely artsy home.  Present were some of the finest artist and gallery owners in our area.  From right to left: Barbara Stynes, myself, Michelle Teugle, Leslie Neuman, Rose Marie Prins, and Betsy Lester.

Martin sharing ideas

Martin and Barbara in the foreground and James Michaels
painting in the background.  Lyman and Mark are avid collectors
of Michaels' work.



Barbara on Bellair Beach in Florida enjoying the sound of the surf.

Martin in Charleston discussing the news with April Gordon,
Charleston, S.C. host and my sister -in-law

MARTIN 

IN DEEP AND THOUGHTFUL 

DISCUSSION   




Helping to host an Asheville Deck Party


Martin and Barbara reading and relaxing in Asheville






Ann on the left, Martin, and myself eating at the Stoney Knob
Cafe, a funky artsy dinner.  Great food and fun.

The Blue Ridge Mountain air brings deep relaxation

Martin tasting a bit of mountain spirits, the real stuff, Moonshine.

Martin and Barbara in the mountains of the Blue Ridge

Martin and Barbara sitting in the Wild Berry Bed and Breakfast 
Dumont Cooke and Judy Baker host Martin and Barbara for cocktails at their
modern industrial style mountain house with a million dollar view.
Martin and Barbara enjoying meeting new friends
Barbara trying to capture that million dollar view
If you can't be a cowboy in America where can you be!?
Martin meets Botanical illustrator and artist in Asheville gallery
Leonardo Da Vinci was Barbara's constant companion,
better known as Vinci
Martin with a special liquid glow of enjoyment
Barbara finding Souther American handicrafts to take back to England

Barbara, the artist, with camera in hand




IT IS MY HOPE THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF VISITS AND SHARING, THAT MUCH GOOD WILL COME FROM THIS.  ANN AND I PLAN TO VISIT MARTIN AND BARBARA IN MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.  WE HOPE TO MEET OTHER ARTIST, VISIT GALLERIES, SHARE OUR WORK, AND CREATE. I SEE THIS AS THE FOUNDATION OF A BRIDGE THAT WE ARE BUILDING THAT MANY MAY TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH ON. 

 IF YOU WANT MORE IDEAS ON INVITING AND HOSTING ARTISTS IN YOUR AREA, CONTACT ME AT RABBITS5@AOL.COM. I PROMISE YOU THIS IS AN EXPERIENCE YOU WILL CHERISH AS I DO!


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