HANDS ACROSS THE OCEAN IN ART

ALONG CAME MARTIN

(STYNES THAT IS)

AND BARBARA NOT FAR BEHIND, LEAVING ENGLAND BEHIND THEY FLEW ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO SEARCH OUT NEW WORLDS AS THE BRITISH ARE FOND OF DOING.  

Artists have away of connecting quite unlike any other group.  The arts are a universal language, after all, that all can understand.  So art connected Martin with other artists as our common bond from one land to another.  Through Facebook and the internet we became friends and our circle grew through the years.  The love of art is a strong connector.  After sharing and talking about art for a couple of years and the awe we had in Martins paintings we planned an meeting.  Could he come to America?  What seemed like a dream came true when Martin and his wife Barbara arrived on the sunny shores of Tampa Bay.  And what a delight it has been.  The sweetest and kindest of people they have reached out to the art community with great interest and generosity. Last evening we had a wonderful art party!

Leslie Neuman, Michelle Tuegel, Betsy Gordon, David Bewley, Pete Sheppard, Bob Teugel, Martin Stynes, Barbara Stynes, Lyman Zobel, and Rose Marie Prins delight in sharing ideas about art.

Wild Girls of the Arts!!!

Nathan Mark Phillips and Lyman Zobel helped us host our British friends in their house with 15 other area artists.  It was a charmed evening where creativity flowed as generously as the wine, and art and conversation was woven like fine sparking thread into a beautiful weaving. Everyone was sharing what they had been up to and David told us he had sold one of his major pieces. Kathie O'Leary talked about taking Martin to the beach and visiting more galleries and museums.  Michelle told us how her new gallery in downtown St. Pete is going and art sales from the view of the gallery owner.  Martin talked about the difference of the British art scene to that of America. Joyce Ely Walker talked about artist residencies she had done.  Rose Marie Prins talked about her new Best of Show Award and one woman show.  Mark showed his new e-book of Southern Gothic digital collages, and everyone was in awe of his work.  Ann shared her Found Object Collage Arrows and Michelle thought they might be perfect for her gallery Christmas show.  Betsy Lester talked about her classes and teaching art and encouraged Betsy Gordon to join her classes at the Morean Art Center.  Lyman talked about yoga and his master class studies.  Leslie Neuman talked about her wonderful home and studio in Aripeka and her paintings.  Everyone brought pot luck Southern food to share with our British friends.  There was so much food that Mark and Lyman can eat for a long long time.  Pulled pork BBQ, grilled chicken, baked beans, black eyed peas, Corn bread, salads, fried okra, dips, pies galore(pumpkin, key lime, banana cream and more).  I think we will ask all the artists to share their recipes with you from this evening as well! 

Martin in deep conversation with Bob and David

Lyman and Rose Marie Prins show the delight sharing art can bring

Me and B'Easy the dog, David, Pete and Tom.

Kathie O'Leary sneaking away from Lyman and Rose Marie

AND THIS LITTLE FELLOW SAYS IT ALL, " WELL WHAT DID YOU EXPECT EXCEPT AN EVENING OF MIRACLES?!" 
AND THE LAST THING SAID BY ALL IS WHEN IS THE NEXT ART PARTY!?