The Gallery of Artists

From the Studio of Robert L. Caldwell

2012-03-06T14:30:00.003-08:00

2011marked the end of my first ten years as a professional “working” artist, and2012 starts the next chapter of my career. Ten years ago when I decided to makethe leap as a full-time artist, I knew I wanted to go to Africa. This year, I’m going!

Iam often asked, “Why don’t you paint or draw more large animals? And, why somany birds?” The answer is simple: To create truly amazing and realisticartwork, I need to see wildlife in its natural habitat. Observing animals intheir native surroundings is essential to great wildlife art. Zoo animal’s workas backup reference but not as the animals depicted in the finished work.

Creatingtruly spectacular wildlife art requires numerous hours in the field observing,recording and absorbing what animals do in their natural habitat: finding food,nesting, socializing and surviving. This interaction cannot be observed in aman-made environment, such as a zoo.

Iwill be joining fellow GOA artists Jan Martin McGuire and James Gary Hines II on thislife time adventure and feel very fortunate to have them as my guides on thistrip.

The Adventure…

Theadventure will start in Tarangire National Park, a baobab forestknown for one of the largest populations of elephants in Tanzania along withmany species of game and birds. We will then move to Lake Manyara wherewe will have the opportunity to see a varied habitat — from lush forests toopen grasslands to lake and shore environments that host many rarely seenspecies of birds, including flamingos.

(Clickhere to read more about the adventure)

*All photos courtesy of Jan Martin Mcguire

From the Studio of JAMES GARY HINES II and JAN MARTIN McGUIRE

2012-02-21T09:49:00.002-08:00

"CONFLICT" an archival ink photo by James as part of his"ONE" collection. This photo was 24 x 36" and was producedonly one time as a fine art image which sold immediately upon its debut exhibition

GOA artists, husband andwife team Jan Martin McGuire and James Gary Hines II recently returned from aconservation project in Zambia. Jan is a painter and James is a photographer.

In early 1980 there were 2000black rhinos in North Luangwa National Park – but by the end of the 1980s –none. All were poached toextinction. Elephants, buffalo andother wildlife were decimated as well.

From 2003 – 2010 thirtyblack rhinos were airlifted from South Africa to the park under a program byFRANKFURT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY (FZS) NORTH LUANGWA CONSERVATION PROJECT. After acclimating them in bomas the rhinoswere released into a large area of the park that is protected by an electricfence. This project is a collaborationbetween FZS, two governmental agencies including ZAWA (Zambia WildlifeAuthority), private donors and individuals and hunters. It paints with broad strokes what canbe accomplished when differences are put aside and people come together to workshoulder to shoulder for a cause.

Head Ranger Kamona, talks to James about the importance of clean, safe,drinking water

While the project isfunded in part by FZS, additional funding is always necessary, particularly forongoing needs of rations, equipment and uniforms. One of the critical needs is safe, clean drinking water forthe rangers and their families. Currently all water is collected from streams for drinking (the samewater that is used for washing clothing and bathing), which could be easilycontaminated – either by accident or intentionally, from things such as choleraoutbreak upstream, accidental poisoning from fishing upstream, or more sinister– purposeful poisoning by poachers.

Rhino poaching has reachedan all time alarming high – with 440 animals poached in South African alone in2011 – more than one a day! Andthe toll continues to rise. Rhinohorn is thought (incorrectly) to have medicinal properties in Asian medicine.It is thought to cure everything from headaches to cancer. However, rhino horn is made of theexact same materials as human fingernails or horse hoofs – and repeatedscientific study has proved that there is no medicinal value. However, cultural beliefs are very hardto break – and with China now having a very strong middle and upper class – thedemand for rhino horn has skyrocketed. It is now worth more than gold or cocaine.

Jan sketching in her journal from life

Jan and James were askedto become involved to help raise money for the boreholes by a popular huntingTV personality who financed their trip to Zambia. While there Jan and James photographed the area wildlife andhabitat, spent time talking with local scouts, rangers and PH’s (ProfessionalHunters) who are the first line of defense in protecting the rhino. The park issurrounding by GMA (Game Management areas) where hunting is allowed and so thePH’s and their Zawa scouts and trackers constantly patrol their areas, everalert for poachers.

Jan and James with Kamona, head ranger for the North Luangwa NationalPark, Zambia

While there they also metwith Ed Sayer, the head of the program and were personally shown around thearea including the main ranger station by Kamona – the head ranger for NLNP, apark the size of the state of Delaware.

James with the armed Zawa scout and tracker looking for poachers

James and Jan personallywere involved in tracking and chasing poachers while they were on thetrip. “I was astonished to see thelevel of poaching that occurs on a daily basis”, Jan says.

"WE ARE BACK" 30 x 40 acrylic on canvas painting Jan did toraise money for boreholes

Upon returning home Janproduced a major painting entitled “WE ARE BACK” of a black rhino namedLondokini. In an effort to involvelocal the communities, school children were invited to name the re-introducedrhinos. Londokini means, “We areBack” in the local language. Thisanimal is also the first male to be brought to the park. Jan felt it was fitting to feature himin the painting. She says, “Londokiniis seen coming from the shadows of deep brush into the light – symbolizing thereturn of the black rhino. The catch phrase is “Emerging from the shadows ofnear extinction – the black rhino is back in Zambia”. Jan is donating the ENTIRE proceeds from the sale of this$30,000 painting to pay for 5 boreholes (enclosed water wells) for the fiveranger stations in the area.

Jan and James alsoproduced a hard bound, collector limited edition book to raise awareness aboutthe project and to also raise additional funds. So far $2000 has been raised from the sale of the book andprints of the painting. Clients ofJan and James have also donated towards the boreholes, and one client and hiswife are sponsoring the education of one of the scouts so that he can become aranger - at a cost of $25,000 forthe two-year course in Tanzania. Jan and James are currently awaitingconfirmation of a large grant from a hunting organization which will purchasethe painting.

Photo James took of a Lilac Breasted Roller and has reproduced as archivalink on canvas from the trip: "FLIGHT OF FANCY"

Both Jan and James haveproduced work from the trip which they have featured at several exhibits thisyear. The next exhibit that bothwill be at is NATUREWORKS Wildlife Art Show and Sale in Tulsa, Oklahoma March 3^rdand 4^th. Several other GOA artists will beexhibiting there as well.

More information on thebook and prints can be found on James’ website http://www.jamesgaryhines.com/bookzambia.html

From the studio of Julie Bender

2012-01-09T05:59:00.000-08:00

Exploring New Horizons

Every now and then every artist feels the need to push herboundaries, explore the unknown, step out of her comfort zone. I am such an artist and am excited bynew possibilities. Pyrography, byits nature, is quite limiting. When burning wood, I choose to not use color to enhance my work; ratherI rely solely on the rich and beautiful tones of sepia to bring about myimages. Those tones, of course, comefrom applying heat to the wood surface. I’ve employed this mode of pyrography for eight years now.

A couple years ago, I started getting an itch to trysomething new with my beloved medium. And now that I feel I’ve mastered my technique, I became more than readyto put words into action. So, outI went to an art store and poked around the stacks and stacks of paper andother various tools. I left withArches 140# watercolor paper, both hot and cold pressed. Anxious to try it, I experimentedimmediately. I really enjoyed thefeel of it and made two quick discoveries. One: paper actually burns slower than wood. Two: too much heat will burn rightthrough paper in no time flat, giving me nowhere to go besides…well, thegarbage can. Lessons learned.

I next turned to some reference photos I had taken last yearduring a boat trip off the San Diego coast where sea lions, cormorants,pelicans and other species of sea birds amassed. The first piece I produced (14x11) was on cold-pressedpaper, a more textural surface than hot-pressed. I wondered if the “tooth” would be too much for my tools -or my patience. But, in fact Ifound the result surprisingly pleasing, so I “pressed” on! My first attempt yielded this piece,yet untitled, of a sea lion resting on a large rock. Getting subtle tonal values was a bit trickier with thispaper, but worth the attempt!

My next project was on Arches 140# hot-pressed watercolorpaper. By this point, I feltmore brave and thought I’d try a larger piece with more subjects, so I gatheredall my reference and went to work. I composed the piece using three photos and then placed and scaled thesea lions and birds for a pleasing aesthetic. Many, many hours later, I only have left to do the water atthe bottom. Here is the work inprogress.

My plan now is to purchase some thicker watercolor paper,hope for less careless scorching, and keep moving in this directionawhile. This artist is not happyif she is not creatively challenged and pushing her boundaries.

From the studio of Dale Weiler

2011-12-27T04:29:00.000-08:00

A Happy Holiday Season to all! I hope that everyone has been enjoying the holidayfestivities, gathering with friends and family and getting ginned up for thenew year. Annie and I have justreturned from a most enjoyable cruise down in the Caribbean and are nowcomfortable ensconced back in Tryon. It’s always good to be back home (and back to my studio)!

Since my last blog I’ve been working on a polar bear for anupcoming show in Dallas, Texas next fall. As is normally the case, I was staring at a piece of stone in my studioand I could see this bear perched on the edge of an ice shelf getting ready toleap off. The beast is over 2 feetlong and is sculpted from a magnificent piece of Colorado alabaster. The piece makes me laugh each time Ilook at it, with the bear’s butt sticking up in the air, preparing to springfrom its icy perch. I’ve attacheda picture of it for your amusement.

One other bit of news I wanted to share is an upcomingarticle about me and my work in the Jan/Feb issue of Hunting and Fishing Collectibles Magazine. In the last issue themagazine published an article about my deceased father, Milton C. Weiler, whowas an internationally acclaimed sporting art watercolorist. My brother, sister and I have justcompleted the printing of a book on his life and accomplishments in the artworld. It’s a wonderful overviewof his extraordinary career in the sporting art field and a long overdue tributeto his accomplishments. Themagazine’s editor thought it would be interesting to write a follow-up articleabout one of his offspring that has taken up the artistic pursuit as well. Interestingly, my brother, sister and Iall inherited some of his artistic gift and have incorporated it into our livesto varying degrees. I’ve attacheda picture of the upcoming magazine cover. If you get a chance, take a look at the article.

Until next time, may the new year bring you all good health,happiness and a continued love and appreciation of all that is art. Cheers, Dale

From the Studio of Paul Rhymer

2011-12-12T05:43:00.000-08:00

Bighorn Monument-Lionsto Lambs

This year I was honoredto have my Bighorn Sheep sculpture picked by NatureWorks for their monument forTulsa, OK. Now that I had thisimportant job, I knew I had to make sure I got it right. I’m mostly a bird guy. Not that I haven’t had a lot ofexperience with mammals, but I knew that some educated help wouldn’t hurt. I enlisted two of my main sculpturebuddies, Roger Martin and Roger Smith (aka Dixie Roger and Yankee Roger) forsome help in getting it roughed out. All of us are recovering taxidermists, now sculptors. Here are someviews of the sculpting process for my biggest sculpture to date.

We started on Easterweekend 2011. I knew that I wantedto do most of the sculpture in foam. Carve the foam to about 90% and finish the surface with clay. Roger Martin works at a taxidermysupply company and he got me a damaged lion form as a core for the sheep. So on Easter Sunday, we started mysheep sculpture with a lion form.

Before we carved thefirst bit of foam we enlarged my maquette and traced it onto a large sheet ofpaper. We then enlarged a photo of a sheep at the same scale, tracedthat onto a piece of paper and then drew in some anatomy on it to ensure mysheep’s anatomy was good. This helped show some distortions in my maquette that didn’t look badsmall but was way off when enlarged.

With my maquetteenlarged we were able to set the big chunk of foam to the right angle.

We mixed expanding foam andstarted to add it to build up the shape of the sheep.

I enlarged the head andcut it out of a block of foam

The legs were next. We used 1” sheet foam from the hardwarestore. The legs were traced and a metal rod was bent forsupport.

Foam was poured over thatto secure the rod and build up the shape.

Once it was built up enough a cast leg was used as referenceto get the shape correct.

As more foam is added to the body, the leg can be fitted to it.

The Rogers pose with theroughed out sheep

To get an idea how thehead will look with horns, I mock some up with cardboard.

To build the horns I cut foam in blocksand thread them onto a heavy aluminum wire. They are then foamed into place.

Using some cast reproduction horns Icarved the enlarged horns.

I made the hornsdetachable. Here they are on atest fit.

After we getthe foam about where I want it, we paint it “clay color”.

This willhelp “see” it better as one color and also when I start adding clay.

The finished claysculpture ready for molding

From Wes and Rachelle Siegrists’ Studio:

2011-11-28T05:39:00.001-08:00

We've just returned from fun and profitable times at shows and are busily back at work in our studios now rebuilding our inventory of miniature paintings as well as completing several commissions. While we consider ourselves primarily wildlife artists, we tend to paint whatever inspires us. Here are a few of our recent miniature paintings shown with a US Penny for scale:

“ADMIRING THE CONNOISSEUR” by Rachelle, opaque watercolor, 4¾ x 3¾ inches

“ADMIRING THE MORAN” by Wes, opaque watercolor, 2 x 3 inches

“FINE ART IN LITTLE” by Rachelle, opaque watercolor, 3 x 3⅞ inches

We’re delighted that our touring exhibition, curated and directed by David J. Wagner, L.L.C., is continuing to enthrall visitors at the museum venues hosting the show. The exhibition features fifty of our paintings representing a wide variety of our favorite subjects and will continue on tour through 2013 and perhaps beyond. The exhibition will be heading to the San Diego Museum of Natural History, San Diego, CA next and then on to the Nevada State Museum in Carson City, NV.

A video highlighting our touring exhibition now on display at the Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City, MI is below courtesy of YouTube:

Here's a link to a recent magazine interview as well: ArtAttack: Up Close and Personal - Wes and Rachelle Siegrist Create Their Work In Miniature

Follow us weekly via Rachelle's blog: http://underthemagnifier.wordpress.com/
or our Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/SiegristMiniaturePaintings

From the Studio of Melanie Fain:

2011-11-15T09:29:00.001-08:00

After a long dry summer in Texas, we’ve finally gottenrain. Not enough to make thecreeks run fast, but enough to help the 100+ year-old Live Oaks survive to seeanother year. The lack of rainbrought a lot of wildlife to the property in search of food and water. There’s been a roadrunner groceryshopping in the studio gardens and down by the pond and I’ve captured itsessence in this new etching, “Roadrunner”.

I was recently commissionedto develop a series of five etchings for a line of specialty teas and had agreat time working with the tea maker. The etchings feature Asian themes and are nice accent pieces. Here are two of the etchings,“Halloween Pennant” and “Red Panda”.

As of this writing, the teas haven’t been released,but I think folks in the Midwest will start seeing them soon.

My goal is always to bring my collectors a window tothe natural world. I spend a lotof time watching wildlife, observing nature, and my artwork is always informedby that pursuit. I was blessedwith an opportunity to photograph and fish in the inner coastal waters nearCharleston, SC. I caught a prettygood-sized Red Fish and had a grand time enjoying the autumn light and all thecoastal wildlife.

This summer, I spent a good amount of time shootingskeet at the San Antonio Gun Club. Additionally, I started practicing self-defense and I passed the verytough Level 1 Krav Maga self-defense test in October.

I’m excited to show you all the new artwork. You can see all the new pieces on mywebsite: http://melaniefain.com I’m looking forward to seeing many ofyou at my upcoming shows: TheWaterfowl Festival in Easton, MD., The Plantation Wildlife Art Festival inThomasville, GA., and looking ahead to 2012, the wonderful SoutheasternWildlife Exposition in Charleston, SC.

Thanks for supporting fine art!

Melanie Fain

From the Studio of Robert Caldwell:

2011-10-31T05:01:00.000-07:00

“Why such a detailed drawing for under your painting?”

I am always asked why I draw such a detailed drawing for mypaintings on the canvas (board) before applying the paint. Actually I don’tconsider them so detailed, if you put one of my “under drawings” next to one ofmy “finished drawings” on paper they are nothing alike, in my eyes. Simply put…………….this is how I taught myself to paint!

I have been drawing since I was two, as my mother will tellyou, and I just recently started painting in 2005. I had wanted to paint for along time but just couldn’t figure it out; color adds a whole different levelof creativity to the picture. Don’t get me wrong, my passion is graphite pencilbut there is just something great about a nicely painted image.

In high school I tried several paintings and quickly trashedmy attempts and found that I had a pretty good grasp on colored pencils. So Iwas able to create some colored pieces using those, don’t worry I will not beshowing you any of my high school art work!

College was very discouraging for me, here I was a realistbeing told that I had to paint abstractly and more to the point “abstractexpressionism” which loosely defined is…

Jackson Pollack “Autumn Rhythm”

A painting movement in which artists typicallyapplied paint rapidly, and withforce to their huge canvases inan effort to show feelings and emotions, painting gesturally, non-geometrically,sometimes applying paint with large brushes, sometimes dripping or eventhrowing it onto canvas. Their work is characterized by a strong dependence onwhat appears to be accident and chance, but which is actually highly planned.

If you know my work I am so far from this it’s not evenfunny! Then to top it off the faculty is told basically what to teach and givena time frame to do this in and then they pack the classes with so many studentsthat you really couldn’t get any help. I continued to draw realistically anddid study abstract patterns which lead me to the work of Robert Bateman whoalways has a strong abstract pattern under the detail of his work. I almostfailed in all of my painting classes that I took because I just couldn’t figurehow to make the paint work the way I wanted it too, Watercolor and gouacheworked for a bit but it just wasn’t my cup of tea and acrylic just dried way tofast. Enter “oil paint” into the picture, I LOVED IT but still couldn’t get itto do what I wanted it to and to be honest I didn’t know what I wanted it todo.

I had two professors that changed my life in college, theydon’t know it and they probably don’t even know what they did to change myview. To tell you the truth I didn’t realize it at first either. First, mydrawing professor Robert Foster made this comment one day to me, it was sofleeting, “You know Robert, have you ever tried coloring your drawings before?”It would be years before it would hit me to do this, this method as I have cometo know it is the “Venetian Technique” Of course my “under drawings” are a bitmore completed then what the Old Masters did, what they did was known asgrisaille. Grisaille is a style of monochromatic painting in shades of grayused as under paintings.

Copy of Johannes Vermeer's Headof a Young Girl, oil on panel,
18x15, executed by Virgil Elliottin 1985.
Transparent and opaque color overgrey opaque painting

A brief note about the Venetiantechnique which was first known as the “Flemish Technique.”

…painting on wooden panels primed pure white with glue-chalkgesso, as well as the working out of the design for the picture on separatesurfaces. Once the design was completed on the cartoon, it was transferred tothe primed panel, refined further, and then gone over with ink once the artistwas satisfied with it. The paint was applied with small soft-hair brushes, muchas in the egg tempera techniques, but the range of possibilities was greatlyexpanded by the transparency, slow drying and greater viscosity of the oilvehicle. The tendencies of the individual pigments toward transparency oropacity, which could not be fully exploited in egg tempera, could be employedsystematically in oils for a much more convincing illusion of reality. Thedeepest darks were rendered transparently, and the lightest lights opaquely.

The second professor who had the greatest impact on mypainting life was Durwood Dommisse.I believe to this day if I had been in a smaller class and he hadn’t a timeschedule to keep to that this man would have taught me everything I could everknow about painting. It was his class that I almost failed; honestly I think hepassed me just so that I could move on. It was in his class that I wasintroduced to JohannesItten and in turn to Albert H. Munsell.Again it would be years before I garnered all the information from these twoindividuals that Durwood introduced me to but I paint the way I do todaybecause of his class.

My process of choosing and mixing colors, which I call colormapping, is a topic for another posting but if you are interested please let meknow and I will be more than happy to take the time and write a posting, actuallythis topic would probably take several postings.

So there you have it, I create a finished looking “under drawing”also known as a grisaille and then color in my drawing by applying thin coats ofcolor also known as glazes. It typically takes me two layers of paint toachieve the look that I want.

You can see the process in several of my time-lapsed videosif you are so inclined.

Work inProgress, “Crow” – this is a playlist of five videos showing my completeprocess.

“Cow ona Hill” – shows the under drawing and then the layers of paint beingapplied

“ReflectedGreen” – Same as “Cow on a Hill”

Follow up posts on Robert’s blog

“MyRoad to Color Mapping, Part 1”

“MyRoad to Color Mapping, Part 2”

“It’swhat’s behind the paint & graphite”

From the Studio of James Gary Hines II

2011-10-17T05:05:00.000-07:00

In Sept (go to Sept 18th post) my wife, and G.O.A. member, Jan Martin McGuire had posted about us preparing for our trip to Zambia. Although we have had the opportunity to travel to Africa on numerous occasions this would be our first visit to the country of Zambia. Well we have returned from our adventure and as always the case when we visit Africa we were not disappointed.

Africa has a special calling to us both and we always feel as if we have returned home. The only thing that seems to change are all the new experiences and this trip had many. Zambia offered a rich wildlife experience and Jan and I were able to add some new species to our sighting list (mammals and birds).

One of the most exciting of experiences occurred when we came across a bachelor heard of hippos. The low water level in the river had them all huddle together. And they were not happy about it at all. Moments of placidity would be broken with complete aggression and confrontation. One hippo in particular did not appreciate sharing his small domain. The brute was very forceful in expelling all intruders and I was able to capture some dynamic photos of the battles.

“BRUTE FORCE” will be the next in my “One Collection”. A series of photo’s that I release in an edition of only one “One Photographer, One Moment, One Collector”.

From the Studio of Don Rambadt:

2011-10-04T05:09:00.000-07:00

Autumn is in full swing here in Southeastern Wisconsin and each North wind brings a bevy of birds at it's forefront. I find that my choice of subject matter has become quite seasonal over the years, and it's especially noticeable in Spring and Fall when species are represented en masse. I'm still sorting through my list and deciding which concepts to tackle first, but there will definitely be a raptor or two making their debut at November's Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD, as well as several members of the festivals namesake, and of course ... Red-winged Blackbirds. The past few months have been a bit of a whirlwind, so it's been nice to finally get some time to settle into the studio to work on some smaller scale sculptures in preparation for the big show.

September saw the installation of two large pieces, and the beginning stages of several more.

The first installed was a rather abstract, welded bronze owl I made for a couple in Southwest Harbor Maine. The sculpture was designed to be the centerpiece of a garden, and had (at their daughter's request) a curved element included in the composition to provide a cozy perch for summer reading. The photos were taken here in Wisconsin, before the piece was crated up and sent on it's trip East.

The second was the first of three public art pieces I'm creating for a series of retaining walls at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, WY. The artwork is entitled "Aspen Gateway" and was designed to provide a point of transition from natural beauty of the National Elk Refuge to the artistic beauty found in the museum. The site is still under construction, so I'm waiting to post photos of the finished piece until the spring, but here's a few that I took during the installation.

News from GOA Artists

2011-10-03T05:11:00.000-07:00

IVY LEAGUE

Julie Bender's pyrographic work IVY LEAGUE, recently juried into the2011 Birds in Art exhibition, has been purchased for the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum's Permanent Collection! The museum, located in Wausau, WI, is considered mecca to avian artists around the world working hard to find favor with the jury in order to participate in the museum's annual flagship exhibition, Birds in Art.

A hearty congratulations to Robert Caldwell and Wes Siegrist for being elected to the Board of the Society of Animal Artists (SAA). The SAA is the world's oldest and most prestigious animal art organization in the world being founded in 1960. The Society's annual exhibition "Art & the Animal" continues to set the bar for museum quality fine art in a wide variety of subjects and styles. Robert and Wes will join fellow GOA members, Jan Martin McGuire and Paul Rhymer, who are already serving on the SAA Board.

GOA husband and wife team, painter Jan Martin McGuire and photographer James Gary Hines II, recently returned from their research trip to Zambia. One of the highlights was several photo sessions with HUGE herds of hippos at the confluence of the Mwaleshi and Luangwa rivers in a very remote part of the country not many people ever see. Jan and James witnessed incredible behavior including multiple fighting between the males in a bachelor group. James plans on creating a new "ONE" series from the encounter. ONE's are one of a kind original photographs that are not sold as a series, but rather just as one large image. James' saying is "One Moment, One Photographer, One Collector". Jan also has several painting ideas from the time spent with the hippos.

From the Studio of Jan Martin McGuire:

2011-09-18T10:38:00.000-07:00

Jan her husband, fellow GOA member photographer James GaryHines II are preparing for trip to Zambia. This is a special project for black rhino reintroductionback in the North Luangwa National Park. Jan has been asked to paint a major painting that will be part of a fundraising effort. Primarily themoney raised will go to better help equip the anti poaching patrols in thearea. Poaching for rhino is acritical level in Africa, with rhino horn selling the Asian black market formore than gold or cocaine.

“DUST DEVIL”, 30 X 40”, Acrylic on Panel

The photos included in this blog are of a painting of a black Rhino that Jan did after a special project to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy - http://www.lewa.org in Kenya. This painting won the prestigious Presidents Award at the 50th Anniversary of the Society of Animal Artists ART AND THE ANIMAL at the San Diego Museum of Natural History last year. This juried exhibition is the pinnacle of animal art in the world. The other photo is of Jan feeding an orphaned black rhino calf on Lewa.

Also on Jan’s plate in the nextfew months is the COLLECTORS RESERVE exhibition at Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa,Oklahoma. Artists and the workthey will be exhibiting can be found here: http://gilcrease.utulsa.edu/CR2011/Included in this blog is one of the paintings that Jan will have onexhibit. It depicts the Oklahomastate bird – the Scissortail Flycatcher – in a field of wild flowers includingthe Oklahoma wild flower – the Indian Blanket.

“OKLAHOMA SUMMER”, 10 x 14”, Acrylic on Canvas

Jan Martin McGuire feeding anorphaned black rhino calf in Kenya.

Jan has been asked by Gilcrease todo a two-hour demonstration on October 28 prior to the artists reception anddraw November 3. http://www.gilcrease.org/cal_details.aspx?ID=1243Jan will try to complete, or mostly complete a small painting of a songbirdduring the demonstration.

From Julie Bender's Studio:

2011-09-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

It’s HOT out there!!

A Recent Commission

Summer, for me, is a great time to focus on projects forwhich I often have no time, since shows and exhibitions are at a minimum. For those not familiar, pyrography is bestdescribed as “drawing with fire.” Most traditionally known as wood burning, pyrography ispracticed on many natural surfaces, such as paper, leather, wood and gourds. I happen to burn on maple wood becauseI like the way its inherent hardness allows me to burn tiny detail with greatcontrol.

It is rare that I teach workshops, but it is summer, afterall. So, I agreed to spend oneJuly weekend at Marc Adams School of Woodworking in Franklin, Indiana. Seventeen students and I spent qualitytime together learning various pyro techniques and working on challenging projects. I had such a great time and was invitedback in August 2012 for another weekend workshop!

Commissions have also kept me busy this summer, as shown here. If you have interest in following myworks in progress, join me at my Facebookartist page!

IVY LEAGUE

The fall shows and exhibitions are near! It was an honor to have my pieceentitled IVY LEAGUE juried into the2011 Birds in Art exhibition. The show runs September 10 - November 13,with a weekend artist reception September 10 - 11. I look forward to visiting artist friends, meeting museumpatrons and looking at the stunning selection this year. Please join me in Wausau if you can!

The WaterfowlFestival is always a wonderful experience for me. Last year I was quite fortunate to have had my work entitled SENTINEL OF THE MARSH win the VIPvoter’s choice award. This will bemy fourth year there and I look forward to sharing my new body of work. Artists will be exhibiting at theArmory in charming Easton, Maryland. If you are in the area, you will not want to miss this family festival.

I hope you are all having a great summer, too. As always, feel free to contact meabout a commission or upcoming show at Julie@juliebender.com. And keep an eye on new workat my website and stay in touch at my blog.

From Dale Weiler's Toad Hall Studio:

2011-08-22T04:50:00.000-07:00

It’s been a busy and very hot summer in Tryon, North Carolina. After being on the road for (what seemed to be) months, I’ve been able to stay on the block for a while and catch up on some long-overdue studio work. It’s also been nice to stay indoors in my air conditioned studio and avoid doing all the outdoor projects that I will eventually have to get to (maybe in the fall when the weather cools).

I’m currently working on two commission pieces. One is a large (20” long brown trout) chasing a wet fly. The fish is sculpted from a magnificent piece of Argentine steatite and the fly is a bronze casting of a fly that I tied. These two elements are incorporated into a beautifully figured piece of driftwood I found in Maine several years ago. I’ve included a few shots of me working on the piece and you can see the incredible texturing in the stone. It should be a sweet piece when it’s completed.

The second piece is going to be a life-sized coyote howling into the night. It’s for a private residence in Scottsdale, Arizona. The piece of stone I’ll be starting from will probably be 3,000 to 4,000 pounds and I’ll end up with about one half of that in the finished piece. I’m currently deciding on whether the stone will be brown sandstone (from the southwest US) or black steatite (from Virginia). We’ll see what my muse tells me.

The last bit of news to pass along is that I’ll be working with the Ward Museum to place one of my pieces in their outdoor sculpture garden. All very exciting! My best to everyone and I hope to see you in the not-too-distant future. Cheers, Dale

From Paul Rhymer's Studio:

2011-08-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

My new piece is a Roadrunner titled "BEEP BEEP!" It was inspired by a wonderful trip to Mexico organized by David J. Wagner. There were about 25 artists on this trip including fellow GOA artists Wes and Rachelle Siegrist and Don Rambadt. The art resulting from this trip will form an exhibition at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, AZ in 2013. I loved that cactus that we saw down there. They came in all shapes and sizes offering the artist endless opportunities to explore shape and form. I have already done a Gambles quail on a big prickly pear cactus and are planning many more pieces like this. The Roadrunner is a wonderfully animated bird. I enjoyed seeing them along the road and chasing small critters in the desert.

This shows the very beginning of my piece. The legs are aluminum wire and the body is an old fox head from a taxidermy form. I like to kid myself by thinking that my Roadrunner has a little Wiley Coyote inside him. (Poor guy never got any respect...)

In this photo I have inserted a neck/head wire that can be changed as I sculpt and thin aluminum flashing that form the armature for the tail feathers.

Clay is being applied to the armature. I usually warm the clay to make it soft so it really gets into all the cracks so when it cools and stiffens it is really makes the sculpture quite strong.

This photo shows the bird roughed out in clay.

Here the bird's details can be seen and you can get an idea of what the piece will look like once it's done.

Note the added lizard detail.

From Wes and Rachelle Siegrists’ Studio:

2011-07-24T05:03:00.000-07:00

While we don’t enjoy the heat of summer we relish the laid back days spending time painting in the studio, riding bikes, working in our gardens and spending time playing games with neighbors and friends. Summer is always a productive time for us allowing us to paint over half of our yearly inventory. While shows and paperwork are now a year-round activity for us, the lazy days of summer rarely place upon us the stress of deadlines with mountains of paperwork.

A couple of our recent miniature paintings shown with a US Penny for scale:

“ON GOLDEN POND” by Rachelle, opaque watercolor, 2¾ x 4¾ inches

“GLIDING GULL” by Wes, opaque watercolor, 2½ x 3½ inches

We’re delighted that our touring exhibition, curated and directed by David J. Wagner, L.L.C., is continuing to enthrall visitors at the museum venues hosting the show. The exhibition features fifty of our paintings representing a wide variety of our favorite subjects and will continue on tour through 2013. We’re looking forward to attending the opening of the exhibition at the next venue, The Yadkin Cultural Arts Center in Yadkinville, NC. We’ll be giving a presentation about our art and career on Thursday, September 15^th at 7PM at the Center and will be available to discuss our work with those in attendance.

A video highlighting the touring exhibition is below from our YouTube channel:

Exhibition at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art

2011-07-14T05:28:00.000-07:00

The Gallery of Artists' second exhibit at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art was a another hit! We would like to sincerely thank everyone at the Ward Museum and The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore for making this exhibit such a spectacular event to remember! Please find below some images from the event and some very kind words from Lora Bottinelli the Executive Director of the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University.

The Gallery of Artists event was a huge success and people are still abuzz with positive reviews and stories of their interactions with the artists. Friday night’s reception was a generous mix of arts enthusiasts, supporters of the Ward Museum and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, and friends of the ten artists. The LaMay gallery bubbled over with excitement over the works presented. Several artworks found new homes in the midst of the festivities.

On Saturday and Sunday, our supporters were enthralled with the lectures and kept the artists on their toes with questions that revealed the essence of their work. I particularly enjoyed Don Rambadt’s welding demonstration on Sunday morning. A packed room through shielded eyes watched him create a lovely wren from bits of metal. Many attendees were hooked on the lecture series and spent almost all of the sunny weekend in our theater taking it all in.

The show was packed up as fast as it arrived, with the artists leaving plenty of good will behind for future collaborations with the Ward Museum. Thank you to the Gallery of Artists for bringing such a quality program to the Ward Museum and our community.

Lora Bottinelli
Executive Director
Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University

Panoramic views of the exhibition as the artists were getting ready for the opening night

A view of the works of Dale Weiler, Wes & Rachelle Siegrist and Robert Louis Caldwell

A view of the gallery displaying the world championship carvings

The Gallery of Artists would like to express their sincere appreciation to all that came out to support us in this fundraising exhibition and attend the lectures and demonstrations!

Ward Museum Exhibition, July 2011

2011-06-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

The Gallery ofArtists at

The Ward Museum ofWildfowl Art

Salisbury, Maryland

July 8-10, 2011

The Ward Museum is excited to host the east coast premier of The Gallery ofArtists! From July 8-10 visitors to the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art will encounter some of the best wildlife art under one roof. As preparations are being made we are getting a glimpse into the talent and passion of these artists. On Saturday and Sunday they will each be demonstrating their unique approach to capturing the art of nature in the museum’s Habitat Theatre. A full description of the event and schedule of activities can be found on the museum’s website.

While you can get up close and personal with the art and the artists during the event, you should consider making a purchase to enjoy year round. With a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Ward Museum as well as the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s Fund for the Environment, you will be sure to be making a wise investment.

Join me in welcoming the Gallery of Artists to the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art!

Lora Bottinelli

Executive Director

Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, SalisburyUniversity

Artist Lectures at the Ward Museum

2011-06-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

The Gallery ofArtists at
The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art

Salisbury, Maryland

July 8-10, 2011

Saturday

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Galleries open; regular admission fee 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Lectures and demonstrations

Sunday

12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Galleries open; regular admission fee 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Lectures and demonstrations

Artists Lecture schedule

Julie Bender
Painting with Heat: Pyrography
If you’ve ever wondered how burned wood can be considered fine art, come find out! Julie will be on hand to present the ancient art of pyrography while describing her technique and process. Watch how a blank wooden surface transforms itself into a work of art, simply by applying heat to wood.
Saturday 11:00-12:00

Paul Rhymer
From Clay to Bronze
Recently retired as the head taxidermist for the Smithsonian, Paul brings a unique perspective to his work based on his deep understanding of behavior and anatomy. Through PowerPoint and hands on props Paul will explain the process of creating a sculpture from to the beginning stages of clay to the finished bronze.
Saturday 12:00-1:00

Melanie Fain
The Etching Process
A description of how Melanie Fain got started in the arts, her inspiration and an explanation of the etching process. There will be pictures of the process, Melanie working in the studio and images of her work. A question and answer session will follow.
Saturday 1:00-2:00

James Gary Hines II
Nature Photography as Art
Internationally published nature photographer James Gary Hines will describe how he creates his fine art photographs from the use of light, composition and storytelling to his hands on creation of the finished photograph on canvas back in his digital studio.
Saturday 2:00-3:00

Robert Caldwell
It’s what’s underneath that counts
Artist Robert Caldwell answers the most-asked question about his work, “Why do you create a finished drawing and then paint over it?” Listen as Robert uncovers the history of the Flemish technique — the oldest “old master” technique in oil painting — and how his process mirrors this multi-layered method.
Saturday 3:00-4:00

Sunday Lectures

Dale Weiler
Bringing stone to life
Dale will present a PowerPoint presentation of how he turns a piece of stone into a finished sculpture featuring one of his award winning pieces “Evolution of Silk”.
Sunday 1:00-2:00

Wes Siegrist
The History of Miniature Art
Historian and author, Wes Siegrist, will discuss the history and modern scope of miniature art via a PowerPoint presentation.
Sunday 2:00-3:00

Jan Martin McGuire
Evolution of an Artist
Internationally known Bartlesville artist Jan Martin McGuire will take you through her journey as a tom boy in Colorado to where she is today. She will also describe her techniques and show examples of her work reflecting nature from Africa to the Rainforests of Central and South America to the North American continent.
Sunday 3:00-4:00

We look forward to seeing you at the exhibition and Lectures!

A Fantatsic Premiere Exhibit!

2011-05-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

Our premiere exhibit at the Woolaroc Museum was a hit! We would like to sincerely thank everyone at the Woolaroc Museum and The Nature Conservancy for making our first exhibit such a spectacular event to remember! Please find below some images from the event and some very kind words from Bob Fraser the CEO of the Woolaroc Museum& Wildlife Preserve.

Thank you to all of you who attended the opening night and the event throughout the weekend!

“Perhaps it is due to the spectacular nature of Woolaroc and our own collection of art and artifacts, but we probably do find ourselves a bit harder to impress because of our surroundings. For almost a year, we helped to plan The Gallery of Artists show that would debut here at Woolaroc and as I started to see and hear more about these great artists, my interest and excitement started to “ramp up” as I could tell we were getting ready to host something that was very special. Even with that, as I entered the gallery where the show was held, I was so impressed by the quality of the art, the various mediums, the overall “look” and feel of the show. As if that wasn’t enough, the opportunity to meet the artists was another great experience as you quickly found out that not only were these incredible talents, but they all have a great passion for what they do. Each of the artists were happy to explain their specific medium, engage with the public and help draw them into the show in a very comfortable and unique manner.

To say that we were pleased with The Gallery of Artists show is an understatement…..it was a magnificent show. My recommendation to anyone is if you have the opportunity to see their show, do it……you will not be disappointed!”

Bob Fraser, CEO

Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve

The Frank Phillips Foundation, Inc.

Panoramic images of the exhibit space.

Artist Lectures at the Woolaroc Museum

2011-04-30T12:15:00.000-07:00

TheGallery of Artists

LECTURES at the Woolaroc Museum

During the art exhibition at the Wooloarc Museum on May 7-8, 2011 the artists of the GOA will each be giving a lecture on their art techniques, history of their mediums and/or the evolution of their artistic careers. This is a great opportunity to listen to how some of these nationally and internationally renowned artists got started in the arts and to see step by step images of their process.

" Artistic Perspectives on Nature "

Woolaroc Museum

Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Saturday – Sunday
May 7-8, 2011
10am - 5pm Art Show & Sale
Artist demonstrations and lectures offered throughout the weekend.

Saturday

10:00-11:00 -- Julie Bender

11:30-12:30 -- Paul Rhymer

1:00-2:00 -- Melanie Fain

2:30-3:30 -- James Gary Hines II

4:00-5:00The -- Nature Conservancy

Sunday

10:00-11:00 -- Robert Caldwell

11:30-12:30 -- Dale Weiler

1:00-2:00 -- Wes Siegrist

2:30-3:30 -- Jan Martin McGuire

Saturday Lectures

Julie Bender

Painting with Heat: Pyrography

If you’ve ever wondered how burned wood can be considered fine art, come find out! Julie will be on hand to present the ancient art of pyrography while describing her technique and process. Watch how a blank wooden surface transforms itself into a work of art, simply by applying heat to wood.

Saturday 10:00-11:00

Paul Rhymer

From Clay to Bronze

Recently retired as the head taxidermist for the Smithsonian, Paul brings a unique perspective to his work based on his deep understanding of behavior and anatomy. Through PowerPoint and hands on props Paul will explain the process of creating a sculpture from to the beginning stages of clay to the finished bronze.

Saturday 11:30-12:30

Melanie Fain

The Etching Process

A description of how Melanie Fain got started in the arts, her inspiration and an explanation of the etching process. There will be pictures of the process, Melanie working in the studio and images of her work. A question and answer session will follow.

Saturday 1:00-2:00

James Gary Hines II

Nature Photography as Art

Internationally published nature photographer James Gary Hines will describe how he creates his fine art photographs from the use of light, composition and storytelling to his hands on creation of the finished photograph on canvas back in his digital studio.

Saturday 2:30-3:30

Sunday Lectures

Robert Caldwell

It’s what’s underneath that counts

Artist Robert Caldwell answers the most-asked question about his work, “Why do you create a finished drawing and then paint over it?” Listen as Robert uncovers the history of the Flemish technique — the oldest “old master” technique in oil painting — and how his process mirrors this multi-layered method.

Sunday 10:00-11:00

Dale Weiler

Bringing stone to life

Dale will present a PowerPoint presentation of how he turns a piece of stone into a finished sculpture featuring one of his award winning pieces “Evolution of Silk”.

Sunday 11:30-12:30

Wes Siegrist

The History of Miniature Art

Historian and author, Wes Siegrist, will discuss the history and modern scope of miniature art via a PowerPoint presentation.

Sunday 1:00-2:00

Jan Martin McGuire

Evolution of an Artist

Internationally known Bartlesville artist Jan Martin McGuire will take you through her journey as a tom boy in Colorado to where she is today. She will also describe her techniques and show examples of her work reflecting nature from Africa to the Rainforests of Central and South America to the North American continent.

Sunday 2:30-3:30

We'll see you at the Museum!

Premiere Exhibition!

2011-04-19T05:59:00.000-07:00

You are cordially invited...

The Woolaroc Museum and The Nature Conservancy cordially invite you to a private artist reception:

The Gallery of Artists

"Artistic Perspectives on Nature"

Woolaroc Museum

Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Friday May 6, 2011
4:30-5:30pm Tour of the Museum
5:30 - 9:00pm Art Show & Sale

Please RSVP by Friday April 29th to 918-336-0307, ext. 11 or 14

or by email to jtucker@woolaroc.org

Open to the public

Saturday - Sunday

May 7-8, 2011

10am - 5pm Art Show & Sale

Artist demonstrations and lectures offered throughout the weekend.

This is a unique opportunity to meet this award-winning, nationally acclaimed group of artists and to add to your fine art collection! A percentage of the proceeds goes toward the Woolaroc Museum and The Nature Conservancy.

All credit Cards accepted.

Save the date PDF note card!

The Gallery of Artists proudly announces its premiere exhibition, "Artists' Perspectives on Nature," at the historical Woolaroc Museum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Dates for the show are May 6-8, 2011. Friday evening, May 6, is an invitational reception to benefit both Woolaroc Museum and the Oklahoma Nature Conservancy. The show will continue Saturday and Sunday, 10am - 5pm and is open to the public. The exhibition will include artist demonstrations and lectures. The Nature Conservancy will also give presentations about the important work they are doing in Oklahoma.

(Read More)

GOA at the Woolaroc in May 2011!

2010-11-12T07:16:00.000-08:00

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Exciting news!!!

Bob Fraser, Jan Martin McGuire, Ken Meek

The Gallery of Artists artist Jan Martin McGuire met with Ken Meek (right) Woolaroc Museum Director and Bob Fraser (left) CEO of the Frank Phillips Foundation to discuss the inaugural exhibition of GOA at the Woolaroc Museum May 6-8, 2011. The exhibit will be in the "Tapestry" Room on the upper level of the museum and will feature the artwork of GOA artists Robert Caldwell, Julie Bender, Jan Martin McGuire, James Gary Hines II, Wes Siegrist, Rachelle Siegrist, Melanie Fain, Paul Rhymer and Dale Weiler.

Woolaroc recently received the coveted Oklahoma Tourism Redbud Award for "Outstanding Oklahoma Attraction".

For more information on GOA and the exhibit please visit the events page on the website.

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The Siegrists World of Nature in Miniature Exhibition Tour and Workshop

2010-11-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

When you think of wildlife art, large painting comes to mind almost automatically. But this is not the case when you are talking about Wes & Rachelle Siegrist. They are two of the nation's premiere miniaturists and we are honored to have them as members of the Gallery of Artists. They currently have a multi-museum exhibition tour featuring their miniature paintings. The next stop for the tour will be the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum where the Siegrists will be conducting a workshop in January of 2011.

The World of Nature in Miniature Exhibition on display at the West Baton Rouge Museum

The World of Nature in Miniature
Paintings by Wes and Rachelle Siegrist

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona
December 11, 2010 - March 13, 2011
Produced by David J. Wagner, L.L.C.
David J. Wagner, Ph.D., Curator/Tour Director

WORKSHOP
Three day workshop on miniature art
"The Techniques of Working in Miniature Art"
Friday, January 14 - Sunday, January 16, 2011

Explore the enchanting world of miniature art with two of the nation's premiere miniaturists, Wes & Rachelle Siegrist. Watch them demonstrate techniques and try your hand at creating one of these diminutive gems of the art world. Learn about the guidelines contemporary miniature art shows and societies follow to preserve and promote working "in little". While all media are acceptable the instructors will be specializing in watercolor on a variety of surfaces.

The class will include a gallery walk by the Siegrists to discuss and field questions about their 50 paintings concurrently on exhibit at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum as well as a Power Point presentation on the history and scope of miniature art today. Miniature Art Society exhibition catalogues will be displayed in the classroom to illustrate the variety of media, technique and styles acceptable in modern miniatures.

This class counts towards the Art Institute's Nature Illustration Certificate. Individuals following this course will need the prerequisites Pencil I and Watercolor I. The workshop is open to all individuals working in their preferred medium. Cost is $365 for Museum members and $405 for non-members. Space is limited and advanced registration is required.

For more information:
Email Wes & Rachelle at siegrist@artofwildlife.com
Or contact the Institute directly at:
Email: arts@desertmuseum.org
Phone: (520) 883-3024
Fax: (520) 883-3043
Mail: 2021 N. Kinney Rd., Tucson, AZ 85743
Website: www.desertmuseum.org/arts/

Please contact Wes & Rachelle if you have any questions concerning the workshop.
This exhibition will feature 50 of the Siegrists' miniature paintings of wildlife drawn from their book The World of Nature in Miniature: Paintings by Wes and Rachelle Siegrist.

Two new members!

2010-10-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The Gallery of Artists...

Don Rambadt

Welded Sculpture

Dale Weiler

Stone & Wood Carvings

We would like to welcome two new mwmbers to The Gallery of Artists, Don Rambadt and Dale Weiler. Don is a sculptor specializing in Welded Sculpture, he refers to his creative process as "sketching in space," please read more about him at the GOA website.

Dale is also a sculptor but he works with stone and wood carving his finds it challenging to work with probably the most unforgiving medium of all art forms, please read more about him at the GOA website.

the addition of these two artists brings the number to 10 distinctively different artist in their own personal styles and we believe that we now offer a wide range of mediums.

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The website is finished!!!

2010-10-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

Our website is finished!!! Please take a moment and visit our site and visit "Our Artists" pages to read about all of our wonderful artists! Please check back frequently to the "Events" Page to see what is going on and where we will be next!

Things are happening....

2010-08-24T13:19:00.001-07:00

The Gallery of Artists website is about finished and we are ready to hit the ground running!!!