Archives for 2015 March-April Issue

Memory Triggers

Memory Triggers

March 20, 2015 | by

George Hallmark’s wife Lisa answers the phone and, when asked how she is, responds, “I’m great; I’m married to the most wonderful person I’ve ever met.” A few days later, during the interview for this article, Hallmark says of Lisa, a former executive secretary and professional singer, “She is the love of my life, and she takes care of me every day.” To say that these two are happy would be an understatement. Their relationship is an enviable combination of love, admiration, and support. In fact, when Hallmark talks about his paintings, he often uses “we” rather than “I.” For
Read More

Seeing with the Heart

Seeing with the Heart

March 20, 2015 | by

The influence of the Italian landscape is clearly evident in the paintings of Colorado artist Mark Pettit. It’s not a huge stretch to understand his proclivity for the Italian essence in his art, as he believes that Italy is his domestic equivalent of a soul mate. At the same time, nature is Pettit’s backdrop. When he’s not painting, he spends most of his free time on two wheels—road bikes, mountain bikes, or a Harley Davidson, “because this puts me directly in touch with nature and is an excellent way to see and experience the beauty of the American West.” Mark
Read More

A Different Perspective

A Different Perspective

March 20, 2015 | by

Alfredo Rodriguez bemoans the loss of personal interaction, a casualty of the evolution of technology—computers, cell phones, and social media—that, while increasing the speed with which people communicate, has put a distance between them. You can’t shake a hand or share a hug while tapping out letters on a keyboard. So it is that Rodriguez focuses on people interacting with each other, whether it’s an old man reading to his grandchildren, or a young man teaching his siblings how to carve. During the first part of his career, he painted colorful scenes of Native Americans, cowboys, and mountain men, along
Read More

Billy Schenck

Billy Schenck

March 20, 2015 | by

Preferring to be called Billy rather than Bill or William, it is obvious that Billy Schenck is a man secure in who he is and what he does—with good reason. In addition to being a much sought after painter, the 67-year-old artist can also be described as a nearly compulsive collector of fine art and prehistoric pottery, an avid cattleman, horseman, and rodeo promoter. He is a multitalented man, whose fascination with life and learning has allowed him to excel at all these endeavors and more. At first glance, working in the Western genre might seem a bit of an
Read More

All About the Light

All About the Light

March 20, 2015 | by

Debra Huse Above Avalon Oil 12″ x 16″ “This was painted on location, overlooking Avalon Harbor on the California island of Catalina. The perspective makes an interesting challenge for a painter. We are looking down through the trees at the boats moored in the harbor and at the Catalina Island Yacht Club. What joy, standing amidst the eucalyptus and painting this incredible vista on a warm, summer day.” Debra Huse Running With the Wind Oil 24″ x 36″ “This is a favorite of mine. My husband Randy and I were invited to sail in a regatta, in a boat called
Read More

A Universal Chord

A Universal Chord

March 20, 2015 | by

Mike Untiedt lives right in the center of downtown Denver, Colorado. He can ride his bike to see the Colorado Rockies play baseball, drop in at any number of good eateries, or shop the downtown stores. Yet the oil painter’s heart and mind are often in another time and another place. “I like painting cowboys,” says the 63-year-old Denver native of his focus on painting the outback lifestyle. “Cowboys strike a universal chord, but I try not to make it too ‘cowboy,’ so people of all backgrounds can identify.” For Untiedt, a natural born storyteller, the direction works. Michael Ome
Read More