Archives for 2018 March-April Issue

The Studio of Debra Joy Groesser

The Studio of Debra Joy Groesser

March 15, 2018 | by

Reflecting on how quickly time passes, Nebraska-based plein air painter Debra Joy Groesser is a bit amazed to realize that she celebrated her studio’s 20 th anniversary in December 2017. Her studio and her home are located in Ralston, a one-square mile incorporated town with a population of approximately 6,800 near Omaha that her husband Don has served as mayor for the past 21 years. The upper level of the building, which encompasses approximately 700 square feet, houses Groesser’s studio, framing area, and a small office. It includes four north-facing windows and two more on the east wall that provide
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‘Celebrating God’s Creation’

‘Celebrating God’s Creation’

March 15, 2018 | by

We’re surrounded by it, and yet we don’t see it—the brilliant colors of leaves in the fall, the magnificent glow of a sunset, the snowy banks along a creek. We know it’s there, but we take it for granted, as we go about our busy lives. And we feel it—sun shining on our faces, wind blowing through our hair, crashing waves sending a misty bouquet of shimmering water through the air. Mother Nature beckons us to enjoy and appreciate the wonders she has to offer, but all too often we ignore those offerings, as we go about our busy lives.
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Ode to the Old West

Ode to the Old West

March 15, 2018 | by

Rumor has it that David Edward (Ed) Kucera created his first mural at age 5. The proof no longer exists but, as the story goes, he was sequestered in his room as punishment for mischief and mayhem. So, he did what any aspiring artist might do; he saw his bedroom walls as a blank canvas on which to paint a masterpiece. Although his mother wasn’t the most ardent fan of her son’s artistic effort at the time, that foray into really big art might be why today he prefers painting large canvases. Despite this early accomplishment, art wasn’t Kucera’s first
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Creating an Interesting Dance

Creating an Interesting Dance

March 15, 2018 | by

Some nights, Mary Ross Buchholz dreams that she is making art. “Sometimes I wake up and—oh, mercy—I didn’t finish that after all; it was just a dream,” she says in her melodic west Texas drawl. “I eat, sleep, and breathe art.” It’s an apt commentary on Buchholz’s life, a busy but joyous synthesis of ranching, family life, and, of course, art. She and her husband Bob run a good-sized ranch near Eldorado, Texas—population 1,961—and for many years she has balanced her creative endeavors seamlessly with the family business. “Maybe a little bit of our daily ranch life shines through in
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‘My Best Years are Still Ahead’

‘My Best Years are Still Ahead’

March 15, 2018 | by

The first few years after moving to the United States were the lowest in Mick Doellinger’s life. In 2003, he sold his home, his furniture, his taxidermy business, and his studio in Australia to come to America and become a wildlife sculptor. He certainly hadn’t expected it to be easy, but he didn’t realize how lonely it would be. “I had no resources, no family, no safety net,” Doellinger says. “But I knew that, if I wanted to be a full-time sculptor, the United States was where I needed to be.” He also knew that he couldn’t really go home:
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Distant Memories

Distant Memories

March 15, 2018 | by

Kyle Polzin has been painting professionally for about 15 years now, delighting collectors with his wonderfully executed still life pieces that feature a magical mix of everything from flowers, flags, and feathers to boots, blankets, and bowls. Each painting is beautifully lit and masterfully detailed. We have featured Polzin and his work three times over the years, much to the delight of readers, who appreciate and applaud his skill in composing and painting pieces that stop you in your tracks, compelling you to study every detail and appreciate the magic of his brush. Not surprisingly, Polzin’s paintings sell as quickly
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