Archives for Portrait

My Richest Blessing Is My Imagination

My Richest Blessing Is My Imagination

July 20, 2015 | by

Whether he is depicting a Native American hunting party, a stagecoach arriving in a frontier town, or a cowpuncher riding night herd in the moonlight, the imagery of Montana-based artist Gary Lynn Roberts clearly reflects his belief that he lives and works in God’s country. For him, it’s a reality in more ways than one. Living on a remote 100-acre spread in the majestic Bitterroot Valley some 50 miles south of Missoula, Roberts doesn’t have to venture far to find the towering snow-capped mountains, sparkling rivers, and native wildlife that so richly complement his compelling compositions. Gary Lynn Roberts Wapiti
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A Creative Calling

A Creative Calling

July 20, 2015 | by

Albin Veselka wants to talk about art. First, though, he wants to say a few words about the meaning of life and the purpose of art. “I’m always trying to uplift people; I think it’s important to better the world,” says Veselka, whose Christian faith, along with his missionary zeal for art, guide his creative journey. “My faith helps me to do that—to uplift people and to show them something through my art.” This spirit of expansive generosity suffuses Veselka’s work, as well as his artistic philosophy. Albin Veselka Sunset Tide Oil 24″x15″ “I love the way white reflects all
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Realistic Paintings, Idealized Subjects

Realistic Paintings, Idealized Subjects

July 20, 2015 | by

Though France has produced many famous artists, one typically does not think of a French native devoting a distinguished artistic career to the depiction of Native Americans. But such was the case with François Henri Farny (later Anglicized to Henry Farny), who painted a proud picture of a Native American race that already was on the decline. Born in the Alsace region of France on July 15, 1847, Farny was the third child in a Protestant family that sought to escape an atmosphere of political turmoil and religious oppression. Henry Farny The Song of the Talking Wire (1904) Oil 22″x40″
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The Race is Still Going

The Race is Still Going

May 20, 2015 | by

There is nothing Morgan Weistling enjoys more—or works as hard at—as telling a story. It is exciting and challenging, as he spends countless hours—and makes thousands of decisions—to create each painting in a manner that captures the attention of viewers, draws them in, and—he hopes—puts a smile on their faces. Snake Oil Salesman is a prime example of how Weistling works. “I look at that painting, and I see 100,000 decisions I had to make,” he says of the piece, which depicts a gathering of men, women, and children around a man enthusiastically extolling the benefits of the snake oil
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The Evolution Continues

The Evolution Continues

May 20, 2015 | by

A few years ago, Jason Rich was invited to visit some of the people who had started collecting his work early in his career. He hadn’t seen the paintings in almost 20 years. and he admits that he was surprised when he looked at them again. “Day after day, as you’re working at your easel, the changes in your work are so subtle that you don’t even notice them,” he says. “But when you look back at your early work, you see the evolution. You see the changes that you don’t see day-to-day.” Rich was in his mid twenties, when
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Expression and Intuition

Expression and Intuition

May 20, 2015 | by

As an award-winning member of Oil Painters of America, Oklahoma native Derek Penix strongly believes an artist’s ability to paint intuitively is what makes the difference between creating a work that is technically and aesthetically pleasing versus one that has the potential to become a masterpiece. “Watching a recent U-tube video listing the world’s 10 most expensive paintings, I observed that the common denominator for each was that none of the artists painted literally,” he says. “All changed what they saw, making it into their own world.” This type of discernment comes naturally to one who grew up surrounded by
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Ah, Sweet Color!

Ah, Sweet Color!

May 20, 2015 | by

A burst of color in a painting, particularly when placed against a moody background, is a delightful surprise. It is poetry; it is magic. Color can be as soothing as an ocean sunset, or it can knock your socks off. While most of us appreciate a good black-and-white piece, we find color, when properly placed, leads our eyes along a route the artist has skillfully set for us. Kevin Beilfuss Sarah’s Diary Kevin Beilfuss trained at the American Academy of art in Chicago, Illinois, and has been painting professionally for 26 years—13 as a freelance illustrator and 13 as a
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The Studio of Dan Mieduch

The Studio of Dan Mieduch

May 20, 2015 | by

Dan Mieduch says his man cave (aka the studio) “just has kitchen cabinets, a tile floor, and ceiling fan, and that’s it.” He’s being overly modest, as he explains that the studio came into existence to allow him to work away from the house, where his children could too easily distract him. In the studio, “I could play music, work, and shut myself off,” he explains. Dan Mieduch Studio Dan Mieduch Healing Waters Oil 9″ x 12″
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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
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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
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