AMERICAN WOMEN ARTISTS
A non-profit organization dedicated to the inspiration, celebration and encouragement of Women in the Arts.
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Masterstrokes
Early Summer 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 2
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South Street Art Gallery,
Easton, MD, will host 2009 Annual Show |
Set on the gorgeous Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, the South Street Art Gallery in the art town of Easton is sure to be a great venue for our show this fall. The opening night reception will be Saturday, October 10. southstreetartgallery.comFor everyone entering the competition, get your work completed and photographed soon. Like last year, the competition will be held online only through Juried Art Services; you can submit entries now through August 15. The prospectus is available on our web site.
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"A work of art can appeal across the barriers of time and space
with a language of its own--direct, immediate and alive." Janet Allen and
John Holden
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Rosetta: Cats on a Grand Scale
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 Though drawn to modeling in clay at a very young age, AWA Master Signature Member Rosetta's formal art
training was in commercial art, culminating at the Art Center College of Design
in Los Angeles. Once established in a successful graphic design career, the
urge to pursue her love of creating in three dimensions resurfaced and now
she is sculpting full-time.
Her subjects are animals, another childhood passion. Stuffed animals took
the place of dolls, and recurring nightmares of being stalked by big cats
evolved into wonder-filled dreams of friendly encounters with them. Admiration
and respect for the grace, power, and nobility of the wild ones is evident
in Rosetta's sculptures, which capture their spirit, form, and movement in
a unique hard-edged yet fluid style.
Rosetta has exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally, has
completed corporate, public and private commissions and has received numerous
awards for her work.
After recently enjoying six months on display at the Village Green Park in
Cashiers, NC, with nine other large sculptures in the Sculpture on the
Green Bi-Annual Invitational, "The Hunt" (above, photo by Wesley Wofford) was voted People's Choice,
which means that it will be purchased and remain in the permanent
collection of the new sculpture garden there."The Hunt" will join the
original five sculptures purchased for the park, and future additions
from future Bi-Annual exhibitions.
Baccarat is currently producing the first in a series of her existing small sculpture in their beautifully crafted crystal. "The Leap," "Misty," and "Panther" will be available.
 The first casting of the large "Running Cheetah," (right, photo by Nadia Borowski Scott) is enjoying its new home at the entrance to the new headquarters of the NuVasive Corporation, whose mascot is the cheetah, in San Diego, CA. This is the first in the line of three different running cheetahs that
will be installed in Dowagiac, Michigan, this summer. The
Dalton family of Dowagiac is donating this exciting set of life-sized
running cheetahs to that city in memory of their grandmother and it is
shaping up to be a grand installation! It will be dedicated this September in Dowagiac.rosettasculpture.com
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Gay Faulkenberry's Color Filled World
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Wherever Master Signature Member Gay Faulkenberry goes she finds compelling subjects
to paint---New England harbor scenes, aging barns in rural America, old
stone farmhouses in the French countryside, and Parisian cathedrals and cafes. "And
at the same time, I have to say, there are things right here in Oklahoma that
are beautiful to paint---rolling hills, the atmospheric, diffused light. I've
spent years painting alleys and people's gardens." she points out. "Sometimes I
think we overlook what's in our own back yard."
About half her work recently is landscape and cityscape, and
half is still life, florals, and interiors. "I love the variety. I never want
to be pigeonholed into one kind of subject." she says.
Yet the common element in Gay's oeuvre is that it is painted from life. "There's that whole
connection with direct observation of what's there, and I think that's
essential in creating a communication with the viewer---a sense of time, of
place, of mood," she explains. "And it's essential in creating that excitement
for me as an artist! Especially when I'm painting on location, there's a short
window of time to hit what's out there." She often carries the time constraints
learned in plein air painting over into the studio so she doesn't get caught up
in overworking a piece; its a great way to give her still lifes the spontaneity and verve of her location work.
Faulkenberry also strives for rich, magnificent color. "I'm
really, really drawn to color---that's always been a main source of inspiration
for me," she says. While color may be the spark, her enthusiasm carries the
flame into ever-evolving forms of expression. "Being able to convey that
excitement on canvas---that's the primary goal that goes into every painting. I
feel like I've just scratched the surface of what I want to say."
Excerpted from All the World, Southwest Art, by Gussie Fauntleroy
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A Painting Paradise: on location with Signature Member Carol Swinney
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"A plein air
artist is constantly looking for a painting location that not only has a
beautiful view, but is easily accessible by car and has a variety of spots to
set-up (in case you go with your painting buddies!)
The Finger Rock
trail head in Tucson, Arizona is one of these rare locations! I painted
"Valley View,'' 12 x 9, oil, right from the beginning of the trail head, while my four
painting friends set-up along the first half-mile of the trail up the
canyon. Everyone had a completely different painting view, all enhanced
with the late afternoon lighting, amazing landscape and camaraderie."---Carol
carolswinney.com
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News and Tips
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The cover of the summer issue of Doxie Digest will be graced by the work of Master Signature Member Joy Kroeger Beckner. Congratulations, Joy! Her beautifully written seven page article chronicles her love affair with the dachshund breed and discusses the entire process of creating a bronze sculpture. See the cover and the article on her site joybeckner.com
Joy's parallel career as a model has now morphed into one of an actress as well. She is currently featured in a national TV commercial for Medicine Shoppe International. And they wouldn't let her smile, she was supposed to look concerned! If you have missed it check out Joyonyoutube
Present your work in the most polished, professional manner possible when entering competitions and increase your chance of success. Find great tips in Juried Competitions: 44 Things You Need to Know on the Art Calendar website. http://www.artcalendar.com/article.asp?ID=149
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American Women Artists Board for 2009:Bethanne Kinsella Cople, President, Alexandria, VA Nancy Boren, Vice-President, The Colony, TX Joy Beckner, Treasurer, Chesterfield, MO Carol Swinney, Casper, WY Bonnie Conrad, Woodland Hills, UT Colleen Howe, Salt Lake City, UT Kris Westerson, Executive Director, San Antonio, TX Contact us at mail@americanwomenartists.org
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