Our Monochromatic Moods exhibit is based on any color scheme limited to variations of one hue, a hue with its tints and/or shades This exhibit opens to the public June 4th, 2010 through July, 2010. On display is a wide aray of mediums including acrylics, pastels, watercolors, drawings, photography along with a viberant display of hand blown glass and fine art gourds.

View Photo Album

———

–

“Fine Art Gourds”

I grew up in Topeka where I was constantly drawing, painting or doing some other form of arts and crafts. I studied art and art history and graduated from Baker University. After graduation, I married and moved to Kansas City. While there, I worked as Assistant Director of a gallery. After leaving Kansas City, we moved to various cities, but ended up in Lansing, Kansas for 6 years, where I taught art classes at the Carnegie Arts Center. We returned to Topeka in 2008.I do what I do because I love nothing more than to create art. Art has always provided me an escape – a space where I can recharge. Although it requires concentration, it relaxes me in a way that nothing else can.

I’ve dabbled in many mediums, but most of my work is either acrylic paintings or fine art gourds. I painted for over 10 years and began to develop an “artist’s block”, so I began working with gourds instead. I found I love working in three dimensions and the variety of gourd shapes is a source endless inspiration for me. The individual quality of each gourd’s shape and blemishes of the surface serve as a starting point for each design. By using the innate qualities, I am able to enhance their natural beauty.

I have been told that my gourd pieces resemble pottery or artifacts, and while I am influenced by history and various cultures, my gourds are first inspired by some unique aspect of the gourd itself.

I rarely paint anymore, but when I do, it is usually when I am trying to get something off my chest or when something moves me. I always listen to music while painting and it can vary from very relaxing music to very loud, angry music. Most of the paintings have some personal meaning or symbolism for me.

I have had shows in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexcio. Galleries representing my gourds are Taos Blue in Taos, New Mexico, The Collective Gallery and The Topeka Art Guild, both in Topeka, Kansas.

To see my gourds, please visit my page on Facebook Angela Lexow, Visual Artist or visit my website at www.lexowstudios.com

View Photo Album

See the work of Barbara Solberg at the Merc gallery/dining area in Lawrence (at the corner of 9th & Iowa).
This exhibit of pastels and mixed media reflects the inspirations, interpretations of sights, mysteries, and delights experienced close to home and on trips to distant places. Work will be on display the months of June and July. I hope you will stop by to enjoy it!

Marie Plinsky will be showing at Warehouse 414 during July and August. “Come see my newest favorite art form.”

Bill Marquadsen is showing 12 acryclic paintings at “Diane’s” 118 W Santa Fe Burlingame through Labor Day Title of series is “Travelogue”

“Fraying the Edges”

Altered Cloth Studio Textile/Mixed Media Fiber Art – Mixed Media allows me the freedom and lack of restrictions to choose the media to work with whether it be it watercolor, pastels, crayon, ink, textile dyeing, or photo imaging. I incorporate recycled items, plastic, foil, paper, and reclaimed linens into my art.

The only requirements I put on my artwork are they must be fi ber based and quilted either by machine or hand work. My art pieces can be very soft textile work to heavily embellished with the use of wire, jewelry beads and recycled objects. They tend to depict nature with an abstract view point and use of bright colors.

With no formal education of training in the arts, I have no set boundaries. My art uses experimentation with lots of mistakes – some with the most wonderful results.

I hope you enjoy my mistakes as much as I do making them.
“Life’s not about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
-Vivian Green

View Photo Album

]]> http://topekaartguild.org/index.php/randy-temple-artist-of-the-month-june-2010/feed/ 0 http://topekaartguild.org/index.php/kerry-white-artist-biography-2/ http://topekaartguild.org/index.php/kerry-white-artist-biography-2/#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 06:49:36 +0000 admin http://topekaartguild.org/?p=541 Kerry White

Type of media you prefer:

A mix of landscapes, photography, portraits et al.

What got you interested in art?

I started work at KTWU in Topeka in the mid-80.  A few years later I realized that I needed to get back into Art to keep from going crazy.  I picked up a small cheap set of watercolors and a small pad.  I tried to follow along with several of PBS’ watercolor shows, but, ended up with mud.  I did not have the patience required.  I fell back onto my abstract roots and began dribbling rubber cement and splashing paint onto the paper.  As time passed I learned the visual vocabulary of what the paint did.  My abstracts started to approach landscape imagery, so I then started to do landscapes.  A friend said that he wanted to see me do figures. I started with a nude in a photography magazine.  After a number of figures I noticed that the faces were looking like the models and I concentrated on portraits.  Soon, I was doing family, friends and retiring co-workers.

What training (formal or informal) do you have in art?

I have two degrees in Art from Emporia State University.  My Graduate show in 1979 consisted of Abstract Expressive collages on four foot by four foot Masonite.

Why did you decide to join the Topeka Art Guild?

I moved to Topeka for a job that at first had me going to bed at 9pm and later working very late.  I never had time to make local friends.  I thought that the Guild would help broaden my horizon and have an outlet for my paintings.

If there’s one thing we should know about you or your art, what would it be?

I have gifted Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Dr Jerry Farley, president of Washburn University and Eugene Williams, head of KTWU, with portraits as ‘bread upon the waters’, but, so far, no one has yet come to me wanting to commission a portrait.

Most of my landscapes have been based on photos of the forests in central New York, with emphasis on plays of shadow and light.  My more recent Kansas works are much more brightly lit and always have jet trails in the skies that I keep in the abstract vein.  I still rely heavily on the use of rubber cement and masking fluid for sharp edges and protecting the white of the page.  My abstract sensibilities are always in play, no matter how realistic the images are.

A quote that you love is:

I’m Peter Pan!

I’m perpetually young!!

OW!! What’s wrong with my back?

Type of media you prefer:

Watercolor-drawing-knitting

What got you interested in art?

I started with a group of friends taking folk art lessons.

What training (formal or informal) do you have in art?

Informal

Why did you decide to join the Topeka Art Guild?

I took watercolor classes from Johanna Hanks and she told us about the art guild.

How long have you been a member of the Topeka Art Guild?

5 years

If there’s one thing we should know about you or your art, what would it be?

I always question myself as to why I do watercolors as I like control of things and that is not easy with watercolors.

A quote(s) that you love is:

“The day is lost if no one has laughed.”

What got you interested in art?

I had dream Thanksgiving week, 1989. In the dream a man’s stern voice told me that I would “paint tomorrow”. So I did.

If there’s one thing we should know about you or your art, what would it be?

I would hope that anyone looking at one of my paintings will see the story it tells, for that’s how I see myself: A storyteller who writes in curves and color.

Please contact me if you are interested in a commission. For portraits or a rendering of your home, I work from photographs.

Type of media you prefer:

Working primarily in pastels, I have done commissions of buildings and people.  Other mediums I like are pencil, charcoal and watercolor. Though my work is based in realism, I have been called an Impressionist and Expressionist.
What training (formal or informal) do you have in art?

I am self-taught and love art that grabs the eyes and won’t let go! I believe daily efforts to produce art and beauty is as necessary to the artist as food, sleep and love.

If there’s one thing we should know about you or your art, what would it be?

I love shadows, which is very apparent in almost all my work. I especially like portraying people and buildings. My favorite artists are Vincent Van Gogh and Andrew Wyeth. I prefer realism and have done copies of Renoir and Van Gogh.

View Photo Album

]]> http://topekaartguild.org/index.php/promise-of-spring-exhibit/feed/ 0 http://topekaartguild.org/index.php/welcome-new-board-members/ http://topekaartguild.org/index.php/welcome-new-board-members/#comments Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:22:28 +0000 admin http://topekaartguild.org/?p=511 We welcome several new Board members. One is a familiar face around TAG. Bobbie Rieger has joined the Board. Plus, we have two new faces. Michael Hooper, who was the Business editor for the Topeka Capital Journal and is now with GTrust, a financial investment firm has joined us. Ron Ramberg, CPA with Ramberg and Associates, a local accounting fi rm, has also agreed to work with us to move TAG forward. We are very excited to have such a great team on the Board and are looking forward to a super year. Angela Lexow agreed to be the Board Vice President and I, Cynthia Stotlar, am honored to serve as your Board President.

THANKS A MILLION TO OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS
While we are excited to have our new members on Board, we bid adieu to several Board members who have served us well over the past three years. Phyllis Cory has done an amazing job of bringing us great classes and new artists in to offer workshops at reasonable prices. Plus, she has taken the role of Historian to new levels. Check out our “scrapbook” the next time you are in the gallery! Margaret McElroy has served as membership chair and helped us organize membership meetings and gotten our mailing list in great shape along with Autumn Prosser. Margaret has agreed to stay on in part of the membership role to help us plan even more “all member” meetings. Autumn is taking over on the digital listing of membership along with the newsletter. And I saved the best for last… Marie Plinsky who has served as the most amazing Board president ever. Under Marie’s watch we have renovated the look and feel of the gallery, kicked up our fund raising several notches and enjoyed better sales. We are very grateful for her tremendous leadership!

I am self-taught and love art that grabs the eyes and won’t let go!

I love shadows, which is very apparent in almost all my work. I especially like portraying people and buildings. My favorite artists are Vincent Van Gogh and Andrew Wyeth. I prefer realism and have done copies of Renoir and Van Gogh.

Working primarily in pastels, I have done commissions of buildings and people. Other mediums I like are pencil, charcoal and watercolor. Though my work is based in realism, I have been called an Impressionist and Expressionist.

I believe daily efforts to produce art and beauty is as necessary to the artist as food, sleep and love.

Please contact me if you are interested in a commission. For portraits or a rendering of your home, I work from photographs.

Betty Fox

785-233-8416

ART in the PARK
Visit Angela Lexow at Art in the Park Sunday, May 2 from 10-5 South Park on Mass St in Lawrence

SOUTHWEST GOURD FINE ART SHOW
Angela Lexow will be in the annual Southwest Gourd Fine Art Show in Kerrville, TX. The show opens May 27th and runs till July 11th. She is featured on their postcard this year. Their website
is www.kacckerrville.com

LINDA HUMPHRIES at the CLASSIC BEAN
Linda Humphries is the exhibiting artist for March & April at the Classic Bean in Fairlawn Plaza. Part of the proceeds of art sales during Humphries exhibit will go to Florence Crittenton Services. A reception will be held April 21st, 5:30-7:30pm to meet the artist & learn more about Florence Crittenton Services.

Guest speaker Marsha Longofono will demonstrate Ukrainian Easter Eggs
PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND. EVERYONE WELCOME (spouses too, if you like)

We will have election of officers to the board.

Note from Margaret: I hope you received my letter. I’m waiting for your responses and suggestions. Please note that my MAILING ADDRESS IS WRONG on the return envelope. CORRECTION:
it SHOULD be Margaret McElroy, 2510 SW 34th St., Topeka KS. 66611. Hope to see you May 10. ~ Margaret

ABSENTEE BALLOTS for the membership meeting on May 10th will be in the gallery for

You are invited to our Friday Art Walk Reception for Johanna Hanks on March 5th from 5-8pm featuring her “An Itch For Etchings” exhibit. Her works will be on display during the month of April and include Graphite, Intaglio and Linoleum Etchings. “Hope you get the itch to come see my works and experience the gallery too!” -Johanna Hanks

Over the years, I have experimented with a number of different media. I have been told that my strength is in my use of varying techniques in watercolor. As much as I know I should concentrate on that area of strength I have always been one to avoid being painted in a box or categorized in style, so I constantly challenge myself and seek to do a variety of media.

I have been teaching art for over 15 years. I teach from, line, and color theory needed for creative drawing. I taught elementary and middle ages in the Wichita area and have continued to teach privately, through the Parks and Recreation department, as well as at the Hobby Lobby in Topeka. My works have been displayed throughout the state of Kansas as well as Missouri, Oklahoma and Nebraska.

I have been inspired by and creating art for a number of years and continue to grow in love with “painting our lives” and “putting my heart….my passion” for the arts on display.

View Photo Album

Type of media you prefer:

Pastels, Watercolors and Oils

I’ll try anything once

What got you interested in art?

My grandmothers;  One was a frustrated artist and one was an amazing artist who had her own one woman art show at 53 after learning to paint in her 40s.

What training (formal or informal) do you have in art?

I am completely self-taught.  I’ve taken the one day here and there art classes that the Topeka Art Guild offers plus similar courses when we lived in Dallas and Chicago.

Why did you decide to join the Topeka Art Guild?

I wanted to join in on the classes and to participate in Topeka’s Arts culture.

How long have you been a member of the Topeka Art Guild?

Since about 2004.

If there’s one thing we should know about you or your art, what would it be?

I paint for stress reduction and am always pleasantly surprised when someone likes my work enough to pay real money for it.

A quote that you love is:

“What is, is.”

Unknown

“There is only one you…Don’t you dare change just because you are outnumbered!”

Charles Swindoll

[wpsc_products category_id='3' number_per_page='6']

Always enjoying Kansas and its many changes through out each season. Our backyard, surrounding cities, country roads and the high plans of north central Kansas provide the source and inspiration for my photographs and paintings.

When I was about ten years old I was given an Argus twin lens camera and very basic dark room equipment. Since then I have been interested in photography. Introduction of digital cameras and computer printing re-kindled my interests in photography.

My recent acrylic paintings often begin with charcoal sketch of a landscape, farm scene or still life. At some point after starting to apply paint I almost always make a decision to make a transition to an abstract painting. There are several reasons for making the shift to abstract. The strongest reason is that I feel photography gives me a more accurate image of the subject. The next reason is that while working in the abstract form I have greater control of design elements and a more satisfying feeling of personal creativity.

Completion my business degree at Fort Hays State University allowed me to follow my interests in art and photography in their graduate art program. I was lucky to receive graduate level instruction from Professors Joel Moss, John Thornes and Darrell McGinnis.

I am a native of Kansas. Born in Dodge City as my parents raised crops and livestock near Kalvesta, Kansas. As times changed for my parents, we moved to Great Bend where I grew up enjoying the opportunities and freedoms of a small but thriving town.

Bob and Kay raised their three children in Topeka, Kansas. We have seven grandchildren — two in Florida, two in Wichita and three in Topeka.

Photography, painting and other media

Favorite camera:

Canon Rebel XTI

Favorite art format:

Acrylic on canvas or rice paper

Watercolor

Favorite other media

Three dimensional designs with

mat board, acrylic modeling

paste and plaster mixtures

Ceramics (but no recent projects)

School and Colleges:

Great Bend Senior High School

Hutchinson Community College

Ft. Hays State University

Military Service:

U.S. Army Security Agency

Arlington, VA

Sobe, Okinawa

Work Experience:

Kansas Insurance Department

Health Care Stabilization Fund

Exhibits and sales at:

Currently at Hot Java Cafe at 3343 SW Gage Blvd

2008, 2009 and 2010 – Topeka Art Guild Gallery

2008 and 2009 – Ward Meade Apple Festival

January 2009 – Classic Bean Downtown

2009 – Eagle Car Wash (no sales)

2008 Oktoberfest at Overbrook, Kansas

2008 Applewood BBQ & Bistro (no sales)

Other Work:

2009 and 2010 Topeka Art Guild Calendar

1st Place Winner:

Ruth Powers
Textile Quilt Art

The Merchant's House - Tenby, Wales $3000

2nd Place Winner

Dalyn Patterson
Photography

Neon Shock $150

3rd Place Winner

Angela Lexow
Wild Rose Garden
$250

Wild Rose Garden $250

1958, Bobbie Rieger received an A.A.D. from William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri. She attended Washburn University of Topeka, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a Teacher Education Degree in 1964.

“Art has always been a part of my life from childhood to an adult. Art is life, life is art.” Bobbie says. Not limiting herself to any one media, she works in watercolor, oil, pastels, ink and acrylic. Combining sometimes several media in her paintings. She has been honored with various awards and has had her work accepted in numerous juried shows in Kansas.

Artists Association – Rural Urban Show – Winner
Artist Collection, Topeka, KS
Collective Art Gallery, Topeka, KS
Framewoods Gallery, Topeka, KS
Grace Episcopal Church – Cloister Gallery – Topeka
Historic Columbian Theatre, Wamego, KS
Kansas Post Card Series XXII
Pittsburg Art Council – Pittsburg, KS – One Woman Show(45 items)
Topeka Art Guild – Summer Show – Honorable Mention
Topeka Art Guild Fall Show – Second Place
Topeka Art Guild – Winter Show
The Art Guild Topeka Public Library Show
Topeka Public Library – Honorable Mention
Topeka Urban Art Show – Artists Association – Judges Award