What makes a good party? Is it the setting, the weather, the people, the fashion, or an elusive vibe in the air? “Cocktail Party,” a major new oil on canvas by Mark Mulhern that measures 54×60 inches, captures the mood of a beautiful day with friends gathering to socialize. Mulhern‘s characteristic abstracted figures express lively movement without getting too caught up in details. The unrestrained brushstrokes are done with a light touch, while bold daubs of color are adroitly placed to lead the eye back through the space of this enchanted setting. This is one party you don’t want to miss.
Read MoreRichard Taylor – “First Take”
Richard Taylor describes the inspiration behind his work best when he says, “My work allows the cadences, rhythms and syncopations of music and poetry to find themselves in visual expressions in paint, metal and space. I distill my emotional history with my daily perceptions to create two- and three-dimensional statements which speak of my walk through life.” Taylor‘s sculptures have a quiet, anchoring presence. Made from welded steel and structured from geometric shapes that seem to float together, Taylor sets the stage for the enamel paintings he finishes the pieces with. “First Take” which measures 74.5×13.5×6 inches is abstract, composed of both irregular shapes and a system of pattern. The painterly surface does not completely hide the steel, but seems to work with it. The exposed welds lend an organic quality, and the concurrence of the colors give “First Take” a gentle, graceful movement.
Read MoreJan Serr – “The Observers” (Woman with a Blue Umbrella)
Jan Serr’s first solo exhibition was in 1978, and she has been painting and making prints on a daily basis ever since. While much of her better known work focuses on the landscape, she never stopped painting figures. Her most recent body of work for our Summer in Wisconsin exhibition includes beach goers and sun bathers, as seen at Bradford Beach on Milwaukee’s East Side. Intensely colored and intricately textured, this work encapsulates the view from her studio window. We look forward to Jan Serr‘s upcoming retrospective exhibition at UW-Milwaukee’s Inova/Arts Center Gallery. Opening September 8th, this show will contain Jan’s portraits from the last 40 years.
Read MoreKathy Hofmann – “Oak Tree”
As summer winds down and the days get shorter, one cannot help but feel a certain nostalgia for those first bright mornings of early summer. Not only does Kathy Hofmann perfectly capture dawn in this 15 x 16.5 inch acrylic on panel painting, she also captures the mood of a season. The dramatic contrast between the shadows of the tree and the bright, misty hills in the distance suggest the mystery and promise of a beautiful new day in the country. The dappled sunlight on the trunk, the subtle variation of the color of the shadows, and the beautifully painted leaves all indicate that this painting is by an artist with a sharp eye for detail, a talent for imparting light, and a true appreciation for all of nature’s wonders.
Read MoreLaurie Hogin – “Field Guides”
Laurie Hogin‘s “Field Guide” series refers to taxonomic impulse to organize and classify the overwhelming variety of creatures in nature. These intimately sized oil on panel paintings measure 4.5×3.5 inches, and with their custom gilded glitter frame, they are each 6.75×5.75 inches. Small, but full of personality, each set is beautifully painted and exquisitely detailed. These birds are full of personality, and certainly have something on their minds.
Read MoreJeffrey Ripple – “Atwater Beach”
Jeffrey Ripple‘s new painting “Atwater Beach” was painted especially for our Summer in Wisconsin exhibition. One really needs to view this incredibly realistic, highly detailed painting in person to appreciate Jeffrey’s skill. I can get lost in the foliage alone, so am including a detail below. “Atwater Beach” perfectly captures a beautiful day on the shores of Lake Michigan in Shorewood, Wisconsin’s best park. The contrast between light and shadow and the difference in brushwork in the hazy sky versus the photo realistic landscape elements make this a very special painting. One can almost see the individual grains of sand! Best enjoyed in person, this 15×32 inch painting will be on exhibit through September 3rd.
Read MoreBill Reid – “Beeware of Bears Bearing Ice Cream”
Bill Reid‘s new sculpture “Beeware of Bears Bearing Ice Cream” is quintessential of Reid’s work. Bill Reid‘s tongue in cheek word play is part of the artist’s rich and personal mythology with animals in the starring roles. This fanciful green bear wears a cape shaped like a butterfly but in the colors of a bee. Perched on high healed humming bird shoes, the smiling bear offers some unusual flavors of ice cream cones, including zebra, bluebird, and fox! This beautifully crafted and marvelously painted metal sculpture is 42 inches high and 21 inches wide. Not too big, not too small, but just right!
Read MoreCraig Blietz – “Think Like a Bluebird”
“Think Like a Bluebird”, a captivating new oil on panel painting by Craig Blietz portrays an enchanting moment between two ubiquitous creatures, a white Holstein cow and a bluebird. They communicate in an empathetic manner through eye contact. Does the larger beast respect the smaller creature’s place on the branch? Or perhaps, each is admiring the others natural strength and beauty while considering their differences. The contrast between the muscular cow and the delicate bird heightens the drama, but does not cause tension. Through serious, old master painting techniques and careful treatment of light and color, Craig Blietz is able to make the viewer believe in the possibility of such an unlikely encounter in this quixotic work. With an image size of 19.5 x 28.5 inches, “Think Like a Bluebird” gives the viewer ample space to get lost within the beautiful world depicted.
Read MoreT.L. Solien – “Norwegian Costume”
T.L. Solien’s new work “Norwegian Costume” is both monumental in scale and subject. This dramatic acrylic on canvas painting measures 96 x 68 inches, and like most of Solien’s work is psychologically intense. The woman in this painting is dressed in atraditional costume from her home country. Does she look so serious because she realizes that she left many friends and comforts back in the old country? The figure is based on a circa 1938 photograph of the artist’s mother and from T.L. Solien’s “Westward Expansion Series.” Solien says of this painting, “The image stands as a metaphor for the disruption of tradition, isolation…..imposed or self-imposed, and potential for a violent response of conclusion. Part of what appears to be a small coffin is on one side, a kitten walks nonchalantly toward the other edge, as woman clutches a pair of rakes behind her back. Silhouettes of discarded bottles, cans, cacti and a broken window and fence suggest the harsh life of a new immigrant in an unforgiving environment. The straight stance, direct gaze, and colorful costume of the Norwegian woman suggest pride, perseverance, and tenacity in spite of the difficulty adjusting to a new life.
Read MoreMark Brautigam – “Little Wolf River in New London"
Nothing says says Summer in Wisconsin like tubing down a lazy river. Our summers are short, and beautiful days sometimes seem rare, so when the perfect day occurs, everyone comes out of the woodwork to enjoy it. Mark Brautigam‘s On Wisconsin series features many images from around the state in all seasons, but this is one of my favorites. The carefree tubers on the sparkling water under the shimmering trees makes for a delightful scene. The true beauty of this view communicates naturally in large format photographs. The image size measures35×44 inches. The artist lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps for four years.
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