Meet Artist Robert Gorder, Spring Obsession Open Division Accepted Artist

Robert J Gorder

O-017  Lovebirds charcoal  9.5x8.5  $400

 Born and raised in central Wisconsin, Robert has been passionate about creating and drawing since he was very young.  His drawings range from simplistic India ink to detailed charcoal images.  The India ink drawings are a creative curvature study of light and shadows.   Robert’s approach to charcoal drawing is a negative approach where the paper is covered in black charcoal and the picture is drawn with a multitude of erasers.  Robert enjoyed and embraced every art class in high school because it gave him a creative outlet compared to the other curriculum. This is also when he found a passion in drafting, perspective drawing, and commercial art.  Moving forward in life he attended Madison College in his 20’s to pursue a degree in Commercial Art.  During this time he found the passion for figure drawing and charcoal.  His next 10 years were filled with few drawings but still felt a great passion for art.  Then in 2009 Robert was self inspired to draw a picture of his best friend in charcoal.   From that point on, Robert has been dusted in charcoal in his Baraboo, Wisconsin basement art studio working on drawings of normal items rarely given credit for their beauty.

O-018  Cross  charcoal 20x16  $700

 Artist’s Statement

My drawings range from simplistic India ink to detailed charcoal images.  The India ink drawings are a creative curvature study of light and shadows.   I approach charcoal drawings in a negative approach where the paper is covered in black charcoal and the picture is drawn with a multitude of erasers.  Since recently beginning my journey to pursue my passion of art, the focus has been varied and recently based on client demand.  Beginning with objects found in rural Wisconsin, my drawings have branched out to figurative, animals, private homes, businesses, historic landmarks and special edition vehicles.  My charcoal drawings have become locally known for the exact details on the smallest objects to the ability to embrace people’s expressions in my figurative art.

Meet Artist Barbara Gill, Spring Obsession Open Division Accepted Artist

Barbara Gill
Watercolor

O-183  Blue Rooster  wc  20x16   $150

About the Artist:
I graduated from University of California at Santa Barbara with a BA in painting and received my MA in painting from California State University Fresno.

O-181  Family Album  wc  16x20  $250

Gallery Representation:
Mistlin Gallery, Modesto, CA

Exhibitions and Awards
* Point Lobos: Jewel of the Central Coast Carmel Art Institute, Docent Award
* 59th Annual Spring Show, First Place
* Stanislaus Artist Open Studio, First Place Purchase Award
* California Fine Art Show, State Fair
* Yosemite Renaissance XXIV

Workshops:
I taught "Splash" Workshop for MBPAPA
(Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Association)

Membership in Art Organization:
Signature Member, MBPAPA
Valley Sun Catchers Plein Air Painters
California Watercolor Association

www.gillwatercolors.com

Meet Artist Gregory Gallardo, Spring Obsession Open Division Accepted Artist

Gregory  Gallardo

Artist Statement

"I am an art school dropout" ... Upon receiving a scholarship to attend art school, I did  what any rational 17 year old would do; I left home, left school and traveled the worked as a musician. Music more than art encompassed my life for the following 10 years. Ironically, this journey influenced my visual arts in ways that no formal art education could have. One vital lesson I learned as a musician was that the space between the musical notes was just as important as the notes themselves. Visually this concept can be applied to the use of negative space by the strategic application of both color and texture to evoke a sense of motion, rhythm and tempo. In my most recent works my collage techniques emphasize this illusion. Sharp tears reveal white edges which add Rhythm. The magazine paper imagery is glued in patterns, moving the eye around the piece. Figure and background flow in balance. While on the surface this technique may appear academic, the underlying message mirrors my personal views on life and death; a seamless harmonious coexistence.

My journey for creating "art" is a selfish act. The process becomes all encompassing, with the outcome of a work of art often becoming inconsequential to the path that lead me to the final conclusion, i.e.
 "The point of the journey is not to arrive."  When working with collage, ideas unfold without any predetermined direction. Letting the magazine paper speak to me, a page is turned and textures, patterns and color are randomly discovered, altering the theme as each torn piece is glued into place. Building works in this manner becomes a spiritual experience; living in the moment and allowing chance to guide the eventual outcome. The organic imagery taken from the torn magazine paper which comprise my works speak of my link to nature. Found upon closer inspection a torn photograph of a purple sunset becomes the blush of a cheek, a birds nest and the needles of a cactus form hair. My hope is that this method of reinterpretation will give the v iewer cause to reconsider their ideas of our own origin.

40% of the proceeds on direct sales of Gregory's art goes to local charities.

www.gregorygallardo.com

Meet Artist Robert Feigen, Spring Obsession Open Division Accepted Artist

Robert Feigen

O-137  RatzNKatz Symbiosis 2013  acrylic  $1850

My name is Robert Feigen and I am the artist that has performed the attached painting. I am a graduate of California Polytechnic College in Pomona, California with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavioral Science and in Business Administration. I have studied for three years at the Sonora Arts Academy and have been an artist for fifteen years. I am now retired and have chosen to focus on my passion for painting and the arts.

My fifty pieced "RatzNKatz" series is a primitive, anthropomorphic, mystical, fantasy, humorous artistic presentation and is my own style of painting in oil and acrylics. The vivid colors and the action of the characters are an expression of myself for a world of happiness and harmony through strength and balance in the face of potential adversity. There is also some sauciness and arrogance thrown in at times. If the viewer stops, looks, laughs, and smiles then leaves only to come back again I will have been successful in my artistic intent.

The RatzNKatz characters in the paintings have human-like faces and qualities and the Ratz with the exaggerated bodies interact to symbolize both the struggles to coexist and to challenge each other with the underdog (Ratz) being in control of the dominant species (Katz).  The themes in each painting are unique and expressive within a particular genre. The "RatzNKatz Symbiosis 2013" is number forty seven (#47) in the Series and depicts the annual meeting between the Ratz and Katz Clans to peacefully coexist in a harmonious way. Of course there is a whole lot of cheating and mischief going on as well as the teasing amongst the characters and between the Ratz N Katz.

The original paintings and stories in the series are for sale. However, the rights to reproduction are not. Whe the paintings are actually reporduced in a limited edition series, the buyer/seller will be entitled to a percentage commission. Therefore, it is a win/win for everyone.

I want to thank you for your interest in my art.

robertfeigen@gmail.com