Featured Artist for August - Mary Anne Bunkers

Mary Anne Bunkers, a member of the Artists Gallery, is the gallery's featured artist for the month of August.

Mary Anne is a retired nurse who has been painting since 1968. She began painting in oils, switched to acrylic paints, and finally found her medium in transparent watercolor. Now that she is retired, she is free to devote 25 to 30 hours a week to her painting including research, planning, photographing for reference, matting and framing, in addition to time spent with brush, paint and paper.

Mary Anne has studied under several artists nationally, including Jeanne Carbonetti (The Tao of Watercolor, The Zen of Creative Painting, etc.), Anita Wong (Chinese brush stroke), Ron Ranson (Big brush techniques), Nita Engle (How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself), Linda Tate, Frank Stern, John Goray and Jerry Belland. With this Background of watercolor painting instruction, Mary Anne has developed her own style. Her goal is to share her delight and enthusiasm for painting through the medium itself. She believes painting is the fulfillment of an inner gift that is to be shared. Mary Anne's goal is to keep learning some of the many applications of watercolor and other media.

Mary Anne has exhibited at the Junior League of Memphis Exhibition, Racine Art Guild Invitational Shows, and Wauwatosa Art Workshop Exhibits, with a personal show at MotoPhoto.

Gallery Night

Gallery night on Saturday July 19 was a great success. The gallery was filled with great people and many of the member artists were in attendance to meet with the people. Gallery night was the final opening that included the yellow dot celebration, the used art book sale and Thom Peterson's fine work. The next opening will be for First Friday on August 1.

Featured Artist for July - Thom Petersen

Thom Petersen brings the classic and nostalgic cars of the past into clear focus in his Fine Art paintings.

Thom’s style makes the most of airbrush technique which allows him to build up paintings layer by thin layer, developing a depth in reflections that rival the reflections seen in person. It is Thom’s ability to bring the viewer into his works, releasing their imaginations and challenging their perceptions of what they are seeing that accounts for their celebrity.
Although his hard work has been described as near photographic, Thom sees it as a blend of realism and surrealism along with a bit of abstract impressionism thrown in for good measure.
Working in acrylics, with approximately 80 percent done with the airbrush and 20% fine brushwork, his attention to detail makes for crystal clear images brought to life with vivid color, a treat for the eye.

In 1994, Thom as honored to receive a “Par Excellence” award at the International Aviation Art Competition in Oshkosh, WI and, in 1997, Thom was awarded “Automobile Artist of the Year” at St. Ignace, MI.

Since July 4th is on a Friday, Thom's opening will be on Thursday July 3 at the gallery. Hope to see you there.

Used Art Book Sale

From Friday June 6 through Sunday June 8 or until all are sold, the Artists Gallery will be holding a used art book sale. The sale will take place on the balcony level in the back room. Come see a wide selection of used art instruction books, art photo books, other art-related books and many art magazines. All sales from the book sale will be cash only. Come on in during First Friday weekend to check out the selection and make some purchases!

Featured Artist for June, 2008

Greg Helding, an artist member of the Artists Gallery, is the featured artists for June. Come see Greg's new work.

A Racine native, Greg became interested in drawing in grade school and excelled in High School art classes. Twenty years later,in 1993, Greg started taking night classes at the Wustum Museum. After trying charcoal, watercolor, and oil. Greg discovered pastels in a drawing class and was hooked. Greg has since learned portrait and life drawing under the instruction of John Parsons.

"I like the ease and convenience of working with pastels and the uniqueness of their effect on paper. When I draw with them my finished piece emerges as a painting. The different papers provide depth to the work by adding texture. I view my work as a challenge to depict objects from nature while experimenting with color and composition. I am inspired by Degas, one of the best known artists to ever use pastels.

Greg has also begun exploring encaustic painting... a very old technique involving wax, resins and pigment.

Come check out our new look!!!

With May changeover came May MAKEOVER!!! This past weekend, we painted the gallery and moved the jewelry cases. In addition to all of the new work and the pieces for the two special events (The 10 x 10 exhibition and silent auction and the Yellow Dot Celebration) come in and check out our new look!!! First Friday is May 3. Stop on by...

YELLOW DOT CELEBRATION

As part of the Artists Gallery's 10th Anniversary Celebration, the gallery is holding a YELLOW DOT CELEBRATION. The celebration will last from Friday May 3 through Sunday May 5. During the celebration, any item in the gallery marked with a yellow dot will receive a 20% discount when purchased. Come in to the gallery this Friday for First Friday and check out the great artwork being sold at reduced prices as well as the 10 x 10 silent auction!