Inspired by Saints

Recently, Wilde Meyer artist Linda Carter Holman has been inspired by saints. In particular, the Santos, which are the beautiful paintings of saints found in churches throughout Mexico. Like the Greek Orthodox icons, the Santos have become an art form, and they are painted away from church settings by artists who are enamored of the symbolism and stories associated with each saint. In New Mexico, they are called “retablos,” and their folk art charm has wide appeal.

Linda has done her own interpretation of the Santos. She’s painted a series of eight retablos on 12" x 9" wood panels, each with its own decorated stand. Linda is the perfect artist for this genre. She’s used her strong colors and folk art style to depict the saints that were inspiring to her. The back of each panel tells the story of that saint.


The Virgin of the Dove is my favorite. The figure has such a peaceful face – so characteristic of Linda’s work:



"Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion Immaculada"
by Linda Carter Holman
oil on wood 14" x 11" x 4"

 The virgin’s hands join together to cradle flowers and the white dove, which symbolize purity and exemption from the sins of the world. According to Linda, this is one of the more popular Mexican Santos.


Although the figure in "The Holy Child of Atocha" is a young man, he looks very much like the women in Linda’s paintings:

"The Holy Child of Atocha"
by Linda Carter Holman
oil on wood 14" x 11" x 4"

The shackles on his feet represent imprisonment, since he is the saint people pray to for freedom from confinement of any nature. His serene expression and the primary colors of his clothing embody Linda’s distinctive style. The stand has painted hands reaching out – a symbol of hope.


Patron saints can be practical, too. According to Linda, La Madre Santisima de la Luz – the saint of light – is now the patron saint of electricians! Her retablo depicts her in the traditional sense, as a mythic figure, lifting a sinful soul from hell and surrounded by angels and clouds. On her left arm she carries her divine son. A kneeling angel presents a basket filled with hearts.


"La Madre Santisima de La Luz"
by Linda Carter Holman
oil on wood 14" x 11" x 4"



You can see Linda’s eight retablos at Wilde Meyer’s Tucson gallery.

Rooms with a View

Cleo in the Garden Room  oil on canvas 36"x48"
by Judy Feldman

In the Red Room, (2007) 30"x30"
by Judy Feldman

I have always been attracted to scenes that include a window or patio – I love showing the foliage outside and contrasting the view with an interior setting. You can see this idea in my painting, “Cleo in the Garden Room."

Recently, I visited New York City to get my culture “fix.” I saw some wonderful museum exhibits, including one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art entitled “Rooms with a View: The Open Window in the 19th Century.”

During the Romantic era, the open window appeared in many paintings of interiors. For the first time, the window is actually the focal point, often showing views from the artist’s studio. In addition to the effects of light on the interior room, you get the impression of a painting within a painting, as some of the window scenes are quite detailed.



Cleo and the Red Chair 36"x36"
by Judy Feldman

 This theme of rooms with a view has continued to attract many painters ever since. I’m thinking of the wonderful paintings of Matisse who used the theme of an open window throughout his long career. In Open Window, Collioure, (National Gallery of Art), he painted the view out the window of his apartment on the Southern coast of France. He used the theme of the open window in Paris and especially during the years in Nice, Grand Interieur (Art Institute of Chicago) and Etretat, and in his final years, particularly during the late 1940s.

Pierre Bonnard also painted from his home, favoring interior scenes of his family and daily life. In “The Green Blouse,” (Metropolitan Museum) the window is a prominent part of the background; in the “Dining Room Overlooking the Garden,” (MoMA) the view outside is even larger than the table setting inside.

 Here at Wilde Meyer, you can see several artists who have been influenced by this theme of Rooms with a View.
 

 

My Real Life Big Screen TV acrylic on panel  18" x 20"
by Lori Faye Bock



  Lori Faye Bock

In her painting entitled “My Real Life Big Screen TV,” Lori Faye Bock shows a fantasy view outside a dining room window. It’s very decorative – a painting within a painting.

Doesn't Get Much Better Than This!
acrylic on panel
by Lori Faye Bock

 

Breakfast on the Portal
acrylic on panel in handmade frame 22" x 26"
by Fran Larsen





Fran Larsen

The view of a large red mountain and lush foliage is the focal point of Fran Larsen’s “Breakfast on the Portal” painting. Her vivid colors take us outside, beyond the vignette of the purple chair and oddly sloped table.

Living Room, Our House
28"x32"
by Fran Larsen



 Mermaid reverse glass painting on reclaimed window 27" x 30"
by Melinda Curtin



Melinda Curtin

Melinda Curtin takes the window theme to another level. She actually paints on vintage windows in a reverse glass process. The window frame becomes the painting frame, and sometimes she paints an additional frame inside, as in this image, “Mermaid.” 

Horse at Night 27"x30"
by Melinda Curtin

So the next time you see a beautiful scene outside a window, think of all the artists who have been inspired by this visual act to create some amazing works of art!

7 Things Mom Would Love

Looking for a wonderful, creative gift for Mom? Colores, Wilde Meyer’s gallery on Main Street, has many items from which to choose, most priced under $200. Each piece is handmade – way better than a gift certificate to a department store! You can order from the online site ColoresAZ.com, order by email; call 480-945-2323 or stop in the gallery.

Here are some ideas:
A colorful fused glass horse by Scottsdale artist Sue Goldsand

"Horse" by Sue Goldsand, fused glass  9"x9"x305"

Sue Bee bracelets, priced from $23

Sue Bee, silver plated bracelet

A stunning turquoise and silver ring by Shonto Canyon

Shonto Canyon  sterling silver ring with turquoise

Small giclees prints by Linda Carter Holman, including one entitled “Love Bird”

"Love Bird" by Linda Carter Holman, giclee on paper 5"x4"

Limited edition prints on canvas by animal artist Mitch Henderson.

"Big Smile" by Mitch Henderson, 8"x8"

An original oil painting on paper by Alix Stefan

"Splendor in Spring" by Alix Stefan, acrylic on paper 22.5" x 22.5"

A charming small painting of a winsome hound dog by Elizabeth Cheche in a beautiful frame (my personal favorite – so hurry up before I buy it!).

"Briar Patch" by Elizabeth Cheche 4.25"x4.25"

Nature's Visual Poetry

Wilde Meyer’s current show at its Tucson Gallery is entitled “Nature’s Visual Poetry.” This group show features six of the gallery’s artists, each of whom has a unique interpretation of nature’s forms and landscapes.

Four of the artists paint en plein air using settings in Wyoming, New Mexico and Arizona for their inspiration. The mood they felt while capturing the scene affects each painting. For example, Michael Baum expresses the solitude of the Western landscape at early dusk in “Desert Evening.” Everything is soft in the golden twilight, but the place seems far, far away.

Michael Baum  "Desert Evening" oil on panel 22" x 25.5"

Wildflowers ascend toward distant, mysterious mountains in “Outside of Taos,” Robert Anderson’s dreamlike landscape. Using thick paint and neutral tones, he creates a mood that’s calming, yet thought-provoking. An excellent craftsman, Robert made the frame for "Outside of Taos" himself and divided the scene in three parts as a triptych, which I think makes it very interesting.

Robert Anderson "Outside of Taos, NM" oil on panel  13" x 19.75"

In Judith d’Agostino’s “Lakeside” painting, the weather is changing, and so is the mood.  The sun-kissed orange mountains and fluffy white clouds will soon be overtaken by an ominous black cloud, already casting a dark shadow on the trees. It’s a powerful scene.

Judith D'Agotstino "Lakeside" oil on panel 29.5"x53.5"

Alix Stefan paintings are journeys into the Sonoran desert. She pictures it as a paradise, abundant with ocotillo, saguaro or organ pipe cactus that rise above colorful fields of flowers, prickly pear and other native plants. In “I Love the Rain,” the subdued color palette and beautiful rendering of the sky make me feel as if I can smell the wet desert scents.

Alix Stefan "I love the Rain" acrylic on canvas  26"x32"

The other two artists choose animal subjects to express their love of nature.

Sarah Webber’s painterly portraits of animals conveys their particular personalities  – as they appear to her. According to Sarah, whether it’s “the color of a nose, the spark in the eyes, the thickness of fur or the curve of an ear, there has to be one thing I wish to say with my paint that will reach out and touch the viewer.” You can certainly see her intentions in the painting of the rabbit below, entitled “Secret Bunny.”

Sarah Webber "Secret Bunny"  19"x17" oil on canvas

As an artist and lifelong horse trainer, Chaille Trevor’s equine paintings are unique in the intimacy and sensitivity. She depicts various aspects of horses’ personalities, from the gentleness of how they groom each other to the sheer power, spirit and grace of a horse in movement. The two horses in this painting seem to be communicating, their heads titled slightly inward and their bodies trotting in unison.

Chaille Trevor  "Kissed by the Sun"  oil on canvas  36" x 48"

If you happened to miss any of the shows, send us an email and we can get you more images of available works by featured artists.

I hope everyone is ready to spoil mom on Mother's Day on May 8th. If not, we'll throw out a few ideas so check back with us soon!

"Live in Color"

The latest show at Wilde Meyer, "Live in Color" opened on Thursday, March 31st and features new work by Sherri Belassen and Ryan Hale.

Left: Sherri Belassen  "At What Cost"  oil on canvas 60" x 36"
Right: Ryan Hale "Go West" acrylic on canvas  60" x 72"

Ryan creates his abstract paintings with drywall and palette knives, using mainly red and ochre tones. He pairs these colors against each other to see how they’ll interact. His work looks spontaneous, but, actually, he says he’s very methodical, applying his paint thoughtfully and changing directions as the piece comes together.

Ryan told me that he’s influenced by aerial photography! Plots of developed areas coinciding with undeveloped land, roads and buildings all inspire his geometric compositions. His painting entitled “Through the City” implies the congestion and energy of city life. My eyes rest on the white form in the center, but all around shapes are colliding.

Ryan Hale "Through the City" acrylic on canvas 60" x 48"

In “Building Up,” he contrasts organized linear “roads” with the chaos of free-floating patches of color.

Ryan Hale  "Building Up" acrylic on canvas  48" x 36"

Sherri paints with gusto and a free, yet strong style. Her work is all about the paint – the subject is there to help her explore and show many levels of colors and textures. For example, in “Splash” she uses large blocks of color to create interesting geometric shapes around the figure of a diver, whose body is defined by layers of paint scraped away to reveal another multitude of colors underneath.

Sherri Belassen  "Splash"  oil on canvas  48" x 30"

 It’s a very effective technique, used in most of her paintings.  Many of the titles of Sherri’s work convey irony and humor, as in “At What Cost."

Sherri Belassen  "At What Cost?" oil on canvas  60" x 36"

 

This is a strong show, with two painters who have contributed very interesting paintings.

Left: Ryan Hale  "Past Futures"  acrylic on canvas  36" x 72"
Right: Sherri Belassen "Olas Surfers" oil on canvas 36" x 48"

Left:  Ryan Hale  "Thoughts Abound"  Warming Day: I, II, III
(Right) Ryan Hale, 6 pieces: Warming Day: I, II, III  & Late Afternoon I, II, III

Sherri Belassen  "Play"  oil on canvas 48" x 72"

"Live in Color" continues through April 16, 2011.

Our next show will be at our gallery in Tucson: a group show featuring art by Alix Stefan, Robert Anderson, Sarah Webber, Michael Baum, Chaille Trevor and Judith D'Agostino called "Nature's Visual Poetry," opening on April 14, 2011, 5-7pm.