Kate Palmer, Point Pinos, oil, 11 x 12 |
By Cristina Adams
· Kate Palmer ·
Landscape painter Kate Palmer says that for her the natural world has always been “a wellspring of inspiration, solace, and contentment.” In 1990 Palmer moved from Oklahoma to New Mexico, drawn by the state’s dramatic desert vistas and ever-changing light. “Losing myself in the landscape—and finding still passages of time there—is my bliss,” Palmer says. “I try to re-create this sense of place in my paintings, moving beyond the literal to communicate what I see and feel.” Palmer is represented by Joe Wade Fine Arts, Santa Fe, NM.
· Shang Ding ·
Shang Ding was a 20-year-old painter and soldier in the Chinese army when his
Shang Ding, Sunset at Lui Sha River, Oil, 52 x 60 |
work garnered kudos from none other than Madame Mao at a show in Beijing in 1974. Her support spurred professors from the Central Art Academy to take notice of his paintings and encouraged him to continue his training. Ding went on to become an acclaimed oil painter and an associate professor at the People’s Liberation Army Academy of Art. In 1988, however, he left China to begin his career anew in the United States. He now lives near Los Angeles and is represented by Breckenridge Galleries, Breckenridge, CO; R. Paul Mooney Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ;
Total Arts Gallery, Taos, NM; Rice & Falkenberg Gallery, Palm Beach, FL; and Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX.
Michael Gibbons, A Corner of Kenny’s World, oil, 23 x 30. |
· Michael Gibbons ·
In 1976 Michael Gibbons fled urban life for a more rustic existence on the central Oregon coast. There Gibbons, who is known for his landscapes, has painted many of his award-winning works. One of those, A Corner of Kenny’s World, received the Friends of the Quast Gallery award at the national Oil Painters of America show last May in Taos, NM. The painting was inspired by a patch of wilderness snuggled between a recycling station and a clear-cut hillside that Gibbons had walked by nearly every day for 15 years. “I find that the best sources of inspiration for my paintings are right in front of me,” Gibbons says. “The most
fertile ground for making something of
Zhiwei Tu, A Boy Eating His Finger, oil, 20 x 16. |
real value seems to be accessible on foot.”
Gibbons is represented by Gallery Michael Gibbons, Tubac, AZ, and Toledo, OR; Settlers West Galleries, Tucson, AZ; William Duncan Galleries, Park City, UT; Antoinette Hatfield Gallery Ltd., Portland, OR; Marin-Price
Galleries, Chevy Chase, MD; and Gallerie 454, Grosse Pointe Park, MI.
· Zhiwei Tu ·
When Zhiwei Tu came to the United States in 1987 to enroll in a master’s program at Drake University, Des Moines, IA, he was already an established artist in China with numerous awards to his name. The native of Guangdong is known for his expressive painting style and his ability to capture the emotion of a moment on canvas. Tu’s subject matter and style are diverse, ranging from large, action-packed canvases to more focused, photorealistic pieces. He is represented by Long Grove Studio, Chicago, IL; Quast Galleries, Taos, NM; Mountain Trails
David M. Bates, The Chinese Vase, oil, 18 x 14 |
Galleries, Santa Fe, NM; and Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX.
· David M. Bates ·
Six years ago, David M. Bates, a computer programmer and systems analyst, began concentrating more on art and less on his technical career. He finally turned to painting full time last year. In addition to landscapes and still lifes, he is also exploring the genre of sporting art, especially hunting and fishing scenes. “I enjoy the outdoors, and I think I can speak to folks who share that passion,” Bates says. The Texas resident is co-founder of the Society of Outdoor Painters, a 100-member group that meets monthly for a plein-air painting session. Bates is represented by Special Effects and the Museum Shop of the Museum of East Texas, both in Lufkin, TX, and Cibola Arts Council Gallery, Grants, NM.
· William Maloney ·
A born-and-bred New Englander, William Maloney
William Maloney, Monhegan Wash, oil, 16 x 20. |
has been a professional artist for more than 40 years. After working for 35 years as a technical illustrator and art director, he retired six years ago to paint full time. Since then, Maloney has become a devotee of plein-air painting. He lives on Cape Cod but often travels up to Monhegan Island in Maine for inspiration. “My work is impressionistic, regardless of whether I’m painting buildings, landscapes, or cityscapes,” he says. Maloney is represented by Wilson Gallery, Dennis, MA; Kendall Gallery, Wellfleet, MA; Wright Gallery, Cape Porpoise, ME; and Churchill Gallery, Newburyport, MA.
· Shuqiao Zhou ·
Shuqiao Zhou, Batik Painters, oil, 37 x 36.r |
Shuqiao Zhou’s paintings depict everything from Chinese culture to landscapes, >all portrayed in a realistic style with finely rendered details. His work has been exhibited in Albania, Yugoslavia, Canada, the United States, and his native China. Zhou is a member of the Chinese National Association of Artists and a vice president of the Guangzhou Art Academy in China. Since 1987 he has been artist-in-residence at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. Zhou is represented by Quast Galleries, Taos, NM; Stephen Lowe Gallery, Calgary, Alberta; Artistic Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ; Merging One Gallery, Santa Monica, CA; and Art Center of Plano, TX.
· Russ Tanner·
As a plein-air painter, Russ Tanner makes a living doing what he loves best: spending time outdoors
Russ Tanner, Winter Near Taos, oil, 14 x 18 |
in spectacular landscapes. A former illustrator, Tanner moved from Kansas City, MO, to Albuquerque, NM, five years ago to paint. He credits an art teacher for inspiring him with the advice that to be a fine artist you have to eat, sleep, and drink art. “I believe an artist should paint what he or she enjoys painting. You must remain faithful to whatever speaks to you.” Tanner is represented by Quast Galleries, Taos, NM; and American Legacy Gallery, Kansas City, MO.
· Ann Schuler ·
Nearly 40 years ago, Ann Schuler was studying with painter Jacques Maroger at the Maryland Institute when she and her husband decided to strike out on their
Ann Schuler, Rose, oil, 60 x 30. |
own to found the Schuler School of Fine Arts in Baltimore, MD. A portrait and still-life painter, Schuler practices her own style of classical realism, whether she is depicting a flower or a figure. She and her mentor Maroger are the focus of a traveling exhibition that runs through September at various venues throughout the Midwest. Schuler is represented by Schuler Gallery and Bendann Gallery, Baltimore, MD;
20 North Gallery, Toledo, OH; and Foxhall Gallery, Washington, DC.
· Jeff C. Legg ·
Jeff Legg always intended to be an artist but got sidetracked by entrepreneurship, marriage, and children. Nevertheless, his desire to paint remained, and in 1991 Legg sold his fitness equipment store and turned to painting full time. His figures, landscapes, and still lifes have a classical feel and are distinguished by a chiaroscuro shading technique. On painting still lifes such as Emerging Crocuses, Legg says, “I enjoy working in such a controlled environment because I can experiment with composition, color, and texture.” Legg lives in Missouri and is represented by Talisman Gallery, Bartlesville, OK; American Legacy Gallery, Kansas City, MO; and Miller Gallery, Cincinatti, OH.
· Gloria Malcolm Arnold ·
Gloria Arnold began experimenting with oil painting while living in England, inspired by her visits to museums there. Today she resides in
Jeff C. Legg, Emerging Crocuses, oil, 12 x 20. |
Massachusetts and teaches painting classes in her studio.Whether depicting a cityscape, landscape, seascape, or still life, Arnold paints with a realistic eye, creating a vivid sense of time and place. “Painting universally recognizable images in a realistic style allows me to communicate with a wide audience,” she says. Arnold is represented by Lenox Gallery of Fine Art, Lenox, MA, and is part of Artists Showcase New England, an Internet gallery web site (www.showart.com).
· C.W. Mundy ·
Gloria Malcolm Arnold, Visiting Rebecca, oil, 30 x 20. |
Plein-air painter C.W. Mundy is quick to list artists who have influenced his work: Joaquin Sorolla, John Singer Sargent, Edward Degas, Claude Monet, Edgar Payne, Guy Rose, and Hanson Puthuff, to name a few. “I love the relationships in their work—the color, values, paint application, edges, and design,” he says. Mundy’s own work includes landscapes, still lifes, and figurative paintings. After a 22-year career as a sports illustrator, Mundy took up painting full time nine years ago and now counts corporations, museums, and galleries among his clientele. He lives in Indiana and is represented by Overland Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ; DeBruyne Fine Art, Naples, FL; Whistle Pik Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX; Sigmans Fine Art, Indianapolis, IN; and Talisman Gallery, Bartlesville, OK.
C.W. Mundy, The Galwad-Y-Mor, Mevagissey, Cornwall, England, oil, 16 x 20. |
In 1976 Michael Gibbons fled urban life for a more rustic existence on the central Oregon coast. There Gibbons, who is known for his landscapes, has painted many of his award-winning works. One of those, A Corner of Kenny’s World, received the Friends of the Quast Gallery award at the national Oil Painters of America show last May in Taos, NM. The painting was inspired by a patch of wilderness snuggled between a recycling station and a clear-cut hillside that Gibbons had walked by nearly every day for 15 years. “I find that the best sources of inspiration for my paintings are right in front of me,” Gibbons says. “The most fertile ground for making something of real value seems to be accessible on foot.” Gibbons is represented by Gallery Michael Gibbons, Tubac, AZ, and Toledo, OR; Settlers West Galleries, Tucson, AZ; William Duncan Galleries, Park City, UT; Antoinette Hatfield Gallery Ltd., Portland, OR; Marin-Price Galleries, Chevy Chase, MD; and Gallerie 454, Grosse Pointe Park, MI.
· Zhiwei Tu ·
When Zhiwei Tu came to the United States in 1987 to enroll in a master’s program at Drake University, Des Moines, IA, he was already an established artist in China with numerous awards to his name. The native of Guangdong is known for his expressive painting style and his ability to capture the emotion of a moment on canvas. Tu’s subject matter and style are diverse, ranging from large, action-packed canvases to more focused, photorealistic pieces. He is represented by Long Grove Studio, Chicago, IL; Quast Galleries, Taos, NM; Mountain Trails Galleries, Santa Fe, NM; and Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX.
· David M. Bates ·
Six years ago, David M. Bates, a computer programmer and systems analyst, began concentrating more on art and less on his technical career. He finally turned to painting full time last year. In addition to landscapes and still lifes, he is also exploring the genre of sporting art, especially hunting and fishing scenes. “I enjoy the outdoors, and I think I can speak to folks who share that passion,” Bates says. The Texas resident is co-founder of the Society of Outdoor Painters, a 100-member group that meets monthly for a plein-air painting session. Bates is represented by Special Effects and the Museum Shop of the Museum of East Texas, both in Lufkin, TX, and Cibola Arts Council Gallery, Grants, NM.
· William Maloney ·
A born-and-bred New Englander, William Maloney has been a professional artist for more than 40 years. After working for 35 years as a technical illustrator and art director, he retired six years ago to paint full time. Since then, Maloney has become a devotee of plein-air painting. He lives on Cape Cod but often travels up to Monhegan Island in Maine for inspiration. “My work is impressionistic, regardless of whether I’m painting buildings, landscapes, or cityscapes,” he says. Maloney is represented by Wilson Gallery, Dennis, MA; Kendall Gallery, Wellfleet, MA; Wright Gallery, Cape Porpoise, ME; and Churchill Gallery, Newburyport, MA.
· Shuqiao Zhou ·
Shuqiao Zhou’s paintings depict everything from Chinese culture to landscapes,
all portrayed in a realistic style with finely rendered details. His work has been exhibited in Albania, Yugoslavia, Canada, the United States, and his native China. Zhou is a member of the Chinese National Association of Artists and a vice president of the Guangzhou Art Academy in China. Since 1987 he has been artist-in-residence at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. Zhou is represented by Quast Galleries, Taos, NM; Stephen Lowe Gallery, Calgary, Alberta; Artistic Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ; Merging One Gallery, Santa Monica, CA; and Art Center of Plano, TX.
· Russ Tanner·
As a plein-air painter, Russ Tanner makes a living doing what he loves best: spending time outdoors in spectacular landscapes. A former illustrator, Tanner moved from Kansas City, MO, to Albuquerque, NM, five years ago to paint. He credits an art teacher for inspiring him with the advice that to be a fine artist you have to eat, sleep, and drink art. “I believe an artist should paint what he or she enjoys painting. You must remain faithful to whatever speaks to you.” Tanner is represented by Quast Galleries, Taos, NM; and American Legacy Gallery, Kansas City, MO.
· Ann Schuler ·
Nearly 40 years ago, Ann Schuler was studying with painter Jacques Maroger at the Maryland Institute when she and her husband decided to strike out on their own to found the Schuler School of Fine Arts in Baltimore, MD. A portrait and still-life painter, Schuler practices her own style of classical realism, whether she is depicting a flower or a figure. She and her mentor Maroger are the focus of a traveling exhibition that runs through September at various venues throughout the Midwest. Schuler is represented by Schuler Gallery and Bendann Gallery, Baltimore, MD; 20 North Gallery, Toledo, OH; and Foxhall Gallery, Washington, DC.
· Jeff C. Legg ·
Jeff Legg always intended to be an artist but got sidetracked by entrepreneurship, marriage, and children. Nevertheless, his desire to paint remained, and in 1991 Legg sold his fitness equipment store and turned to painting full time. His figures, landscapes, and still lifes have a classical feel and are distinguished by a chiaroscuro shading technique. On painting still lifes such as Emerging Crocuses, Legg says, “I enjoy working in such a controlled environment because I can experiment with composition, color, and texture.” Legg lives in Missouri and is represented by Talisman Gallery, Bartlesville, OK; American Legacy Gallery, Kansas City, MO; and Miller Gallery, Cincinatti, OH.
· Gloria Malcolm Arnold ·
Gloria Arnold began experimenting with oil painting while living in England, inspired by her visits to museums there. Today she resides in Massachusetts and teaches painting classes in her studio.Whether depicting a cityscape, landscape, seascape, or still life, Arnold paints with a realistic eye, creating a vivid sense of time and place. “Painting universally recognizable images in a realistic style allows me to communicate with a wide audience,” she says. Arnold is represented by Lenox Gallery of Fine Art, Lenox, MA, and is part of Artists Showcase New England, an Internet gallery web site (www.showart.com).
· C.W. Mundy ·
Plein-air painter C.W. Mundy is quick to list artists who have influenced his work: Joaquin Sorolla, John Singer Sargent, Edward Degas, Claude Monet, Edgar Payne, Guy Rose, and Hanson Puthuff, to name a few. “I love the relationships in their work—the color, values, paint application, edges, and design,” he says. Mundy’s own work includes landscapes, still lifes, and figurative paintings. After a 22-year career as a sports illustrator, Mundy took up painting full time nine years ago and now counts corporations, museums, and galleries among his clientele. He lives in Indiana and is represented by Overland Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ; DeBruyne Fine Art, Naples, FL; Whistle Pik Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX; Sigmans Fine Art, Indianapolis, IN; and Talisman Gallery, Bartlesville, OK.
Featured in “Portfolio: Oil Painters of America 1997 Winners” May 1998