Community Service Award for Fern Christian

Renaissance Art Gallery Director, Fern Christian, with Kathy Hollet, was honored with  TSAA’s Community Service award at their 2013 Christmas Dinner.  Both of these strong women have served on TSAA's board of Directors, served as president, and have literally spent thousands of hours on countless committees to support TSAA's mission and its membership.

 

Fern and Kathy are the first recipients of TSAA's Community  Service Award. Recipients of the award must have a minimum of 10 years of uninterrupted membership and community service in the association to be eligible for this award.  Both Fern and Kathy have far exceeded these minimums and set the bar high for future award recipients.

 

A member of Tri-State Artists Association since 1968, Fern has been supportive of artists in the Tri-State area and is the founder and director of an artist-cooperative gallery, the Renaissance Art Gallery. She also teaches painting on Monday mornings from 10:00 am until noon.

Kathy has worked tirelessly whether she is mentoring new members, teaching, or writing grants. Fern has spend over a decade building the Renaissance Gallery for local (coop)artists. The Renaissance gallery hosts a national show which brings art from all over the United States and abroad to the Tri-State region.

http://tristatearts.webs.com/

 

The Renaissance Art Gallery

900 8th Street, Suite #20

Huntington, WV 25701

 

Gallery (304) 525-3235

Appointments: (304) 453-3187

gallerywv@yahoo.com

www.orgsites.com/wv/renaissance

 

 

Elaine Hahn - People's Choice Award

The Renaissance Art Gallery is happy to announce the winner of the 13th Annual National Miniature Exhibition’s People’s Choice Award

 

This year the visitors and patrons of the Renaissance Art Gallery have chosen Elaine Hahn’s “Sunset Glow” as their favorite miniature. This is truly an outstanding work, of great vision and depth. Although only 1 inches wide by 4 inches long, this work draws the eye. "Sunset Glow" is an oil painting done on copper plate. Elaine is a resident of Holiday, Florida

Elaine is a resident of Holiday, Florida and has been a regular participant in the Renaissance Art Gallery’s Miniature Exhibition.

 

Some of the comments from ballots for the people’s choice award:

 

“Waves show incredible detail along with white sea foam. The sun’s refection also show rippling effect.”~ Guest’s comments

 

“So much beauty in such a small space! Excellent!” ~ Guest Comment

 

Each year we are able to present the best in miniature art and it is a privilege to host this show. ~ The Renaissance Art Gallery.

13th Annual National Miniature Exhibition Winner's List 2013



Winners List 2013

Juror Jenine Culligan

 

Complimentary Award (4)
 

 

Hossein Fallahi – Rose of Esfaham – 12A

Ted Daubresse – One More Time from the Top – 30B

Sue Wall – Pure Affection – 31B

Yvonne James – Milady – 10A

 

 

 

Honorable Mention (3)

 

Carol Rockwell – The Stand Off – 27C

Ronnie Cramer – Ice Skater – 28C

Melinda Fabian – Crab on Deck – 54A

 

 

Merit Award (2)

 

Akiko Watanabe – Mr. Hercule – 8A

Lena Leitzke – San Diego – 23A

1^st Place (shared) These two works made it impossible to select one over the other,

thus the shared 1^st Place:

 

 

Janet Palmer – Swirling Waters – 1A

Janet Laird-Lagassee – Matchless - 18A 

 

 

Award of Excellence:

Judith Edgington Bayes – Grandpa’s Apples – 24B

There is one last award, and this one will not be selected until the end of the Exhibition, it is our People's Choice Award.

Each year art lovers who visit the Annual National Miniature Exhibition at the Renaissance Art Gallery cast their votes on what they feel is the most outstanding miniature in the show. This year we have added a space for comments to this ballot. We will be sharing these comments as we review the show daily in our Renaissance Art Gallery Blog.



Encaustic Miniatures



Encaustic Miniatures by Fern Christian

 

 

These pieces represent a new media to the Renaissance Art Gallery’s Annual Miniature Exhibition. The use of Encaustics. While an ancient medium it is currently undergoing a revival with new technicalities. It is, in the words of artist Fern Christian, “the most fun you can have with an iron!” 

 



"Red & White"
Encaustic painting
Susan Tschantz

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encaustic_painting

 

 

The Renaissance Art Gallery has held several workshops to re-introduce this media to the area and this year featured works in encaustics.

 

Fern Christian has employed a small iron as both pallet and brush to create swirls of abstract color. Her work invokes strong moods, “Storm Gathering”, Fantasy Fly” and “Day of Delight” describes feeling. Artist Susan Tschantz takes a more traditional approach with hot wax and a brush in “Red & White” and “Vase on Green”.

Encaustic proved to be a very popular medium. Many visitors were completely fascinated with the introduction of this medium this year.

"Red & White" and "Vase on Green"
Encaustic Paintings
Susan Tschantz

 

Drawing Fine Art in Miniature

"Music in the Air"
Colored Pencil
Kath Pollack

While paintings are in the majority, entries in the 13th Annual National Miniature Exhibition also include many fine art mediums in addition to paintings. We have sculptures and wood burning. Encaustic and scratchboard. Paper cutting and collage as well as different textile art.

 

Being a card-carrying member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, (http://www.cpsa.org/)  and the drawing teacher at the Renaissance Art Gallery, I am naturally drawn to those works done with some sort of pencil or pen, or in the case of scratchboard, stylist.

 



"Peek-a-Moo"
Colored Pencil
Nancy Garcia

"Red Pears"
Colored Pencil
Susan Tschantz

We have a wealth of these works this year.

 

 

"Firework Flower"
Colored Pencil
Susan Tschantz

Many of which more than one person thought were oil paintings. Some like Kath Pollack of Dunedin, FL have such a gentle touch that many believed her drawings were watercolors.

 

"Pennsylvania Covered Bridge"
scratchboard
Dolores Andrew

Yvonne James of Palm Harbor, FL won a complimentary award with her amazing drawing of hat of all things! Finely drawn and detailed. Although he won a Merit Award for “Mr. Hercule”, a painting done in acrylic, his “Study of Gorilla” done in graphite to me is much more intriguing. The gorilla’s eyes seem to look right at you.

So here are just some of the drawings submitted to the Renaissance Art Gallery's 13th Annual National Miniature Exhibition.

 

When it come to drawing you cannot forget the whimsical and colorful felt pen drawing of Don Watts. Don has been drawing in Huntington, WV for quite some time and always has a different take on things.

 

One truly outstanding colored pencil painting is Lenore Long Lancaster, of Ridgeley, WV. Her Mountain Path seems to come right off the paper.

 

It is always fascinating to see just what people come up with in miniature art, and the variety of media is part of the fascination.



"Flowing Colors"
Felt-tip pens
Don Watts

"Mountain Path"
colored Pencil
Lenore Long Lancaster

Linda Rossin

Another artist who has been featured in this show is Linda Rossin. Each year she amazes us with what she is able to do with paint. Her paintings never seem small or cramped but always gives us a feeling of space. Linda paints in acrylics. Her attention to detail extends to her presentation, which is always excellent and professional

 

 

 

"Little Big Man"
 Linda Rossin

 

"Realistic detail, depth. Like the use of color shadows, reflections, lighting & texture." ~ Guest Comment

 

Nancy Garcia

"Ladies Only" 

 

This whimsical painting by Nancy Garcia is developing into a favorite.

"Ladies Only"
Nancy Garcia

"Love the whimsy in all of Nancy Garcia’s paintings Whether she is painting is oils or drawing with colored pencils, Nancy Garcia shows a real talent for charm in her paintings. All her works shows this familiarity with a strong sense of humor!"

 

~ Susan Tschantz, Renaissance Artist

 

Each of her paintings show a find attention to detail and to the life of the animals that populate her artwork.

"It is so cute!" ~ Guest Comment

 

 

 

 

"I am naturally drawn to artwork done in colored pencil. I teach drawing after all. Here Nancy shows a complete mastery of the medium, and an understanding of how the colored pencil has changed, matured as a medium over the years. I also love the way the cow is looking out of the picture plane and into our world!"

~ Susan Tschantz

 

 

 

Wayne Chunat

 

"The Chase is On"
Wayne Chunat
 

Drama.

 

This word really describes Wayne Chunat’s paintings. All Three works, “Chase is on”, “Jump” and “Tiger, Tiger” have strong dramatic impact on viewers. The action in “The Chase is On” makes it the outstanding piece of the three.

 

 

 

Wayne paints with acrylics but there is nothing fast about his artwork. In the true sense of the word, these are miniatures, well constructed and full of detail. Both paintings have life, as if the animals have been captured in action.

Wayne is a member of Nature Artists. You can see more of his work here:

http://www.natureartists.com/wayne_chunat.asp

 

"Tiger-Tiger"
Wayne Chunat

 

Elaine Hahn & Sunset Glow

 

"Sunset Glow" Oil on Copper by  Elaine Hahn

 

[Comments from ballots for the people’s choice award:]

 

 

 

“Waves show incredible detail along with white sea foam. The sun’s refection also show rippling effect.”~ Guest’s comments

 

“So much beauty in such a small space! Excellent!” ~ Guest Comment






Elaine used an unusual surface for her oil painting. Copper. she does show her master of this surface and of oil painting. 

 

 This is a tiny painting, 1" x 4". But it does not feel small! Looking at it, you get the sense of the wide ocean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gail Mac Argel - Miniaturist

"In the Garden"
Gail Mac Argel

Gail Mac Argel is one of the most popular artist that enters our Annual National Miniature Exhibition. Year after year guest of the Renaissance Art Gallery are amazed by her work. This year was no exception. All three pieces entered were totally amazing. Gayle works in oils, a traditional miniature medium. Her skill is second to none.

 

Entry 1:  "In the Garden"

 

“I like everything about it.” ~ Guest Comment

" One of my all-time favorite artists" ~ Susan Tschantz, Renaissance Artist.

Entry 2: "Evening Song"


The detail on this one is mind-boggling. You can count the strings on the violin! There are real notes on that sheet music.

"Evening Song"
Gail Mac Argel

 

Entry 3: "The Window"





"The Window"
Gail Mac Argel

No one walks by this little painting without leaning forward for a closer look. The blue jays are detailed down to the feathers.

Karen Chamblin - Artist in oils

 

Karen is a West Virginia artist living in Belmont, WV. She excels at still life painting. Active in both painting and encouraging other artists, she promotes oil painting workshops every year in and around Parkersburg, WV.

 

Her biography and more of her work can be seen on her website:  http://karenchamblin.com/

 

"Tuxedo Cat"
Oil
Karen Chamblin

All three of her paintings have garnered comments in this year’s show.

 

 

“Tuxedo Cat”

 

I love the way this little kitty looks you right in the eye! ~ Susan Tschantz Renaissance Art Gallery Artist.

 

Great Show! ~guest Comment

 

 

 

 

“Kitty III”

 

Warm and inviting ~ Guest comment

 

 

“Miniature Sunflowers” (sold)

 

 

"I think it is the visual impact that the sunflowers have from across the room. I love the cats, especially the one where the tuxedo is facing forward, but the visual draw of the sunny flowers does grab the eye. A number of people commented on that and stopped to look closer". ~ Susan Tschantz Renaissance Art Gallery artist

 

 

Guest comments are by visitor to the Renaissance Art Gallery. Comments have been make on the People's Choice award ballots. 

Karen Ballard, Watercolorist

"Female Ruby Hummer"
watercolor
Karen Ballard

 

 

Karen Ballard is an artist from Charleston, WV. Her work this year consisted of two 5"x5" humming bird paintings along with a rather unique? Portrait. The following comments were on ballots for our people’s choice award.

 

Her entries were:

 

1. "Female Ruby Hummer" watercolor

2. "Blue-Throated Hummer" watercolor

3. "Do you Know What I see?" watercolor

 

"Blue-Throated Hummer" & "Do you see What I see?"
watercolor
Karen Ballard

 

"Female Ruby Hummer "

Wonderful work~ Guest Comment

 

 

 

"Blue-Throated Hummer" Karen Ballard

Very Excellent ~ Guest Comment

 

"Do You Know What I See?" Unique ~ Guest Comment

 

 

Bob Ievers - Painter

"Alabama Sun"  by Bob Ievers

 

"It is an intriguing piece that deserves recognition." ~ Guest Comment

 

"Alabama Sun"
Oil
Bob Ievers

“Alabama Sun”  – This strange work appeals to me in a number of ways. It has a pleasing composition, placing the major and minor “objects” in a comfortable arrangement. It has a simple palette with just enough variation to maintain interest. The quiet placement of shadows supplies depth that grows the more you observe the painting, allowing it to suddenly emerge from the frame. Finally it looks like a big M&M – what else do you need!   ~ Ron Haeberle, watercolorist and Renaissance Art Gallery artist.

 

"When I first saw this piece hanging in the gallery, I thought it was a copper cutout, so totally convincing an oil painting this is." ~ Susan Tschantz, Artist

 

Bob Ievers is an artist from Horseheads, NY. All of the work he entered show an attention to detail and love of  art that is so typical of miniature artists and make putting on this type of show so rewarding.

 

[guess comments: comments left on ballots for the People’ Choice Award. These comments are made anonymously and are the sincere responses by guests of the Renaissance Art Gallery.]

 

Ann Grimes, Fiber Artist

 



The Magic Bird
Ann Grimes

"I picture artist Ann Grimes of Lavalette WV in a shepherdess costume, guarding her sheep and plucking puffs of wool from briars to use in making the felt “Canvas” for her pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August Flowers
Ann Grimes

 

 



“August Flowers” uses bold dyes to create shapes confined by dark outlines. “The Magic Bird” and “The Wedding” are subjects embellished with appliqué and gold stitching. I’d like to see her demonstrate her unique techniques."

 

 ~ Linda Helgasen, artist.

 

Ann is one of our most interesting artists. Working with fibers, she manages to keep to the spirit of the miniature, in pieces that draw the eye, and have you look into them to see just what is happening there.

 

 ~ Susan Tschantz, Renaissance Art Gallery artist.

 

Don Watts

 

“Home” 

 

By Don Watts

 

 – Miniature art is often all about replicating what would be a large painting in a very small space. The more I observe miniature art the more I believe that I am influenced by the shapes and color. This piece by Don Watts is a good example. Using a primitive style simple shapes and vibrant colors he has produced a unique rendering of a common local scene.

 

Ron Haeberle, Renaissance Art Gallery artist.

Award of Excellence: Judith Edgington Bays - Grandpa's Apples

Award of Excellence:

 

 

Judith Edgington Bayes – Grandpa’s Apples –

"I could immediately feel the emotional attachment of the artist to the subject. There is a pervasive warmth to the entire work. The gentle curve of the composition helped along by the subtle sway of the grass takes the viewer through the orchard and from detail foreground to diffuse background.  The details  and gestures (the man’s face; his grasping, gloved hand; shoelaces,; and spectacles) and especially the light used – a soft dappling light on the man’s shirt and overalls – create a lovely portrait and landscape in one. "

~ Jenine Culligan, Juror

 

"This painting is proving to be very popular with everyone who come to the Renaissance Art Gallery. There is definitely an emotional response to it. We all remember this, whether it is our grandfather or family outings picking our own." ~ Susan Tschantz, Renaissance Gallery Artist.

 

First Place- Janet Laird-Lagassee - Matchless

this is our second 1st Place Winner:

Janet Laird-Lagassee – Matchless - 

"I love the cropped composition in this painting. It immediately brings the viewer into the work. Beautiful details on the bridles, harness, etc.  It is so realistic, that the viewer almost expects the pair to move and the carriage to pass across the front of the picture plane. The angles of the reins, the horses’ ears, the grass and slope of the hill all add to the arrested but expected movement.  Very nice – it reminds me of a farm I once lived on and roamed in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania."

~ Jenine Culligan, Juror

 

"Reminds me of our Beach Visitations, very restful" ~ Guest Comment

 

First Place - Janet Palmer Swirling Waters

Two works share this year's First Place Award. Our juror, Jenine Culligan found it impossible to choose between them, thus the shared 1^st Place:

 

Janet Palmer – Swirling Waters –

"This work is small, but has a vast feel.  One can almost sense the pull of the tide. The slightly elevated perspective puts the viewer on the rocks overlooking the ocean. Very nice use of the paper showing through – expertly rendered. It reminds of  19^th century seascapes at their best, especially William Trost Richards."~ Jenine Culligan, Juror

"This is another painting that photography just does not do justice to. It is an outstanding piece of work, that although small gives a feeling of space. It does not feel small!" ~ Susan Tschantz, Renaissance Art Gallery artist.

 

 

Akiko Watanabe - Mr. Hercule - Merit Award

 

Akiko Watanabe – Mr. Hercule –

"The direct stare of this cat really catches your eye. It is so detailed and beautifully executed. Notice the black whiskers on the green, and the white highlighting the black whiskers against the black fur.  Also, notice the slightly white outline of the eye and the wonderful reflections in the eyes – Nice!. The tondo format is perfect for this cat portrait. You can see so much color and detail in the fur of this “black” cat." ~Jenine Culligan, Juror

"This is a truly outstanding portrait of this cat, not just any cat, but this one. You can see the personality in his eyes." ~ Susan Tschantz, Renaissance artist.