Rio, one of the six paintings I'll have at Stony's.

I was pleased when Raleigh Ceasar contacted me to be part of the new venture for the Pierro Gallery of South Orange — Pierro Downtown!

Raleigh has joined forces with the enormously talented Susan Napack to put together this tasty mix of dainty delights, featuring small works by Lisa Pressman, Susan Napack, Russell Christian, Sarah Petruziello, Greg Leshe and Stuart Tyson.

I hope you’ll stop by. Come hungry!

Stony's: Serving Up the Best in Food and Art! Photos-The Patch & Nancy Heins-Glaser

Burgers, Fries and Art!

Drop by the Pierro Gallery for this valuable coupon!

Until June 13, there is a special offer for all visitors to Pierro Gallery to pick up a coupon for 10% off at Stony’s. The gallery is open 1-4 Fri-Sun. Visual Alchemy – 8 African American Artists Explore the Spirit of Visual Narrative is up through June 6, followed by an exhibit of Gallery Committee alumni.

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A Gem Among Her Jewels

Ms. Bell has not gone unnoticed; The Star-Ledger ran an article recently (“South Orange Art Collector’s Home is a Visual Feast“), and Park Place Magazine’s newest issue ran a multi-page article about Ms Bell: “The Art of the Party.”

Both are  wonderful pieces, highlighting her warm hospitality and keen eye for art. With a grateful heart and a  glow of pride, I’m delighted to say that Patricia cites me in both articles as an “artist to watch.”

Here’s a passage from the Star-Ledger’s piece: “Bell also lists the mixed media work of Nancy Tobin, a local contemporary visual artist among her favorites. New Jersey artists Claire Rosen, Willie Cole, Margaret Murphy and Lisa Pressman are also present here.”

And here’s an excerpt from the Park Place article:

Favorite NJ Artists to Watch

“I love new things, and always find a spot for the pieces I love,” says Pat Bell. “When I’m surrounded by all this wonderful work, it’s like living with the souls of the artists.”

Each month, as fresh—and sometimes massively large artwork—arrives at her home, Gabrielle Pulls, Bell’s housekeeper of 17 years, equips herself with an electric drill, a level, and a keen eye. As pieces leave the home, they often are loaned or contributed to non-profit organizations, such as the South Orange Performing Arts Center.

“I’m fortunate to live in this state because we have so many wonderful artists,” says Bell. “I like what’s in my backyard.” To keep au courant with the local art scene, get acquainted with some of her favorites:

Willie Cole, Mine Hill, multi-dimensional
(williecole.com)
Tom Nussbaum, Montclair, sculptor
(tomnussbaum.com)
Claire Rosen, Montclair, photographer
(clairerosenphotography.com)
Margaret Murphy, Jersey City, painter (margaret-murphy.com)
Lisa Pressman, West Orange, painter
(lisapressman.net)
Marcia Kure, Princeton, painter/collage artist
(marciakure.com)
Wayne Roth, Mountain Lakes, digital artist/photographer (2face.com)
Nancy Tobin, Maplewood, collage painter (nancytobin.com)
Dan Fenelon, Madison, painter
(wavedog.com)
Jordan Eagles, Short Hills, painter/installationist (jordaneagles.com)

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The colors and detail in Snow White Disney's first full length animated feature are still enough to make me sing!

For any of you who missed my last post; Lisa Pressman asked me to write about my top ten influences. You can see the entire list at her blog, Lisa Pressman Art Blog. I like the exercise so much I decided to explore each one of them as a separate post.

Number one on my list is Walt Disney. Here’s what I wrote about him in Lisa’s blog:

1. Walt Disney- Love him or hate him, it’s hard to deny his influence on our culture today. Saturday matinees at the local theater in Grand Rapids allowed me my first glimpses into the world of art. While the action was playing out in the foreground, I would find myself entranced by the captivating world created by the studio’s background artists.

I imagine that for many children like myself growing up, animated films are their main exposure to visual art. Though I always loved to paint and draw and make things, I never set foot into a real art museum until I was in college.

Eyvind Earle spins Disney Magic in his backgrounds for Sleeping Beauty

I admit that I am one that enjoys Disney stuff. (We’re easy to spot: say the word “Disney” and you either get eyes as big as Bambi’s or a shutter.) We’ve taken our lucky children to Disney theme parks many times in their short lives.

But, as much as I like all the trimmings, by far the biggest influence on my art has been the amazing backgrounds in his early films. I learned a lot about painting by looking at these lush environments, things that I may have learned from from the masters in museums, but didn’t. Disney is accessible.

Disney’s talented team of background painters would set a stage where anything could happen. A world that invites you to come in and create your own story.

It’s not that Disney created a world of fantasy for me, but that he planted the seeds, that I could create that kind of place for myself.

Biotic Fizz � Nancy Tobin

(I was delighted to come across a blog by Rob Richards called Animation Backgrounds. Rob has an amazing collection of background art, from Snow White to Lilo and Stitch. It’s cool to be able to separate the action of the figures from these rich scenes.)

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Tomorrow I'll talk about influencer #1, Disney, see any similarities?

My friend Lisa Pressman invited me to do a guest post on her brand new art blog, aptly named Lisa Pressman Art Blog. She asked me to give her a list of my top ten influences. It was a little harder than I thought it would be, some were obvious choices, but some I had to dig a little deeper to find. Overall it was a great and enlightening exercises. Go check it out at Lisa’s place, and tell her I sent you!

I decided that I wanted to take each of those influences and expound on them. So for the weeks to come I’m going to be visiting the ghosts of my past. Hope you’ll join me!

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Koobla custom Munny Doll and handcrafted wooden head dress by Dan Fenelon

The opening for the Art Connections 5 show at the George Segal Gallery last Sunday was great fun.

There was a huge turnout and people seemed in a particularly festive mood.

I thought the name Art Connections was appropriate for me personally at this event; I met several people that I had wanted to meet, linked up with several new friends and reconnected with many I hadn’t seen in a while.

There was great artwork to feast on as well. I like juried shows; you’re introduced to a whole bunch of new artists, and they’re usually well attended (if for no other reason than all the people who have art in the show are there!)

Dan Fenelon AKA Wavedog, had three of his funky and lovable characters at the show. Dan does amazingly colorful, intricate work that seems to draw inspiration from Aboriginal, Native American and Street Art vibes. You can check out his delightful work on his Web site at: www.wavedog.com.

Between the Lines #4 by Lisa Pressman

Lisa Pressman is an artist that I had been wanting to meet for some time. (One of those people who seems to know all the people you know, but you’ve never met.) She is a master in the art of encaustic. Her beautiful abstract paintings are at once simple and complex. The deceivingly simple looking compositions give way as you explore the depths of the surface; like an archeologists digging for treasures hidden in the layers. The surfaces are luminous, textural and meditative. Check out more of her work at: www.lisapressman.net.

There truely is something for everyone in this diverse show, so please stop by! Click here for hours and directions.

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