Debra Huse
The Debra Huse Gallery 2nd Annual
Port and Starboard Exhibition Opening Night, June 14th, 6-8pm. Exhibition runs untill July 20th, 2014
Debra Huse
The Debra Huse Gallery
Kenn Backhaus
2nd Annual PORT AND STARBOARD
Opening Night, June 14th, 6-8pm Exhibition runs thru July 20th, 2014 at The Debra Huse Gallery 229 Marine Ave Balboa Island, Newport Beach CA www.debrahusegallery.com www.realismwithoutborders.com Gallery # 949-723-6171
John Budicin
Vanessa Rothe
About The Exhibition This unique exhibition features reverred contemporary artists from America that currently exhibit at the Debra Huse Gallery, alongside well known International artists from the ‘Realism Without Borders’ group who are working in similar styles. From lively plein air works to large scale studio pieces, this exhibition will allow collectors and artists a chance to view and compare these international works side by side as seen through the same subject matter. Boats, and marine scenes from accross the globe, from Newport Beach, to Crimea, to Venice Italy is the common theme for this exhibition. Works will range from small affordable studies to large scale works of fine art. This catatlog serves as just a sampling of the works that will be at the exhibition. More images from the exhibition can be found at www.debrahusegallery.com About The Realism Without Borders Group What started out as a group of artists and art historians who shared a strong common vision for art, has now become a successful international traveling exhibition of museum quality works; Realism Without Borders. Exhibiting side by side, Soviet and historical works with contemporary works by top Russian, Ukrainian, American, French, English, Chinese and German artists, Realism Without Borders aims to connect two centuries and two continents via the commitment to realist painting traditions. Founded by Akhmed Salakhly (Repinart curator), exhibiting artist and co curator Vanessa Rothe, and exhibiting artist Antonin Passemard, the group is currently flourishing with successful national exhibitions and over 25 core artist members. “We share an admiration of “realist” art, especially Russian works, because they were the only ones to keep up the realist tradition when the world was going towards modernism “ says Akhmed Salakhly group head curator. This diverse and talented group of painters from all over the globe have had impressive traditional training from such schools as the reknown St. Petersberg Academy of Arts, (Repin Institute), Penza Art Institute, the Kharkov Art Institute, The Florence Academy of Art, Watts Atelier, Laguna College of Art and Design, and the Academy of Art in San Francisco in California, just to name a few. They have shown in top exhibitions worldwide from St.Petersberg, to Paris, to Los Angeles and have impressive resumés as well as strong bodies of work ranging from classical academy works to painterly plein air or impressionist pieces. The international group of classically trained representational artists believes in the successful combination of objective traditional training combined with expressive personal subjects, and often intuitive painterly strokes. The group is has recently invited Debra Huse to join them and tour with them and we celebrate our new member in the 2nd Annual Port and Starboard Exhibion.
Danill Volkv
Participating Artists American Artists Kenn Backhaus Tom Balderas John Budicin John Burton Debra Huse Colin Page Jesse Powell Vanessa Rothe Leslie Saeta Jim Wodark Russian and Ukranian Artists Sergey Kovolenko Leon Okun Stan Prokopenko Valery Schmatko Daniil Volkov
American Artists -
A sampling of the exhibition
Tom Balderas
Kenn Backhaus
“Afternoon Glare”
18x18”
Oil on canvas
Master painter Kenn Erroll Backhaus was born in 1951 Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Early, as a commercial designer and illustrator Kenn received many awards at both local and national levels, which included acceptance in the Annual Society of Illustrators Show in New York. Although Kenn took pride in his commercial successes, his heart always belonged to the fine art of outdoor painting. With developing interest in the historic Plein Air style of painting, Kenn decided in 1984, to devote more time to his passion for painting and the love of the outdoors. He found that capturing true color, value and the mood of a subject was best done on location or through direct observation. Kenn is a Master Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America and past President the Plein Air Painters of America. Kenn has been featured in many national art magazines and books. His works have been juried into many shows across the country and he has received many awards including Best of Show, Collector’s Choice and Artist Choice awards.
Tom Balderas
“Small Boats�
18x18�
Oil on canvas
Third son of four. painter. writer. musician. photographer. thinker. creator. listener. observer. human. social. loner. understanding. misunderstanding. giver. taker. wanter. perfectionist. imperfect. mess. father. Found himself dwelling upon an emotional and artistic precipice since birth. Works towards progress. Growing up in Torrance, California, Tom Balderas lived only a few miles from the ocean, which has made nature, along with his family, the main inspiration of his paintings. Balderas attended Loyola Marymount University, where he studied film production and art. After graduating, he worked several years for NBC Productions while making made-for-television movies. He has also worked countless hours in the live television-broadcasting field. He then began studying under the tutelage of his photographer father, as well as Joseph Mendez, master painter and teacher. Balderas considers the time spent studying with Mendez to be the cornerstone of his growth as a painter. Tom has shown his work in many solo and group painting exhibitions and hangs in collections across the states as well as internationally.Recently, Balderas has been taken by the urge to teach. He enjoys working with budding painters and those already experienced. He gains inspiration from those who are seeking to develop an additional approach to painting. Tom has been and is represented by some of the nations most prestigious art galleries. Member RWB group.
John Budicin
“A Great Find
8x10”
Oil on canvas
Born in Rovigno, D’Istria, Italy, John moved to California at the age of 11, where he attended college, and continues to live today. John is dedicated to painting directly from nature and paints outdoors almost every day, capturing the ever-changing landscape. John has been featured in many national art magazines and books. His works have been included in many shows across the country including “Masters of the American West” at The Autry Museum, Plein Air Painters Of America at the Haggin Museum and “Then and Now 100 Years of Plein Air Painting” at the Irvine Museum. John Budicin is a Signature Member and past President of the Plein Air Painters of America. He travels the world to paint and teach.
John Burton
“California Coast”
16x12”
Oil on canvas
John Burton is an award- winning oil painter best known for his stirring and vivid depictions of the transitory beauty of our ever-changing world. He is at once tangibly influenced by the Western and Russian painters of the early twentieth century, and entirely unique in his remarkable ability to capture the profound spirituality and majesty of his surroundings. Burton has traveled and painted around the globe, always maintaining his home and artistic center in the American West. Burton’s deep American roots permeate the rich, natural character of his art, and inform his work’s reverent tone. He has been written up in many fine art magazines including being asked to do a live demonstration in front of six hundred guests at the plein air convention in 2014. He is one of Carmel’s most celebrated artists and an important artist in America today. Member RWB group.
Debra Huse
“Island Tradewinds”
30x40”
Ol on canvas
Debra Huse is a contemporary colorist and impressionist. She uses rich color and bold fluid strokes to capture the light and drama in her plein air and studio paintings. Huse enjoys working in oils and is a Signature Member of the American Society of Marine Artists, the American Impressionist Society, Laguna Plein Air Painters & Pastel Society of America. Debra began formal painting when she was ten even stretching her own canvases in private lessons. At age 11, she was awarded a scholarship and attended college courses at the prestigious John Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, IN. Huse currently has a studio in a Newport Beach Boatyard and has a passion for painting old fishing boats and sailing ships. Member RWB group.
Colin Page
“Sailboat Glare”
16x20”
Oil on canvas
Colin Page does the majority of his work outside, working from life to capture the light and atmosphere of his subject matter. “Through painting, I share unexpected moments of beauty that I find in the space around me. Painting is how I share the poetry of experience.” Page studied painting at Rhode Island School of Design and Cooper Union, receiving his BFA in 2000. He recently had solo shows at the Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland, Maine and Smith Killian Fine Art in Charleston, SC. He has also participated in numerous group shows internationally. Recently, Colin Page has also received an award for “Best in Show” and “Artist’s Choice” at the Sedona Plein Air Festival, and was given “Artist’s Choice” and “Honorable Mention” at the Maui Plein Air Invitational. Ten years ago Colin Page moved to Maine looking for time and space to focus on his painting. Maine has become a home for his art making, and for his growing family, nurturing his creative drive and supplying beautiful landscapes as subjects
Jesse Powell
“Point Lobos”
6x8”
Oil on canvas
Jesse Powell was born in 1977 in Los Angeles, California. He has lived most of his life on the California coast, where he has developed a deep attachment and respect for a rapidly disappearing natural landscape. A third generation artist, Jesse’s love for art stemmed at an early age, mostly from the influence of his father, artist John Powell. He now resides in Carmel, California. Jesse graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in painting and drawing, and went on to study Russian Impressionism in the Republic of Georgia under the tutelage of Nicholai Dubovik, Ilya Yatsenko, and John Wurdeman. His education continued with numerous trips to the Scottsdale Artist School to study with painters such as Matt Smith, George Strickland, and Kenn Backhaus, among others. Jesse’s paintings have been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including shows at The Laguna Art Museum, The Pasadena Museum of California History, The Pasadena Museum of California Art, The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the Autry National Center and most recently at the Irvine Museum. He is an artist member of the Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society and a Signature Member of the California Art Club and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. Member RWB group.
Vanessa Rothe
“Le Petit Bateau”
12x9”
Oil on canvas
Vanessa Françoise Rothe grew up in the artists colony of Laguna Beach, CA, the daughter of a well known clothing designer Detlev Rothe. She received fine art scholarships to study at the University of San Diego, Laguna College of Art and Design, and has had classical training with private instructor/workshops in the Ateliers of France and Italy as well as with professional artists. Vanessa has been honored to exhibit alongside some of the Nations top painters and has had multiple solo exhibitions at Wendt Gallery in Laguna Beach. She proudly participates in National group exhibitions including the prestigious “Artists for a New Century” at The Bennington Center for the Arts, the Annual American Impressionist Society Exhibition, and the Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction. A Signature member of the American Impressionist society, she is also artist member/Co founder of Realism Without Bordres group and with her vast knowledge of the arts, Vanessa has begun curating exhibitions for RWB and other fine art exhibitions. Vanessa is also honored to be the California Editor of the Nationally acclaimed art collector magazine Fine Art Connoisseur as well as a contributing writer for Plein Air magazine and Fine Art Today. Vanessa is proud to be the Author/Artist of a new series of art books produced by Walter Foster Publishing, “An Art School Approach to Oils” sold at Barnes and Noble worldwide. Member RWB group.
Leslie Saeta
“California Coast”
16x12”
oil on canvas
Leslie Saeta is an award winning artist who paints fresh and colorful paintings using only a palette knife. She paints in her studio full time and has over 30 years of marketing experience. In addition to painting, she is devoted to helping other artists sell their art, especially on-line. She hosts a weekly talk radio show titled “ Artists Helping Artists” which is a great resource tool for all artists. The show is currently listened to by over 5000 artists per week. Leslie has always been interested in art but officially entered the world of fine art as a novice painter in her mid forties. Her art may appear to include energetic brushwork, but she paints exclusively with a palette knife and a heavy build-up of paint. Working with a limited palette, Leslie strives to create beautiful colors and capture the light perfectly in every painting.In addition to being a full time artist, she is a wife and mother of three teenage boys.Saeta attended U.C. Santa Barbara, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena. She is a member of Oil Painters of America, California Art Club, Pasadena Society of Artists, American Women Artists, Women Painters of the West, San Gabriel Fine Art Club, Verdugo Hills Art Club.
Jim Wodark
“Newport Moonrise”
20x24
Oil on canvas
Jim Wodark is an award winning plein air artist who was born and raised in Colorado. Throughout childhood, his parents, both artistic in their own right, were incredibly encouraging of his creativity, but drew the line (so to speak) when he filled his 2nd grade teacher’s shoes with paint. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from University of Northern Colorado and attempted to fulfill his passion for art by taking an art class each semester. After several years of working real jobs, and trying to fit art around his schedule, it occurred to him that he either was or was not an artist. Luckily for his many fans and patrons, he chose the former. Having dedicated himself to art for the last 24 years and counting, Jim continues to challenge himself creatively by approaching each painting as an opportunity to try something new. “My intention is to paint my masterpiece every time I paint a picture. This gives me never ending room to grow and experiment with my art.” Jim is a member of several painting groups: Oil Painters of America, “Signature Member” of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, and an “Artist Member” of the prestigious California Art Club. Jim Wodark is a national award winning artist who has been painting en plein air for the last 16 years. He paints California’s diverse landscape as well as select scenes around the west. Last year he was presented with an award of excellence by Fine Art Connoisseur magazine at the Laguna Plein Air painters Associatio. Jim’s work is sought for its style and beauty by collectors and students alike.
Russian and Ukranian Artists A sampling of the exhibition
Daniil Volkov
Sergey Kovolenko
“Fishermen on the Coast”
24x32”
Oil on canvas
One of the stars of RWB, Sergey was born in 1980 in town Kontop. Ukraine. He graduated in the Kharkov Pedagogical Institute. In 2011 graduated painting department of Kharkov Academy of Art and Design. He became an apprentice in the famed studio of peopels artist professor Viktor Chaus. Kovolenko has been a participant of the several important exhibitions across the globe. With a style reminicient of the historical Russian masters, his luscious brushwork has grown in fame and is loved by artists and collectors alike. Sergey is now one of the youngest professors of the Kharkov Academy of art and design. Member RWB group.
Leon Okun
“Fog in San Fran”
11x14 ”
Oil on canvas
Leon Okun was born in 1980 in Russia. In 1993 Leon immigrated with his family to San Diego, USA. In 2005 Leon was admitted to the Saint Petersburg Academy Of Arts. In 2011 Leon graduated with masters degree in Fine Arts from this prestigious university. Currently Leon lives in San Diego, teaching painting and drawing in his private studio as well as for the La Jolla Art Association. Leon is a active member of many artists unions in south California and a winner of many local painting competitions. Leon teaches workshops in fine art from academic drawing to plein air to portrait in La Jolla California. We are very proud to show his multitalented high end work at RWB. He will participate in the San Diego Maritime Exhibition this summer in CA. Leon has just been hired to teach as an art Instructor for the fine art division at Laguna College of Art and Design (where Rothe is studying) and will join the teachers there Fall of 2014. Member RWB group.
Stan Prokopenko
“Shadows and Light”
12x16”
Oil on canvas
Stan Prokopenko was born in 1986 in Odessa, Ukraine and imigrated with his family to the US in his teens. In 2003, he began studying at the Watts Atelier of the Arts in San Diego and then teaching figure drawing, and painting there from 2007-2013. He travels back to Ukraine to paint and visit family regularly. Stan is a multitalented artist and computer designer. He teaches and has developed his own online teaching system. He has won awards at the Portrait Society of America and he is currently represented by Gallery Russia in Scottsdale, Arizona and The Julian Art Gallery in Julian, California His plein air works can be found at Vanessa Rothe Studio Gallery in Laguna Beach and at various shows nationwide. Member RWB group.
Valery Schmatko
“Boats on the Coast”
24x28”
Oil on canvas
Valeriy Skmatko was born in Kharkiv, Urkraine in 1965. He studied at the Kharkiv Art Institute where he graduated with a dual degree in painting and painting restoration.Valerey Shmatko is a very well known and reverred artist from Ukraine. He works in many genre of the arts, he is a restorer, painter, drawer, master of ceramics. His works are dynamic, lively and painterly. Light inspires him to choose a subject and create a composition where form, space, tone and color are in total harmony. Many years of painting on location has taught Shmatko the mastery of color and light. The infinite shades and tones of his palette are layered in a sophisticated yet subtle manner. He paints studies on location and then creates larger canvasses in his studio. He especially likes the Black Sea shore in Crimea. His work has been exhibited in the Kharkiv Art Museum and the Donetsk Art Museum and his works have appeared in many high end art exhibitions from Kiev, Ukraine, New York art expo, San Francisco and his works can be found on high end auctions. They are also now included in a very famous collection of the Kharkov museum of art, in the same collection with Iliya Repin’s works. He is represented internationally by fine art galleries and is in many private collections throughout the world. He works in different formats, from tiny sketches, to very large compositions, of which that the latter are his favorites. His typical works are of the southern region, a shoreline, ocean scene, clouds, field, forest, and are known often as “Lyrical Landscapes”. With thick strokes, he is a true plein air landscape painter. He is another one of the stars of Realism Without Borders group and we are fortunate to have his this beautiful work for the Port and Starboard exhibition. Member RWB group.
Daniil Volkov
“At the Berth”
16x12”
Oil on board
Daniil was born 1974 in Yalta, the son of renowned Ukrainian artists with an ancestral history of painters going back to the court of Imperial Russia. In 1989 he entered the Crimean art school named after Samokish and it was here that he met his future wife Elena, also a distinguished artist. Graduated 1994. His first personal exhibition was held in Yalta in 1995. Further studies at Moscow State University in 1996. Returned to Yalta 2001 where he has been living and working since, spoecialising in capturing the beauty of the Crimean landscape in his own distinctive, lyrical style. Participant in numerous exhibitions, his works are in private collections in Ukraine, Russia, Europe and USA. Made several plain air trips to Montenegro. His works are in Montenegro local museum. Volkov’s work is loved by artists and collectors alike finding beauty in both his subject matter and his unique palette knife and varied brushwork style. Member RWB group.
Opening Night, June14th, 6-8pm, Show runs till July 20th, 2014 2nd Annual
Port and Starboard Exhibition at The Debra Huse Gallery 229 Marine Ave Balboa Island, Newport Beach California www.debrahusegallery.com 949-723-6171
Jim Wodark
Š Realism Without Borders 2014