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Visual Language
contemporary fine art
Artists to Watch and Collect
Tina Bohlman . Kristine Byars . Suzy Powell . Marchita Priest . Hilda Rueda . Carolyn Hancock
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Feb 2015 Volume 4 No. 2
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TOP ARTISTS to Watch and Collect
Suzy Pal Powell
Marchita Priest
Hilda Rueda
Tina Bohlman
Kristine Byars
Visual Language Magazine Featured Artists this month delve into the beauty of each of our selected artists and their unique approach to creativity. Carolyn Hancock loves painting character and beauty. Her color choices are intuitive, with unexpected color combinations that in the finished painting read true. Kristine Byars uses bold oils to create paintings that spark warm emotion. Her work captures life, and is often coupled with humor. Marchita Priest Oil paint is her medium of choice. Plein air painting is her joy. In Marchita’s studio, she holds workshops and has open studio paint day with her fellow artists. Hilda Rueda Art is the Universal language that transcends geographical borders, ethnicity, religion and time. I intend to communicate heart to heart with the viewer and reader through my paintings and poetry and to contribute my grain of sand to make this world a better, more joyful, more tolerant place to live. Suzy Pal Powell “I feel very blessed by God that He allows me to create. He gives me the passion and desire as well as the ideas of what to paint. I believe it all comes from Him.� Tina Bohlman A native Texan, Tina Bohlman has used the state in which she was raised as both the inspiration and the canvas for her art. Basically self-taught, Bohlman works in both watercolor and oil to create breathtaking plein air paintings and brilliant rural landscapes.
Carolyn Hancock
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Carolyn Hancock
http://carolynhancock.com/
If I could paint only one thing, it would be the face in that small window of time that says, “this is me.� I love painting character and beauty. My color choices are intuitive, with unexpected color combinations that in the finished painting read true. I believe travel to different cultures and countries influenced my work and those color choices. My painting style is in transition, going from a detailed drawing of the face to a painterly, looser effect. I am a pastel only artist, and have studied with renowned pastel artists. Basically self-taught, I know that important pieces of the knowledge of those artists filtered into my work. I am an Associate Member of the Pastel Society of America and President of the Pastel Society of Southeast Texas. I blog through my website, write a monthly newsletter, and take time away from the easel via the golf course.
carolyn@carolynhancock.com http://carolynhancock.com
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Kristone Byars
www.wildwood-studio.com
Born in the Midwest, my parents created a strong foundation, instilling in me a great love of nature and all creatures. I love, and take pride in what I do. I use bold oils to create paintings that spark warm emotion. My work captures life, and is often coupled with humor. As a former graphic artist, I’ve gained a wide range of artistic versatility beyond my first love of painting. From illustrating a children’s book, Montana The Police Horse, to designing and painting murals for the primates at Black Beauty Ranch animal sanctuary. My work hangs in both public and private permanent collections and is represented in several galleries. Inspiration is gained through world travel. I cherish U.S. small towns and National Parks. My husband and I live in Texas with our horse and Golden Retriever. My goal as an artist is to capture the personalities, images, and moments that make life wonderful.
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Marchita Priest
http://marchitapriest.com/
I am a native Texan living in the Houston area. At an early age I eagerly watched my Father as he worked at his drafting table. I would pick up his pencils and doodle on notebook paper. Paint by numbers and sketching were my pastime when I couldn’t be outside. In high school, I was asked to draw the mascot for the inside and the outside covers for our annuals. As an adult, classes and workshops have led me to painting in the studio and en plein air(outdoors). Oil paint is my medium of choice. Plein air painting is my joy. In my studio, which is a converted welding shop, I teach, hold workshops and have open studio paint day with my fellow artists. Larger paintings are always on my easel. Contemporary, abstracts and realism all find their way on my canvas’. Marchita’s love of travel, seeing the beauty and experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of the earth are the catalysts to creating art. Painting outdoors and from real life is my passion.
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Hilda Rueda
http://hruedart.webs.com/
Colombian born artist, trained as a Petroleum Engineer. She studied art with several artist, both in Canada and Brazil. She has exhibited in Canada, Brazil, and California and currently in Houston, where she has her studio. She has received several awards both locally and abroad. She also writes poetry and is an active member of several art organizations: The Woodlands Art League, DaVinci Artist Gallery, Dutch Art Gallery, The Jung Center, Houston; American Women Artists, Women in the Visual and Literary Arts. MY WORK Art is the Universal language that transcends geographical borders, ethnicity, religion and time. I intend to communicate heart to heart with the viewer and reader through my paintings and poetry and to contribute my grain of sand to make this world a better, more joyful, more tolerant place to live. My human figures are not simply a representation of an individual, they are soul portraits of the deep emotions, feelings and passions that every human being goes through in his/her existence. They are you and me and all the human race, all bound to the same roots, same ancestry, same language.
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Suzy Pal Powell
http://valerietravers.com
I have always drawn and doodled, and never had art in school. Finally in the late 80’s I started painting as a hobby, first with oil, then pencil/pastels, and then in 1990, watercolor. In 2010 I started doing torn paper collages, and in 2014, duo oils. I never had art in school, so I have learned from books, workshops, artist friends, and lots of hours in my art room. I feel very blessed by God that He allows me to create. He gives me the passion and desire as well as the ideas of what to paint. I believe it all comes from Him. I have also been blessed by my family and friends who constantly encourage me, and allow me the craziness that comes with being an artist! My work has been featured in one of North Light’s books, ‘Incite’ and in 2 of the Artistic Touch books by Chris Unwin, as well as some other publications. Suzy ‘Pal’ Powell Suzypal.com Suzypal.blogspot.com Bluecanvas.com/suzypal
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