Heartland Art Club Blog
IMPRESSIVE: Heartland Art Club’s Print Invitational 2024
Printmakers commonly refer to the act of printmaking as “making multiples.” One of the advantages of making multiples is that the cost is less per print, and the lower cost makes it easier for art enthusiast to buy an artist’s work. It’s important to note, though, that in the printmaking world a print is considered an original work of art.
The Spencer Meagher Memorial Award Fund
Spencer Meagher (1961-2024) was a beloved Founding and Signature Member of Heartland Art Club. He was a strong supporter of our mission, and we continue to offer his work in the gallery. We are deeply saddened by his passing. Heartland Art Club would like to commemorate his life and honor Spencer with a Memorial Award to be offered annually at the Membership Showcase Exhibition, beginning this summer. If you would like to donate to his award fund, please use the link below.
Signature Member Spotlight – Colored pencil artist Susan Wehrman
Wehrman likes the level of precision that colored pencil allows. It’s also portable, versatile, and clean. Additionally, color pencil can be applied to a variety of surfaces such as wood or porcelain, which she uses in her work. Recently, Wehrman has been experimenting on fabric, where she is learning to incorporate silk ribbon embroidery. “This is really different,” she said about adding a third-dimensional element.
Signature Member Spotlight: Photographer Harry Starr
The key, Star discovered, is to understand weather and light. “I love fog,” he said, citing its ability to soften the feeling of a scene. “There’s just an emotional element to it.” He said Macoupin County is rich in natural, undisturbed woodlands, where morning ground fog emerges from its forest floors and ponds. “It adds dramatically to a photo; it can change everything.” He added that fog can serve as a natural editing tool, masking out the unwanted building in the background, for example.
Meet the Hangman
Behind every show are one man’s countless hours of artistic consideration and physical work, not to mention the creative use of blue marking tape.
Discovering Reflected Color
When asked to identify the color of a shadow, it is common to respond that it would be a darker color of whatever is in shadow. A shadow of a tree on green grass would be a darker green. A shadow of the same tree on dirt would be a darker brown.
The Figure Behind the Model
Drawing from her experience as a dancer and illustrator, Violet le Fae continues to perfect the ancient practice of figure modeling.
From the Field to the Easel, Gino Santa Maria Invites You…
Throughout this immersive two-day workshop, Gino will delve into a myriad of captivating subjects, including materials, composition, color theory, values, edges, framing, and even the often-overlooked realm of social media. Indeed, the latter holds immense potential for artists, yet is frequently underestimated.
Meet Threads’ participant Nicole Petrescu
Nicole Petrescu spent the first part of her life in Romania, whose rich culture and people she loved. It was the country’s dictatorial regime she could not accept. “I proudly participated in the anti-communist revolution of 1989,” says Petrescu. It was a movement that liberated Romania from the autocratic, socialist regime of the previous 45 years.
Threads Debuts at Heartland Art Club Gallery
Threads began in 2019 when Carter, who resides in the City’s Tower Grove East neighborhood, became interested in the growing, vibrant immigrant community there. Initially, the artist made connections to her subjects through the nearby International Institute and at the annual Festival of Nations celebration.
Bringing Nature Indoors
Color is so subjective, it can be exciting, soothing, playful, and much more. My go-to color is shades of red. It’s bright, happy, and invigorating, whether it’s a rose or a radish. Size doesn’t matter, a small flower can brighten your décor just as well as a huge blossom. Whatever you choose to enhance your décor, be sure it’s something you love.
As the Seasons Turn, So Does the Light
Have you noticed how the world looks a little different from season to season? It isn’t just the presence or absence of leaves and snow. The light itself seems to take on a different look. Consider the comments we often hear about a winter day being “clear and crisp” or the “light being thin.”
Perfectionism or Excellence
Perfectionism is the counterfeit of excellence. It demands good results now, while pursuing excellence aims for progress, not perfection.
Perfectionism makes it hard to start painting (“What if it doesn’t come out well?”) and hard to finish one (“It’s not good enough, I have to keep painting on it.”).
Area Native Welcomes Heartland’s Embrace Upon Return
Ferguson, Mo. native Lisa Perez returned to the St. Louis area in 2020, retiring from a career in marketing on the West Coast. The move turned out to be more than geographical.
“I missed painting,” Perez said.
Shortly after her arrival she rented studio space in Webster Groves and embarked upon a new journey --rediscovering her passion for art instilled in her as a child. “We were always looking at paintings and talking about painting,” Perez said of her family.
Painting as Old School
When we were kids, they gave us crayons. Such a wonderful tool to express anything that came to mind. A box would come to us with sticks of colored wax standing upright waiting for a small hand to drive. We could draw and scribble. We drew dogs, cats, houses…stuff that made us happy.
Year End Letter from the President of Heartland Art Club
It is wonderful to wrap-up 2023 with piles of gratitude and loads of great news! Dedicated members like you have helped make this past year the best year so far at Heartland Art Club! During 2023 our members participated in multiple exhibit opportunities available to all levels of experience.
An Artist’s Handwriting
Your handwriting is as unique and distinct as you are. Regardless of how we were taught to write, we each develop our own style. Immediately recognizable to those who know us.
What’s going on at the Galleries at Heartland Art Club?
As of Saturday, November 18’s opening reception, there are three concurrent exhibits being shown. That is hundreds of new representational art offerings!
Artist Weekend Retreat in the Ozarks at Michael McClure’s Ananda Kanan
October 27-29 was a whirlwind weekend at Michael McClure’s Ananda Kanan Retreat Center in the Missouri Ozarks. It is nestled in the hills just south of Willow Springs, near the Arkansas border. Over 25 people participated, with 20 artists and 5 art mentors: Nyle Gordon, Julie Wiegand, Allen Kriegshauser, Michael McClure, and Shawn Cornell.