Cassia Leidigh- Participating artist the 2nd Annual WAM

I make artworks because it is natural for me. I have been drawing almost all of my life. When I see someone with a particular facial structure I imagine painting them in my head, looking at the shadows and shapes of their face. This is inspiration for me. I enjoy looking at and recreating people around me.

In painting a picture I usually start out by taking photographs. By taking the photos myself I can chose the mood and angle of the picture. I enjoy unusual natural poses for portraits. I then sketch the drawing, sometimes on paper first, sometimes directly on the canvas. After that I block in general colors and try to get right relationships between objects. I then try to perfect the painting till it looks satisfactory to me.

I mainly paint with oil and watercolor. Both are delicious. Watercolor paints are enjoyable because of the blending possibilities and freedom of the medium. However I enjoy oil paints best because of the control you can have with the paint. I also like the smooth texture of oil paints.

My artwork for me portrays my love for the human figure. It communicates my interest in the beautiful things around me. To express a feeling or a situation in such a way that it communicates to the viewer is to me a success. Another thing I like to do is to draw attention to things that usually go unnoticed. I would like to cause people to look closer at the vegetables on the table catching the light, or the random trashcan in the corner. My art is an expression of my thoughts, my feelings, my intellect, and myself.

She's brilliant! Check out her work during the 2nd Annual Winter Art Market at Art Crossing

Cassia Leidigh can be found at this years Winter Art Market and online at www.cassialeidigh.com

Were so excited that Cassia's joining us this year, her work is really fantastic!

Neil Medlin participating artist

  I have had an obsession with the visual arts for as long as I can remember starting from the first time  I saw “True Art.”  I was between the ages of five and six when my grandmother, God bless her soul (whom I thank dearly) introduced me to Bob Ross on television.  I was so amazed at watching him paint Happy Trees that I couldn’t keep my eyes from being glued to the screen.
      I loved the whole aspect of it all!  I spent years and years expressing myself in any way possible and was first rewarded for my work in the 3^rd grade!  I have since worked in many mediums including abstract painting, landscapes, sculpture, photography and my own inimitable style.  In addition to my two beautiful children, I love art.  It’s what I do.  My family and art are my life.

-Neil

Ron Gillen participating artist

"As far back as I can remember I have drawn, painted, designed and built things. A 40-year career as an architect has sensitized me to visualize in three dimensions as well as in the dimensions of time and space.

What really speaks to me is telling a story or setting a mood in my paintings. Painting is an opportunity for creating theater with paper and paints; I create the actors, script, lighting effects, and scenery of the play.

Further enhancing the painting is the application of pigment nearly full strength with most of the mixing occurring directly on the paper. This challenges fresh and spontaneous action and reaction as the dynamics of watercolor painting progresses.

My paintings are distinguished from many other watercolorists by rich vibrant colors and expressions of light. Even commissioned portraits challenge my imagination to express the personality of a subject in a non-traditional way.

I find many types of subject matter appealing, and really enjoy the challenges of commissions. Landscapes, architectural subjects, re-creating historical scenes, still life, and portraits represent the scope of past works."

~ Ron Gillen

Jim Reel Participating Artist

“I paint landscapes and scenes of everyday life that hopefully ‘open a window’ to viewers and invite contemplation and reflection.

I’m inspired by light, color, composition and elements of human interest.”
~ Jim Reel

Jim has an uncanny ability to emote a unique response as he describes above. When I first saw his work several months ago, I was immediately impressed by not only his simple and unassuming personality but also of the power of expression that comes through his paintings. They are difficult to explain to others; it is only when you get up close and personal with the work that you begin to appreciate his ability to tell a story. “Saturday Market” is a very good example. It is like a photo, yet it isn’t. It might be classical, but it isn’t. Is it impressionistic? Not exactly.
Not many artists can simplify to the extent he does, yet not lose the every day, real life experience he has conveyed.

~ Ron Gillen

Cheryl Combs participating artist

Step into Cheryl’s studio and be surrounded by masterfully executed works. I call it visually exciting. Cheryl would say “It’s just fun. I create because I have to; it’s like breathing.” Her recent break away piece ‘N’Oreleans’ says it all... it’s a sensual adventure, stimulating the imagination.

~ August

WAM participating artist Larry Seymour

"Wildlife has always been a part of my life. I feel the best way to show the love I have for the fantastic animals of this world is to paint them. After two trips to Kenya, I have found that the animals of Africa have a special place in my heart which I must express in my paintings.

My paintings are done from photos that I or my friends have taken of wildlife we have seen. I first do a pencil drawing of the photo I am using. Once the drawing is done, a piece of acetate is cut to mask the subject and an airbrush is used to spray a watercolor base for a background. Next, the background is masked with acetate and a base of watercolor is airbrushed on the subject. Lastly, the detail of the painting is done in gouache to give a realistic appearance.

I have worked in all mediums, but I feel I get more realism with gouache. My ultimate goal is to create a painting of photorealism that is pleasing to the eye and desirable by the public."

~ Larry Seymour

WAM participating artist Christy Halbert

"I have a strong love for the Victorian age and animals. The only sensible thing to do? Combine them! With scenes depicting well-known literary characters portrayed as animals, or depicting characters of my own, I call my style 'a modern Beatrix Potter' ... only a little bit more odd."

~ Christy Halbert

WAM Participating Artist August Vernon

"I move around a lot... been drawing and painting as far back as I remember... grew up with a creative family in an artistic town. My passion is the quest for the masterpiece. I heard someone say about 15 years ago that "painting is dead"... so I went and painted a 6500 square foot mural in an old depressed steel town on the side of a brick building. That mural started an urban renewal awareness movement in that town, and a couple senators nominated me for the Governor’s Award for the Arts. Ironically, the building was named The Community Life Building. That, my friends, is not dead."

~August

WAM participating artist Emily Clarke

Emily Clarke could not imagine doing anything else – painting brings her joy, her subjects are what make her happy, and we are certainly glad this is so. Step back to the glamorous 40’s and 50’s – a time in which women’s fashion and style were the business of the day and the zoot suit set a backdrop to the beauty of the American woman. Clarke’s genius in her work is that she has trademarked her distinctive style from this time past. Emily’s strong use of color and composition speak stylish sophistication. Clarke’s vision and body of work demonstrates Greenville’s rising star. I own an Emily Clarke work and have my eye on the next. Her art is contagious. I think it is Emily Clarke in the painting itself that makes a truly successful artistic connection.

- August Vernon

WAM participating artist Vicky Moseley

"I have always considered myself 'Wired for Art' ... drawing and painting since I was a child. I attended a commercial art school in Cincinnati, Ohio to transition my talents into a graphic design career. But my passion as a fine artist is [understandably] restrained rather than encouraged when I am designing for clients on a computer.

So in most recent years I have found myself craving the canvas like some of us crave a decadent piece of dark chocolate ... Insatiable. Now I indulge my cravings! I am exploring my new found freedom on the canvas as a fanatic of texture and dark rich colors, while at the same time, respecting my desire and need for detail. I believe that you are born an artist ... a gift from God. It is how you decide to use His gift that is so critical in molding YOU as an artist. Always open to new ideas, techniques and learning ... heart and eyes wide open ... ALWAYS growing as an artist."

- Vicky Moseley

WAM participating artist Ric Standridge

"Painting / making art, whether through visual arts, music, theater or writing, is my key to the secret garden, my way down the rabbit hole, my looking glass.

The most compelling subject on the planet is a person. People fascinate me, intrigue me, baffle me, disappoint me, inspire me, and make me laugh and cry. Therefore, I mostly want to paint people. If I am not painting them, then I many times create and paint with them, as I do in my Music Inspired Painting Shows. Such as, The Love Show, The Liberty Rock Show, Artistic Union, painting with the music of singer/songwriter, Angie Aparo.

It’s your turn now…
My paintings are not to provide answers, nor do they convey a real sense of my personal beliefs. They are simply art… asking what is in it for me, and for you the viewer, these spirits and images, who might show up at times, perhaps even looking a lot like yourself."

- Ric Standridge

“Paint the spirit of the bird, not the feathers of the bird.” - Robert Henri

Participating Artist Janina Tukarski Ellis

"I paint with the knowledge that everybody is intriguing. Everyone is the hero of a story. Every moment is the climax scene in its own novel. My personal challenge is not to seek out remarkable inspiration, but rather to seize a seemingly mundane, everyday moment and illuminate it in a manner that reveals its beauty and poignancy. I prefer to capture the initial subject and composition of a painting with acrylic and then build up the depth, intensity and texture with oil paint. While painting, I focus on capturing the contrasts and colors in a scene, rather than each minute detail. The true charm of a painting derives from its implication rather than its precision."
janina@janinaellis.com

Janina Tukarski Ellis

Participating Artist Cate Stevens

"Above all I love texture. It's probably the sculptor in me. I love to study shape.
I am also very much drawn to the abstract. My artistic roots go very deep. I was born on the site of one of Quebec's early art destination. My father, Jacques Garnier, a well know Canadian sculptor, designer & ceramist, founded an enterprise named "L'argile vivante" (the living clay) on a charming farm near Montreal.
In the early sixties, the site attracted some of the most talented Canadian artists. My memories from those early years are remarkably rich."

It was evident from an early age that Cate's passion was for the arts, performing and visual. Since 1999 she has been fortunate enough to join our Art business full time.
She has developed an elaborate line of prints, a line of intricate hand painted frames and little by little she is emerging as a painter in her own right.

Guy Stevens

To view Cate's blog click here

Participating Artist Guy Stevens

It's so intriguing to watch Guy paint, I never know what his painting in progress will become. Sometimes the changes are subtle but most often they are striking or even a total transformation.
He always strive to take his artistic expression to a deeper level. Since moving his studio to the Art Crossing location he has been inviting public participation, particularly children. The response is wonderful. The child gets to paint a few strokes on whichever painting Guy happens to be working on. Some families have such fond memories of their visit they write us about it.
In his own word Guy says: "The simple truth is, I love painting. I love everything about it. I remember being a child of four, and sitting on the floor with a giant box of crayons. My attention was totally captured by the rich colors and how they blended together. As a professional artist of nearly forty years I still study colors and its connection to mankind. "

Cate Stevens

To view more of Guy's work click here