SAN ANTONIO ZOO – CENTER FOR CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH

We are just days away from the art opening with The Greller Gallery.  Thirty four pieces of work will be displayed and a portion of the sales will be donated to the San Antonio Zoo Center for Conservation and Research.  This is the largest collection of paintings I have ever had the opportunity to show all at once.  Sooooo excited!!!

 

BEAUTY IN THE WILD

Take a look at all of my animal and floral paintings which will be shown in the upcoming Beauty in the Wild Exhibit at www.grellergallery.com.  All works are available for purchase immediately.  A portion of the proceeds will go to the San Antonio Zoo Center for Conservation and Research.  My approach to this show was to combine my florals with my animal paintings.  I concentrated on not just domesticated animals such as dogs and cats but also wild animals such as the flamingo, lynx and tapir.  Anyone can paint a flower and anyone can paint an animal.  What I tried to do was to find a relationship between the two images.  Two images that would compliment and admire each other – like an intense ruby red rose and a distinctive black and white baby tapir.  It’s this equilibrium between image and color that I explored in each of these paintings.

AUGUST 2023 – GRELLER GALLERY EXHIBIT

I have been working on a new series the last several months which combines my floral paintings with my animal paintings.  I will be showing with the Greller Gallery in San Antonio, Texas and a portion of the sales will go to the San Antonio Zoo – Center for Conservation and Research.  This is the largest showing I have every undertaken – 30 paintings.  I am really pleased with the new works and am so excited for everyone to experience them!!!! You can preview some of the works on my Facebook and Instagram pages.

2022 UPCOMING NEW WORKS

As life is returning to “normal” so too is my art business.  Finally people are coming back and buying art.  It’s been a tough 2 years for me.  I lost both of my parents in 2020 and the COVID quarantine touched our lives in so many negative ways.  I continue to work with GZ Guitars producing custom guitars. See the beautiful Gretsch guitar we collaborated on in my gallery.  Here in Texas, my painted animal skulls continue in popularity with ranchers and hunters.  I have posted several new images in the skull gallery.  I am blessed to continue showing my work at La Posada de Santa Fe with my curator, the incredible Sara Eyestone.  See the new images in my painting gallery.  Lastly, I am working with the Greller Gallery for a future show that will showcase my florals and my animals.  I don’t post my animal paintings because those are strictly commissioned pieces, but you can see them on my Instagram and Facebook pages.  These new paintings will be a new take on the subject matter for me and you can preview a few of them on my social media pages.  Thank you everyone for  your support and I hope to see you all soon!!!

TURN YOUR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT INTO ART!

I finally completed my own hand painted cello.  It was quite an undertaking since it’s the largest musical instrument I have worked on.  Before it sat in storage, broken, no strings, collecting dust.  Now it’s on display.  If you have an instrument that is sentimental and you would like to turn it into a piece of art contact me!

LOVE YOUR DOG?

Immortalize your beloved pet with a custom pet portrait. My pet paintings are one-of-a-kind & unforgettable!! I incorporate colorful & vivid backgrounds … everything from brilliant flowers, bold geometric designs or whimsical imagery. Match the design & colors to your interior space or incorporate a detail that is particular to your sweet pet. Working from photographs of your pet, I create a unique portrait capturing the special characteristics of your loving pet. Each portrait depicts the name of your pet on the collar or in the background. I use only heavy weight cotton duct gallery wrapped canvas with 1.5” wood frame profile, kiln-dried beveled stretch bars & cable-locked canvas. These canvases do not have to be framed since the painted images are taken over the sides of the painting. Want a smaller painting … ask for the canvas boards starting as small as 4×5 inches. See more of my pet portraits on Facebook or Instagram.

REPURPOSED SKULL CLOCK

This skull used to be a clock! All the clock components were removed leaving holes and an aged uneven veneer. I sanded the surface and put down a new veneer, filled holes and sculpted a missing tooth. Now it has a new and improved purpose and will be heading to Gilmer, Texas – its new home! You can see additional images of this skull on my Facebook and Instagram pages. Now, I’m finishing a tattoo sleeve and them I’m onto more skulls. Life is good and I am blessed.

MARY BONNER HOUSE

Stay tuned for more photographs. I will have several works hanging in the home of artist, Mary Bonner. Coincidentally, some of her prints are being exhibited at the San Antonio Art League Museum through February 5th.

A Short History of Bonner Garden: The Bonner House was built in 1910 by noted Architect Atlee B. Ayers for the Bonner Family. The family moved to San Antonio from Louisiana after the death of Dr. Bonner, who had amassed a comfortable fortune in cotton farming. Mrs. Bonner and her three children- Mary, Emma and William- loved the ambience of San Antonio and wished to make it their permanent home. So with the resources available to them, they built their home. The house was patterned after an Italian Villa built in the early 1600s and it made history when it was completed in 1910. Mr. Ayers established a construction precedent by building this home of concrete reinforced with steel and clad in stucco. It is believed that Mary Bonner was instrumental in incorporating an Italian flavor in the home including the use of Italian tiles, fireplaces and fixtures throughout.

Mary Bonner became internationally known for her innovations in printmaking and her own Texas motif sketches. She spent a good deal of her adult life in Paris, but returned to San Antonio where she was active in promoting the arts until her premature death at the age of 48 in 1935.

PET PORTRAITS

I started painting my doggies just for fun and one thing lead to another and I now find myself painting a LOT of dogs!! I don’t post these paintings to my website but you can see them on my Instagram and Facebook pages. My paintings capture the personality of the pet – sometimes including a detail that is only known to the owner and pet. For example, I was asked to place hotdogs in the background of one pup name Dr. Watson – because that is what the owner resorted to saying when she wanted to get his undivided attention. I loved that. Another portrait of a loyal pit bull named King Louie depicted him with a gold crown and collar to honor his name. I work from photographs of the pet and can create a painting small or large. Contact me if you have a beloved pet you would like to immortalize!!!

TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION CONVENTION

The Texas Wildlife Association Convention is coming up next week at the JW Marriott Hill Country. I will be showing my hand painted skulls. Longhorns, steers, goats, bobcats, coyotes. Please come by and see me!!! Bring your own trophy skull and I can customize it to fit your space.