September 19, 2011
Mark Williams was an award-winning visual journalist for more than 26 years, serving as Art Director of The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.) from 1991 to 2010.
In a fast-paced deadline environment where versatility and accuracy were a must, Mark created everything from informational graphics and illustrations to maps.
He graduated from Ringling School of Art & Design, in Sarasota, Fla,, in 1983. A native of Bradenton, Fla., Mark was co-winner of the Wathan Trophy award for top high school senior artist by the Art League of Manatee County.
Mark and his wife, Beverly, live in Lakeland. His other interests include chess, which he teaches at St. Paul Lutheran School and to private students.
Mark Williams
Newspaper Art
October 17, 2011
Glenda Losh
Working with Encaustics
Glenda grew up in Miami, FL
"In my studio, I am presently working on finding my way through art and painting, using various mediums such as oils, pastels, encaustic and mixed media. I graduated from Florida International University with my BA in Fine Art and a minor in Art History ."
Glenda is Co-Owner and Business Manager of [tay-cho] an art gallery , in Bartow, Fl. located at 195 S. Central Ave. in the Historic Downtown area.
November 21, 2011
Connie Combs - metal Artist
Combs Welding Design Inc.
Connie is an accomplished welder and metal designer. From useful to ornamental to just downright "fun" metal work, Connie's artistry is wonderful to see.
Connie will share her story with us at our monthly meeting .
Come and meet her and learn about her passion for all things metal!
December, 2010
Christmas party details later
January 16, 2012
Vilas Tonape - critique night
Vilas Tonape, a native of India, has been creating art for more than two decades. He received his BFA in Drawing and Painting with distinction from the Sir J.J. School of Art, University of Bombay (India). He earned an MFA in Painting from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. His work has been exhibited internationally, including venues in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Ontario and Bombay. Tonape has won numerous awards throughout the United States and India and his work has been critically acclaimed. Palm Beach Post says: Tonapes painting can be described as classically inspired, contemporary-realism interpretive images that enchant the eye.
Working in both figurative and non-representational modes, Tonape focuses on nature. His paintings are melodies orchestrated by the artist, rooted in the visual rhythms of gesture and color, recorded in the subject matter. Painting to me is music for the eyes, conceived without conscious articulations, sentiments or statement, says Tonape. They reflect my response to nature. They are conceived by an abstract, intangible sensing of nature that erupts into spontaneous imagery.
Currently a professor of art at Polk State College (Winter Haven, Florida), Vilas Tonape maintains a rigorous studio practice; he is represented by Infusion Gallery in Los Angeles, California, and Sutlej Art Gallery in New York.
March 19, 2012
Vilas Tonape - Pastel Still Life Demo
April 16, 2012
Our meeting will be held at Bartow High School in the art room. 7pm.
We will be meeting with the art students and viewing their work.
More details to follow.
May, 2012
Annual Appreciation dinner & installation of Offiers
JANO (Ricardo Pérez Messina)
Born in Santiago, Chile in 1958.
He studied Plastic Arts, Minor in Graphic Design, at the School of Visual Arts Cristóbal Rojas. Currently he lives in Lakeland, Florida where he has his studio.
His works avoid figures, letting gesture predominate.
According to his words:
My work deals with hidden forms, so that the spectator may discover what is concealed; may find what I didnt find; that which is and isnt there; that can and cannot be seen.
In synthesis, he wants the work to become part of the spectator, to the extent that it is observed, discovered, and made ones own.
Regarding technique; his recent paintings are born from a process where the use of brushes is avoided. Brushes used in the application of color are replaced by dripping, hands, fingers, nails, bamboo, rags, sponges and non-conventional instruments.
