Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Fredericksburg is a delightful town for artists and art lovers


Depending upon how the dates fall, several art events are clustered more or less tightly at the beginning of each month for me here in Fredericksburg. There is so much to see that I cannot begin to take in even half of it.  What I did manage to enjoy this past several days was a rich experience.

On Thursday night, Die Kunstler, the art club I belong to, hosted as guest artist Tony Pro, Executive Director/Instructor at the Coppini Academy of Fine Arts in San Antonio.   Tony has just returned from the annual conference of The Portrait Society of America. For our club demo, Tony chose to paint an oil sketch of Ron Drynan, the husband of one of our members.  I was early enough and lucky enough to get a very close up seat and watched every stroke of this beautiful work! The crowded room was still as we sat enthralled for two hours, and ended in heartfelt applause. Tony spoke often to us as he worked, starting with a few strong directional strokes on which to build the design of his painting. These are phone shots and sometimes the camera was not held steady.

Nora Dempsey introduced our guest.

I sat right in under the lamp! I watched stroke by stroke.

Maryneil Dance and Nora Dempsey with me

Break after an hour

Our viewers had two screens to better see the action. 

 The very beautiful oil sketch.  Tony explained his use of negative space and strong dark passages.


First Friday night is our monthly Art Walk with about 15 Galleries open.  Here are some shots at RS Hanna Gallery's new address on Main Street:
Flowers are part of the art here.

Maryneil Dance in front of some of her work.

A fountain of gardenias!

HOT   Southwest flavors

Cool and sweet here


I enjoy the horses by Lindsey Bittner Graham
More beauties here from Lindsey Bittner Graham

 By Bob Rohm above
John Austin Hanna

John Austin Hanna has been my favorite hill Country Artist for over 35 years!   

Saturday brought an opportunity to watch Barbara Mauldin work her magic.  Imagine soft and pretty cactus!  Barbara can tame it all. 
Barbara begins with a strong basic abstract design. 


Three happy hours spent in an absolutely perfect Spring afternoon!

The painting went home with Barbara for the finishing touches. Just Great.  

Above, another cactus painting by Barbara already hanging in the gallery.

At the other end on the porch of this great early Texas building, now Fredericksburg Art Gallery, Barbara's husband Chuck Mauldin paints a three legged cow, for which we teased him.  Pretty soon it had all four legs and was in line with his many other wonderful  southwestern scenes. 
 Below also by Chuck Mauldin.
Fredericksburg is a sweet place to be in the Spring.  e