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.
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
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
