Visual Language Magazine Contemporary Magazine Vol 3 no 8

Visual Language 

VLcontemporary fine art 

features 

William Beebe 

Valerie Travers 

Dawn Waters Baker 

Jean Howard 

Brian Bennett 

John Lomba 

VL 

August 2014 Volume 3 No. 8 

Kathryn Wilson 

www.artbykathrynwilson.com 

VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 1

VL 

visual language 

contemporary fine art 

VisualLanguageMagazine.com 

Subscribe Free Today. 

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July 2014 Vol 3 No 7 

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Contemporary Fine Art 

VL Cover Artist 

Kathryn is a North Carolina pastel artist, formally 

trained in graphic arts, illustration and drawing. Kathryn 

turned to fine art in the early 1990’s when she 

took pastel classes at a local community center. She 

is primarily a studio painter, with the occasional foray 

into plein air painting. Since 2005, she has been a 

full-time painter and actively participates in juried art 

competitions, community art activities and has taught 

pastel and oil pastel painting. Kathryn is a member of 

The Pastel Society of North Carolina, the Visual Art 

Exchange in Raleigh and is a co-founder of the Oil 

Pastel Society, an international organization. 

http://artbykathrynwilson.com 


Connie Dines 

Artful Exposures One Frame At A Time 

Bleeding Hearts 

“A Pregnant Moment” 

4 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com 

www.artfulexposures.com

contentVL 

Cover Artist Kathryn Wilson 3 

Diverse Color and Composition by Artspan Artist 

Kathryn Wilson. 

Painter’s Keys - Robert Genn 11 

VL Artist Features - 16 

Carol Jo Smidt, David Terrar, Jonelle T. McCoy, 

Vanessa Katz and Russ Mackensen 

CFAI Colors on My Palette 42 

Rae Andrews 

Read the up close and personal interviews from CFAI.co 

Find out more about the artist, their inspirations and how they 

approach their work. 

VL Studio Visit with William Beebe 52 

“Art has always been in my blood, but I took a circuitous 

route in becoming a full-time professional artist. In my junior 

year of college I signed up for a portrait painting class 

hoping to improve my GPA.” 

VL Studio Visit with UK Artist Valerie Travers 68 

Travers can trace that tenacity back more than five hundred years, through 

a family tree that took root in Guernsey, a tiny island off the coast of Normandy, 

in the 1400s. A bailiwick of the British Crown, the land covers barely 

30 square miles floating in the English Channel, but it has provided all 

the foundation Travers needed to become the artist, and the person, she 

is today. 


VL Studio Visit with Dawn Waters Baker 84 

Dawn feels like her first language was beauty. That was how 

her heart was stirred to art. 

Hall Groat II Learning to See Takes Practice 

by Hall Groat Sr. 98 

When you look at the great paintings of the world, it`s a good idea 

to know how the artist has led your eye around his work. This 

is especially important for an artist who is studying how to make 

better art. One artist’s work that comes to mind is Rembrandt, and 

especially his portraits. It’s fun to watch people gazing upon the 

masters and listening to their comments. 

ARTSPAN.com New Works - 100 

Do not miss the new works posted every day on 

Artspan.com This month features Carol Engles. 

ARTSPAN Spotlight with Jean Howard 108 

Who has been your mentor, or greatest influence to date 

My father was an architect and did some watercolor renderings of 

his projects. I think that I always loved drawing. When I was 13 he 

gave me some art books and about that time I knew that I wanted to 

be an artist. He was my greatest mentor. 


contentVL 

VL Studio Visit with Photographer Brian Bennett 114 

I was born and raised in South Africa. Growing up on a beautiful farm 

in Mpumalanga, most of my childhood was spent outside in the sun, 

running barefoot through the dirt, climbing in trees and daydreaming in 

the garden. 

CFAI.co Figurative Juried Show 122 

First Place Linda Popple 

Second Place Carol Smith Myer 

Third Place Bob Shepherd 

CFAI.co Artist Showdown Maritime & Seascape Art 130 

First Place Rae Andrews 

Second Place Anton Zhou 

Third Place Sharon Sieben 

VL Artspan Photographer John Lomba 142 

My photography career goes back to the early 1980’s using a 110 Minolta 

Instamatic and then waiting 2 weeks for them to be developed, which 

seemed like an eternity! I recall ‘discovering’ a few blurry shots of my 

thumb blocking the lens! Not exactly what I had envisioned. 

Directory of Artists and Galleries 160 

In alphabetically order you can easy find all featured artists 

and advertising artists, along with featured galleries in our 

index directory. 


Artist of the Day 

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” ― Edgar Degas 

Sign up today. 

Carol Jo Smidt 

“My paintings are a result of a thoughtful, ongoing, creative and intuitive process. Creating art is a spiritual 

journey. It is somewhat of a surprise where a painting will lead me. I find that my paintings are more 

vivid and saturated than real life. I see color in a subject and intensify those hues in a painting. 

One of my goals is to bring honor and respect to the subjects that I paint. As a creator of art, I want the 

viewer to have a positive connection with my paintings.” Carol Jo Smidt 

http://www.caroljosmidt.com/ 

artistofthedayvl.blogspot.com 

If you want to be featured as an Artist of the Day, contact Visual Language Magazine. 

VisualLanguageMagazine@gmail.com


“A Pale Horse" Oil 9 x 12 

www.carol@caroljosmidt.com 

carol@caroljosmidt.com 


VL 

visual language magazine 


Visual Language Magazine Staff 

Editorial 

Editor -in-Chief Laurie Pace 

Executive Editor Lisa Kreymborg 

Contributing Editor Lisa Neison-Smith 

Consulting Editor Nancy Medina 

Feature Contributor Robert Genn Painter’s Keys 

CFAI Contributor Kimberly Conrad 

Feature Editor Art Reviews Hall Groat II 

Feature Contributer Barry Scharf 

VL Sponsor ARTSPAN Eric Sparre 

http://vanessakatzart.com 

Advertising 

Contact: VisualLanguageMagazine@gmail.com 

Marketing and Development 

Executive Director Business/Management Stacey Hendren 

All Artwork is Copyrighted by the Individual Artists. 

Visual Language Vol 3 No 8 

http://DavidTerrar.artspan.com 

http://Dandcgallery.com http://WilliamBeebe.com 


The Painter’s Keys 

Robert and Sara Genn 

What’s your ministry 

June 20, 2014 

Robert Genn’s 

Studio Book 

In a recent commencement address at the Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield Iowa, comedian Jim Carrey describes 

the moment he gave a name to his life’s calling. “The purpose of my life had always been to free people from concern,” 

says Jim. “I dubbed it, ‘The church of freedom from concern,’ or ‘FFC.’ I dedicated myself to my ministry. What’s yours” 

As artists, we may or may not have a name for the ineffable value we’re striving to offer the world. Each of us -- a ministry of 

one -- goes to our studio and practices a set of our own directives. This daily work is an offering to others while remaining a 

personal mission and a private devotion. Our actions are individually designed but, in their uniqueness, strike a resemblance 

to those of others: 

We put in hours. 

We make a habit of observing the world with compassion and appreciation. 

We honour the imagination. 

We sign our name to our craft. 

We’re sensitive to input and output. 

We go to our room to cultivate ideas on a solo path. 

We know we’re not alone. 

The Painter’s Keys - Robert Genn 

Jim Carrey’s dad was a struggling accountant who dreamed of being a comedian. The lessons he offered young Jim included the 

power of playfulness and the idea that you can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what 

you love. Early on, Jim realized he was his dad’s second chance at an impossible dream, so he devoted his life to the mission he 

was born to carry. In 2012, at the age of 50, Jim Carrey took up painting and opened his first solo show in Palm Springs. “The 

purpose of art,” he wrote in his artist statement, “is to bring people into presence.” 

Sincerely, 

Sara 

PS: “All there will ever be is what’s happening here. Decisions we make in this moment are based in either love or fear. So many 

of us choose our path out of fear, disguised as practicality.” (Jim Carrey) 

“My father used to brag that I wasn’t a ham, I was the whole pig.” (Jim Carrey) 

Esoterica: Growing up in our house, we would see some early original lithographic drawings hanging in the hallway near our 

bedrooms -- fast, loose sketches filled with casual élan. One in particular is of a little girl in knee socks. She’s drawn twice on 

the same page -- a quick exercise, and then a second sketch -- a second chance at crafty effortlessness. In the lower right hand 

corner is a small, hand-lettered bit of text. It reads: “Love something Serve it.” And underneath is my Dad’s signature. 

“How will you serve the world What do they need that you can provide The effect you have on others is the most valuable 

currency there is.” (Jim Carrey) 


“Seagrasses #1, Cape May.” © 2011 Robert Hopkins 

Robert Hopkins 

Photography 

roberthopkins.artspan.com 

Email: rchopkins@optonline.net

“Dune Fence” © 2000 Robert Hopkins 


Michal 

Ashkenasi 

Photography 

AS 

Flow 3 

michalsart.com

HKENASI 

Enhanced Photography 

Abstract 4 

michalsart.com

VL 


Artists to Watch and Collect 


David Terrar 

Jonelle T. McCoy 

Vanessa Katz 

Russ Mackensen 

Visual Language Magazine Featured Artists this month 

delve into the beauty of each of the five different artists and 

their unique approach to creativity. 

Carol Jo Smidt has a strong emphasis on color, design 

and drawing in her paintings. Throughout her painting career, 

animals have been her major interest. David Terrar 

was very influenced by reading about the struggle between 

man and water. Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huck Finn, 

Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea come to mind. In 

his paintings, water represents life. Water is essential for 

life. Water is calm and beautiful, or violent and dangerous 

with hurricanes and storms. Jonelle T McCoy found a 

cathartic release from years of inner strife and turmoil by 

painting her passionate emotions using horses on canvas. 

The Paso Fino breed she loves deeply connects with her 

through their spirit called brio, which is their heart and soul, 

and their astonishing beauty and intelligence. Vanessa 

Katz found moving from the UK to sunny California brought 

the contrast between the dull, grey, cold, rainy days in the 

city and the bright sunny color in the desert as dramatic and 

was the inspiration to begin painting again after a long absence. 

Russ Mackensen spent forty years as an architect 

before discovering the joys of Oil Pastels. 


VL Carol Jo Smidt 

www.caroljosmidt.com 

I was an artist from the age of 4, drawing horses 

and other animals. My passion for art continued 

with my formal art education beginning at the St. 

Paul School of Art through graduate studies at the 

Savannah College of Art and Design. 

Drawing from my background in graphic design, 

I have a strong emphasis on color, design and 

drawing in my paintings. Throughout my painting 

career, animals have been my major interest. 

My paintings are a result of a thoughtful, ongoing, 

creative and intuitive process. Creating art 

is a spiritual journey. It is somewhat of a surprise 

where a painting will lead me. I find that my paintings 

are more vivid and saturated than real life. I 

see color in a subject and intensify those hues in 

a painting. At times, just a title will evolve into a 

subject that I need to capture in paint. 

One of my goals is to bring honor and respect to 

the subjects that I paint. As a creator of art, I want 

the viewer to have a positive connection with my 

paintings. 

Win Place Show 


Running Horses 

Stallions Running 


VL David Terrar 

www.davidterrar.artspan.com 

I was very influenced by reading about the struggle between 

man and water. Mark Twain’s The Adventures of 

Huck Finn, Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea come 

to mind. In my paintings, water represents life. Water is 

essential for life. Water is calm and beautiful, or violent 

and dangerous with hurricanes and storms. 

Just like water, we go through periods of calm beauty, or periods of turmoil and difficulty. Huck Finn 

had a raft to carry him down the Mississippi and from one difficulty after another. I believe we all have 

a raft or boat to carry us through the difficulties and beauties of life. We may call it a family, a career, 

religion, whatever it is, it’s there to help us get through life. Many of my paintings are of Chesapeake 

Bay work boats, some are old and rickety and barely seaworthy. The boats represent the lifelong struggle 

to go out on the water, day after day against the water, rain, and brutal sun to put food on the table 

and support a family. My paintings memorialize the story of their struggle. 

Chesapeake Bay Work Boats,Tilghman 


Quiet January at Blackwater Marsh, Maryland 

Kent Island Narrows, Maryland 


VL Jonelle T. McCoy 

http://www.jonellemccoy.com 

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside 

of a man.” 

Winston Churchill 

For Oklahoma woman artist Jonelle T. McCoy this famous quote rings 

quite true. Jonelle has found a cathartic release from years of inner strife and 

turmoil by painting her passionate emotions using horses on canvas. The Paso Fino breed she loves deeply 

connects with her through their spirit called brio, which is their heart and soul, and their astonishing beauty 

and intelligence. They give her the inspiration to breathe life onto canvas with a wide range of emotion 

through the use of expressive poses in movement alongside color for mood. 

Jonelle is a self taught artist whose professional life began with becoming a scenic artist since 1987. She 

retired in April 2014 to pursuing her career in fine art full time. She had always been artistic and could be 

found creating from early childhood. Five months after getting married in 2001 her husband’s disabling work 

injury caused the already emotionally complex artist to sink into a decade long spiral where her personal art 

suffered, and she laid down her brushes. She continued to work in the scenic arts, but that was using her talents 

for someone else’s ideas, not hers. In December of 2009 the blockage was released, her muse returned 

and she started to paint in earnest, at first rediscovering what she could do, and then after experimentation 

of a childhood art school project memory she developed her signature line style which has changed, evolved 

and refined in the last few years. Her chosen medium, heavy bodied acrylic paint, allows her further discovery 

with the introduction of new types, soft body, liquid, high flow and spray paint. She is giving thought to eventually 

trying oils again in the near future. 

Jonelle is a generous person at heart, and enjoys the reward of giving when she can, and her art has been 

her biggest way to do so. She’s donated to individuals, organizations and horse rescue efforts from the sale of 

paintings. She found that the small sized 60 day series she creates annually to help raise money for donation 

has given her a fantastic challenge to push for new ideas, and some have become studies for larger works. 

Perigee Moon 36x36x1.5 

Perihelion Sun 36x36x1.5 


http://mccoysgaitedhorseartworks.com 

Break Free 18x24 

Jonelle feels that the painting of the horses has opened her life back up in a whole new way- connecting 

her with her inner self and clearing out the old stale distressing vibes and replacing them with a 

positive outlook and the ability to focus these emotions more easily to find peace in life. Like the antsy 

horse who’s been cooped up in a stall ready to fly out into the pasture to revel in life and release energy, 

she is ready to continue her quest to climb ever higher, excelling, stretching, exploring and evolving 

her art to be even more powerfully expressive to the viewer. 

Zero to 60 


VL Vanessa Katz 

http://www.VanessaKatzArt.com 

Vanessa Katz moved from London, England to the desert in Southern California with her husband, 

daughter and doggies sixteen years ago. The contrast between the dull, grey, cold, rainy days in the 

city and the bright sunny color in the desert was dramatic and was the inspiration to begin painting 

again after a long absence. 

“The sunshine makes everything look so vibrant and alive and makes me feel that way too!” Trees, 

landscapes, animals and everyday life provide her with a wealth of subject matter and abstraction and 

contemporary non-representational work gives her the freedom to create purely from her imagination 

and emotions. 

“I hope to evoke emotion and a stirring of the heart through my work and when my collectors let me 

know this is their experience, it fills my heart with joy knowing how art can connect and nourish us at 

such a deep level”. 

Vanessa attended Putney School of Art in London and still attends many workshops to learn new 

techniques from other artists. She finds the process of learning while experimenting creates much 

excitement and is very empowering. 

Vanessa invites you to visit her website and her very active Facebook page and looks forward to seeing 

you there. 

Destination 


Desert Sand

Aria 

Azure 

Desire 1 Desire 2 


VL 

Russ Mackensen 

http://rmackensenfineart.com/ 

Having worked as an Architect for over 40 years I produced a lot of drawings and renderings of projects, 

but was not involved in fine art. Yet I have been “seeing” projects in lights and darks, texture, composition, 

movement and color. All these elements of architecture are the same ones that artists apply to their works. 

In 2009 I decided to try Oil Pastels. A drawing medium that allows my mind to naturally transfer what I “see” 

onto the ground I’m working on. I soon discovered this was a medium not too well known or understood. 

An application of pure pigment in stick form, similar to Dry Pastels. They are relatively new in the art world 

being developed as a fine art medium for Picaso in the 50’s. 

My approach to creating realism in my work is seldom attempted due to its difficulty. With a limited palette 

of colors to work from the direct application of one color is not viable. Working on 400 grit sandpaper everything 

is mixed right on the final location, so any mistakes are not easily repaired. 

In my life and my art I strive to give praise to the Creator of all who forgives my mistakes and allows me to 

share the beauty I see with those who view my art. 

A Blue Plate Special 


My Cup Runneth Over 

Rose 1 

Cosmos in Glorious Light 

Copper Pomegranates & Oranges 


Roseanne Snyder 

Contemporary Landscapes 

West Texas Spring – 16 x 20 

roseannesnyder.blogspot.com

Resilience 

D A L T O N 

Judy Wilder Dalton 


Finding Art in Life and Life in Art 

judywilderdalton.com 

wilderartist.blogspot.com

Tuesday’s Bouquet 

Abstract Collage Paintings 

laurareed.artspan.com

Laura Reed 

Life Experiences 

A Bouquet for Monday 

laurareed.artspan.com

Carolyn Burger 

"Painting the beauty of Southwest Florida." 

CarolynBurger.com

VL REES 

Contemporary Realism and Beyond 

Below Lake Johnson 12 x 16 inches Oil 

www.vlrees.com 

www.TippingPaintGallery.com

Aspen S P A C E S 

Lelija Roy www.lelija.net aspen.spaces@gmail.com

STEPHANIE PAIGE 

Contemporay Artist 

Stephanie Paige 

La Jolla . Santa Fe . San Diego . Denver . Scottsdale . Napa Valey . Walnut Creek . Lagua Beach 

Resting Sky 48” x 48” Mixed Media made with Textured Marble Dust Plaster 

Visit Stephanie’s Representing Galleries 

NEXT SHOW is at Pippin Contemporary on June 20th 2014 

Mirada Fine Art Gallery . Denver, CO. Ph.303-697-9006 

Calvin Charles Gallery . Scottsdale, AZ . Ph.480.421.1818 

Pippin Contemporary . Santa Fe . Ph.505-795-7476 

Contemporary Fine Arts Gallery . La Jolia, CA. Ph.858.551.2010 

Christopher Hill Gallery . Napa Valley, CA. Ph. 707.963.0272 

STEPHANIEPAIGESTUDIO.COM

Terrye Jammaer Philley 

Gulf Coast Artist 

Title: Sea Watch 

Medium: Oil on 14 x 11 Stretched Canvas 

TerryePhilley.com

“For A While Became Forever” 

Oil on Canvas 30” x 40” 

Allegorical Painting 

Sanda Manuila 

sandamanuila.artspan.com 

36 x 24

Letting the Sunshine In 


Working in Acrylic, Oil, Pastel, Mixed Media Landscapes, 

Seascapes, Abstracts, and Florals 

ValerieTravers.com

WILSON 


Contemporary Paintings in Pastel, Oil Pastel and Acrylic 

Wind Dancers 

artbykathrynwilson.com

discover art . inspire collectors 

DAVIS&CO f i n e a r t g a l l e r y 

“Summer Nights at the Galleries of Old Town Spring” 

Saturday July 12th 5-9 p.m. 

Saturday August 2nd 5-9 p.m. 

Saturday September 6th 5-9 p.m. 

Home is where the art is. 

dandcgallery.com

engage discussion . celebrate life 

dandcgallery.com 

Arturo Samaniego 

at Davis&Co

CFAI.co Colors On My Palette 

Rae Andrews 

http://www.yessy.com/raeandrews 

http://www.cfai.co/#!colors-on-my-palette-interview/cy2z 

When did you realize you loved art and wanted to be ‘an artist’ 

I guess I was exposed to art at a very early age, around 5 I think. My mother’s sister was the other professional artist in 

my family, although my grandfather (I am told) was also an artist and a poet. My mother was very creative in her own 

way as well, she was a professional cake decorator. My sister was also a wonderful draughtsman. So it was all around 

me. I spent a lot of my youth with my aunt, Hazel Johnson; she was my greatest influence. 

Who has been the greatest influence from your past to mentor you to this career 

Well the greatest influence in getting me into this career has to be an Australian artist by the name of Judith White. I 

took lessons from her in my early twenties, and subsequently began teaching at her art school in Sydney. She urged me 

to go to college and get my art degrees. She also secured a teaching position for me at the Charles Sturt University just 

northwest of Sydney (Australia) where I taught for over 25 years in their summer and winter schools.I went on to own 

my own art school as a result of this journey. 

Who is your mentor today, or another artist you admire and why 

Oh that’s an extremely hard question. 

I work in all mediums, so admire many artists.I particularly love a free and less disciplined approach to any painting, 

no matter what medium. 

For each medium my favorites will change, as I said, a hard question to answer. 

What is your favorite surface to paint on Describe it if you make it yourself. 

This varies with each medium, but paper seems to be my most used substrate. 

What brand of paints do you use 

Oils are usually varied, Rembrandt, Old Holland,Winsor and Newton to name a few. 

Pastels I like Schmincke, Rembrandt, Sennelier, Unison mostly. 

Watercolors, usually Winsor and Newton, but I also use Da Vici and Rembrandt. 

Do you have a favorite color palette 

No not really, I seem to always go for a dramatic contrast with my palettes. Strong warms against cools and visa versa. 

For example I love painting with a majority balance of analagous cool colors,with a ‘pop’ of warms.Of course the opposite 

with more warms and a ‘pop’ of cool will work too. Value or tonal contrast is another way I achieve this. 

What is your favorite color in your closet 

Well right now turquoise, or even lime green. 

What subject appears the most in your paintings and why 

Water. I love movement and drama, water seems to give me great satisfaction to paint. 

How often do you paint How many hours a week 

I try to paint daily, sometimes life changes that pattern, but mostly I put in at least 30 hours a week. 

Read more at http://www.cfai.co/#!colors-on-my-palette-interview/cy2z 


Sydney Shoreline 

Reflected Glory 

Read more at http://www.cfai.co/#!colors-on-my-palette-interview/cy2z 


ROD SEELEY 

Unique Award Winning Digital Art 

Digital Art & Digital Fractal Art, mixed technique frequently 

enchanced with digital paint technique.

RodSeeleyArt.com

Collectors Discover New Art Daily. 

International Voices - Speaking Through Art 

Professional Artists - Join the CFAI Family. 

Membership Includes: 

• Personal Coaching on Individual Art Marketing Strategies 

• Heavy Brand Marketing of CFAI.co Member Artists 

• Promotion of Artist’s Work on Multiple Social Media Sites 

• Promotion of Artist’s Events and Workshops 

• Professional Gallery Page on the CFAI.co Website 

• Over 100 Specialty Art Blogs to Choose From 

• Monthly Artists Showdowns Free for Members 

• Quarterly Juried Competitions at a Discounted Rate 

• Eligibility for Inclusion in the Annual Collectors Book 

http://www.cfai.co

KENNY 

Simon Kenny 

Into the Breach 

As Tomorrow Falls 

simonkenny.artweb.com 

Email: simonkenny@eskayfineart.co.uk

CHAPMAN 

Elizabeth Chapman 

Contemporary Abstract Artist 

melizabethchapman.artspan.com

“I Have Stepped into the River...” 

Victoria Pendragon 

www.victoriapendragon.com

goldenkstudio.com

Cindy Sorley-Keichinger 

Wildlife & Nature Artist 

Golden K Studio 

goldenkstudio.com 

email: goldfarm@telusplanet.net 

Conflict of Interest – 16x16 Acrylic

www.williambeebe.com

VL 

William Beebe 

www.williambeebe.com

VL 

Studio Visit William Beebe 

A Creative Realist 

Art has always been in my blood, but I took a circuitous 

route in becoming a full-time professional artist. 

In my junior year of college I signed up for a portrait 

painting class hoping to improve my GPA. Up until 

then my life had been all about sports. I had always 

been a doodler though, drawing in pencil and seeing 

the world in black and white. The thought of being an 

artist never crossed my mind until I discovered the 

world of oil painting. My portrait-painting teacher that 

semester greatly encouraged me and the seed was 

planted! 

After graduating from the University of Maryland with 

a Studio/Fine Art degree the pragmatic side of me 

took over. I was 23 years old, newly married and living 

in the suburbs of Washington, DC. I couldn’t find 

a job in art because I didn’t study graphic arts. I found 

myself working as a bookkeeper and then back at the 

U. of MD for my second degree in Accounting. Then 

I spent a year in tax accounting followed by several 

years as an accountant in private industry. I never felt 

like it was my destiny. 

In the meantime, my father died suddenly from cancer 

as my mother was fighting her own long battle with 

cancer. My father was the one who had told me to do 

what makes me happy. My mother was the one who 

took me to art galleries and saved my drawings. They 

were giving me the gift of developing a life compass. I 

was now at a crossroads and that inner compass was 

pointing me in a new direction. 

My wife, Jen, and I decided to take a much-needed 

vacation to Maine and it was there that I became inspired 

to paint! I came home from that special trip 

and painted a schooner docked in Boothbay Harbor. 

I started painting more, dreaming of living in Maine 

and painting as a vocation. Before long we decided 

to take a leap of faith. 

Now I find myself looking back on 24 years of being 

a full-time artist. I appreciate every day of “going to 

work” and am extremely grateful to have been able to 

pursue my passion of painting for a living. 

The Maine paintings I produced early on ranged from 

lighthouses, to working waterman scenes, to the 

small coastal fishing villages and islands. My work 

attracted the attention of Mr. Charles Cawley, an avid 

art collector and the CEO of MBNA, an international 

credit card company. He started collecting my work 

and eventually hired me to become the resident artist 

for MBNA! 

For nine wonderful years I had the honor of having 

my paintings featured on the cover of MBNA’s quarterly 

reports. Along with paintings of their many office 

buildings around the world, they encouraged me to 

continue painting Maine scenes for their collection. 

Over time I became more narrowly focused on capturing 

the beauty of the Maine Windjammer fleet. 

Hundreds of schooners used to work the Maine waters, 

hauling lumber and limestone. I was intrigued by 

how few of them are left and saddened by the thought 

that someday they will be gone. Each ship has a long 

history, some dating over one hundred years! 

Many hours of painting in the smallest of details were 

spent on each ship. I wanted to pay tribute to each 

ship by recording an accurate interpretation of it on 

canvas to hopefully last for another hundred years. 

My maritime paintings have been exhibited in numerous 

gallery and museum shows throughout the years 

including the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, 

ME and at the Coos Art Museum in Coos Bay, OR, 

where I won a Merit award in the 12th Annual Maritime 

Art Exhibition. Additionally my work has been a 

part of several Marine Masters Exhibitions in Mystic, 

CT and Thomaston, ME and the 26th Annual International 

Marine Art Exhibition at the Maritime Gallery at 

Mystic Seaport. 

www.williambeebe.com 


“I consider myself a creative realist, using touches of impressionism to go beyond representation. 

Achieving a painterly work is a high priority. I try to approach each new work with fresh eyes, allowing 

myself moments of spontaneity in the painting process and appreciating it when the paint 

surprises me.” 

Taber on a Reach, 24x24, oil on board - SOLD 



VL 


When we moved to Virginia in 2002, I was a little concerned 

that I might have trouble finding that same 

passion for painting that I found in Maine. 

Then one day I heard that the state of Virginia had built 

a replica of an historic wooden pilot schooner named 

Schooner Virginia. After doing a little research I found 

out that it was going to be docked in Portsmouth, VA. 

When I walked up the dock and saw the Virginia for 

the first time I was taken aback. The tall ship with its 

beautiful black shiny hull and gold engraved letters on 

the bow spelling VIRGINIA had grandeur to it. I took 

hundreds of detail pictures that day in Portsmouth. 

I had found new inspiration and immediately started 

planning a series of paintings featuring the Schooner 

Virginia. 

Every year there is a Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner 

Race that begins in Annapolis, MD at the Bay 

Bridge and continues on down the Bay. I witnessed 

and photographed the Virginia and the Pride of Baltimore 

II in a nose-to-nose race under ideal sailing 

conditions. It was a powerful moment for me. 

During that race I also photographed the Pride of Baltimore 

II, the Lettie G. Howard out of New York, and 

other smaller schooners, which sail the waters of the 

Chesapeake. 

My first painting of the Virginia was a large commissioned 

piece featuring the tall ship cutting through 

the dark water with speed and grace. I was honored 

when approached by the folks at the Schooner Virginia 

to have reproduction giclee prints made from 

this painting to help with their annual fundraiser. We 

worked closely with the Mariners’ Museum in Newport 

News, VA to produce these quality prints. 

Subsequently, I completed four more Schooner Virginia 

paintings in competitive races with sister ships 

to complete my series. 

I’ve discovered that like art, a need to be near the 

water is in my blood. Being able to combine the two 

callings as a maritime artist has turned out to be a 

dream come true! 

The Victory Chimes, 20x30, oil on board 



Leading the Way, 20x24, oil on board 



VL 


Storm Approaching, 24x36, oil on board 

Offshore Challenge, 24x28, oil on board 



A Spirited Race, 18x24, oil on board 

On the Wind, 24x36, oil on board 



VL 




The Virginia, 30x40, oil on board - SOLD 



lorado Homes & Lifestyles 

BEST ART GALLERY, 2010 & 2012 

- 5280 

TOP 24 GALLERIES IN THE USA, 2012, 2013 & 

Artwork (l to r): Laurie Justus Pace, ‘The Gathering One’- Original Oil on Canvas, 

miradafineart.com 

Svetlana Shalygina, ‘Silhousettes De Versailles’ - Mixed Media on Canvas, 36” x 36” 

Bruce Marion, ‘The Adventure Begins’- Original Acrylic on Canvas, 36” x 48”; Alle

Magazine 

A ‘STYLE-MAKER’ 

- Luxe Magazine 

‘STUNNING’ 

2014 - American Art Awards ‘ART LOVER’S ESCAPE’ - Denver Life 

5490 Parmalee Gulch Rd. 

Indian Hills, CO 80454 

(only minutes from Denver) 

www.miradafineart.com 

303-697-9006 

info@miradafineart.com 

32” x 48”; Larisa Aukon, ‘Continental Divide’ - Original Oil on Panel 24” x 36”; 

; Dominique Samyn, ‘Sage’- Acryilc & Venetian Plaster on Panel, 40” x 32”; 

n Wynn, ‘Joy Ride’ - Mixed Media Sculpture, 26” x 32” x 9”

Coastal Wildflowers 

Eric Bodtker 

ericbodtker.com 

Davis&CO 

dandcgallery.com

Connie Chadwell 

ConnieChadwell.com 

HackberryStreetStudio.blogspot.com

www.valariewolf.com 

www.zebrajazzstudio.com 

Lauriepace.com 

jonelle-t-mccoy.artistwebsites.com www.mariadangelo.com www.pamshaouy.com 

http://sues-art.com www.debrahartgallery.com www.internationalequinearti

www.equineartist.com 

www.michellehogan.ca 

www.debfloodart.com 

www.nchristy.com 

sts.com www.BarbYoungPhotography.com www.mindycolton.com

VL VL 


Treasured Island 

With water on all sides, 

Valerie Travers stays connected. 

by Dave Justus 

http://www.valerietravers.com 




VL Artspan Studio Visit Valerie Travers 

“I work standing up, since I paint almost exclusively 

on canvas,” Valerie Travers says, describing 

her artistic process. “But then, I hardly sit 

down in the course of a day in any case. Once 

I’m absorbed and a painting is going well, I lose 

all sense of time. I tend to keep going until I drop!” 

Travers can trace that tenacity back more than 

five hundred years, through a family tree that took 

root in Guernsey, a tiny island off the coast of 

Normandy, in the 1400s. A bailiwick of the British 

Crown, the land covers barely 30 square miles 

floating in the English Channel, but it has provided 

all the foundation Travers needed to become 

the artist, and the person, she is today. 

“I have always loved water,” she says—little wonder, 

as it surrounds her on all sides. From growing 

up on the island, she believes, “my love of the 

sea is firmly embedded in my very being, and in 

my work. As a child I spent the summer on the 

beach, swimming and making sandcastles with 

moats, trying desperately to stop the walls from 

crumbling when the tide rushed in.” 

Those toppling sandcastles were an early bellwether 

for what awaited her when she first moved 

into her current house on Guernsey. “I am living 

in my Great Aunt Alice’s home,” she notes. Travers 

bought the fixer-upper from family, feeling a 

connection to the homestead, and has lived there 

more than 28 years. “I was very close to Auntie 

Alice. She adored animals, loved her garden, and 

was a dressmaker by trade… we just fitted together 

so well. So being here means such a lot to 

me, and I know that she is pleased I’m here, looking 

after things as she would wish and making it 

into the home it is today.” 

The house, and the island itself, seems imbued 

with the long family history that has shaped Travers 

and her work. “I have the old values and the 

sense of belonging to this island, and always will,” 

she says. From far back, her family had always 

been growers, farmers, and fishermen, living 

off the food they caught or cultivated. Her great 

grandfather was once awarded a cup for a prize 

cow by no less a luminary than Queen Mary. 



After the war, her RAF veteran father wed her 

mother and bought a home with greenhouses. 

“It was a hard life,” she recalls. “They worked all 

hours, as all of my relatives did, but the fun they 

had and the laughs they shared I will always remember. 

Hard work doesn’t mean hardship, does 

it Sometimes, the simple life is the best.” 

The family penchant for hard work pushed her to 

excel in her studies, attend night school for shorthand 

and typing, and try her hand at a variety of 

careers, from surgeon’s P.A. to a secretary for a 

legal firm and the police force. “But there was always 

something missing,” she says. “I knew I was 

not totally fulfilled.” Her childhood creativity—explorations 

into art, music, crafts, equestrianism, 

and other activities—had not yet found a way to 

bloom through the concrete of adult life. 

Perhaps it was her lifelong love of the water that 

first prodded her to dab a brush into watercolors. 

“It was a ‘Eureka’ moment,” she says of the occasion, 

now more than two decades past, when 

she first took up painting seriously. “I had found 

the missing link at last. I fitted it in between looking 

after my children and running the home, and 

always found time to pick up a brush, even if it 

meant starting my day an hour earlier.” 

When watercolors began to lose their luster, she 

moved on to oils, which she still employs enthusiastically. 

Though not initially enamored of pastels, 

she later gave them another chance and found 

that they were the perfect tool for capturing the 

images and emotions she wanted to express on 

the canvas. While she currently focuses on acrylics 

and oils, she is quick to point out that every 

medium has its advantages 

“I believe that artists reach for colors intuitively,” 

she says of selecting her tools. “In my opinion, 

being self-taught has allowed my expression to 

come through at a steady pace and gradually develop 

into my own personal style.” Though she 

feels she is still developing as an artist, she notes, 

“I do enjoy painting a variety of subjects, but there 

is a definite leaning toward certain colors and the 

way I apply paint.”. 

Right: Stairway to Heaven




Gently Receding 



Leafy Entanglement 




Rushing In 

Symphony in Blue 



Travers shares her studio space with a rescue 

dog, Truffles, as well as three cats who occasionally 

check on her progress. Though she sometimes 

paints with mood music, often she will let 

herself be inspired by the sounds of Guernsey 

itself: rustling trees and singing birds. The cumulative 

effect is a sense of peace in the room that 

finds its way into her art. 

“Paintings often appear out of nowhere,” she 

says. “I just pick up a brush and see what develops. 

Occasionally I choose to paint a particular 

scene that has captured my imagination, 

but even then I allow myself artistic license to 

change parts of the piece if necessary.” Over 

time, as her style has developed and changed, 

Travers has managed to surprise even herself. 

“For the past two years or so, I have felt the need 

to paint abstracts. If anyone had told me that I 

would be an abstract artist, I would have said 

that was the furthest thing from my mind. But I 

enjoy the process so much; it’s totally liberating 

and releasing. So here I am today, painting abstracts 

alongside my seas and skies.” 

Travers’ star continues to rise in the art world, 

with Best in Show awards both locally and internationally, 

along with representation from Davis 

& Co. Fine Art Gallery in Houston, Texas. Even 

so, back on Guernsey, she does what her family 

has always done, working hard and living life 

as simply as she can, raising her two sons on 

the same beaches where she once left her footprints, 

refining her art and discovering who she 

is. 

Even on a tiny island, Valerie Travers has plenty 

of exploring left to do. 

Valerie’s Great Grandfather with Queen Mary 




Fresh as a Daisy 20 x 20 

Letting the Sunshine In 





VL 

Artspan Studio Visit Valerie Travers 

Glowing 

Evening Flight 



Beneath the Surface 

Deep Within 30 x 40 



DORON 

MELISSA DAVIS DORON 

Melissa Davis Doron captures the bold of life and the subtle nuances of nature. 

www.artistdoron.com 

Davis&CO 

DandCgallery.com

JANINE KILTY 

“Tryst” Oil on canvas 40” x 30” 

www.janinekilty.com

Natural Art for the Nature Lover in You! 

The Little Red Barn” Acrylic, 16x20 Unframed 

Terri Holland 

terrihollandartstudio.weebly.com

Linda McCoy 

Title: Sunset and Vine, Sonoma County 

Linda McCoy Gallery and Fine Art Instruction 

209 S West Street, Mason, Ohio 

www.lindamccoyart.blogspot.com 

Email: lindamccoyart@live.com 

clairebullfineart.com 

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/claire-bull.html

Cloud Canyon 

http://dawnwatersbaker.com/

VL 

Dawn Waters Baker 

http://dawnwatersbaker.com/

VL Studio Visit Dawn Waters Baker 

Dawn feels like her first language was beauty. That was 

how her heart was stirred to art. Born and raised a missionary 

kid she learned to look for it in the cracks and 

crevices of lives much harder then her own. In college, 

she learned how to find her own way to express her 

heart through painting. Dawn’s husband is a gentle gift 

who likes quiet as much as she does. They have three 

kids and with them the quiet left. It birthed a joy found 

in working on what’s important and striving for love in 

all things. 

She likes to think of her work as a “glimpse of the mystery.” 

The metaphors of life held in branches, cloud 

wisps and water. There is something that compels 

Dawn to paint, not what is literally seen but what is felt. 

For her, the window into the spiritual is nature. It seems 

to be the image that she is invited to pass through into 

something much richer and deeper and full of beauty. 

Her art is collected by many businesses as well as private 

owners. Some of which are: Dallas Theological 

Seminary, Dallas Eye Care Associates, Dallas Baptist 

University, She currently finished five original drawings 

for the book, “Why, O God” published by Crossway 

books. She is a member of Artists of Texas. Dawn is 

affiliated with Mary Tomas Gallery in Dallas Design 

District, Smith Klein Gallery in Boulder, Colorado and 

currently with the summer group exhibit at White Stone 

Gallery in Philadelphia, PA. Her work has been in National 

shows including The National Weather Biennale, 

CIVA Contemporary Images of Mary and Ex Nihilo at 

Roberts Wesleyan College. Her work is available internationally 

through Veritasse based in London, England. 

http://dawnwatersbaker.com/ 


Enchanted Tree 




Misty Mountain 



To the Lowest Place 




Rise 



John 1 



www.foundworlds.com

Denise Bossarte 

Found Worlds Photography 

www.foundworlds.com

BAUER 

Logan Bauer 

LoganBauer.com

LoganBauer.com 

BAUER 

Logan Bauer

Howard Tweedie 

A Passion for Plein Air 

www.howardtweedie.com 

Right Page: “Wharf on Sydney Harbour” 

Left Page: “Argenton, Early Spring”

HowardTweedie.com

VL Hall Groat II 

Learning to See Takes Practice 

By Hall Groat Sr. 

When you look at the great paintings of the world, 

it`s a good idea to know how the artist has led your 

eye around his work. This is especially important 

for an artist who is studying how to make better 

art. One artist’s work that comes to mind is Rembrandt, 

and especially his portraits. It’s fun to watch 

people gazing upon the masters and listening to 

their comments. A great portrait painter captures 

your eye through his ability to lead you through his 

composition. It’s a good idea to know how an artist 

captures your attention with his work because 

it may heighten your appreciation and enable you 

to discriminate between greatness and mediocrity. 

There are many books that diagram composition 

and it may be a good idea to study them before you 

visit an art museum. This is especially important if 

you are a student in art school. 

A t the price of altering one’s notion of the grandeur 

found in a great portraits painted by Rembrandt, 

let me share comments that are commonly heard 

from the general public at the National Gallery of 

Art in Washington , D. C., as visitors marvel at the 

portraits: “I love the way he paints the eyes of his 

subject.”, “ I just can’t stop staring at the expression 

on the old gentleman’s face in the portrait.”, “ 

He certainly captures the spirit of his subjects and 

my eyes are drawn to the face and the expression 

in his eyes.”, “ She is such a beautiful woman in 

this Rembrandt portrait—I can see her spirit in her 

eyes.“ 

How your eye is led to the center of interest in 

the painting is worth understanding and may take 

study. It is a good idea to look at other parts of a 

great painting and attempt to discover what has 

brought your attention to this final crescendo—that 

tiny highlight in the eye that captures the viewer. 

And you better know why—especially if you are an 

art student. 

Rembrandt van Rijn was born in 1606 in Leiden. 

He never traveled more than sixty miles from Amsterdam 

and judging by his thousands of drawings, 

etchings and countless paintings and self- portraits, 

he would not have had time. He was an artist who 

was dedicated and considered the greatest in history. 

Sorry Vermeer, but he produced much more 

art than you. They are two of my favorite painters in 

history. After visiting Art museums all over Europe, 

I can think of no other artists greater than these two 

Dutchmen. I am proud to have at least one small 

Rembrandt etching in my collection. Vermeer was 

less prolific than Rembrandt, although arguably the 

best in the opinion of some art critics. 

My wife Rosemarie and I traveled the world visiting 

every major museum that we could possibly 

take in. It was our hobby, and she being an educator, 

always read the titles and descriptions of 

each piece of art. As aforementioned in my “early 

years”, I am a lazy reader. I just studied the pictures 

and never took as much interest in what was written 

beneath the art. She read everything available 

on every subject. Later in life, she recommended 

books for me as “mandatory reading.” Although I 

enjoyed them all, I always seemed to look at the 

pictures first. I suppose that would be my natural 

inclination. I do not read novels, but love history 

and anthropology. I consider myself a victim of the 

age of specialization, although I was characterized 

by the late Anna Olmstead, who wrote the art review 

for The Post Standard for many years as “a 

peripatetic painter”. She had me dead to rights in 

that review. I believe artist Jan De Ruth was aware 

of my jumping from one subject matter to another in 

my art as well. Historians dislike artists who do not 

work in series, as they are harder to write about. To 

hell with conformity! 

In studying art in museums, my son Hall II and I 

took the Amtrak to Chicago one year to review the 

work at the Institute and other galleries. We enjoyed 

the Peter Paul Ruben’s and we discussed his 

use of color to great extent. How to make Ruben’s 

red is a mystery and perhaps a lost art. I was surprised 

to see works by Ivan Albright whose work 

was used for the first movie I saw as a kid—”The 

Picture of Dorian Gray”. He was one wacky artist 

that I will never forget, with his ghoulish portraits. 

This was the first movie performance for actress 

Angela Lansbury, an academy award winner. 

http://hallgroat.com 


Monhegan-Island-Maine-23x36-By-Hall-Groat-Sr. 

We did Chicago on foot and took in the highlights, 

but returned to the Institute and went through the 

collection a second time. The guard said, “You guys 

do not need another ticket—glad to see you back.” 

We met David Hockney who was preparing for his 

one man show on this viewing. On our return trip to 

Syracuse my son ran into an old classmate and we 

had a great beer party on Amtrak. Learning to see 

is an ongoing dedication for an artist, and being on 

a railroad while studying industrial complexes along 

the way provides one of my favorite subjects to paint. 

On one of our three trips to the U. K., my wife and I 

went through the National Portrait Museum, The British 

Museum and several others. However, it was the 

contemporary German painter, Lucian Freud whose 

work stays with me the longest. He is the grandson 

of Sigmund Freud, and perhaps that explains his 

sex-crazed subject matter. In my humble opinion, 

Lucian Freud is the best living figure painter in the 

world. The visceral quality in his brushwork is loaded 

with emotion and the stark nakedness of his subjects 

can only be excused by his tremendous power as a 

painter. I’m still learning to see, and studying art is an 

ongoing passion for a working artist. 

http://hallgroat.com 


VL artspan.com 

Carol Engles carolengles.artspan.com 


The Perfect Place to Find Art 

Carol Engles 

carolengles.artspan.com

Laurie Justus Pace 

LauriePace.com

The Painted Pony On The Lamb 

32 x 48 Oil on Canvas 

http://www.robertkellyhomegallery.com/

Kyle Wood 

kwoodfineart.com 


kylewoodfineart.blogspot.com

kwoodfineart.com 

"Beyond The Gate II" 

18" x 24" Oil on Canvas

Barbara Haviland 

“Living and Painting Life” 

Gus the Pelican 12 x 9 Oil 

George Ranch 11 x 14 Oil 

BarbaraHavilandFineArt.com

Living near the coast in Southeast Texas, Barbara Haviland enjoys 

the diversity of the land and it’s habitation. A reknowned Floral Artist, Barbara 

has opened her paintings to capture the flavor of the coast. 

PB Lighthouse 12 x 9 

Nat’s Amaryllis 12 x 9 Oil 

BarbaraHavilandFineArt.com

VL 

Artspan Spotlight Jean Howard 

ARTSPAN Artist Spotlight 

When did you realize you loved art and wanted to be an artist 

I don’t remember exactly when I first wanted to be an artist. 

Who has been your mentor, or greatest influence to date 

My father was an architect and did some watercolor renderings of his projects. I think that I always 

drawing. When I was 13 he gave me some art books and about that time I knew that I wanted to be an 

artist. He was my greatest mentor. 

Who is another living artist you admire and why 

The artists that I admire are Richard Diebenkorn and Hans Halls. I know that they are dead but I am not 

influenced as much by today’s artists. 

What is your favorite surface to create work on or to work with Describe it if you make it yourself. 

I like to work on handmade watercolor paper when I do watercolors and canvas for oils.. 

How often do you work on your artwork 

I work in chunks, solid for awhile and then NOT for 

awhile. 

What are your inspirations for your work 

I am inspired by things that I see, sometimes 

unexpectedly. 

Yellow Rock, 40”x40” 


St. Ives #6, 48”x48” 

St. Ives #3. 36” x 36” 

Mexico Rocks, 40”x 40” 

http://www.jeanhoward1.com 


VL 



Ocean Sky 1, 40”x 40” 



Laguna Beach Overlook # III, 40”x 40” 



VL 



Getting to know you Q&A 

What is your favorite color in your closet I don’t have a favorite color. I thought about this 

question a lot. I am more interested in a relationship between colors. My closet reflects this also. 

What book are you reading this week I am reading “behind the beautiful forevers” by Katherine 

Boo. 

What is your favorite food I love lobster. 

What color sheets are on your bed right now My sheets are beige. 

Do you have a passion or hobby other than painting What is it My other interests include 

gardening and duplicate bridge. 

If you were an animal, what would you be and why I would like to be a seagull to fly around the 

banks of the ocean. 

Who would you love to paint 

I love to paint the Ocean 

Share something with us that few people know about you. 

I am a very private person. 

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live I would love to live in 

Laguna Beach. 



Velvet Evening, 48” x 48” 

Big Black Rock, 48”x 48” 



VL 

Walla Walla Valley Photography 

Brian Bennett


VL Washington Photographer Brian Bennett 

https://www.facebook.com/WallaWallaValleyPhotography 

Walla Walla Valley Photography 

Brian Bennett of Walla Walla Valley Photography 

got his start behind the lens when his deaf mother 

became ill. With complications including a choclear 

ear transplant, pancreatitus and a stroke all at once, 

Brian saw only one way to reach his mother. 

“She was so far gone after the stroke we didn’t know 

if she would ever be able to respond to us again.”Brian 

stated in a brief interview with our publishers. 

Brian started taking photo’s of things his mother was 

familiar with, brought the photo’s to her bedside and 

then shared the stories that his mother once shared 

with him adding his own spin on the story testing to 

trigger a reaction from her. 

“I recall being at the point where you just want to 

through your hands up in the air and give up, but 

then it happened”. 

After a long struggle at trying to get his mother to respond, 

suddenly one day she sat up in bed, looked 

dirrectly at Brian and said “THAT’S NOT WHAT 

HAPPENED”. 

Brian now uses his photography skills to bring familiar 

photo’s to those who cannot go out and see 

for themselves. “Some are sick, some elderly, some 

crippled up, some have just moved away and are 

still curious to see the old places in the Walla Walla 

Valley. 

You can visit Brian’s page on Facebook and see 

over 2000 images shot with his Canon 60D. 

Brian still cares for his mother who is now doing well 

in an assisted living home in the Walla Walla Valley. 

He can be found gardening or in most cases doing 

what he loves, taking pictures. 




VL Washington Photographer Brian Bennett 





Kimberly Conrad 

“Pouring Color Into Your Life” 

CoastalLivingArt.com 

Days of Summer 36”x48”x1.5” 

Poured Acrylic on Canvas

CoastalLivingArt.com

CFAI.co Juried Show 

CFAI.co Spring 2014 

Figurative Juried Competition 

First Place 

Linda Popple 

Vintage Swimsuit 

http://lindapopple.fineartstudioonline.com 

http://www.cfai.co/#!show-winners/cyep 


Second Place 

Carol Smith Myer 

Heidi 

http://www.carolmyer.com 



CFAI.co Juried Show 

CFAI.co Spring 2014 

Figurative Juried Competition 

Third Place 

Bob Shepherd 

Cold Shoulder 

http://portraitsbyshep.com 



Honorable Mentions 

Cheryl Smith - Skye 

Sally Fraser - Down the Mountain 

Carmen Beecher - Train to Firenze 

Linda Dalton Walker - Spring 



Mary Jo Zorad 

contemporary fine art

ZoradArt.com

DAILY PAINTERS ABSTRACT GALLERY 

“Thankful” 36”x48”x2.0” Oil on Canvas 

DailyPaintersAbstract.blogspot.com

DailyPaintersAbstract.blogspot.com 

Barbara Van Rooyan Blue Canyon II 

Dawn Reinfeld 

DAILY PAINTERS ABSTRACT GALLERY 

DailyPaintersAbstract.blogspot.com

CFAI.co Artist Showdown 


May 2014 - Maritime and Seascape Art 

http://www.cfai.co/#!showdown-winners/cb0j 

First Place 

Rae Andrews 

Sydney Shoreline (First Place Entry - Right Page) 

http://www.yessy.com/raeandrews 

Left Page : Reflected Glory 



Well Traveled 





Second Place 

Anton Zhou 

Lisbon Lakeshore 

http://www.antonzhouartwork.com 



Third Place 

Sharon Sieben 

Sail Away VIII 

http://sharonsieben.com 



DianeWhitehead.com

Diane 

Whitehead 

“Animals are my muse. The scratch 

of the paw, pounce of a hoof, gesture 

of the head, alert ear, quiet stride, 

powerful shape, ancient wisdom. 

All come to play with the shapes I see 

as I paint. “ 

DianeWhitehead.com 

DianeWhitehead.com

Lary Lemons 

theartgallerysaintjo.com

theartgallerysaintjo.com

CFAI.co July Artist Showdown 

“Do you have what it takes” 

Barbara Haviland 

“Still Life” 

www.cfai.co/#!artist-showdown/chic

cfai.co 

Summer 2014 Juried Competition 

ABSTRACTION 

Joan Fullerton 

$500 in total cash prizes 

Plus much more! 

www.cfai.co/#!juried-shows/c19ne

L i s a M c K i n n e y

Lisa-McKinney.com 

lisamckinneyfineart.blogspot.com

VL 

VL 

Photographer Spotlight 

John Lomba 

www.jglomba.com 




VL 

Photographer Spotlight Artspan John Lomba 

John Lomba Maritime Photography 


“My name is John Lomba, and I have the honor and pleasure of being asked once again to 

submit some of my favorite maritime-related images to Visual Language Magazine. I was 

asked to give a bit more detail about myself, which for me is not so easy to do, as I prefer to 

let my images do the talking. As the old saying goes “a picture is worth a thousand words”. 

I believe that I am a better photographer than writer, and by the time you finish this brief bio I 

expect you will feel the same way! I had also made a submission to the August 2013 publication 

for those of you who wish to see my 1st contribution to VL Magazine. 

My photography career goes back to the early 1980’s using a 110 Minolta Instamatic and then 

waiting 2 weeks for them to be developed, which seemed like an eternity! I recall ‘discovering’ 

a few blurry shots of my thumb blocking the lens! Not exactly what I had envisioned. 

A few years later, I upgraded to 35mm and even set up my own black & white darkroom in 

dad’s basement on beautiful Cape Cod. It was around this time when my love of photography 

first started to take it’s effect. 

After a 4-year stint at a local Maritime college, mixed in with a somewhat brief stint of sailing 

on various merchant vessels, I now find myself now living in the greater New York City metropolitan 

area after working shore-side at various posts within the maritime field. 

In 2010, I had my ‘ah ha’ moment when I realized that my career and interest in the maritime 

field could make a seamless marriage with photography as well. Initially a skeptic of digital 

photography, and somewhat of a ‘newbie’ in the website world, I am now proud to say I have 

my own website (thank you Artspan!) at www.jglomba.com. Please feel free to look around. 

Someday, I tell myself and remind Mrs. Lomba as well, I will get that sail boat to take yet more 

photos but from a different perspective. 



Imagine 



VL 


Sail 



Sandy Hook, NJ 



VL 


RTC 502 



Emelina 

USCG Bainbridge 



VL 


Rake 



Sealand Racer 



Venus 30 x 40 

Clay Heji 

www.vinod 

www.vinodipinte.com 

Vino Dipinte Art Gallery 

602 Orient St San Angelo, TX 76903

ipinte.com 

Celestial 24 x 36 

Morgan Grasham 

www.vinodipinte.com

KRISTINE KAINER 

www.kristinekainer.com 

www.kristinekainer.blogspot.com

Texas Art 

www.kristinekainer.com 

www.kristinekainer.blogspot.com

Artists of Texas 

artistsoftexas.org

NO WHERE BUT TEXAS 

artistsoftexas.blogspot.com 

dailypaintersoftexas.blogspot.com

Debbie Grayson Lincoln 

Texas Contemporary Western Illustrator 

NoworNever-Debbie.blogspot.com 

DebbieLincoln.com

Felicia Marshall 

feliciamarshall.blogspot.com

Advertisers 

Anton Zhou 132 

Artists of Texas 156-157 

Barbara Haviland 106-107 

Bob Shepherd 124 

Brian Bennett 114-119 

Carol Engles 100-101 

Carol Jo Smidt 8, 9, 18-19 

Carol Smith Myer 123 

Carolyn Burger 32 

CFAI 138-139 

Cindy Sorley-Keichinger 50-51 

Clay Heji 152 

Connie Chadwell 65 

Connie Dines 4 

David Terrar 20-21 

Davis & CO Fine Art Gallery 40-41 

Dawn Waters Baker 84-91 

Debbie Lincoln 158 

Denise Bossarte 92-93 

Diane Whitehead 134-135 

DPAG 128-129 

Elizabeth Chapman 48 

Eric Bodtker 64 

Felicia Marshall 159 

Hall Groat 98-99 

Howard Tweedie 96-97 

IEA 66-67 

Janine Kilty 81 

Jean Howard 108-113 

John Lomba 142-151 

Jonelle T McCoy 22-23 

Judy Wilder Dalton 29 

Kathryn Wilson Cover, 3, 39 

Kimberly Conrad 120-121 

Kristine Kainer 154-155 

Kyle Wood 104-105 

Lady L 161 

Laura Reed 30-31 

Laurie Pace 102-103 

Lelija Roy 34 

Linda McCoy 83 

Linda Popple 120 

Lisa McKinney 140-141 

Logan Bauer 94-95 

Mary Jo Zorad 126-127 

Melissa Doron 80 

Michal Ashkenasi 14-15 

Mirada Fine Art 62-63 

Morgan Grasham 151 

Rae Andrews 42-43, 130-131 

Robert Hopkins 12-13 

Rod Seeley 44-45 

Roseanne Snyder 28 

Russ Mackensen 26-27 

Sanda Manuila 37 

Sharon Sieben 133 

Simon Kenny 47 

Stephanie Paige 35 

Terri Holland 82 

Terrye Philley 36 

The Art Gallery 136-137 

Valerie Travers 38, 68-79 

Vanessa Katz 24-25 

Victoria Pendragon 49 

Vino Dipinte 152-153 

VL Rees 33 

William Beebe 52-61

LADY L 

Colors Make Me Smile 

ladylart.blogspot.com 

ellepace.com/available-work-of-lady-l

http://davethepaintingguy.com/podcast/

Visual Language Magazine Contemporary Magazine Vol 3 no 8

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