Artist of The Week- Rocky Broome
April 26, 2010
The St James Court Art Show Artist of the Week is Rocky Broome, potter from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Rocky is in the 1300 Association section of the Art Show. Booths have not been assigned yet so pick up a free program at the art show or check out the web site for Rocky’s booth placement.
SJCAS: Tell us about yourself and how you create your pottery.
Rocky: In 1980, I graduated from LSU with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a concentration in ceramics.
I spent the first 15 years teaching art and making pottery part time. 15 years ago, I decided to make pottery full time and have never regretted it. My studio is behind my home and I love walking out the back door to work. Sometimes it feels like work but most of the time it feels like fun.
The whole process of getting the clay ready, throwing the pot, painting, glazing and firing the piece is therapeutic. I painted before becoming a potter so it is only natural that I spend so much time decorating the surface. The porcelain clay acts as my white canvas. Gardening is a passion of mine and at this time of year my studio breaks are always spent outside investigating what new plant has revealed itself overnight. Using nature as my inspiration, my attempt is to create watercolor, expressionistic like paintings that capture its fleeting beauty.
In my work, as in my life, I try to create balance. The fact that my pottery can bring joy and I can create something that may become part of someone’s life is very gratifying.
SJCAS: What is the price range of your work?
Rocky: My prices range from a $12 pansy pot to $400 for larger one of a kind pieces.
SJCAS: What is your web site address?
Rocky: My web address is: www.rockyspots.com
SJCAS: Where can we find your work besides your website?
Rocky: In addition to St. James, I participate in about 8 shows a year.
The 58th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival, Fairhope, AL
Festival International de Louisiane, Lafayette, LA
Fest for All, Baton Rouge, LA
American Artisan, Nashville
Please check my fall schedule on the website as I will be posting updates. I have been participating in St James for 5 years and it is my best show away from home.
It is a great combination of business and pleasure, we love the Louisville hospitality.
Artist of the Week- Beth Forst
April 19, 2010
The St James Court Art Show Artist of the Week is Beth Forst, painter from Noblesville, Indiana, near Indianapolis. Beth is in the South Third Street section of the Art Show. Booths have not been assigned yet so pick up a free program at the art show or check out the web site for Beth’s booth placement.
SJCAS: Tell us about yourself and how you create your artwork.
Beth: I travel and paint all over the country/world and have shows mainly in the midwest. I enjoy plein air painting on a hillside with my easel as well as the never ending beauty of intimate everyday pleasures, such as flowers, found objects like bird nests and even delights of good taste like chocolate cake. I enjoy the energy of art fairs and will often paint for a crowd.
I am always delighted to visit Louisville in October. I will be going to Paris this Spring and will have new very exciting night scenes of Paris to share with y’all in the Fall.
SJCAS: What is the price range of your work?
Beth: My original oil paintings range in price from $245 for 6×8 size to $3,975 for very large canvases.
SJCAS: What is your web site address?
Beth: My web address is: www.BethForst.com
SJCAS: Where can we find your work besides your website?
Beth: You can find my work in Castle Gallery in Fort Wayne, Sigman Gallery in Indianapolis, and in Louisville at Edenside Gallery.
Artist of the Week- Jason Fricke
April 13, 2010
The St James Court Art Show Artist of the Week is Jason Fricke, printmaker from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jason is in the St James Court section of the Art Show. Booths have not been assigned yet so pick up a free program at the art show or check out the web site for Jason’s booth placement.
SJCAS: Tell us about yourself and how you create your artwork.
Jason: I live and work in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My pen and ink drawings are done “live” during ballet performances and rehearsals, concerts, or during trips to the zoo. Travels around Europe are another source of images. My drawing style evolved from working on location, with an emphasis on capturing the sense of movement and vitality of my subjects.
I also print hand-pulled limited edition serigraphs. I have worked for over 25 years in the printing industry as a screen printer and in research and development.
I graduated from The University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BS in Education in 1976. I take continuing education classes at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design on a regular basis. I speak French and am learning Italian.
SJCAS: What is the price range of your work?
Jason: My prices range from $50 - $1200.
SJCAS: What is your web site address?
Jason: My web address is: www.jasonfricke.com.
SJCAS: Where can we find your work besides your website?
Jason: I am in galleries in Milwaukee, Chicago, Sante Fe, and New York City.
In addition to the St. James Court Show, I will participate in 15 shows in the Chicago area.
I will also be in Louisville May 15th and 16th for the Louisville Festival of the Arts in the Summit area.
Artist of the Week- Marianna McDonald
March 30, 2010
The St James Court Art Show Artist of the Week is Marianna McDonald, plein air painter from Louisville, KY. Marianna is in the South Third Street section of the Art Show. Booths have not been assigned yet so be sure to pick up a free program or check out the web site for booth placement.
SJCAS: Tell us about yourself and how you create your plein air paintings.
Marianna: In 1971 I received my BS degree in art from Murray State University with an emphasis in painting and graphic design and I worked as a designer and then manager at the Lexington Herald-Leader. I’ve been working as a full time pastel artist since 2001 when I chose to take a buyout during the newspaper industries’ first round of layoffs.
I participate in about 12 art fairs a year, have 8 galleries and shops that carry my work and I teach pastel to adults from October - May when the art fair season is not as demanding.
I go to the studio every day because I love what I do and log in many more hours than when I worked at the newspaper but I love it so much it’s hard to call it work - except when packing up the pieces and tent after a 3 day art fair - now that’s work!
Recently I’m absorbed in plein air/on location work which I started after taking a workshop from Phil Starke at the Mellwood Art Center in Louisville. Before long I was loading my pastels, paper, and board into my kayak to try to capture the essence of Elkhorn Creek in Georgetown, Ky. To my amazement I did not tip myself and supplies into the creek and actually had a fabulous time. This winter I took everything out into the winter snow for some very quick sketches - very quick in 24 degree weather but by being there I could really see the subtle colors of light and shadow across the snow which my reference camera would have never captured.
I can’t wait for spring to capture the spring colors of the creek.
SJCAS: What is the price range of your work?
Marianna: My prices range from $145 - $850.
SJCAS: What is your web site address?
Marianna: My web address is www.mcdonaldfineart.com which includes my blog under the “new works” button or go directly to http://mcdonaldfineartblog.blogspot.com/
SJCAS: Where can we find your work besides your website?
Marianna: Besides St. James I’ll be participating in:
Cherokee Triangle Art Fair - Louisville, KY
Broad Ripple Art Fair- Indianapolis, IN
Summerfair - Cincinnati, OH
Francisco’s Farm Art Fair - Midway, KY
Woodland Art Fair - Lexington, KY
I’m going to the Tuscany region of Italy in September for a 10 day plein air experience. I should have some work from the trip at St. James Art Show.
Artist of the Week- Beth Erlund
March 22, 2010
The St James Court Art Show Artist of the Week is Beth Erlund, of Erlund Johnson Studios. Beth is in the St James Court section of the Art Show. Booths have not been assigned yet so be sure to pick up a free program or check out the web site for booth placement.
SJCAS: Tell us about yourself and how you create your batiks.
Beth: Growing up in rural Texas, my parents never encouraged the art side of me although I loved to draw. We had no art program and I ultimately graduated from LSU in zoology and chemistry. As I did research at Tulane Medical School, I spent my free time experimenting with acrylics and studying the works of the New Orleans street artists and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Fortunately, I ended up in Okinawa, Japan as a non-working military dependent and got to spend two and a half years studying art and culture there. It was there that I learned Indonesian style batik, joined a small art group, had my first exhibition and sold my first work. After moving back to the states, we settled in Colorado and ultimately got a divorce. It was the early 80’s and Colorado was in a depression. There were no jobs in the sciences that would support me and my two children. So, in my normal, risk-taking way, I set out to try to be a professional artist. I got offered a job as a chemist two years later and decline. I have never looked back. It has been quite a ride and I have loved being able to share my vision and soul with others.
My husband of 23 years now, sculptor Dennis Johnson, and I have two studios, Colorado for the summer and Florida for the winter months. I work almost every day. I plein air paint in oils for color reference, I do extensive photography for accurate rendetion of animals and places, and I produce many pencil and pen drawings prior to actually starting the batik process. Once I have the concept in my head and the final drawing on paper, I draw the design on cotton or silk cloth. I then take hot wax and begin to draw all the white areas of the design. I dye the cloth the lightest color but the sections that have wax on them remain white. I then draw all the areas of the design that I want to stay the lightest color and dye the cloth the next shade darker. This continues for 30 - 50 different dye baths and at the end the cloth is completely covered with wax. I then remove most of the wax to reveal the picture in the cloth. At this point I will go on to add encaustic wax to selected areas of the picture that I want to be more textured.
I have been able to take my media to a very advanced level that astounds many people that know the media. Several years ago, I had a batik accepted into the exhibition at the World Batik Conference. There were only 40 pieces chosen out of over 2000 worldwide. The coordinator even spoke of my work to the whole conference, pointing out that it was this level of work that elevated batik from a craft to a fine art. That had been my intention from the time I realized that since it was functional, batik was considered a craft, not art. For 35 years now, I have worked with the art communities to recognize art as art, not just by the materials that are used to produce it. My work has been featured in art magazines, books, collected by five art museums and included in many corporate and private collections.
For the past six years I have taken my work to the children’s book venue. I am the author/illustrator of three children’s books and have found that to be a wonderful way to share my art and some science with young people. I believe that I will continue this direction for many years to come.
SJCAS: What is the price range of your work?
Beth: My reproductions sell for $25 - 250 and the originals sell for $450 - $6000. The books are $19.95 each.
SJCAS: What is your web site address?
Beth: My web address is www.erlundjohnsonstudios.com
SJCAS: Where can we find your work besides your website?
Beth: I have an extensive online catalog of my reproductions plus my show schedule is listed on my website. I participate in approximately 30 art festivals each year in various parts of the country. I always exhibit original batiks there that have not been reproduced and I will work on commissions on a limited basis. I post my new originals on my facebook as they are completed. I currently keep original and reproduction work in Wildside Gallery (Key West, FL), Evergreen Gallery (Evergreen, CO) and Germanton Gallery (Germanton, NC).
