ARTIST’S STATEMENT

I began painting figures with Marc Chatov, the premier figure and portrait artist in the southeast, and with Burton Silverman and Daniel Green, figure and portrait artists with signal reputations in the northeast. It was in meeting Ann Templeton, a well known western landscape painter, that moved me to paint plein air. The discipline of plein air painting puts the finest point on the necessity of editing; combining hues of the same color to make a few beautiful shapes. I continued study with plein air painters Kim English, Sue Stewart, Roger Dale Brown and Perry Austin, learning the lessons of control and restraint. When that lesson moved from my head to the brush everything improved; landscapes, and most certainly, portraits.

ON PORTRAITURE

My inspiration comes from the works of Sargent, Sorrolla, Henri, Cassatt and Hopper. I believe a good portrait must reveal more than how a person looks. It must tell something of the interior life of the subject. The painting should do more than hint at what the sitter thinks, what the likes and dislikes are, what his life pace is or what life experiences can be revealed in her gaze. In other words, the painter must imbue the work with the sitter’s character. It is a mysterious process and most portrait painters cannot tell you how they succeed, only that the effort is essential to the success of the finished product. My Scandinavian heritage may account for the strong inclination I have for narrative painting. In the harsh climate of Norway and Sweden where shortened winter days lead to an acceptance of the brevity of beauty and the beauty of simplicity, excess is not a natural choice. Excesses of color, marks or competing focus are rejected. The challenge of narrative painting in my consciousness is to reduce the excesses to the spareness of a single strength and to tell my sitter’s “story” with economy and an even tenor which reveals both mind and spirit.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Painting is a gift grounded by my faith- an extension of who I am. I try to interpret the subject in a personal and unique way rather than a literal study. It is my hope to communicate the love and beauty that exists in our world.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Jan Vander Kley-Eubanks attended the University of Georgia, Lamar Dodd fine Art School. With dual emphasis on design and studio art Jan integrated new ways of seeing form and color. Jan is primarily an oil painter, working on canvas and gesso board. The subject matter for her work varies, but is typically inspired by sunlight and vibrant color.  Over the years, Jan's work has been exhibited in various juried shows and private collections. She often exhibits with the Bennett Street, Tula Artists Group for corporate or private events. Jan continues studying with renowned artists whenever possible. If interested in viewing Jan's work, a list of Galleries is available upon request.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Cathy has always loved to draw and paint...giving all the credit to God for what she has accomplished. As a young girl, she studied painting in her home town of Milledgeville, Ga. Later, she was introduced to Impressionism, and continues to be influenced by the bold movement and vivid color produced by the artists of this movement.

She graduated from the University of Georgia with Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Jo Ann Williams Walker, Nancy Dusenberry and Roger Dale Brown have most recently inspired her growth as an oil painter. She continues to be encouraged by a group of fellow artists who paint together regularly. Cathy's work today embodies exaggerated brush strokes, and bold use of color.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

I am an Atlanta native and growing up, I visited my grandmother’s farm in Gwinnett County. Those precious days left an imprint on my heart and now I love to paint the southern landscape. I am constantly humbled when I try to capture the simple beauty and emotion of a place. The warm sunlight, the breeze on my skin, the smell of the grass, the connection to God’s world – these things I can’t express in words, I paint.

My work is done in oils on canvas or board. The small plein air paintings provide great information to produce larger works.

Admiration and influence have come from many: my mom, watercolor artist Pamela Dobbs; teachers Nancy Dusenberry, Sue Stewart, Gregg Kreutz, Dee Beard Dean, Ray Roberts, Dolores Kennedy, Alice Williams; and the friends I am blessed to paint with. The turning point in my painting career came when I began to paint from life.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

“I like to paint from life and simplify what I see. I prefer my paintings to have somewhat of a painterly quality. I see beauty in things that may not ordinarily be considered beautiful such as an elderly person, a broken shell, wilted flowers, or a gray day. It is the relationship of shapes and values, mostly, and then colors that intrigue me. I try to translate that into a painting. I do not tend to purposefully exaggerate with color or proportion because it seems enough drama exists already.”

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Kay Hibbard was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Art has been part of her life since she was a child. Her architect father and artistic mother influenced and encouraged her to draw and paint. In 1977 she graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Afterwards she spent many years developing her skills as a watercolor artist. She has studied with Atlanta-based artist and teacher Dolores Kennedy and has studied figure painting with renowned artist Charles Reid. While she has lived in the Atlanta area for most of her life, from 1996-2003 she lived in Clearwater, Florida and found inspiration for her watercolors on the beaches. Preferring to paint on location, Kay could be found painting scenes of palm trees and tourists. The tropical landscape remains a favorite subject as she visits the coast periodically painting in oil and watercolor. Kay currently resides in Suwanee, Georgia where an enthusiasm for plein air oil painting the Georgia landscape has ensued. Her paintings also feature still life and the human figure.