Thursday, June 28, 2007

July Paintouts Tampa Bay

We continue to paint en plein air throughout the summer in the Tampa Bay area! Please join us in July at the following days and times:
TUESDAYS--Phillipe Park -- in Safety Harbor; meet by the Indian Mound at 9:00 am. Directions: To get to Phillipe Park, take McMullen-Booth Rd. to Enterprise. Go east to end, take a left and then a quick right into the park, and follow signs to the Indian Mound; call Don Eaton w/ questions at 727-347-3061

FRIDAYS--Key Vista Nature Park -- in Holiday We will continue to paint here throughout the month; meet in the parking lot at 8:00 am. Directions: Take Alt 19 north through Tarpon Springs, go west on Anclote Blvd to stop sign at end, go north on Baillies Bluff about 2 1/2 miles and Key Vista Park will be on the west side of the street.
Call Jenna at 727-457-6174 with questions.

Friday, June 22, 2007

Tuesday paintouts from the PAPTC

I am stopping our weekly paintouts for the summer, it is just too hot for me.

Lori McNamara

Sunday, June 17, 2007

2007 Crescent Beach Paint Out

Island Fine Art will host its third annual Crescent Beach Paint Out August 15-19 at their gallery in St. Augustine, Florida.


All plein air artists working in two-dimensional media are encouraged to apply. We have room for 30 artists at our event this year. Application deadline is July 15th, 2007. Island Fine Art is located at 6279 A1A South, just ½ mile north of the 206 bridge in Crescent Beach. For application forms or more information visit www.islandfineart.com or send an email to paintout@islandfineart.com.

Friday, June 15, 2007

In Memory Of Charles Sovek


I'm so sorry to announce that Charles Sovek has died. He was a warm generous man and did so much for the landscape painting community of the world. He will be missed by many of us who read his books and corresponded with him.

Still Life With Corn Pumpkin and Gourd
9x12 inches
acrylic on board
By Charles Sovek



Love,
Linda

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Family Business

Friends,
David,our fearless webmaster, will be away on family business for a few weeks. If you need help with anything, please contact me instead. Save your notices for the web site for a few weeks. If it is something important, I will post it to the blog for you.


Remember to use plenty of sunscreen this time of year and try to paint early or very late in the day. We want to avoid skin cancer!!

Happy painting.

Love,
Linda

Friday, June 1, 2007

Congratulations to Jose Rodriguez

Award-winning Belleview painter lives for his art

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By BARBRA HERNANDEZ, VOZ LATINA
BELLEVIEW - Jose Rodriguez doesn't like to be called an artist. The renowned Belleview painter instead simply describes himself as a "painter."

Rodriguez was one of four local artists recently awarded with best-painting prizes in a contest sponsored by Marion County's Growth Management Bureau. His "Salt Springs Run" and "Silver Springs" won him a best-painting award and an honorable mention, respectively. For this Army veteran, picking up the paintbrush is more than just a hobby; it's his passion.

"That's my life. That's who I am," Rodriguez said. "I live to paint, and I paint to live."

His love of the canvas began more than 30 years ago with a horse portrait he painted while still in high school.

"My parents still have that on the wall," Rodriguez said.

Ever since, he has put his hand on more than 300 paintings and murals throughout a successful career as a multimedia artist and designer.

Rodriguez describes his style as part impressionist, part realist. His palette is filled mostly with vibrant earthly tones that perfectly emulate the colors of nature, his main inspiration. The lining of clouds during sunset, the movement of water down a river and the flight of birds make up some of Rodriguez's favorite scenes to paint.

"I just feel like this is what it's all about - trying to capture what you see and trying to show people," said Rodriguez, who also teaches graphic arts at The Villages High School.

More than showing them, Rodriguez takes admirers of his art to a place of comfort.

"Most people that see my paintings, they say, 'I want to be there,'" Rodr’guez said.

It is that which has won him the respect from many, including other local artists.

Jarry Stapleton has known Rodriguez for the past two years, and both are members of Ocala Plein Air Painters, a group for those who like to paint outdoor scenes. She described his paintings as "easy to live with and colorful." Nothing is missing from them, she said.

Perhaps, that comes as a result of the intensity with which he takes on every new project, as witnessed to by Stapleton during the painting workshops the group holds every now and then.

"He puts his whole self into it," Stapleton said.

Rodriguez is so serious about every stroke he makes on the canvas that, for him, it is like an obsession sometimes.

"I call it the artist's curse," he said. "You want them (spectators) to see what you see."

Fortunately for him, that "curse" has been more of a blessing in his career.

Many times, his work has been compared to that of classics, such as Monet. Although Rodriguez does not deny his deep admiration of the French impressionist, he is quick to assert he always strives for authenticity in his paintings.

"It's flattering and all, but I'm not trying to be Monet. I want to paint like Jose Rodriguez stuff," he said.

And that is something he plans on doing for the rest of his life.

"I want to paint until I can't lift the paintbrush," Rodriguez said. "I want to be that 100-year-old man that still paints."

Contact Barbra Hernandez at 732-5807 or barbra.hernandez@star-banner.com.