March
2008
Demonstrator Corner
Look Who’s Coming!
Our demonstrator for the Thursday, March 20, 2008, 7:30 pm meeting of WHAL is Tom Hirata. You may recall that Mr. Hirata juried the WHAL show last year. We are very excited to welcome him back as a guest demonstrator. He will talk about composing the space and directing the eye. Composition is so important when creating imagery. No matter how technically good the art work is, if the composition is boring, it can detract significantly from the painting or drawing.
Mr. Hirata began his art career as a photo realist painter of landscapes and animals. He is the winner of 16 state Duck stamps, including the First of State NJ and the First of State CT. The sale of his originals and prints has raised over two million dollars for conservation. As a Grand Slam Life Sponsor for Ducks Unlimited, the sale of his art work has raised over thirty thousand dollars for habitat restoration in the United States, Canada and Mexico. His work has been shown in the Smithsonian, the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences, the Denver Museum of Natural History, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Southern Alleghenies Art Museum. Mr. Hirata’s original works of art have been purchased by art collectors in 17 countries.
Awards include Best of show in 3 River’s Art Festival, Pittsburgh, PA, Brecksville Fine Art Show, Brecksville, OH, Winter Park Arts, Winter Park, CO 2001 and 2202.
Tom Hirata welcomes questions and participation during his presentation. He asks the WHAL members to bring samples of
their work and a few sheets of different colored construction paper. To learn more about Tom Hirata go to www.hiratastudios.com/bio.php
WHAL meetings are held the third Thursday of
every month during the membership year, with the exception of the summer months
of June, July & August when many of our members are traveling and December
when our holiday party replaces the monthly meeting.
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Community Center @ Sharon Community Presbyterian Church
522 Carnot Road, Moon Township, PA 15108
Exhibitions
PTI
Show
The West Hills Art League Group Exhibit will be
held at Pittsburgh Technical Institute (PTI), 111 McKee Rd, Oakdale, PA 15071.
April
1 - April 24, 2008.
March
28th/29th - Drop off of art work.
April
9th - reception 4:00-7:30 PM.
April 25th/26th - pick up art work.
May 4 - May 15, 2008
Robin Hill Mansion, 949 Thorn Run Road, Moon Township, PA 15108
We are happy to have Alan Morris, WHAL guest demonstrator in February to jury the show.
Gallery
– 30 Exhibit @ Gatewary Newspapers
West Hills Art League Group Exhibit Gallery -30- @ Gateway Newspapers Office, 533 Beaver Street, Sewickley, PA 15143
May thru June, 2008
More information will be distributed closer to the exhibit
date.
Speaking of exhibits, this might be a good
time to remind WHAL members that the artwork exhibited at various venues is
usually not covered by liability insurance. For most exhibits, WHAL signs a
Standard Exhibit Agreement that serves as a contract with the exhibit site. This contract releases the owners of the
exhibit space of any responsibility for damage, loss or theft to the artwork
displayed. When artists sign-in their artwork for an exhibit, that list of
artwork is the inventory for the venue
to attach to the contract. Artists are urged to obtain insurance for their
artwork in order their work is covered in case of damage, loss or theft.
You can view the Standard Exhibit Agreement on the WHAL website at: http://www.westhillsart.org/forms/StandardExhibitAgreement.html
Additional forms
such as the Standard Gallery Consignment Agreement, Membership Form, and
Prospectus for the Annual Art Show at Robin Hill can also be found at the this
address to view or print: http://www.westhillsart.org/membership.html#anchor_45
More WHAL Website Information!
Artists
Market
Join the growing group of WHAL members that are displaying their work on the WHAL website. Some of the WHAL members displaying their work are; Dianne Bauman, D. Zoe Shutka, Kim Iyer, Kim Kerr, Beth Hovanec, Chris Manjerovic, Nancy Bush, Luella Priore, Wil Midgley, Carol Volz Begley and Cathy Geronimo. Visit the site at http://www.westhillsart.org/ to see the wonderful art that our members have created.
Any WHAL member can have their own artist’s page on the WHAL website. Contact Cathy Vignolini, cvignolini@comcast.net for additional information.
January proved to be a rewarding month for two WHAL members. Betty Phillips won first prize for her painting "Celebrate # 1" and Jan Pociernicki received an Honorable Mention for her entry "Create!" in the "Mid Winter Hues" Juried Multi-Media Art Exhibit at the North Hills Art Center in January. Congratulations to both Betty and Jan!
Watch for a painting by our own Lou Priori in an upcoming movie “Smart People” staring Dennis Quaid that is to be released on April 11th. Lou’s painting is in the hospital room scene. The painting was rented for the movie from the Watercolors Gallery on Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh.
We would like to welcome Diana J. Lasota
Aliquippa, Lorrai Joines, Sewickley, Donna James, Ambridge as our newest member to West Hills Art League. We are very happy you joined us!
Frank Webb Workshop a Great Success!
Neither snow, nor sleet, nor hail kept the artists away from attending the Frank Webb Workshop. Many thanks to Elene Page for all of her efforts in arranging the workshop and for all the extra touches that made the event so special. Eighteen artists participated, and there were some out-of-towners that traveled from Columbus and Philadelphia to get here.
Along with teaching his renowned watercolor techniques, Mr. Webb was delightful in sharing some wonderful stories about his experiences in the art world. WHAL was very fortunate to be able to have a workshop with Mr. Webb and thanks are extended to all who helped make the event such a rousing success.
Gallery News
Élan Gallery
John Yothers show, Order and Chaos closes March 29! John Yothers is a master of his craft and technique. From florals to surreal to almost photographic nature scenes, he understands what goes into a painting.
Also displayed are selected works by John Yothers sons, Adam and Dillon Yothers.
April 5 - April 26, “Changing Gears” by Marjorie Arnett.
April 11, 5:00 – 8:30 PM, Spring Gallery Walk.
http://www.elanarts.com
Gallery Hours 2008
Tues. Thurs, Friday – 11AM-5PM
Wed. Noon-8 PM
Sat. 10AM –4PM
427 Broad Street, Sewickley, PA 15143
412-749-0427
Watercolors at the Carnegie
Great British Art: 200 Years of Watercolors,
Drawings, and Prints
More than 80 works from The Bank of New York Mellon’s superb collection of British Art will be on view in the museum’s Works on Paper Gallery. Masterful prints, drawings, and watercolors by some of the most important British artists from the 18th through the 20th centuries, such as John Constable, Thomas Gainsborough, Thomas Rowlandson, and Joseph Mallord William Turner, will be on display. Exhibit is through May 18, 2008 in the Works on Paper gallery.
Coming Soon to
the Carnegie
Life on Mars, the 55th installment of the International, will open in Pittsburgh on May 3, 2008 and remain on view through January 11, 2009. Included in the exhibition will be approximately 300 works in diverse media, from painting, sculpture, and drawing to animation, film, installation, and performance. Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Phone 412-622-3131.