Additional Winners--2009 ALOC Holiday Show

Betty Rusnak won the Charles Turzak award

Eliza Pineau won the Martha Fowler award

2009 Holiday Show Winners

John Pickels -- 1st place

Marianna Ross -- 2nd place

Kitty Osburn -- 3rd place

Congratulations to the above winners in ALOC's 2009 Holiday Show and Party. There were a number of other winners of various awards, which will be posted as I get the information (and hopefully photos). Happy holidays to all.

December 2009 ALOC Newsletter

ALOC Newsletter December 2009

November Newsletter

ALOC Newsletter November 2009

October newsletter

ALOC Newsletter October 2009

ALOC Meeting today

Betty Kirk, Third PlaceMarlene Kinser Bell, Second Place

and

Shalini Tandon, First Place

The monthly ALOC meeting was held today and included a social hour with nibbles and a showing of members' recent paintings. Sy Rosefelt judged the paintings and the winners are shown above. We welcomed some new members: Ginny Seibert, Megan Williams and Angela Schroeder. We were also treated to a presentation by Rich Franco, a very talented photographer who showed us some tricks on how to photograph artwork.

ALOC September Newsletter

September 2009 ALOC Newsletter-1

"Interpretations" debuts at Creative Spirit Art Gallery tonight

Creative Spirit Art Gallery and the Harwood Watson Dance Studio, located at 820A Lake Baldwin Lane in Baldwin Park, Florida will host an opening reception for “Interpretations” on September 11, 2009. The exhibition features the work of Jason Lee, Clair Strutt, and Chad Pollpeter. The reception will begin at 6pm and end at 9pm and is free. The show will run from September 11 through October 2.

All three artists interpret the world view in different ways, and will show all new works in this exhibition. The artists reside in Central Florida and have established careers, showing work throughout the southeast. This will be the first show of the three artists together, and promises to be an exciting event.

Chad Pollpeter, an FSU graduate, combines figure studies and symbolic elements such as the sphere to express universality, using an atmospheric surrealism to create ethereal, emotional statements. Work such as “Avoidance” and “Tug-O-War” express themes of conflict and alienation, and many of his themes are relevant to our time.

Florida native Jason Lee’s autodidactic approach to art blends a universal spirituality with a surrealist’s eye . His artwork, with titles like “Seat of Wisdom,” “Forgotten Magic,” and “Sea Dragon” trend his work towards the mystic. Lee’s organic integration of natural and human forms are powerful images that strongly suggest narrative, and an alternate universe.

Clair Strutt moved to Central Florida from New York, and studied fine art in college. She counts Freida Kahlo and Salvador Dali among her inspirations, and her landscape and figurative work has a strong emotional basis, while retaining a sense of humor about herself and her world. “Pay Attention,” a nude wearing a lampshade being ignored by her husband, is an example of Strutt’s lighthearted approach to life.

The Creative Spirit Gallery is a cooperative art gallery, and home to members of the Artist League of Orange County (ALOC) who collaborate to bring featured artists alongside the members’ art. For more information, contact Curator Brad Biggs of BiggsLee Artistic Services. BiggsLee provides artist representation, custom art placement, promotion, and curatorial services to regional artists, merchants, and galleries. You may contact Brad Biggs by telephone at 407-923-8085, or via email at bbiggs214@aol.com.

Final ALOC Meeting Before Summer Break

First Place, Shalini Tandon (batik)

2nd Place, Gayle Bell (oil)

3rd Place, Kitty Osburn (watercolor)

The final ALOC meeting before summer break was held today at Beardall Senior Center. Prior to enjoying a nice luncheon buffet, members got to show off one of their latest artistic creations in a members-only art competition. A secret ballot was drawn up and members voted on their three favorite artworks. It was hard choosing among all the beautiful and varied paintings, but above are the lucky winners.

Doris Smart circulated a petition signing up members interested in live model sketching once or twice a month. Depending on demand, the model will pose at Creative Spirit Art Gallery or the Beardall Senior Center. The fee will depend on how many people show up to sketch, so hopefully there will be a big demand to work on drawing skills that only a live model can provide.

The next ALOC meeting won't be until September 19th, but I'm guessing the long hot summer won't put a damper on our creative instincts. This blog is always available to showcase our members' efforts and announcements. Please contact me at gayle@gaylebell.com and I'll put you on this blog as a contributor so you can post your latest creations. Happy creating to all.

New blog for ALOC members

A new blog is coming to highlight the work and achievements of The Artists League of Orange County. Keep watching for announcements and artwork!