ACorkAbove.com : RSS Category Feed :: Art

jack@acorkabove.com — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:29:35 -0400

Summer's Over

It�s still summer in parts of the world, but already we are thinking about the upcoming holidays and our gift-list. Fortunately there are no gender lines in the world of spirits. So here is my gift list, and you can consider it either Gift Ideas for Him or Gift Ideas for Her, I do believe it works for everyone!

Bourbon This is a fast-growing category, according to sales on ACorkAbove.com, and new entries to the marketplace have quickly become classics. Your recipient will be quite pleased to open a gift of Jefferson�s Presidential Select, aged 17 years and at 94 proof, �ultra rare, ultra premium�. An interesting �natural proof� bourbon is Booker�s � �one of the only uncut, unfiltered, straight-from-the-barrel, bourbons available today.� These are examples of the kind of bottle that might be considered For Special Occasions and maybe not something a person would buy for himself.

Scotch Scotch is something you have to �develop a taste for� but once you have it, you have to have it. Almost as complicated as buying a bottle of wine with the various selections from each distillery, the questions are: Single Malt or Blend? Fairly young or well-aged? Even the area of production can make a huge difference in the ultimate taste. If you don�t know for sure, perhaps the Johnnie Walker Sampler is a good choice, even the connoisseur will enjoy four examples to compare. Then again, you can�t go wrong with The Glenrothes Select Reserve , a single malt favorite.

Rum Looking for something special in the Rum category? A best-seller, especially for gift-giving, is the Clement Cuvee Homere from Martinique. Created in homage of founder, Hom�re Cl�ment, it�s a blend of three of the best vintages of the last 15 years. Is your recipient a collector? You will make a hit with Khukri XXX Coronation Rum ; from Nepal, this bottle was specially developed in the shape of a "Khukri" (Dagger) symbolizing strength and power. Fun fun fun!

Tequila New in the US this year is Fat Ass Tequila, the Blanco available for a few months now, and recently the Reposado and Anejo. Don�t let the frivolous name fool you, this is a quality product that will delight the tequila-lover in your life. For something really special, consider the DeLeon Tequila Reposado, �in a class by itself.�

Cocktails Here�s a fun idea, a batch of cocktails! Everything a person needs to create the perfect cocktail at home. You can send the perfect Dirty Martini or at the other end of the taste scale, the perfect Cosmopolitan. Check out our list of Cocktail Kits, something for everyone.

Ken Austin, NWS, Watercolor

jack@acorkabove.com — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:54:21 -0400

Ken Austin, NWS
Ken has been living in Orlando, FL for 20 years. Prior to moving to Orlando, Ken was president of the Watercolor Art Society - Houston, TX, and served on the Board of Directors there for over six years. Over the past 15 years, Ken has taught lessons and presented demos, lectures and workshops privately and also taught classes for Seminole Community College for two years. In 1996 Ken founded the Central Florida Watercolor Society, which has grown to a membership of almost 300. He is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society and the Florida Watercolor Society, and his workshops are in demand from Florida to West Virginia to Michigan to Texas.

Ken's main interest in watercolor is in the exploration of color, pattern and expressive painting. Equally at home with representational or abstract painting, traditional or more experimental techniques, Ken's work has lately focused on two bodies of work: a series of paintings of monumental forms of women in domestic settings, and a group of abstracted, color-intensive still-lifes.

Dorothy Holmes, Oil

jack@acorkabove.com — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:54:35 -0400

Dotty says, "The inspiration for my art is the emotion that is generated within me by nature and the human element. My work is done exclusively in the studio. My representational work is based on my own photographs and occasional still-life set-ups. My abstract work is begun by allowing thin paint in chosen colors to run and cover the canvas until I see my intuition take over.

"The painting that emerges never ceases to amaze me when I discover that it represents thoughts or emotions I was involved with most recently. That discovery together with the feel of the oil is my joy."

Christey Krause, Photography

jack@acorkabove.com — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:54:47 -0400

Christey is a born-and-raised Floridian. Currently, she lives in Melbourne, Florida, just south of the Kennedy Space Center.

Photojournalism is Christey's background, and her photography has appeared in newspapers up and down the Space Coast. She is also influenced by the classics: "I am inspired mostly by Northern Renaissance paintings and artists and often try to recreate that lighting style with my studio work. But mainly, my photojournalism instinct kicks in and I feel that every photograph needs to tell a story."

Christey's main photographic interests are people in their environment, and the works that people create, from architecture to interesting cuisine. Christey and her husband Peter have created fotocuisine.com to explore the Art of Food.

Maritza, Watercolor

jack@acorkabove.com — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:55:08 -0400

Peruvian born Maritza is a worldwide exhibitor and signature member of national, local and international Art Societies, including National Watercolor Society; National Association of Women Artists; Florida Watercolor Society; Charter Member of National Museum of Women in the Arts; National League of American Pen Women.

She studied at Escuela de Bellas Artes in Lima-Peru; Palo Alto and Santa Barbara colleges in California. She has participated in painting workshops in Italy, France, Japan and the United States. Maritza is a frequent gallery and museum exhibitor, who also participates in major outdoor art shows.

She has won awards at National & International arts and watercolor competitions, and her paintings are featured on the covers of Art Magazines and posters for art galleries, museum, art and jazz festivals and jazz societies.

"I enjoy getting away from conventional realism by exploiting my imagination. For me experimenting and breaking all the rules are more stimulating than replicating what I see - and being happy with the results. It is splendid to watch viewers establish a silent dialogue with my paintings. They always leave smiling."

Cindy Michaud, Pastel

jack@acorkabove.com — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:55:25 -0400

Even though she painted while growing up, Cindy Michaud abandoned her palate before going to college to study political science and later, business. Numerous careers, one marriage, two children and several adventures later she returned to the studio determined to make up for lost time. �I have the space in my life now for serious study,� she says, �and I have enough life behind me for great subject matter!�

Working primarily in pastels and oils, Cindy continues to study weekly with mentor Sandy Johnson of Melbourne and to take workshops with noted artists. �Since much of my previous career involved communications and writing, I tend to feel that need with my paintings as well,� she explains. �I want to offer the viewer a story, a conversation, something he can latch onto and enjoy revisiting.�

Painting is a constant challenge and evolving a personal style is perhaps the most difficult aspect of all. �There are days when I understand very clearly why Van Gogh cut off his ear,� she laughs.

A lot of her inspiration comes from traveling (Africa, Italy, Mexico and US cities) as well as from her retreat in the mountains of North Carolina. �But as much as I love to be outdoors I prefer not to paint en plein air,� she reveals. �I do the field studies, take photos and absorb the atmosphere. Then I head back to the studio to execute.�

Cindy and her husband have lived in the Melbourne, Florida area for thirty years. She paints in her studio in Melbourne Village and writes art related and human interest features for Space Coast Living Magazine. She is member of the Strawbridge Art League, the Southeastern Pasel Society, the Art League of Daytona Beach, and the Student Art Guild of Melbourne.

James Nordmeyer (d), Batik

jack@acorkabove.com — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:55:40 -0400

James Nordmeyer died in 1985, and for all those years since the end of his interesting life, his beautiful batik artwork lay in the care of his close friend and heir, unavailable to the rest of us. It isn�t easy for her to part with it. �But it�s time,� she says.

Jim graduated cum laude with a degree in Art from the University of Cincinnati, and he went on to teach there. A friend introduced him to the ancient Egyptian technique of batik using hot wax and dyes. The images he produced are deceptively simple, belying the enormously difficult process.

But, in his own words, he had trouble with the fame he had made for himself throughout Ohio. �I couldn�t relax with my artwork any more. I was famous and it got to be nerve-wracking. I don�t want to be famous any more.� he said. He was being pushed to produce bigger and better things. �The images in my work became hostile and derogatory, and I got really depressed.�

The move to Clearwater in 1978 might have contributed a more relaxed atmosphere for Jim but only a brief anonymity; pure talent does not go unrecognized. It wasn�t long before Jim had a list of awards naming his work �1st Place� and �Best in Show� throughout Florida. His artwork began to take a prominent place in private collections such as Walt Disney World, the Ringling Museum, and Raymond James Financial. And two years in a row, 1983 and 1984, he became one of only two Florida artists who exhibited in the �Crafts as Art� Show at the Smithsonian in Washington DC.

�While it�s technically easy to dip cloth into dyes, to control the medium to achieve unified compositions and representational forms is quite difficult. The batiks by Jim Nordmeyer are some of the most proficient I�ve seen and should set the standard for the success of a batik. Nordmeyer�s approach to art is one of careful planning and masterful execution. There�s no room for spontaneity in a successful batik. While Jim Nordmeyer�s process might classify him as a craftsman, his thought processes and concepts place him in the mainstream of 1970's art.�
Ellen Brown, The Cincinnati Post, April 23, 1977

�Batik compositions � deceptively simple pieces of people and places with strong forceful lines and subtle, sensitive hues��
Christina Cosdon, Pinellas Times, July 21, 1978.

�James Nordmeyer�s art awards have ranged widely across the categories of painting, watercolor, printmaking and crafts. And every work has been a batik. �Batik.� The art of dyeing designs on cloth. But these by Nordmeyer are something else. Random lines may be useful for those who need to mask their mistakes, but this artist doesn�t work that way.
Jeanette Crane, St Petersburg Independent, February 22, 1979:

Doug Stanley, Photography

jack@acorkabove.com — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:55:57 -0400

Doug Stanley's formal education is in the life and physical sciences at the University of Florida, the University of Central Florida, and Florida State University. He is currently Chief Technology Officer at a major electro-optics company.

His interest in the technical aspect of light and photography has grown out of his involvement in light and the operation and application of lasers and digital imaging systems. "As I develop as a photographer, I am continually amazed that the artistic complexity in capturing a photograph is more than just an application of technology."

For a time Doug also found photography difficult to pursue fully because of the requirements of darkroom work. Now he finds the advance of digital image manipulation has removed any technical barriers to his immersion into photography.

Doug states: "I have always been intrigued with the various scales of images to be found in nature and man's presence in nature. There can be as much in the close-up image of the sand on a Florida beach as there is in the mountains of Appalachia. I am especially interested in capturing images of nature and man-made structures with strong lines, shadows, and reflected colors."

Linda Stanley, Oil

jack@acorkabove.com — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:56:14 -0400

A Marine Corps Brat and daughter of transplanted Florida Natives, Linda Stanley had the privilege of growing-up traveling throughout our beautiful country. She worked her way through the University of Florida, as a graphic artist for the School Board of Alachua County, earning her BFA in painting, in 1972. Linda�s decades of experience spans illustration, the graphic arts, and stage set design. A highlight of her commercial career was her six years in the Governor�s Office Graphics Department, where she was Art Director, during Governor Bob Graham�s Administration.

"My motivation for painting is the act of painting itself and the freedom it gives me to show my view of the world: bits of my Florida, the southern wetlands and mountains, and fantasies of my mind. I am pulled in many directions--from realism through surrealism. I also enjoy illustrating local color; I begin with a general idea, subject or scene, and as the painting develops, it seems to find its own way, its own story to tell. Weather, lighting conditions, and movement fascinate me."