Minerva Ortiz

Artist statement: "Being a Mexican-American has made me aware that cultural differences create conflict—while they also work together to create richer experiences and opportunities. Through my paintings I want to address the multiple sides of multi-culturalism; from the confusion, ambiguity, and uncertainty that come from trying to understand and tolerate multiple viewpoints, to the rich experiences and possibilities that diversity creates.   
By using dichotomies such as: wet/dry, wild/domestic, raw/refined, fantasy/reality, inside/outside, sacred/profane, threatening/subdued, I want to create works that are complex, unstable, and perplexing; and for those same reasons, very rich.   
In the latest body of work, I’ve tried to make tangible my sense that life is complex because it is motivated by the shifting relationships between complimentary and contradictory forces. Depending on how one sees it—and this changes for me constantly—relativity can be extremely liberating and/or terrifying. Because of this, I now deeply believe in the guiding force of intuition."

See some more of Minerva's artwork

Gary Stretar - Art in the Park

Gary Sretar is another wonderful landscape artist that I came across at the Fair. These pictures don't even come close to doing his paintings justice. In person his large oils are so rich and warm with color.

Gary's art can be found at ArtPickle.

William McCarthy - Art in the Park

Art in the Park -- I love spending a beautiful spring afternoon looking at amazing art. Montclair Museum sponsors Art in the Park here in our lovely town of Montclair - and it never disappoints.

I came across some really wonderful artists.

William McCarthy, is a landscape artist who paints strictly from memory. He told me that all of his pieces are painted indoors. He sketches his pieces first in a little notepad. His sketches are probably no bigger than the size of a business card. When he's satisfied with the detail, the then paints amazing oils from his tiny sketches. His colors are gorgeous.

Check out William's website.

Jennifer Davis

Jennifer Davis paints with a soft soothing palate. Her paintings invite you into a dream like setting with  whimsical characters and creatures. 

Her newest work, however, is much more dark and biting.  Portraits of beasts or monsters are shown with a bulls eye on their chest. And while each creature seems a little more sinister, her sense of humor resonates though little nuances - such as a tiny bee-like creature buzzing around, creatures sporting a bow or stars and another visible though the spokes of a bicycle -  still all  painted in her usual pastel palate but with black backgrounds and undertones. I love the contrast.

You can check out Jennifer's website &  blog.

Her work is sold at Halogen and some of her small pieces are sold at Enormous Tiny Art.

Anne Buffum

Anne Buffum is one of my favorite artists. I've been following her for years. Years ago I discovered her on Ebay and in recent years she got picked up by Marcia Weber Gallery. I already have four of her pieces and am completely devoted to her work. She's totally self taught. Her work is ever changing and I'm always drawn to the interesting stories her painting tell.

You can find and buy her work here.

Pardon the bad photography... this bottom painting is one of Anne's paintings that I have - that I love!

Beverley Ashe

Beverley Ashe - "I'm not interested in conventional forms of beauty - rather in the kind that has scars deformities, crooked teeth, the occasional malignance. My angels are not perfect beings - but instead reflect stages of growth where hard lessons are learned and spirit is transformed."

Her paintings are all so beautiful and rich...

Check out her website

Check out her work for sale 

Sharon France

I spotted Sharon France years ago on Ebay. She paints the simple scenic calm of rural America. Each painting is so peaceful and serene. Her paintings suck you in. You almost feel like you're  wandering the grounds of a beautiful old mid western farm in an early, hazy, warm summer morning.

Check out her website.

Check out her Art on Ebay.

Nigel Conway

Last night was one of those nights that I was up until the wee hours of the morning exploring. And then I stumbled upon Nigel Conway's work... which I knew would make today's feeling of being sleep deprived all worth while. His paintings are sweet, beautifully whimsical portraits. One more wonderful than the next.

Check out his website: http://nigelconway.com/#

Lori Field

Encaustic is probably my favorite medium. It is a medium, however, that many are not familiar with. It's an ancient art form that dates back to the 4th c B.C.. The technique involves using heated wax to which pigments are added. The hot wax is then applied to a surface - usually clay board, Masonite or wood - then it's reheated to fuse. Encaustic is highly archival and extremely durable because the wax is impervious to moisture so it will not deteriorate, yellow or darken. Another plus is that encaustic paintings do not have to be varnished or protected by glass.

Lori Field is an mixed media/encaustic artist. Her work is dreamy and fantastic and her colors are so rich and vibrant. Visually there is so much to take in. The main images of her pieces are all hand drawn with colored pencils. She then collages them together with other collage elements on top of a beautifully prepared encaustic background. I've seen her work up close and it is absolutely breathtaking.

Check out her work: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41178805@N00/

Her work is sold at:

http://www.sitemason.com/page/e6eBUI