Wava Best is a studio artist working in two and three dimensional media. Her main focus is oil painting, pottery and clay sculpture.
“Creating a work of art from the soul of the earth is my passion. My visual statement, whether captured on canvas or in clay, is influenced by love of nature. I select hues and textures that will stimulate my imagination and enhance my artwork. I strive to be innovative in the presentation. Through the years my art, and helping to promote the arts, has meant a great deal to me. I believe that the arts, visual as well as the performing arts, can enhance everyone’s quality of life.”
Her work has received awards in International, National, State and Local competitions, and has been published in state and national calendars and magazines. Her art also is included in permanent and private collections throughout the United States.
Best is a board member of IMPACT, a juried group of Nebraska Artists, a past president of the Association of Nebraska Art Clubs, Art Study League, North Platte Art Guild, Platter Painters, and a board member of Creativity Unlimited Arts Council.
She has taught art to all age groups and judges art competitions.
Her work is available at her home studio, and in galleries and gift shops in Nebraska and Colorado.
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Ken Hosmer has been a guest workshop instructor for over 60 art organizations across the United States and in exotic locations such as Italy, Greece and Mexico.
Publications:
The Artist's Magazine has published a number of his articles including,
Four Steps to Creative Color (April 1988), reprinted in Watercolor Magic (1993)
How to Paint Backward, Watercolor Magic (Summer 1994).
His painting, "Spring Calves," and accompanying article were included in Splash 4: The Splendor of Light (1996), published by North Light Books.
Art instruction videos:
Color Dynamics II,
More Dynamic Color,
Secrets of Flower Painting,
Watercolor Basics,
Figures in Motion
Ken Hosmer Paints Animals.
He is a signature member of the Southwestern Watercolor Society.
Watercolor Workshops:
These workshops are for anyone wishing to paint with dramatically enriched, yet believable color. Ken Hosmer presents two valuable learning tools: a unique color system, which is unsurpassed for developing pure transparent color schemes; and the Hosmer Design Model, a simplified way to organize and creatively interpret painting ideas. All watercolor demonstrations stress the spontaneous, splashy look.
Ken has a special gift for clearly explaining his artistic method as he paints. As a devoted teacher, he organizes ideas into simple terms and offers plenty of personal help and encouragement, making the class ideal for beginning and advanced students. A typical day might include demonstration and lecture in the morning with class work time and individual help in the afternoon. Often the class ends with a critique session.
Supply List for Workshop
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One thing that becomes obvious is the way art affects how we see the world, and how we as artists portray it. John Constable once stated, “Landscape painting is the Rosetta Stone to nature,” a quote that resonates deep within me because of my search for the interconnectedness of nature, humanity, and art.
One of the greatest expressions of human resolution is the creativity found within art. However, this temporal structured creation is inherently tragic because of choice. Choices made prior to, during, and after the creative process in addition to choices not made, tie art directly with humanity. But the worth and redeeming value of these choices comes from its intent to share: ideas, emotions, gifts, and human experience.
My intent is expressed through the mediums of drawing, painting and printmaking. Drawing is the most immediate and least encumbered medium one can use; from one’s mind to paper. I find painting is pleasurable and challenging because one has to use the language of color to create. Finally, in printmaking I find that no other media can achieve either the richness of mark making or the physical process of change that intaglio printmaking offers.
Through mark making, color, light, understanding, and my own empathy for the landscape, I strive to understand the subtle and serene beauty of the world around me for the purpose of sharing it with others.
I was born in the small town of Canby, Minnesota. At a very early age, I began drawing. Both my father, who is a professional photographer, and my grandfather, who was a gun engraver were influences growing up.
In college I was blessed to study directly from a number of great art professors that helped me learn about art and teaching art. I earned my Associate of Arts Degree from Bethany Lutheran College. I then attended and earned my Bachelor of Arts Degree from Augustana College specializing in Printmaking and a Minor in Anthropology. While at Augustana College, I received the prestigious Spitznagel Award in Art.
Directly following these achievements, I attended Kansas State University and earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Printmaking, the highest degree in studio arts that one can achieve. Currently, I teach others about art full-time in the college environment and work on my own drawings, paintings, and etchings.
Summary
• Art Instructor at North Platte Community College
• Kansas State University – Master of Fine Arts Degree in Printmaking
• Augustana College – Bachelor of Arts Degree – in Printmaking & Minor in Anthropology
• Recipient of the Spitznagel Award in Art
• Numerous national solo shows and guest lectures
• Master Printer for the Beach Museum’s 2004 gift print
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485 South Maloney Drive, North Platte, NE 69101 (308) 532-2561 sinkaball@aol.com
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Sharon H. Skinner is a two and three dimensional artist. Her background includes studies at
Mid-PlainsCommunity College and art classes from various local artist instructors as well as nationally recognized artists.
“Creating art, for me, is a deep passion that I have had all of my life. As long as I have that passion, I will travel the journey. Wherever it leads me.”
Although acrylic painting is her major media, Skinner enjoys watercolor, clay, batik, collage, mixed media and printmaking.
“I enjoy finding ways to explore my craft, using my artistic license. I like to catch the viewer a little off guard and to create a sense of enchantment through the messenger.”
Skinner’s artwork can be found in Bay Head New Jersey, Denver Colorado, Phoenix Arizona and Palm Beach Florida. Locally her work can be found downtown North Platte at the Art and Gift Gallery.
She is a member of North Platte Art Study League, North Platte Art Guild, Nebraska Woman’s Art Caucus and current board member of the Creativity Unlimited Arts Council.
Shows and Awards
• 2004 Cattlemen’s Ball Art Show in Brady NE.
• 2005 North Platte Art Guild Spring Show/a piece was selected for state from this show. Sharon has had several
pieces selected for state competition.
• Several awards and honorable mentions at the Nebraskaland Days Art Competition.
• Judge for the North Platte Community College Spring Art shows.
• Docent for the Sheldon Art Train as well as other Sheldon Shows.
• Taught various work shops in Print Making, acrylic and watercolor media.
• Featured Artist at the Noyes Gallery, Lincoln Nebraska, as a Print Maker August 2006.
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Blue Heron Art Studio • 61 South Lakeview, Brady, NE 69123
308-584-3379 love2create@msn.com
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Artist’s Statement:
I dream in color. My surrounding world motivates my desire to paint. My mind gatherers and conceives. Once the concept is formed it is all consuming. The sum of my labors selects and designs. Striving for personal satisfaction is my goal. Part of my soul is left on the painted surface.
Elected Signature Memberships:
National Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Oklahoma, Kentucky Watercolor Society, Kansas Watercolor Society, Association of Nebraska Art Clubs National Watercolor
Juried Exhibitions (awards in red are italicized):
Best of Show in the Rocky Mountain Watermedia Exhibition;
Impact – The Art of Nebraska Women exhibited throughout the Midwest;
An exhibition in The Cannon Rotunda on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC;
Paintings in Omaha’s Designers Showcase;
The Burkholder Project, University Place Art Center Exhibit both in Lincoln, NE;
Selected for Kearney, NE Mayor’s Outdoor Mural Exhibition;
Nebraska Governor’s Mansion Exhibition;
Governor’s Art Exhibit in Oberlin, KS;
Society of Experimental Artist in Florida National Watercolor Society;
Travel Exhibit National Watercolor Society;
Best National Watercolor Travel Exhibit;
Oklahoma Investment Award, Martin plus Weber Award;
New York’s Visual Artists United- Best in Watercolor;
NPVAAG National Exhibit- First Place Award;
Associations – 6 Awards of Excellence and 2 Best of Shows;
Museum of Nebraska Prairie Lights Competition; Purchase award;
NE Phi Theta Kappa Six State Regional Competition - Purchase Award;
San Diego Juried Watercolor Exhibition, California;
Nebraska’s Peru College – Purchase Award;
Sacramento “Women Artists “88”, California; Kansas Governor’s Art Exhibit, Oberlin Kansas
Publications:
Magazines:
American Artist November, 1991;
The Artist April 1991; September 1991, March, 2001
Books:
Creative Watercolor by Mary Ann Beckwith – Rockport Publishers
Watermedia Techniques for Releasing the Creative Spirit by Marilyn Hughey Phyllis – Watson Guptil
Impact-The Art of Nebraska Women – University Press
Best of Watercolor -Composition, “Best of Watercolor Texture” 1997 Rockport Press
Splash 7-A Celebration of Light - The Best in Watercolor by Rachel Rubin Wolf – 2002 North Light Books Publisher. Soon to be in up coming “Splash 9” to be released in the spring 2006
Workshops I Have Taught:
Colorado Watercolor Society;
Rapid City watermedia workshop in Rapid City, SD;
Gallery 416 watermedia workshop in St. Paul, MN; Snowmass workshop in Snowmass, CO;
Shreveport workshop in Shreveport, Louisiana;
Fremont Art Camp in Fremont, NE;
Halsey Autumn Workshop near Halsey, NE.
Speaker and Panelist:
Colorado Watercolor Society,
National Watercolor Society panel when the exhibit was in Nebraska at the Elder Gallery,
The Dahl Center as a panelist in Rapid City, SD, Needles
Threads panelist in Decorah, IA, Haymarket talk in Lincoln, NE
Served as juror for the Colorado Watercolor Society, Phi Theta Kappa Six State Regional, Nebraska Artel National Competition and many others
A Brief History:
Patsy and her husband live on a lake near Brady, NE. She creates art and teaches in her studio in North Platte, NE. The city of North Platte’s Chamber of Commerce has recognized Patsy for “Salute to Women of Achievement for Outstanding Accomplishment in the Cultural Arts Field”. She has served on the board of “Impact I and II,” a project that published an art book of Nebraska Women Artists and had a country wide touring exhibit.
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