Showing through July 2010

Patty Toth (oil painting), Mechanicsburg, PA
Patty Toth is a native Pennsylvanian who has always enjoyed nature, the woods and the change of seasons. Many of her detailed paintings represent Central Pennsylvania, east coast seascapes and the tropics. Patty has studied art at Moyer’s Art Studio in Camp Hill and has taken classes at the Art Center, School and Galleries of Mechanicsburg.   

She is a member of the Perry County Art Association, Harrisburg Art Association and Mechanicsburg Art Association and has participated in all associations’ art shows. Charitable events include the Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area “One of a Kind” art auction and volunteering at the Harrisburg Art Fest.

Currently her paintings are displayed at Gallerie 13 in Mechanicsburg, Perry County, Harrisburg Art Association and Mechanicsburg Art Associations’ Galleries, as well as many off site locations and in private collections.

Fine Art of Wallingford is located in the art studio at Patty’s home in Mechanicsburg, Hamden Township, PA, where she enjoys painting into the late hours of the night. Patty’s plans are to expand and participate in several art shows this season. “With the encouragement of friends and family, I will continue to paint and hope with each new painting I can learn, improve and be inspirited”.

Showing through July 2010

Linda Billet (fused glass), Hummelstown, PA
Linda Billet is a glass artisan working out of her Central PA studio. She is a native Pennsylvanian and former postal employee. After years of juggling art, kids’ activities, and a job, she decided to pursue her passion in art full time. Most of Billet’s work is fused glass but she also loves to mosaic glass. Her glass art is installed on restaurants and in homes as distant as Hawaii. She shows in several galleries, is a juried member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and participates in the Route 15 Artisan’s Trail program.

Billet began her craft at Harrisburg Area Community College with a year of glass blowing and continues with fusing workshops and classes, however, her craftsmanship is mainly self-taught. She prefers fusing glass which allows greater control of pattern, texture and detail. Experimenting ensures that her work is absolutely unique. Prior to glass she also artistically dabbled in metal and sewing. She enjoys the freedom of this eclectic education.

Recent works Billet has created are pieced patches of fused glass resembling quilts as well as traditional themes. Each of her art pieces start out as sheets of clear and/or colored glass. The glass is cut or broken and arranged to make stripes, bubbles, polka-dots, fruit, fish or whatever she’s interested in that day. The glass is then fused into a solid piece of glass by heating it to temperatures between 1200 and 1700 degrees in a kiln. The composition of fused glass may then be sawed, sandblasted, broken and re-fired many times before a piece is complete. Billet uses glass to color her “canvas,” sometimes with pieces that are as tiny as dust.

Billet draws inspiration from her previous experience in fabric and her passion for nature. A recurring theme is water which she feels is an excuse to work in her favorite color, blue. In working with glass she uses dimension to her full advantage, even if it is only a quarter of an inch. Billet says, “I want people to see into my work. I am flattered when people feel compelled to touch it. If someone is intrigued enough to use their fingers to see what I’ve done, then I have accomplished what I set out to do. My hope is for people to look at glass in a different way.”

When asked for an artist’s statement, Billet agrees with her grandmother who always told her, “Matching is boring.”

Showing through July 2010

Richard Messner (photography), Duncannon, PA

I have been interested in drawing all my life. I have been trained to be an architectural draftsman and have worked in the architectural/construction industry for over forty years. While in the U.S. Air Force, I administered the photo hobby shop at Kessler Air Force Base in 1969 - 70. This started my photography interest. I am basically self taught but learn from fellow members of Perry County Camera Club, West Shore Photography Club and Nikonians International.

Artist Statement
A photograph is a fractional second of history recorded so it may be shared with others. It will never be repeated exactly the same way that God gave it to us at that particular time. My goal as an artist is to share a moment in history that I have been privileged to experience so that the observer wishes they were there to feel the power and see the beauty of the world around us. Hopefully they will slow down and find their own moments in time.

Description of Technique
Since 1969, I have used Nikon cameras exclusively with a combination of Nikon and Sigma lenses. Digital photography has become my main way of capturing images for the past three years but I still keep film available. I do all of my own "post processing" and printing up to 13" x 19" prints. My best technique is to slow down, look close and use a tripod.

Showing through July 2010

Larry Shull (metal sculptures), Landisburg PA

Biography
I have taught elementary students physical education for the past 32 years. I spend my free time building or inventing things to make my life comfortable and interesting. Accomplishments have included building my home; 2 ultralight aircrafts; a moped, machinery, and inventing tools to make my home repairs more labor saving and cost efficient. In 1993, I had an article, “A Milling Machine Conversion”, published in The Home Shop Machinist. I have recently begun building rolling ball sculptures.

Artist's Statement
I utilize various welding techniques including gas, Tig, and Mig welding. Creating metal sculptures allows me to incorporate a variety of metal medias. I am fascinated and intrigued to continually improve my sculpture ideas. It is rewarding to create jigs to assist in the details of my work.

Showing through July 2010

Cathy Mabius (oil painting), Summerdale PA

Cathy H. Mabius is a professional fine artist based in south-central Pennsylvania known for her paintings that capture the nuances of light, atmosphere and color. The varied landscapes that she paints are executed in a style that has been described as a blend of impressionism and painterly realism.

Cathy has been juried into membership as a Signature Member of the International Society of Acrylic Painters, as an Associate Member of the Oil Painters of America and as an Artist Member of The American Academy of Women Artists. Cathy maintains a studio and gallery space in Summerdale , PA.

Artist Statement
Like all artists, my artwork is an extension of who I am and the experiences I have had in my life. I paint predominately landscapes and floral subjects, attempting to capture the effects of light, the sense of atmosphere and my emotional response with a sense of immediacy that the viewer can experience with me.

I often say I try to paint a “dynamic tranquility.” By dynamic, I mean the sense of aliveness, activeness and powerfulness of a scene, and the uplifting emotions experienced in response. But at the same time, tranquility can be evident as a sense of peace, a quiet beauty, and have a calming effect on the mind and soul. In some ways these two aspects seem like opposites, but in actuality, like the philosophy of yin and yang, they exist in all aspects of our lives and complement each other. I believe that we all need to experience these moments periodically to nourish us and to counteract the myriad stresses, small and large, that we store in our souls and our minds.

Showing through July 2010

"Highway Hannah" Compton (mixed media collage), Liverpool PA

This is a series of works about the psychological space of the family. We are both born and bred, many of us trading in parts of our beginning identity for a secure place in our home environment. This sets the pattern for our later life as adults. We are given the choice throughout our lives, to remain who we think we are, or to reclaim who we truly are.

"There is Something You Should Know"   Is about secrets, and how we unduly protect one another, within the family context. Either interfering with one another's decisions, or covering up what we deeply know is unhealthy, as a way of avoiding conflict.  Often times, we find ourselves running, emotionally, or physically, from the very truths we have long denied.

"Envy"  Has to do with the competitive nature that serves to undermine the safety of home. The rivalry between siblings, parents, or parent and child removes the peace from one's inner state and replaces it with the need to win. One of the ways we compete is through having possessions. Having, rather than Being, has become of such importance in the Western world that we seem to have lost our insides, our center. Thus, we fall from grace, and the unnecessary things we have built collapse because they lack a sincere foundation.

"Approval"  Shows the deep need to be loved, which can be warped into the need to be liked. Many families that focus on accomplishment, inadvertently construct a ladder of recognition. Climbing too high by constantly seeking favor from others, we trade who we are for the temporary soothe of approval. Deeds, or even desirable traits, become a validation of who we are, rather than an extension of who we are.

"Obligation" Presents a furthering of this concept, from the approval of others, to the habit of over-functioning... Not wanting to let others down, we let ourselves down, taking on far too much. In this way we almost certainly  live as captives to our own sense of responsibility: working long hours to hold the lives of others  together out of duty. Many times this is done out of love, but often it is done out of need. We feel indispensable, necessary at last.

Lawrence von Knorr (digitally enhanced photography), Camp Hill, PA

Lawrence von Knorr (1964- ) is a native of Pennsylvania who is one of the pioneers in "Digital Impressionism" or "Photo Impressionism", utilizing computer software to enhance photography to produce painterly creations. His work includes landscapes, architectural, portrait and still-life subjects.

Lawrence received a 35mm camera as a gift at age 13, and has been photographing ever since. Professionally, he has worked in the information systems field, providing numerous opportunities to travel extensively. In recent years, the love of photography and experience in computer software merged into an interest in digital fine art.

Von Knorr began exhibiting in the Harrisburg, PA area in 2006. His first New York Exhibition was in 2008.

Artist's Statement
Photography has been a lifelong passion. As a young child, I received my first camera as a gift. Soon I realized there was a completely different way to look at the world – focusing on what seemed important – at least visually. As I have progressed through the years, I developed a sense of composition, light, color and texture. In more recent years, utilizing software to enhance my photographs has opened a whole new window on the world – one which permits the introduction of fantasy and imagination to the reality of conventional photography.

With my recent work, I attempt to create works resembling oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings – printed on canvas (giclee). These photographs are enhanced to enrich the colors and expose contrasts found in them. The technique brings to life more traditional photographs, emphasizing the most interesting aspects of the scene.

A substantial portion of my work has been shot during international travel – whether for work or pleasure. My favorite subject countries have been Spain, Germany and Italy. However, you will find pictures of other European countries, islands, Mexico and the USA.

Most of my works – especially the architectural and scenery pieces – are bereft of people. I personally enjoy the potential to explore a picture – imagining I am there by myself at a certain point in time. The absence of human subjects makes the scene almost timeless – and enhances the metaphysical longing one experiences – like a voyeur into the past.
I hope to convey to you the same sense of wonder and imagination I experience in creating these pieces. Enjoy!

Tatiana Myers (oil painting & pastels), Duncannon, PA

Tatiana Myers (Kravchenko)  born in Russia in 1967. Her family gave her love to books and arts... Her Grandfather  Boris Kravchenko, was a very  talented self taught painter and poet, had two university degrees, spoke fluently 4 languages and had thousands of  books, what family was considering as their biggest treasure.

Tatiana's mother, Olga, was very good amateur artist herself, and gave to her daughter great start with her art education. From her early childhood Tatiana was in love with beauty of big world surrounding her and tried to reflect it in her paintings, sculpture and poetry. Her art exhibitions started at the age of 12 with her equine sculptures. About the same time she fall in love with book illustrations and discovered for herself a joy of work with egg tempera.

At 1984 she went to Moscow's regional University  to study biology, chemistry and esthetics. During her college years she did a lot of  botanical illustrations, worked on animals portraits and started in landscapes. She also published some of her poems. 

1995- 1998 Tatiana spent in Crimea,  Feodosia - her favorite spot on Black Sea and had an opportunity to learn on example of   some best Marine painters of Russia and Ukraine holding their regular outdoors art shows nearby famous gallery of Ajvazovskij.

From beginning of 1999 Tatiana lives in United States, Pennsylvania together with her  husband, James Myers. They both enjoy outdoors, what fits together with her old love to  animals, arts, books and photography. Her art works could be found in private collections in United States, Europe and Australia. Tatiana's favorite types of media are: egg tempera, pastels (soft and oil), ink and modern sculpturing compounds. Her favorite subjects: landscape, animals portraiture, illustrative paintings and miniatures.

Tatiana is a member of Oil Pastel Society, Central Pennsylvania Pastel Society and Society of Tempera Painters and several local Art Associations.

Tricia Shanabruch (digital art), Mt. Joy, PA
Tricia Shanabruch grew up with a vivid imagination and a love of drawing, especially unicorns with eyelashes...now expanding to fairies and various other fantasy creatures, winged things, and flowers of all types.
Enjoying art led to an interest in Graphic Design. She attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and obtained an Associate Degree in Visual Communications and a diploma in Desktop Publishing. Her chosen medium is a combination of pencil drawing and computer generated art utilizing Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
After spending over eleven years enjoying work as a Graphic Designer she moved to Ohio to be with her husband. There she worked in a jewelry repair shop to satisfy her curiosity in jewelry design, while still honing her design and illustration skills in her spare time.
She is now back in Pennsylvania with her husband and their boxer, Sammy and cat, Misty, who are a constant source of enjoyment and inspiration. Enjoying drawing, design, and crafts more than ever she continues to pursue her dream of inspiring others with her imagination.