Nancy loves color, texture and pattern. She began her painting career 35 years ago and worked predominately in watercolor. Through her pursuit for texture and passion for color, Nancy discovered the spontaneity and brilliance she could create through painting on silk, a Chinese technique that has been practiced for thousands of years. And, although silk painting is now her medium of choice, she continues to explore a variety of subjects in watercolor, pastel, oil and experimental media. Often, we see a mixture of media in her silk compositions. Through this overlaying of various media she creates buoyant color and texture with her combination of transparent pigment and the shimmer of silk. A colorist with a strong sense of design, Nancy’s work always evokes a response, whether she is creating one of her signature western figure pieces, a breathtaking landscape, a quiet corner of Venice, or a vibrant floral.
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Darrell Gray Artist Statement I spent 35 years in creative employment. Much of that time was spent designing and building luxury homes in Sun Valley. In the early 80¹s I spent four years working in Miami for a company that converted large jets into flying palaces. I also worked refurbishing the interiors of cruise ships. In 2000 my wife talked me into taking a bronzecasting class. I was completely hooked on sculpting. I soon expanded into other mediums. My work experiences gave me many of the skills I needed and gave me the fundamentals for learning new ones.My sculptures often combine four or five different mediums. I work with copper, brass, forged and welded steel, stone , glass and other materials. Ialso incorporate light and movement in my projects. I love the challenge ofone of a kind unique pieces. I incorporate mythological, archetypal,fanciful and nature themes in my sculptures..
I have always been interested in art. My mother nurtured the freedom of self -expression with children¹s art. Art was always encouraged from an early age.I received a Bachelors of Science degree in Design with a minor in art from the University of California a Davis. After College I went intocommercial art. A few years later I opened my own business designing and Silkscreening T-shirts. While running the business, I started studyingpainting with local artist, Joe Abbrescia. That led to more workshops a Scottsdale Artist School and other local teachers.Painting gives me the opportunity to express and share on canvas what inspires me in my life. I love many aspects of planet earth such as the mountains, animals, flowers, rivers and oceans as well as people.I have spent the last 35 years in Montana where nature surrounds me. Living in such a beautiful natural area gives me an endless amount of inspiration and subject matter for my paintings.
Sally began carving as a self taught hobbyist. As she perfected her skills, she turned her hobby into a career as a wildlife artist. Being a dedicated naturalist and fly fishing enthusiast, she reflects those passions in her carvings. Songbirds, owls and raptors, along with trout are hand carved with accurate detail. Sally has received countless awards and her works are held in many collections.
Sunnie LeBlanc received a BS and a MS from Boston University. Her love of art has included serving as a docent at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth for the past 30 years. Most recently, her work was exhibited at the Adobe Gallery in Fort Worth, the Bigfork Museum of Art in Bigfork, Montana and the Hockaday Museum of Art in Kalispell, Montana. She is a founding member of the Fort Worth 15 and has exhibited with the group at the Community Arts Center. In addition, twenty of Sunnie’s paintings were exhibited in the Duets Show in January of 2010.
Plein air painting competitions benefitting Prairie Fest, Camp Fire, and Bigfork Museum are Sunnie’s recent events. Sunnie lives and paints in Fort Worth, Texas, and the Flathead Valley, Montana.
