Color on Color, Life in Layers... Visual Language Magazine Artist of the Day Annie O'Brien Gonzales

© Charming Afternoon By Annie O'Brien Gonzales

© Gorgeous By Annie O'Brien Gonzales

© Acequia #2 By Annie O'Brien Gonzales

Annie O'Brien Gonzales studied painting and art history at Oregon State University. Proficient in oil, acrylic, and mixed media, she is a colorist who creates expressive images inspired by nature. She has appeared in numerous shows throughout the West and her work is in private collections across the country.




http://www.annieobriengonzales.com/

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Jonelle McCoy is VL Magazine Artist of the Day

© Rise Up By Jonelle McCoy

© The Heat Is On By Jonelle McCoy

© Purdy By Jonelle McCoy

" I thank my great granddaddy for passing on the artistic genes to me; he is my guardian angel. His plain gray easel, spotted with his past smears, dots of painting, and little holes from pinning his reference materials to it is what I use; it makes me feel close to him. I still have some of his brushes, well-used, worn-out nubs that they are. One of my prized possessions is his pencil self- portrait. His favorite story told over and over when we visited him was about Van Gogh."- Jonelle McCoy


http://www.jonellemccoy.com/

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VL Artist of the Day Texas Artist Barbara Jones

© Granny's Mixing Bowl by Barbara Jones

© The Good Feelings of Pottery by Barbara Jones

© Copper Measures by Barbara Jones

© Copper Lanterns and Blue Willow by Barbara Jones

The beauty of the ordinary is what I try to capture in my paintings. We are surrounded by unlimited opportunities to share with others the unique qualities of color, light and form that are part of our everyday lives. Too often we overlook the simple beauty of God's creations or pass them by. Whether it's the quiet glow of a sunlit morning, the softness of a cloudy afternoon or the interplay of colors and form in a still life arrangement--I try to capture in my paintings the unique light and atmosphere of my subjects.

http://barbarajonesfineart.com/

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Visual Language Magazine Artist of the Day, Carol Jo Smidt

© Gus by Carol Jo Smidt

© Kit Kat by Carol Jo Smidt

© Sundown by Carol Jo Smidt

© Trio by Carol Jo Smidt

"My Paintings are a result of a thoughtful ongoing, creative and intuitive process. Creating Art is a spiritual journey. It is somewhat of a surprise where a painting will lead me. I find that my paintings are more vivid and saturated than real life. I see color in a subject and intensify those hues in a painting. One of my goals it to bring honor and respect to the subjects I paint. As a creator of art, I want the viewer to have a positive connection with my paintings." Carol Jo

http://www.caroljosmidt.blogspot.com/

http://www.caroljosmidt.com/

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Artspan VL Magazine Artist of the Day, Maritime Artist David Terrar

© Two Crab Boats, Hoopers Island by David Terrar

© Ran er Aground by David Terrar

© Working for a Living, Tilghman Island by David Terrar

© Snowy Woods by David Terrar

A few years ago, David Terrar had a heart attack.  While in the hospital at Washington Hospital Center,  the medical team kept referring to his "Golden Hour."  It was a polite way of referring to the last hour of a person's life.  During the recovery and rest from 14 hour work days, "The Golden Hour" caused him to observe the last hour of day light and how the colors change and shift into a golden glow as the sun is low on the western horizon.  He was challenged to imitate the golden glow in oil paintings and by using real gold (23K).  It is a unique technique as the gold has a way to mentally 

engage the viewer.

http://www.davidterrar.artspan.com/

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VL Artspan Artist of the Day, Charles F Mann, Woodblock and Linocut Prints

© African Penguin by Charles F Mann

© Belfry by Charles F Mann

© The Winds of Change by Charles F Mann

© Zebra Head by Charles F Mann

Charles F. Mann is a printmaking artist who carves woodblocks and linoleum to make limited-edition, fine art, hand-pulled prints.  It is the traditional Western-style of relief printmaking using oil-based inks on archival 100% cotton rag paper.

http://www.charlesfmannart.com/

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Artspan VL Artist of the Day Peter Barrett

© Before the Storm by Peter Barrett

© Working Boats by Peter Barrett

© The Castaway by Peter Barrett

© Furling Sail at Sunset by Peter Barrett

Successful in business throughout the years, an alum of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and currently managing the North American region for a global software and services company, Peter still finds the time to paint. He has been mentored over the years by teacher and now good friend, Elizabeth Sennett, who along with his wife, Nancy, gave him the initial encouragement to pursue his talent. For the past several years, Peter has also painted with a group of artists led by renowned artist, Donald Demers, at various locations around New England. Don's workshops have helped Peter hone his skills and expand his style and subjects.

http://peterbarrett.artspan.com/

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VL Artspan Artist of the Day Rachel Weissberger

© Rimonin by Rachel Weissberger

© Sax in the City by Rachel Weissberger

© Song for Peace by Rachel Weissberger

Rachel started pencil drawing and some painting in 1992 while her kids were attending art classses. This rapidly developed into fascination and obsession with drawing and painting so she started attending art classes, workshops and read many art books. Rachel's favorite subjects to paint are: the human figure especially dancers and musicians, horses, flowers and seascape. Rachel uses vibrant colors, bold brush strokes and her imagination to create the subject and the energy in her paintings.

http://www.rachelsart.net/

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David Forks Artist of Texas, VL Artist of the Day

© Dusk by David Forks

© Moonlight Meadow by David Forks

© Twilight by David Forks

© Sundown in the Valley by David Forks

Plain and simple, I love to paint. It satisfies my desire to create and I can enter a peaceful world of my own imagination away from the harsh realities of life as we know it. It comes from my heart and my soul which pours out of me every time I pick up a brush. I enjoy the challenge of problem solving and molding paint into form. I know I have a lot to learn and a long way to go but I feel like I am making strides in the right direction. I just want to be the best artist I can be and if by chance one day I am able to be self supportive doing so, well.... nothing would make me happier.

                                                                                               David Forks

http://www.davidforks.com

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Jason Tako, VL Artist of the Day

© October Moon by Jason Tako

© Red Reflections by Jason Tako

© Shadow Path by Jason Tako

© Evening Sheep by Jason Tako

Sometimes great things can come out of tragedy. Sometimes we learn more of who we are through suffering and trial. Any successful artist has to pay his or her dues; to work hard and go through a good number of failed paintings before they discover their artistic voice. And sometimes the struggle can be something not directly related to art, yet it can still have an 
impact on our art.

www.jasontako.com

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Valerie Travers, Artspan VL Artist of the Day

© Dramatic End by Valerie Travers

© Reflections by Valerie Travers

© Softly Softly by Valerie Travers

The Island of Guernsey, second largest of the Channel Islands, is where I live with my two sons and where I feel most comfortable. This is home, my roots are deeply embedded here.  

 Art is second nature to me, enabling a connection to the bigger picture and is also a way of expressing myself through colour and texture. I have many other outlets for my creativity, but art has been my main focus for the past twenty years.

               http://valerietravers.artspan.com/

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Dora Atwater Millikin, Artspan VL Artist of the Day

© Three Cranes by Dora Atwater Millikin

© Halcyon by Dora Atwater Millikin

© Dora Atwater Millikin

© Ship Side by Dora Atwater Millikin

© Standing By  by Dora Atwater Millikin

My work is about paint.  It is about composition and it is about my struggle with color.  I don't ever want my viewer to believe that my paintings are recorded statements on what I think I see.  Rather, I want my audience to be aware of how I have interpreted what I see and how I feel about my subject matter and how it can be transformed through paint.  Being a hands-on person, I find the activity of painting so complex that I can rarely think my way through the process, instead, I need to feel my way through.  Dora Atwater Millikin

http://www.wyndfieldstudio.com/

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Lynne Cunningham, VL Artist of the Day

© Fields of Joy by Lynne Cunningham

©  Lascaux Blue Sky  by Lynne Cunningham

© Marshes at Grizzly Island by Lynne Cunningham

© Cityscape by Lynne Cunningham

I paint the expression of a place; it’s the visual concept and sensory images that I recall or observe when I visit a locale. I try to identify and understand what I wish to say in my paintings, and then I begin and paint that expression. The atmosphere, color, movement and texture are recorded in paint to recreate the mood of a place observed at a certain moment. I paint subjects most intimate and familiar to me: landscapes and architecture, abstracts and floral.

Lynne Cunningham

http://www.lynnecunningham.com/

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