LEAH HOPKINS HENRY Portrait Artist

Isabella, My latest portrait

2012-02-01T17:15:00.000-05:00

My latest portrait is of Isabella Gray, a very happy and energetic little girl. I was really looking forward to painting this one because she is just so cute! I love the monogram on her dress and the contrast of the pinks in her bow and dress with the greens and yellows of the background. I'm pretty sure I captured her personality and confidence! Her parents were thrilled to get it.

From Photo to Final Drawing

2011-12-28T20:21:00.000-05:00

Here is another drawing that I did before Christmas. My client wanted to capture a photo of his parents from when they were engaged to be married. His father had recently passed away and he wanted a drawing to share with his family. The original photo was taken in 1958 in Alexandria, Egypt. As the drawing progressed, my client & I discussed some slight deviations from the original like lightenening some of the shadows, but all in all, I think I captured the feel of that moment. He also wanted a more consistent look of the sign in the background (not weathered as much). It doesn't really show in my photo but I used a creamy ivory paper to make it look a little aged. I think he was pleased.

Oceana - Drawing Progression

2011-12-28T19:23:00.001-05:00

"Oceana" is one of my latest drawing commissions. I thought some of you may enjoy the progression photos from beginning to the slight changes at the end.

"A Mother's Love" in the Blue Ridge Mountains

2011-08-30T00:10:00.000-04:00

"A Mother's Love" was selected to be a part of the Fourth Annual Southern Artists Guild National Exhibition, October 15 through November 12, 2011. I'm excited to be a part of this show. Join me on Oct. 15 for the opening reception at The Art Center, Blue Ridge, GA from 5 - 7PM. The exhibition will be held in the historic Richard Low Evans Courtroom Gallery and coincides with the peak autumn foliage in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia. I love the mountains and this will give me a great opportunity to be there with all the beautiful Fall colors and the wonderful art.

"A Mother's Love" is part of a series of paintings and drawings that I have been working on from Haiti before and after the earthquake. I felt very drawn to do something. My intention was to have an exhibition of many works this year, sell them and have the proceeds go back to Haiti. I haven't had as much painting time as I had hoped so the project will moved to next year. Someone said to me that they just can't help with anything for Haiti because it is so much of a lost cause and there is nothing anyone can do. There are so many missions and non-profits really making a difference in the lives of the people there. They give the children hope and make them happy at least for a while.Your donations can help one child or help build a school, or bring fresh water to an area. You can make a difference more than you know. There are many ways to help - just a little goes a long way.

"Zach at Ten" in 24th National Juried Art Exhibition

2011-08-18T09:40:00.000-04:00

You are cordially invited to the 24th National Juried Art Exhibition sponsord by the South Cobb Arts Alliance, August 20 - October 3, 2011. The opening reception is Saturday, August 20, 5 -7 PM at the Mable House Arts Center Gallery, 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton, GA 30126. Gallery Website

Atlanta Fine Arts League 5th Annual Juried Exhibition

2011-08-08T09:28:00.000-04:00

Atlanta Fine Arts League's
5th Annual Juried Exhibition

"Georgia Only"

An exhibition of works by Atlanta Fine Arts League Members

and over 40 Georgia Artists

Please Join Us!

Opening Reception at the

Roswell Visual Arts Center Gallery

located INSIDE the Roswell Area Park located at

10495 Woodstock Road
Roswell, GA 30075

August 12, 2011

7-9pm

Juror of Awards
Damon Carter

"The Reds of Autumn"

Oil

16x20

Damon Carter©

Three Paintings in Portrait Society of Atlanta Summer Juried Exhibition

2011-05-19T13:04:00.000-04:00

"Emily", along with "Daniel" and "The Luther Children", has been selected as a finalist in the Portrait Society of Atlanta Summer 2011 Juried Exhibition June 9 - July 9. Peggy Baumgaertner, and accomplished artist, teacher and author, served as the juror for this show. The exhibition will be at the Mable House Arts Center Gallery, 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton, GA 30126. Please join me for the opening reception Saturday, June 18, 5 - 7PM.

Painting Accepted in GA Artists Juried Exhibition

2011-05-06T23:34:00.001-04:00

I delivered "A Mother's Love - Haiti" to Abernathy Arts Center this week for the GA Artists Juried Exhibition. The show runs May 13th through June 24th with the opening reception Friday, May 13th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. I'm very happy to have my work included in this exhibit. It really is an eclectic collection of works from very modern and contemporary to realistic work like mine. The jurors for the exhibit are:

Stephanie Smith, Lecturer at the University of West Georgia and Founding President of the Atlanta Printmakers Studio.

Rick Berman, Potter, Author and Teacher at Pace Academy.

2011 Judge:

Michael Rooks, Wieland Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at High Museum.

254 Johnson Ferry Road, NW Sandy Springs, GA 30328 404.303.6172

"Art of Our Mothers" Exhibit at Quinlan

2011-04-13T00:39:00.001-04:00

‎‎"Jenna - Haiti" and "Zach @ 10" have been selected as a finalist in "Art of Our Mothers, 2011." The exhibition runs April 14 - June 6, 2011 at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green Street, NE, Gainesville, GA 30501.
Please join me for the Opening Reception Thursday, April 14, 2011 from 5:30 - 7 PM.

All of the artists in this exhibit are mothers and they were asked to have their child or grandchild write about what it meant to have an artist for a mother. Below is what my son Zach wrote.

Zach Henry 3/26/2011

An artist for a mother…

Having a mother that’s an artist is pretty fun. I mean, you get to go to a lot of cool exhibits and travel a lot of places! I also benefit from the talent that was passed to me through her. I’m a pretty good artist I have to say. How can you not like it? Some times it does get hard though, because she has to paint and draw a good amount of the day. I don’t like it only because of the things that I benefit from; I like the art that she draws. I mean having a talented mother who paints and draws beautiful things is the only thing that I really like it for. I really love her and I love what she does! It’s great to have an artist for a mother.

2 Pieces in "Dogwood in Springtime" at AAC

2011-04-13T00:26:00.000-04:00

‎"A Little Reassurance" and "South Carolina Sunset" have been accepted into "Dogwood in Springtime." The exhibition runs now through May 6 at the Atlanta Artists Center located at 2979 Grandview Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30305. This is always a special show for AAC every year.

Red Chalk Drawings for Valentine's Day

2011-02-08T16:53:00.001-05:00

These are 2 of my Holiday Specials that I just finished. There may be some changes once their mom sees them. I've decided I will continue this special for Valentine's Day. It's perfect to have red drawings for Valentines.

My Latest Teen Portrait

2011-02-03T17:55:00.000-05:00

This portrait was a lot of fun to do since I know these children/teens personally. It was fun to capture the their personalities. I loved the opportunity to paint a somewhat abstract painting in the background of a traditional portrait. The painting in the background was created in 1987 by Barbara Kerstetter, an artist whose work is collected worldwide. I thoroughly enjoyed working on this one. I can't wait to deliver it this weekend.

Daniel completed

2011-01-22T21:01:00.001-05:00

This is the completed portrait. Daniel, 30x24, oil on linen. This is a better photograph than the earlier post but there are also changes in shading and other things.

Getting closer

2011-01-06T18:03:00.002-05:00

This is the portrait I've been working on lately. I'm getting close to finishing it but I still see things I need to work on. Daniel is the brother of Maddalena, who I painted in December 2008. They both have the lightest blue eyes I've ever seen, as well as light blonde hair, fair skin and very red lips. I think I've definitely captured the likeness, just need to do some finessing. I'll post a better picture (I took this one) when it's completed. I'm also working on a double portrait that I will post when it gets further along.

Christmas Drawing and ... Member of Merit

2010-12-23T22:40:00.001-05:00

Here's my last drawing before Christmas. It's a lot of fun to do these. "Cameron" is the fourth grandchild I have drawn for my client.

On another note, I just found out that I received the Member of Merit status in the Portrait Society of Atlanta. It's been 4 years since anyone has been eligible. The portfolios of members who have reached juried status are thoroughly (really) graded on a point system by 3 prominent artists with different styles. I feel honored to be chosen

Newest Works - Dec.

2010-12-13T22:49:00.001-05:00

Contact me if you're interested in any of these paintings. Leah@LeahHenry.com

New Works

2010-11-07T21:32:00.001-05:00

These are my most recent paintings/ drawings. The butterflies are 8x10 oil on panel and the images are courtesy of my friend Maria Christina who loves to photograph them. The top one along with "South Carolina Sunset" (oil on panel, 12 x 16" ) will be in the Atlanta Fine Arts League Small Works Show & Sale at Binders Art & Frame, Buckhead. My good friend, Lila Campbell, took the sunset reference photo while on a wedding trip a few weeks ago. She is an awesome photographer. The second butterfly and "Chattahoochee" (oil, 6x12") will be for sale at the Jingle Bell Jubilee at Holy Innocents' School, Dec. 4th & 5th. Chattahoochee was painted by the river when I was with my artist friends. "Homemade Wine - Salerno" (oil/ panel, 8 x 11) will be part of the Rome Fine Wine Festival Silent Auction in Rome, GA, November 14th. The charcoal is a portrait commission I just completed last week. This is a busy time of year for me but I absolutely LOVE it.

"Isabelle" Wins a Ribbon

2010-09-27T23:52:00.003-04:00

"Isabelle" won Honorable Mention Saturday night at the Portrait Society of Atlanta Exhibition at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art. The show is amazing - some really beautiful pieces! Internationally respected artist, Burton Silverman, juried portraits from across the country. I feel very honored. : )

Southern Appalachian Artists Guild

2010-08-29T00:04:00.000-04:00

These 2 works of mine, "Jenna - Haiti" and "Italian Still Life with Fruit", will be in Blue Ridge, GA in the SAAG National Juried Exhibition, October 16 - November 12. What a perfect time of the year to be in Blue Ridge. Jenna is a child in Haiti and this drawing is included in a project I'm working on to benefit the families there. I will definitely post more later about this event. This still life has certainly been in a lot of exhibitions but it's sold and this will be the last time it is exhibited for a while.

Portrait Society of Atlanta Fall Juried Exhibition 2010

2010-08-28T23:52:00.001-04:00

"Isabelle" and "Stokes" will be exhibited with the Portrait Society of Atlanta Fall Juried Exhibition 2010. I feel honored to have these 2 selected by Burton Silverman. I have been admiring his work since I started painting. The exhibition will be at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art on the square in Marietta, GA, September 14th - December 12th, 2010. Please join me at the opening reception on September 25th. The venue is one of my favorite places to exhibit.

Finalists in Richeson 75 Portrait/ Figure Competition 2010

2010-08-28T23:36:00.002-04:00

My paintings, "A Mother's Love" and "Zach @10", are Finalists in the Richeson 75 Portrait & Figure Competition and "Zach @ 10" will be exhibited at their gallery in Kimberly, WI from September 2nd through October 30th. Both will be included in the Richeson 75 Portrait/ Figure hardcover book 2010.

Special Kudos for these 2

2010-08-28T23:21:00.004-04:00

My works, "A Little Reassurance" and "Her Secret Garden" were chosen as Meritorious Entries in the Richeson 75 Portrait & Figure Competition 2010. Both will published in the Richeson 75 Portrait/ Figure hardcover book this year. I can't wait to see it.

"What's That?" in Atlanta Fine Arts League Fourth Annual National Exhibition

2010-08-28T23:12:00.000-04:00

My painting, "What's That?" has been selected as a finalist in the 4th Annual National Juried Exhibition sponsored by the Atlanta Fine Arts League. The exhibition runs September 3 - 24 at the Abernathy Arts Center Gallery. The opening reception is Friday, September 3 from 6:3- to 8:30 PM. The gallery is located at 254 Johnson Ferry Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. This painting is only 6x6" and is painted on panel. I had fun painting 3 small beach paintings in this series

2 Drawings selected as part of Atlanta Fine Arts League National drawing show "Simply Drawn"

2010-08-28T22:51:00.008-04:00

My drawings, "Stokes" and "Irene", are included in "Simply Drawn 2010: An Exhibition of Monochromatic Drawings" sponsored by the Atlanta Fine Arts League.The Exhibition runs August 13 - October 1, 2010 at the Roswell Visual Arts Center Gallery. The Gallery is inside the Roswell Area Park located at 10495 Woodstock Road, Roswell, GA 30075. "Irene" is a drawing of my mom when she was in her late teens. I posted about her & this drawing earlier. "Stokes" is a red chalk drawing of my son. My mother loved him very much and now their portraits are hanging in a national juried drawing exhibit together - I love it!

Marietta Daily News Front Page

2010-07-12T11:00:00.000-04:00

A True American Treasure - Let me tell you a story

2010-07-12T00:41:00.009-04:00

I first met Ed LaPorta a few years back when a group I co-founded, Atlanta Fine Arts League, first exhibited the portraits we painted of GA's fallen soldiers from Iraq & Afghanistan. Our artists' paint the portraits and donate them to the soldier's family members. The National Museum of Patriotism hosted our "Art From the Heart" exhibit and invited some of their special patrons & heroes to help us thank, pay respect to & celebrate the lives of those who gave their all for our country. Two of the men I met there were Ed & Eddie LaPorta. They were very moved by the portraits. Since that event I have talked with them at other patriotic events and Eddie asked me about doing a portrait of his dad. I didn't want to tell him what I normally charge for portraits and I offered to paint the portrait as a thank you for his service to America. We chose a photograph of him from about 10 years ago and I incorporated his WW2 photo in his uniform. In order to know more about his life I went to his home where he showed me a basement museum with so many pictures, awards and his old uniform. He told me stories that were unforgettable. He also showed be the notice that was sent to his parents informing them of his death. He obviously wasn't dead but a P.O.W. Mr. LaPorta turned 93 on June 21, which brings me to the reason I'm writing this post in the first place. I had the privilege of being asked to be a part of a celebration of his life and I presented the portrait to him. I will post photos later of the presentation but I really just want to tell you about Ed right now.

Born in Italy in 1917, Ed LaPorta migrated to the United States with his parents when he was 16 years old. He later joined the United States Army in 1940 where he began his basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and helped to create the 1^st Armored Division. LaPorta participated in the invasion of Oran, North Africa and surrounding areas for 3½ years prior to being captured by the Germans at Kasserine Pass, North Africa, by Rommel & Co. Remaining silent during interrogation other than giving his name, rank & serial number, he was beaten & sent to a slave labor camp for 6 mths. in Reggio, Italy, then on to Stalag 3B in Furstenberg Germany for 17 mths & finally on to Stala 2B in Bugenwald, Germany for 4 mths. until he was liberated in May 1945. As Ed tells it, he and a few comrades were known as "rabble rousers", always into some mischief. He does have many stories but I will tell you about the one he told today.

As a P.O.W. his partner in gaurd was a man named Robert Gearinger, better known as "Lefty". Lefty always talked about his wife Betty back home & his little girl, Patty, whom he had never met. Ed learned everything there was to know about his friend down to the street he lived on in PA. After about 24 months as a P.O.W., Lefty came down with diptheria and was put in isolation. The "hospital" was nothing more than a broken down shack, with no doctors or medics, no nurses, no windows & no bathroom facilities.

At night, Ed, would sneak out of camp & take his friend whatever food he could find to help keep his strength up. One day, the Germans found their underground room under their barracks floor where they had a radio receiver, small caliber handguns, hand grenades, an American flag & other contraband. The Germans ordered 25 of the P.O.W's, including Ed & Lefty, before a firing squad to be shot. Only by the grace of GOD & a little help from an air raid by American Bombers did they escape that situation. At that point Lefty had been in isolation for 6 days when a German officer informed them that they were being "transferred" to Stalag 2B in Bugenwald, an 85 mile march in the dead of winter. He informed them that anyone who could not make the march would be shot & killed wherever they fell. They also knew that Bugenwald was one of the camps with the ovens & gas chambers.

Ed asked the officer about his friend Lefty and was informed that if he couldn't make the march he would be shot or if he was left at the hospital he would starve to death or be shot anyway. He suggested to the officer that he (Ed) take care of Lefty. When they brought Lefty out, he looked terrible. He was too weak to stand, let alone walk. "So what do you do with a friend who is facing certain death and has never seen his little daughter? You do what any red blooded American would do, You carry him!" It was snowing heavily and was bitter cold. Ed got the bright idea to build a sled. He used 2 boards from the wooden bunks & put on a form of seat with a headrest & footrest. He tied Lefty to the sled with his belt so he wouldn't fall off and made a rope to pull the sled. At 9 PM thay headed out for the 85 mile march.

He pulled the sled for 9 hours to an area where the snow was melting, so he could no longer pull the sled. The Germans were yelling for them to KEEP UP or be shot. So Ed took Lefty off the sled, put his arm around his shoulders and with his right hand held him by his belt and kept walking. Every so often Lefty would asked him to let him go & just take care of himself. Ed said "no way buddy, we'll make it together, you want to see your little baby don't you?". Ed says he left out the gruesome details of the march as that would be another whole story in itself.

They finally reached their destination, needless to say that the ones that made it were exhausted. Lefty told Ed that he owed him his life, that he could have never made it without him. He said his whole family would be grateful and he hoped one day that he would come to Bloomsburg, PA to meet them, especially his wife & baby girl. Ed promised him that their paths would cross again if they ever made it out of there.

They remained in Stalag 2B about 4 months until one glorious morning they woke up to no guards in front of the tent. They went outside and there were no Germans anywhere. The gates were open & unguarded so they picked up what they had and started walking through the American sector when they saw a convoy of American trucks coming to pick them up. The war was over!! They were taken to a staging area and a few days later they flew to Camp Lucky Strike in La Arve, France. There, they were put into groups according to what part of the U. S. each was going to. At this point, Lefty & Ed parted ways as Lefty was going to PA and Ed was going to California. They said goodbye and promised to meet again. They boarded different ships and headed to the good ole USA.

While in California he worked for Union Oil Co. but transitioning from war to civilization was very difficult. He had bad dreams and nightmares and put his fists through a few walls. Ed discussed all of this with his boss who was very understanding. He gave him 12 months leave of absence with the promise that if he returned within the 12 months he was assured any job he wanted in the organization. That Friday he got paid and went to the bank to get travelers checks, then home to pack 2 suitcases. That night he left.

He was on the road about 2 months, stopping in about 20 states visiting his P.O.W. buddies. After New Jersey he headed to Bloomsburg, PA to visit Lefty & meet his family. He never wrote or called to let Lefty know he was coming because he wanted to surprise him.

When Ed approached town he recognized all the landmarks Lefty had told him about during the war. Somehow, without directions, he knew just how to get to Lefty's house. He drove up , got out of his car and knocked on the door. A young mother & child opened the door and without a word spoken they just looked into each other's eyes. After about 20 seconds of total silence, she said O My God, it's Ed LaPorta! She just hugged him & cried and couldn't stop thanking him. "Had it not been for you I would not have a husband and my baby would not have a father". The little girl Patty was tugging on his trousers, he turned to her and patted her on her little head and said "Hi Sweetheart". She looked up to him and said, "Uncle Ed, thank you for my daddy!"

More than 60 years later, Ed remembers this vividly and says he will never forget & with everything he went through, this made it all worthwhile!

Ed LaPorta has won many medals and among them are 3 Purple Hearts.

Metro Montage X Opening Reception

2010-07-11T17:35:00.000-04:00

Last night's opening of the Metro Montage X at the Marietta/ Cobb Museum of Art was a huge success. There were around 300 people there enjoying the beautiful works of art being exhibited. This is a "must see" show. The range of style and mediums offers something for everyone to admire. Most of the shows that I exhibit with are figurative or portraiture and of course this piece is a still life. It's so nice to exhibit with many genres of art using mediums which include photography, sculpture, oil, pastel, acrylic, even yarn. Sally Macaulay, the director of the museum, and the Board has done an amazing job with curating the permanent collections as well as the types of exhibits they have there. Next month the museum will have their very popular Martinis & Music, and I, for one, will be there to hear some good music - martini in hand.

Irene, My Mom

2010-07-05T14:44:00.006-04:00

I found an old black & white photo of my mom recently. The picture is one that I have always loved of my mother so I created this drawing from it. She was very young and worked in the office of a textile mill (Pepperell Manufacturing) in Lindale, GA when this was taken. I think my father snapped this picture. I love it so much because she looked so beautiful, innocent and worry free. I look nothing like her; She was part Cherokee with dark hair, brown eyes and olive skin which is nothing like me. My brother, Greg, looks a lot like her as does his daughter. She passed away 4 1/2 years ago. She had some serious health problems and didn't look much like the person in this picture. She was super caring & sweet and always put everyone before herself. Irene was the wonderful mother of 4, my 2 older brothers and my twin sister, Lynne. She also had 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. I miss her so much.

Newest drawing for Haitian project

2010-07-05T00:53:00.000-04:00

This one in Metro Montage at the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art

2010-06-04T12:21:00.003-04:00

"Italian Still Life with Fruit" has been accepted in the Metro Montage X Exhibition sponsored by the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art. The Opening Reception is Saturday, July 10, from 6-8 PM, 30 Atlanta Street, Marietta, GA 30060. There will be an $8 admission fee. The exhibit runs July 10 - September 11. I hope to see you there.

Drawings at the Quinlan Gallery

2010-06-02T22:38:00.006-04:00

Three of my drawings, "A Mother's Reassurance", "Borne Girls", and "Rising", were chosen as part of the Portrait Society of Atlanta National Juried Summer Exhibition. This is a drawings only show. I love drawing and I'm happy to be exhibiting at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville, GA. The opening reception is Friday, June 11th at 6pm. The exhibition runs through July. ("Rising" is cropped for the internet)

"Her Secret Garden" wins a Merit Award in the Portrait Society of Atlanta Spring Juried Exhibition 2010

2010-05-09T20:22:00.007-04:00

I was happy to have my friends & my sister & her friends at the opening reception last night for the Portrait Society Exhibition. I had 2 paintings in the show including a portrait of Lynne.

Latest Project - Haiti

2010-05-04T22:42:00.002-04:00

"A Mother's Love", oil on linen, 30x24

This is my latest painting but I think I still have some "tweeking" to do. In the months to come I will be creating many portraits of children from Haiti - most with happy smiles. I'm working with a missionary who has been in Haiti for many years and was there during the earthquake. He is such a bright light in the lives he touches and he's an awesome photographer. He captures the beautiful spirit of the innocent children whose lives were hard even before the earthquake. His photographs also capture the sad moments and the devastation since the earthquake. I'm planning an exhibition of these paintings and a good percentage of the proceeds will go directly to his mission in Haiti. I want to put these innocent faces in the public's view so that we don't forget the major disaster and all that these people have lost and how much they need. More posts will follow.

"Lynne" & "Secret Garden" in Juried Portrait Exhibition

2010-04-14T21:27:00.001-04:00

"Lynne" and "Secret Garden" were both chosen to be included in the 2010 Portrait Society of Atlanta Spring Exhibition. The juror for this exhibit is Dawn Whitelaw, a nationally respected portrait artist from Nashville,TN. The show will be at the Gallery at Paper Mill (a new venue) at 255 Village Parkway, Ste. 320, Marietta, GA. The opening reception will be Saturday, May 8, 2010, from 6-9pm. Light refreshments will be served. I hope you can join me there. The exhibition runs through May 28th.

My Latest Drawing

2010-04-14T00:29:00.000-04:00

I've been in the mood to draw recently as a diversion from painting. "A Little Reassurance" is a 22x15 charcoal. It's not a commission for anyone, I just felt like creating a drawing that tells a story. The little girl is the subject of a portrait I did a couple of years ago. She was a little apprehensive the day I took photos so she was holding her mother's hand. I drew the daughter low in the compositions to show that she is small and just added the hand to tell the story.

AFAL Reception photos

2010-04-06T00:45:00.002-04:00

"Zach @ 10" Wins Blue Ribbon

2010-03-29T00:28:00.002-04:00

What a fun night Saturday night was. I saw lots of friends, some I hadn't seen in years, at the opening reception of the Atlanta fine Arts League Exhibition at the Marietta Cobb Museum. It's such a great opportunity to exhibit in that beautiful space. You must get by to see the show. It will be open through June 26th. It was an honor to receive First Place among so many outstanding pieces. The jurors for the show were Karen and Neil Hollingsworth. Both are nationally recognized and highly accomplished artists. After the reception I got dance to my husband's band at a fundraising gala. It really turned out to be just a great evening.

Do you see the difference?

2010-03-18T13:47:00.000-04:00

After I sent the last photo to my client, he called to say he loved it but his daughter pointed out that crabs are caught in the summer when the grass is green. I painted it as he sent it to me & I'm so glad he told me because I would have never known. I also made some other minor changes. Again, the colors seem to be off when I post to my blog. This photo seems muted and the skin tones are not as vivid as the original painting. I think I'm finished.

Atlanta Fine Arts League at Marietta/ Cobb Museum of Art

2010-03-16T15:07:00.001-04:00

Atlanta Fine Arts League will spotlight it's members with an exhibition at the Marietta/ Cobb Museum of Art. The opening reception is Saturday, March 27th, 6 - 8PM. The show runs through June 26. Guests are welcome to the reception. There will be light refreshments and a cash bar. The fee is $8. I hope you can join us for a wonderful evening of art. AFAL was created in 2005 as an artist's collective by a group of Atlanta area professional artists (I am one of them), working in representational genres to create opportunities for exhibitions, art and business education. We also offer opportunities for community service by bringing awareness and attention to various issues that affect our community as a whole. By sponsoring various arts projects, events and exhibitions designed to enrich the community, our artists are able to give back in their own unique way.

Something I've been working on

2010-02-27T15:11:00.001-05:00

I've been working on this portrait for quite a while now. The client, the son of the woman in the portrait, lives near Charleston, S.C. and originally wanted a totally different painting. He wanted a drawing of his mother holding this crab but with the crab in full color and no background. She was in her late 80's and he wanted this particular photo of her from the 70's or 80's? She died unexpectedly after he commissioned me so I really didn't want to make her less important than the crab. I decided to paint all of it. She owned a seafood restaurant for most of her life and her son now wanted something to really say something about her and her life. The original photo was taken in her yard. Her son sent pictures of the bay and asked me to add it in the background. He also sent other photos of her smiling (which I used) because she was grimacing in the original. I still have a good bit to work on but it's finally to a point that I can see where it's going. The client also sent photos of jewelry that he wanted added so I put the rings on her fingers and still need to work on them . I should post the original photo I was working from - it was very faded, overexposed and pixelated. I hope he likes the way this is going.

Mini paintings for a big event

2010-02-01T21:57:00.002-05:00

These are 5x7 canvases that I painted and donated to the Holy Innocents' Fine Arts Alliance as part of a Mystery Artist Gallery. It was part of an art sale & fashion show fund raiser which was a very successful event.

My latest drawing

2009-12-19T12:38:00.000-05:00

I just finished this drawing. I absolutely love working on these charcoal drawings. The girls are so beautiful in their own right. The older girl has many of her father's features and the other looks exactly like her mother. I have 2 more drawings to finish before Christmas but they are coming along. I will post them when I finish them.

Small Works just in time for the Holidays

2009-10-27T11:23:00.003-04:00

These are four new oil paintings ranging in size from 5x7 to 8x11 that will be included in the Atlanta Fine Arts League Small Works Show & Sale. The exhibit runs from November 3rd - 30th at Binders Limelight Gallery located at 3330 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta, GA 30305. You're invited to the opening reception Saturday, November 7th, 4 - 6pm. There will be many tiny treasures to spruce up your home for the holidays or to give as gifts. I wanted to create some sunny beach paintings to warm up from the rainy days we've had here lately. Beach house anyone?

Portrait of Lynne

2009-10-18T00:17:00.005-04:00

It's really strange painting my twin sister; I can't believe I've never drawn or painted her before. I really twisted her arm to go with me this week to Rome, GA to be my model for a portrait demonstration at my workshop there. It was a very quick demo - maybe about 1 hour 15 minutes. I got the best part of it done then I brought it home and worked on it about another 5 1/2 hours. I just had to make it look like her and more finished because I liked the way it was turning out, also, I'll be giving it to her. It was nice when her husband and twin sons saw it tonight and thought it looked just like her. There is nothing like painting from life. The colors and dimensions are very important, even if you finish with photographs when working on the likeness.

Gryffin sees his portrait

2009-10-07T10:36:00.000-04:00

A client (& friend) just sent this to me. I think it's so cute! It wasn't planned, they just walked in and saw him looking at his portrait. I really enjoyed doing the charcoal drawing; I should do more......Maybe around Christmas time.

Portrait I'm working on

2009-10-04T18:58:00.006-04:00

This is a portrait I've been working on for a while. It's not finished but it is close. The mom wanted her son in a white shirt but I painted it pink because that's what he was wearing & I think it looks good with her white dress. What do you think? She might want it changed so next time you see it the shirt will most likely be white. This has been pretty difficult due to the many photos we had to work with. Notice how different their skin tones are. I hope she likes it!

Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville - 23rd Annual National Juried Exhibition

2009-10-03T00:00:00.001-04:00

"Italian Still Life with Fruit" and "Amanda with Violin" were selected in the Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville's 23rd Annual National Juried Exhibition. The juror, Annette Cone-Skelton, is president/CEO for the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia. The opening reception and gallery talk led by Ms. Cone-Skelton will be Sunday, November 8th, 3 until 5 p.m. at the Cultural Arts Center, 8652 Cambellton Street, Douglasville, GA 30133.

Atlanta Fine Arts League Announces GPB Emmy for Art From the Heart Segment

2009-09-22T22:06:00.005-04:00

It is with great honor we announce that Georgia Public Television's State of the Arts segment about Art From the Heart won an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement: Television News and Program Specialty Excellence.

The segment aired in January 2008 and follows three of the Atlanta Fine Arts League's founders and artists, Lisa Gleim, Leah Hopkins Henry and Geri Zaki and the families of the soldiers they painted, Army Specialist Jamaal Addison, Army Specialist Justin W. Johnson and 1st Lieutenant Tyler Hall Brown. This project and the GPB segment honors Georgia's Fallen Heroes and their families.

To view the segment please visit Georgia Public Broadcasting.

To view the Gallery of Heroes visit Atlanta Fine Arts League.

Thank you to all of the Soldiers and their families for their sacrifice to this great nation.

Sincerely,

Atlanta Fine Arts League

Continuing on my art journey...

2009-09-19T13:12:00.003-04:00

I'm very excited to have my painting "Her Secret Garden" accepted in the Virginia Avery Memorial Art Exhibition, sponsored by the National League of Pen Women and the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art. The opening reception will be January 9th and the show runs through March 16th, 2010. I'm happy to have my work hanging in such a beautiful venue.

Workshop for the Rome Art Coterie

2009-09-19T11:29:00.003-04:00

Earlier this month I conducted a workshop for the Rome Art Coterie in Rome, Georgia. It was the first of a 2 part series. We tried something different by having the workshop 2 months apart during their regularly scheduled meeting. This only gave me less than 3 hours after the brief announcement at the beginning. I was asked to do a lecture/ demonstration for the first half and then the students were to apply what they learned in their own medium in the 2id half. It got a little crowded because their were 23 students using every medium possible. I was very pleased to see the watercolors, oils, acrylic, pastel, charcoal and colored pencils. I don't think I have had a workshop with so many different mediums. It was great because the principals I was teaching (composition, shadow shapes, value) apply to all of them. I had to set up a still life from 2 sides because of the shape of the room and the number of students. One of the photos below is a photo of my demonstration. I was actually looking down on the subject more than I like but it made it interesting and a little challenging to draw. I got the painting drawn, blocked in, and got the fruit, bowl and background painted in before I had to stop. I quickly added the leaves and finished the candlestick in my studio so I can take it back next time. You can see my painting on an easel in some of these photos. I thoroughly enjoyed all the people there and I look forward to October 13 when I demonstrate a portrait!

"Zach @ 10" Wins Award

2009-09-18T16:41:00.004-04:00

I took my son, Zach, to the opening of the Portrait Society of Atlanta Fall Exhibition Opening last night. He really wasn't happy about going, but when my painting of him received an award he was very happy.
The show was juried by the distinguished artist, Michael Shane Neal. If you get a chance, you should definitely get by to see the exhibit - it is one of the best portrait exhibitions I have seen in a long time and the gallery is beautiful. The exhibit runs from September 17 through December 31 and is in the Hudgens Center for the Arts, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Bldg 300, Duluth, GA 30097.

Stokes @ 9

2009-08-31T18:02:00.003-04:00

Well, I had to paint a portrait of Stokes now because I will move on to other things and never get around to it. I want to hang it Zach@10 so I tried to keep it close in color. Stokes is much more fair than Zach, which made it interesting. It's rare to see Stokes when he's not smiling but he does look at me like this quite a bit!

3 Paintings in Portrait Society Fall 2009 Juried Exhibition

2009-08-27T23:46:00.004-04:00

"Maggie", "Stokes", and "Zach@10" were accepted in the Portrait Society of Atlanta 2009 Juried Exhibition. The juror is the distinguished artist Michael Shane Neal. I again feel honored to be recognized in this way. It's really fun for me because I have never entered portraits of my children in these National Shows and Zach & Stokes are my boys. I have a painting of Stokes picking out a pumpkin in the South Cobb Arts Alliance National Show but it's not really a portrait of him. Zach @10 is also hanging in the Atlanta Artist Center show at the Limelight Gallery. I think I'll take them both to the opening so they can see their portraits in the exhibition. The exhibition is September 17th - December 31th at the Hudgens Center for the Arts, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Building 300, Duluth, GA 30097. Please join me for the opening reception on Thursday, September 17th from 7 - 9.

Reception photos

2009-08-17T02:03:00.013-04:00

Photos with juror Ed Horlbeck & me discussing my painting at the Atlanta Fine Arts League National Exhibition reception, Friday, August 14th at the Roswell Visual Arts Center. Thomas Bateman, an artist friend, took these photos

2 Paintings in Atlanta Artists Center Show

2009-08-17T01:26:00.004-04:00

"Zach @ 10" and "Orange Vase" accepted in Atlanta Artists Center Juried Show at the Binders Limelight Gallery in Buckhead on Peidmont Rd. The exhibition runs through August.

2 New Honors for My Paintings

2009-08-17T00:50:00.005-04:00

My Painting, "Her Secret Garden" won First Exceptional Merit Award at Atlanta Fine Arts League National Juried Exhibition. The awards were given out at the opening reception Friday night at the Roswell Visual Arts Center. The juror, Ed Horlbeck , was very complimentary of the pieces included in the show. The turnout for the reception was great and the quality of the work is exceptional. You should try to get out & see the exhibit.

Another painting, "Italian Still Life with Fruit" is a finalist in Art Kudos International Juried Art Competition & Exhibition. It is a huge honor to be a finalist in this annual competition. This year 132 artists representing 15 countries (Australia, Canada, China, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, and the United States) were accepted into the show. There were around 1200 entrants. To view the exhibition, go to http://www.artkudos.com

I had to make a change

2009-07-23T15:24:00.009-04:00

OK, I loved the painting that I posted of Zach earlier but the more I looked at it something just didn't seem right. I did the painting pretty fast which is why it has such a fresh look but I had his right eye too far out. I brought his eye in, raised it slightly and narrowed the right side of his face. My husband & biggest critic (which is helpful) thinks this looks more like him.

Zach at 10

2009-07-21T13:10:00.005-04:00

This painting was done in 4 hours. It's so much fun to just have an idea and paint exactly what I want. I forget sometimes to do this. I love painting portraits and so many of mine have lots of things going on; that makes this so refreshing. I'll paint my other son Stokes when he comes home from Papa's house. I have not painted them every year and I wish had, but now I can start recording them at these precious ages before they won't let me paint them any more.

"Her Secret Garden" accepted in Atlanta Fine Arts League 3rd Annual National Exhibition

2009-07-15T13:55:00.007-04:00

This painting will be in Atlanta Fine Arts League's National Exhibition at the Roswell Visual Arts Center, inside Roswell Area Park, 10495 Woodstock Road. The juror is Ed Horlbeck, an award winning commercial and fine artist whose painting was recently featured on the cover of the March 2008 issue of The Artist's Magazine. The opening reception for "Observations" is August 14th, from 7 to 9 pm. It is open to the public & refreshments will be served. I hope you can come by! "Her Secret Garden" is one of my favorite paintings of mine and I'm happy it is being exhibited. The show runs through October 2nd.

2 Paintings in 22nd National Juried Art Exhibition of the South Cobb Arts Alliance

2009-07-10T23:55:00.007-04:00

"Isabella & Edward" and "This One's Mine" were accepted into the 22nd Annual National Juried Art Exhibition by the South Cobb Arts Alliance. The juror for the exhibition is Tommy Mew. It's an honor to have these paintings in an exhibition with outstanding artists from all over the country. The opening reception is August 22nd , 7:00 - 9:00PM at the Mable House Arts Center, 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton, GA 30126. The show runs through September 28th. "Isabella & Edward" is a portrait of the children of a really good friend & her husband. I had so much fun creating it. There are many elements in the painting that are special & meaningful to their parents. "This One's Mine" is an alla prima (painted in one session) painting of my son, Stokes, as he was picking out his pumpkin for Halloween.

Painting accepted in Juried Art Competition

2009-07-10T23:06:00.005-04:00

"Amanda with Violin" was accepted for the Artist Guild of Northwest Georgia's 1st Annual Fine Art Juried Competition. The opening reception is Saturday, July 18, from 5 - 7 pm at the Booth Art Academy. The show runs from July 18 - August 14 at 1 North Gilmer Street, Cartersville, GA 30120.

Walker

2009-06-18T14:07:00.007-04:00

I just finished this portrait of Walker. I will be delivering it tomorrow to his grandparents in Braselton. I was commissioned to paint this by Walker's grandfather's company out of Texas. The company surprised him with this gift. I photographed Walker in mid November and I had to move some things around to get the elements that the client wanted in the portrait. It's really been a pleasure working with this family and his company. I hope they'll enjoy this youthful reminder for many years to come.

"Maggie" wins award

2009-06-09T01:02:00.014-04:00

My painting of Maggie won an Honorable Mention at the Portrait Society of America Summer exhibit jurored by Michael Del Priore. I was very pleased. There are a lot of really good paintings in the exhibit. If you get a chance you should get by to see the show. It's at the Mable House in Mableton, GA.

Three Paintings in Portrait Society of Atlanta Summer Juried Exhibition

2009-06-05T18:47:00.005-04:00

"Maggie" (shown), "Maddalena", & "Nicholas" are accepted into the Portrait Society of Atlanta Juried Summer Exhibition. The opening reception is Saturday, June 6th, 7 PM at the Mable House, 5239 Floyd Rd., Mableton, GA. The juror for the show was Michael Del Priore, a nationally recognized artist. It's an honor just to be selected but I was very happy that all 3 of my pieces got in. The show runs through July 6th and is sponsored by the South Cobb Arts Alliance. The images of the other 2 portraits are in earlier posts on this blog.

Art From the Heart - You must watch for Memorial Day.

2009-05-24T17:58:00.002-04:00

I just realized that my husband posted this video on my blog. We were going to put a link to this video which I have posted before but the earlier link doesn't work any more. I wanted to keep the memory of our fallen soldiers alive on this Memorial Day. Since it's already up, Let me explain what it is. GPB did a feature story on Art From the Heart, a project of the Atlanta Fine Arts league, which I co founded. Art From the Heart artists have put in hundreds of hours to paint the portraits of Georgia's fallen and donate them to their surviving family members. It is not a political statement on our part. As a matter of fact our artists have many different ideas about the war. No matter how you feel about the war we hope you will always honor and respect the soldiers and their families who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. This video follows 3 of the families and the artists they worked with to create a memory that will last a lifetime. The artists featured in this special are Lisa Gleim, Geri Zaki and myself. We honored the families with a reception at the National Museum of Patriotism in September 2007. This aired in January 2008. There are 2 parts so be sure to watch both parts - it's very touching.

Still Life Wins Third Place

2009-05-17T17:36:00.003-04:00

Italian Still Life with Fruit won Third Place in the Olde Town Gallery Juried Exhibition in Conyers, GA. My family went to the reception. My sons Zach, 10 & Stokes, 8 made the most of being dragged to another art event. I was very impressed with the gallery and the studio space there.

Maggie

2009-04-11T20:55:00.007-04:00

This is my latest portrait, Maggie. I painted her sister, Caroline, a couple of years ago so I had to make it the same size - they may hang in the same room. Caroline's portrait had a Spring setting and this one is Fall. I took this picture and, as always, I will post the better photo when I get it.

AFAL at Quinlan

2009-04-11T12:00:00.012-04:00

Atlanta Fine Art League has it's members exhibition, Contemplations, at The Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville now through June 7th. This is a beautiful exhibit with works from 31 artists. You should definitely get by to see it before it ends. I have 5 pieces in the exhibit. The Gainesville Times reviewed the show. Click the link below to read the article.

http://www.GainesvilleTimes.com/news/article/17212/

Atlanta Fine Arts League
"Contemplations" 2009 Members Exhibition
April 2 - June 7, 2009
Quinlan Visual Arts Center
514 Green Street NE, Gainesville GA 30501
770-536-2575 -- http://www.quinlanartscenter.org/

Rome Art Coterie National Exhibition

2009-04-01T15:59:00.005-04:00

"Italian Still Life with Fruit" is accepted in the 7th Annual Rome Art Coterie National Exhibition. The exhibit will run March 31 through May 1 at the RACA gallery, 248 Broad Street in Rome. The opening reception will be Friday, April 3, at 6 p.m. at the Rome Area Council for the Arts Gallery.Admission to the exhibit and the reception is open to the public and is free. If your in the neighborhood Friday evening please come to the opening. I'm planning to be there.

Her Secret Garden

2009-03-28T00:23:00.006-04:00

I don't know why my pictures look faded when I post them on my blog, but they do. Anyway, this is my latest painting and I think I'm finished with it now. A friend of mine, Fran, came up with the title; sort of Alice in Wonderland-ish.

Something I'm working on

2009-03-06T23:46:00.006-05:00

This is a painting I've been working on while I'm working on 2 portraits. It's unusual for me to have 3 paintings going at one time. So far it's working out great. It keeps each painting fresh. Hopefully I will finish the portraits in 2 or 3 weeks and then start on another one. This painting is very wet so I'm putting it aside to let it dry and then I'll add some color glazes and correct some things things I noticed when I posted this. I could be working on this one for a while. I love the composition.

A Special Gift

2009-02-22T22:39:00.009-05:00

The special lady in this portrait, Mrs. John Portman, just turned 80. Her children commissioned me to paint this portrait from a photo from about 20 years ago. It was very important for me to make it a perfect gift for them to give her. She was very touched and very happy. That makes me happy. I will get a better photograph - but you get the idea.

I'm featured in Atlanta Style & Design Magazine

2009-01-31T15:45:00.007-05:00

Check out the Winter 2009 issue of this magazine. Here's the link http://atlantastyleanddesign.epubxpress.com/link/asdm/2009/win/40?s=0

2 hr. drawing from life today

2009-01-30T17:18:00.005-05:00

I went to my life painting group today and wasn't in the mood to paint so I drew this charcoal of our model. Her name is Ann. I'm really enjoying drawing more these days. I do so many paintings, but with charcoal it's fun to start and finish something so quickly.

A New Day

2009-01-20T15:18:00.011-05:00

I just completed this charcoal drawing of President Obama as he was being sworn in. I was asked to do this by a client in Washington. The nation is very hopeful and I wish our new president the strength and ability to carry out this new responsibility with success.

The Last One/ Herschell

2008-12-24T12:56:00.002-05:00

I finished Herschell this morning at 4 am. I'm just a little tired. Anyway, this is my final creation before the new year. I figured out that I have done about 40 paintings/ drawings this year. I've been very busy. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Maddalena

2008-12-23T00:43:00.012-05:00

This is my last oil portrait before 2009. This beautiful little girl was very fair with the most beautiful blue eyes and impish kind of smile. I thought the red dress may be too much for such a delicate child but I think it works well with her complexion. I will deliver it tomorrow so they will have it for Christmas. I still have 1 more drawing to do before Christmas; it's a charcoal of a Basset Hound named Herschel.

Red & White drawings

2008-12-15T22:08:00.008-05:00

These are 2 of the red chalk drawings that I am doing for Christmas. I think these are a great way to have a child portrayed in a unique piece of original art.

HOLIDAY SPECIAL

2008-12-02T00:05:00.004-05:00

This offer is to my friends who want something extra special for the holidays. It's only for December and it's first come, first served.

Thanksgiving weekend

2008-12-01T23:12:00.010-05:00

My family, my sister's family and my cousin's family always go to the mountains just after Thanksgiving dinner and stay through the weekend. My boy's look forward to it every year. The photos above are of my boys and my nephews (the big boys that are actually juniors in college) and my cousin's girls, Ginny and Allie. We were in Brevard, North Carolina this year. It really doesn't matter where we go it is just a special time to be with all of them. When I get a group picture I will post it too. This time, I spent some time drawing while the other girls went shopping. I did a very fast charcoal sketch of Ginny and Allie and a drawing of my son Stokes in red pencil. As always, it was a wonderful trip and we can't wait til next year.

This is Nora

2008-11-17T13:08:00.004-05:00

Presentation to the family of Spc. Ryen King

2008-11-17T11:34:00.014-05:00

I took a beautiful drive to Royston, GA yesterday to give the portrait I painted of Spc. Ryen King to his family. I talked to and emailed back and forth with Carmen Jordan, Ryen's mother, but I had never met her. Her husband, Harold Jordan, had sent photographs of Ryen for me to work from. I was a little surprised at first that Carmen wanted me to paint Ryen's portrait with him looking down. I told her that the eyes are the window to the soul and that she might want to select another photo. She really loved the photo of Ryen with his catcher's vest and his long hair. There really is something telling in the photo. As I painted his portrait I began to really feel his presence. I'm so happy that his mother chose the photo that she did. The painting has a special feeling and I love the way it turned out.

After driving past their house twice, I pulled into their driveway where I was greeted by Ryen's step father, Harold. As I took the portrait out of car he had tears in his eyes. I turned the painting around so Carmen couldn't see it as I was walking in the house. Ryen's grandmother, his sister Kaitlin and his baby sister were also in the room. When I turned the painting around they all started to cry. Kaitlin was especially emotional, she had to leave the room. She was very close to her brother and wants to make him proud. She's a star catcher on her fast pitch softball team. I visited with them a while and looked at lots of photos of Ryen. I could tell he was a very special brother and son and is truly missed. I'm from a small town in Georgia and being in their home felt very comfortable. Before I left I got to meet his sister, Lauren, who his a senior and a cheerleader for Franklin County High School. Meeting families like this makes me feel so honored to paint portraits of Georgia's fallen and hope that the portrait can bring them much comfort in years to come.

The portrait was done as part of Art from the Heart, which I have posted about several times. To see a detailed image of Ryen's portrait, go back in this blog where I posted a good photo.

2008-11-12T14:40:00.001-05:00

Atlanta Fine Arts League

Small Works Exhibition Sale

DATE: November 14-December 15, 2008
DAILY HOURS: Mon-Fri 9-9pm/Sat 10-9pm/Sun 11-6pm
LOCATION: Limelight Gallery at Binders Art Supply Frame

3330 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta 30305

OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, November 15th 3-6pm

This is a wonderful opportunity for you to add to your collection or give the
gift of fine art this Holiday Season.
There is something for every budget with works priced between $45 - $1500

2008-11-06T16:35:00.003-05:00

I just found out that I got 2 Honorable Mention Awards last night at the Portrait Society of Atlanta Fall Exhibit opening reception. I wasn't able to attend but I'm very happy with the awards.

Newest, Nicholas R.

2008-10-29T17:38:00.007-04:00

This is Nicholas. It was a real challenge to get a good photograph of him. He had such a sweet disposition and was very content playing with his trains. He wasn't at all interested in having his pictures taken. The toy trains in the portrait seemed to be his favorites. We settled on this photo but his body was in an awkward position so I put the body from another photo with this face and used a different background. His mother said it captured him perfectly. I wanted to capture him the way he is now for years to come - and I think I have done so.

Any difference?

2008-10-18T11:06:00.009-04:00

I am finished now. I darkened the lower corner areas to draw the eye higher. I also pushed the orchid back a bit. I din't want to eliminate the table legs completely since it is her grandmother's. I also worked on the hands and shadows a bit and softened some lines in her skirt. These are small changes but I think it helps. Now that I look at the photo, I might take back the flower a bit more. I used a glaze so it might just be a reflection that makes it look lighter.

Two more in Portrait Society of Atlanta Juried Fall Exhibition

2008-10-15T23:52:00.007-04:00

Both of these paintings, "Amanda with Violin" and "Syah", have won previous awards. They have just been chosen as finalists in the Portrait Society of Atlanta Juried Fall Exhibition. The juror for the show is Edward Jonas, an internationally known artist and sculptor. I will post more on this later - I'm tired.

Blairsville Plein Air Paintings

2008-10-15T22:07:00.028-04:00

Here are the plein air paintings that I did last week in Blairsville. Anita Louise West did a workshop for Atlanta Fine Arts League in the beautiful North Georgia mountains. West is a wonderful landscape painter who lives in Sante Fe with her husband, Albert Handell, another well respected artist. It was a wonderful and beautiful week to spend with a fun group of artists. I paint a lot of portraits and I absolutely love plein air painting. It's so nice to go out with my easel and come home with a painting. These paintings were done at Meeks Park and Vogel State Park and one was painted on a rainy day at a Crane Creek Vineyard.

Almost there

2008-10-05T00:51:00.006-04:00

This is a portrait I have been working on for while. I signed it today but now I see some things I will change. I will post it again when I make the changes so you can see the difference. These are the children of a dear friend of mine, Alexis Vear, a gifted singer/ songwriter. Many things in the portrait signify things that are important to her and her family. Her mother grows beautiful orchids, the piano represents her music, the picture in the background was her grandmother's, as well as the table. I added the box and the shell on the table for composition - the shell represents renewal. BTW, if you would like to know more about Alexis' music visit www.AlexisVear.com.

"Isabelle" is finalist in National Juried Competition

2008-09-29T13:34:00.008-04:00

This portrait of Isabelle was just selected as a finalist in the Art Guild 2008 1st Annual Portrait Juried Competition and Exhibition. The Art Guild is a nonprofit organization providing encouragement, education and a forum for the appreciation of the visual arts. The Guild is located in Manhasset, New York. The exhibition will run October 13 - November 28 with the opening reception October 16 from 6 - 8 pm at the Gallery at Elderfields, Manhasset, NY. The juror for the show is award winning portrait artist and faculty member at the Portrait Society of America's 10th National Conference in 2008, Ying-He Liu.

3 paintings in AGNWG Online Art Exhibition

2008-09-18T09:05:00.013-04:00

These 3 paintings were chosen for an online painting exhibition, Still Life with Fruit, Veronika and Joe's Boys. This is the 1st Annual Online Art Exhibition held by the Artist Guild of Northwest Georgia.

2008-09-16T10:20:00.004-04:00

Atlanta Fine Arts League's "Simpy Drawn" reception was a very nice event. The exhibit looks beautiful; it's refreshing to see just drawings for a change. The calibre of all the drawings was very high. The exhibit goes until September 25th, at the Art Station Big Shanty in Kennesaw. In the photo I'm standing with juror John de la Vega next to my drawing "Joe's Boys". -Thanks to Carmen & Joe Kissack for allowing me to borrow it for the exhibit.

Check out my updated website

2008-09-14T23:22:00.003-04:00

I have added a few new paintings to my website. It has been a while since it was last updated, which is why this blog was created. My website is http://www.leahhenry.com or you can just click on me at the top right corner of this page. Make sure you check back here from time to time to find out what's new. Thanks!

This is Cole

2008-09-09T20:45:00.003-04:00

This is a charcoal that I just finished yesterday. Cole's grandmother commissioned me to do this portrait for her daughter in law. Another artist drew her granddaughter and she found me 2 years later. She loved it and said that I really caught his likeness and personality. Hey, what more can I ask for? It's nice to be able to create charcoal portraits while having an oil painting on my easel. Changing mediums keeps portrait painting more interesting.

You Must See This /Art From the Heart Video

2008-09-01T21:11:00.005-04:00

I have written several posts about Art From the Heart. Georgia Public Broadcasting ran a feature story about this project. It tells the story from the artists and families point of view. Please follow the link and click on watch to view this touching story.

http://www.gpb.org/stateofthearts/term/art-heart

I'M NOT LYNNE

2008-09-01T14:49:00.006-04:00

My twin sister, Lynne, and I celebrated a BIG birthday in August. Our husbands threw a huge party and lots of our friends came. My husband's band, Uncle Mike, played and had everyone on their feet. Lynne & I wore tops that said "I am not Lynne" and "I am not Leah". Before the party was over, we switched shirts and caught a few people off guard. It was a great celebration! BTW, the black & white picture was set up at the party. We were 25 years old. It's hard to look at.

My Latest Portrait

2008-09-01T14:40:00.004-04:00

I'm not sure if I am completely finished with this portrait but I know I am close. This is the 3rd portrait for a family in Washington. I posted the other 2 siblings, Domink and Veronika, in previous posts. This is Nicholas.

Yuqi Wang Demonstrations

2008-09-01T14:27:00.004-04:00

Yuqi Wang, a contemporary master artist, came to Atlanta to hold a workshop for Atlanta fine Arts League. He did two demonstrations during this time. The first was a portrait of the model, Eden, that he did along side of the workshop participants over 4 days. The next demonstration was about 3.5 hours on a 36 x 48 canvas and was open to the public. They are very different but are both beautiful.

"Joe's Boys" in Simply Drawn Exhibit

2008-09-01T13:50:00.005-04:00

"Joe's Boys" is accepted in a juried drawings only exhibit hosted by the Atlanta Fine Arts League. The show is at the Art Station Big Shanty and runs September 3rd through 25th. The opening reception is September 6th at 7pm. The juror for this show is John de la Vega.

John de la Vega Workshop

2008-09-01T13:35:00.006-04:00

My artist friend, John de la Vega, held a small advanced portrait workshop at my studio. You can see some of John's beautiful work on portraitartist.com. We had 2 models and 7 students. My home studio was the perfect space for the workshop. - I'm also represented on portrait artist.com (A Stroke of Genius)