Maney began her art education by attending various institutes, classes at Belmont University, Watkins, and Vanderbilt University as well as studying with renowned artist Anton Weiss for six years. Starting with watercolor and collage, she moved into painting acrylic and finally, falling in love with oil painting. Maney has exhibited in several solo and group shows receiving numerous awards. Collectors of her work are both domestic and International. Labeling herself an abstract expressionist, Maney starts in a chaotic manner with layer after layer of color and strokes, finding a balance between intensity and motion. Using brayers, credit cards, squeegees, and fingertips in addition to brushes, she continues in an intuitive sBorn in Murfreesboro, TN. Maney has been committed to painting abstract for over two decades. Attending the University of Georgia, she earned her B.A. in Social Work. Living in Nashville, TN. with her husband, Jerry and her cat, Abstract, she enjoys traveling, exercise and serving meals from recipes of famous artists, especially Monet.
Portfolio of Works
Karen Johnston
Taking a giant and playful leap into the colorful world of the imagination is exhilarating. To me, it is expansive, inventive and restorative. I love to listen to life's stories. I get lost in simple observation. And, I find fulfillment in artistically recording and sharing the genuine energy that swirls around us and exists inside. My art is an organized dialogue with existence. I use my canvases to bring extraordinary life to the ordinary thoughts and feelings that rest within the simple heart. Loosely composed with the sound knowledge of color, texture, line and shape, I let my paintings naturally unfold. My intuitive images explore time, depth, personal growth and intangible perceptions that often connect the authentic, inner landscapes of humanity. I enjoy touching upon universal themes, capturing the diverse moods and vibrant attitudes of the human spirit and mixing all of it with a sense of serenity and the beautiful Divine. I predominantly use layers and layers of acrylics, but keep the door open to all possibility when creating. Each piece is a mere entrance into the artistry of the viewer’s own daydreams.
Contact the artist : www.studiokarenjohnston.com
Vinci Kolodziejski
Contact the Artist:
615-218-9190
I create art because I am inspired by personal observations of the beauty of plants and landscapes. I am drawn to capture on paper or canvas the fresh view and patterns that are created when sunlight drenches these subjects. My goal is to create paintings with a serenity of place, a transcending spirituality, and a joyful response. To accomplish this I use sparkling, transparent light filled color in my work.
I am always searching for subject matter that inspires me. I carry a sketchbook and digital camera with me always. I look for plants with a variety of textures and colors, flowers from my garden, and landscapes from my travels. I collect special handmade tablecloths and interesting fabrics. I like to combine these objects with live plants in a still life. My favorite still life often includes vases filled with flowers. I like the crispness of stems in water. I am drawn to windows as a way to combine still life and landscape in one composition. Always, I look for the sunlight and shadows and I try to create a painting with its own spiritual essence.
Before I begin my work on paper or canvas, I will draw several thumb nail sketches of my intended subject in my studio. By process of elimination, I arrive at the best composition for the painting that I want to create. I then produce a full size drawing of my subject. If the drawing is pleasing, I then lightly draw on my painting surface. I choose my medium based on my subject. Most often I am drawn to watercolor for floral and still life work because of the spontaneity of the medium and the sparkling, light filled transparent color that results with this medium. I enjoy the crisp whites of watercolor paper. I paint using a variety of techniques that includes washes, wet in wet, glazing with layers of paint and dry brush. My process involves many hours, but I have found that with these steps, I can achieve the emotions and clarity that I enjoy in the final painting. I have discovered that my favorite colors are greens and blues. For me, the greens bring life to my work and the blues found in the background and shadows create a feeling of the presence of sunlight.
I first began painting with oils and acrylics on canvas. I left these mediums behind when I was introduced to watercolor. Now years later I find myself again drawn to canvas for some subjects especially landscapes. But unlike the heavy impasto techniques of my early painting days, I find myself using watercolor techniques on canvas. I challenge myself to create the same emotions in my works on canvas.
Rita Maggart
“Always, always I must communicate and create.”
This has been my artist statement from my earliest days as I searched for ways to communicate and create in the arts of writing, painting, Illustration, photography and most recently drawing.
It is in drawing the figure with charcoal that my creative life has taken on a new challenge. Drawing the human form holds a special place in the world of fine art. And, it is in expressive drawing of the human form that an artist reaches his or her highest goals in art making. I discovered that by getting back to the basics of drawing and simplifying my materials to paper, chalk, blenders and an eraser I could focus on the model and reach new goals as a figurative artist. Also, by reducing the palette to shades of gray, and searching for the lights and darks of chiaroscuro, ( Italian for “light-dark”) I found a dramatic way of simplifying my art and making that critical connection with the viewer.
So, it is with figurative art that I attempt to capture the human condition.
And, it is through observation of the model, understanding the human body and searching for the light that shines on and from within the model that I attempt to describe an illusive emotion that only the human form can deliver.
Here I am, “Always, always striving to, communicate and create.”
Originals and prints for sale. Please contact the artist for more information. Contact info is below.
Rita J. Maggart
Peach McComb
Being an artist means being able to really see things differently, notice details, and then capture the emotion on canvas. I paint my landscapes on location and must paint very fast to capture the light and mood of a place. I paint my still life work and portraits from life as well, because I feel that it gives my work a freshness and immediacy. Every day brings another chance to create something new and maybe even wonderful. It is failing forward to success, trying to get something down on canvas, or paper, that communicates directly to viewers' hearts. There is nothing more rewarding! When someone says that a painting made them feel better, or that they could walk right into the picture, is when I know a painting is successful.
View my website and contact me at this link: www.peachmccomb.com
Commissions gratefully accepted.
Lisa McLaughlin
Abstract has become my favorite style of painting in recent years. My process typically starts with movement and feeling. I rotate the canvas and layer on colors and textures until it begins to resolve itself. Occasionally an abstract painting will reveal a tangible form or place.
I spend nearly 200 days a year working on the road, and can't bring canvas with me, so photography has taken a large role in my creative life. I find interest with colors and textures everywhere. I can be as inspired to take a photo of graffiti or a broken window as I am of a beautiful sunset or famous landmark. Although unintentional, I can't help but see the influence of my extensive travel experiences coming through in most of my work.
Lisa McLaughlin is an Ohio native who earned her Bachelor of Arts in design at the University of Toledo. In 1989 she moved to Nashville, TN to work in the music business and continue her artistic pursuits. Along with the fine arts of painting and photography, Lisa is freelance graphic designer. Lisa continues to study through local arts classes and workshops, and is a member of the Nashville Artist Guild, and a founding member of Contemporary Collective, a group of abstract artists.
http://www.lisamclaughlinart.com/
Mary Field Neville - In Memoriam
Mary Field Neville, a native of West Virginia, was educated at West Virginia University and Parsons School of Design. She worked as a commercial artist in graphic design, fashion and general illustration; she has held positions as advertising manager and art instructor giving workshops and teaching privately. Mary has exhibited widely in solo and juried exhibitions on local, state, regional and national levels receiving numerous awards. She is an artist/signature member of the Tennessee, Kentucky and Southern Watercolor Societies. Her paintings are included in private and public collections including the Tennessee State Museum and Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage (where displayed is a fifteen foot long panorama watercolor painting of Rachel’s Garden at the Hermitage). A selection of Mary’s work has been featured in four fine art books, two of which are Rockport Publishers “The Best of Watercolor.” She made her home in Old Hickory, Tennessee.
Ginger Oglesby
Ginger Oglesby, a native Southerner, began studying art in the 6th grade. Saturday mornings were spent in art class learning the fundamentals of drawing, color, composition and medium. In the summer, classes were moved outside for landscapes at Nashville’s Belle Meade Mansion. This continued all through high school under the tutelage of Juanita Green Parks, Director of Art, at Watkins Institute in Nashville, TN. Ginger’s education continued to be concentrated in creative endeavors. She received a BFA from the University of Tennessee in Studio Art with a minor in Dance. After college, Ginger’s first job was with a modern dance company, Sidewalk Dance Theater, where she was a member for ten years. Retiring from the dance company, Ginger missed the movement of dance so she poured movement into her paintings. Her work became more loose and free until they became pure abstraction.
Ginger creates dynamic abstract paintings. She allows movement of color, line, form, tone and texture as they interact to be the subject of her paintings. She has the ability to suspend reality and trust her intuition as she creates abstract paintings that result in primitive arrangements of color and shape. Art critic, Brian Sherwin, commented on Ginger’s paintings.
“Ginger’s energetic use of color demands attention. Ginger meshes fiery colors with colder colors, if you will- works that are complex in their simplicity. A startling exchange of color is established. That visual choice reflects Ginger’s connection with order/chaos of nature.”
Ginger prefers not to guide the viewer’s interpretation, rather she captures the viewer’s attention, draws them in, keeps them looking and generates an emotional response. "I use the canvas to tell the bold and sometimes very subtle abstract stories of movement. Beginning with a loose composition and adding layer on layer, my paintings naturally unfold and expose an intuitive dance. These images capture the vibrant attitudes of the human heart. Soaring Leaping Turning!"
Don Olea
Although a native of San Diego, CA , Don and his wife have lived in Gallatin, TN for the past 23 years. He has more than 30 years of professional experience as an award-winning illustrator, photographer, digital and watercolor painter. He is currently a board member of the Nashville Artist Guild and a member of the Tennessee Watercolor Society.
Olea has been an artist all his life, starting with simple pencil drawings as a child, then charcoals and pen and ink, etc. His grandfather gave him my first camera when he was a sophomore in high school in 1979 and that began his of love of capturing the world around him on film.
As the computer age ushered in a new era of graphic designers and digital photography, Olea gravitated toward commercial art and advertising design as well as newspaper and magazine design.
Working as a commercial artist he was able to take advantage of both his drawing and photography skills. Olea spent 10+ years as a photographer and graphic designer for Billboard Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter and Amusement Business Magazine in Nashville and Los Angeles.
The music, entertainment, and sports industries have always been among his favorite subjects to paint or draw. However, in an effort to expand his subject matter, he turned his attention to depicting historical military art.
As an Airborne Army veteran (1983-86), and military history buff, he has been inspired through his watercolor and digital paintings, to honor and tell the story of those who came before him serving with honor and distinction. His realism style serves the historical military art genre well and helps to tell their story to fellow veterans, family members and enthusiasts. His goal is to eventually have at least one painting representing every major military conflict from the Revolutionary War to the present. As a proud veteran and artist, Don Olea will not let the flame of patriotism vanquish.
Facebook: donolea
Instagram: donolea_art
email: d[email protected]
phone: 615-491-3284member, Nashville Artist Guild
member, Tennessee Watercolor Society
Christine Parachek-Marshall
Christine Parachek Marshall, born in northern Ohio, has resided in the middle TN area for several years. She has earned a BSN Degree from Vanderbilt University and a Fine Art Degree from Watkins College of Art, Design, and Film, both are in Nashville, TN.
She continues her art studies by taking workshops with nationally recognized artists. She is a member of several artists' organizations, including The TN Watercolor Society, The Nashville Artist Guild, and is a founding member of Art Seen. She is a former member of The Tennessee Art League and The TN Association of Craft Artists.
Her work has been juried into regional and national shows every year since attaining her art degree. She has had solo shows in Wisconsin, KY, and TN and exhibits her work regularly at the TN Art Leauge & Galleries, and with the Art Seen group, as well as in solo shows.
Her work has received various awards and has been chosen for a cover of a Vanderbilt publication and included in a Watkins College of Art catalog. Her work is included in private collections in the US, Europe, Ireland, and Japan. I combine my scientific background with my love of nature, color, and texture. My art work is evolving from total watercolor to mixed media on layered papers and collage, although I am willing to experiment with most any medium. Even as I begin to explore new methods and media, I retain my love of nature. Subject matter varies from the realistic to the abstract. I am delighted by the beauty of nature and travel with my camera seeking references for studio painting. You can see by the examples that even though my work continues to change, I can't resist a bit of whimsy now and then.
Jamie Sanderlin Parks
Jamie Sanderlin Parks grew up on a farm in the delta of east Arkansas, where she was surrounded by open fields, bottomland woods, levees and the Mississippi and White Rivers. She acquired a love of gardening and nature from her grandmother, who lived next door and had something blooming almost all year round.
The wonders of nature such as a glowing sunset, a field of stubble after a grain harvest, a bouquet of flowers, or reflections on a pool of water have always been a source of fascination for Jamie. She endeavors to capture nature’s beauty in her oil paintings of landscapes, gardens, still life, and skyscapes. Jamie’s formal art education includes an MA degree from the University of Iowa and a BFA from Arkansas State University. She has also studied with Nashville professional artists Gayle Levée and Kevin Menck en plein air and in the studio. Jamie has held solo exhibitions at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, AR, Vanderbilt University Club, Tennessee Art League, and Nashville Alive Hospice Gallery. Jamie has shown her paintings in juried shows at the Tennessee Art League including Central South, Gordon Jewish Community Center and the Art Event at Lipscomb Academy. Jamie is currently a member of the Nashville Artist Guild and the Art Seen Group with whom she paints with weekly.
Artist Website: http://www.jamiesanderlinparks.com/index.htm.
Pat Patrick
The creations of God can not be equaled for inspiration. My education is in chemical engineering from Mississippi State University. I read where engineers use one side of the brain and artists use the other side. I can just never remember which side I should be using when. As an environmental engineer and as a gardener, I am amazed by God’s creations and the subjects they offer. I am finding that retirement is now offering more time to explore those offerings.
Contact the artist using the links below:
Peggy O'Neal Peden
A Smyrna, Tennessee, native, Peggy paints, writes and teaches. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Lipscomb University and the University of Kentucky. She is currently teaching classes for the Tennessee Regents Online Degree Program and is the author of Your Killin’ Heart published by Thomas Dunne Books/Minotaur
Sometimes it’s escape; sometimes it’s wishful thinking. Sometimes it’s an image or feeling to recapture, reinterpret, rediscover. Crossing the Lower Lake to Ross Castle on a soft day, my dad’s fingers strumming a Lefty Frizzell song, a blossom that fell. The way the light, just for an instant, hits water or a sail or a brass compass or a stone. Color. Texture. It’s all light and dark.
Ginna Priest
Although she has been active as an artist for more than forty years, Ginna Priest is still surprised at times by her involvement in art. As a child she found art frustrating and intimidating and cannot explain what convinced her as an adult to take her first art class in watercolor painting. That experience proved to be her entry into a new world. Fortunate to find the right teachers to gently move - or vigorously push - her along, Ginna learned the basic principals of painting as she explored the challenges of the watercolor medium. In time, she began to experiment with mixed water media, using layers of graphite powder, watercolor and acrylic and began painting, not the world as she saw it but how she felt about what she saw. She also found joy in teaching classes of all ages: children, college students, and adults.
Twelve years ago, Ginna turned her artistic efforts toward photography. She found that the principles of composition she learned as a painter guided her as she explored her world looking through a lens, and she quickly learned that it would take both determination and dedication to learn how to maximize the extraordinary creative potential of the modern DSLR camera.
A devoted and enthusiastic gardener for years, Ginna found immediate inspiration in documenting her gardens during every season. She carefully captured the flowers, seeds, trees, rocks and critters found in sunshine, shadow, rain and snow in both the gardens she tended and the woods surrounding her home. Traveling to favorite spots such as the provinces of Italy, the Forgotten Coast of Florida and parts of the Southwest kept her camera clicking, but it has been time spent in the Smoky Mountains every year that always makes her feel like she is “coming home.”
Most recently, Ginna has created DVDs entitled The Still Point Series and Mindful Meditations in Nature. Designed to bring calm and peace through the beauty of nature and music, each DVD features over 200 captivating photographs accompanied by engaging and uplifting original music. Inspired by visits to the cancer center with her golden retriever Kazzy, where she found patients watching disturbing TV programs, Ginna felt certain that her photographs of her gardens and the Smoky mountains would provide a far more positive experience for healing. The DVD sets are now helping people in times of personal crisis. It’s also an ideal way for all who live crazy-busy lives to simply relax at the end of a long day!
Sales from Ginna’s calendars, notecards and the DVDs fund her donations to agencies that help others, such as veterans’ organizations like Courage Beyond, Quality of Life Foundation, Veterans and Athletes United, the Nashville VA and Hope and Healing at Hillenglade, as well as over 50 nursing homes, treatment centers, and assisted living and memory care facilities in Middle Tennessee.
For more information, please visit www.ginnapriestart.com.
You may order photographs and prints in any size. Please contact the artist through her website:
Recent Works
