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ART BRINGS JOY--Paintings Relocated TUVART Newsletter/March 2010

By Tuva Stephens on 3/22/2010 6:28:43 PM
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March 2010 TUVART NEWSLETTER

Composition is more important than fact, technique, or subject."
--Frank Webb, GCVAA Workshop 2009

"A painting is a love letter, authored not by a poet who uses words, but by an artist who fashions paint marks on paper or canvas." --Frank Webb

ART BRINGS JOY!

GRAND SHOWING
(Collection of Cindy and Andy Tatum)
Tuva Stephens Fine Art

PAINTINGS RELOCATED

Grand Showing, a beautiful floral of amaryllis now has a new home with Cindy and Andy Tatum of Milan. It now hangs next to a portrait of their son, Daniel who lost his life in 2008. He was one of my beloved drama students, friend and marine who served 2 tours in Iraqi. I know for a fact the painting is bringing them warmth and enjoyment. What wonderful thing to be an artist...to be able to magnify a subject of God's creation, beauty, so it will last for a time and bring joy to others!

ANGELIC DRIFTWOOD
(Collection of Tina & Ben Huey)
Tuva Stephens Fine Art

Another painting, Angelic Driftwood was purchased by a good friend, Tina Huey whose son, Walker is a marine currently serving in Afghanistan. The convoluted arrangement in the shape of the cruciform caught my eye at Edgar Evans State Park this fall. I could have sworn I saw an image of an angel emerging from the interesting subject matter that became for me a metaphor of life and death. I was strangely drawn into the twisting and turning forms of this piece as in life. I know this will be a nice addition their already fine collection of art in which they enjoy.

RED FEATHER OF THE GREAT SMOKY MTS
(available)
Tuva Stephens Fine Art

THE STORY BEHIND...NEW WORK
RED FEATHER OF THE GREAT SMOKY MTS

An old high school friend on facebook recently asked me if I ever painted Native American Indians. I was reminded of my love of painting Indians while in high school. A friend and artist, Elaine Vars of Jackson, had loaned me a photo of an Indian that she photographed during an Oktoberfest festival in the Great Smoky Mountains years ago. As I painted the great detail of his colorful regalia, I was intrigued by the mystery of this proud Native American. I reflected on the mistreatment of this race of people in which I have so much empathy. I considered changing the "red feather" to an eagle's feather. Then I realized that my friend told me he worked with a Native American, named "Red Feather." Was it a coincidence that this subject that I was painting had a red hawk feather in his hair? I think not....it was meant to be! Please feel free to see the painting in person presently hanging at the Court Square Arts in Trenton. (731-855-1502) It is open Thursday and Friday from 11-4 and Saturday 10-2. Each weekend people discover wonderful treasures/one of a kind gifts from framed to matted only artwork, antiques, jewelry, and pottery. Come by and enjoy the art experience!

The Featured Artist Event at Court Square Arts & Antiques in Trenton was a huge success, featuring 8 of my new works, Saturday, February 27. Beth Conn of Ruterford
was the featured photographer. It was wonderful seeing 100+ guests visit the gallery in 2 hours. It was great to tell visitors the stories of how and why I painted the works displayed.

It has been a busy couple of months submitting entries to shows, waiting for acceptance or rejection, and now the fun starts! Hopefully, I am becoming a better painter by entering competitions both near and far. just to view other artist's work is such an enriching experience for me.

EXHIBITIONS/SHOWS UPDATES

Recently Donnie and I delivered Let the Light Shine Through II for the 33rd Exhibition of the Southern Watercolor Society to the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts, Anne P. Baker Gallery in Madisonville, Ky. The juror, Cheng Khee Chee selected 95 works from 379 from 18 states for this impressive show. On March 27th, Mary Spellings and I will be honored to attend the opening events featuring a demo by the juror, Chee, luncheon, annual SW meeting, banquet reception, awards ceremony and a special performance of the Paducah Symphony. This concert will celebrate the connections between music and the visual arts. HOW EXCITING! I had Chee as a teacher at a workshop at the Emporium in Knoxville, 2008 at the TnWS Exhibition. He had a great influence on my artwork by combining the western analytical thought with the eastern intuitive style. His teaching methods reminded me of the lessons taught in the movie, Karate Kid.

*Last night Mary and I both received news from SWS that we both had received awards, one was cash and the other was a merchandise award!
More on this later after the March 27th reception!

The Big One.....Signature Membership...TnWS

LET THE LIGHT SHINE THROUGH II was accepted by George James, juror, into 32nd Biennial Exhibition TnWS to be held in Chattanooga, May 16-June 25 at the Chattanooga State Community College at the Olan Mills Building. Over $15,000 in merchandise and prizes will be awarded. James selected 70 paintings from 214 entries. I will be receiving signature membership from TnWS at the reception May 22! I am also looking forward to the workshop with George James in Chattanooga, May 17-21. He is a master of design/composition and an innovator of working on yupo, a synthetic surface. If you don't like the painting, just wash it off!

ARTWORK ACCEPTED...

Two paintings, Remembering the Savannas of Senegal and Working Man I were accepted into the Gibson County Visual Arts Association (GCVAA) in Trenton, Tennessee by juror, Jean Grastorf. Reception/awards will be, Saturday, April 24. This show at Trenton's City Hall is always impressive and an exciting show featuring artists from the whole state! I am fortunate to be taking Grastorf's (Pouring Light) 4-day workshop, April 19-22, in Trenton. GCVAA is known for bringing in the best watercolor artists to Trenton through a Tennessee Arts Commission grant each year. In the past I have learned so much from nationally known jurors and teachers: Judi Betts, Gerald Brommer, Frank Webb, Tony Couch, and Laurin McCracken. Paul Jackson and Charlotte Huntley have also been esteemed jurors of GCVAA past shows.

February 28th, Sunday: I Just Don't Know Why... received Best of Show/Cash Award at the Paris Henry County Art Council Artists Showcase in Paris, Tennessee at the Rhea Library from 91 entries. This show will run until March 25.

March 19th: Paintings, Working Man II and Fantasy IX were accepted by juror, Wyatt Waters for the Memphis-Germantown Art League Show (MGAL). The show will open, May 10 through June 14 at GPAC (Germantown Performing Arts Center). There are some wonderful artist represented in this show! If you are in the area stop by. The awards reception is May 12, Tuesday from 6-8.

Cyndi Carlton Creyssels, of McKenzie purchased her 1st piece of matted artwork from me! This was nice because Cyndi is not only a friend but one of my past art students when I taught art at McKenzie High 1976-89...years ago!

*Thanks to all who purchased my note cards of my works, and purchased miniatures at the CSA Reception. You can purchase my FrameAble Note Cards featuring my artwork locally at Court Square Arts & Antiques or contact me otherwise through email: [email protected] or call (731) 352-5852.

It was such a pleasure to teach a 2 day workshop in Middleton, March 6 and 13. There was a great group of 13-15 students from ages 11-80. It is strange how when one teaches, one leans more about their passion and knowledge that it takes to be an artist. As Chee said, "wouldnit it be bad not to be able to paint?"

What will God lead me next to paint? Is it to magnify beauty, capture the essence of a stranger on their way, possibly the innocence of a child at play, or a white bearded man, my neighbor, smoking his pipe with curls of smoke surrounding his head in glowing sunlight? I think I will chose the latter.......it is so great to be an artist. I thank God everyday for my abilities, blessings, and I am learning so much. God always has greater plans than we could ever dream for ourselves...if we just let him guide us.

*Would you please give me some feedback on this newsletter? Make suggestions in which to make it better. Better yet...please forward this to people that you feel would enjoy it.

I would greatly apprecitate it! Please let me know if you have any ideas for me creating some art for you!

Tuva Stephens