David Francis

Drawing and sketching is something that I have always done. From as early as I can remember, I was happiest with pencils, crayons, and paper at hand. I started my formal art career doing pastel portraits from photographs and then started developing a unique style in my landscape work. I continually strive for more realistic imagery while trying to maintain a “painterly” approach in my work. I have been painting professionally for about twenty-five years. My current style has evolved into a more realistic approach. My work has been described as “impressionistic realism” and although I like that term, I feel a more apt description would be “imagined realism”. I apply small bits of color over a solid tone under painting and allow them to optically mix creating the final image. I try to keep my palette very simple and work with at least three values of each color used.

My most recent work has been an exploration of the still life genre. I feel that still life paintings do not have to be boring, repetitive works of flowers, vases, and such items. I take nontraditional items such as children’s toys, blocks, and bricks, almost anything I can find and use them as subject matter. The more weather-beaten and textured the surface the more I like it.  I feel that I inject a lot of my personality and sense of humor into these pieces, which are new and exciting for me.

In September of 2003, I was elected to Signature Membership with the Pastel Society of America and, in November of 2005 I was invited to become a member of the Guild of Adirondack Artists and in June 2010 I was elected a member of the Oak Room Artists Group. In 2012 I was juried into the International Guild of Realism.

My work has been included in twenty-three national & International pastel exhibitions and have received several awards at these national exhibitions. My most recent accolades are The Salmagundi Club Award and the Savoir Faire/Sennelier Pastel Award given at the Pastel Society of America’s “Enduring Brilliance” National Exhibition.

Contact: David Francis, PSA518-747-684415 Kvale Lane, Hudson Falls, NY www.defrancispastels.com

Now Boarding – Pastel

David Francis, PSA

Tah Dah, The Grand Finale – Pastel

Space Race – Pastel

click image to enlarge

Corey Pitkin

Corey Pitkin is a predominantly self-taught artist living in the southern Adirondack Mountains. Working in oils or pastel, Corey creates award-winning figures and portraits that have been featured in national and international exhibitions, most recently claiming the Outstanding Portraiture Award at the Northeast National Pastel Exhibition in Old Forge, NY and the Maryland Pastel Society Award at the Pastel Society of America’s 41st Annual Exhibition: Enduring Brilliance! in Manhattan. Corey offers workshops on portraiture in multiple locations around upstate New York.

Contact:

coreypitkin@gmail.com

www.coreypitkin.com

518-883-1073

Corey Pitkin

The Reenactor #1 – Pastel

Lauren – Oil on canvas panel

Grace – Oil on Panel

Anastasia Greets Spring – Oil on wood

click image to enlarge

Tom Schottman

Tom Schottman is known throughout the region for his abstract sculptures made of stoneware, a type of clay that is fired to a very high temperature. The large sculptures are ideal for outdoor enjoyment. Durable and nonporous, they easily withstand the Northeast winters.  The smaller pieces can also be placed in gardens or they can be enjoyed indoors.

Some of Tom’s work can be seen in the collections of the Schenectady Museum and the Albany Institute of History and Art.  He has had many one-person shows in the area.  His sculptures have frequently been exhibited at Chesterwood in Stockbridge, MA.

Tom’s work may be seen on his website www.tomschottman.com . He may be contacted at tschottman@nycap.rr.com and at 518 399-5728.  He lives in Burnt Hills.

Labyrinth – Stoneware

Enigma – Stoneware

Cliff Form X – Stoneware

click image to enlarge